If there is a single takeaway from this year's third edition of the Frieze art fair in New York, it's that things aren't as wild or weird as they were in years past. There isn't a giant Paul McCarthy dog looming next to the tent, like there was last year, nor is there a pregnant sculpture inviting viewers to sit inside the womb, like there was at Frieze London last year.
Instead, this year seems more about focus, or alternately, repetition. Gagosian has brought allΒ Ed RuschaΒ works (they just opened a simultaneous exhibition of his work at their Madison Avenue location), David Zwirner has brought all Yayoi Kusama works, Gladstone has brought all Carroll Dunham works,Β Haegue Yang's jingle bell chair is back, Anish Kapoor's shiny bowls are back, and the list goes on.
There are works that shake things up a bit, such as Public Fiction's Al's Grand Hotel, where visitors can book actual rooms at Frieze for the night (aΒ $350/night Jesus Room and $375/night Bridal Suite are options), Frieze Sounds sponsored by BMW (Hannah Weinberger's piece is the sound of her baby's heartbeat), andΒ Takeshi Murata'sΒ Melter 3-DΒ hypnotizing strobe x sculpture installation.
Whether things are less flashy and therefore more agreeable (or simply safer) this year, there are still many intriguing works to be seen. EnjoyΒ 50 Must-See Pieces at Frieze New York 2014Β and visit the fair through Monday on Randall's Island.
KAWS, Untitled (MBFD9) (2014)
Erika Verzutti, Double Sunset (2014)
Jonathan Monk, All The Possible Combinations Of Eight Legs Kicking (One At A Time) (2013)
Gallery: Galerie Nicolai Wallner
Ryan Gander, Tell my mother not to worry vii (2014)
Shannon Bool, Michelangelo's Dream (2013)
Takeshi Murata, Melter 3-D
Gallery: Ratio3
Cory Arcangel, Express Yourself Clearly (2014)
Naama Arad, Et Al (2014)
Slavs and Tatars, Rahle for Richard (2014)
Daniel Arsham, Ash, Glacial Rock, Obsidian, Rose Quartz and Steel Eroded Basketballs (2014)
Michael St. John, An Assembly of Mayhem (2013)
Vanessa Safavi IntΓ©rieures (2) (2014)
Sarah Lucas, New Religion (Orange) (2013)
Hiroshi Nakamura, Illusionistic Lantern (1966)
Will Ryman, Untitled (2014)
Public Fiction, Al's Grand Hotel (2014)
Tabor Robak, Free-to-Play lite (2014)
Gallery: team (gallery, inc.)
Ryan McGinley, Dash (Supermarket) (2000)
Ulay, Women Inferno (1996)
Wilfredo Prieto, Shark Tank (2012)
Marie Lorenz, Randall's Island Tide Ferry (2014)
Eva Kotatkova, Architecture of sleep (2014)
Isa Genzken, Untitled (2012)
Paul McCarthy, White Snow Head (2012-13)
Fred Tomaselli, July 12, 2010 (2013)
Florian Meisenberg
Gallery: Simone Subal Gallery