The Frieze art fair opened to the public for the first full day on Friday with organisers hailing 2023’s edition as “the most international to date”.
The five-day event, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, was open to members and by invitation for the first day and a half but transforms into a huge public art show for the weekend as London’s art lovers get to rub shoulders with artists, gallery owners and art dealers.
It is expected to generate millions of pounds for the capital’s economy, not just in sales but in the hotels, cafés, bars and restaurants that all benefit from the influx of the international art world into London.
On Friday’s front page is an artwork created by a “light painting robot” in the studio of artists Rob and Nick Carter to celebrate the Frieze turning 20. Last year about 90,000 people attended and organisers expect at least the same this year with more than 160 galleries from 40 countries taking part.
Famous faces already seen at the fair include acting stars Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Sienna Miller and Andrew Garfield, musicians FKA twigs, Neil Tennant and Jarvis Cocker and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Business has been brisk. A painting by Evening Standard columnist Tracey Emin was sold by White Cube for £1.2 million, while the gallery also sold an Antony Gormley sculpture for £525,000 and a work by Gilbert & George for £130,000.
A second Emin sold for £900,000 at another gallery, while a Louise Bourgeois sculpture went for £2.4 million at Frieze Masters, with works by Picasso, Man Ray and Ai Weiwei also selling.
The event has come a long way from its beginnings in the young British artists’ scene that made stars of a generation including Damien Hirst, Emin and Sarah Lucas. Frieze traces its roots to the magazine of the same name devoted to the contemporary art scene and its founders Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover launched the first fair in 2003.
Current artistic director Eva Langret said Frieze had stayed true to the original vision of its founders, adding: “I think they always thought about it as a platform for buying and selling art but it goes way beyond that. It’s also a platform for education.”
That first fair attracted 27,000 visitors to a tent in Regent’s Park and saw around £20 million in sales but it has grown hugely with fairs now also held in Los Angeles, New York and Seoul. Frieze has also been embraced by the artistic old guard with institutions such as auction house Christie’s taking part. The façade of its landmark King Street building was taken over by artist Lakwena Maciver to mark the start of the fair.
Frieze Masters brings in the best of historical art to stand with the cutting edge contemporary work that made its name. It is that eclectic approach that makes Frieze such a success, according to gallery owner and BBC Fake or Fortune? star Philip Mould, who is showing selected works from 500 years of British art this year.
He said Frieze had changed beyond recognition and become a “properly international venue” and “the place you meet for the art world”. Its “egalitarian” approach meant it also attracted those who might not visit the big galleries.
Frieze runs to 6pm on Sunday. For more information go to frieze.com.
