Frieze London 2024: Latin American Artists Shine at Prestigious Art Fair

LONDON – The annual Frieze art fair, one of the world’s most renowned contemporary art events, opened in London on Thursday with a special focus on ceramics, largely showcasing the works of Latin American artists. This year’s fair also saw a Latin American gallery, Proyectos Ultravioleta from Guatemala City, win the coveted Frieze Gallery Stand Prize for its display featuring Guatemalan artists Edgar Calel and Rosa Elena Curruchich.

With more than 60,000 gallery owners, collectors, influencers, and art enthusiasts expected to visit the fair by Sunday, Frieze London continues to be a hub for discovering both established and emerging talent in the art world. The event brings together 160 galleries from 43 countries, offering a global perspective on contemporary art.

The ceramics section, titled “Smoke,” was curated by Pablo Jose Ramirez, who serves as the curator for the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Ramirez, born in Guatemala, aimed to highlight the works of 11 indigenous and diaspora artists, mostly from Central and South America. According to Ramirez, this new section gives visibility to artists who are often underrepresented in major international art fairs.

“Work on ceramics and on clay has been part of our culture for millennia,” said Ramirez. “However, it is only recently that ceramics have been fully recognized as a serious art form.” He added that many of the featured artists navigate between indigenous, ancestral stories, and contemporary global art, creating a unique fusion of traditional and modern influences.

Among the artists featured is Venezuelan exile Lucia Pizzani, who arrived in London in 2007. Pizzani’s sculptures, made of black clay imprinted with Latin American plants such as corn and eucalyptus, reflect her personal history of migration. Her other works were crafted using traditional techniques from the pottery community of El Cercado on Venezuela’s Margarita Island, a practice passed down through generations.

Frieze London runs alongside exhibitions, auctions, and private parties across the city. Visitors can explore a range of cultural offerings, including a Francis Bacon exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Tracey Emin’s works at the White Cube gallery, and Yayoi Kusama’s pieces at the Victoria Miro gallery.

Despite a slight slowdown in the global art market—sales fell 4% in 2023—the UK remains a major player, holding 17% of the global market share. Frieze London continues to attract collectors and galleries from around the world, ensuring the British capital’s status as a key destination for contemporary art.