In Focus: Selfless Art’s Top Picks from Frieze New York 2025 | Contemporary Art & Curated Booth Highlights

Frieze returned to New York City this May, taking over The Shed in Hudson Yards with a four-floor presentation of some of the most dynamic and thought-provoking contemporary art from around the globe. With major galleries like Hauser & Wirth and Victoria Miro in attendance, the fair was a vibrant testament to the resilience of the art world in uncertain times.

For those unfamiliar, Frieze is one of the leading global platforms for contemporary art. Since its founding in 1991 with Frieze Magazine, it has grown into an international cultural force with major art fairs in cities including London, New York, Los Angeles, Seoul, and Chicago. These events bring together artists, collectors, curators, and thinkers to celebrate innovation and foster dialogue.

This year, Selfless Art was on the ground to take it all in—and while there was no shortage of talent, a few booths stood out for their thoughtful curation and powerful presentations. But before we dive in, we want to take a moment to applaud all the galleries who reported sales. In a challenging market, your success reminds us that there’s still hope—and art is still moving.

Exterior view of The Shed, 2025. Photo by Casey Kelbaugh. Courtesy of Frieze and CKA - Courtesy of Artsy

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Victoria Miro – Booth A8

Courtesy of Victoria Miro

Victoria Miro’s booth at Frieze New York featured a compelling lineup of works by artists including Jules de Balincourt, Hernan Bas, María Berrío, Inka Essenhigh, Eric Fischl, Chantal Joffe, Doron Langberg, Alice Neel, Chris Ofili, Celia Paul, Grayson Perry, Paula Rego, Sarah Sze, and Flora Yukhnovich.

Based in London, Victoria Miro is known for championing emerging and mid-career artists across a wide range of mediums and styles. This year’s presentation was thoughtfully curated around the theme of literature and its intersections with visual art. Chris Ofili’s works explored his ongoing dialogue with Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice; Chantal Joffe presented a large-scale portrait of art critic and writer Hettie Judah; and Celia Paul offered intimate paintings that reflect her deep connection with the Brontë siblings.

Subway, 2005, oil on canvas, 78in.x 70in - Courtesy of www.inkaessenhigh.art

It came as no surprise that the booth was named among the top presentations by outlets like The New York Times—rightfully so. One artist who especially stood out to us, was Inka Essenhigh.

A New York–based artist with UK roots, Essenhigh’s work is grounded in fluidity, sensation, and storytelling through motion. Her contribution to the fair, an earlier piece titled Subway, highlights her more surrealist approach. The monochromatic palette and ghostlike figures draw you in with quiet intensity. You feel immersed in the image—watching the commuters yet also wondering, Is that me? Her figures echo the psychological ambiguity of Francis Bacon: distorted yet familiar, unsettling yet deeply human. Through this, Essenhigh offers more than just visual intrigue—she invites you into an emotional experience shaped by memory, movement, and the everyday.

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Perrotin – Booth B3

Claire Tabouret, installation view in Perrotin’s booth at Frieze New York, 2025. Courtesy of Perrotin - Courtesy of Artsy.

Perrotin offered a focused solo presentation of new works by Claire Tabouret. The French-born, Los Angeles–based artist is known for her evocative portraits that investigate the vulnerability and intimacy of human relationships.

At Frieze, Tabouret unveiled a series exploring memory, nostalgia, and the quiet drama of sleep. Rendered in rich layers of deep green and violet, the portraits carried a softness that invited prolonged looking. Her treatment of fabric, folds, and space was reminiscent of Manet’s sensitivity—every brushstroke felt intentional, guiding the viewer gently through each composition. The result was a booth that felt as meditative as it was masterful.

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Mendes Wood DM – Booth B7

Installation view of Mendes Wood DM’s booth at Frieze New York, 2025. Photo by Dawn Blackman. Courtesy of Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo, Brussels, Paris, New York - Courtesy of Artsy

Mendes Wood DM—founded in São Paulo and committed to conceptual rigor and cross-cultural dialogue—brought a beautifully cohesive presentation that grounded us in serenity. The booth featured work by Sonia Gomes, Eunnam Hong, Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato, Paulo Nimer Pjota, Antonia Obá, and Kishio Suga. One of the most memorable elements was Suga’s Sliced Stones installation, which echoed the natural textures and hues found in Lorenzato’s late modernist paintings. Together, these works created a booth that felt tactile, elemental, and quietly powerful—a space where contemporary and historic voices spoke in harmony.

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Final Thoughts

Despite the uncertainty facing today’s art market—marked by shifting collector habits, economic headwinds, and global change—Frieze New York 2025 reminded us that meaningful work still commands attention, and thoughtful curation still makes an impact. The booths that left a lasting impression weren’t just visually striking—they offered emotion, intention, and a clear point of view.

Attending fairs like this reminds us why we joined this industry in the first place. It grounds us in the core reason art matters: not just for viewing, but for feeling. Art offers a space to reflect, relate, and reconnect—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us. The artists on display this year didn’t just move us—they invited us in. They reminded us why artists create, and why we find joy, depth, and resonance in what they share. More than that, they encouraged us to invest—not only in their work, but in the cultural spaces that make these connections possible. These fairs are more than market events; they are a testament to the power of art to bring people together, challenge perspectives, and spark conversations that ripple beyond the walls of a booth.

As always, it’s the artists and gallerists—those willing to take risks, ask questions, and offer new perspectives—who keep us inspired. We left The Shed with renewed purpose and a deeper appreciation for the resilience, creativity, and collective spirit that define this community.

Here’s to continuing to support, uplift, and believe in the quiet—and sometimes bold—power of art.

Until next time, Frieze.

—Selfless Art

References

Artsy Editorial. (2025, May). The 10 Best Booths at Frieze New York 2025. Retrieved from https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-best-booths-frieze-new-york-2025 |Inka Essenhigh. (n.d.). Official Website. Retrieved from https://www.inkaessenhigh.art/

| Victoria Miro Gallery. (n.d.). Official Website. Retrieved from https://www.victoria-miro.com/ |Mendes Wood DM. (n.d.). Official Website. Retrieved from https://mendeswooddm.com/ | Perrotin. (n.d.). Official Website. Retrieved from https://www.perrotin.com/