Frieze London 2024, held this October in Regent’s Park, once again confirmed its status as one of the most influential art fairs in the world. Over 160 leading international galleries gathered under one roof, presenting a wide range of practices that stretched from ambitious large-scale installations and cutting-edge performances to intimate paintings and archival treasures. Alongside the main fair, Frieze Masters brought historical context into conversation with contemporary practices, creating a dialogue that bridged generations and mediums.
This year’s edition was notable not only for its diversity but also for the energy that filled the halls. The new layout emphasized discovery: younger galleries introduced fresh names to the international stage, while established dealers brought blue-chip works that reminded audiences of art’s enduring legacies. Visitors encountered everything from helium-filled installations and immersive film environments to kinetic sculptures and live painting sessions that blurred the boundaries between creator and spectator.
What stood out most was the balance between playfulness and depth. Many of the works engaged directly with audiences, encouraging participation and reflection, while others used humor or surreal imagery to provoke thought. Below, we highlight six of the most memorable presentations from Frieze London and Frieze Masters 2024.
1. Emily Kraus – The Sunday Painter
The Sunday Painter presented a solo exhibition by Emily Kraus, featuring works like Agon (Waveform) (2024). Kraus’ paintings delve into the coexistence of linear and cyclical temporalities, drawing from meditative and somatic practices. Her approach oscillates between spontaneous mark-making and reflective periods, resulting in canvases that pulse with rhythm. The interplay of vertical lines and flowing color invites viewers into a contemplative space.
2. Andrew J. Greene – The Modern Institute / Toby Webster
The Modern Institute / Toby Webster showcased Andrew J. Greene’s Matinee Idol (upright) (2024), a kinetic sculpture featuring a swan decoy equipped with a motor. This piece evokes nostalgia for mid-century domestic automata, blending whimsy, mechanical ingenuity, and careful craftsmanship. It prompts viewers to reflect on movement, performativity, and the intersection of art with everyday objects.
3. Benedikte Bjerre – Palace Enterprise
Benedikte Bjerre presented 125 helium penguins, which responded to airflow and audience movement, creating a playful, ever-shifting choreography. Beneath the whimsy lies commentary on fragility, climate, and environmental responsiveness, making the work both visually entertaining and conceptually provocative.
4. Jenkin van Zyl – Edel Assanti
Jenkin van Zyl offered a haunting installation inside a sauna, featuring films of skeletal, surreal creatures in grotesque performance. The work invites viewers into reflection on bodies, desire, and transformation, making it one of the most immersive and provocative experiences of the fair.
5. Gagosian gallery – Frieze Masters
At Frieze Masters, Gagosian presented a curated exhibition by Urs Fischer, featuring sculptures by the late American artist John Chamberlain alongside furniture by Australian designer Marc Newson. This juxtaposition contrasted Chamberlain’s urge to reveal the physical configuration of manufactured items through their forcible reshaping with Newson’s technical precision, highlighting the intersection of art and design.
6. Billy Childish – Live Painting at Lehmann Maupin, Frieze London 2024
British artist and musician Billy Childish set up his easel at Lehmann Maupin’s stand to paint live alongside his two children. This performance emphasized the ease of creativity, inviting the audience to witness the spontaneous process of painting in real time. Childish’s approach blurred the lines between artist and audience, fostering dynamic interaction and challenging traditional notions of art creation.
Frieze London 2024 succeeded in capturing the restless energy of the contemporary art world while also offering moments of stillness and contemplation. What became clear across the fair’s six highlighted works was the way artists are actively rethinking how audiences engage with art. From the playful absurdity of helium penguins to the raw intimacy of live painting, the fair reminded us that art is not just an object to be observed but a living process, full of unpredictability and human presence.
Equally significant was the interplay between the main fair and Frieze Masters. Urs Fischer’s curation at Gagosian, juxtaposing John Chamberlain’s crushed metal sculptures with Marc Newson’s sleek furniture, demonstrated how the historical and the contemporary can enrich one another when placed in dialogue. This tension between material experimentation and design precision echoed throughout the fair, underscoring art’s ability to straddle the line between chaos and control.
What lingered most after leaving Regent’s Park was not a single masterpiece but a broader sense of vitality. Frieze London 2024 reminded visitors that art is at its most powerful when it challenges us to slow down, look again, and reconsider our place within a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.
Author: Nata Yanchur, artist, curator, writer on contemporary art, co-founder of the CucumberMag
Photo credits: CucumberMag©
