To say that this year has been a struggle would be an understatement. Please enjoy this Christmas Art for some cheer. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I will see you in 2021 with new art and more good things. Take care and Be Well.
This year has been a horrible year. It feels like this year has been cursed and we’ve all been forsaken. For this edition of Halloween Art, the group of curated works explores witchcraft, the bewitched and living with a curse.
Throughout the development of Modernist and Avant Garde art during the 20th and into the 21st Centuries, the pursuit of new perspectives has been always been a goal. One of the approaches is the close up where the viewer is given a detailed close up look and thereby forcing the viewer to see something that would be unusual or neglected. From the Russian Constructivist to the Bauhaus, artists from those eras were interested in the close up to explore political and social issues. The detail would be revelatory.
In Altoon Sultan's (born 1948) new work, currently on view at Feuilleton until November 7th, the detail is meant to reveal. Five works on gouache and one painting, Sultan invites the viewer to look at the machinery and mechanics of agriculture and food production. Upon first glance with the curves, shapes, and structures, the works see seem architectural in nature. However, Sultan hides the truth of what is being portrayed. The works show details of agricultural equipment and food processing machinery. The works are beautiful in their simplicity and color. Sultan uses detail and photo-realism to explore the complexities and ultimately the politics of food and agriculture as reflected by the details of the machinery. Once a student of Philip Pearlstein and Lois Dodd, Sultan's new work at Feuilleton reflects an interest in the perception of reality rather than reality itself.
Sultan's intimate works as a reflection of what is perceived can be both a blessing and a curse. If one is not too privy to what is being looked at, the viewer may be given a false impression or led somewhere that's not being portrayed. However, once you know or have an idea of what is being seen, then the works are a blessing to look at. Sultan is a master at rendering and exploring ideas through the concept of things, especially their details. She leads the viewer into considering both the language of the mechanized and its intersection with agriculture. This show is highly recommended to go see. Feuilleton is a gallery located within a private residence. It is open by appointment only. Go see.
feuilleton.la@gmail.com
1440 Logan St, Apt 1,
Los Angeles, CA 90026 USA
Circles, 2019. Gouache and ink on hand toned paper, 12 1/2 x 12 in (31.75 x
30.5 cm)
Curves, 2018. Gouache and ink on hand toned paper, 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 in
(31.75 x 31.75 cm)
Two Circles, 2019. Egg tempera on calfskin parchment stretched on panel, 10 1/2 x 7 7/8 in (26.67 x 20.2 cm)
Green Cylinders, 2019. Gouache and ink on hand toned paper, 12 x 14 in (30. 48 x 35.56 cm)
Two Curves, 2020. Gouache and ink on hand toned paper, 13 x 12 in (33.02 x 30.48 cm)
Frieze Los Angeles ushered in its second edition as part of an expanded
Frieze Week that celebrated Los Angeles’ art community at Paramount
Pictures Studios and throughout the city. Running from an invitation-only
Opening Preview on Thursday, February 13 through Sunday, February 16,
Frieze Los Angeles brought together galleries, institutions, artists and
organizations to encourage and increase the possibilities of arts discovery
and patronage.
Opening with major placements made on Thursday, February 13, sales
remained strong throughout the week, with widespread reports of brisk
sales, sold out booths and top collector attendance from Los Angeles,
United States and from around the world. Launched in 2019, Frieze Los
Angeles is supported by global lead partner Deutsche Bank for the second
consecutive year.
The fair attracted 35,000 visitors during its four days at Paramount Pictures
Studios, which featured 75 local and international galleries in addition to
unique artist commissions as part of Frieze Projects and the Artist Street
Fair on the Paramount Pictures Backlot.
Victoria Siddall, Global Director of Frieze Fairs, said, ‘It has been a
fantastic week at Frieze Los Angeles and I am thrilled with the positive
response to the fair from everyone involved. We have seen strong results
from galleries at every level, from emerging artists in Focus LA to multi-million dollar sales. The atmosphere has been electric both at the fair and
across the city and we feel so honored that LA has truly embraced Frieze in
just our second year here. We are already looking forward to 2021.’
Bettina Korek, Executive Director of Frieze Los Angeles, said, ‘After just two
years, it is already hard to imagine Los Angeles without an annual Frieze
Week. Frieze Los Angeles is the heart of a moment that galvanizes creative
communities across the city. While the exhibitors, artist-run spaces,
nonprofit organizations and artists onsite at Paramount only scratch the
surface of L.A.’s multifaceted cultural scene, new models we’ve tested this
year like the Artist Street Fair have been a resounding success. We want
fairgoers to know they do not need to be a collector to be an arts patron–
patronage can be a part of everyone’s life. My hope is that Frieze Los
Angeles shines an international spotlight on L.A. while preserving the
character of this city as one like none other.’
