Frieze Week Fuels London Gallerists' Optimism—and Talk of a Brexit Reversal

London's art trade entered Frieze Week in an upbeat mood, buoyed by strong auction outcomes and a well-attended Frieze London fair. The combination of solid sales and a starry fair has left the city's gallerists speaking openly about the possibility of a Brexit U-turn. Optimism has spread across the capital's art scene as dealers weigh the week's results against the trade frictions that followed the UK's departure from the European Union. The fair's draw and the auction houses' performance are being read as evidence that London retains its pull for international buyers and visitors. For galleries, the week offered a rare stretch of momentum after years of uncertainty over cross-border shipping, customs paperwork and the movement of works and staff. The mood described is one of relief as much as confidence, with dealers pointing to the fair and the salerooms as proof that the market still responds to London. Whether that optimism translates into lasting change in the sector's relationship with Europe remains an open question, but the conversation has shifted from managing decline to imagining a reversal of the Brexit settlement.