Highlights of Frieze London and Frieze Masters 2023

This feature is still developing. Please revisit throughout the day today, Wednesday, 11 October, as we continue reviewing more booths.

In its twentieth year, Frieze London 2023 returns to Regent's Park, showcasing over 160 galleries from 40 countries. Running concurrently, the sister fair, Frieze Masters, deepens our understanding of the relationship between historical and contemporary art. As with previous editions, Frieze Sculpture, an outdoor exhibition, connects them in the park. The art fair includes both returning segments, such as Focus: Emerging Talent, and new introductions, like the Artist-to-artist initiative. This milestone edition runs from 11 until 15 October 2023. Read on to see what this year’s edition offers.

Frieze London

Galerie Krinzinger (Vienna), Frieze London, Booth A03

Galerie Krinzinger is spotlighting Marina Abramović's "Energy Clothes" series from 2001. First conceptualised when she was teaching at the Fondazione Antonio Ratti in Como, Italy, and then further explored that same year at the Calder Foundation in Saché, France, these garments, crafted from vibrant silk and magnets, were designed for everyday meditation. As extensions of her "Transitory Objects for Human Use" series, they aim to channel body energy. The exhibition showcases pieces untouched for 20 years, alongside recent photographs, underscoring Abramović's ongoing exploration of energy and its public interface. The gallery will also feature early photographic works by Abramović.

If you're planning to see or have already seen Marina Abramović's retrospective at the RA (the first woman to have a solo show there), then this booth might provide further insight into her work. Alternatively, if you can't make it to Frieze, do pop into the RA.

In a separate section within the booth, Krinzinger will also be showing works by Monica Bonvicini, Angela de la Cruz, Waqas Khan, Radhika Khimji, Brigitte Kowanz, Hans Op de Beeck, Eva Schlegel, and William Mackrell.

Marina Abramović, Energy Mask (1) (2021/2023). Digital pigment print. 149 x 99 cm. © Marina Abramović. Courtesy Marina Abramović Archives. Photo: Marco Anelli Images.

Hauser & Wirth (London, Berlin, Los Angeles, New York), Frieze London
Booth D05

At Frieze London, Barbara Chase-Riboud showcases three sculptures from her 'Standing Black Woman of Venice' series. Made of black bronze, these large-scale sculptures memorialise historic female poets like Vijja and Praxilla. Chase-Riboud's abstract designs, inspired by two 1967 modules, utilise sand-casting for a polished surface resembling suspended water. Six 2020 paper artworks, using silk thread, echo surrealistic writings. Following her recent partnership with Hauser & Wirth, an exhibition is set for November in New York. Concurrently, MoMA exhibits Chase-Riboud alongside Alberto Giacometti, celebrating their modern sculptural impacts.

Barbara Chase-Riboud, Installation view, ‘Standing Black Woman of Venice X, Vijja (BBBA)’ (1969-2020), ‘Standing Black Woman of Venice IV, Praxilla (BABA)’ (1969-2020),‘Standing Black Woman of Venice V, Nossis (AABB)’ (1969-2020)Black bronzeDimensions variable. Photo: Alex Delfanne]

Blindspot Gallery (Hong Kong), Frieze London, Booth G13

Blindspot Gallery's presentation will feature Turner Prize nominee Sin Wai Kin, Angela Su and Trevor Yeung – the Hong Kong representatives at the 59th and 60th Venice Biennales, respectively – and Xiyadie, who recently had a solo exhibition at the Drawing Center in New York.

Their practices span a variety of mediums, including video, hair embroideries, object-based works, and papercuts, representing the gallery's dedication to showcasing diverse contemporary art practices by Asian artists with a global perspective, intertwining themes from gender discourse to broader societal issues that continue to shape the art landscape.

We are particularly keen on the video work "The Story Cycle", commissioned by Somerset House and supported by the DCMS and Arts Council through the Culture Recovery Fund. This piece delves into the ways cycles of listening, embodying, and storytelling shape our perception of human nature. It chronicles the journey of two clowns in search of belonging amidst narratives set within bizarre infrastructures, all narrated by an unreliable storyteller.

"The Story Cycle" introduces three central characters: Clown 1, Clown 2, and The Storyteller. The artist has captured the essence of each character by imprinting their makeup onto individual face wipes. These wipes, reminiscent of The Shroud of Turin, serve dual purposes: they document both the performance and the filming, and they stand as independent artworks. Accompanying these is edition 2/5 of the video piece.

Sin Wai Kin, The Story Cycle, (film still), 2022, Single-channel video, 17’07”. Commissioned by Somerset House, supported by the DCMS and Arts Council through the Culture Recovery Fund. Image courtesy of artist and Blindspot Gallery

Frieze Masters

Cardi Gallery (Milan, London), Frieze Masters, Booth B2

At Frieze Masters, Cardi Gallery is showcasing a curated selection of masterpieces representing major artistic movements from the past half-century. These range from Spatialism and Arte Povera to the Zero Group, Conceptual Art, and beyond. Featured artists include Mimmo Rotella, Sergio Lombardo, Emilio Vedova, Dadamaino, Gunther Uecker, Lee Ufan, Mimmo Paladino, Alighiero Boetti, and Paolo Canevari.

