An Alex Katz installation at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, a Frieze exhibitor. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Frieze New York, one of the world’s most anticipated contemporary art events, will open on Thursday, May 14, in a distinct serpentine structure overlooking the East River. Located in Randall’s Island Park, the fair is a spin-off of Frieze London, which launched in 2003. Since its inception, Frieze New York has gone on to spawn a bevy of satellite fairs that complement New York’s historically monumental spring auctions.

Now in its fourth year, Frieze New York will feature over 190 of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries, including a vibrant mix of established and emerging dealers. Exhibitors include Acquavella Galleries (New York), Marianne Boesky Gallery (New York), Cheim & Reid (New York), Hauser & Wirth (Zurich/London/New York/Los Angeles/Somerset), Paul Kasmin Gallery (New York), Lehmann Maupin (New York/Hong Kong), Matthew Marks Gallery (New York/Los Angeles), Pace (New York), Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac (Paris/Salzburg), Jack Shainman Gallery (New York), White Cube (London/Hong Kong/São Paulo), and David Zwirner (New York/London). A number of solo and special presentations will take center stage at the fair, including an exhibition of works by the Italian artist Giuseppe Penone at Marian Goodman (New York/Paris/London), an installation of new drawings by the Conceptual artist Richard Tuttle at Pace, and dual exhibitions of works by Marilyn Minter and Laurie Simmons at Salon 94 (New York).

Marian Goodman will present an installation dedicated to Giuseppe Penone. Pictured: an installation by Penone at Versailles. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Frieze features a number of specialized sections, including Focus, a segment of the fair dedicated to galleries founded after 2003 that presents curated projects specifically conceived for Frieze New York. The Frame section, which is overseen by the Berlin-based curator and art writer, Raphael Gygax, and Jacob Proctor, the director of arts and media programming at the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society in Chicago, highlights galleries established less than eight years ago. This year’s fair will see the introduction of Spotlight, a third gallery section devoted to artworks made during the 20th century, which has been a critically acclaimed part of Frieze Masters in London since 2012.  Advised by Adriano Pedrosa, the artistic director ofthe Museu de Arte de São Paulo, Spotlight explores unexpected positions from established artists and presents new research into art from emerging territories, as well as significant work from overlooked artists.

Frieze New York includes a full roster of keynote lectures, panel discussions, commissions, workshops, and educational programs. Highlights include a Q+A session with New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz, a conversation between the Los Angeles-based artists Paul McCarthy and Leigh Ledare about their taboo-breaking work, workshops led by Urs Fischer and Julie Mehretu, and site-specific works created by Korakrit Arunanondchai, Pia Camil, Samara Golden, Aki Sasamoto, and Allyson Vieira.

Frieze New York will take place through Sunday, May 17. Other not-be-missed events happening in New York this week include the inaugural Art Miami New York fair, Collective Design, and the ICFF contemporary design fair.