Situation Critical: Frieze 2017

Awol Erizku Nigist

"The color, first of all. It kind of reminds me of, from art history, what's that painter, Ingres? It looks like a classical painting, mimicking the pose. Probably trying to shed some light on the lack of representation of the black body in art, or the black nude."

— Ernest

Jeppe Hein Please Participate

"Well, I love neon. And I think it's interesting, there's a lot of different pieces throughout the fair that are more about language, rather than visuals. It's about doing things and not doing things, and how we should be active as human beings. I like it a lot."
— Tania

Andres Serrano Donald Trump, Snoop Dogg from the series America

"I am still fascinated how he became president. He shouldn't be. He represents, right now, division of this country. That has fascinated me, because I am immigrant myself, from Russia. That was actually one of the main reasons I didn't want to vote for him, because of his support for Putin, who I actually hate. I don't really know Snoop Dogg. I'm not really into hip hop, I don't really understand this type of culture. I'm a more classically trained person."
— Lev

Deana Lawson Living Room, Brownsville, Brooklyn

"The first thing that came to mind was on the idea of...drug people. Homeless people. People who had just moved in, squatters. People that look a little disillusioned, they don't look happy. That's my first impression. I've never lived like that, I don't think I can recall living out of boxes. It's a different outlook from what I've been brought up with. But the artistic side of it I understand, I can see that they're trying to put something together as entertainment. But I can't see how I could have that in my house."
— John

Karl Holmqvist Untitled, Untitled

"I like it, but I don't know why. It seems very tongue in cheek, and it makes me smile. But I feel like that makes me the butt of the joke somehow, when I have that response."

— Sally

Mark Flood SURRENDER

"I first read it as "Surrender to your sexual oppression." Which would have a completely different connotation. That's kind of what triggered my reaction. But then I realized it's "obsession." I guess I like the second one better, it's more positive."
— Adele

Art

Paul McCarthy: Power in the Provocative

I do what I want—what I believe in. We’re living in a pretty extreme time, and when people say my work is getting more extreme, I think that just reflects the world around us. I’m simply moving with the current.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, McCarthy’s beginning in the art world stems from proximal radicalization. After moving from Salt Lake City to study in San Francisco, McCarthy's work as an artist has always embodied this radicalization. Street-wise, known for being one of the most

“dangerous” artists in Los Angeles, this exhibit encapsulates that at its forefront. The artworks present provocative, scattered drawings and paintings that promote freedom from systematic censorship in the exchange between creator and receiver. His art style is distinctive in its intention of visibility over technicality, as seen in his limited color palette and intentionally imperfect techniques, but radical imagery.

McCarthy speaks about his artistic process as though the outcomes are inevitable and incredibly natural to him, given the current state of the world. Living in times of constant uncertainty has blurred the lines of media censorship; almost everything we consume is shaped by it, raising questions such as: Why was this said? Why was this created? Who is this for? Paul McCarthy’s work deconstructs this. His drive to create authentically and follow what feels natural to him results in art that inhabits the visual extremes of human experience, with the spirit of contestation serving as an added layer to the experience.

Art

The Wedding Written In Stone

April 27, 2026

Sten Studio walks down the aisle to couple with Alcova for Milan Design Week. Set within an abandoned cathedral where vows once echoed, The Wedding is a sculptural installation hosting a symbolic marriage between feminine and masculine, soft and stone, fluidity and structure. Rocks are fossilized fusions of their own ancient surroundings, built from eons of crashing waves or explosive magma. Love is based on divine circumstances, built through trials and tribulations. Love is much like stone in the way it takes form through time and pressure, relying on the invisible higher powers forcing the gravity of unity. The Wedding reflects on this permanence. The space materializes elements that are usually fleeting - light, flowers, ceremonies, romance. Registry gifts include a custom carpet courtesy of Verdi, floral arrangements from Hamish Powell, and scents brewed by Penhaligon’s, all coming together to build the intimate world.

Photos Courtesy of Ramona Balaban

Sten Studio specializes in stones and crystals as decorative interiors, expanding on natural, Earthly beauty in man-made environments. Alcova temporarily transforms raw, abandoned, and unique urban spaces into immersive hubs of design, innovation, and heritage. The featured collection revitalizes the cathedral for a final reception celebrating life and all its momentary yet abundant bursts of joy.

Art

All Silk Roads Lead to Gucci

April 23, 2026

The silk road once dominated the Asia-pacific and cultivated economical prosperity with the purest textiles, a contrast to the modern, oversaturated market of cheap goods. Gucci has never been a cheap name, and their craftsmanship could be mistaken for that of another century. The Art of Silk, curated by Demna from the Gucci Archive in Florence, pays homage to the house’s journey with silk. Ten scarves reimagine archival designs of flora, animalia, and nautical prints - motifs of the primordial garden of Gucci. These limited-edition pieces were birthed in Calabria in collaboration with Nido di Seta and Ongetta. The fine Italian silk encapsulates more than Gucci’s reputation, but the tradition of mulberry cultivation. The project revives a once-thriving silk supply chain, recovering abandoned land, fostering employment in communities, supporting small farmers, and powered by renewable energy. It’s a production that innovates how tradition, community, and sustainability can stay preserved in the contemporary world.

In addition to this heritage preservation, the campaign represents Gucci’s contribution to the world of art and education. Two exclusive flora scarves were created for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, celebrating its opening of the new David Geffen Galleries. Available exclusively at the LACMA Store and the Gucci Beverly Hills flagship store, the designs pull inspiration from Vittorio Accornero’s 1966 illustrations. In partnership with the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Firenze, selected student paintings of each scarf will be displayed at the Gucci Rodeo Drive store in LA. Gucci supports these participating students through scholarships, reinforcing the house’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative talent. The Art of Silk bridges the old and new world, breathing life into past traditions and future endeavors.