Frieze co-founder Matthew Slotover has responded to characterizations of his wildly successful event as “Ikea for millionaires,” noting the impact the fair has on broader art institutions and critiquing the often vapid personifications of collectors. “Most don’t see art as purely a display of wealth. For many, there is a genuine engagement and they want to support the culture, and enrich their lives and engage in lifelong learning,†Slotover says. “They could go and buy planes or yachts or cars, which wouldn’t do any of those things. It’s a minority of the wealthy that decide to buy art. If you look through the Sunday Times Rich List, most are not art collectors.â€
Read more at The Independent