Simon Fox plays down talk of competition with Art Basel Paris, insisting both cities can thrive despite market slump
The chief executive of Frieze London has dismissed the idea his fair is in a battle with Art Basel Paris, claiming the two events could create a “Barbenheimer moment” for collectors this October – despite the art market being in a severe slump.
Simon Fox told the Guardian that the fair, which opens on Wednesday, can benefit from having strong competition on its doorstep and replicate the mutual success of Barbie and Oppenheimer at the box office in 2023.
He said: “It’s very convenient for collectors who can come to London, spend a weekend here and then go on to Paris. It makes for a Barbenheimer moment.”
Since launching in 2003, Frieze London has become a key destination in the global art-fair circuit with Art Basel Paris opening in 2022 and growing each year.
