It’s that time of year when the art world heads to London for one week before hopping on the Eurostar to cross the English Channel into Paris. This year Frieze London and Frieze Masters kick off the fortnight of fairs, exhibitions, and soirées, followed by Art Basel Paris. Each city offers a distinct vibe, with centuries-old institutions and blue-chip galleries offering the very best in contemporary art alongside the headlining fairs — and let’s not forget the parties offering countless glasses of champagne each evening before the night owls party into the night. Be sure to pace yourself; back-to-back art weeks aren’t for the faint of heart. Here are the key highlights of each art week to help you figure out your itinerary.
THE MAIN FAIRS
Frieze and Frieze Masters are the marquee fairs in London, returning to Regent’s Park for their 22nd and 12th edition from October 9 to 13, featuring over 270 galleries from 47 countries. Some of this year’s highlights include Hauser & Wirth’s exhibition of new photographs, ink drawings, and watercolors by Charles Gaines from his “Shadows” series. At Timothy Taylor, Paul Anthony Smith takes the phrase “Dreams Deferred” from Langston Hughes’s 1951 poem “Harlem” for his lush paintings of some of the world’s most renowned gardens, using them as a metaphor for the complicated paths to success for Black men. Rose Wylie celebrates her 90th birthday with new large scale paintings. Sean Kelly presents Awol Erizku, Jose Dávila, Donna Huanca, Sam Moyer, Julian Charrière, and more. In the Artist-to-Artist section, six globally-acclaimed artists selected solo presentations by emerging artists, such as Rob Davis, who was selected by Rashid Johnson, and Appau Junior Boakye-Yiadom, who was nominated by Glenn Ligon. Over at Frieze Masters, Jack Shainman Gallery presents a solo exhibition of works by Barkley L. Hendricks, showing Jamaican landscapes and self-portraits. Early drawings, paintings, and sculptures by Judy Chicago demonstrate her use of color at Gavlak. Meanwhile, Ben Brown Fine Arts will bring together three Alexander Calder cantilever sculptures for the first time.
Art Basel Paris launches at the newly renovated Grand Palais for its first edition from October 18 to 20, with 195 galleries exhibiting across three sectors, with most galleries showing a mix of artists from their rosters. Françoise Gilot, Kenny Scharf, and Claire Tabouret, and Tom Wesselmann are among the artists who will be exhibited at Almine Rech. Sprüth Magers brings together a group of cross-generational artists, including Nora Turato, Anne Imhof, Kara Walker, Rosemarie Trickel, and George Condo. Jack Shainman Gallery will showcase work by Nina Chanel Abney, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Hank Willis Thomas, Rose B. Simpson, El Anatsui, and others. On October 17 between 2 to 4 pm and October 18 from 12 to 2 pm, Sophie Von Hellerman will paint the dreams of visitors on paper with her set of watercolors at the Pilar Corrias booth, which will also show work by Gisela McDaniel, Elephant’s editor in chief Tschabalala Self, and Hayv Kahraman. In Oh La La!, the fair’s new initiative, galleries will show rarely-seen work for 48 hours, offering a new way of showcasing art. Oh La La! Participants include Massimo De Carlo, Lehmann Maupin, and Esther Schipper.
THE SATELLITE FAIRS
When Frieze and Art Basel are in town, there are also smaller, more niche satellite fairs. In London from October 10 to 13, PAD London in Berkeley Square and 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House are the go-tos, especially if you’re a design lover, or want to see what’s new in contemporary African Art. British-Nigerian artist Slawn will install two London double-decker buses covered in his work in Somerset House’s Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at 1-54 while Carpenter’s Workshop will present two stands at PAD, one of which will showcase over 150 works by Carpenters Workshop Jewelry.
In Paris, a former Baccarat crystal factory will serve as the home of the first The Salon by NADA and The Community from October 17 to 20, with more than 50 participating art galleries and spaces, including 56 Henry, Embajada, Tom of Finland Foundation, and Mrs. Design Miami.Paris returns at L’hôtel de Maisons from October 15 to 20, featuring a solo booth in tribute to the late Gaetano Pesce at Salon 94.
EXHIBITIONS
Mike Kelley: Ghost and Spirit at Tate Modern looks at the late artist’s oeuvre, from his irreverent stuffed animal sculptures to multimedia installations. On October 9 Hayward Gallery opens the first UK survey of Berlin- and Seoul-based Korean artist Haegue Yang, who creates sculptures that meld Korean folklore and materials like Hanji paper with everyday household objects. The National Portrait Gallery will exhibit Francis Bacon: Human Presence from October 10, focusing on the artist’s grotesque, soul-bearing portraits.
Other exhibitions to check out in London include Lygia Clark and Sonia Boyce at Whitechapel Gallery, Lauren Halsey’s “immersive funk garden” at Serpentine Galleries opening on October 11, Tracey Emin’s show of new works reflecting on love, loss, and mortality at White Cube Bermondsey, and those in search of a viral fix can head to Victoria Miro to experience Yayoi Kusama’s new Infinity Mirrored Room, Beauty Described by a Spherical Heart. Additionally, there’s a survey of Indian art from 1975 to 1998 at the Barbican, and Es Devlin presents Congregation at Saint Mary Le Strand Church until October 9, highlighting 50 portraits of displaced individuals.
Over in Paris, Fondation Louis Vuitton will take a look at the oeuvre of the late American pop artist Tom Wesselmann through a new lens, showing 150 of his works alongside a cross-cultural group of artists whose work also contains a pop sensibility, spanning from the 1920s to today. The battle of the luxury titans continues at the Bourse de Commerce, where ironically an exhibition of Arte Povera, the Italian movement from the ‘60s and ‘70s known for its use of humbling materials, fills the 18th-century space reimagined by Tadao Ando. In the 16th arrondissement, from the 17th on at the Palais de Tokyo, Julian Charriere invites you to listen to the sound of the Earth — literally, he recorded sounds from the bowels of volcanoes around the world — in Stone Speakers.
Don’t miss Martine Syms at Lafayette Anticipations from October 16, and two new bodies of painting at Rashid Johnson’s solo exhibition at Hauser & Wirth Paris. Almine Rech will go full circle with its 12th James Turrell exhibition; the light and space legend was also the first artist Rech exhibited when she opened her gallery 35 years ago. Miu Miu presents Tales & Tellers from October 16 to 20 at Palais d’Iéna.
PARTIES
No art week is complete without parties to catch up with colleagues, decompress from a busy day, and to enjoy the nightlife in each city.
In London, The Groucho Club, the storied members-only venue will play host to Timothy Taylor to celebrate Paul Anthony Smith on October 9. Frieze will welcome 500 guests for a giant dinner in the tent. Subekan, the Japanese women’s pro-wrestling league that has been making the art week rounds, is making its London debut on October 10 at York Hall. Also look out for events at the newly reopened Tramp, the members-only club that’s attracted David Cameron, Guy Ritchie, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and more.
Fairclub, the roving art fair party by Tolga Albayrak, returns to Paris on October 17 at Bambou. Brutalisten, Carsten Höller’s Brutalist dining concept, pops up in Paris at 39 boulevard de Vaugirard from October 14 to 20 in collaboration with We Are Ona and chefs Coen Dieleman and Stefan Eriksson.
Words by Ann Binlot
