Frieze New York’s Focus section serves as a crucial platform for emerging galleries, innovative artists, and those traditionally underrepresented, offering them a chance to participate in a highly competitive art scene.
Many participants arrive eager for artistic recognition, while others are driven by a profound personal connection to their exhibited work. Three gallery owners shared insights on their experience being part of this year’s fair.
Julia and Maksym Voloshyn, a husband-and-wife duo who operate two galleries under their name—one in Kyiv, Ukraine, and another in Miami—highlighted the significance of presenting Ukrainian artist Nikita Kadan, acknowledging his resilience amid wartime.
The Kyiv gallery, established in 2016, was temporarily closed for nearly a year in 2022 following the Russian invasion. During this period, several artists found refuge within the gallery space, including Kadan.
Maksym Voloshyn, 39, explained, “This artwork was created within our gallery during the war and reflects the artist’s experiences during that time. It embodies themes of resistance and resilience.”
