Frieze Owner Ari Emanuel Buys Three Quilts at Los Angeles Fair, Beating VIPs in the Door

The billionaire acquired works by 86-year-old Black quiltmaker Yvonne Wells before the preview opened.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Billionaire Ari Emanuel, the owner of the Frieze art fairs, became the first collector to enter the Los Angeles edition of the fair on Thursday. He quickly bought three artworks by 86-year-old Black quiltmaker Yvonne Wells from the booth of New York gallery Fort Gansevoort, located across from the fair's entrance. The sales were made before the preview opened to VIPs, giving Emanuel first dibs on the works.

Why it matters

Emanuel's early purchases highlight the benefits of owning an art fair, as he was able to access the best works before other VIP collectors. The sales also showcase the continued interest in self-taught and outsider artists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, at major contemporary art fairs.

The details

Emanuel spotted the quilts at the Fort Gansevoort booth, which featured a solo presentation of Wells' work. The dealer, Adam Shopkorn, said Emanuel told him he would take three of the quilts - featuring portraits of Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley - within just three minutes of arriving. The works were priced between $50,000 and $60,000, and Emanuel instructed Shopkorn to finalize the details with his art advisor, Jeffrey Deitch, whose gallery was also exhibiting at Frieze L.A.

  • On Thursday morning, before the Frieze L.A. preview opened to VIPs at 10 a.m.

The players

Ari Emanuel

Billionaire owner of the Frieze art fairs.

Yvonne Wells

86-year-old Black quiltmaker whose work was featured in the Fort Gansevoort booth.

Fort Gansevoort

A New York gallery that mounted a solo presentation of Yvonne Wells' work at Frieze L.A.

Adam Shopkorn

The owner of Fort Gansevoort gallery.

Jeffrey Deitch

An art dealer who has been advising Ari Emanuel for 15 years and got him to join the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A. when Deitch was its director.

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What they’re saying

“He said, 'These are amazing.' His wife came alongside him. Within three minutes he told me, 'I am going to take Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley.' I said, 'That's amazing. Thank you so much.'”

— Adam Shopkorn, Owner of Fort Gansevoort gallery (artnet.com)

“Everything goes through Jeffrey. He stood in front of the work and said he understands why Ari liked the work so much.”

— Adam Shopkorn, Owner of Fort Gansevoort gallery (artnet.com)

“It's consistent with what Ari has been doing. This is the theme of the collection, in a way.”

— Jeffrey Deitch, Art dealer advising Ari Emanuel (artnet.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Emanuel's early purchases at Frieze L.A. highlight the advantages of owning an art fair, as he was able to access the best works before other VIP collectors. The sales also showcase the continued interest in self-taught and outsider artists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, at major contemporary art fairs.