Tate Acquires Works by Yearwood-Dan and Zapata at Frieze London
Tate acquired a 2026 Michaela Yearwood-Dan painting and a 1992 Luis Fernando Zapata papier-mâché sculpture at Frieze London this month. Neither artist had previously been in the museum's collection.
Programme
- Tate acquired two works at Frieze London: Michaela Yearwood-Dan's 'Peace Unknown' (2026) and Luis Fernando Zapata's 'Barge' (1992); neither artist was previously in the collection.
- Yearwood-Dan holds an auction record of $880,000 and is among the youngest artists on Hauser & Wirth's roster.
- Zapata died in 1994 of AIDS-related causes at age 42; the Centre Pompidou, Museo Reina Sofía, and Guggenheim now hold his work.
- The Contemporary Art Society spent £100,000 ($132,500) on three works for the Whitworth and gave its inaugural £30,000 prize to Okiki Akinfe.
- Arts Council England spent £90,000 ($119,300) on four additional works through its dedicated Frieze fund.
Tate spent its Frieze London fund on just two works this month: a 2026 Michaela Yearwood-Dan painting and a 1992 papier-mâché sculpture by the late Luis Fernando Zapata. Neither artist was previously represented in the museum's collection. Prices were not disclosed.
Which two artists entered the collection?
The Yearwood-Dan canvas arrived from Hauser & Wirth's stand at the main fair. It carries bursts of yellow, blue, and green, plus a text line reading: "IF THEY NOT PLAYING BY THE RULES, WHY THE F K ARE WE?" Glitter, beads, a ribbon, and paper cover the surface. The London-based artist, one of the youngest on Hauser & Wirth's roster, holds an auction record of $880,000. She opens a New York solo at Boesky Gallery soon. The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester is currently showing her work.
Why did Tate turn to Zapata?
The Colombian sculptor died of AIDS-related causes in 1994 at age 42. His visibility outside his home country stayed limited for decades. The Centre Pompidou, the Museo Reina Sofía, and the Guggenheim have since acquired his work. Tate purchased "Barge" at Frieze Masters, a sister fair devoted to historical art, from a shared booth held by Galería Elvira Moreno and Alonso Garcés Galería. The piece mimics ancient artifacts.
What did the museum say?
Interim director Karin Hindsbo issued a statement: "The works both represent varied and complex approaches to materiality, evident in the large-scale richly layered surfaces and experimental use of natural and found materials. I look forward to the public being able to enjoy these stunning works in Tate's galleries and beyond."
What else changed at this year's Frieze?
The Contemporary Art Society awarded its inaugural artist prize to Okiki Akinfe, whose work appeared at Ginny on Frederick's Focus booth. Akinfe received £30,000, just under $40,000. Ella Fleck, whose work appeared at Ehrlich Steinberg's Focus booth, won the Camden Art Centre Emerging Artist Award and will mount a show there.
The Contemporary Art Society spent £100,000 ($132,500) on three works bound for the Whitworth:
- Claudia Alarcón and Silät at Proyectos Ultravioleta
- Karimah Ashadu, the 2024 Venice Biennale Silver Lion winner, at Sadie Coles HQ
- Gala Porras-Kim at Sprüth Magers
Arts Council England deployed its own Frieze fund to acquire four pieces for £90,000 ($119,300): Armando D. Cosmos from Phillida Reid, Oliver Osborne from Union Pacific, Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings from Arcadia Missa, and Laurie Smith from Wschód.
What does this change for Tate?
The museum added two artists absent from its holdings across the two Frieze fairs. One belongs to the contemporary market's fastest-rising tier. The other bridges Colombian modernism and global institutional collecting. Hindsbo's interim tenure now carries a clear signal: she intends to use the acquisitions budget to broaden representation rather than repeat safer choices.
Source: ARTnews
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Staff writer covering people, launches and day-to-day practice in arts in the broadest sense at Arts & Voices.
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