LA Art Hotspot During Frieze
Los Angeles has become a global art destination this week thanks to Frieze, which triggered twelve must-see exhibitions around the city ranging from contemporary painting to immersive installations. The Art Newspaper's guide highlights LA as a prime destination for art-focused travelers seeking cutting-edge cultural experiences.
- This year marks the seventh edition of Frieze Los Angeles, which first launched in 2019 at Paramount Pictures Studios, solidifying the city's status as a major art destination. - The 2026 fair, held at the Santa Monica Airport, brings together approximately 95 to 100 galleries from 22 countries, including major international names like Gagosian, Pace Gallery, and Hauser & Wirth alongside a strong contingent of local galleries. - For the third consecutive year, curator Essence Harden is directing the "Focus" section, which is dedicated to solo presentations by 15 emerging U.S. galleries established within the last decade. - Beyond the main fair, the event spurs a city-wide art week, with concurrent events like the Felix Art Fair at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and major exhibitions at institutions such as the Getty, the Hammer Museum, and The Broad. - Since its inception, the presence of Frieze is credited with influencing a number of prominent international galleries, including David Zwirner and Marian Goodman, to open permanent exhibition spaces in Los Angeles. - Previous editions have drawn around 30,000 to 32,000 attendees, including major collectors, museum leaders, and celebrities, with sales often reaching into the millions for single artworks. - Pace Gallery's booth will feature artists with strong ties to Los Angeles, including a diamond-shaped installation by James Turrell and works by David Hockney and filmmaker David Lynch. - Frieze was founded by Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, who launched the contemporary art magazine *Frieze* in 1991 before holding the first art fair in London in 2003.
