Frieze London 2021
October 2021

And we’re back. After a pause on live events through the first year of the COVID pandemic, Frieze is returning to the city where it was founded with two in person art fairs. The excitement for a fully-fledged Frieze Week is palpable. Museums and galleries are hosting unmissable shows, and at hotels, bars and restaurants, the city is primed to celebrate like it’s... 2019 (or the last time before anyone heard about the novel coronavirus). While we all relish the prospect of getting back to normal, we might also ask ‘what’s normal’? As we celebrate our coming back together for Frieze London and Frieze Masters, in this issue we also highlight some ideas for what we want to do with the world we’re re-inhabiting: from championing diversity (p.20), to addressing climate change (p.14), platforming young talents (p.16) and saluting pioneers (p.60). Our cover image, by Gareth McConnell shows a blossom growing in the fairs’ setting of the Regent’s Park, looking gorgeously fragile. I take it as a reminder to look at beauty, but also to do another, related thing: care.

—Matthew McLean, Creative Lead, Frieze Studios

From this issue

As collective reopens its renovated exhibition space we look back at its impressive record of rearing talent, dating back to its tram-shed Clapham days.

BY Matthew McLean |

Tieu's film Moving Target Shadow Detection (2021), commissioned for this year’s Frieze Artist Award, investigates a mysterious condition

BY Chloe Stead |

Cassa Pancho takes stock of how the landscape has changed for dancers of colour since she started Ballet Black in 2001

BY Emily May AND Cassa Pancho |

Meet the London-based collaborative duo, curators this year's Frieze London LIVE programme

BY Olamiju Fajemisin |

A new initiative by Frieze, No.9 Cork Street, continues Cork Street’s rich history of artistic experimentation and public engagement

BY Louisa Buck |

From the first commission by Olivia Erlanger in 2017 to this year's light installation by Madeline Hollander, BMW Open Work brings together arts, innovation, technology and design

Digital artist Mathieu Le Sourd – aka Maotik – speaks about his immersive installation at Frieze London 2021 celebrating La Prairie's newest creation

Sponsored by La Prairie

 

The photographer explains about why he chose fauvist florals for his Frieze London and Frieze Masters 2021 campaign commission

 

BY Neal Brown AND Gareth McConnell |

The Lewisham born and bred ANDAM prize winner on her early influences, designing menswear and how she exists in two worlds at once 

BY Lynette Nylander |

Matthew McLean questions what great feasts throughout art history tell us about plenty and excess

BY Matthew McLean |

A new limited-edition work by the artist will help fund the third edition of the Frieze × Deutsche Bank Emerging Curators Fellowship in partnership with the V&A East

BY Matthew McLean |

Andrea Emelife talks to patron Ralph Segreti about the artists he champions, including Theaster Gates

BY Aindrea Emelife AND Ralph Segreti |

As the COP26 conference approaches, how individual artists and artist institutions are responding to the demands of the climate crisis

BY Tom Jeffreys |