Attendees
Prominent attendees at the fair included Paramount Pictures CEO Jim
Gianopulos and local and international museum representatives Cecilia
Alemani, Maria Balshaw, Klaus Biesenbach, Thelma Golden, Michael
Govan, Joanne Heyler, Stefan Kalmár, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Ann Philbin,
and Beatrix Ruf; international art collectors Shelley Fox Aarons and Philip
E. Aarons, AgustÃn Coppel, the de la Cruz family, Beth Rudin DeWoody,
Maja Hoffman, Nathalie De Gunzburg, Catherine Petitgas, Wolfgang and
Gelila Puck, Howard and Cindy Rachofsky, Don and Mera Rubell, Julia
Stoschek and Anita Zabludowicz; Los Angeles-area art collectors Wallis
Annenberg, Bill and Maria Bell, Dallas Price-Van Breda, Cliff and Mandy
Einstein, Robert Tuttle and Maria Hummer-Tuttle, Mihail Lari, Arthur
Lewis, Peter Morton, Eileen Harris Norton, Susan Bay Nimoy, Michael
Ovitz, Carolyn Clark Powers, V. Joy Simmons and Hope Warschaw; artists
Walead Beshty, Andrea Bowers, Kenturah Davis, Kim Gordon, Alex
Israel, Suzanne Lacy, Shirin Neshat, Laura Owens, Bunny Rogers, Alison
Saar, Betye Saar, Jim Shaw, Frances Stark, Martine Syms, Henry Taylor,
Marnie Weber and Jonas Wood; entertainment industry figures including
Frieze Los Angeles Press Release, Page 3 of 14
February 16, 2020: Los Angeles Embraces Frieze as
Moment to Promote and Celebrate the Arts Across the
City
Justin and Hailey Bieber, James Corden, LL Cool J, Leonardo DiCaprio,
Brie Larson, Jennifer Lopez, Mandy Moore, Ryan Murphy, Amy Poehler,
Natalie Portman, Alex Rodriguez, Travis Scott, Charlize Theron, Usher and
The Weeknd.
Sales Reported Across the Board
The Opening Preview on Thursday, February 13, saw swift sales and major
placements by numerous exhibitors in the Galleries section of the fair.
Younger and established galleries reported exceptional collector enthusiasm
and interest in works presented, with many sold out presentations and
numerous sales in the seven-figure range.
In a co-presentation of works by James Turrell, Kayne Griffin Corcoran
and Pace Gallery sold works by the artist in the opening hours of the fair,
with most works placed in local collections. Gladstone Gallery made major
sales including a painting by Keith Haring for $3,750,000; Galerie
Thaddaeus Ropac reported strong sales including a work by Robert
Rauschenberg for $1,350,000 and a work by Robert Longo for $120,000.
David Zwirner sold significant works including a Neo Rauch painting for
$2,000,000, two works by Carol Bove for $500,000 each and five
paintings by Lisa Yuskavage priced from $120,000 to $1,000,000. Hauser
& Wirth sold out their entire booth of works by Avery Singer to a major U.S.
institution, with works ranging from $85,000 to $495,000. Galerie Eva
Presenhuber sold all works in a solo presentation of Ugo Rondinone. L.A.
Frieze Los Angeles Press Release, Page 4 of 14
February 16, 2020: Los Angeles Embraces Frieze as
Moment to Promote and Celebrate the Arts Across the
City
Louver sold nearly all works in a solo presentation by Alison Saar of
sculptures and large-scale prints, with one work entering the collection of a
major American arts foundation. Salon 94 sold out of their presentation of
works by Derrick Adams. Casey Kaplan sold out their booth with works by
Jordan Casteel, Jonathan Gardner and Matthew Ronay. Sprüth Magers
sold works to prominent collections, including photos by Barbara Kruger,
works on paper by George Condo, a sculpture by Sterling Ruby, two works
by Analia Saban and sculptures by Jenny Holzer. Seoul-based Kukje
Gallery sold works by Ugo Rondinone, Julian Opie and Suki Seokyeong
Kang. Mexico City-based Gaga sold major works by Emily Sundblad,
Cosima von Bonin, Josef Strau and Vivian Suter. David Kordansky Gallery
sold two paintings by Jonas Wood for $500,000 each and a work by Mary
Weatherford sold for $310,000. Victoria Miro sold 24 works from a solo
presentation of new paintings, sculptures and works on paper by Idris
Khan, ranging in price from $30,000 to $150,000. Blum & Poe sold out
their booth, including a painting by Mark Grotjahn for $600,000, paintings
by Henry Taylor ranging from $100,000 to $120,000 and a work by Aaron
Garber-Maikovska for $75,000. Xavier Hufkens sold a painting by Sterling
Ruby for $350,000 and two Paul McCarthy works on paper for $250,000
and $200,00. Goodman Gallery sold a significant work on paper by
William Kentridge for $400,000, an important early photograph by Shirin
Neshat included in her Broad museum survey exhibition at $125,000, as
well as several paintings by emerging Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai
between $60,000 and $80,000.
The fair also presented the first Focus LA section in the galleries tent,
providing a platform for emerging Los Angeles spaces that have been open
15 years or fewer, underlining Frieze’s commitment to the city’s vibrant
cultural landscape. Chateau Shatto had a sold out booth with works by Aria
Dean and Helen Johnson. Charlie James Gallery sold out their booth of
works by Frieze Projects artist Gabriella Sanchez. François Ghebaly sold
out a solo presentation by Sayre Gomez of one major painting priced at
$100,000 and five pylon sculptures priced at $12,000–Gomez’s sitespecific installation Tocayo 2020 as part of Frieze Projects was also sold at $100,000. Anat Ebgi sold out of their solo presentation by Greg Ito and
Various Small Fires sold out of a solo booth of paintings by Calida Rawles.
The fair also participated in the launch of the Deutsche Bank Frieze Los
Angeles Film Award, which was awarded on Thursday, February 13th to
Silvia Lara at a special reception. Lara’s short film Beauty Never Lost was
created during a three-month program at Ghetto Film School with other
emerging filmmakers. The $10,000 prize was juried by key arts and
entertainment figures including Doug Aitken, Shari Frilot, Jeremy Kagan,
Sam Taylor-Johnson and Hamza Walker. For more information visit
www.frieze.com/filmaward
