A New Peak of Confidence

What sold at Frieze Los Angeles 2026

The seventh edition of Frieze Los Angeles concluded on March 1, 2026, at the Santa Monica Airport campus, marking a milestone of "real maturity" for the fair within the global art market. Over its four-day run, the event welcomed more than 32,000 visitors from 45 countries and representatives from 160 museums and institutions, underscoring Los Angeles’s status as a vital center for international collecting and cultural production.

Market Vitality and Seven-Figure Sales

Galleries reported a surge of energy and conviction from collectors, with significant activity across all price tiers starting from the opening hours of the preview. Multiple seven-figure transactions defined the fair’s commercial success:

• David Zwirner placed a mixed-media work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby for $2.8 million with a European foundation.

• Thaddaeus Ropac reported the sale of a Georg Baselitz painting for €1 million and an Alex Katz work for $700,000.

• Gagosian saw enthusiastic responses to its presentation of 50 years of California art, placing works by Ed Ruscha, Frank Gehry, and Jonas Wood.

• Michael Rosenfeld Gallery found success with Sam Gilliam’s Cut (1969), which had an asking price of over $1,000,000.

• White Cube placed three major Antony Gormley sculptures in the £500,000–£800,000 range.

Institutional Commitment and Emerging Voices

A defining characteristic of the 2026 edition was the deep and sustained engagement from institutions. The Mohn Art Collective (MAC3)—a joint initiative between the Hammer Museum, LACMA, and MOCA—acquired works by Clarissa Tossin, Zenobia Lee, and Sharif Farrag. Additionally, the California African American Museum Acquisition Fund added works by Jessica Taylor Bellamy and Zenobia Lee to its collection.

The Focus section, curated by Essence Harden, was a major draw for collectors seeking new perspectives, with several galleries reporting completely sold-out booths. Notable successes in this section included Hannah Traore Gallery, which sold out its presentation of Turiya Adkins on the first day, and Make Room, which placed wall works by Erica Mahinay with major collectors and the Santa Monica Art Bank.

A Cultural Catalyst Beyond the Booths

Frieze Los Angeles once again served as a nexus for the entertainment, technology, and fashion industries. The aisles were packed with notable figures, including Tim Cook, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Chris Rock, Emma Watson, and Jodie Foster.

The fair also celebrated the intersection of art and film through the Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award. Joey Bueno Breese was awarded the $10,000 prize for his film El Rio Nuestro, which explored themes of renewal and resilience—motifs that resonated deeply following the historic wildfires in the region the previous year. Furthermore, Frieze Projects featured "Body & Soul," a series of site-specific installations, including a 32-hour durational performance by Amanda Ross-Ho.

Looking Ahead

Christine Messineo, Director of Americas for Frieze, noted that the fair reached a "new level of confidence" this year, with collectors engaging with conviction across every section. As the city continues to navigate its own cultural and economic shifts, Frieze Los Angeles remains a "welcome ray of light," reaffirming the strength and engagement of the local artistic community.

Watch ACCA TV Channel for highlights from the Frieze Art Fair.

Short list of Frieze Los Angeles 2026 Galleries

Frieze Los Angeles 2026. Image by Casey Kelbaugh/CKA. Courtesy of Frieze.

Frieze Los Angeles Through the Eyes of Art and Style

By Maya Ito, ACCA Director

Frieze Los Angeles is more than an art fair; it feels like a living, evolving canvas where the boundaries between creation and curation quietly dissolve. Set within the sunlit expanse of the Santa Monica Airport, masterworks and emerging voices share the same space. Yet between the galleries and installations, another form of artistry unfolds—one that is stitched, worn, and carried confidently through the aisles.

At the center of this fascinating intersection are figures such as Maya Ito and Carlos Benitez of ACCA (Art & Media Company). They are not only observers of this cultural exchange but active participants who help bring these worlds together.

As ACCA’s International Director, Maya Ito moves through the bustling booths with an eye equally attuned to fabric as it is to brushstrokes. She looks not only at the artworks on the walls but also at the “wearable art” embodied by gallerists, collectors, and creative minds in attendance. These expressions often move beyond the idea of clothing alone, becoming extensions of identity, gestures of individuality, or subtle reflections of an inner world.

