Following Art Basel Hong Kong‘s cancellation, Frieze New York 2020 is the latest art world casualty of the coronavirus crisis—with more surely to come (in fact, Art Basel Switzerland has been postponed from June to September). Scheduled to commence May 6  at Randall’s Island, like Basel HK, they swiftly moved the whole thing online…a trend which may come to influence the configuration of even post-pandemic art fairs.

One major highlight, certainly, will be the Gagosian Online Viewing Room, available from May 4 – May 10, and featuring a single new work from Cecily Brown. The exalted British painter was an original member of the provocative Young British Artists (YBA)—and is now considered amongst the contemporary art world’s most influential. In fact, she was also scheduled for a major solo exhibition at Blenheim Palace this spring, which has similarly been postponed, of course.

What is promised to be a “museum quality painting” by Brown will feature in the viewing room, and will be accompanied by contextualizing videos by John Elderfield, as well as an edifying essay by James Lawrence. For the business-of-art minded, Gagosian’s Deborah McLeod will provide the corresponding market insights.

“While our doors remain closed,” says Gagosian Director of Publications Alison McDonald, “we are continuing our exploration of new and creative ways to present works to collectors in the online marketplace.”

Titus Kaphar