At Frieze London, some buyers are taking risks—others are taking their time

At the Frieze London art fair, some buyers are taking risks while others remain cautious, according to industry experts. Blue-chip galleries continue to sell more conservative offerings, but smaller dealers are attracting attention with their daring works at lower price points. Notable sales at the fair include several works by Albert Oehlen, which fetched over $1 million each, and two paintings by Dalton Paula by Lisson, sold for £50,000 each with four others on reserve.

However, some experts note that quality remains an issue in the upper end of the primary market, with fewer "fantastic" works available. Gagosian devoted its stand to Albert Oehlen's recent oil paintings, while Modern Art featured a solo presentation of Francesca Mollett's abstract works. Pace exhibited five large, monochromatic canvases by Marina Perez Simao, which all reportedly sold for $250,000 each by the end of preview day.

Meanwhile, Frieze added VIP hours between 10am and 11am on Saturday, likely due to increased interest from overseas collectors. Despite a shift in sales pace, London and Paris remain in collaboration rather than competition, with the fair hosting a diverse audience from various cultural backgrounds.