The Frieze art fair franchise has acquired The Armory Show in New York and is in the process of buying Expo Chicago, two of the largest and oldest fairs in the United States.
The two US salons will continue to operate under their own brands and with their current teams, according to a press release. The Armory Show, which was founded in 1994 and takes place in September, will continue to be led by its general manager Nicole Berry. And Expo Chicago, which takes place in April, will still be led by Tony Karman, who founded the fair in 2012. They will both work alongside the various directors of Frieze’s five fairs in London, New York, Seoul and Los Angeles. . The other terms of these agreements have not yet been disclosed.
A Frieze spokesperson confirms that the next edition of Frieze New York is still scheduled to take place at The Shed in May.
“These acquisitions mark a transformative moment in Frieze’s growth and allow us to expand the depth and breadth of our presence in the United States, the world’s largest art market,” said the CEO of Frieze. Frieze, Simon Fox, in a statement. “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 United States at Frieze New York and Frieze Los Angeles.”
“Joining Frieze allows us to leverage a respected brand, deep industry knowledge, expanded resources and a wider network, which will further enhance the experience for our exhibitors and visitors,” said Berry said in a statement. “On behalf of our new owner, we look forward to continuing to grow our role as a cornerstone of New York’s cultural landscape.”
In addition to its two recent acquisitions, Frieze organizes five shows a year: Frieze London and Frieze Masters in October, Frieze Los Angeles in February, Frieze New York in May and Frieze Seoul in September. The second edition of Frieze Seoul will take place from September 6 to 9, while the next edition of Frieze London celebrates its 20th anniversary for the fair. Frieze has since 2016 been majority-owned by Hollywood entertainment company Endeavour.
