London transforms into a global art hub each October, with Frieze London leading the charge as one of the season's most anticipated events. Running from October 15-19 in Regent's Park, the fair's 23rd edition will showcase 168 galleries from 43 countries, presenting an ambitious array of solo presentations, duo exhibitions, artist-to-artist selections, and carefully curated sections. This year's programming places particular emphasis on themes of identity, with artists exploring concepts of self, belonging, and expression through diverse materials ranging from furniture and driftwood to metal, resin, and acrylic.
The fair's solo presentations feature several standout exhibitions that demonstrate the contemporary art world's evolving landscape. Modern Art will unveil 15 new stoneware sculptures by Sanya Kantarovsky, presenting a striking collection of freestanding and wall-mounted works rendered in glazes enriched with copper carbonate, cobalt oxide, and manganese dioxide. At Gagosian, Los Angeles-based artist Lauren Halsey will present new installations and sculptures that align with Afrofuturism and funk aesthetics, expressing themes of community, identity, and civic pride. Meanwhile, Portas Vilaseca will spotlight Guatemalan Maya-Tzutujil artist Antonio Pichillá Quiacaín, whose textiles, sculptures, and videos weave ancestral traditions into contemporary artistic language.
The Focus section, dedicated to emerging galleries, continues Frieze's spirit of discovery with 35 exhibitors from over 20 countries capturing the restless energy of contemporary practice. Gathering gallery will present Christelle Oyiri's immersive installation featuring acid-green visuals that examine the enduring impact of chlordecone on the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Eunjo Lee, exhibited by Niru Ratnam, will unveil a deeply cinematic trilogy that expands digital storytelling language through gaming software. Alina Rentsch will transform Petrine's modest corner booth into an illusionary interior space, while Alex Margo Arden at Ginny on Frederick will reimagine an Accident Reporting Board as an artistic statement.
The Artist-to-Artist initiative returns for its third edition, featuring six established names in unique collaborative presentations. Ana Segovia will invoke Spain's golden age of cinema through vivid paintings and scenographic installations at Kurimanzutto. Interdisciplinary artist Katherine Hubbard, working with Company Gallery, will collaborate with her mother Antonette Berger to photograph their Philadelphia home as an intimate performance space. T Venkanna will present bold, large-format works created with ink, brush, and egg tempera, displayed in striking three-color compositions at Gallery Maskara.
Curated by Dr. Jareh Das, the "Echoes in the Present" series traces resonances between artists from Brazil, Africa, and their diasporas, mapping shared histories and cultural exchanges through the interconnected themes of land, material, and memory. Diambe, presented by Simões de Assis, will showcase new paintings and sculptures that merge figuration and abstraction in lush, organic landscapes populated by fantastical beings. Tadáskía, working with Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel, explores the concept of the shell through painting, sculpture, drawing, and text as a poetic convergence of metamorphosis, fantasy, and Afro-diasporic and Indigenous narratives.
Additionally, Alberto Pitta will present new works from his long-running Mariwô series at Nara Roesler, inspired by the sacred Mariwô leaf used in Candomblé houses. These presentations collectively demonstrate how contemporary artists continue to probe fundamental questions of identity while celebrating cultural heritage through innovative artistic expression. The fair promises to offer visitors a comprehensive view of current artistic practices that address both personal and collective identity in an increasingly interconnected world.
