Frieze London is here, and plenty of arts-related events are happening across London to celebrate (especially as it hits its 20th-anniversary mark this year), from skincare residencies to special art menus, fashion exhibitions and panel talks, here’s what to see and do in London (and beyond) this month.
Check into the Rosewood London: Official Frieze hotel sponsor, Rosewood London, is all aflutter with activity this month, anchored by its art-centric escape in the form of its Artistic London Getaway Package in partnership with Ruinart. Expect a chauffeur service to the exhibition space and VIP access to discover the Ruinart Carte Blanche commission, PROMENADE(S).
Rosewood London x Frieze Art Fair
Visit Thaddaeus Ropac at Frieze London: Head to Booth B04 and check out the international, contemporary works brought to you by the leading gallery, Thaddaeus Ropac. There’s plenty to see from renowned artists: Alvaro Barrington, Imi Knoebel, Georg Baselitz, Robert Longo, Oliver Beer, Robert Mapplethorpe, Rosemarie Castoro, Robert Rauschenberg, Tony Cragg, Megan Rooney, Mandy El-Sayegh, Tom Sachs, Sylvie Fleury, Andy Warhol, Martha Jungwirth, Erwin Wurm, and Alex Katz, Zadie Xa.
Calling all Daniel Richter fans, it is worth noting that the famed German artist is now presenting Stupor at London Ely House and online until December—expect bold colors and his signature biomorphic forms.
Thaddaeus Ropac at Frieze London
Head to the Glenfiddich x Ryoichi Kurokawa installations at King’s Cross: A mirrored cube has been installed in front of King’s Cross station, and inside, there is an audio-visual translation of three rare whiskies, offering a chance to learn about the artwork by Glenfiddich brand representatives. For further learning (and tasting), the neighboring bar Sweeties at The Standard, London, just opposite the installation, is home to additional artworks along with a bespoke limited edition menu of cocktails created by the hotel’s Beverage Consultant Zoe Burgess in collaboration with Glenfiddich National Brand Ambassador, Alex Walker.
Glenfiddich x Ryoichi Kurokawa installation at King’s Cross
Here, there’s a collection of aged and exclusive single malt whiskies and cocktails, “I am delighted to have collaborated with Zoe and her team at Sweeties at The Standard, London. As an admirer of their innovative cocktails, it has been hugely inspiring to work with them on this bespoke menu. We took cues from the artworks and the whiskies to produce an indulgent cocktail menu with Glenfiddich 30-year-old Suspended Time at its spearhead. The menu is designed with the environs of the bar front of mind, as well the guests who will be drinking the cocktails as an accompaniment to the audio-visual artworks,” says Alex Walker
Glenfiddich x Sweeties
Celebrate Daniel Arsham’s anniversary with Perrotin Gallery: The Standard has partnered again with New York-based artist Daniel Arsham to help celebrate his 20th Anniversary with Perrotin Gallery, so expect sculptures from his series at The Standard, London this Frieze time. Amber Asher, Chief Executive Officer of Standard International, says, “We are proud to collaborate once again with Daniel Arsham, one of the world’s foremost contemporary artists, by exhibiting his compelling installation across our Standard properties. As a brand, we are committed to creating immersive experiences for our guests and communities through our support of the arts.”
For those in Paris and New York, Arsham will also celebrate this anniversary of working with Emmanuel Perrotin in dual exhibitions at Perrotin Paris (September 2-October 7) and New York (September 6-October 14).
Daniel Arsham x Perrotin Gallery at The Standard, London
Relax at Dr Barbara Sturm’s Anti-Inflammatory Lounge at Frieze: As a continuation of Dr. Barbara Sturm’s global partnership with Frieze, the skincare expert has set up her Anti-Inflammatory Lounge in London. The lounge, first unveiled earlier this year at Frieze Los Angeles, showcases immersive experiences to the art fair attendees, including an anti-inflammatory VR portal powered by Xydrobe and 3D face scanning analysis. Sturm says, “I’ve always loved art, and it plays a huge part in my work; aesthetics is a combination of art and science because you are more or less sculpting and rejuvenating the face. So, for me, this partnership with Frieze is a logical progression and, as the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, it’s exciting for me to be able to bring the STURMGLOWTM to all of its attendees.”
