Frieze Art & Architecture Conference

Chaired by Alice Rawsthorn with Sir David Adjaye, Glenn Brown, Sir David Chipperfield, Mark Coetzee, Elizabeth Diller, Thomas Heatherwick, Amanda Levete and Axel Vervoordt among others

What is the relationship between art and architecture? What makes a great space for art? How do buildings inform what and how we see? Leading architects will be in conversation with museum directors, gallerists and artists to discuss major international projects and the role of architecture in shaping the cultural landscape.

Organised by Frieze Academy on Friday, October 6, from 10am–4:30pm at The Royal Institution in London, this full-day conference will be hosted by Alice Rawsthorn with:

Sir David Chipperfield and Tim Marlow (Artistic Director, Royal Academy of Arts) in conversation about the masterplan for the Royal Academy site opening in 2018, and other of Chipperfield’s projects, including the renovation of Mies van der Rohe’s Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

Gallerists Johann König and Axel Vervoordt, and architect Arno Brandlhuber in conversation with critic Kirsty Bell on how commercial galleries are moving beyond the white cube model with innovative mixed-use developments in unconventional historic buildings. 

Elizabeth Diller in conversation with critic Oliver Wainwright on Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s civic and cultural projects, including the renovation and expansion of New York’s MoMA and design for The Shed, an innovative new arts centre in Chelsea.

Artists Pablo Bronstein and Glenn Brown talk to frieze deputy editor Amy Sherlock about their renovations of historical homes—a 16th-century seaside townhouse and a 17th-century country manor. 

Amanda Levete and Tristram Hunt (Director, V&A) discuss AL_A’s development of the V&A’s Exhibition Road Quarter, the challenges of expanding an historic institution and how the project compares with Levete’s radically contemporary design for MAAT in Lisbon.

Thomas Heatherwick and Mark Coetzee (Executive Director & Chief Curator of Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) in conversation with Alice Rawsthorn about the recently opened museum and its aim to redraw the institutional landscape in South Africa and beyond.

Sir David Adjaye and Yesomi Umolu (Exhibitions Curator, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago) discuss Adjaye’s engagement with art—from early residential projects including Chris Ofili’s London home and studio, to collaborating with Okwui Enwezor on the exhibition design for the 2015 Venice Biennale, to his numerous institutional projects, from Whitechapel in London to Washington, D.C.

Tickets: Early bird discounts on tickets are available for bookings made by September 1. Lunch and refreshments included. 

The conference will be followed by a champagne reception hosted by associate partner Therme Group, for the launch of their new programme supporting large scale art and architecture projects. 

A limited number of premium tickets also include dinner with the speakers.

Further information and tickets: frieze.com