Frieze awards Focus Stand Prize

Frieze awarded its 2026 Focus Stand Prize to Buenos Aires gallery W-galería on May 13 for a solo presentation by Indigenous Chilean artist Seba Calfuqueo, the fair organizer said. The announcement came during the invitation-only preview day of Frieze New York at The Shed. (frieze.com) Frieze said the prize recognizes a gallery in the Focus section for an “ambitious and thoughtful presentation,” and this year’s winner was selected from the section devoted to younger galleries and emerging artists. The award adds to a fair edition that Frieze has described as having a strong Latin American presence. Frieze said W-galería’s booth centered on Calfuqueo’s work across synthetic hair, ceramics, photography and video. (frieze.com) Ricardo Ocampo Feris of W-galería said in the announcement that the gallery was “especially happy” to share the moment with Calfuqueo and the team behind the project. ### Which gallery and artist won the prize? W-galería of Buenos Aires won the 2026 Focus Stand Prize for its solo presentation of Seba Calfuqueo, Frieze said on May 13. The gallery is listed in the fair’s Focus section at Stand F11. (frieze.com) Seba Calfuqueo was identified by Frieze as an Indigenous Chilean artist. Frieze said Calfuqueo’s practice is rooted in Mapuche and queer identities and uses the body as a site of memory and resistance. ### What did the winning presentation include? Frieze’s March preview of emerging artists at the fair described Calfuqueo’s presentation as combining glazed ceramics, synthetic black hair, paintings, photographs and video. (frieze.com) The synthetic hair extends from ceramic forms and across the wall into words including “kellufe” and “informante,” Frieze wrote at the time. Frieze said in the prize announcement that Calfuqueo’s work uses synthetic hair as a symbol of the collision between the intimate and the political. The organizer also said the booth included ceramics, photography and video. (frieze.com) ### Who chose the winner? The 2026 jury comprised Rita Gonzalez of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Shamim M. Momin of The Bronx Museum and Amy Smith-Stewart of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Frieze said. The organizer had previously said the prize would be decided by a group of international curators reviewing each Focus presentation. (frieze.com) Frieze did not specify the cash amount of this year’s Focus Stand Prize in the winner announcement. In an April 28 article outlining fair prizes and initiatives, Frieze said the Focus Stand Prize carries a monetary award. (frieze.com) ### Which other galleries were recognized? Frieze said honorable mentions went to London gallery Soft Opening for its presentation of Joanne Burke and to New York gallery Gordon Robichaux for its presentation of Deondre Davis. Those mentions were included alongside the winner announcement on May 13. The Focus section is one of the fair’s distinct gallery groupings. (frieze.com) Frieze’s visitor information says the 2026 edition includes approximately 65 galleries, with Focus among the named sections. ### Where does this fit inside Frieze New York 2026? Frieze New York 2026 is the fair’s 15th edition and runs from May 13 to May 17 at The Shed, according to Frieze’s fair page. (frieze.com) The invitation-only preview was held on Wednesday, May 13, and the fair opened to the public on May 14. The fair’s broader program also includes projects and events across The Shed, the Whitney Museum of American Art and Dia Art Foundation from May 13 to 17, Frieze said in its program announcement. (frieze.com) Frieze’s website says tickets remain available while the fair continues through May 17. (frieze.com 1) (frieze.com 2) (frieze.com 3)