Andy Baraghani’s Top Picks from Frieze New York Viewing Room

Polly Apfelbaum, Off Grid, 2025

Terracotta and glaze, 58.4 × 43.2 cm. Presented by Frith Street Gallery. $50k – $100k

If Ellsworth Kelly dropped acid and started quilting, you'd land somewhere near Off Grid. The piece feels like a celebration of spontaneity, where structured patterns meet playful chaos. I love the colour decisions here: it’s like someone shows up in a perfect outfit and pretends they didn’t think about it (I see you, Polly!).

Mary Stephenson, Soft Shell, 2025

Oil on linen, 190.2 × 150.2 cm. Presented by Chapter NY. $20k – $50k.

There’s something immediately familiar about Soft Shell. The colours are hushed but not shy – chalky whites and hazy blues. The whole thing feels like it was painted through frosted glass. The title says it all: delicate, yes, but not fragile. It’s also now making me crave soft-shell crabs. 

Wanda Koop, No Words (Satellite Dish), 1986

Acrylic on plywood, 243.8 × 243.8 cm. Presented by Night Gallery. $100k – $250k

This one stares back at you like it’s been watching the whole time. Cold – almost corporate – but unmistakably human. The dish sits there like a warning or a witness, beaming out signals no one really understands any more. It’s all very clean, very controlled, while having just enough texture to keep you grounded while the subject floats somewhere between nostalgia and surveillance paranoia.

Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato, Untitled, 1993

Oil on canvas on hardboard, 35 × 30 cm. Presented by Mendes Wood DM. $100k – $250k

Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato’s work feels like the kind of art that gets under your skin, in the best way – like it doesn’t try to impress but still manages to make you pause, think, and feel something. It’s not about flashy statements or high concepts. It’s about the texture, the material and how it all comes together so effortlessly.

Ha Chong-Hyun, Conjunction 24-45, 2024

Oil on hemp cloth, 117 × 91 cm. Presented by Kukje Gallery. $230k

This one’s all about control. Conjunction 24-45 barely raises its voice but still gets the last word. The surface feels like skin that’s been weathered but cared for – brushed, not scrubbed. Ha’s been making these Conjunction paintings since the 1970s, and somehow this one feels both ancient and fresh. There are no big gestures here, no flash. Just the quiet confidence of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.

About Andy Baraghani

Andy Baraghani is a bestselling author and award-winning chef. Born in the Bay Area and now deeply woven into the fabric of New York, Andy has become one of the most sought-after names in the food world. At the age of 16, he began working at the world-renowned restaurant Chez Panisse. He continued his culinary training at the prestigious L’Arpège in Paris and Estela in New York before moving into food media. His recipes and writing centre on the intersection of food and identity. He is currently a contributor to the New York Times and is working on his next book.

Read more Curated Picks from Frieze New York 2025, including Ulla Johnson, Margot Norton, Paul Baker Prindle, Paris Starn and Sight Unseen.

About Frieze Viewing Room  

Open to all from 30 April – 16 May 2025, Frieze Viewing Room is the online catalogue for Frieze New York, giving global audiences access to gallery presentations at the fair. Visitors can search artworks by artist, price, date and medium, save favourite artworks and presentations, chat with galleries and much more.

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Frieze New York, The Shed, 7 – 11 May, 2025. Tickets are on sale – don’t miss out, buy yours now. Alternatively, become a member to enjoy premier access, exclusive guided tours and more.

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^{Main image: Polly Apfelbaum, Off Grid, 2025. Terracotta and glaze, 58.4 × 43.2 cm. Courtesy: Frith Street Gallery}