All You Need to Know About Frieze New York

Let’s go on a tour of one of the most anticipated art fairs of the year, Frieze New York. Artsper has analyzed the ethos, trends, and what to expect at the 2022 edition of the fair. Enjoy your visit, with Artsper! 

An exciting beginning

Founded in 1991, Frieze is a media and events company created by Amanda Sharp, Matthew Slotover, and Tom Gidley. In 2003, Slotover and Sharp established Frieze London, one of the world’s most dynamic contemporary art fairs. Nine years later, Frieze launched its New York fair, as well as Frieze Masters which operates at the same time as Frieze London. In 2019, Frieze established Frieze Los Angeles. Now, in 2022, Frieze is comprised of three publications and five international art fairs. 

10 years ago, Frieze New York debuted on Randall’s Island. The destination was a structure built specifically for the event, a snake-shaped tent. The size of the building was record-breaking: 250,000 sq ft, to be precise. In fact, the building was included in the Guinness World Book of Records as the longest tented floor in the world. For its first edition, the fair welcomed 180 galleries and was curated by Cecilia Alemani, the chief curator of High Line Art and the artistic director of the 2022 edition of the Venice Biennale. 

The start of a digital transformation 

As the years went by, the fair expanded its program. Amidst the ongoing health crisis, Frieze New York altered its plans, shifting the entire 2020 edition of the fair online. For the first time in the fair’s history collectors and visitors could view the program on the digital platform Frieze Viewing Room. Although different than anticipated, the fair offered an exciting program. Some highlights included an intimate conversation with Ai Weiwei in conjunction with the nonprofit organization, Human Rights Watch. The 2020 edition of the fair was the birth of hybrid Frieze fairs.

The 2022 edition of Frieze New York will include its first dedicated Frieze Viewing Room in collaboration with a partner.  Fair organizers are working with Vortic, the art world’s leading augmented and virtual reality platform. Vortic is known for its expansive and cutting-edge technology, allowing visitors to have an immersive experience. The Frieze Viewing Room opens 5 days before the beginning of the in-person fair, on May 13, 2022.

A return to the Shed 

Frieze New York returns May 18-22, 2022, taking place in the Shed, a cultural center in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards. Although Frieze New York is considered the sister fair to Frieze London and Frieze Los Angeles, each fair has its own character and selection process. 

The fair welcomes 65 of the most prominent players in the international gallery landscape, while also promoting the industry’s budding talents in its Frame section. Given the fair’s location, there is a strong lineup of American galleries, and most notably, New York-based galleries. On top of this, the 2022 edition includes international participants from nearly 20 countries scattered throughout the world. The tenth edition of Frieze New York was spearheaded by Christine Messineo, director of Frieze Los Angeles and Frieze New York, and will celebrate emerging and master figures of the American contemporary art landscape.

Craving a tour of the fair?

Would you like to get a sneak peek of the most anticipated artists of the fair? Or are you interested in spotting the latest trends in the global contemporary scene? An array of galleries participating at the fair are also available on Artsper, including the likes of Perrotin and Thaddaeus Ropac. Discover a slice of Frieze New York without needing to purchase a ticket, from wherever you are located thanks to a selection of works curated by our art experts!