Of the dozens—if not hundreds—of internationalcontemporary-art fairs that have popped up during the art market’s staggeringascent this past decade, London’s Frieze remains a perennial favorite amongpatrons and professionals alike. Maybe it’s the critical cache (the fair wasfounded as an offshoot of the eponymous UK art journal); maybe it’s the strongextracurricular programming (think panels, performances and not-for-saleprojects and installations); or maybe it’s the fact that unlike itscounterparts, Frieze is held in airy, bright-white tents perched in the city’sidyllic Regent’s Park (as opposed to, say, a drab convention center).
Frieze will launch its eighth edition today, runningthrough October 16. Inside the massive tents, well-healed representatives from173 galleries (and 33 countries) will man booths adorned with some of the mostcutting-edge contemporary art available. Competition is increasingly stiff.Frieze’s success has prompted the emergence of a slew of local satellite fairs(including the Pavilion of Art & Design, for those of you who favor morefunctional art), not to mention a string of “Frieze Week” auctions shilling equallyblue-chip wares. Herewith, some of our favorite offerings.
