Star-Studded Frieze Los Angeles 2025: Celebrities Unite After Wildfires!

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Weeks following the destructive wildfires in southern California, the calm and inviting Frieze Los Angeles art fair made its peaceful debut at the Santa Monica Airport.

Amidst the loud hum of aircraft, high-profile individuals flooded the entrance to a grand fair, brimming with over 95 exhibition spaces from more than 20 nations. After the apprehension and sorrow caused by recent fires, there was a sense of camaraderie as people greeted each other warmly. Although rumors circulated that some celebrities were advised to avoid Thursday’s VIP opening for public relations reasons, notable figures such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Oliver Stone, Katie Couric, Kid Cudi, Lisa Edelstein, Rosetta and Balthazar Getty, Minka Kelly, Bob and Linda Gersh, Susan Bay Nimoy, Lauren Taschen, and regular Frieze attendee Michael Chow were among those who attended.

However, if the entertainment industry was sparse compared to normal (initial reports suggested that Hollywood stars were out in abundance on Friday), artists stepped up to support their fellow creators. Notable figures like Takashi Murakami, Catherine Opie, Christina Quarles, Alison Saar, Betye Saar, Analia Saban, Alake Shilling, Mary Weatherford, Jonas Wood, Lita Albuquerque, Tanya Aguiñiga, Jackie Amézquita, Sadie Barnette, Claire Chambless, Sam Falls, and Coco Fusco were among those present.

Museum leaders demonstrated their dedication to the arts community during their pursuit of additional artworks. Notably present were Michael Govan from LACMA, Johanna Burton as MOCA director, along with other key figures such as Thelma Golden, Louise Bernard, Amanda Hunt, and Heidi Zuckerman.

During a breakfast prior to the fair, distinguished guests enjoyed a spread that included bagels, deviled eggs, coffee, and mimosas. At this event, Christine Messineo, the director of Frieze’s Americas division, underscored the significance of art during challenging periods. She expressed, “Our museums, our art galleries, our collectors, and above all, our artists mold and revamp our art community.

On the very first day of the Frieze Los Angeles event, several galleries experienced sell-outs. Among them was Mariane Ibrahim, who ran out of pieces from their debut presentation, showcasing Haitian American painter Patrick Eugène and artist Jennifer Rochlin. Similarly, David Kordansky Gallery sold all their exhibits featuring the interdisciplinary artist Maia Cruz Palileo. Lastly, Casey Kaplan gallery also reported a sell-out, showcasing Sydney Cain’s works, each priced at approximately $30,000.

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The first day of Frieze Los Angeles saw several galleries running out of stock. Mariane Ibrahim sold out their inaugural exhibition, featuring Haitian American painter Patrick Eugène and Jennifer Rochlin. Similarly, David Kordansky Gallery was left with nothing after selling all pieces by interdisciplinary artist Maia Cruz Palileo. Lastly, Casey Kaplan gallery reported a sell-out, having showcased works by Sydney Cain, each priced around $30,000.

On the opening day, Jessica Silverman gallery quickly sold most of its exhibit in the morning hours, with notable pieces like a Loie Hollowell artwork fetching $170,000, a porcelain wall creation by Rebecca Manson going for $80,000, and a sculpture by Sadie Barnette selling at $75,000. Meanwhile, Dominique Gallery made significant sales in the FOCUS section, securing an institutional placement to LACMA’s collection from their solo presentation of LA artist Adee Roberson.

Notable sales at various galleries featured the purchase of a Ruth Asawa artwork valued around $1 million at Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, a substantial series of transactions included a Yoshitomo Nara piece going for $750,000 at BLUM, and David Zwirner saw the exchange of an Elizabeth Peyton painting worth $2.8 million, along with a Noah Davis work ($2.5 million), an Alice Neel artwork ($1.8 million) and a Lisa Yuskavage piece ($1.6 million). Additionally, Gladstone Gallery completed three Keith Haring deals, one of which was a glass painting priced at $2 million.

In light of the fires, Victoria Miro organized Galleries Together, an initiative supporting the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund. During the day, significant contributions were amassed for the fund, featuring artworks such as pieces by Chinatsu Ban, a collaborative ceramic piece by Shin Murata and Takashi Murakami, and a work by Yuji Toma.

In Atwater Village, The Other Art Fair (held for its 13th year by Saatchi Art) showed support during their opening event on Thursday, as they addressed the recent fires in Los Angeles. Global fair director, Nicole Garton, expressed, “In these challenging times following such tragic losses, we stand together with the artistic communities of LA. We aim to provide a refuge, a place for connection, self-expression, charity, and recovery.”

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The 13th edition of The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art in Atwater Village, demonstrated sympathy during their Thursday opening event, in response to the recent fires in LA. Nicole Garton, global fair director, explained, “In these difficult times following such sad events, we’re uniting with the creative communities of LA to offer a sanctuary where people can connect, express themselves, give back, and work towards rebuilding.

The fair, boasting 140 unique artists, was a bustling, lively event, filled with excitement. It included a live DJ, artists creating aura portraits of attendees, a tall performer on stilts, and a section dedicated to children’s art creation.

One notable aspect was “The 1968 East L.A. Student Walkouts,” a fresh addition to the expansive mural titled “The Great Wall of Los Angeles” by Judy Baca. Anna Marie Tendler, author of “Men Have Called Her Crazy,”, captured vibrant portraits of attendees as part of her House of Self photobooth initiative. Proceeds from portrait sales will be contributed to the Pasadena Humane Society and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition Firefighter Fund. The gallery Karma experienced a successful launch, selling a still life by Persian-American abstract expressionist painter Manoucher Yektai for $300,000, as well as a still life by Chicago-born surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie for $225,000 and a piece by Hughie Lee-Smith for $200,000.

Art enthusiasts living in Los Angeles will be zigzagging the city throughout the weekend, with several exciting art events on their calendar. One such event is Villa Tigertail, an invitational group exhibition by Future Fair, happening at a private residence in L.A., and showcasing artists like April Bey, Hana Ward, Mia Weiner, and Michael Buhler-Rose. Meanwhile, the Felix Art Fair, which kicked off on Wednesday, is thriving at the Hotel Roosevelt, featuring a sold-out solo display of William Schaeuble’s mesmerizing surreal paintings. Lastly, the LA Art Show, marking its 30th anniversary, also launched on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Stepping into the revamped Art Deco Santa Monica Post Office in sunny Santa Monica, I find myself immersed in the inaugural edition of Post-Fair. Instead of the usual fair chaos, here, I encounter a cozy, smaller scale alternative. Galleries like Babst Gallery, Cooper Cole, 4649, and Chris Sharp Gallery are among the 29 participating spaces that make up this unique art experience.

For Angelenos, fairs – ranging from modest and budget-friendly to elaborate and pricey – serve as a healing force for L.A.’s struggling artistic scene. As Messineo points out, this period showcases the tenacity of the Los Angeles art community.

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2025-02-22 03:26