This October marks Frieze London’s 20th anniversary, and it’s a must-see edition. While its sister fair, Frieze Masters, offers new perspectives on historical artworks and objects spanning thousands of years, Frieze London will showcase a panoply of incredible contemporary art made by living artists. But these fairs aren’t confined to Regent’s Park. Many artists and galleries are taking part in collaborations throughout London to coincide with the festival, epitomising the constant innovation that characterises London’s cultural scene.

Ruinart x Talk Art Podcast Live at Serpentine Pavilion

10 October

Maison Ruinart, the oldest champagne house, will launch its partnership with Serpentine Gallery through a Talk Art Podcast Live Recording. This is the inaugural event in a series that will advance their shared commitments to sustainability and raising awareness of global environmental challenges. French Contemporary Artist Eva Jospin will join Talk Art Podcast hosts Russell Tovey and Robert Diament in the Serpentine Pavilion for a live episode recording in which she will discuss her career and the inspiration behind PROMENADE(S) – A Ruinart Carte Blanche Commission. Hear more in person!

Find tickets at Eventbrite.co.uk

Breguet x Somi Sim’s Resisting Time at Frieze London, Regent’s Park

October 11 – 15

At Regent’s Park, watchmaker Breguet will continue its collaboration with independent curator Somi Sim, which has seen Sim oversee projects at different Frieze cities this year. The London edition will see the partners present Resisting Time, which explores the capacity of time to resist the conventions and customs that dominate daily life. The exhibition will enact a dialogue between artists Hanne Darboven and Julien Coignet, and Breguet’s founder Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), with artworks shown alongside Breguet watches.

Annabel’s x Conrad Shawcross RA Patterns of Absence

9 – 15 October

Annabel’s is housing its latest large-scale work to coincide with Frieze London 2023. British artist Conrad Shawcross’s wall-based Patterns of Absence continues his exploration of optics and visual perception. A mirrored sculpture will dominate the club’s reception’s vestibule, with intricate disks featuring over 100,000 holes moving against each other as a backlight shines, effecting hypnotising patterns in perpetual flux. Proceeds from the sale of the artwork will be donated to The Caring Family Foundation and Shawcross will offer a unique insight into it during a conversation on 10 October with Tim Marlow OBE, chief executive and director of the Design Museum.

The Art of the Encounter by Illy Art Collection x Lee Ufan at Frieze London

12 – 15 October

Frieze London’s Official Coffee Partner, illycaffé, will unveil its 127th illy Art Collection at the fair. illy’s Art Collection of coffee cups has been growing for over 30 years, with contributions from 126 international artists already, for each of whom the iconic Matteo Thun-designed espresso cup serves as a blank canvas. Behind the newest collection is Lee Ufan, who pioneered Tokyo’s Mono-Ha artistic movement in the 1960s, which dissolved the boundaries between viewer, art object, and art context by emphasising physical experience over visual representation. The new illy cup art collection, The Art of the Encounter, is a natural progression from Lee’s artistic attitudes as it not only repurposes quotidian objects as canvases but ones that can be experienced through more than just our eyes. Indeed, illycaffé will be demonstrating the point by serving coffee cocktails and hot beverages at their stand, including the signature illy Espresso Martini, which guests can enjoy as they discover the Lee Ufan x illy Art Collection.

RECESS by Derrick Adams, at Burlington Arcade’s Gagosian Shop

2 October – 6 November

RECESS is a presentation of visual and performance artist Derrick Adams’s latest work. The exhibition will take over the Gagosian Shop in London’s Burlington Arcade, while his interactive sculptures Funtime Unicorn Spring Riders (2022) will be situated along the full length of the arcade. Giving life to a theme of leisure, these sculptures may be ridden. Adams first conceptualised the motif in question for the Floater series (2016–21) of paintings that depicted black people at leisure. A presentation of related works will appear at the Gagosian Shop including the video Funtime Unicorn: Ruby Rides through Four Seasons (2023), narrated by Aya Burns and Cleo Reed with music by Dave Guy of the Roots. An affirmation of childhood curiosity and creativity, the video portrays the passage of a year experienced by a unicorn both in an urban playground and across cosmic dreamscapes. The Shop will feature new merchandise designed by Adams with imagery of recreation, self-reflection, and sweet treats.

Glenfiddich x Ryoichi Kurokawa’s Time Re:Imagined at King’s Cross Station

12 – 15 October

During the Frieze Art Fair, renowned scotch whisky brand Glenfiddich will show off an arresting mirrored cube outside King’s Cross Station that contains three immersive audio-visual artworks, the products of its partnership with Japanese artist Ryoichi Kurokawa. Inspired by Glenfiddich’s ‘Time Re:Imagined’ collection of 30, 40 and 50-year old rare, aged Scotch whiskies, each piece captures a moment in time combined with experimental art and whisky in one indulgent, multisensory experience

After learning about the artwork from representatives there, visitors will then be guided to neighbouring bar Sweeties at The Standard, London to enjoy Time Re:Imagined whisky by the dram or in a bespoke cocktail. This venue will go on to host artworks from 17-30 October, with limited-edition offerings of rare whiskies and a bespoke cocktail menu designed in collaboration with Glenfiddich National Brand Ambassador Alex Walker enhancing the viewing experience.

Book here to enjoy the art and menu at Sweeties between 17-30 October

George x Yinka Ilori

11 – 15 October

To celebrate the most exciting week on London’s art calendar, private members’ club George has commissioned artist Yinka Ilori to create a vibrant calabash-inspired Murano glass vase (titled One Life: Igbesi Aye Kan) for its recently renovated, art-filled space in Mayfair. It’ll be on display from 11-15 October, and guests can also enjoy a delightful (and very Instagrammable) heart-shaped dessert imagined by Ilori. It’s filled with Nigerian flavours referencing Ilori’s heritage and set on a beautiful matching plate, which certainly lives up to the artist’s mission of spreading joy.

Dunhill’s inaugural partnership with Frieze Masters 2023

11 – 13 October

Luxury British menswear brand Dunhill will partner with Frieze Masters in putting on Frieze Masters Talks curated by Dr Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery, augmenting the house’s ambition to support cultural legacy. Bringing a fascinating array of international artists together with leading industry figures, the series will illuminate the rest of the fair by exploring connections between historical art and contemporary practice. Made-to-measure fabrics will festoon the Dunhill space at Frieze alongside soft furnishings, while pieces from Dunhill’s archive and current offering will be exhibited throughout.

Register interest in the talks here

Illy x The Cultivist Art for Thought coffee cocktails evening talks at Apricity, Mayfair

9 & 23 October

Illy will also celebrate its 31-year history of championing contemporary artists through another collaboration with global arts club, The Cultivist. This will entail Art for Thought coffee cocktail evening talks on Monday 9 and Monday 23 October at Michelin-starred restaurant Apricity in Mayfair. Joey Lico, Executive Director of The Cultivist and former art advisor to the Obama administration will share her expertise on building an art house at the first talk. At the latter, Dr Madeleine Haddon, curator at the V&A Museum East, will explore art through the ages. Illy will serve their iconic coffee cocktails at each, while Apricity offers delicious canapés throughout.

Book here: Illy x The Cultivist Art for Thought talk with Joey Lico; Illy x The Cultivist Art for Thought talk with Dr Madeleine Haddon