In this atmosphere, moments of unexpected harmony often appear. One might imagine Ito pausing before a vibrant abstract painting, only to notice a guest nearby whose attire seems to echo the artwork itself—perhaps a sharply structured jacket mirroring architectural lines in the composition, or a striking color choice that reflects the emotional tone of the piece. In that instant, fashion seems to complete the artwork, creating a fluid connection between canvas and presence.

These encounters are not coincidences but reflections of the dialogue ACCA seeks to encourage. As Ito notes, gatherings like these reveal “the power of art and fashion to shape social conversations and inspire more inclusive and reflective cultural narratives.”

Frieze Los Angeles has long been known for its striking display of personal style. The Hollywood Reporter once joked that the fair’s greatest artworks might actually be the outfits worn by its visitors. The sentiment aligns perfectly with Ito’s perspective. Here, attendees themselves become living installations, their clothing forming an organic and unscripted exhibition of contemporary aesthetics.

As Maya Ito continues her exploration of style throughout Frieze Los Angeles—discovering bold expressions and unexpected harmonies between artworks and garments—one idea becomes increasingly clear. In the City of Angels, and particularly within the halls of Frieze, art and fashion are never separate realms. They function instead as creative muses for one another, engaged in a continuous and captivating dialogue.  And we, the fortunate observers, get to witness their breathtaking pas de deux.

Watch ACCA TV Channel for highlights from the Frieze Art Fair.

Frieze Los Angeles 2026

Deutsche Bank Film Award Shortlist and Jury

As Frieze Los Angeles prepares for its return to the Santa Monica Airport from February 26 to March 1, 2026, the spotlight once again illuminates the next generation of cinematic talent. Now in its seventh year, the Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award continues its vital mission of supporting emerging filmmakers from the Los Angeles region, providing a platform for voices aged 18–34 to develop and premiere new work.

This year’s cohort was invited to respond to the evocative theme "Renewal: Resilience and New Beginnings," a prompt that challenges artists to examine the personal, social, and environmental transformations defining Los Angeles today. According to Christine Messineo, Director of Americas for Frieze, these films offer "nuanced reflections" on the city’s capacity for reinvention and the power of storytelling to imagine new possibilities for communities.

The 2026 shortlist features six filmmakers whose work spans documentary, narrative, experimental, and hybrid forms:

• Joey Bueno Breese

• Alaine Farin

• Xochilt Garcia

• Maximus Jupiter Corona

• Ziyao Liu

• Devin O’Guinn

Through their unique lenses, these artists explore profound themes of memory, identity, and regeneration. Their films will be presented both online and during the fair, offering the public a rare insight into the evolving language of contemporary moving images.

The stakes for these fellows are significant. A high-profile jury—including Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actor Connie Britton, Ghetto Film School CEO Ché Chisholm, and Academy Award-winning director Orlando von Einsiedel—will select the winner of the 10,000JuryAward∗∗.Additionally,thepublicisinvitedtoparticipateviaapublicvotefora∗∗2,500 Audience Award, opening on January 30 through the Frieze website.

This initiative is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Frieze, Deutsche Bank, and the nonprofit Ghetto Film School. For Deutsche Bank, which is celebrating its 23rd year as the Global Lead Partner for Frieze Art Fairs, the award is a cornerstone of its commitment to supporting cutting-edge international artists. Claudio de Sanctis, Head of Private Bank at Deutsche Bank, noted that the chosen theme is particularly apt given the city’s "changing landscape," praising the fellows for storytelling that "inspires a deeper connection to their city and community".

As we look toward the fair in February, the Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award stands as a testament to the enduring vitality of the L.A. creative spirit. By championing these emerging voices at a "pivotal moment in their careers," the award ensures that the stories of today become the cultural heritage of tomorrow.

Frieze Los Angeles to Return in 2026,

Anchoring City’s Status as Global Art Capital

Frieze has announced the first details of its seventh Los Angeles edition, scheduled to take place at the Santa Monica Airport from February 26 to March 1, 2026. Marking its fourth year at this historic site, the fair will utilize a custom-designed structure that integrates an indoor-outdoor environment to reflect the city’s open architectural character.

The 2026 lineup will convene more than 95 galleries representing 22 countries, reinforcing the city's role as a vital hub for international cultural exchange. Featured participants include heavyweights of the contemporary art market such as Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace Gallery, and David Zwirner, alongside a robust selection of local exhibitors like David Kordansky Gallery and Roberts Projects.

