Frieze Seoul debuts Spotlight section

Frieze Seoul opened at Coex in Seoul on Wednesday alongside Kiaf Seoul, starting the city’s annual September art-fair week with late-night gallery programs, museum exhibitions and a new section called Spotlight. Frieze said the section is appearing in Seoul for the first time this year and is dedicated to solo presentations of 20th-century artists. The fair runs from September 2 to September 5 in partnership with Kiaf Seoul, which closes a day later. Local media reported brisk early sales on opening day, including a 1.74 billion won Adrian Ghenie work. ### Why is Spotlight the main new element at this year’s fair? Frieze said Spotlight is one of two new sections added for the 2026 edition and is devoted to underrepresented 20th-century artists. In a June preview, the fair said Spotlight would focus on artists outside dominant Western canons and would be introduced at Frieze Seoul for the first time this year. Wonseok Koh, director of Line Cultural Foundation, curated the section, according to Frieze. The organizer said the section brings together 12 solo presentations and is intended to foreground overlooked figures, evolving practices and significant early works by established artists. ### Which artists are included in the section? Frieze named artists from South Korea, across Asia and parts of Europe in the section’s debut. (frieze.com) The list published by the fair includes Youngsoo Han, Ranhi Suk, Gyutae Hwang, Sang-Ki Son and Hoon Kwak from South Korea, alongside Reba Hore, Etsuko Nakatsuji, Po Po, Lain Singh Bangdel, Nobuo Sekine, Karl Otto Götz and Djordje Ivačković. (frieze.com) Frieze’s own editorial coverage said the presentations touch on 20th-century subjects and movements including avant-garde jazz, mono-ha, the Korean War, and fashion and commercial photography. In a separate article on Po Po, Frieze described Spotlight as a section that “revisits art history beyond the Western canon.” ### How big is Frieze Seoul this year? (frieze.com) The Korea Times reported that Frieze Seoul opened with 133 galleries from 30 countries and regions, while Kiaf Seoul has 175 galleries. The paper said a combined 308 galleries are participating across the two fairs and that this is the final year both events will be held in the same Coex building before Frieze moves to Dongdaemun Design Plaza next year. (frieze.com) Frieze said more than 125 galleries from 30 countries would return to Coex for the fifth edition, with more than 70% based in the Asia-Pacific region and more than 50 exhibitors operating permanent spaces in Seoul. Patrick Lee, director of Frieze Seoul, said in the organizer’s June announcement that the fair remained “closely connected to the artists, galleries and cultural heritage that make the city so compelling.” (koreatimes.co.kr) ### What happened on the market side when the doors opened? Aju Press reported on September 2 that Frieze Seoul was aiming to surpass its prior sales record and that works by Damien Hirst and Yayoi Kusama were among the high-profile draws at the fair. The outlet also reported that Adrian Ghenie sold for 1.74 billion won on opening day. The Korea Times said Gagosian devoted its booth to Damien Hirst and that Hauser & Wirth brought a new Jenny Holzer work alongside pieces by Louise Bourgeois and Lee Lozano. (frieze.com) The paper also cited presentations tied to Korean artists including Do Ho Suh, Koo Jeong-a, Lee Bae and Yoo Young-kuk. ### What else is happening around the fair this week? (ajupress.com) Frieze said its wider Seoul programming includes Neighborhood Nights, public art, film, talks and music across the city during Frieze Week. The June announcement said late-night programs would rotate through Euljiro, Hannam, Cheongdam and Samcheong. Frieze Seoul continues at Coex through September 5, while Kiaf Seoul runs through September 6. (koreatimes.co.kr) The Korea Times reported that the partnership between the two fairs has been extended through 2031 even as Frieze relocates to Dongdaemun Design Plaza in 2027. (frieze.com)