Frieze announced today that Abby Bangser, formerly the head of the Americans Foundation for the Serpentine Galleries, will be the new Artistic Director for the Americas and Asia. It’s part of the restructuring that saw Frieze co-founders Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp handing the reigns over to Victoria Siddall, and taking on more advisory positions.
But does this mean we’ll be getting a a Frieze Hong Kong anytime soon? The brass denies it, but who knows.
Full press release, with plenty of charming British spelling, is below.
Frieze is pleased to announce that Abby Bangser has been appointed as Artistic Director for the Americas and Asia. Most recently Head of the Americas Foundation of the Serpentine Galleries, Abby has over ten years of experience working in leading institutions across the USA including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and was previously a consultant for Frieze in the USA.
Based in New York, Abby will lead on gallery and institutional relationships within the Americas and Asia as part of the new management team for Frieze fairs with Victoria Siddall, Director, and Joanna Stella-Sawicka, Artistic Director within Europe, Middle East, Russia and Africa. With a proven track record in museums, Abby will be responsible for building the Frieze community at both an international and local level. Working across all three fairs both Artistic Directors will have a particular focus on the curated sections and programmes.
In her previous position Abby oversaw the launch of the Americas Foundation of the Serpentine Galleries, an organization that brings together philanthropists from both North and South America who support the Serpentine’s exhibitions and programmes of artists from the Americas. As Director of Annual Giving Programs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Abby ensured the growth of the museum’s patrons groups, which support both general operations as well as museum acquisitions, and developed a strong network of relationships with collectors, curators, galleries, institutions and artists.
Abby commented on her appointment: ‘I am thrilled to be taking on this new role of Artistic Director, joining incredible colleagues in building upon the consistent successes of all three Frieze fairs. It will be an absolute privilege to work closely with the ever expanding communities the fairs serve, many of which I know well and others I greatly look forward to getting to know better, in order to deliver an experience that inspires and excites.’
Victoria Siddall added: ‘Abby brings fantastic gallery, institutional and collector relationships to this new role and I am delighted she is joining our team. She has shown her passion for and commitment to Frieze and her insight as an American will be invaluable to us, ensuring that the fairs continue to deliver at the highest levels.’
Frieze London, Frieze Masters and Frieze New York are three of the world’s leading art fairs. Launched in 2003 Frieze London takes place each October in Regent’s Park, London. In 2012 Frieze launched Frieze New York, a contemporary art fair held each May on Randall’s Island, Manhattan and Frieze Masters, a fair for art from ancient to modern, which also takes place in Regent’s Park. In 2015, Frieze is supported by Deutsche Bank for the 12th consecutive year.
