BUTTER Fine Art Fair Expands To Los Angeles For Frieze Week 2026

The artist-led fair offers an affordable and equitable alternative to traditional art fairs like Frieze LA.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The BUTTER fine art fair, which originated in Indianapolis in 2021, is expanding to Los Angeles for Frieze Week 2026. BUTTER is an artist-led fair that allows Black artists to sell directly to attendees with no gallery commission or fair markup, ensuring 100% of sales go to the artists. The fair aims to be an "affordable and equitable" alternative to traditional high-end art fairs like Frieze LA.

Why it matters

BUTTER upends the traditional art fair model by centering Black artists and making art collecting more accessible to the general public. The fair's focus on affordability and direct artist-to-collector interaction challenges the art world's historical exclusivity and elitism.

The details

BUTTER LA will take place from February 26 to March 1, 2026 in Inglewood, California, capitalizing on the attention brought to Los Angeles during Frieze Week. The fair will feature over 40 Black artists from across the U.S. and the global Black diaspora, with 50% of exhibitors based in California and 25% from Indiana. Tickets will be $60 for adults, with free entry for those under 18, making it more affordable than typical art fairs.

  • BUTTER LA will take place from February 26 to March 1, 2026.
  • BUTTER's inaugural Los Angeles edition follows the fair's successful run in Indianapolis, which began in 2021.

The players

BUTTER

A fine art fair that exclusively features Black artists and allows them to sell directly to attendees with no gallery commission or fair markup.

Nakeyta Moore

The curatorial lead for BUTTER LA and the founder of LA-based ARTLOUDLA.

Frieze LA

The leading art fair in Los Angeles, which takes place during Frieze Week and is known for its high-end, exclusive nature.

Hollywood Park

A large commercial development project in Inglewood, California that will host the BUTTER LA fair.

Carrie Mae Weems

A photographer whose work is featured in the upcoming exhibition "Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985" at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

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What they’re saying

“There's music, there's DJs, the artists will be there; this is an artist-led fair, so it's a great way for a collector to meet the people they're supporting and exchange stories.”

— Nakeyta Moore, BUTTER LA curatorial lead and founder of ARTLOUDLA (Forbes)

“Artists are scribes of the times. They are telling the truth of what's happening right now and I'm very appreciative of the decentralization of elitism.”

— Nakeyta Moore, BUTTER LA curatorial lead and founder of ARTLOUDLA (Forbes)

“With the first representation of BUTTER here in Los Angeles, we want it to be very Black. We want it to be a place where people from all parts of the city can come and interact. There's so many things happening and it's really a place that is vibrant and it's new; it has that fresh LA culture. It doesn't feel jaded in any way.”

— Nakeyta Moore, BUTTER LA curatorial lead and founder of ARTLOUDLA (Forbes)

What’s next

The BUTTER LA fair will take place from February 26 to March 1, 2026, coinciding with Frieze Week in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

BUTTER LA represents a significant shift in the art world, offering an affordable and equitable alternative to traditional high-end art fairs. By centering Black artists and making art collecting more accessible, the fair challenges the industry's historical exclusivity and elitism.