LA ART FRIEZE-Whether to Have Had the Fair Is the Question

My beloved, Los Angeles, the lovely city that I love, has suffered from catastrophic fires that killed 25 people, destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres and destroyed thousands of homes. The repercussions will be felt for years to come. LA FRIEZE went on at the Santa Monica Airport as planned and just ended on February 23rd. I've attended all six editions of FRIEZE in my hometown, along with FREIZE in NYC. I wasn't sure if the fair would be held this year as a result of the wildfires. A thoughtful letter was sent out from the Fair's Dir. addressing the issue of going ahead with FRIEZE in lieu of the city's devastation. With respectful consideration, plans to go forth were agreed by the Art's Committee as a way of galvanizing LA and showing resilience. It also provided much needed jobs and financial boost. I whole heartedly agreed with this decision. Still, I was concerned how attendance by the public, artists and galleries might be impacted. This year 97 galleries from 20 countries were represented. There was a little bit of this, a little bit of that. There was the same number of exhibitors as last year. However, 2024 and 2025 were lower than in 2023. Personally, I felt the Fair which I attended on VIP Thursday prior to the general opening on Friday, was more staid than in the past. The crowd seem lighter for the same pre-day opening. Overall, he artworks were less dynamic or arresting than in past years. By this I mean there were fewer memorable works or pieces I coveted regardless of cost. I did purchase a painting by Chico da Silva (b. 1910, d.1985 Brazil). Thursday sales were boosted with the purchase of a $2.8 million painting by Elizabeth Peyton. Gladstone Gallery reported a $2 million sale for a Haring painting on glass. Hufken's gallery sold a Tracey Emin painting for $1.5 million. There were works by noted artists such as Hockney, Thomas, Turrell, Pousette-Dart, Gaines, Katz and Muniz. The artist Charles Gaines was seen on Thursday hobnobbing with those in attendance. The well dressed, dressed to be seen crowd came out in colorful, artsy garb wearing thigh high leather boots and miniskirts with dogs in tow. (I love dogs but when did it become okay for them to be omnipresent, especially in grocery stores?) I digressed. The well dressed stood out and they brought their best to stand out and air kiss one another. I'm glad I attended and I'm ecstatic with my purchase. I'm going to give LA ART FRIEZE a hall pass for being somewhat less than in the past in large part due to the fires. I anticipate a more engaging and successful 2026 LA FREIZE. Michael Rosenthal gallery at LA FRIEZE which is based in NYC is known for over pricing  artworks. This year Rosenthal's asking price for a Pousette-Dart was $850,000 and his Alma Thomas paintings were priced upwards of six figures. I do not give this ass a hall pass or my business. 

a little b it of this, a little bit of that,