LA Art Scene: Galleries, Dinners & the Frieze Effect
Los Angeles is increasingly becoming a focal point for the art world, rivaling New York as major galleries and collectors concentrate activity around Frieze Los Angeles. Jeffrey Deitch, hosting events during the fair, noted the shift in the art landscape, observing, “Where else do collectors invite you into their homes, and you secure this level of taste?”
The concentration of high-profile events extends beyond the fair itself. Eugenio López Alonso, a prominent collector whose Grupo Jumex operates a museum in Mexico City, hosted a dinner at his Los Angeles home, showcasing works by artists including Richter, Judd, Prince, Hirst, and Ray. Attendees included Jean Pigozzi, Lauren Taschen, Patricia Marshall, Lauren Quin, and Hayal Pozanti. David Zwirner director Alex Marshall was also present.
Several galleries with established presences in both New York and Los Angeles—David Kordansky Gallery, Karma, Matthew Brown, Hoffman Donahue, François Ghebaly, and James Fuentes—are mounting significant exhibitions on both coasts. Mega-galleries such as Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner, Lisson, Marian Goodman, Pace, and Perrotin, which also maintain European outposts, have chosen to stage major shows in Los Angeles coinciding with Frieze.
The Journal Gallery, which originated in New York, has underscored this trend by staging a significant exhibition in its Los Angeles space, opened in 2024, described as possibly its most important show in over two decades. Past dinners for the gallery were held at Dan Tana’s, but this year’s event took place at López Alonso’s residence.
Other events included a pop-up show of etchings by Calvin Marcus at City Spa, attracting artists Adam Alessi, Jonas Wood, John Hodgkinson, Issy Wood, Tom McDonell, and Tristan Unrau. Sprüth Magers hosted a dinner at A.O.C. Celebrating new work by David Salle, attended by artists Jon Rafman and Ryan Trecartin, as well as novelist Emma Cline and comedian Nathan Fielder. Actor Christoph Waltz also attended a dinner celebrating Tacita Dean’s show at Marian Goodman Gallery.
Jeffrey Deitch Gallery is participating in Frieze LA 2026, alongside Anat Ebgi, and David Kordansky Gallery, among others. The gallery also presented “Law and Order” by Sam McKinniss in October 2025.