The fair’s organizational structure highlights the broader business of cultural events; Frieze is now part of MARI, a company focused on growing world-defining live experiences across sport, art, and lifestyle. This edition also sees the continuation of a decades-long financial partnership, as Deutsche Bank enters its 22nd year as the global lead partner for Frieze Art Fairs.

In addition to the main fair, the Focus section—overseen for a third year by curator Essence Harden—will feature 15 US-based galleries that have been active for 12 years or less, supported by a bursary program from Stone Island. This initiative aims to provide visibility for the next generation of "disruptive artists" and emerging galleries.

Frieze Los Angeles acts as a cultural anchor in the city’s fluid creative landscape; much like a lighthouse providing a steady beam for ships navigating shifting tides, the fair offers a consistent point of connection for the global art community amidst Los Angeles' constant evolution.

Social Buzz & Trends

Experience the Best of Asian and Global Art at Frieze Seoul 2025

As the art world converges on Seoul for FRIEZE SEOUL 2025. The fourth edition of Frieze Seoul will return to COEX in Gangnam from September 3 – 6, 2025, with an expansive program of live art and performance, film, talks, and special artist projects unfolding alongside presentations from over 120 galleries from more than 30 countries.

This year's fair boasts an impressive lineup of international artists, each bringing their unique voice to the conversation. From bold installations that reclaim public space to intimate performances that probe the human condition, the works on display reflect a diverse and vibrant art scene. Frieze LIVE will present 11 next-generation Korean artists exploring queer narratives and gender sensitivity, in partnership with Art Sonje Center.

Im Youngzoo Named Recipient of the 2025 Frieze Seoul Artist Award

Frieze today named Im Youngzoo as the recipient of the 2025 Frieze Seoul Artist Award, supported for the third year by Bvlgari. The award offers an artist based in Korea the opportunity to present a major new commission at Frieze Seoul, marking a significant milestone in their practice. Now in its third year, the award supports an emerging or mid-career artist to realise an ambitious new commission, which will debut at Frieze Seoul 2025 taking place at COEX from September 3 to 6. The initiative builds on the success of previous Frieze Seoul Artist Award recipients Woo Hannah and Choi Goen, who both realised their works at the fair to significant international critical acclaim.

Frieze Seoul is supported by Headline Partner LG OLED, in a collaboration that merges the worlds of art and technology, and Global Lead Partner Deutsche Bank, continuing over two decades of shared commitment to artistic excellence.

Im’s proposal was selected by a jury of leading industry figures, including Yeon Shim Chung (Professor of Art History and Theory at Hongik University and Editor of Korean Art from 1953), Gabriel Ritter (Director of the Art, Design, and Architecture Museum at the University of California, Santa Barbara), Venus Lau (Director of Museum MACAN), artist Minouk Lim, and Jaeseok Kim (former Editor-in-Chief of Art in Culture Magazine) Learn more. ▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|

Download FRIEZE SEOUL FAIR DIGITAL MAP

The Frieze LA Resilience

Frieze Los Angeles 2025 Ignites Hope and Revitalization

In the aftermath of devastation, Los Angeles has risen from the ashes, its arts community more resilient and united than ever. Frieze Los Angeles 2025, which drew to a close on February 23, was a powerful testament to the city's indomitable spirit. More than just an art fair, it was a celebration of hope, determination, and the transformative power of art. As 30,000 visitors from 85 countries converged on the fair, the energy was palpable. The diversity of attendees, including leading collectors and representatives from 150 major museums and institutions, underscored the global significance of Frieze Los Angeles. Yet, it was the fair's commitment to the local arts community that truly set it apart.

The impact of Frieze Los Angeles 2025 extends far beyond the fair's commercial success. By rallying support for the LA arts community, contributing to recovery efforts, and reaffirming the city's status as a cultural hub, the event demonstrated the enduring power of art to inspire, heal, and transform. 

As Los Angeles continues to navigate the complexities of rebuilding and renewal, Frieze Los Angeles 2025 stands as a beacon of hope and resilience. It is a testament to the city's unwavering commitment to creativity, community, and the transformative power of art. In the face of adversity, Frieze Los Angeles 2025 reminds us that even in the darkest moments, art can ignite hope, foster connection, and inspire rebirth.

What Sold at Frieze Los Angeles 2025

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