Seoul-based artist Choi Geon has been awarded the 2024 Frieze Seoul Artist Award, which recognizes emerging or mid-career artists. This prestigious prize includes a commission set to debut at the fair, running in the Korean capital from September 4 to September 7.
Born in 1985, Choi is celebrated for her sculptures made from discarded everyday objects. She has exhibited at prominent Seoul institutions such as Art Sonje (2023), Amado Art Space (2022), and the Buk-Seoul Museum of Art (2022). At Frieze Seoul, Choi will present a large-scale installation featuring found items like exhaust pipes and air-conditioning units, exploring the fair venue as a vast technological medium.
Choi was chosen by a distinguished four-member jury that included artist Jeon Jonnho and curators Serena Choo (Leeum Museum of Art, Seoul), Kim Sung Woo (Primary Practice, Seoul), and Yung Ma (Hayward Gallery, London).
Frieze initiated its artist award program in 2014 at its London fair, with past winners including Rachel Rose, Alberta Whittle, Sung Tieu, and Abbas Zahedi. The program also ran at the New York fair in 2018, 2019, and 2021, with winners Kapwani Kiwanga, Lauren Halsey, and Precious Okoyomon, respectively. This marks the second time the award has been presented at Frieze Seoul, with Woo Hannah being the first recipient.
Patrick Lee, director of Frieze Seoul, stated, “With the Frieze Artist Awards in both Seoul and London spotlighting advanced technologies this year, it will be fascinating to see how two artists interpret this concept differently. Our heartfelt congratulations to Choi Geon, a highly respected figure in Korea’s art scene. We are privileged to showcase artists of Geon’s caliber at Frieze Seoul, and eagerly anticipate our audience discovering more about her remarkable work.”
