Fall in London brings with it a certain number of uncertainties; mostly will it ever stop raining and when will we see the sunlight again? Yet, amid the gloomy weather and even gloomier economic and political outlook, one thing for certain is that when the calendar turns to October, Frieze London returns.
As Regent Park slowly turns to its vibrant orange hue – as much as the grey skies will allow for anyway – inside Frieze London 2024’s signature pitched white tent a visual feast for collectors, curators and art enthusiasts worldwide emerges. Along with introducing a new fair layout and bringing partners for the 2024 edition, the 21st Frieze London and 12th edition of Frieze Masters promise to bring attendees face to face with a millennia of art history.
Bringing together over 270 galleries spanning 47 countries, the two fairs will serve as a nexus for art, ideas and people. Meanwhile, the newly introduced “Future Forms” section showcases digital art and interactive experiences, underscoring the fusion of technology and creativity.
With so much on display, Elite Traveler went along to Frieze London’s VIP showing to pick out some of our highlights from the fair.
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Frieze London 2024
The piece de resistance of the fair, Frieze London brings cutting edge and experimental works from living artists and emerging talents. It’s a platform for galleries to present new and innovative pieces, often challenging traditional concepts and engaging with current cultural, social and political themes.
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That’s certainly the case for Noah Davis’ Untitled, one of the most anticipated paintings that we saw on display – and no less one of the most expensive, too, priced at £1.8m (approx. $2.4m). It is one of the last works by the American painter, painted in 2015, the same year he died from a rare form of cancer aged just 32. The work’s hazy and introspective quality, along with the obscured face of the subject, captures a sense of fading memory, a poignant motif in Davis’ later compositions. Known for redefining Black representation in contemporary art, Davis’ legacy is celebrated with this rare opportunity for collectors.
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Frieze Masters 2024
It may be the newer of the two tented fairs at Frieze, but Frieze Master focuses on art from ancient to modern periods, including antiquities, Old Masters and 20th-century collectibles. This fair bridges historical art with more contemporary pieces, giving collectors and visitors the opportunity to appreciate and acquire works from a wide historical range and create dialogues between past and present.
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And in terms of antiques, you would be hard-pressed to find another work that out ages the display from London dealer David Aaron. An Egyptian inner sarcophagus, dating to 700 BCE, is said to have belonged to Princess Sopdet-em-hawt, the granddaughter of the Pharaoh Rudamun, and is priced in the mid-seven figures.
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Meanwhile, one of Frieze Master’s most opulent acquisition opportunities is undoubtedly Frans Hals’ Portrait of a Gentleman (c. 1630-33), featured by Koetser Gallery with a price tag of £3.5m ($4.6m). While the exquisite portrait has been somewhat of a rare treasure, remaining in a private American collection for the past 25 years, it has been long admired throughout history, reportedly being the piece that inspired Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, and coming to Frieze 2024 hotly from its exhibition at the National Gallery.
[See also: Highlights from London Design Festival 2024]
Beyond the fairs
Outside the gates of Regents Park, the rest of London is joining in the celebration of the arts, including the Four Seasons Hotel at Park Lane. The hotel has unveiled a mesmerizing exhibition by acclaimed artist Chris Levine, running from October 9 through the end of the month. Known for his mastery of light and technology, Levine presents six new portraits of iconic British artists, including Yinka Shonibare and Rachel Whiteread, each adorned with microcrystals and hand-drawn elements.
These pieces are exhibited alongside his iconic works like Lightness of Being featuring Queen Elizabeth II, immersing guests in Levine’s signature style. The hotel’s lobby also features Light is Love, an entrancing installation that only reveals its image through peripheral vision, inviting viewers into a meditative experience.
Frieze London and Frieze Masters are at Regent’s Park, October 9-13; frieze.com
