As Frieze Seoul prepares for its third edition, the event is just a week away from opening. Frieze Seoul, focusing on contemporary art, features several distinct sections: the main gallery section, ‘Frieze Masters,’ which presents historically significant works ranging from ancient times to the late 20th century, and ‘Focus Asia,’ which highlights promising emerging artists from ten Asia-based galleries.

This multifaceted approach aims not only to showcase transcendent masterpieces across different eras but also to emphasize local vibrancy by spotlighting young Asian artists, maintaining a global perspective. In addition, the fair will offer a rich array of activities, including the Frieze Artist Award, Frieze Film, and various other events.

The galleries participating in Frieze Seoul span over 30 countries, with a strong representation from major Asian galleries based in Korea. Among the more than 110 galleries, several notable ones stand out.

|Galleries

This year’s Frieze Seoul gallery section includes around 80 prominent galleries from across the globe. Major international participants include Gagosian, David Zwirner, Pace Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, and Sprüth Magers, alongside leading Korean galleries such as Kukje Gallery, Arario Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Johyun Gallery, and PKM.

Noteworthy galleries and artists to watch include Ewa Juszkiewicz at Gagosian and Nicholas Party at Hauser & Wirth. Ewa Juszkiewicz (b. 1984) is one of the rising young female artists in the global art market. Her works, which often obscure or replace women’s faces in traditional European portraits with objects like flowers, create a surreal atmosphere while challenging conventional representations.

In May of this year, a 25F oil painting from 2018 by Ewa Juszkiewicz sold for approximately 117 million won at a Christie's auction. Additionally, a 40F painting from 2015 by the same artist was traded for around 628 million won at Christie's in March. Her pieces have consistently exceeded estimated values at auctions, reflecting her growing popularity.

Nicholas Party (b. 1980) is renowned for his innovative reinterpretation of art historical traditions through pastel, producing figurative works that are both historically significant and commercially successful. He will hold a solo exhibition at the Hoam Art Museum on August 31. His large-scale(100F~120F) still lifes on linen, painted with pastel, have been sold for approximately 5.85 billion won and 4.38 billion won at Christie's and Phillips Hong Kong auctions, respectively.

|Frieze Masters

The Frieze Masters section covers a broad spectrum of historical periods and includes galleries such as Gana Art, Hakgojae, and Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, which participated last year, as well as new exhibitors like Gallery Shilla, Asia Art Center, DAG, and Liang Gallery. Notably, Wooson Gallery will present a solo booth revisiting Lee Myungmi’s (b. 1950) groundbreaking 1977 exhibition “GAME”. Lee’s transition from monochromatic styles to more intuitive and expressive approaches in the late 1970s, demonstrated through her Play series with bright colors and simple forms, is a key highlight. Her oil paintings are priced around 4 million won for smaller works (5F) and approximately 26 million won for larger pieces (50F).

Tokyo Gallery + BTAP will present a significant collection of works by artists bridging the gap between the 1960s avant-garde movement and contemporary art. This includes key figures such as Park Seo-Bo, Choi Myoung Young, and Lee JinWoo, who are renowned for their contributions to Dansaekhwa (monochrome painting). While these artists are represented across various galleries, this presentation provides a unique opportunity to view their work in the context of their shared artistic trajectory.

Notably, Park Seo-Bo's works are highly esteemed. In the first half of this year, similar red-hued 10F pieces by Park were sold at Seoul Auction's major auctions for 130 million won in April and 155 million won in June. Additionally, a 70s work on 8F canvas was sold for 120 million won in April.

|Focus Asia

In the Focus Asia section, a standout artist to watch is Park Kyung Ryul (b. 1979), represented by Baik Art. Park Kyung Ryul departs from traditional painting by creating diverse images intuitively and without any particular order or connection. She constructs narratives solely through the arrangement of elements within a single canvas.

Her works align with the current collector trend favoring vibrant colors and abstract compositions, with pieces available for under 5 million won, attracting notable interest from younger collectors. Additionally, a uniform shirt inspired by her painting Picture 3-7 (2023) will be produced and showcased at the fair.

References

• 프리즈
  
• 프리즈 서울 (FRIEZE SEOUL) 2024 하이라이트 공개
• 500만원에 ‘월클’ 쥘 기회다…프리즈가 찍은 작가, 박경률
  
• 우손갤러리-이명미
  
• 백아트-박경률