Highlights at Frieze Seoul 2024

Frieze Seoul returns to COEX in Gangnam, 4 – 7 September 2024, with more than 110 galleries offering an in-depth view of Korea’s art scene alongside that of Asia and the world. This year’s fair also coincides with major art biennials in Gwangju and Busan.

Korean artists from across the generations feature prominently this year, including Jeon Joonho, Lee Bul, Kang Seung Lee, Mire Lee, Lee Ufan, Nam June Paik, Park Seo-Bo, Park Youngsook, Do Ho Suh and Haegue Yang, while major artists from around the globe include Louise Bourgeois, Carol Bove, Alex Da Corte, Olafur Eliasson, Petrit Halilaj, Barbara Kruger, Yayoi Kusama, Nikki de Saint Phalle, Honor Titus and Anicka Yi.

Meanwhile, the returning Focus Asia section features ten solo presentations from the region’s next generation of artistic voices, alongside Frieze Masters showcasing six millennia of art history.

Solo Presentations

Solo highlights from the Galleries section include, among many others, the first solo presentation of Jeon Joonho (Gallery Hyundai) in a decade, showcasing new works that use computer programs. American artist Honor Titus (Timothy Taylor) also presents six new paintings that comment on privilege, leisure, class and race in reimaginings of Western portraiture. New sculptures by Tuan Andrew Nguyen (Galerie Quynh) use brass shell cases from the Vietnam War, tuned to healing frequencies.

Oil paintings by Rute Merk at Gallery Vacancy interrogate the blurring of work and leisure and the construction of identity via mass media; new works by painter Kohei Yamada (Taka Ishii Gallery) demonstrate the artist’s command of brushwork and momentum; and Filipino artist Mark Justiniani presents works with The Drawing Room that resemble nested wormholes.

Generations of Korean Artists

Arario Gallery’s group show pays special attention to Park Youngsook, the only photographer featured in ‘Talking Bodies: Asian Women Artists’ at MMCA Seoul this year. Kukje Gallery highlights Korea’s Dansaekhwa movement, including Kwon Young-Woo, Park Seo-Bo, and Ha Chong-Hyun, alongside contemporary artists Lee Kwang-Ho, Haegue Yang and Suki Seokyeong Kang.

Lehmann Maupin gallery's booth will celebrate four groundbreaking Korean artists: Kim Yun Shin, featured in this year’s Venice Biennale; Lee Bul, recipient of the Met’s 2024 Façade Commission; Do Ho Suh, opening a solo exhibition at Art Sonje Center in August; and Sung Neung Kyung, who will have his first solo show outside Korea at Lehmann Maupin in New York this October.

Group Presentation Highlights 

Major international galleries will bring some of their most significant artists to the fair. Gagosian is presenting a wide-reaching display including Derrick Adams, Maurizio Cattelan, Hao Liang, Ewa Juszkiewicz, Rick Lowe, Albert Oehlen and Nam June Paik. Hauser & Wirth is showing Rita Ackermann, Louise Bourgeois, Ed Clark, Nicolas Party and Pat Steir, plus others.

Pace has a major 1980s painting by Lee Ufan, alongside works by Elmgreen & Dragset, Robert Indiana and Kylie Manning. John Baldessari, George Condo, Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Mire Lee and Rosemarie Trockel, all feature on Sprüth Magers’s stand, alongside works by Sterling Ruby.

A curated presentation by neugerriemschneider considers the moon as a subject of scientific, spiritual and artistic inquiry, with works by Olafur Eliasson, Tomás Saraceno, Rirkrit Tiravanija and Ai Weiwei. Mariane Ibrahim’s group presentation features Patrick Eugéne, Salah Elmur, Yukimasa Ida, Carmen Neely and Sol Kordich.

Frieze Masters Highlights 

The section for historical art will offer a kaleidoscopic view of creativity across regions and ages. Korean highlights include Wooson Gallery's solo stand of Korean artist Myungmi Lee, revisiting her groundbreaking 1977 show ‘GAME’. Hakgojae Gallery showcases a group exhibition featuring seven prominent figures in Korean modern and contemporary art, including Byun Wol-ryong, Chung Chang-Sup, Kim Whanki, Lee Joon, Nam June Paik, Park Young-Ha and Ryu Kyung Chai. Gana Art explores connections between Korean art masters and their contemporaries with Chang Ucchin, Choi Jongtae and Oh Sufan.

