Author: Sam Art
As Frieze Los Angeles nears its close on Sunday, the fair finds itself facing the same challenge that many, if not most, of the Hollywood stars who have walked its halls have overcome to maintain their place in the industry’s upper echelon: the start . middle agedNow in its fifth year, Frieze Los Angeles is no longer the hot, fresh newcomer to the art fair scene it was in the immediate pre-pandemic era. It’s not even the newest Friso fair anymore; the brand’s event in Seoul currently holds that honor by virtue of its 2022 launch.This is certainly a situation…
Hamza Sule is an artist whose work speaks volumes about the human experience. His journey as an artist began in his childhood, where he discovered his love for drawing. As a teenager, he started experimenting with pencils on paper, and it was then that he realized that art was his true calling. However, Sule believes that in art, one never stops learning, and he continues to push himself to improve his craft. One of Sule’s favorite subjects to draw is faces. He finds that they inspire him and allow him to convey a wide range of emotions. Using graphite and…
The fifth edition of Frieze Los Angeles was reduced compared to the previous year, with 95 exhibitors under a single white tent installed on the grounds of the Santa Monica airport. Reports of seven-figure sales from the first VIP preview day also appeared to be down from last year, although many dealers said they were optimistic about the improved centralized design of the fair.The most expensive sale reported during Thursday’s VIP preview was Gladstone Gallery, which placed a large-scale drawing by Richard Serra for $2 million. Thaddaeus Ropac reported selling Robert Longo’s Untitled (Julien) (2016) for $1.6 million, but the…
Essence Harden, an artist, curator, and writer, is deeply rooted in the art scene in Los Angeles, where she lives and works as curator of visual arts at the California African American Museum. After taking on that role, he said he hoped to “highlight the work of collectors and collectives, and cultivate scholarship, on black visual culture and the West.” This year, Harden is the curator of the Focus section at Frieze Los Angeles, which brings together 12 galleries that have all opened in the last dozen years. Most of the artists in the section, organized around the theme of…
Camille Ross is an American photographer whose work is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and her commitment to social justice. Born in 1964 in San Francisco, California, Ross grew up in two very different worlds: the radical atmosphere of Berkeley in the 1970s and the rural landscapes of Mississippi. This duality of environments shaped her perspective from a young age, exposing her to the stark contrasts of cultural segregation and racism in America. Ross’s grandparents were biracial, and she herself is part Cherokee, which contributed to her sense of being “other” in a predominantly Anglo society. This experience of…
Hazel Wynn, a Jersey-born artist with a passion for color, draws inspiration from the world around her to create vibrant and emotionally resonant paintings. Trained at Chelsea College of Art in London, where she specialized in Textile Design, Hazel’s artistic journey has taken her from selling hand-painted textile designs internationally to dedicating her time to practicing Fine Art back in Jersey. Hazel draws her influences from early abstractionists and the Washington Color group, particularly artists like Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, and Paul Jenkins. The core of Hazel’s work revolves around the exploration of color and its intricate relationships. Her paintings,…
Artist Doug Argue calls the Weisman Museum of Art’s (WAM) refusal to sell a monograph on his art in its bookstore during his recent survey exhibition there a form of “book banning.”The exhibit, held last summer at the University of Minnesota museum, featured Argue’s work from the early 1980s. Argue’s work has been shown at One World Trade Center and the Venice Biennale. He is best known in Minnesota for his giant painting of a chicken coop in a factory, which can be seen for many years at WAM.A work originally selected by guest curator Elizabeth Armstrong for the show,…
VP Vasuhan is a Sri Lankan artist whose journey through life, from his early years in Jaffna to his artistic explorations in Paris, has shaped his unique style and perspective. Born in 1977 in the village of Alaveddy, Jaffna, Vasuhan was surrounded by traditional arts from a young age. His grandfather, an agriculturist, and the local culture deeply influenced him, exposing him to religious paintings, embroidery, pottery, and kolam designs. His education at Mahajana College, Thellippalai, further nurtured his artistic talents, and upon moving to Colombo in the 1990s due to the ethnic conflict, Vasuhan’s artistic horizons expanded. He explored…
I decided not to read any reviews of the Royal Academy programme, Entangled Pasts, 1769-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change (until April 28), before going to see her. I wanted to approach the exhibition with an open mind, and so on a rainy afternoon in February, I set out for Green Park not knowing what to expect.In the courtyard, I was greeted by the monumental sculpture of Tavares Strachan, The First Supper (2023). It is in conversation or confrontation with the famous mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper (around 1495-98). In Strachan’s sculpture, the heroes of Africa and…
Gerhard Petzl, born in 1973 in Graz, Austria, is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans over three decades. He currently resides and works in Vevey, Switzerland, and Kalsdorf/Graz, Austria. Petzl’s artistic journey is marked by an exploration of shape, color, and texture, leading him into uncharted territories and self-discovery. His work is not confined to any single medium, technique, or shape, as he seamlessly transitions from traditional 2D visuals to digital art and creates sculptures ranging from found objects and recycled materials to metal works like bronze or aluminum. His artistic endeavors even extend into the realm of science, showcasing…