Frieze L.A. 2025 Heats Up— and Helps Local Artists

Yahoo

20-02-2025

Showcasing a formidable roster of creators for its sixth iteration in L.A., the Frieze Los Angeles art fair features 100 galleries from over 20 countries. And after the LA wildfires affected so many in Los Angeles, the show is donating contributions to the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund and giving 10% of ticket sales to fire relief.The event is also expanding its public programming with new initiatives that directly involve communities affected by recent fires. Art Production Fund's free public art programme will be a big part of this as will the Frieze Impact Prize and Victoria Miro's Galleries Together, inviting the art world to join forces in their space.Always of special interest to locals is the Focus section of Frieze L.A., which highlights emerging U.S. talent (see some of Focus' most exciting figures pictured in the LA mag exclusive group photo above).
"So many of the galleries have bases in Los Angeles, or are showing Los Angeles-based artists,' says Frieze's Director of Americas Christine Messineo, who's thrilled Essence Harden, curator at the California African American Museum, is returning to curate Focus. 'I like working with a curator more than once. ... For the past six months, she's been driving all across Los Angeles in preparation for [the Hammer Museum's] Made in L.A., visiting over 100 studios. So if anyone has an idea of what's happening across the city, Essence does.'Returning to the historic Santa Monica Airport, Frieze's homebase will be in a bespoke structure designed by Kulapat Yantrasast's architectural studio WHY. Notable galleries scheduled to showcase include Gagosian, Gladstone, Marian Goodman Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, Pace Gallery, White Cube and David Zwirner.Also on board this year: Southern Guild, Mariane Ibrahim, Linseed, moniquemeloche, Galleria Lorcan O'Neill, and Timothy Taylor making their Frieze L.A. debuts; local art scene faves such Blum, Regen Projects, David Kordansky Gallery and The Box; and international galleries such as Bank, Taka Ishii Gallery, Galerie Max Hetzler, Xavier Hufkens, Kukje Gallery, Victoria Miro, Maureen Paley, to name a few.Though the celebration takes place all over the city, Messineo sees the airport locale as a crucial component, bringing together Angelenos of all backgrounds and interests to explore different forms of expression (painting, sculpture, video, performance), even those who might not necessarily identify as art-minded.
Another exciting element is the Frieze Los Angeles Film Award, sponsored by Deutsche Bank in partnership production group FIFTH SEASON and the non-profit Ghetto Film School. This year, six fellows created new moving-image works inspired by the theme of "Togetherness." The public can vote for their favorite piece here. 'What I love about Frieze Los Angeles specifically, is the way that it activates a campus,' Messineo says. 'We're able to have all of these elements come together. We're exhibiting the best galleries at the fair and we have emerging voices in the Focus Section. We also [have] a series of public projects all around the tent. There's a public park and an athletic field that get activated, but we also set up spaces where people can just sit and have pizza or a glass of wine and really gather in community. It's a true destination.'More info on exhibitors, events and more at frieze.com/fairs/frieze-los-angeles