Frieze LA VIP Day Sparks 'Frenzy'
Frieze Los Angeles's VIP day was marked by a high-energy atmosphere, with dealers reporting a "frenzy" of activity from collectors and celebrities. The Art Newspaper's on-the-ground diary captured the fair's social pulse, highlighting the convergence of the art, fashion, and entertainment worlds.
The VIP day's high-velocity sales included a $2.8 million work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby and a $1.5 million painting by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, both at David Zwirner's booth. David Kordansky Gallery reported selling a Jonas Wood painting for $600,000 and a Mary Weatherford piece for $300,000, part of more than $2.4 million in total sales. Now in its seventh edition, the fair unfolds within a vast temporary tent at the Santa Monica Airport, a venue it moved to in 2023. This setting has been described as a "non-place," mirroring the constant transit of people, objects, and capital that defines the art market itself. Spotted in the aisles were actors Emma Watson, Christoph Waltz, Orlando Bloom, and Timothy Olyphant, alongside NFL legend Joe Montana. The celebrity presence underscores the fair's role as a key crossover point between the art world and Hollywood's creative and financial ecosystems. Fashion's presence was structural, not just stylistic. Streetwear platform Hypeart and auction house Bonhams mounted a joint exhibition, "Under the Same Sky," while fashion brand Stone Island sponsored the "Focus" section for emerging galleries. Canadian retailer Aritzia also partnered with photographer Gregory Crewdson for a public installation during the week. Beyond the sales, major galleries presented institution-worthy installations. Pace Gallery unveiled a never-before-seen work by Light and Space artist James Turrell, while Sprüth Magers paid tribute to the late L.A. conceptual art pioneer John Baldessari. Roberts Projects marked the centennial of Black Arts Movement icon Betye Saar with a presentation of her sketchbooks and archival materials. The fair also engaged with the local community through pointed initiatives. This year saw the debut of the Frieze Library, a project inviting galleries to donate publications to the Pacific Palisades Library to help rebuild its collection after the devastating 2025 wildfires. Curated by Essence Harden for the third consecutive year, the ‘Focus’ section highlighted 15 emerging U.S.-based galleries. The California African American Museum also used its dedicated acquisition fund to purchase a piece by Jessica Taylor Bellamy from the booth of Anat Ebgi.
