The prestigious Frieze art fair returned to Regent’s Park, London, bringing together a diverse group of leading British-based contemporary artists to showcase their latest creations. Since its inception in 2003, the event has become a major fixture on the international art calendar, attracting collectors, curators, and enthusiasts eager to engage with a wide spectrum of artistic practices under one vast tent.
Among the featured artists this year is Kira Freije, 41, who specializes in sculpture. Freije utilizes a range of materials including metal and fabric to create intuitive, figurative landscapes. Describing her current works as “gesture pieces,” she presents wall-mounted sculptures cast in aluminum and bronze that evoke the sense of a crowd, incorporating elements of fabric for added dimension. Her career highlights include a major exhibition at Hepworth Wakefield, an institution she holds in high regard.
Mohammed Z Rahman, 29, identifies primarily as a figurative painter but also works with sculpture and installation. A self-taught artist, Rahman’s work draws inspiration from nursery rhymes and ethnographic texts, reflecting his upbringing. Born to a mother from rural Bangladesh who worked in textiles, Rahman’s early life involved close engagement with organic, handmade home environments. His recent large-scale charcoal drawing depicts two adolescent figures walking through a forest, evoking a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of a vintage film still. Having exhibited at London’s Studio Voltaire, Rahman cites J.M.W. Turner and Nan Goldin as key influences, highlighting their ability to transcend commercial aspects of art and engage with social change.
Alvaro Barrington, 43, brings an innovative approach to portraiture, a classical genre that he reinterprets through the lens of hip-hop culture. His recent painting—a head portrait inspired by iconic works ranging from the Mona Lisa to Picasso’s Weeping Woman—reflects his desire to infuse the genre with fresh cultural significance. Barrington draws inspiration from Tupac Shakur, whom he regards as a defining artist of his generation. Looking ahead, he envisions his artistic journey unfolding in stages shaped by cultural identity, transformation, empowerment, and reflection.
Louise Giovanelli, 32, focuses on painting that captures fleeting sensory moments and the “vibrating luminous residue” left by a glance. Her work often explores themes of beauty and materiality, as exemplified by her piece featuring a face projected onto a glitter curtain titled “Cathexis,” referencing investment of emotional energy. Following a successful 2024 tour of her major exhibition starting at Hepworth Wakefield and continuing through prominent European museums, Giovanelli entrusts her gallery with placing her works with collectors who understand and respect her practice.
Among the younger cohort, Shaqélle Whyte, 26, recently marked two career milestones with a solo show at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and an upcoming solo exhibition at South London Gallery, where she is poised to become the youngest artist featured. Her paintings, including “Gulliver’s Forrest” and “Miss Mammy,” reflect periods of experimentation following her Wolverhampton exhibition. Whyte stresses the importance of responsible stewardship for her work, preferably by institutions rather than speculative collectors. Her artistic influences include Mark Rothko and contemporary painters Ruprecht von Kaufmann and Andrew Cranston. Notably, grime artist Stormzy has visited her studio, underscoring the intersection of art and popular culture.
The Frieze fair continues to function as a vital platform for artists to present new ideas and for audiences to engage with dynamic, evolving contemporary art practices.