OFFTHEWALL
Frieze art fair on Randalls Island is way out there
F RIEZE New York is a Metropolitan Museum of contemporary and modern art: enormous, sprawling and overflowing with riches. And, just like the Met, it can be intimidating. Now in its sixth year, this three-day fair, running through Sunday, boasts more than 200 galleries from 30 countries, with works by more than 1,000 artists, all packed into an enormous whiteribboned tent on Randalls Island. But that shouldn’t scare off the average art enthusiast. Here’s how to navigate this art-world behemoth, from must-see booths to must-eat snacks.
Ditch the map
Seriously, you’ll drive yourself crazy looking at it. Instead, let your eyes be your guide. You’ll be more likely to find the new and different, such as Beninese artist Romuald Hazoumè’s stellar collection of traditional-looking
ceremonial masks. Presented by London’s October Gallery, they’re made of discarded gasoline canisters and other recycled materials. Young artist Kevin Beasley’s sculptures made of do-rags, house dress- es and veils, at Casey Kaplan, are oddly haunting. Xavier Hufkens’ booth contains sculptor David Altmejd’s creepy, visceral Dr. Jekyll-andMr. Hyde-like heads, with crevices sprouting crystals and matted hair. Aliza Nisenbaum, fresh off her debut at this year’s Whitney Biennial, exhibits more of her colorful portraits of Latin immigrants at her Scottish gallery Mary Mary’s booth. And the 39 exuberant wooden Papuan “spirit boards,” at Paris-based Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art, are a crowd-pleaser. Skip the Warhols, seek out the Alfred Leslies
This year, Frieze beefs up its roster of 20th-century artists, many of whom are ripe for rediscovery. But don’t get distracted by the Andy Warhols, Jean-Michel Basquiats and other famous flashy names. Instead, discover the Austrian-American pop-art pioneer Kiki Kogelnik (19351997), whose brightly colored, surreal portraits and painted collages light up the NYCbased Simone Subal Gallery’s booth.
For other gems, seek out the galleries marked “Spotlight,” which focus on the work of a single master you might have missed in your modern-art history class. Among these: Philadelphia’s Fleisher/Ollman, featuring the work of Cuban-Ameri- can Felipe Jesus Consalvos, a cigar roller whose collages, made from cigar bands, torn-up dollar bills, magazine images and family photographs, were discovered after his death. And then there are Alfred Leslie’s powerful, beautiful realist portraits of working-class Americans, presented by the Bruce Silverstein Gallery. You can’t miss his monumental, three-panel “Americans, Youngstown, Ohio,” which is being shown outside of its home at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown for the first time in 40 years. Save your appetite
Even more tempting than the art? The food! Start the day with a bagel and lox at Russ & Daughters’ adorable pop-up, and then have a seasonal lunch — spring veggies and fresh fish — at Marlow & Sons. Or, if the weather’s nice, nosh on some Roberta’s pizza and sip rosé outside while
overlooking the East River. You’ll need to recharge anyway after navigating the tent for hours.
Stray off the beaten path
Sure, you’ll want to see the great Lorna Simpson’s presentation for Hauser & Wirth — delicate brass sculptures and stunning, inky blue portraits of women. But go to the more remote corners of the fair, where you can stumble upon, say, Jon Rafman’s secret movie theater, playing a mashup of 3-D animation with computer-generated erotica. The fair will also pay tribute to Rome’s legendary Galleria La Tartaruga, and features a different performance-art piece each day, including — on Sunday — Fabio Mauri’s “Luna,” which allows visitors to experience what it’s like walking on the moon. Celebrity sightings
You may rub shoulders with some art-loving stars here, but if you see Leonardo DiCaprio lurking around, it might not be him. Brooklynbased artist Dora Budor has hired a trio of blond doppelgängers to dress up as Leo in three of his best-known roles. It’s performance art! Take the ferry
Intrepid souls can brave the $8 Frieze bus from the Guggenheim Museum, but for those with a little extra cash to spare, the ferry that departs from East 35th Street takes a brisk, scenic 20 minutes, and costs $19 for a round-trip ticket.