Frieze London is back for 2018, showcasing the best global contemporary art

Frieze London 2018 will showcase the best of international contemporary art, with a discerning selection of around 160 galleries presenting their most forward-thinking artists and imaginative presentations.

Katja Novitskova – Approximation (chameleon) 2017. Courtesy of Galerie Meyer Kainer, Vienna

Katja Novitskova – Approximation (chameleon) 2017. Courtesy of Galerie Meyer Kainer, Vienna

Opening for the first time with a two-day preview, Frieze London coincides with Frieze Sculpture and Frieze Masters in Regent’s Park, together forming the most significant week in London’s cultural calendar.

New collaborations with international curators, institutions and galleries will respond to contemporary issues – from the lack of visibility of women in the marketplace to hidden systems of communication and control – and create an exceptional environment for creativity and discovery.

This year’s themed gallery section, Social Work will feature women artists who challenged the status quo and explored the possibilities of political activism in their art making during the 1980s and ‘90s, from Nancy Spero in the US to Berni Searle in South Africa to Ipek Duben in Turkey and Helen Chadwick in the UK.

Rana Begum - No. 736 M Drawing 201. Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London

Rana Begum - No. 736 M Drawing 201. Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London

Walter Pfeiffer - Untitled 1976. Courtesy of galerie sultana

Walter Pfeiffer - Untitled 1976. Courtesy of galerie sultana

Martin Creed - Work No. 1096 2011. Infront of Martin Creed's wall painting © Martin Creed. Courtesy Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle

Martin Creed - Work No. 1096 2011. Infront of Martin Creed's wall painting © Martin Creed. Courtesy Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle

Solo, group and curated presentations across the fair’s sections will feature John Baldessari, Michaël Borremans, Zadie Xa, Lubaina Himid, Mary Kelly, Moshekwa Langa, Calvin Marcus, Jim Shaw, David Shrigley, Josh Sperling, Tatiana Trouvé, Hardeep Pandhal, Athena Papadopoulos, Faith Ringgold, Wong Ping and Cathy Wilkes, among many others.

Part of Frieze Projects, the Live platform will stage performances and interactive installations throughout the fair, exploring hidden formulas which impact wider social, political, and economic realities, such as Liz Glynn’s interactive dance performance, responding to live data at the fair; Julia Scher’s roaming security guards and surveillance installation; and Pratchaya Phinthong’s exchange of counterfeit currency, revealing the value that politics places on people.

In an enclosed space within the fair, Frieze Artist Award winner, Alex Baczynski-Jenkins will continue his choreographic practice engaging with queer relationality and the politics of desire, intimacy and friendship.

Kiluanji Kia Henda - The Great Italian Nude 2010. Courtesy of Galleria Fonti Napoli

Kiluanji Kia Henda - The Great Italian Nude 2010. Courtesy of Galleria Fonti Napoli

Sara Cwynar - Tracy (Chanel) 2017. Courtesy of The Artist and Cooper Cole

Sara Cwynar - Tracy (Chanel) 2017. Courtesy of The Artist and Cooper Cole

Zadie Xa - Bio Enhanced/Hiero Advanced: The Genius of Gene Jupiter 2018. Courtesy of The artist & Union Pacific

Zadie Xa - Bio Enhanced/Hiero Advanced: The Genius of Gene Jupiter 2018. Courtesy of The artist & Union Pacific

Frieze Talks, meanwhile, will explore the role of autobiography in art with international participants including Laurie Anderson, Nan Goldin, Kemang Wa Lehulere and Olivia Laing.

Frieze London 2018 runs from 5–7 October 2018. Discover more at frieze.com.

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