At the close of the ninth edition of Frieze Art Fair, sponsored by Deutsche Bank for the eighth-consecutive year, galleries reported strong sales and market confidence.
Fair directors, Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover were delighted with reports of significant sales both in the main section of the fair and in Frame. 173 galleries exhibited over 1,000 artists at Frieze Art Fair 2011. 33 countries were represented – making this year’s fair the most international selection of galleries to have shown in London. Over 40 museum groups, representing the world’s major institutions visited Frieze Art Fair 2011. Collectors from Europe and the USA were joined by a strong showing of Asian, Latin- American, Middle-Eastern and Russian collectors.
Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover commented, ‘The quality of the galleries’ presentations – with elegant installations and significant works – translated into substantial sales, to both public and private collections, calming nerves that might have been felt before the fair’s opening. With collectors attending from Europe and the US but also, increasingly, from the rest of the world, it is thrilling to see how the ninth edition of Frieze Art Fair is a truly global event.’
Over 60,000 visitors were welcomed to the fair during the five-day professional and public event.
Strong sales were reported at every level. Significant sales included a new work by Gerhard Richter, Strip (CR921-1), for £1.5 million, at Marian Goodman; a Neo Rauch painting for $1.35 million at David Zwirner; and a Takahashi Murakami carbon-fibre sculpture for $900,000 at Emmanuel Perrotin. Hauser and Wirth sold all editions of their Thomas Houseago sculpture park inclusion, Hermaphrodite for $425,000 each, and Thomas Dane Gallery placed Glenn Ligon’s neon Warm Broad Glow (2011) with an overseas foundation for $200,000.
In Frame, the section in the fair for young galleries showing solo artist presentations supported for a second year by Cos, sales were also substantial. François Ghebaly sold out their Patrick Jackson booth, selling Dirt Pile on Table (roots&glass) (2011) priced at $9,000; two versions of Heads, hands and feet (2011) for $15,000 and 3 dirt pile sculpture for $20,000 all to significant international collectors. Bischoff/Weiss sold two Raphael Zarka videos, priced at £11,300 and £7,000 respectively, both to museum buyers. Maisterravalbuena sold all five editions of Paloma Polo’s The Path of Totality (2010) for €9,000 each. Further sold-out stands in Frame included RaebervonStenglin and Ignacio Liprandi.
Cecilia Alemani and Rodrigo Moura, advisors to this year’s Frame section, commented: ‘Frame was a success in establishing a platform for young galleries to show their artists to a high-level audience at Frieze Art Fair. The section has confirmed its potential as a research platform, attracting interest of curators and institutions and helping to create a network between professionals. The wide range of artistic voices in the section is also resonant in the international diversity of the galleries. The quality of the Frame galleries’ presentations has been rewarded by good sales with several galleries selling out their stands.’
There were more solo presentations in the main section than ever before: Guido W Baudach featured Erik van Lieshout; Marianne Boesky with Adam Helms; Eigen + Art with Carsten Nicolai; Galerie Frank Elbaz with Mangelos; Stephen Friedman Gallery with Huma Bhaba; Gagosian Gallery presented a stand selected by Franz West; Casey Kaplan showed a solo presentation by Matthew Brannon; George Kargl Gallery with Muntean Rodenblum; Johann König with Jordan Wolfson; Tomio Koyama Gallery with Yuko Someya; Michael Lett presented Dan Arps; Gio Marconi with Nathalie Djurberg; Raster with Rafal Bujnowski; and Galeria Zero with Michael Sailstorfer. www.friezeartfair.com
