Frieze Art Fair Takes Over NYC

Frieze Art Fair took over Randall’s Island this weekend, transforming the remote Manhattan destination into an art mecca including 180 galleries under billowy white tents and a sculpture park highlighted by Paul McCarthy‘s giant red inflatable dog.

Frieze, which is presented by Frieze Magazine and Deutsche Bank, was accessed by ferry, car, or Uber. VIP guests had the option to take a BMW 7-series shuttle which where commissioned sound installations by Charles Atlas and the New Humans, Trisha Baga, and Haroon Mirza set the tone and create aural ambiance for an art fair that manages to appeal to all five senses in a lush green waterfront surrounding. The artists’ works can be heard online.

After the skies cleared on Thursday afternoon, John Waters, Valentino Garavani, Chuck Close, Hank Willis Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, and collectors Michael and Susan Hort joined the art cognoscenti who attended the VIP opening. The Lisson Gallery’s provocative booth featured Haroon Mirza’s “Shelf for Carl Cox” and metal guns transformed into musical instruments by Pedro Reyes. Andrea Rosen showed several works by Wolfgang Tillmans and Josephine Meckseper, including her untitled shoe stand. KATY Grannum’s vivid portraiture was on display at Salon 94. Henry Taylor’s homage to an old Mercedes-Benz drew attention near the fair’s entrance. The booth at Hauser & Wirth was crowded as people gathered to look at Rashid Johnson’s large luminous paintings.

Frieze is held only two months after the Armory Show in New York City, but then outdoor presentation has created a flurry of spring activities at galleries and museums this past weekend, including MoMa PS1’s massive EXPO 1: New York, which explores the environment and related socio-political implications and the opening of two separate Jeff Koons’ exhibitions at the David Zwirner and Gagosian galleries.