On Friday, CULTURED celebrated its third annual Frieze London breakfast at the Dorchester, co-hosted by Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson, European Contributor Georgina Cohen, and photographer and producer Mary McCartney. The event brought together art-world power players, world-class entertainers, and cultural tastemakers for a morning of insider buzz as Frieze London hummed onward outside the hotel’s doors.
From actor Richard E. Grant toting the latest edition of the magazine, to Tate director Maria Balshaw reflecting on this year’s edition of the fair, to musicians Jess Glynne, Sharleen Spiteri and Sophie Ellis-Bextor sharing cozy conversation, the event offered a rare glimpse into the magnetic energy of the global in-the-know set.
The Scene: The Dorchester—situated in Mayfair just off of Hyde Park—held court in a luminous setting, with morning light reflecting off chandeliers, green-velvet banquette seating, and towering bouqets of fresh flowers framing the gathering. The atmosphere combined elegance with a warm ambiance only the Dorchester could convey—a prime match for the celebratory spirit of the day.
Food & Drink: An abundant vegetarian feast—jewel-toned green and berry smoothies, chia seed puddings, avocado toast, and a selection of pastries, thoughtfully inspired by McCartney and her passion for plant-based dining.
The Locale: The Dorchester’s manager Luca Virgilio played host for the morning, offering five-star service at the newly-revamped Vespa bar in a refined, design-forward space, providing a backdrop for one of the city’s most anticipated art week mornings.
The Crowd: The Frieze London fête drew a mix of leading cultural figures, celebrity guests, and industry leaders, including actors Richard E. Grant, Megan Smart, Amrita Acharia, and Sagar Radia; singers Jess Glynne, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Sharleen Spiteri; Marc Quinn, Lisa Edelstein, Robert Russell, Daisy Parris, Maryam Eisler; collectors Laura de Gunzburg and George Wells; gallerists Lucy Chadwick and Pilar Corrias; Tate director Maria Balshaw, CULTURED Fashion Director-at-Large Alexandra Cronan, art consultant and Art Production Fund co-founder Yvonne Force Villareal, film producer Celine Rattray, film directors Michael Adeyeye and Finn Constantine; architect Sumayya Vally, writer Emma Dabiri, and creative director Susan Bender.
Cause for FOMO: The rare opportunity to rub shoulders with a wide array of art world tastemakers and power players, all comparing notes on the affairs of Frieze London’s 2025 rendition ahead of Paris Art Basel.
Parting Gift: Copies of CULTURED‘s September issue were available to peruse and take home, ensuring that the art world discourse and dialogue stretched long beyond the buzzy breakfast affair.
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