With New Work in ‘Focus’, Tahir Karmali Rolls With the Punches
The Brooklyn-based artist on his visceral new ‘spinal’ works, daily boxing regime and collaboration with Focus partner Stone Island at Frieze New York
The Brooklyn-based artist on his visceral new ‘spinal’ works, daily boxing regime and collaboration with Focus partner Stone Island at Frieze New York
Born in Nairobi and based in Brooklyn NYC, Tahir Karmali works across photography, installation, papermaking, sculpture and sound: but his works share a visceral quality, connected to the artist’s own body. Often incorporating blood and saliva along with plaster, gauze and metal hardware, his new works for Focus at Frieze New York, supported by Stone Island, are also informed by his passion for the boxing ring.
‘Boxing is a daily activity for me,’ says Karmali in this video. ‘It’s studio, then boxing.’ The film follows the artist from his studio to OutBox, New York’s first trans-owned queer boxing gym, as Karmali explains how he sees a parallel in the city’s constant cycles of building up and tearing down and the flux of the body in reconstruction. Working in his studio, where works splash and bleed on to other works, almost feels like a bout: ‘You have to have that confidence to destroy something you made,’ he says.
For Frieze New York, Karmali collaborated with Stone Island to translate his work into T-shirts, which, worn by Frieze staff, will be ‘moving around like blood cells’ at the fair. ‘It was really collaborative,’ he says of working with Stone Island’s experimental fabric technology. ‘They can mimic what I do in the studio quite accurately.’
About Stone Island
Founded in Italy in 1982, Stone Island has consistently pushed fabric technology and experimentation, particularly focusing on functionality and utilitarianism. As the Official Partner of Focus, Stone Island offers each participating gallery a bursary alongside Frieze’s subsidy. This support helps emerging galleries younger than 12 years take part in Focus and present today’s most forward-thinking artists, underscoring a shared commitment to experimentation, innovation and creative community.
Tahir Karmali is showing at Frieze New York with Management.
Karmali’s work will also be on view during Frieze Week New York at Stone Island’s flagship store at 41 Greene Street 10013 New York.
Further Information
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.