Tokyo Gallery + BTAP's presentation bridges the gap between the 1960s and today, featuring works by Park Seo-Bo, alongside Choi Myoung Young and Lee Jin Woo. International Masters highlights include Niki de Saint Phalle’s 1960s sculptures which are the focus of the presentation at Galerie Mitterrand. Les Enluminures specialists in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, will present a curated display of illuminated manuscripts and period jewelry.

Focus Asia Highlights 

Focus Asia sees ten solo artist presentations from galleries in the region 12 years or younger. Highlights include Jonghwan Lee who uses drawing and engraving to create undulating skins on conventionally flat paintings at Cylinder; new works by Hwang Sueyon at G Gallery manipulate sculptural materials.

Sojung Jun’s 2023 video work Syncope, presented by Barakat Contemporary, looks at the movement of sound to examine data, border crossings and plant migration. Parcel has a solo by Lu Yang, who creates post-apocalyptic realms fusing Japanese pop culture with Buddhist spirituality. And Evelyn Taocheng Wang’s ongoing series of paintings referencing works by Agnes Martin are presented by Kayokoyuki 

Focus Asia is supported by Stone Island, who provide subsidies that enable young galleries’ participation in the fair. The brand further promotes emerging talent by partnering with a local artist showing in Focus to create fair staff uniform shirts: at Frieze Seoul 2024, these will draw on Park Kyung Ryul’s painting Picture 3–7 (2023), on display with Baik Art.

Partner Activations at Frieze Seoul

LG OLED presents a tribute to Se Ok Suh by Do Ho Suh and Eul Ho Suh

The LG lounge will host a special exhibit celebrating the artistic legacy of two generations. Do Ho Suh, the elder son, creates large-scale installations, while his younger brother, Eul Ho Suh, brings architectural spaces to life in a powerful tribute to their father Se Ok Suh’s legacy.

BMW Art Car #20 by Julie Mehretu

The BMW Art Car #20 by Julie Mehretu will make its Asian debut at Frieze Seoul, continuing the company’s tradition of transforming vehicles into art since 1975. BMW will also showcase a new collaboration, with two artists designing miniature BMW i7 cars. Frieze and BMW will also host Frieze Music featuring Korean singer-songwriter SAAY at The Shilla Seoul.

Chaumet presents Heechan Kim

Chaumet is collaborating with artist Heechan Kim in a new artwork made from walnut wood.

Breguet presents ‘Post Atlantica’, curated by Jenn Ellis featuring Noémie Goudal

‘Post Atlantica’ is the second chapter of a four-part series at Frieze fairs exploring evolutionary change by blending art, science, literature and mechanics, with Noémie Goudal’s premiering a newly commissioned film and photographs.

Ruinart Carte Blanche featuring Tomoko Sauvage

Ruinart presents Tomoko Sauvage’s work as part of the series ‘Conversations with Nature’. Sauvage is known for her work with natural elements, particularly water.

American Express Lounge

Frieze and American Express are unveiling a unique lounge at Frieze Seoul 2024 that blends history and modernity, inspired by Amex’s global offices from the 1910s.

Jo Malone London in partnership with Kwangho Lee

Jo Malone London, the Official Fragrance Partner of Frieze Seoul, collaborates with artist Kwangho Lee, who has crafted enamel-on-copper sculptures that echo Jo Malone’s ‘scent layering’ concept.

NOROO, Frieze Official Paint Partner and supporter of the Focus Asia Stand Prize

Leading Korean paint company NOROO is the Official Paint Partner of Frieze Seoul and supports the Focus Asia Stand Prize. Its colours also feature throughout the fair. 

illy Art Collection featuring Lee Ufan

In the illycaffè lounge, visitors can experience the latest illy Art Collection by Lee Ufan, with iconic cups adorned by a single brushstroke.

CASETiFY x Simon Fujiwara

CASETiFY’s collaboration with British-Japanese artist Simon Fujiwara features a capsule collection of tech accessories merging his creative vision with the brand’s innovative craftsmanship.

Additional Frieze Week partners include Chanel, presenting the latest edition of the ‘Now & Next’ series; Don Julio, Associate Partner of Frieze 91; Loewe, presenting an exhibition by 2023 LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize finalist Jaiik Lee in the new CASA LOEWE Seoul location; and MCM, presenting its MCM Wearable Casa collection at MCM Haus.

Further Information 

Limited tickets for Frieze Seoul are now on sale – don’t miss out, buy yours now. Alternatively, become a member to enjoy premier access, multi-day entry, exclusive guided tours and more.

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A dedicated online Frieze Viewing Room opens in the week before the fair, offering audiences a first look at the presentations and the ability to engage with the fair remotely. 

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