Frieze Los Angeles has grown from a promising newcomer to a genuine fixture on the global art calendar. The 2026 edition, back at its Santa Monica Airport venue, features 120 galleries from 22 countries and a curated programme that feels sharper and more focused than previous years.
The opening VIP preview on Thursday drew the usual crowd of collectors, celebrities, and dealers. Leonardo DiCaprio was spotted at the Gagosian booth examining a new series of charcoal drawings by Julie Mehretu. Rihanna lingered at Hauser and Wirth, where a monumental sculpture by Rashid Johnson occupied the central space.
Among the standout presentations, David Zwirner gallery brought a solo booth of new paintings by Njideka Akunyili Crosby that explore the interior spaces of Nigerian-American domestic life. The works, layered with photo transfers, fabric, and acrylic, range from intimate to room-sized and are priced between 800,000 and 3.5 million dollars.
"Los Angeles has the collectors, the weather, and the cultural energy to rival any art fair in the world. It just needed time to prove it." - Frieze Director Eva Langret
The Focus section, dedicated to galleries under 15 years old, is where some of the most exciting work lives. Lagos-based gallery Rele brought paintings by Marcellina Akpojotor that sold out within the first hour. Mexico City Kurimanzutto presented a haunting video installation by Carlos Amorales that transforms the booth into a shadow theatre.
White Cube made waves with a new Tracey Emin neon series, while Pace Gallery unveiled a collaborative installation between teamLab and architect Sou Fujimoto that immerses viewers in a responsive digital landscape.
Frieze Los Angeles runs through Sunday. Day passes are available at 85 dollars. If you cannot make it in person, Frieze is livestreaming panel discussions and studio visits on its app throughout the weekend.