Highlights from Frieze New York

In case the New York art world was starting to get a bit weary because they hadn’t hosted a contemporary art fair in a two whole months, Frieze returned for its sophomore edition this past weekend. Under a deluxe tent on Randalls Island, 180 blue-chip galleries from all over the world brought the cream of the crop from their rosters of artists. And according to an article by Katya Kazakina on Bloomberg, it was well worth the trip. Sales within the art market have continued to soar, and Frieze proved to be no different. Kazakina references that Hauser & Wirth quickly sold 40 small versions of the gigantic puppy outside by Paul McCarthy for $25,000 each, as well as works by Rashid Johnson and Matthew Day Jackson, ranging in price from $90,000 to $175,000. Luhring Augustine sold out its Tom Friedman-devoted booth in the first hour and a half. David Zwirner sold a huge batch of Thomas Ruff photographs on opening day, all priced between $7,000 and $95,000. And they weren’t the only ones (read more here).

But whiles sales might be the most important goal for dealers at an art fair, the choice to participate is also spurred by brand awareness, maintaining an aura of prestige, and to have personal interaction with buyers. For myself, an art fair is an opportunity to survey the range of incredible contemporary art being made across the globe today. Below are some of my top picks from the fair, but you can browse my entire photo album on facebook.