Frieze London & the Ultra-Contemporary Market 

There’s a new word buzzing in the art world as the rise of a rapidly expanding category shows no sign of economic turndown. Collectors across the globe are inquiring what artists are in the leading ultra-contemporary market and how do we define them. Let’s take closer look at what exactly is ultra contemporary and two female artists we saw that fit into this category that were booming at Frieze London.

The ultra-contemporary art category strictly applies to artists born from 1975 to the present day, as a way to bring valuable visibility to the youngest talents with strengthening secondary markets. Ultra-contemporary artists usually are very new to the market, have comparatively small price history lists, and boast a strategically chosen amount of available work. 

London based contemporary art gallery, Pilar Corrias presented a selection of recent and never-before-seen paintings and drawings by ultra-contemporary artist Hayv Kahraman (b.1981) an Iraqi born female who now lives and works in Los Angeles.

A vocabulary of narrative, memory and dynamics of non-fixity found in diasporic cultures are the essence of Kahraman’s visual language and the product of her experience as an Iraqi refugee. The body as object and subject have a central role in her painting practice as she compositely embodies the artist herself and a collective.

For its second year at Frieze, Addis Fine Art located in Addis Ababa and London showcased new paintings by Ethiopian artist Selome Muleta. Muleta (b. 1992) is one of the most exciting young self-taught female artists to emerge from the Ethiopian visual arts scene in recent years. Vivid yet serene, Muleta’s works are striking in their fusion of portraiture and still life. Her meditative canvases focus on the interior lives of the women she paints. 

“The ultra-contemporary art category strictly applies to artists born from 1975 to the present day, as a way to bring valuable visibility to the youngest talents with strengthening secondary markets.”

Although the ultra contemporary art category boasts a vast number of artists who have emerged over the last few years with compelling works a supply-constrained dynamic can occur making acquisitions difficult. As art advisors, we can provide expert advice on what to collect and why to collect. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more.

Written by Lo Sampadian