Frieze is consistent in its ability to disappoint. For an international fair it has too often been the place to see uninspiring work from a network global galleries dispensing the usual high end tosh to people with more money than taste. Stopped going years ago.

The fringe galleries were always the more interesting. It's a shame you have to wade through all the other dirge to get to them.  The overall effect is overpriced tedious elitism.

When you come to pay online, it offers a discount code. i just presumed

The advice I'd give would be to set aside your emphasis on so-called urban art and just go to Frieze London.

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Frieze Week is by far the most important period in London's art calendar.

At the risk of stating the obvious, it's called "Frieze Week" because Frieze London is the focal point — the primary reason (especially in conjunction with Frieze Masters) why the art world descends upon the city.

Everything else is a piggyback exercise arranged to coincide with Frieze. To take advantage of the huge audience it draws in:


-  There are the satellite fairs, such as Sunday Art Fair, PAD London, 1-54 London, The Other Art Fair, British Art Fair, Roy's Art Fair and Moniker Art Fair.

-  The major auction houses schedule their modern & contemporary sales for this time.

-  A number of London museums hold concurrent blockbuster exhibitions.

-  Galleries put on shows by their heavy-hitters.

-  Local artists ensure their studios are ready for open days, or to receive drop-ins by visiting curators, dealers and collectors.

-  Parties, receptions and dinners take place in the evenings.


And it's all happening during one whirlwind week.

But Frieze London is really the headline act. The main event. This year, "more than 160 of the world's leading galleries" will be featured.

So the idea of attending a sideshow like Moniker but not Frieze is, to my mind, a trifle insane. It's like spending an entire diving trip taking close-ups of a remora, and not bothering to also photograph or pay attention to the great white.

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In case a visitor were to dislike all the work showcased at Frieze, and find each of the curated talks boring, they would still have had a worthwhile learning experience.

Every art enthusiast owes it to themselves to acquire at least a superficial overview of what's happening in the broader contemporary scene. They should have an idea of the artists, movements, concepts, themes and stylistic trends that are currently capturing or retaining the attention of key players in the market.

And for this, there's no better place in the UK than at Frieze.



My position would be to get out there and see as much art as possible.

Enjoy Frieze and Frieze Week for what they are — slight chaos and sensory overload; the perfect opportunity to fine-tune one's critical eye; a chance to establish or consolidate relationships with dealers you wouldn't otherwise meet in person; and a time for taking notes of artists and galleries to keep on your radar.

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[Separate aside:

If there's any member here whose artistic reference points are restricted to the names commonly discussed on this forum, then they are selling themselves short. In which case, I encourage them to be more ambitious with their art education — to cast their net further afield. Otherwise, they'll remain the type of collector who doesn't recognise 90% of the names when flicking through a contemporary day sale catalogue for Christie's, Sotheby's or Phillips.

Nobody can know everything, but such a degree of ignorance is unenviable. It will never help a person to strengthen their collection. Instead, it's more of a recipe for purchase mistakes, even if one's collecting is limited to a ghetto sub-genre like urban art.

There will be plenty of times when a charming dealer presents us with an attractive, well-executed but derivative artwork created in a style that has become hackneyed. And on each of those occasions — when deciding whether to buy — the only thing a clueless collector will see is an attractive, well-executed artwork.

I'm a firm believer it's worthwhile putting in the effort to not be that kind of collector.]

Come say hello if you're in town for frieze or Moniker. We are donating 25% of all profits from this show to the World land trust.

Hey,

Anyone with VIP credentials for the online viewing room? Discretion assured if you want to send me a DM, would like t have a browse when it opens thanks 

YES, This will be excellent.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Dallas Art Fair Online site and purchased a few pieces.

Very Easy to browse and enjoy or window shop.

Does the forum have a section to discuss the major art fairs?

Any highlights from this year's frieze NY presentations?

Just wondering if anyone knows why Frieze London is so expensive? Was thinking about going as have a free afternoon on Thursday, but it's £155 a ticket! Not sure if I'm missing something (like a free guest ticket)

I guess it just costs a bomb to put on. Logistics, insurance etc.

Email some galleries, and ask if they have any extra VIP passes.

I stopped going to Frieze years ago as it alway felt terrible value for money. Most of the art in the main galleries was awful. The fringe galleries were by far the more interesting.

Its a mix - the cost to set up Frieze is enormous, most other fairs use existing buildings and infrastructure.
That said prices are also strategic to “keep the riff raff “ out.