This February, Frieze Los Angeles prepares to unveil Inside Out, the fair’s most ambitious Frieze Projects program yet. Curated by Art Production Fund and staged alongside the rest of the event's rich on-site offering at the Santa Monica Airport, the new program will present works by eight artists engaging with themes of identity, migration, and the city’s cultural heritage.
Christine Messineo, Frieze’s Director of Americas, describes Inside Out as a transformative experience, showcasing artists “that shape our collective landscape, transforming Los Angeles into an open stage for exploration." Casey Fremont, Art Production Fund's Executive Director, adds, "These projects focus on individual stories and point of view, while inviting visitors to participate in a collective experience, enhancing their understanding and relationship to contemporary art."
Among those artists tapped to participate is Lita Albuquerque, a pioneer of the Land Art and Light & Space movements of the 1960s and ‘70s. Albuquerque is preparing to present an ephemeral meditation on our connection to the environment (rendered in her signature ultramarine blue pigment). Guatemala-born, Los Angeles-based artist Jackie Amézquita’s large-scale interactive painting, crafted from natural materials and woven mats, will also be on view. The work transforms migration data onto a dynamic social map, inviting visitors to traverse its many pathways.
A number of the works on view reflect the appetite for immersive art experiences: a welcoming façade of terracotta, ceramics, and living plants pays homage to Joel Gaitan’s Nicaraguan and Miami roots; Claire Chambless’ ‘sculpture hunt’ invites visitors to seek out golden eggs containing miniature artworks throughout the fairgrounds; and Madeline Hollander’s airborne work offers a handful of fairgoers the chance to take to the sky alongside local flying instructors.
Others engage the ecological, social, and cultural discourses salient to Angelenos: Greg Ito’s "Burn and Blossom," a monumental inflatable sculpture adorned with California poppies, presents visitors with themes of resilience and renewal, while Ozzie Juarez’s work encapsulates the depth and breadth of South Central’s cultural legacy. Dominique Moody’s mobile installation, "THE NOMAD," crafted from salvaged materials, confronts themes of housing insecurity and displacement.
With its many intersecting narratives and captivating presentations, Inside Out’s program reflects the dynamism and complexity of the city that inspired it, merging personal narratives with opportunities for community-wide introspection. Open to the public during Frieze Los Angeles from Feb. 20-23, the program affirms the fair’s commitment to deepening the dialogue between the city and its preeminent annual art fair.
