On 13th July 2023, Frieze announced it has bought The Armory Show in New York and had also agreed to buy EXPO CHICAGO. Frieze has a strong commitment to the US market and faith in its continued growth, as seen by its acquisition of two of the country’s oldest art fairs. Both fairs will carry on with their current staff and under their current brands.
Both US fairs will carry on with their current staff and under their respective labels. The executive director of The Armory Show, established in 1994 and held every September, will remain Nicole Berry. Additionally, Tony Karman, who launched Expo Chicago in 2012, will continue to serve as the fair’s director for its April event. Both of them will collaborate with the various fair directors in London, New York, Seoul, and Los Angeles. These agreements’ full terms have not yet been made public.
“These acquisitions mark a transformational moment in Frieze’s growth and allow us to extend the depth and breadth of our presence in the US – the world’s leading art market.” said Simon Fox, CEO of Frieze. “New York and Chicago each have their own distinct ecosystem of artists, galleries, museums, and collectors. By expanding our presence in both cities, we will build on the strong track record we have established in the US at Frieze New York and Frieze Los Angeles.”
Nicole Berry (Executive Director, The Armory Show) and Tony Karman (Founder, President and Director, EXPO CHICAGO) will work alongside the international team of Frieze Directors; Nathan Clements Gillespie (Director, Frieze Masters), Eva Langret (Director, Frieze London), Patrick Lee(Director, Frieze Seoul) and Christine Messineo (Director of Americas, Frieze).
The Armory Show
The Armory Show, which was founded in 1994, significantly contributes to New York City’s standing as a major cultural hub through its programming, curatorial endeavours, institutional alliances, and activations. The Armory Off-Site programme, which features prominent large-scale artworks throughout the city’s parks and public areas, including the US Open, is another feature of the fair. In addition, it hosts the annual Curatorial Leadership Summit and a year-round series of seminars. The Javits Centre will host the following iteration of The Armory Show from September 8–10, 2023, with a VIP Preview on September 7.
Expo Chicago
EXPO CHICAGO, which was established in 2012, is a vital part of the city’s thriving creative scene. The fair activates a vast network of artists, museums, curators, galleries, and collectors by investing in rigorous programming—both on-site and citywide—that highlights Chicago’s collaborative spirit while igniting international collaboration and global discourse. This builds on Chicago’s history as the location of the first international art fairs in the Americas. EXPO CHICAGO 2024 will be held at the city’s Navy Pier from April 11–14. The EXPO CHICAGO acquisition is anticipated to close later this quarter, barring unforeseen closing circumstances.
Frieze hosts five fairs a year, in addition to its two most recent acquisitions: Frieze London and Frieze Masters in October, Frieze Los Angeles in February, Frieze New York in May, and Frieze Seoul in September. From September 6 to 9, the second iteration of Frieze Seoul will be held, while the following edition of Frieze London will mark 20 years of the show. Since 2016, Endeavour, a Hollywood entertainment business, has purchased a majority of Frieze.
image courtesy: New York Times
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