ICYMI: From Celebrity Sightings to Exclusive Rotating Pieces of Art, Frieze Los Angeles Was an Art-Lover’s Fantasy 

Renowned International Art Fair, Frieze, Hosted Their Second Year in Los Angeles

Written and Photographed By: Chad Chisholm Frieze Los Angeles

Hailed as the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, Frieze is well regarded by collectors and galleries alike. Bursting onto the LA scene in 2019, Frieze was founded in 1991 with the launch of Frieze Magazine. Having grown to three publications—Frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week—there are also four international art fairs: Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York and now Frieze Los Angeles.

Native Knowledge: The Frieze Fair returns for its third year in LA in February 2021. For a luxury stay in Downtown LA, book a room at the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles. The Club Level overlooks the city below from the 23rd floor with the Hollywood Hills in the background and get easy access to Paramount Studios via Uber.  

Art consultant Lance Vigil has an impressive resume, including the finishing design and the art and furniture installation for luxury resort Qasar al Sarab in Dubai. He is also the art coordinator for all 18 premium lounges at the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Most recently, he was a representative for Bonham’s in Colorado and trained at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Needless to say, LOCALE was treated to an immersive experience with an industry expert while following Vigil through the fair with VIP access.

Contemporary artworks by a plethora of artists can be found at Frieze Los Angeles, which held its second-annual show over Valentine’s weekend. The large, tented structure is abuzz with galleries from all over the world, displaying works from notable artists like James Turrell (Kendall Jenner purchased a piece), Keith Haring (a painting sold for $3,750,000), Jeff Koonz and Anish Kapoor. From sculptures and multimedia art to oil paintings and installations, the breadth of the work is well represented in mediums both large and small. On the backlot, installations pepper the television and movie sets and performance pieces and movie screenings are at home on the Paramount Studios grounds.

“An interesting note for those coming to art fairs,” explains Vigil, “is once pieces are sold, new work is typically put up on display. It can be a totally new set of work from day to day—a new fair to see.”

He wasn’t kidding. The second day we attended, refreshed works from artists I had only previously ever seen in museums sprung to the walls. Another ever-changing component was the visitors to the fair. “The people-watching is almost as fun as the art,” grins Vigil. Notable collectors and art consultants mingle with celebrities themselves. Among the 35,000 guests in attendance at this year’s Frieze LA included Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Poehler, Charlize Theron, James Corden, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, just to name a few. 

“It has been a fantastic week at Frieze Los Angeles,” exclaims Victoria Siddall, global director of Frieze Fairs. “I am thrilled with the positive response to the fair from everyone involved.”  

Frieze Los Angeles
Paramount Studio Lots
5555 Melrose Ave 
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Website | + posts

Trending

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

INTERESTS

Related Content

Skip to content