From its global headquarters in San Francisco, Gallery Wendi Norris represents Modern and Contemporary artists working in a variety of media around the world.  The gallery specializes in re-contextualizing the work of Modern artists while providing connections to contemporary art, artists, and culture. Active on both the local and international stages, they regularly mount exhibitions where they are most relevant and work with individual collectors and museums in both the primary and secondary markets. Founded with an emphasis on scholarship and education, the gallery produces highly researched exhibitions and catalogues, sponsors artist talks, hosts visiting academics, and engages in public art projects. With Frieze feeling slightly different to previous years due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and the added complication of Brexit, we asked a few questions. First up;

How far in advance were you planning for Frieze and how did you select which works you wanted to bring to the fair?

We’d been onboarding Rahon to our gallery roster since early 2020 and planning for an exhibition later that year in New York. Then the pandemic occurred, and those plans had to be put aside. Frieze Masters in October 2021 thus became the perfect venue for our debut exhibition of Rahon’s art, which was her first gallery show in 44 years. We were able to collect her work in-depth, including highlights of her various styles and mediums, and the situation allowed for several of those works to be a part of our booth presentation.

It’s the first time you’ve exhibited works by Rahon, could you tell us a little more?

Of course. This presentation at Frieze Masters features seven quintessential paintings and a sculpture dated between 1945-1975. Each of these pieces displays the remarkable movement between surface and depth, material and meaning, that is a hallmark of Rahon’s achievement as an artist. You can see a section of the booth below.

How did you work with Queen’s for Frieze 2021?

We were referred to Queen’s by our specialists in the US. Based on our ongoing and outstanding experience with Queen’s, we have trusted them for international art fair logistics since 2019.  This year, we had already arranged for our works to be flown over from the US. Our US partners had managed that for us but, once our works had arrived at London Heathrow, the specialist team at Queen’s loaded the works to be exhibited at their fair onto their fine art vehicle and delivered these to their storage facility where they were prepared for installation day along with the other galleries works that you were assisting during Frieze.

When it was time to install, the team swiftly delivered our works to the fair, with a team of fine art technicians installing our booth as soon as the fair organizers would allow. It was great as we also required some furniture to be built for the booth and the team also took care of that. Once the fair was complete, the same team that we had worked with for the install then returned to promptly de-install the booth and pack the works for transit. This was a lovely touch as it meant that the technicians are were already fully up to date with our requirements. Carola, Queen’s Shipping Manager, then arranged for the works to be returned to their respective locations via air freight.

After installation, were you pleased with how the booth looked, the quality of the installation, and the team on-site?

We couldn’t be more pleased with our Queen’s experience. This year, we were fortunate enough to work with Carola, Cristian, Nico, and Luke. Along with their seamless communication from start to finish, each member of the team was patient, prompt, and meticulous. Their understanding of the preciousness of these artworks was evident through their professionalism and care. We look forward to working with Queen’s again and will take every opportunity to recommend them to our colleagues.

For exhibition installation, art fair logistics, storage, or shipping requests, your Queen’s contact remains at your disposal. Alternatively, please contact info@queensfineart.com

With Art Basel in Basel 2023 just round the corner, here’s our roundup of key activities and events to check-out in the city:

End your day, not on the tram back to your hotel, but by swimming down the Rhine. Pop your belongings into a Wickelfisch (a brightly coloured fish-shaped bag) – which will keep your possessions dry for the duration of your trip down river – and off you go.

Image: Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland.

If time permits, always try to make it to Fondation Beyeler at least once. This year, a collection of rarely-seen masterpieces by the formidable Jean-Michel Basquiat will be on show.

Les Trois Rois in Basel.

While everyone knows about Les Trois Rois, the hotel’s cellar is still somewhat of a hidden gem. Book now for a chance to experience the intimate venue, which can only be accessed down several flights of stairs and through the hotel kitchen.

And finally, don’t forget to ship with Queen’s. Find out more.

Coordinating shipments for international art fairs often involves a careful trade-off between managing costs and ensuring delivery certainty. Freight rates to destinations like Seoul can be high, especially during peak periods when multiple fairs coincide and cargo space becomes limited.

For most registrars, cost is a key concern. That often means looking at the most competitive routing rather than defaulting to premium options. For shipments from London Heathrow (LHR) to Incheon (ICN), this typically involves indirect flights via continental Europe, with Luxembourg (LUX) acting as the main hub.

What to expect from the Luxembourg route

While routing via LUX can help manage freight costs, it comes with some key operational considerations.

Luxembourg is a major hub for transhipment freight across multiple industries—not just fine art. Year-round volumes are high, and congestion is common, especially during busy periods. Therefore, delays can occur even in standard conditions.

