The remodeled Frieze London returns to the British capital with the customary abundance of artwork and who’s who in the art scene in attendance, while some hidden gems successfully anchor the fair in current times.
There aren’t any events as buzzy as Frieze in London. The long-running art fair, which takes over a section of Regent’s Park each autumn, has such an influence on the British capital’s art scene that it gives its name to the whole week, “Frieze Week”, when any art gallery around the city worth its toast is hosting at least one event coinciding with the four-day art fair.
The ability to create a sense of eager anticipation and excitement around it is certainly one Frieze’s most impressive feats, second to the crowd it attracts. While naturally one is there to take in the art from the innumerable gallery booths, the people-watching at Frieze is almost as good (if not better on occasion). This year, a remodel of the layout seems to have given the fair a much-needed revamp, with all corners of the giant temporary venue teeming with art world aficionados.
With such a wide selection of galleries from all over the world, it can be difficult to know where to look next. A relatively new Artist-to-Artist section, which debuted to much acclaim in 2023, provides much-needed breathing room. Tucked away to one side of the fair, six solo presentations selected by leading artists give one space to step away from the crowds. Selma Feriani’s booth is home to a series of delicate pencil-on-paper drawings by Massinissa Selmani, selected by Zineb Sedira. They are surprisingly fresh in comparison to the many larger, heavier artworks around the fair, and the incongruous situations represented in them (think a man performing in an empty swimming pool as a bull runs through a series of wooden pegs behind him), combined with their delicacy, make for a charming respite amid the chaos.
