Frieze London 2024 is poised to once again be the highlight of the international art calendar, attracting collectors, curators, and culture aficionados from around the world. With its celebrated mix of contemporary and modern art, Frieze has become a destination where the cutting-edge meets the iconic, showcasing works from both emerging artists and household names. The fair has an undeniable influence on the global art market, setting trends and elevating fresh talent, while offering an unrivalled platform for established galleries to present their most coveted pieces.
In this article, we’ve curated a selection of must-see works from this year’s fair. Whether you're a seasoned collector or simply looking to immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene, these standout pieces are sure to captivate. From bold installations that push boundaries to intimate works with subtle storytelling, Frieze London 2024 promises an exciting and diverse experience, and we’re here to guide you through the very best it has to offer.
Artist Award: Lawrence Lek
London-based artist and filmmaker Lawrence Lek has been named the recipient of the 2024 Artist Award at Frieze London. In partnership with Forma, the award provides early- and mid-career artists with the opportunity to realize ambitious new commissions. Lek is known for his work exploring the moral dilemmas and creative possibilities of artificial intelligence, often infusing his digital world-building with dark humor and absurdist narratives. His 2024 work Empty Rider, for example, features the televised trial of a self-driving car after a botched kidnapping. For this year’s Artist Award commission, Lek has created Guanyin: Confessions of a Former Carebot, a multimedia installation that invites players into a meditative gaming environment where they uncover the story of a cyborg therapist developed to counsel other AIs out of existential crises.
Born in Frankfurt and of Malaysian-Chinese heritage, Lek's work reflects global complexities—both real and virtual—through immersive narrative experiences. In Guanyin, players follow the titular carebot, named after the Buddhist goddess of mercy, as she examines Vanguard, the self-driving car from Empty Rider. The project draws inspiration from "walking simulators," video games focused on exploration and storytelling, with Guanyin’s voice guiding players through journal entries, corporate reports, and messages. This thoughtful and innovative work, selected by a jury of art professionals, continues Lek's exploration of AI’s emotional and social impact while pushing the boundaries of digital art at Frieze London 2024.
Frieze Masters
Donald Locke - Stand S18
Donald Locke (1930–2010) was a pioneering Guyanese artist whose interdisciplinary work spanned painting, sculpture, and ceramics, exploring the legacies of colonialism and racialization. At Frieze London 2024, Locke’s evocative Plantation Series will be on display, a body of work that remains as relevant today as it was when he first created it in the 1970s. These abstract pieces, composed of monochromatic grids, are powerful reflections on the plantation system's oppressive structures and Britain’s colonial legacy. This is a rare opportunity to experience Locke’s work first-hand, and a must-see for those interested in art that challenges historical narratives.
Isabella Ducrot - Booth G07
Textiles and paper are the cornerstones of Isabella Ducrot’s practice. The former, worn directly on the skin, indicates intimacy and touch; the latter can contain and protect, as well as convey ideas, whether written or graphic. In both weaving and writing, pattern and repetition can give rise to unique expressions. From her extensive travels over four decades to many countries including Afghanistan, Iran, India, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Tibet, Ducrot has gathered a unique collection of textiles and paper dating from the 9th to the 20th centuries. She also holds a significant collection of baroque paintings. Though the artist herself only began painting (and writing) relatively late in life, motifs and elements from these collections now make their way into her work, at times glued, stitched directly or painted on to the image ground.
Frieze London
Ji Xin - Booth C20
Ji Xin (b. 1988), based in Hangzhou and Shanghai, creates large-scale portraits of ethereal women that blend Eastern and Western classical aesthetics. His imposing canvases, often featuring life-size figures with elongated limbs and oversized eyes, are set against elegant Art Deco interiors. Drawing on influences from the Italian Renaissance and Song dynasty painting, Ji’s serene, pastel-toned works explore themes of self-reflection and poetic contemplation. At Frieze London 2024, his tranquil, introspective pieces offer viewers a chance to engage deeply with the enigmatic figures and timeless grace they embody.
Hew Locke - Booth C20
Hew Locke (b. 1959, Edinburgh) spent his early years in Guyana before returning to the UK, where he developed a distinctive practice that explores the symbols of power, colonialism, and cultural identity. His work draws from a wide range of sources, including royal portraiture, military history, and public statuary, often fusing his Caribbean and British heritage into multi-layered, politically charged pieces. By blending modern materials with historical references, Locke's works challenge viewers to rethink the cultural and societal symbols that shape our understanding of the world today. At Frieze London 2024, his witty and complex pieces offer a thought-provoking exploration of the legacies of empire and power.
Dr. Esther Mahlangu - Booth C20
Dr. Esther Mahlangu is a trailblazer in the world of contemporary art, renowned for her vibrant, geometric abstract paintings rooted in the Ndebele tradition of South Africa. Her work has transcended its origins, taking traditional house-painting patterns and applying them to canvases, sculptures, and even automobiles, as seen in her collaboration with BMW. For over seven decades, Mahlangu has worked to preserve and innovate Ndebele art, blending cultural heritage with contemporary techniques. Her bold designs have captivated global audiences, earning her recognition from art collectors and celebrities alike. At Frieze London 2024, her vivid creations continue to bridge cultural history and modernity.
Tom Wesselmann - Booth C20
Tom Wesselmann (1931–2004) was a leading figure in the Pop Art movement, known for his provocative and iconic depictions of everyday consumer culture and the female form. His early works in the 1960s incorporated collages of advertisements and magazine imagery, while his later series, such as Great American Nudes and Standing Still Life, explored sexual imagery and bold compositions on shaped canvases. Wesselmann’s art evolved throughout his career, culminating in his Sunset Nude series, which referenced the work of artists like Henri Matisse. His distinctive style and playful approach to form will be on full display at Frieze London 2024, inviting viewers into a colourful, bold world of Pop Art.
Polly Apfelbaum - Booth C08
Polly Apfelbaum’s Red and White Potential (2023) at Frieze London highlights her signature exploration of color, texture, and feminist themes through new wall-mounted ceramics and a woven floor-based installation. The space features red and white striped walls, complemented by a handwoven rug made in Oaxaca, Mexico by Zapotec artisans, using traditional dyes. The rug’s imagery, taken from Apfelbaum’s The Potential of Women series, reflects her ongoing critique of gender inequality, drawing inspiration from a 1963 symposium that imagined a future for women while overlooking the real struggles of 1960s feminism. This installation beautifully merges craft, color, and concept.
Shilpa Gupta - Booth C08
Shilpa Gupta’s Untitled (2023) explores the fluidity of time and the boundaries it imposes on both personal and political landscapes. Using the hourglass as a central motif, Gupta questions whether time should be rigidly divided into minutes and seconds, inviting viewers to consider the unconscious and imaginative realms where time blurs and definitions dissolve. Through this contemplative piece, she highlights how power and societal structures shape our psychological borders. At Frieze London 2024, Gupta’s work challenges us to rethink the ways in which we measure both the visible and invisible moments of life.
Tacita Dean - Booth C08
Tacita Dean’s Depressed Painter (2024) is a poignant work on glass, created on a Victorian-era steam train window once owned by her late father. The piece, inspired by a Caspar David Friedrich drawing of a painter waiting for inspiration, features a canvas that acts as a mirror, reflecting the viewer back into the scene. Collaborating with a German glass foundry, Dean used layers of fired enamel to create a permanent drawing on the weathered glass. This work, to be shown at Frieze London 2024, exemplifies Dean’s deep engagement with drawing and its spontaneous, chance-based possibilities.
