Seoul’s Art Scene Turns Up the Volume as KIAF and Frieze Collide in Gangnam
When Seoul’s COEX Center fills with the buzz of KIAF and Frieze, the city’s art pulse is impossible to ignore. What began as a local fair in 2002 has now ballooned into a global spectacle, drawing galleries from nineteen countries and transforming Gangnam into a playground for collectors, artists, and the art-curious alike.
This year, KIAF expanded to 210 galleries, with over 130 hailing from Korea—offering a sweeping look at the nation’s contemporary art surge. The fair’s aisles brim with everything from blue-chip masterpieces to fresh discoveries by emerging talents, both local and international. Notably, a new wave of younger collectors is making its mark, signaling a generational shift in Korea’s art market.
International newcomers—like Antwerp’s Newchild and Tokyo’s Biscuit Gallery—rub shoulders with established giants, all eager to tap into Seoul’s creative energy. As accents mingle and canvases compete for attention, KIAF cements Seoul’s status as a crossroads where tradition meets tomorrow, and art is the common language.
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