Frieze LA VIP Day Sees Brisk Sales as Collectors Flock to Fair

Major galleries report strong demand and six-figure sales at the latest edition of the Frieze Los Angeles art fair

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The opening day of the Frieze Los Angeles art fair saw a 'frenzy' of activity, with dealers reporting robust sales across the board. Big galleries like David Zwirner, Thaddaeus Ropac, and Karma Gallery placed works priced in the six figures, while smaller galleries also saw strong demand from collectors and museum representatives in attendance. The fair's location at the Santa Monica Airport and the recent openings of major LA art institutions like LACMA and the Broad were cited as factors driving the high energy and sales.

Why it matters

Frieze Los Angeles is one of the most important annual art events in the city, drawing major collectors, museum figures, and celebrities. Strong sales at the fair's VIP opening indicate continued vitality in the Los Angeles art market, even as the entertainment industry faces challenges. The fair's success also highlights LA's growing prominence as a global art hub, with new and expanded museums attracting more attention and collectors to the city.

The details

Dealers reported brisk sales across price points, with David Zwirner placing a $2.8 million Njideka Akunyili Crosby work and a $1.5 million Lynette Yiadom-Boakye painting. Thaddaeus Ropac sold an Alex Katz painting for $700,000 and other six-figure works. Karma Gallery had early success, selling a Jonas Wood triptych for $650,000 and other paintings in the $100,000-$150,000 range. Smaller galleries like Olney Gleason and Anat Ebgi also saw strong demand, with the latter placing a $11,000 work with the California African American Museum.

  • The Frieze Los Angeles fair's VIP opening day took place on February 27, 2026.

The players

Frieze Los Angeles

An annual art fair held in Los Angeles, part of the global Frieze art fair network.

David Zwirner

A major international art gallery with locations in New York, London, Paris, and Hong Kong.

Thaddaeus Ropac

An international art gallery with locations worldwide.

Karma Gallery

An art gallery with locations in New York and West Hollywood.

Olney Gleason

A New York-based art gallery.

Anat Ebgi

An art gallery with locations in Los Angeles and New York.

California African American Museum

A museum in Los Angeles focused on African American art, history, and culture.

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What they’re saying

“It's a frenzy”

— Charlie James, LA dealer (artnews.com)

“We've already sold three times as much as at the entire Art Basel Miami Beach in December. This is the perfect-sized fair.”

— Niamh Coghlan, Director, Richard Saltoun Gallery (artnews.com)

“There's been strong attendance today and a good energy. Largely collectors from the US, and institutional representatives in town too.”

— Thaddaeus Ropac (artnews.com)

“It's been really, really good”

— Ermanno Rivetti, Director, Almine Rech Gallery (artnews.com)

“Never underestimate an unhinged mom. It feels really good to be fighting for something right now.”

— Esther Kim Varet, Founder, Various Small Fires gallery (artnews.com)

What’s next

The Frieze Los Angeles fair will continue through the weekend, with the general public opening on February 28th.

The takeaway

The strong sales and high energy at the Frieze LA VIP opening demonstrate the continued vitality of the Los Angeles art market, even as other sectors of the city's economy face challenges. The fair's success also highlights LA's growing prominence as a global art hub, with new and expanded museums drawing more collectors and attention to the city.