FLA Day -1: The Calm Before the Storm
This morning kicked off with another event we organised for the Frieze 91 members—a visit to the studio of Austyn Weiner: artist, genius, inspiration, icon. Austyn’s studio is based in Frog Town (welcome to LA), in an old mechanic’s workshop with the most incredible open space, which she has truly transformed to make her own.
Her works are bold and gestural, blending abstraction with figurative elements as she explores themes of identity, emotion, and personal narrative. She uses expressive brushstrokes, vivid colours, and layered compositions, and her practice extends beyond painting to include photography and mixed media, reflecting her background in both fine art and photography. She’s currently working on a show at Lévy Gorvy Dayan, set to open during Frieze NY in May.
A stop at In-N-Out, accompanied by some creative photography, and we were off to Felix—a smaller art fair running alongside Frieze at the Roosevelt Hotel. It’s become the norm for smaller fairs to take place alongside the bigger ones, using the opportunity to draw in the crowds. Yes, it was never going to be Frieze, but honestly, it was so sloppy. The art was exhibited in the hotel rooms on floors dedicated to galleries, with the rooms emptied of furniture to make space for the works. I mean… if you’re going to remove the furniture, maybe also hide the cords? It looked like they just threw in the towel at the last minute and decided, 'Fuck it, let’s just move on.'
The gallery selection was good, the art was okay (the giant pretzel in the previous post is from there)—mostly younger, emerging galleries. But the logistics and organisation were insane. One lift for everyone—we waited 30 minutes just to go upstairs, and taking the stairs (up or down) wasn’t allowed. The staff were rude, it was insanely overcrowded, and, oh yeah… it cost $100 for a ticket. The only redeeming factor? The hotel’s Hollywood location, which meant a quick peek at the Chinese Theatre and some stars.
The rest of the day was spent in bed with my laptop, but here I am, up at 5am (again), because today is the first day of the fair. Let’s go!
This morning kicked off with another event we organised for the Frieze 91 members—a visit to the studio of Austyn Weiner: artist, genius, inspiration, icon. Austyn’s studio is based in Frog Town (welcome to LA), in an old mechanic’s workshop with the most incredible open space, which she has truly transformed to make her own.
Her works are bold and gestural, blending abstraction with figurative elements as she explores themes of identity, emotion, and personal narrative. She uses expressive brushstrokes, vivid colours, and layered compositions, and her practice extends beyond painting to include photography and mixed media, reflecting her background in both fine art and photography. She’s currently working on a show at Lévy Gorvy Dayan, set to open during Frieze NY in May.
A stop at In-N-Out, accompanied by some creative photography, and we were off to Felix—a smaller art fair running alongside Frieze at the Roosevelt Hotel. It’s become the norm for smaller fairs to take place alongside the bigger ones, using the opportunity to draw in the crowds. Yes, it was never going to be Frieze, but honestly, it was so sloppy. The art was exhibited in the hotel rooms on floors dedicated to galleries, with the rooms emptied of furniture to make space for the works. I mean… if you’re going to remove the furniture, maybe also hide the cords? It looked like they just threw in the towel at the last minute and decided, 'Fuck it, let’s just move on.'
The gallery selection was good, the art was okay (the giant pretzel in the previous post is from there)—mostly younger, emerging galleries. But the logistics and organisation were insane. One lift for everyone—we waited 30 minutes just to go upstairs, and taking the stairs (up or down) wasn’t allowed. The staff were rude, it was insanely overcrowded, and, oh yeah… it cost $100 for a ticket. The only redeeming factor? The hotel’s Hollywood location, which meant a quick peek at the Chinese Theatre and some stars.
The rest of the day was spent in bed with my laptop, but here I am, up at 5am (again), because today is the first day of the fair. Let’s go!
FLA Day 1: Let’s f do this!
I wake up at 4:30, and the only thing on TV is Futurama. Three cups of coffee and a flood of angry emails from people demanding VIP passes—this is how I spend the next three hours. Finally, it’s showtime.
We head to the fair early, hoping to spot some celebs. It’s LA, after all. But at 9 AM? Not a chance. People don’t go to art fairs early—it’s LA, after all.
A quick stroll, and I spot Eva by Víctor Hugo Pérez. That painting is an eerily accurate representation of my current state. Then, Almine Rech’s booth showcasing Matsu’s works—WOW. Just spectacular. Give me more bold carpets, give me bold walls—I love it, and I want it all the time. I promise more art is coming, but I was stuck at the entrance all day, so I didn’t get a proper look.
Celebs spotted: Gwyneth Paltrow, James Franco, Takashi Murakami, the fart dealer from Love Is Blind (does that count?), Angela Davis, and the brothers from Tokio Hotel.
The energy was great, but that first day is always intense for the staff. We go back to the hotel for a nap, then off to Lauren Halsey’s party at Soho House.
Tomorrow, we do it all again. xoxo
I wake up at 4:30, and the only thing on TV is Futurama. Three cups of coffee and a flood of angry emails from people demanding VIP passes—this is how I spend the next three hours. Finally, it’s showtime.
We head to the fair early, hoping to spot some celebs. It’s LA, after all. But at 9 AM? Not a chance. People don’t go to art fairs early—it’s LA, after all.
A quick stroll, and I spot Eva by Víctor Hugo Pérez. That painting is an eerily accurate representation of my current state. Then, Almine Rech’s booth showcasing Matsu’s works—WOW. Just spectacular. Give me more bold carpets, give me bold walls—I love it, and I want it all the time. I promise more art is coming, but I was stuck at the entrance all day, so I didn’t get a proper look.
Celebs spotted: Gwyneth Paltrow, James Franco, Takashi Murakami, the fart dealer from Love Is Blind (does that count?), Angela Davis, and the brothers from Tokio Hotel.
The energy was great, but that first day is always intense for the staff. We go back to the hotel for a nap, then off to Lauren Halsey’s party at Soho House.
Tomorrow, we do it all again. xoxo