Urs Fischer Curates Gagosian Booth at Frieze Masters London

Gagosian is making a significant mark at the 2024 edition of Frieze Masters in London with a thoughtfully curated booth by renowned artist Urs Fischer. This unique display brings together sculptures by the late American artist John Chamberlain (1927–2011) and furniture designed by Australian designer Marc Newson, creating a striking interplay of form, texture, and industrial expression.

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Fischer’s curation offers a dialogue between Chamberlain’s dynamic sculptures and Newson’s meticulously crafted furniture pieces. Chamberlain, known for his distinctive technique of reshaping and welding metal to create three-dimensional collages, aimed to highlight the physical essence of manufactured materials. His experience as a member of the US Navy in the mid-1940s, working on an aircraft carrier, influenced his understanding of scale and mass, elements central to his aesthetic approach. In contrast, Newson’s furniture, rooted in experimentation with materials and structure, offers a high degree of precision, showcasing a refined balance between craftsmanship and technical sophistication.

The presentation at Frieze Masters includes three late sculptures by Chamberlain—COLONELGARGLE (2008), ENTIRELYFEARLESS (2009), and STUFFEDWITHSURPRISE (2011)—alongside four notable pieces by Newson, including the iconic Lockheed Lounge (1988), Random Pak Chair (2006), Low Voronoi Shelf (2008), and Charcoal Glass Chair (2017). The juxtaposition of these works invites viewers to explore the visual and conceptual connections between them, particularly in their use of industrial materials and their approach to functional forms. Fischer’s choice of a restricted color palette across the works and the overlapping timeframes of their creation further accentuates the thematic dialogue. The booth is unified by a bespoke printed tufted carpet designed by Fischer, titled Medium, which adds an additional layer of cohesion to the installation.

Urs Fischer is no stranger to Chamberlain’s work, having previously curated THE TIGHTER THEY’RE WOUND, THE HARDER THEY UNRAVEL at the Aspen Art Museum. That exhibition similarly placed Chamberlain’s early and late sculptures in conversation, blending them with his foam sculptures and miniatures to provide a broader perspective on his legacy. Fischer’s approach often challenges Chamberlain’s preference for isolated viewing, instead opting to juxtapose the sculptures with other artists’ projects, encouraging viewers to reconsider their interpretation of Chamberlain’s work.

There will be a special event at Sadie Coles HQ in London on Friday, October 11, at 9:30 am where Urs Fischer will be signing copies of his new book Monumental Sculpture and will engage in a conversation with curator and critic Róisín Tapponi.