In a tucked-away corner of the Frieze Art Fair in Los Angeles, among the frenzied crowds of the international art market’s trading room floor, lies a quiet respite where one booth seems to operate outside the fray. Its spare hanging of five quilted tapestries quietly asserts its place among the humming blue-chip gallery booths.
It is here that Gary Tyler, a Los Angeles-based artist and formerly incarcerated man, greets visitors and explains the significance of his work – quilted scenes depicting a Black man behind bars, rodeos, and an African Ashanti warrior gazing out at the room. This month, Tyler was awarded the prestigious Frieze Los Angeles Impact prize, an award that recognizes artists who have made significant impacts on society through their work.
