Frieze New York 2025 confronts AI and tariff uncertainty

Frieze New York 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment for the art world, confronting the dual challenges of potential tariff impacts and artificial intelligence’s growing influence on creative expression. The prestigious fair serves as a barometer for emerging trends and market concerns, featuring a diverse roster of established and up-and-coming artists whose work reflects contemporary anxieties around technology, identity, and social norms. Understanding these intersections reveals how the art market continues to evolve amid political, technological, and cultural transformations.

The big picture: The art world is proceeding under the assumption that artworks are exempt from Trump’s tariffs, though uncertainty lingers about collector awareness and potential market impacts.

Emerging voices take center stage: This year’s Focus section showcases younger galleries and artists addressing contemporary issues ranging from environmental concerns to digital anxiety.

• The curated selection highlights fresh perspectives that reflect the art world’s engagement with pressing societal challenges.

What they’re saying: Artist Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, known for lo-fi video games exploring the Black trans experience, notes America’s unique relationship with artistic censorship.

• “America is the only place where my art has been censored,” states Brathwaite-Shirley, whose work has been exhibited at prestigious venues including Berghain, Tate, and MoMA.
• Finnish performance artist Pilvi Takala, who tests social boundaries through works like attempting to enter Disneyland dressed as Snow White, observes: “When there is perfection, one crack will create a total disaster.”

AI’s creative impact: The fair features experimental work exploring artificial intelligence’s potential as a creative collaborator rather than merely a tool.

• One featured artist has trained AI systems to think like a painter using works by de Chirico, Hopper, and Dove, alongside the artist’s own creations.
• This approach represents a more nuanced engagement with AI technology compared to the initial wave of generative art tools.

Global perspectives: The Independent fair runs concurrent to Frieze, showcasing international talent ranging from Barbadian silk paintings to meticulous ink-wash works.

• This platform specifically aims to highlight the next generation of artists, offering collectors access to emerging talents before they achieve mainstream recognition.