See our full checklist of artwork festivals around the globe in 2023.
Artwork SG
Singapore, 12-15 January
Tokyo Gendai
Tokyo, Japan, 7-9 July
This yr sees the much-anticipated launch of two main worldwide festivals in East Asia: Tokyo Gendai and Singapore’s Artwork SG. The previous seems set to profit from Japan having eased a few of its onerous artwork import rules final yr. The world’s third largest economic system is trying to revive the worldwide attain of its artwork market following a spectacular increase and bust on the finish of the final century. Round 80 to 100 galleries, concentrated largely, although not solely, in Asia Pacific, will likely be chosen by a committee together with the main worldwide sellers Tim Blum (Blum & Poe) and Marc Glimcher (Tempo).
In the meantime, Artwork SG is boosted not solely by Singapore’s engaging tax legal guidelines, but in addition the backing of Artwork Basel’s mum or dad firm MCH Group, which acquired a 15% stake within the honest final yr. This affect has little doubt performed a component within the prime quality of the exhibitor checklist, which incorporates international gallery manufacturers reminiscent of Gagosian and Thaddaeus Ropac in addition to lesser-known areas reminiscent of TKG+ from Taipei. Each occasions will likely be watched carefully by main {industry} figures, as Hong Kong’s place as Asia’s prime artwork hub hangs within the stability amid worsening safety legal guidelines imposed by Beijing.
Photofairs New York
New York, US, 8-10 September
Asia Pacific’s largest honest organisers, Angus Montgomery Arts and Creo, will maintain the primary version of Photofairs New York subsequent door to the Armory Present in Manhattan’s Javits Middle. The sister occasion of Photofairs Shanghai will likely be New York’s largest modern pictures honest. The model beforehand tried to interrupt the US market with a good in San Francisco, which ran for simply two editions in 2017 and 2018. The New York honest comes after Angus Montgomery acquired a 25% stake in Photograph London, signalling its willingness to diversify exterior the Asia Pacific area. It’s going to additionally develop on the definition of pictures with digital works and NFTs.
Frieze London
London, UK, 11-15 October
Frieze London, as soon as the spunky new child on the block, leaves teenagehood behind and turns 20 years previous. The previous 20 years have seen a meteoric rise for the honest: the co-founders Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp have reworked it from a single occasion in Regent’s Park into an industry-leading model spanning three continents, most lately holding an inaugural Seoul occasion in September final yr.
Frieze additionally pioneered plenty of options that we now consider as commonplace for artwork festivals, reminiscent of a programme of talks and performances that assist remodel a commerce occasion into an artwork world second. As of 2016, the honest has been owned by the American leisure big Endeavor, cementing its popularity as a slick and company occasion for blue-chip artwork and mega-rich collectors. However as Sharp as soon as mentioned: “You may’t stay cool without end.”
Whereas Frieze is up to now being tight-lipped about the way it will rejoice its milestone birthday, we are able to nonetheless count on one thing huge. Even when they’re all grown up, it’s exhausting to maintain a celebration animal down.