Emerging Artists and Young Galleries at Frieze
Frieze Focus
It’s Frieze week, and the whirlwind has only just begun!
While this week offers much more than the fair itself—countless exhibitions, events, and parties are taking advantage of the influx of international visitors and top collectors to the city—the true epicentre remains the iconic fair tents in Regent’s Park.
Opening to the public this afternoon, following exclusive invitation-only previews, the fair promises its signature lineup of contemporary art powerhouses along with exciting opportunities to discover emerging talent like never before.
This year, Frieze has shaken up the layout, bringing smaller and mid-sized galleries to the forefront. The spotlight shines especially bright on Frieze Focus, a dedicated section that amplifies emerging artists and galleries.
Emerging Talent
This year, Focus brings together 34 solo and dual presentations from five continents, offering a unique opportunity to experience cutting-edge works from up-and-coming artists. These are artists who are on the cusp of breaking through, offering fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to contemporary art.
Stone Island is the official partner of the Focus section and offers each participating gallery a bursary alongside Frieze’s subsidy. This support helps emerging galleries younger than 12 years old take part in the fair and present today’s most forward-thinking artists, underscoring a shared commitment to experimentation, innovation and creative community-building.
Curated by Joumana Asseily (Marfa’), Piotr Drewko (Wschód), and Cédric Fauq (CAPC musée d’art contemporain), the Focus section is a carefully collated snapshot of the future of the art world. From London to Dakar, New York to Mexico City, the roster of galleries and artists represents a diverse, global conversation about art.
London Scene
For those particularly invested in London’s dynamic art landscape, Focus offers a closer look at the local galleries that are shaping the city’s cultural future.
This year's participants are especially notable for the diversity of artistic approaches and mediums. Public Gallery, for instance, steps into the surreal with Nils Alix-Tabeling’s sculptures, which fuse mythology with queer narratives. Soft Opening is showcasing Dean Sameshima's Numbers, a series of join-the-dots paintings that, when completed, reveal sexually explicit images. Meanwhile, Ginny on Frederick presents Charlotte Edey’s intricate works, exploring themes of femininity and identity through drawing and tapestry.
The platform Focus provides for participating galleries and artists is undeniable—just look at Ginny on Frederick’s 2023 presentation of Jack O’Brien’s work, which paved the way for O’Brien’s new solo exhibition at Camden Art Centre (Jack O’Brien: The Reward, October 4 - December 29, 2024).
New(ish) spaces such as Rose Easton (featuring Eva Gold), Nicoletti (with Divine Southgate-Smith) and Harlesden High Street (showing Savannah Harris) highlight the vibrancy that London-based galleries bring to the emerging international gallery scene.
A special shoutout to Harlesden High Street, who not only have a killer booth but are also co-founders of Minor Attractions, a smaller fair held at The Mandrake Hotel, and its all everyone’s been talking about over the past few days. It’s bringing together a mix of emerging artists and galleries, and honestly, it's the best thing to see this week!
International Conversation
While the local scene in London shines, Focus also brings together an impressive selection of international galleries. From 56 Henry, New York, showcasing Jo Messer’s deconstructed female nudes to Selebe Yoon, Dakar presenting Hamedine Kane’s multimedia installations.
The inclusion of galleries like Llano, Mexico City, presenting Tania Ximena’s video works, or Stars, Los Angeles, featuring the whimsical pieces of Danny Bredar, speaks to the global exchange of ideas that Focus nurtures. This cross-continental representation is vital, not just for the diversity of voices but also for fostering collaboration and mutual influence among artists and galleries from different cultural backgrounds.
Will you be there?
Art fairs like Frieze can often feel like spaces dominated by well-established galleries and big-name artists. Focus challenges that perception by putting the spotlight squarely on emerging talent. For visitors, this is an opportunity to engage with art in its most exciting and experimental form, and a chance to be a part of discovering the artists and galleries that could shape the cultural landscape in years to come.
Your visit to Focus is more than just an art experience; it’s an act of support for the future of the art world. By engaging with the work of young galleries and emerging artists, you’re contributing to a vital ecosystem that thrives on innovation, risk-taking, and fresh perspectives. These artists and galleries depend on collectors and art lovers to recognise and celebrate their contributions to contemporary culture. So for collectors, critics, and enthusiasts alike, the 2024 edition of Frieze Focus is not to be missed!
If you’re going to the fair, we’d love to hear your thoughts!