Giusy Amoroso, winner of the fifth Open Call, constructs speculative ecosystems where biology and industry converge. Working across digital and physical realms, her practice examines how organisms adapt within environments shaped by contamination, technological intervention, and ecological instability. Rooted in her upbringing in Southern Italy’s “Land of Fires,” Amoroso’s work moves beyond narratives of destruction to focus on transformation as a condition of survival. Through hybrid anatomies—where metal, synthetic matter, and organic tissue coexist—she proposes new models of life that are both resilient and dependent. This conversation traces the conceptual, technical, and experiential layers that define her evolving practice.

Danish artist Laust Højgaard explores the tension between strength, vulnerability, and identity through paintings and sculptures populated by symbolic characters and surreal situations. Drawing inspiration from classical mythology, architecture, and contemporary pop culture, his work investigates how individuals navigate societal structures while negotiating their own instincts and inner conflicts. Based on the small island of Thurø near Svendborg in southern Denmark, Højgaard works across painting and sculpture, often combining expressive figuration with raw, intuitive processes. His work frequently reflects on humanity’s relationship with nature, control, and the systems that shape modern life.

Frieze Los Angeles 2026 closed with a surge of energy, attracting over 32,000 visitors and strong institutional participation. Blue-chip galleries like David Zwirner, Gagosian, and Hauser & Wirth reported multi-million-dollar sales, while emerging artists in the Focus section sold out their presentations. The fair combined high-profile acquisitions, site-specific installations, and performances, reinforcing Los Angeles as a global hub for contemporary art and collector engagement.

At Saatchi Yates, Slawn redefined the conventional exhibition model by transforming the gallery into a functioning studio environment. Rather than presenting a static display of completed works, Slawn’s Studio invited audiences into the active process of art-making — where paintings evolved in real time and the boundaries between production, performance, and presentation dissolved.

Formed by four friends outside the traditional art system, Underdog Collection champions emerging artists through slow looking, studio visits, and personal dialogue. Collecting instinctively and independently, they build meaningful, long-term relationships and acquisitions that resist hype and prioritize lasting resonance.

Through mentorship, international networks, and her members’ platform StudioToGallery, curator and advisor Sonia BB London is creating a fairer infrastructure for emerging artists — replacing gatekeeping with guidance and access with education.