After the deadly wildfires in Altadena and the Palisades, Los Angeles was reeling at the time of last year’s Frieze Los Angeles. But according to Christine Messineo, Frieze’s fair director for the Americas, the collective tenderness and spirit of community that emerged from the devastation has only grown stronger.
“The fair gets better every year,” says Emilia Yin, the owner of Make Room gallery, whose stand features paintings by Erica Mahinay—all of which sold during Thursday’s VIP preview, for prices between $5,500 and $35,000. One work was acquired by the Santa Monica Art Bank. Yin says the energy of the city changes when Frieze Week rolls around, and people are eager to get back to business, especially after challenging seasons. “LA is a city where community matters a lot,” Yin adds.