Frieze Director Eva Langret Is Steering The Global Arts Fair Through a Time of Change

From the outset, Frieze has been a challenger brand. When Frieze London opened in 2003 it questioned what an art fair could be – not merely a marketplace for trading art, but a cultural platform where ideas and commerce could coexist. It invited established galleries and emerging voices to share the same stage, creating a fair that felt less about transaction and more about exchange.

Over two decades, that spirit of challenge has defined the brand. Frieze has evolved into a global ecosystem with fairs in London, New York, Los Angeles, Seoul and now Abu Dhabi — each rooted in its city yet contributing to a shared vision of creativity and cultural dialogue. In a landscape dominated by Art Basel, Paris+ and a growing number of regional players, Frieze continues to stand apart for its curatorial ambition and its belief in art as a living, breathing reflection of the times.

Since joining in 2019, first as director of Frieze London and now overseeing Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Eva Langret has helped shape this next chapter. Her focus is on reinforcing Frieze’s challenger DNA: evolving it from an event into a brand that leads cultural conversation, supports new voices and redefines what global influence can look like in the arts.

As the 2025 edition of Frieze London and Masters opens in Regent’s Park, Langret discusses her approach, from amplifying smaller galleries to how a brand like Frieze can embody openness, inclusion and responsibility in a rapidly shifting world.

You’ve been with Frieze since 2019, first leading Frieze London and now overseeing Europe, the Middle East and Africa as director. How has your vision for the fair, and its role within this wider region, evolved over time?

When I joined Frieze in 2019, my focus was on deepening the fair’s relationship with London’s creative communities, artists and institutions, while ensuring it remained an international convening point. Over the past six years, the art world has changed significantly, and Frieze has evolved with it. We’ve seen an incredible expansion of galleries across the city, both young and established. My vision has increasingly centred on connection and sustainability: nurturing the ecosystem that allows art to flourish. Today, Frieze London stands as both a reflection of London’s creative energy and a global stage for discovery, dialogue and ambition.

Since its launch in 2003, Frieze has grown into a powerful global brand. At the same time, the landscape of contemporary art has expanded beyond imagination. With so many competing international fairs, how do you position Frieze?

Frieze has always been defined by its curatorial energy and intellectual curiosity. What distinguishes us is the balance we maintain between commercial strength and cultural depth. It’s not only a place to encounter art, but also a space for ideas to circulate. Our curated sections, artist-led programmes, and partnerships with institutions ensure the fair feels alive and relevant. London’s position as the world’s second-largest art market gives Frieze a unique edge, but our identity also comes from being part of the city’s fabric. In a global landscape of fairs, Frieze remains both a destination and a laboratory for the future of contemporary art.

You have made diversity and representation central to your approach. How do you ensure these values genuinely shape the structure of the fair?

Diversity isn’t something to add on, it has to be embedded into the DNA of how the fair is curated, who participates and what stories are told. This means working with advisors, curators and galleries who bring truly global perspectives. For example, this year’s section Echoes in the Present, curated by Dr. Jareh Das, brings together artists such as Diambe, Bunmi Agusto and Tadáskía from Brazil, Africa and their diasporas to explore material, memory and shared histories.

Initiatives like Artist-to-Artist, returning for its third edition and sponsored for the first time by Tiffany & Co., also give established artists the space to platform exciting emerging voices such as T. Venkanna, Ana Segovia and Ilana Harris-Babou. Representation extends beyond programming. It’s about who sits at the table when decisions are made. Our team reflects the diversity we hope to see in the wider art world.

In the last couple of editions, a stronger emphasis has been placed on giving more attention to younger galleries and emerging voices. How do you see their role in shaping the future of art fairs?

Emerging galleries take risks, introduce new ideas, and challenge established hierarchies. Following last year’s successful redesign, the Focus section, which is dedicated to emerging galleries up to 12 years old, will continue to place young galleries at the front of the fair, ensuring visitors encounter new voices immediately. We’re also excited to welcome several first-time exhibitors at Frieze London including a. Squire, Bombon, Coulisse, Cylinder, Gathering and many more.

Over the years we’ve worked hard to not just include them but to give them visibility and support at the heart of Frieze. But it’s also about continuity: mentoring these galleries as they grow and ensuring that the infrastructure of the fair adapts to their needs.

The arts can play a powerful role in turbulent times, creating spaces for dialogue and debate. Given today’s global political climate, what can open and independent fairs such as Frieze do to help protect freedom of expression and champion progressive ideas?

Art fairs can act as civic spaces, temporary but vital domains for ideas to be exchanged freely. Frieze brings together people from across borders, disciplines and perspectives. Our role is to create a platform where complex, even uncomfortable conversations can take place through art. Supporting artists and galleries who take risks is part of protecting that freedom. It’s also about safeguarding the infrastructures that sustain cultural dialogue: giving visibility to non-profit organisations such as Gasworks, Art Fund and Nottingham Contemporary ensuring fair representation, and fostering mentorship between generations.

Frieze London has always felt both global and distinctly local. As director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, how do you navigate that balance — ensuring London’s cultural identity shines through while maintaining the fair’s international scope?

London’s art scene thrives on exchange between cultures, generations and disciplines. Our role is to amplify that energy while connecting it to global conversations. Each year we welcome galleries from over 40 countries, yet so much of what defines Frieze is local: the young galleries in East London, the institutions that anchor the city, the collectors and artists who call it home. By foregrounding London’s creative ecosystem, we ensure that the fair feels both cosmopolitan and authentically grounded. London’s identity is global by nature, and that’s our greatest strength.

With the environmental impact of major art fairs increasingly under scrutiny, how do you define sustainability in this context, and how is Frieze putting that into practice?

Sustainability is a key strategic priority for Frieze and runs through every aspect of our fairs, from operations and infrastructure to programming and partnerships. We’re working with galleries and collaborators to reduce our environmental impact and share best practices across the arts sector. This year, we’re supporting a new initiative from the Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC) to mark their fifth anniversary.

We’ve conducted a full audit of our environmental footprint and are reducing carbon emissions across production, travel and logistics. Our tent now uses more reusable materials and modular structures to cut waste, alongside new measures for greener freight and fewer single-use plastics.

For us, sustainability also means social and cultural responsibility, ensuring fair pay, building equitable partnerships, and supporting communities. Progress is ongoing, but our goal is to make Frieze a model for how a global event can operate responsibly and transparently.

Frieze London and Frieze Masters is at Regent’s Park London from 15 to 19 October 2025.