Frieze Los Angeles 2020: The Ultimate Guide to What to Do and What to See
After a successful inaugural edition, Frieze Los Angeles is back for another exciting year. Hosted at the Paramount Pictures Studio lot in Hollywood, the festival celebrates art as well as the artists who create it with performances, films, talks, and galleries. Taking place from today through February 16, Frieze explores contemporary art through the lens of Los Angeles and its dynamic culture, celebrating the city's contributions to the visual arts.
Headed to the LA art festival, but not sure what to do once you get there? We've found some of the best events happening all weekend long, so you won't have to look any further to find something that piques your interest. From a Louis Vuitton presentation to a discussion with author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, here's your definitive guide to Frieze Los Angeles.
Since 2012, Louis Vuitton's Objets Nomades collection has seen the heritage house collaborate with some of the best in design around the world. With Frieze Los Angeles having quickly risen to prominence, it was only natural for LV to stage a special off-site exhibition at the beloved new art fair this weekend. During the initial presentation today, there will be a conversation between Andrew Kudless, the first American Objets Nomades designer, and Emily King, design historian, curator, and writer. The new collection will then be on view through Sunday, so even if you can't make the talk, there's plenty of time to check out Vuitton's contribution to the fair.
Friday, February 14; 10:00am - 12:00pm
MILK, 855 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90038
If you're looking to attend some film screenings, be sure to check out Akira (1988), directed by Otomo Katsuhiro. In the film, Clandestine army activities endanger the city of Neo-Tokyo when a mysterious being with powerful psychic abilities escapes his prison and gets involved with a motorcycle gang. As a result, a biker with a warped mind embarks on a journey of war and seeks revenge against the society that once called him weak.
Friday, February 14; 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Paramount Theatre, 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Tomorrow afternoon, get an interdisciplinary perspective as artist Christopher Wool is in conversation with musician and artist Kim Gordon. Moderated by John Corbett (music curator and critic, author, and gallerist), this event will serve as a platform for Wool and Gordon to share how their experiences with music and art have influenced how they approach their creative processes.
Saturday, February 15; 2:00pm - 3:30pm
The Broad, 220 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012
In a conversation between author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates and painter Calida Rawles, the two discuss Coates' new novel The Water Dancer, Rawles' most recent work, and both creatives' opinions on Black imagery. It will be moderated by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's contemporary art curator, Christine Y. Kim.
Tickets for this Frieze Los Angeles event also include a copy of Ta-Nehisi Coates' novel, The Water Dancer.
Saturday, February 15; 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Paramount Theatre, 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
In another film screening, Frieze Los Angeles presents Cemetery of Splendour (2015), directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. In the film, soldiers with a mysterious sleeping illness are transferred to a clinic in a former school. This school is not what it seems, as there may be a connection between the soldiers’ sickness and the ancient site that lies beneath the clinic. Major themes include healing, dreams, magic, and romance.
Sunday, February 16; 1:30pm - 3:35pm
Paramount Theatre, 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Panic Party is a dance party with roots in sustainability. Admission is free and will feature music by DJ collective Cumbiatón and DJ Suga Shay.
In addition, there will be exhibitions featuring Paul McCarthy and Tishan Hsu, sustainable art activations presented by Facebook, short films selected by the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and plant-based food available for purchase from Cena Vegan. There will also be t-shirt and tote bag printing (one per guest; bring your own t-shirt or tote).
Sunday, February 16; 5:00pm - 8:00pm
The Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90024
Other Things to See and Do at Frieze Los Angeles
Immersive Artworks by International Artists
Frieze Los Angeles is, first and foremost, an art fair, so make sure to check out the works on display in between special events. This year, installations, performances, sculptures, and videos will explore themes of representation, identity, and myth. Artists such as Tania Candiani and Gabriella Sanchez will be amplifying the histories of the Latinx and Latin-American communities, while artist Gary Simmons and photographer Lorna Simpson will touch on the African American experience through themes such as visibility and identity.
Street Fair
When you have some free time in your Frieze Los Angeles schedule, be sure to peruse the street fair, which will take place in the backlot at Paramount Pictures Studios and host local Los Angeles artists. There, you will find poetry readings by the Poetic Research Bureau, drag shop and beauty services by Queen of Angels, plants and flowers at Pretend Plants & Flowers and Cactus Store, and a live-streaming series of interviews with local writer and artist Tierney Finster, hosted by ForYourArt.
Artist Enterprises: Art for Social Change
Much of the work at Frieze Los Angeles has a major emphasis on exploring identity and social realities, so you'll definitely want to check out the portion of the fair that recognizes the causes that inspire many of the artists. This will include some of Los Angeles's most forward-thinking non-profit organizations, which will have pop-up kiosks and stores along the streets of Paramount's film set. Organizations in attendance will include the likes of Artists 4 Democracy, which campaigns for voter registration; A to Z West, which is artist Andrea Zittel's experimental living project; and the philanthropic artist store grantLOVE.
Restaurant Pop-Ups
One of the best parts of any fair is the food, and Frieze Los Angeles is no exception to this. You'll find options to serve a range of tastes, from wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas to natural wines and sushi. If you're in the mood for something healthier, Craig's Vegan will offer vegan frozen treats and desserts, while Cha Cha Matcha will serve hot and iced matcha drinks.