Lee Ufan, Correspondance III, 2000 Signed and dated on the side, titled and dated on the reverse Pigment suspended in glue on canvas.

Focus Section

In this year's edition, emerging artists take centre stage. The much-anticipated segment, “Focus”, makes its return, complemented by the debut of the “Artist-to-artist: segment. “Focus” stands as a celebration of fresh galleries and voices that are pioneering change in the global art scene, delving deep into themes of desire, memory, environment, power, and colonial history.

This year's “Focus” curates a collection of 34 galleries spanning 18 countries, with several spaces making their inaugural appearance at Frieze. Noteworthy newcomers include Ginny on Frederick, Harlesden High Street, Heidi, HOA, Llano, Vardaxoglou, Crisis, and Franz Kaka. Here are some of our favourites.

Ginny on Frederick, (London), Frieze London, Focus Section

For their Frieze London debut, Ginny on Frederick presents a solo booth dedicated to Jack O'Brien (born 1993), the first artist ever showcased by the gallery. O'Brien's multifaceted artistry, spanning sculpture, drawing, and painting, delves deep into desire, consumption, and the nuances of neoliberalism and queerness. His new centrepiece, "Volent", exemplifies Jack's fascination with wrapping large-scale found objects. By draping a taut, shimmering surface over an object's underlying structure, Jack explores the erotics of restraint and the production of desire. The gallery’s display is rounded off with wall-based pieces echoing late-capitalism's imagery and codes.

Installation view of Ginny on Frederick's Booth at Frieze London, Focus Section

Harlesden High Street (London), Frieze London, Focus Section, Booth H24

The Harlesden High Street booth, co-curated by Brooke Wilson, showcases the works of Mattia MacCarthy and Hamed Maiye, with the distinctive presence of David Liebe Hart. The booth immerses visitors in a recreated set of "The Junior Christian Teaching Bible Lesson Show", an American public access show from 1988-2008. Attendees can anticipate live performances titled "Live at 5 with David Liebe Hart" and viewings of archival footage.

Emerging artists Mattia Guarnera-MacCarthy and Hamed Maiye bring to the fore their interpretations of religion: Guarnera-MacCarthy through personal experience and storytelling, and Maiye through contemporary fashion and faith aesthetics. Together, they've created a piece spotlighting David Liebe Hart and his puppet, Chip.

The project is part of Harlesden High Street's "Public Access" series, which is inspired by American public access television from the 1980s onwards. This pioneering platform, preceding the likes of Channel U, YouTube, and other social media channels, offered the public a valuable opportunity to produce and broadcast their own content.

Located in an ungentrified part of London, Harlesden High Street stands as a BIPOC experimental hub, merging art and community. It's a bridge between unconventional artists and the established gallery realm.

Installation view, "The Junior Christian Teaching Bible Lesson Show", 2023. A collaboration between Mattia MacCarthy and Hamed Maiye, featuring special appearances by David Leibe Hart and Chip, showcased at Harlesden Highstreet.

Artist-to-Artist

The inaugural Artist-to-Artist initiative features renowned artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Tracey Emin, and Wolfgang Tillmans selecting peers for solo showcases, building on Frieze's tradition of artist-led programming. This segment showcases a range of mediums, from painting to installation. Noteworthy pieces include Vanessa Raw's paintings centered on the female form and Mark Barker's exploration of bodily processes within architecture. The presentations delve into themes like memory, diaspora, and the environment.

Mark Barker, Untitled, 2021, stoneware, gesso, beeswax 62 × 29 × 39 cm. Photo by Thomas Lambertz

Frieze Sculpture

Curated by Fatoş Üstek for the first time, Frieze Sculpture 2023 adorns The Regent’s Park's English Gardens with contributions from 21 international artists, including luminaries such as Ghada Amer, Yinka Shonibare, and Hank Willis Thomas. This edition beautifully intertwines seasoned and nascent talents, featuring both grand and transient sculptures. Embracing a range of artistic methods, the pieces explore themes of transformation, political empowerment, and contemporary rituals.

Tomás Saraceno, Silent Autumn (WISE 0359-54/M+M), 2023

What else?

For London-based galleries, Autumn is a prime time in their annual programme. From a newly opened survey show exploring Black British culture’s contribution to design over the last five decades, to an immersive visitor experience in a gallery’s woodland surroundings, we highly recommend venturing around the capital - no fair ticket needed. We put together this handy guide to help you navigate the city to find the best shows happening during Frieze Week.