Frieze London x Dr. Barbara Sturm
View Conrad Shawcross at Annabel’s: The private members’ club continues to celebrate the arts with its commission by British contemporary artist Conrad Shawcross to coincide with Frieze London 2023. The large-scale mirrored piece, which explores optics and visual perception, is located in the Club’s reception and is comprised of intricate discs with over 100,000 holes and a blacklight that showcases mesmerizing patterns. Shawcross says, “I’m thrilled to be showing my mirrored Patterns of Absence in the entrance to Annabel’s during Frieze week 2023. From Annabel’s beginnings in the 1960s, it’s been the home of many great works of art (as well as some amazing musicians and performers), and I’m delighted to be adding to their ranks.”
Conrad Shawcross at Annabel’s
Learn about the craft behind Manolo Blahnik: Footwear designer Blahnik is presenting an immersive exhibition, The Craft Room, from 21 October until 5 November. A multi-sensory, virtual reality experience by Xydrobe, the viewer begins at Manolo’s desk, moves through the factory floor and into the world of shoes to discover the craft of shoemaking. Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik says, “I am delighted to showcase the craft room in our virtual archives, a place to celebrate over 50 decades of my uncle’s illustrious career. The development of this digital space has been a passion of mine for many years. To finally bring it to life in 2021 was a dream come true, and now adding a further room this year, highlighting a key pillar of our business, is another milestone I’m incredibly proud of.”
‘The Craft Room’ by Manolo Blahnik
See Kojo Marfo third exhibition at JD Malat Gallery: Multidisciplinary artist Kojo Marfo is back at JD Malat Gallery with a solo show running in parallel with Frieze Week. Entitled Crucible of Hope, the work explores the relationship between success and happiness and how they are perceived by society.
Kojo Marfo at JD Malat Gallery
Dine at the Ham Yard Restaurant: The Ham Yard Restaurant & Bar has popped up again at Frieze Masters in Regent’s Park, serving modern European dishes, coffee, cakes and cocktails (to drink in or take away) to keep guests going. The seasonal menu features dishes such as wildfarmed pappardelle with beef ragù and Parmesan, and poached autumn fruits.
Ham Yard Restaurant at Frieze Masters
Explore the Tokyo Biennale, Japan: This biennale, held every two years and featuring local and international artists, is back and running until 5 November. This year’s theme is all about finding links and forming connections, with attendees being encouraged to interpret works to forge their own relationships. Artists include famed photographer Risaku Suzuki, the Slow Art Collective from Melbourne, Marco Barotti, Naoya Hatakeyama, Masanori Ikeda, and many more.
The city also plays host to the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition, Across the Style, at the National Art Center, Tokyo. Hosted in association with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, this is the first retrospective of the designer’s pieces in Japan since his death, and will run until December.
Models present dresses by French designer Yves saint-Laurent, inspired in 1965 by the work of Dutch … [+]
See a pop-up dedicated to tumbleweed, Marfa, U.S.A: New Mexico-based contemporary artist Matty Mo is known for his work that’s rooted in social commentary, and his latest piece, The Most Expensive Tumbleweed, which is priced at a cool $1.2 million, touches on themes of value, status, contemporary culture, and environmental issues. As part of a group exhibition at Marfa Tumbleweed, a pop-up gallery in Texas by Rachel Binx, she says, “Over the past several years of living in Marfa, I have met many visitors who come to the desert with the hopes of glimpsing our local iconic tumbleweeds. While some residents might eschew the tumbleweed for being an invasive weed, I hope to provide another perspective by celebrating its form and inherent beauty. I am thrilled to add Matty’s art piece to the exhibition, joining seven other artists in presenting tumbleweed-based and tumbleweed-inspired art.”
Marfa Tumbleweed pop-up
Immerse yourself in the Digital Art Fair, Hong Kong: Established in 2020, this art fair is dedicated to Web 3.0, and aims to inspire the next generation of art collectors through digital technology. There will be a whole host of panel discussions, including Collecting in the Web 3.0 Space, The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in the Art World, Empowering Through Disruption: Women Shaping Web3, and a workshop with digital creator Bianca Tse. The fair will run from 19-23 October at the K11 Art & Cultural Centre, K11 MUSEA, in Hong Kong.
Last chance viewings of Sean Scully at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, U.K.: In the Norfolk countryside sits Houghton Hall, and it’s currently home to celebrated artist Sean Scully and his major exhibition, Smaller Than The Sky. The show, which consists of huge sculptures, including stacks made of sandstone, wood, glass and marble, as well as paintings and works on paper, has been running since April and ends on 29 October, so catch it while you can.
Sean Scully at Houghton Hall