In a time not too long ago, Los Angeles boasted only two major art fairs (farewell, ALAC). Fast forward to this year, and the city plays host to an impressive array of eight fairs, possibly even more depending on classification. These include the massive Frieze LA at Santa Monica Airport, the intimate Felix art fair in Hollywood, and the community-focused Post-Fair. Among these, Butter highlights Black artists, the Other Art Fair centers on creators, Enzo brings a taste of New York’s galleries, Show LA is a fresh photography fair, and Dark Arts Fair adds a Renaissance Faire flair. Beyond these, the city is alive with art happenings and exhibitions, enriching LA’s vibrant cultural tapestry.
Frieze Los Angeles returns to the Santa Monica Airport, featuring over 100 galleries from 24 countries. Highlights include Lisson Gallery’s showcase of local sculptor Kelly Akashi, Ochi Projects’ presentation of Africanus Okokon’s multimedia paintings, and Ortuzar Gallery’s display of Linda Stark’s tarot card works. The Frieze Projects offer seven site-specific installations by LA-based artists, freely accessible to the public. Noteworthy pieces are Kelly Wall’s transformation of a Westwood Village newsstand, Cosmas & Damian Brown’s interactive fountain, and Amanda Ross-Ho’s performance involving a giant inflatable Earth.
Felix Art Fair, inspired by the lively hotel art fairs of yesteryear, returns to the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. This eighth edition features 56 exhibitors, including 20 newcomers, spread across hotel suites and cabanas around the iconic pool painted by David Hockney. Participating galleries span from LA’s Timothy Hawkinson Gallery to Paris’s Brigitte Mulholland and New York’s Harkawik, among others.
Post-Fair, initiated by gallerist Chris Sharp, offers a more affordable and community-focused alternative to larger fairs. This year, it takes place at the Santa Monica Post Office, welcoming 31 galleries from the US and international locations, such as Toronto’s Cooper Cole and Tokyo’s Kayokoyuki. Entry is budget-friendly at $12, with free admission for children under 12.
The newly introduced Enzo fair brings a slice of New York’s art scene to a historic 1920s warehouse in LA. Featuring nine galleries from New York’s Chinatown and Lower East Side, the event is free for both exhibitors and attendees. Butter Fine Art Fair, debuting in LA, focuses on artists of the African diaspora, with all proceeds going directly to them. This edition showcases over 40 artists, including April Bey and Autumn Breon.
The Other Art Fair spotlights individual artists without gallery representation, with 155 artists featured this year. Show LA, a new entrant, gathers over 40 galleries and publishers, offering talks, signings, and workshops. Lastly, the Dark Ages Fair, a nod to the Renaissance Faire, is a single-day event with a theatrical twist, featuring artists like Kate Costello and Eric Wesley.
