The Fairs
Frieze
Frieze Masters and its contemporary-focused older sister Frieze London are the place to be this week for top-end buyers as well as those keen to witness a bit of art world theatre. The former offers six millennia of art history from across the world offered by 130 international art galleries. Paintings by Degas, Gentileschi and Picasso, 15th century tapestries, Japanese netsuke and 18th century wall maps all rub shoulders here. Don’t forget to go outside to see Frieze Sculpture set up around Regent’s Park, too.
Details: October 4-7, Regent’s Park, NW1 4HA (Tickets: vary. There are a number of combinations and packages, but, for example, it costs £60 to see both fairs on the same day.)
Pad London
Another high end fair, PAD London is an international art and design fair, one of a number of chapters that also take place in Monaco and Geneva. Sixty-eight galleries offer a wealth of jewellery, furniture and sculpture. Keep an eye out for a rug designed by Diego Giacometti and a pair of vases by Zaha Hadid.
Details: October 1-7, Berkeley Square, W1 (Tickets: from £25.00)
Battersea
A frequent haunt of celebrity shoppers including David Beckham and Eddy Redmayne, the Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair – known generally as “Battersea decorative” – offers items at less heady prices. This has a casual feel and is pitched for shoppers buying for the home. For this edition, the theme is Japonisme, western design inspired by Japanese art, but there’s a lot else besides to hunt out at 2018s third and final edition of the event.
Details: October 2-7, Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ (Tickets: £10 on the door or available for free download online)
Other fairs
Contemporary art comes to the fore during Frieze week and there are a host of other fairs focused on different to the major events in both the variety of offerings and the price point. These include Moniker Art Fair (the world’s ‘largest urban art fair,’ Brick Lane), The Other Art Fair (focusing on emerging artists, Bloomsbury), Sunday Art Fair (solo projects and group presentations from emerging artists and galleries, University of Westminster), 1-54 Contemporary Africa Fair (Somerset House) and, almost inevitably, the Anti-Art Fair (a call for greater diversity in the arts, Peckham). All of these run to coincide with Frieze, from October 4-7.
The Auctions
Christie’s
In keeping with the spirit of Frieze London, Christie’s stages four auctions that focus on 20th and 21st century art. The standout lot is Gerhard Richter’s Schädel (Skull), going under the hammer for an undisclosed estimate at the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction on October 4. The day sale (October 5) features works by Rudolf Stingel and Basquiat. First up, though, is a new ‘curated’ auction, Un/Breakable, which features ceramics and takes place on October 2. The annual Thinking Italian sale on October 4 offers works by Fontana and Melotti.
Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s also focuses on the contemporary with a series of auctions. It kicks off with In The History of Now: The Collection of David Teiger on October 5 followed by its Contemporary Art Evening Auction, where works by Giulio Paolini and Otto Piene have the top estimates. Its contemporary day sale on October 6 includes pieces by Cindy Sherman and Anish Kapoor as well as another Gerhard Richter.
Bonhams
Somerset House isn’t the only place to see contemporary African art this week. Africa Now, taking place at Bonhams October 4. It coincides with its exhibition Bienvenue au Congo: Modern & Contemporary Art from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which ends on October 4. Lots range in estimate up to six-figure sums.
The exhibitions
There are plenty more auctions taking place in London this week, and there are equally far more exhibitions taking place at London’s gallery’s than it is possible to mention here – that’s not counting shows at the major museums, such as Mantegna and Bellini at the National Gallery. However, here are a few to look out for.
Robilant + Voena (Mayfair)
Robilant + Voena hold the first solo exhibition of the Italian sculptor Pietro Consagra this month, highlighting works he produced from 1947-67. He is considered one of the pioneers of international modern sculpture who brought the world ‘scultura frontale’. Works in the show range from £50,000-250,000.
Details: Until November 16, Robilant + Voena, W1S 4NL
Kallos Gallery (Mayfair)
Ancient Stone at Kallos gallery features a selection of antiquities alongside a number of contemporary sculptures by Stephen Cox. “He has an amazing knowledge and appreciation for the ancient traditions of stone carving,” says the gallery’s Madeleine Perridge.
Details: October 1 – November 2, Kallos Gallery, W1K 3DR
Patrick Seguin (Mayfair)
Among the contemporary exhibitions is Carte Blanche to Campoli Presti which features the art of Liz Deschenes and Cheyney Thompson. The show is organised by Paris and London-based dealership David Kordansky Gallery in Galerie Patrick Seguin, which showcases the work of French designers such as Jean Prouvé, who is included in this show.
Details: October 2 – November 10, Galerie Patrick Seguin, W1K 4HN
Redfern Gallery (Mayfair)
More modern art is on offer from the nearby Redfern Gallery which showcases the painting of British artist Paul Feiler and his wife Catharine Armitage. This is the latest in a string of centenary celebrations for the former and a chance to see recent creations by the latter.
Details: Until October 27, Redfern Gallery W1S 3HL
S Franses (St James’s)
At St James’s gallery S Franses, a lost tapestry of St Paul directing the burning of books commissioned by Henry VIII is on display after being rediscovered in Spain. The monumental tapestry is the only known survivor from the set of nine woven compositions depicting events from the life of St Paul that were delivered to the English court from the Low Countries in 1538-39.
Details: October 1-19, S Franses, SW1Y 6JD
