Running from October 9 to 13, Frieze London is bringing together artists from 160 galleries and 43 different countries. It’s certain to be a good’un, and a big’un – there are so many incredible exhibitions and showcases to see. But don’t get you knickers in a tizzy just yet, we’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to, and have compiled the top 10 spots to visit below.
1. FRIEZE FOCUS
Situated at the heart of this year’s Frieze London art fair, Frieze Focus showcases the very best of emerging artistic talents. A carefully curated sector, it provides a platform for up-and-coming artists and galleries to infiltrate the contemporary canon. Expect fresh perspectives and engaging experiences, with highlights such as Benedikte Bjerre’s installation of 125 walking penguin balloons. Also featured at Frieze Focus are Tania Ximena’s freestanding sculptural paintings. Combining volcanology, scientific research and spiritual introspection into her practice, Ximena grapples with the critical notion of how to translate experience into image. Jemima Allison
Benedikte Bjerre, The Birds, 2017. Foil, helium, 40 × 30 cm each. Edition of 3 plus 2 AP. Courtesy of the artist and palace enterprise. Photography by Anthon Jackson
2. Club Chimaera
Step into the heart of Fitzrovia’s Mandrake Hotel, and you might just find yourself in the midst of Club Chimaera – a multi-sensory evening celebrating performance art in all its glory. Presented by Diasporas Now and Minor Attractions for Frieze Week, from 6:30pm-1am you can join Lulu Wang or Yen-Ching Lin in their drawing and improvisation workshops. On top of that, there will also be live DJ sets by Rieko Whitfield, Playbody’s Hezen, Genesys’ DJ Nomad and Ib03y. Freya Goodchild-Bridge
Imagery courtesy of Diasporas Now
3. MARCO CAPALDO’S ‘MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE’
16Arlington’s very own Marco Capaldo curates Memories of The Future, exhibited at No.9 Cork Street. Presented by Almine Rech, the exhibition arises as a product of Capaldo’s passion for contemporary art and as a natural evolution of his longstanding partnership with the gallery. Brought together in Frieze’s permanent exhibition space, the 14 visionary artists featured – such as Remi Ajani, Henry Curchod, Rhea Dillon amongst others – respond to Capaldo’s proposition that memories are not immutable products of our past, but rather continuously evolving experiences, which inform our future. Works by globally renowned artists Andy Warhol and John Giorno are also on display. JA
Cecilia de Nisco Titile TBC; Oil on linen; 150 x 200 cm 59 x 78 1/2 in, photography courtesy of Almine Rech
4. ARLO PARKS AT KOKO CLUB
Dance under Koko’s iconic copper dome and gilded balconies to Arlo Park’s latest album My Soft Machine this Frieze. Taking the baton from Loyle Carner, Parks has been announced as this year’s Frieze London Music artist. Celebrating the intersection of music and the arts, Frieze invites guests and members to watch Parks live performance on October 10 at Koko Club, Camden. JA
5. ESTHER MAHLANGU MURAL AT SERPENTINE NORTH
Head to the garden at Serpentine North for the unveiling of Esther Mahlangu’s newest site-specific work, Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (‘I am because you are’ in English). Painted over sixteen wooden panels, the South African artist’s vibrant geometric motifs dance amongst black borders, expressing the traditional Ndebele techniques Mahlangu has been working with for over 80 years. Mahlangu’s monumental mural will be on view from October 4, 2024, to September 28, 2025. JA
6. FRIEZE FILM X ICA ARTIST’S FILM PROGRAMME
Make your way to the Institute of Contemporary Arts for an exciting screening programme: Frieze Film. With an emphasis on early career and under-exposed artists, the films on view have been selected by a jury of renowned artistic directors and curators, to be screened from 12-9pm throughout Frieze week. Highlights include Xin Liu’s imaginations of the future in her captivating work, The White Stone. Watch the trailer here. JA
Elisa Giardina Papa, ‘U Scantu’: A Disorderly Tale, 2022, 12 min. 12 sec. Image courtesy of the artist and Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
7. SMOKE
LA-based Pablo José Ramírez, (curator at The Hammer Museum) brings a new, themed section to Frieze London this year. ‘Smoke’ presents ceramic works which explore diasporic and indigenous histories, showcasing the impact this historic medium has had on contemporary art. Don’t miss Noé Martínez’s hanging heads, which reference the forms and techniques of indigenous Huastecan pottery. Also presented in ‘Smoke’, are the ceramic pots and engine-oil paintings of Mayan artist, Manuel Chavajay, who marries traditional practices with contemporary environmental concerns. JA
Noé Martínez, Racimo 3, 2022, photography by Evan Jenkins, courtesy of the artist and PATRON Gallery
8. FRIEZE MASTERS TALKS
Bringing artists, architects, politicians, writers and curators together in conversation, Frieze ‘Masters Talks’ forge creative connections and consider the changing nature of artistic production. Join the Director of MOMA, Glenn Lowry, for his conversation with Nairy Baghramian and Julian Rose on October 11 at 12pm, where they will discuss Spatial Intelligence: Considering the people and politics of cultural space. Also speaking throughout the week are contemporary artist Jeremy Deller, Gabriele Finaldi, the director of the National Gallery, and Jan Dalley, the former arts editor of the Financial Times, amongst others. ‘Masters Talks’ 2024 is conceived by Shanay Jhaveri and Sheena Wagstaff as a series of conversations entitled ‘The Creative Mind’. Be sure to check out the full programme of talks here. JA
9. MIRE LEE AT TATE’S TURBINE HALL
The latest commission for the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, by Mire Lee, is opening on October 8 to kick off Frieze week. Known for her kinetic, sculptural installations, the Korean-born artist promises an exciting new entry to the colossal atrium, which has been home to some of the most iconic contemporary art exhibits of the twenty-first century. Also on at Tate Modern during Frieze, don’t miss Mike Kelly’s first major UK exhibition, amalgamating the artist’s collage, performance and multimedia installations from October 3. JA
‘Mire Lee: Black Sun’, 2023. Courtesy: the artist and New Museum, New York; photography by Dario Lasagni
10. CURATOR-LED TOUR OF FRIEZE SCULPTURE PARK
If you’re still keen for more, catch the last of the Frieze frenzy by booking an exclusive guided tour of Frieze Sculpture with director Fatos Üstek. From Zanele Muholi’s queer avatars to Libby Heaney’s non-earthly delights, this year’s artists have been selected for their experimental and daring approaches, offering new and exciting perspectives on sculpture. Don’t miss this curator led tour of a sculpture-frosted Regents Park taking place on October 27, before the park is de-Friezed. JA
Theresa Chromati, steadfast, step into me (allow silence to create the sounds you desire most), 2022. VETA by Fer Francés, photography courtesy of Frieze
Top image: Sandra Poulson; Mesa de 12 Horas, 2023; Satin fabric, MDF, aluminium wire, fabric hardener, textile stuffing 112h x 200w x 160d cm, photography courtesy of Almine Rech
