Who Made It To Frieze This Year?

Simon de Pury at Frieze VIP preview

Frieze New York 2014 edition sported a glittering array of 190 galleries from 28 countries including global powerhouses David Zwirner, Larry Gagosian, White Box, and Hauser & Wirth as well as emerging galleries temporarily-housed in brilliantly lit, spacious booths . While visitors could arrive at Randall’s Island by car, subway or bike, the most appealing mode of travel is the 20-minute ferry ride up the East River from East 35th Street, a ride akin to taking a ferry to Venice’s biennale. In addition to enjoying paintings, sculpture, and photography from contemporary stars, visitors could spend hours enjoying artist talks, sound installations and special projects.

A bucolic setting made my visit to Frieze feel like a mini-vacation. Site-specific works looped across the grass, and, even on the water. Marie Lorenz, a NY based artist, created a handmade boat that transported guests around Randall’s Island’s shoreline. 50 guests at a time could paddle around together-enjoying the city from an unusual viewpoint.

Another playful theme appeared in the form of Allen Ruppersberg’s pop-up, ‘Allen’s Grand Hotel’-allowing a very selected clientele the chance to stay in one of two rooms-the Jesus Room and/the Bridal suite. The tenants, the winners of a phone lottery system, paid $350 per night, but had to be locked inside the rooms for security reasons, until early the next morning (dinner, of course, was included. The original ‘hotel’ was installed in a Los Angeles playhouse in 1971. Day time visitors could could stop for a drink in the ‘lobby’ during the 4-day fair. Adding to the pleasure of viewing extraordinary works of art (Richard Prince, Eric Fischel, Louise Bourgeois, Paul McCarthy, etc.,) there were amazing people-watching opportunities-especially during the VIP preview: A-list actors, stylish collectors , editors, and curators.

When energy flagged, visitors could refuel at tempting pop-up restaurants: Momofuku Milk Bar, Frankies Spuntino, and the Fat Radish were favorites. And artist designed T-shirts could be purchased in a mylar-covered lounge. Not-to-be missed in 2015.