Ariel Emanuel acquires Frieze for nearly $200 million, expanding global art fair portfolio

Ariel Emanuel, a prominent figure in Hollywood, has acquired Frieze, the art fair and magazine organization, in a transaction worth nearly $200 million. This move comes after Endeavor, the entertainment firm he co-founded, listed Frieze for sale last year. Emanuel has kept Simon Fox as the CEO and now oversees seven major global events, including the original London fair and its secondary-market counterpart, Masters, where one dealer reported sales significantly exceeding last year’s figures. The portfolio encompasses branded fairs in New York, Los Angeles, and Seoul, as well as The Armory Show in New York and Expo Chicago, solidifying the U.S. as Frieze's main operational hub. Investors include Abu Dhabi's IMI and the Qatar Investment Authority. In response to Art Basel's upcoming Qatar launch, Frieze has announced plans for a Gulf fair in Abu Dhabi. Despite the challenges in the current art fair landscape, Frieze's rental gallery model in London is thriving, with the recent opening of Frieze House Seoul in September aimed at replicating this success.