Frieze London: A Deep Dive into Small & Beautiful Art

Exploring the captivating world of 'small art' at Frieze London, highlighting key artists and trends that celebrate fragility and beauty.

Frieze London: A Deep Dive into Small & Beautiful Art

Frieze London is a wrap, and while the big, bold statements always grab headlines, there's a quieter revolution happening: the rise of 'small art.' It's about delicate details, intimate experiences, and works that draw you in close. Let's dive into the beautiful world of small art from Frieze London.

The Allure of the Miniature

This year, 'small' felt like a deliberate theme. Echo Soho set the stage, and at Frieze London, several artists showcased how impactful art can be when scaled down. It's not just about size; it's about the invitation to look closer, to appreciate the artistry in every tiny detail.

Spotlight on Artists

Kayode Ojo (Maureen Paley B16): Ojo's sculptures use sourced objects to dissect status and taste, mirroring excess while celebrating fragility. The use of fast-fashion elements and online marketplace finds adds a layer of algorithmic commentary on modern desire.

Curtis Talwst Santiago (uffner & Liu C11): Santiago's Infinity Series are miniature worlds encased in protective structures, blending personal memories with art history and pop culture references. These mobile environments become story-telling vessels, animating histories with precision and care.

Sarah Ball (Stephen Friedman Gallery B14): Ball's portraits, especially the smaller ones, are exquisitely scaled. They capture the nuances of gender, identity, and self-presentation with quiet intensity, revealing how we choose to present ourselves to the world.

Yutaka Nozawa (Kayokoyuki F18): Nozawa's Canvas Canvas Series blurs the lines between painting and photography, making the canvas both the subject and the support. The interplay of mediums and the integration of the artist's workspace create a sense of drifting between dimensions.

Gray Wielebinski (Nicoletti F32): Wielebinski explores the intersection of political history, power, and gendered desire through collage, installation, video, and sculpture. The new series at Frieze delves into the aestheticization of violence, using resin sculptures of gun grips to evoke a chilling parallel between American sports and gun violence.

A Master's Touch: Robert Coutelas (Loeve&Co S21)

Over at Frieze Masters, Robert Coutelas stood out as the embodiment of small art's power. This self-taught artist, who lived in near-solitude, created obsessive and poetic miniature works: hand-painted tarot cards, delicate gouaches, and tiny sculptures. His private mythology, filled with spirals and hybrid beings, is both tender and timeless.

Why Small Art Matters

Small art isn't just about size; it's about intimacy and focus. In a world that's constantly demanding our attention, these smaller works offer a moment of quiet contemplation. They invite us to slow down, to appreciate the details, and to connect with the artist's vision on a deeper level. Plus, let's be real, who doesn't love the idea of a beautiful, perfectly formed artwork that can fit in even the smallest of NYC apartments?

Frieze London showed that 'small art' is having a major moment. It's a reminder that beauty and impact aren't always about scale, but about the artistry and vision packed into every piece. So, next time you're at a gallery, don't just look for the biggest and boldest – seek out the small, beautiful gems that might just steal your heart. After all, sometimes the best things really do come in small packages.