Frieze 2022

As October approaches, the British art world goes into overdrive. Artists, gallerists and collectors descend on the city, attempting to keep up with a hectic itinerary jam-packed with dinners, talks and curator’s tours. This flurry of action is down to one art fair alone - Frieze. Taking place in the second week of October, Frieze London is hailed as one of the most important contemporary art fairs in the world and is considered the pinnacle of the British art calendar. In preparation of the eventful week ahead, we breakdown everything you need to know before embarking on a trip to Frieze.

 

Why Frieze?

When Frieze was first founded by Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover in the early 1990s, it had nothing to do with an art fair. In fact, Frieze was first launched as a magazine. That magazine swiftly became a leading publication in contemporary art and culture so in 2003, the founders decided to expand their company by hosting their own art fair in London. Much like the magazine, the ambitious art fair quickly established itself as one of the world’s most influential art events on the calendar and so it returned to Regent’s Park year after year. In 2012, Frieze went global with the inaugural Frieze New York taking place and since then, the art fair has also been established in Los Angeles and Seoul, Korea. With an impressive record of displaying exceptional talent, Frieze London has remained unrivalled for nearly two decades as Britain’s leading contemporary art fair.

 

What To Bring

When attending Frieze there are some essentials we would always recommend. Although people often come dressed to impress, comfy shoes are key. The fair is much bigger than you think and after 5 hours on your feet you will be thankful you left that new pair of shoes at home. Also remember there is a restriction on bag size and lockers are not free so leave the statement rucksack for another day.

 

What To See

With 281 major-league exhibitors showing across Frieze London and Frieze Masters, it can be an overwhelming task trying to see everything. We recommend checking out a few key sections thoroughly rather than drifting aimlessly throughout the fair. New this year is the “Indra’s Net” section which is a must-see. Named after a Buddhist teaching about interconnectivity and curated by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s Sandhini Poddar, the section will have ten dedicated presentations of eighteen chosen artists by lesser known galleries. Another highlight of the fair will be Abbas Zahedi’s new installation - an Open Mic initiative that will platform a range of creative practices. The emerging artist has been named the winner of the 2022 Frieze Artist Award so this is not one to miss.

 

Who To Look Out For

Focusing only on contemporary living artists, Frieze features a range of both established and emerging creatives. However, the fair has become known for platforming successful artists at the beginning of their career. This year there are lots of emerging artists being showcased that are definitely worth a visit. One such artist is Jadé Fadojutimi, who Gagosian signed this summer. Her self-described “emotional landscapes” are a kaleidoscopic melee of colour and movement, and she will be the sole artist exhibiting at the mega-gallery’s booth. Other exciting emerging artists showing at Frieze, include Jennifer Carvalho, Selome Muleta, Joy Labinjo and Marcin Dudek.

 

Where To Eat

Although the surrounding areas of Marylebone and Fitzrovia offer some of the best eats in London, this year Frieze is boasting some very strong in-house contenders. While wondering the fair, you can stop for some carbon neutral small plates at Jikoni, a fusion restaurant described as “cooking across borders” or some modern American dining courtesy of Rita’s (booking in advance advised). Petersham Nurseries are also back offering farm-to-table produce infused with Italian flavours or if you just want a mid-fair snack try Gail’s for a sweet treat.

Where To Drink

From your essential caffeine hit, to a much needed cocktail, Frieze London has you covered for every drinking mood. This year Ruinart is back with their highly sought after Art Bar. Last year, their collaboration with David Shrigley had visitors queuing for a space and their participatory installation with visual artist Jeppe Hein is set to be just as engaging. Utilising the five senses, Hein’s exhibition ‘RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW’ will sit within the Art Bar and will encourage fair- goers to connect to the champagne-making process through a unique sensory experience. Also on offer will be twenty-five limited edition Jeroboam bottles of Ruinart Rosé created by the artist himself, so make sure to celebrate Frieze with a glass of bubbly.

11 October 2022