FAB Market Insights

We are pleased to outline a guide to the major fairs for the next 5 months. Our team will be attending most of these so please contact us if you wish to join us. We are also happy to give guidance on the many other fairs – just ask us info@fineartbrokers.com.

Frieze Seoul
September 4-7

This will be the 3rd iteration of Frieze in Seoul, with more than 110 of the world’s leading galleries convening in this relatively new art world hub. We attended the first fair in 2022 and were impressed by the enthusiasm of the local collectors. Then there were few international collectors at VIP day, and we noticed an interesting difference to fairs in the West as there was a predominance of female collectors on opening day. The success of Frieze Seoul now brings many collectors from other Asian countries, and it rivals Art Basel Hong Kong. Galleries who take part in most of the big fairs inevitably exhibit some works shown elsewhere, but also tailor their exhibits to local taste.

In the same building is KIAF, South Korea’s first international art fair which began in 2002. This has nearly 200 exhibitors, providing a showcase for galleries at a lower price point.

The Armory Show
September 6-8, New York

This is New York’s major international art fair for Contemporary Art – not at the very top end value-wise but showing many leading galleries exhibiting art at more than $1 million, and many more showing art from $5,000 up. Sadly, in our opinion, the number of secondary market exhibitors has declined dramatically, and Hollis Taggart, Archeus/Post-Modern and Berry Campbell are amongst the few exhibiting Post-War art. The move from the Chelsea Pier to the Javits Center has been a triumph. For collectors in the US and abroad, this is a fair to attend. We will be there on opening day and beyond.

Frieze London
October 9-13

London’s pre-eminent art fair, compromising both the Contemporary fair, for which it is most known, and all the major galleries exhibit there, and also Frieze Masters which showcases many important secondary market dealers such as Colnaghi, Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert and Osborne Samuel. This is a significant fair (or fairs) for collectors and worth a trip if you can make it. We will be attending and will be happy to accompany clients.

Art Basel Paris
October 18-20

Art Basel has now become the dominant fair in Paris, and changed the cumbersome name of Paris+ par Art Basel. Many of the galleries at Frieze London have a hectic schedule transporting their staff and admin onto Paris so soon after Frieze London. We have concentrated our efforts on seeing the London fairs given Frieze has both Contemporary and Post-War, and we’ve heard many dealers are exhausted by the time Paris comes. But for collectors in western Europe Art Basel Paris offers many benefits, especially as the fair will again be held in the Grand Palais.

Art Cologne
November 7-10

This is one of Europe’s oldest fairs. In fact, it claims to be the first art fair in the world beginning in 1967. It has lost the significance it once had due to the rise of Frieze and Art Basel in many cities, but it retains a significant fair for German collectors and exhibitors alike. It has sections for both Modern / Post War and Contemporary.

Abu Dhabi Art
November 20-24

We actually took part in the first 6 fairs, from when it started as Art Paris Abu Dhabi in the Emirates Hotel to its new name and location on Manarat Al Saadiyat. The fair has relied heavily on the patronage of the Royal Family, who initially purchased works from nearly every gallery. Many important galleries exhibited in the first few shows, including Acquavella and White Cube, but most significant galleries found that the fair could not exist without significant government backing as there isn’t enough local collectors to sustain the model. It has now become a more regional fair.

Untitled Art
December 4 -8, Miami

Untitled has developed a good reputation as a fair which shows respected galleries mainly showing worthy ‘emerging’ Contemporary art. There is a long waiting list to exhibit. It began in 2012 and still shows in a large tent on the beach at South Beach. There is a strong curatorial selection. This year there will be about 170 galleries exhibiting. We will be there from the opening and can be on hand to advise and give guidance.

Art Basel Miami
December 6-8

Probably the most well-known US based art fair, with a large selection of the most important Contemporary dealers, and a good selection of Modern and Post-War. There is also a smaller section for newer galleries. Art Basel Miami, much more than Art Basel in Basel, creates a lot of hype and razzamatazz, with accompanying parties and fun in the sun. Serious business is done, it is a very important fair, but in some instances, we feel the hype outweighs the content. Having said, that, definitely worth a visit if you can. Beware over-priced hotels.

Of course, there are other fairs on in Miami at the same time, especially Art Miami and NADA. We will be visiting all the main fairs.

Art Palm Beach
January 22-26

Under relatively new ownership, having been started by David Lester in the 1990s, Art Palm Beach has developed into a good small fair with many good dealers. It benefits from being the first fair of the year in Palm Beach, and so it attracts all the local billionaires and dignitaries, along with many of the new residents. Not as significant as many of the fairs detailed above, but a good one at the start of the New Year.