LONDON.- Frieze have announced the participating galleries for Frieze Masters, the organisation’s first art fair for historical art. Frieze Masters will take place 11–14 October 2012 on Gloucester Green, Regent’s Park, London, and is sponsored by Deutsche Bank.

Frieze Masters is a carefully selected presentation of over 90 of the world’s leading galleries, with 77 in the main section and 22 in Spotlight. The fair will give a unique contemporary perspective on art throughout the ages. Coinciding with, and within walking distance of, Frieze London, the two fairs will make London the focus for as broad as possible an international art audience and will benefit from a crossover between audiences of contemporary and historical art.

Participating Galleries
The participating galleries will exhibit art ranging from the ancient era and old masters through to art of the 20th century. Representing 18 countries, galleries participating in the first edition include: Galerie 1900-2000, Paris; Acquavella Galleries, New York; Colnaghi, London; Gagosian, London/ New York; Elvira Gonzales, Madrid; Daniel Katz, London; Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art, Paris; Moretti Fine Art London/Florence; Helly Nahmad, London; Pace, London/New York; Van de Weghe Fine Art, New York and Rupert Wace, London.

Victoria Siddall, Director of Frieze Masters, said of the gallery list: ‘I am very pleased that so many leading galleries have committed to Frieze Masters in its inaugural year. The exhibitor list reflects the unique nature of the fair – they are all the best at what they do – and represents a diverse range of art throughout history and from all over the world. The very positive response to Frieze Masters from galleries demonstrates the desire for a great international modern and historical art fair in London.’

Spotlight
The Spotlight section is dedicated to solo artist presentations. It will offer visitors the chance to discover artists working throughout the 20th century, from territories Austria, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, Lebanon, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, UK and USA.


The advisor to Spotlight, curator Adriano Pedrosa said of the section: ‘In our first year, the selection of Spotlight reaches beyond established painters and sculptors, proposing instead a more experimental and diverse notion of the ‘master’. The section has a concentration of conceptualist and feminist practices from the 1960s and 1970s, including historical figures not only from Europe and North America, but also from Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. It wil look back at a diverse group of pioneers working at one the most radical periods of art history.’

Frieze Masters will be designed by architect Annabelle Selldorf who will create a contemporary, elegant environment where ancient and modern art can be shown side by side.

Frieze Masters will include a programme of talks in which leading contemporary artists will draw out relationships between their practice and historical art.

Michele Faissola, Global Head of Rates and Commodities, and Member of the Global Art Advisory Council, Deutsche Bank said: ‘Deutsche Bank is proud to support Frieze Art Fair as it continues to break down barriers, this time with the past, through the creation of Frieze Masters.’