Another challenge is the lack of guaranteed transhipment timing. Airlines generally don’t commit to fixed transfer windows for indirect routings, which can make them occasionally less predictable.

When direct flights offer an advantage

If predictability is your priority, direct flights from LHR to ICN are a strong option. They reduce handling steps, shorten total transit time and improve schedule reliability. However, direct routes often come with premium costs—particularly in the lead-up to major fairs such as Frieze Seoul. Space may also be limited.

Some airlines offer “must-ride” services that prioritise your shipment if space becomes tight. While these add protection against offloading, they are more expensive and can still be affected by broader disruptions.

External factors to consider

Unforeseen events—such as airspace restrictions and embargoes, labour strikes impacting handling or carrier operations, or regulatory changes affecting customs or security screening—can impact both direct and indirect shipments. These factors are beyond the control of airlines and logistics providers, but they can still cause delays.

No routing is fully immune to disruption. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and build in contingency.

How much time to allow

To reduce risk, we recommend scheduling delivery to the destination airport at least one week before the fair’s deadline, as specified by your local agent or organiser.

This gives you flexibility to manage any unexpected delays at LUX, protect against disruption on direct services, and avoid needing to escalate to “must-ride” options at the last minute.

Impact on your schedule

Building in this buffer means adjusting your upstream timeline.

You’ll need to:

• confirm packing lists and condition reports earlier,
• move forward with crate production and packing,
• and arrange collections ahead of your typical schedule.

Booking space with airlines in advance also increases your chances of securing the right service level at a better rate.

In summary

When planning shipments to major international art fairs, indirect routings via Luxembourg remain a viable, cost-effective option—provided you allow sufficient lead time. Direct flights and must-ride services can offer greater schedule certainty but typically come at a premium.

Building in a time buffer from the outset gives you flexibility to manage risks tied to congestion, unpredictable transhipment timings, or external disruption. By adjusting your schedule early, finalising logistics ahead of the rush, and securing space in advance, you improve reliability while maintaining control of your costs.

If you’re preparing for an upcoming fair and need support with planning your shipment, contact Queen’s to discuss the best solution for your timeline and budget.

Carola Quirico
Shipping Manager
T. +44 7704 310253

Since the first Frieze London in 2003, I have worked at every Frieze London and Frieze Masters fair. The rhythm of each year is familiar: an intense week of preparation, carefully timed deliveries into Regent’s Park, a busy period during the previews, and then a concentrated pack-down. While the pattern is consistent, no two editions are exactly the same. The mix of artworks, clients, and conditions always brings something new.

Preparation week

The week before the fair is the busiest period. Overseas shipments arrive daily and are cleared through customs, while local collections are gathered from galleries and storage. Every case is logged, measured, labelled and matched to its booth. This is also when client-specific requirements are addressed, whether that means installation support for a large sculpture or additional handling measures for a fragile work. Having a team you trust—from experienced technicians to warehouse and customs staff—makes this stage run smoothly and keeps everything on track.

Get-in

Once the site opens for access, deliveries are managed in timed slots to keep traffic flowing. Artworks are taken directly to stands, unpacked if required, and positioned for installation. Coordination with gallery staff and fair organisers is constant, particularly when moving oversized works or meeting complex installation requests. Years of working within Frieze’s operational framework means we can navigate these moments efficiently and keep things moving to schedule.

During the fair

Once the fair is open to VIPs and the public, logistics continues at pace. Sales lead to immediate activity, such as transferring works from temporary admission to free circulation, collecting them from booths, and delivering to buyers — sometimes the same day. Booth rehangs are also common, with artworks being installed mid-event as sales are made or loans are agreed. These movements happen while ensuring the fair environment remains uninterrupted for visitors.

Closing and pack-down

As the fair draws to a close, the pace increases again. Galleries confirm which works have sold and which are to be returned. Empty cases are brought back to the booths, and final pack counts are checked before any items leave the site. Every movement is time-critical, from local deliveries to outbound shipments headed overseas. It is a stage where the coordination and reliability of the team are essential, with everyone focused on meeting the deadline.

After the fair

In the two weeks following the fair, sales are delivered to buyers, local returns are completed, and overseas works are dispatched. This often runs alongside preparations for the next major event, sometimes involving the same clients and artworks.

Experience and relationships

Familiarity with the fair’s processes, combined with an understanding of client requirements, is what allows the week to run smoothly. Knowing how to meet a registrar’s specific packing standard, how to work within the organiser’s access parameters, or how to adapt to a last-minute change in installation plans can make all the difference. Alongside that knowledge, having a team you know and trust—and who know the fair as well as you do—provides the confidence to handle whatever the week brings while keeping the focus where it should be: on the artworks themselves.

Jonathan Kennedy, Client Services Manager