The art world let out a collective gasp of anticipation earlier this month, as the London-based magazine-turned- fair Frieze opened its inaugural exhibition in the United States on New York City’s Randall’s Island. Founded in 1991 by Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover with artist Tom Gidley, frieze magazine established itself as a place for critical dialogue about cutting edge contemporary art before branching off to create the first Frieze Art Fair in London in 2003, and establishing the non-profit Frieze Foundation, which presents a variety of artist commissions, education, talks, films and music.

Frieze New York 2012. Photograph by Graham Carlow. Courtesy of Graham Carlow/ Frieze.

Nearly a decade later, amidst the spring auctions and a handful of satellite fairs including NADA, Pulse and Seven, Frieze New York met its hype on a remote-seeming patch of green space separating the East and Harlem Rivers, inside of a giant tent, designed by Brooklyn’s SO-IL. The temporary structure, a short ferry ride from Manhattan, was quietly impressive, allowing peeks of the river out the sides occasionally, its design respecting the contemporary art it housed and its island environment. Frieze Projects, commissioned works that referenced the site of Randall’s Island, continued the experience outdoors. Trees and tent aside, the week was about art, and more than just Frieze’s nearly 180 exhibiting galleries. Amidst the spring auctions and other fairs and major exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial and the Cindy Sherman retrospective at MOMA, there were special events like a block party in Chelsea, aptly named 26th Street pARTy.

Frieze New York 2012. Courtesy of Mia DiMeo.

The unique atmosphere, energized by an undeniable enthusiasm for the Frieze’s first fair stateside, mixed with a complete saturation of art events, performances and exhibitions in New York, made this a memorable trip and historically important moment for art fairs. Below are some of our favorite images of the very first Frieze New York.

Latifa Echakhch, Tumbleweeds, 2012. Commissioned and produced by Frieze Projects New York 2012. Frieze New York 2012. Photograph by Linda Nylin. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/ Frieze.

Katja Strunz, Folded Triangle 4073, (2012) Gavin Brown's enterprise. The Sculpture Park. Frieze New York 2012. Photograph by Graham Carlow. Courtesy of Graham Carlow/ Frieze.

Frieze New York 2012. Photograph by Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/ Frieze.

Samara Golden, Bad Brains (2012) Night Gallery Frame Frieze New York 2012. Photograph by Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/ Frieze.

Anish Kapoor, Untitled (2012) Lisson Gallery Frieze New York 2012. Photograph by Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/ Frieze.

Rirkrit Tiravanija, Untitled 2012 (Karmer and Newman make sausage). Frieze New York 2012. Photograph by Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/ Frieze.

Nick Harkin and Mia DiMeo work with Carol Fox & Associates, an EXPO CHICAGO partner.