The 20th edition of Frieze London and Frieze Masters in Regent’s Park showcased a diverse array of artworks, attracting art enthusiasts from around the globe. Despite London's uncertain art market, the event delivered robust sales and star-studded appearances. Notable sales included works by influential female artists and living sculptors, marking a significant shift in the art world.
Two of the standout sales were Louise Bourgeois's "Knife Work" (1949), which fetched $3 million, and Louise Nevelson's sculpture "Model for Celebration II" (1976), which sold for $2 million. Frieze also emphasised the works of living female sculptors, featuring Barbara Chase-Riboud, Leilah Babiyre, Arlene Shechet, and Teresita Fernández, all drawing considerable interest.
The international flavour of the event was underlined by more than 200 exhibitors from six continents, with 28 participants celebrating their 20th year at Frieze London. High-profile attendees, including Emily Blunt, Kim Cattrall, Jarvis Cocker, Giancarlo Esposito, and others, added a touch of glamour to the event.
Isabella Icoz, recently announced as a partner at Lehmann Maupin, praised Frieze London's role in solidifying London's status as a top-tier destination for the global art market.
Lehmann Maupin, Frieze London 2023. Photo by Linda Nylind/Frieze
Notable Sales:
Hauser & Wirth:
-
Louise Bourgeois's "Knife Work" (1949) for $3 million.
-
Works on paper by Philip Guston, with an untitled charcoal piece selling for $600,000 and an untitled ink work for $200,000.
-
Jack Whitten's "Atlantic Rising" (1966) for $950,000.
-
Two works on paper by Barbara Chase-Riboud for $120,000 each.
Almine Rech:
-
A Jonathan Gardner painting for between $190,000–250,000.
-
Two Javier Calleja paintings for between $300,000–350,000 and $ 350,000–380,000.
-
A Mehdi Ghadyanloo work for $100,000–110,000.
Thaddaeus Ropac:
-
A 1984 Robert Rauschenberg work for $1.35 million.
-
A 2023 painting by Georg Baselitz for €1.2 million ($1.26 million).
-
Four works by Mandy El-Sayegh for $115,000.
-
Three works by Martha Jungwirth for €320,000 ($336,970).
Kasmin:
-
Robert Motherwell's "Hollow Men No. VI" (1988/1990) for $3.2 million.
-
A Lee Krasner painting for $675,000.
-
A Max Ernst work for $400,000.
-
A Wassily Kandinsky work for $210,000.
Tracey Emin, I Kept Moving (2022). Courtesy the artist and White Cube
White Cube:
-
A painting by Tracey Emin for £1.2 million ($1.45 million).
-
A work by Anselm Kiefer for €1 million ($1.05 million).
-
A sculpture by Antony Gormley for £525,000 ($637,770).
-
A work by Mona Hatoum for £225,000 ($273,330).
-
A work by Tunji Adeniyi-Jones for $80,000.
Pace Gallery:
-
Louise Nevelson's sculpture "Model for Celebration II" (1976) for $2 million, displayed in Frieze Sculpture.
-
A work by Paulina Olowska for $250,000.
-
A painting by Adam Pendleton for $150,000.
Sprüth Magers:
-
A 2023 George Condo painting for $2.6 million.
-
A 2023 work by Anne Imhof for $150,000.
-
A 2007 work by Barbara Kruger for $135,000.
-
Two Rosemarie Trockel ceramics for €95,000 ($100,000) each.
-
A Sylvie Fleury neon work for €80,000 ($84,240).
Xavier Hufkens:
-
A painting by Tracey Emin for £900,000 ($1.1 million).
-
A Sterling Ruby work for $350,000.
-
A Leon Kossoff painting for £250,000.
-
Paintings by Joan Semmel, priced between $150,000–$200,000 each.
-
A Cassi Namoda work in the range of $55,000–$60,000.
-
Paintings by Constantin Nitsche, priced between €10,000 ($10,530) and €55,000 ($57,920).
Damien Hirst The Secret Gardens Paintings (2023). Courtesy the artist and Gagosian.
Sold-Out Booths: Several galleries enjoyed sold-out booths, including Gagosian, Pace, MASSIMODECARLO, Harlesden High Street, Carl Freedman, Praxis, Marianne Boesky, and more. Gagosian presented a solo show for Damien Hirst's latest body of work The Secret Gardens Paintings (2023) of which all 12 paintings sold on the fair’s opening day.
This year's Frieze London and Frieze Masters demonstrated the continued resilience and vitality of the international art market, cementing London's place as a prominent hub for global art enthusiasts and collectors.