Back at the Santa Monica Airport, the fair has settled into itself. The hangars and temporary structures now feel oddly familiar, but nothing like the glamour of the fairs held on the back lots of Paramount. Sunlight cut across the aisles in that particular Californian way, flattering even the most severe conceptual presentation. This year, there were more tightly focused stands and fewer salon-style hangs. Several galleries opted for solo or sharply edited presentations, the kind that require confidence and a collector willing to commit.
Make Room sold all wall works from their solo presentation of Erica Mahinay, with paintings selling in the range of $5,500-$35,000 and sculptures selling between $14,000- $20,000. Dreamsong placed nine works from their solo presentation of Tamar Ettun in the $2,600-$20,000 range each. PATRON sold five works by Jamal Cyrus, ranging between $20,000-$40,000, and Superposition placed multiple works from their solo presentation of Greg Ito, including sculptures sold between $12,500-$13,500 each, and three paintings for $8,000 each.
Emilia Yin, Owner & Director, Make Room: ‘We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to Erica Mahinay’s presentation in Focus LA. All wall works sold out within the first few hours of our VIP opening, with placements among major Los Angeles collectors, prominent figures in the entertainment industry, and, notably, the selection of a work by the Santa Monica Art Bank for the city’s permanent collection. Sales of Erica’s sculptural works continued steadily throughout the fair, reinforcing the depth of interest in her practice across mediums. For Make Room, this moment exemplifies what we set out to do: champion extraordinary female artists and contribute meaningfully to the Los Angeles cultural ecosystem. Frieze continues to be a vital platform for that mission, and we’re grateful to see Erica’s work meet the audience and institutional recognition it deserves.’