Butter Art Fair Expands to Los Angeles During Frieze Week

The no-commission fair supporting Black artists launches in Inglewood.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Butter Fine Art Fair, an Indianapolis-based art fair that returns 100% of sales proceeds to participating artists, is expanding to Los Angeles during Frieze week. The fair will take place at Hollywood Park in Inglewood from February 26 to March 1, featuring work by Black artists from California and across the country. Unlike traditional art fairs where galleries take a commission, Butter operates under an artist-first model where artists retain all sale proceeds.

Why it matters

Butter's expansion to Los Angeles signals a growing effort to rethink the traditional art fair model and create more equitable opportunities for Black artists. As art fairs nationwide face questions about rising booth costs and softening sales, Butter positions itself as an experiment in recalibrating how value circulates during fair week, particularly in major coastal markets like LA.

The details

The Los Angeles edition of Butter will feature work ranging from $200 to $25,000 in price. The lineup includes artists like former LA Dodgers player Micah Johnson, Compton-based Mr. Wash, photographer Micaiah Carter, April Bey, Autumn Breon, and others representing the African diaspora. Programming will include a talk by R&B singer Ro James, a collaborative installation led by artist Lauren Halsey, and the debut of Autumn Breon's 'The Care Machine' initiative distributing feminine care products and HPV self-screening kits.

  • Butter LA will take place from February 26 through March 1, 2026.
  • The fair's Preview Night on February 26 is expected to draw a celebrity crowd including athletes Jrue and Lauren Holiday, actor Gail Bean, comedian Mike Epps, and singer Van Hunt.

The players

Butter Fine Art Fair

An Indianapolis-founded art fair that returns 100 percent of sales proceeds to participating artists, positioning itself as a no-commission alternative to the traditional art fair model.

GangGang

An Indianapolis-based cultural development firm that organizes the Butter art fair.

Micah Johnson

A former Los Angeles Dodgers player and painter participating in the Butter LA fair.

Mr. Wash

A Compton-based artist participating in the Butter LA fair.

Micaiah Carter

A photographer participating in the Butter LA fair.

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What’s next

Whether the Butter model scales beyond its Indianapolis origins remains to be seen, but its arrival in Los Angeles signals a growing effort to rethink how artists participate in and benefit from the art fair economy.

The takeaway

By eliminating commissions and centering Black artists, Butter is positioning itself as an experiment in creating a more equitable art fair model, particularly in major coastal markets like Los Angeles where attention and capital are concentrated during events like Frieze week.