Pickle, the Instagram-Famous Art World Dog, Turned Away From Frieze

Photo: Instagram/@picklebeholding

Pickle, the art world’s favorite canine, is typically welcomed into gallery openings, parties, and fairs with open arms (see Meet Pickle, the Art World’s Most Famous Canine), but it looks like the Instagram-famous pooch didn’t fare so well at Frieze. The dog, who is owned by art advisor Katie Howard, was spotted by our team in March at the Armory Show (see What’s Really Cool at the Armory Show 2015? Brian Boucher Points it Out). However, this week Pickle was turned away from the fair on Randall’s Island on account of her four-legged status.

In protest, Howard posted a picture of the French bulldog making a frowny face on the lawn outside the fair to her 5,000+ Instagram followers with the hashtag #LetPickleIn. The caption reads: “This is the face I make when I’m bummed about not going to Frieze.” Fellow social media sensation Jerry Saltz has been tagged in the post, though the New York magazine art critic does not appear to have spoken out about Pickle’s predicament. Perhaps Saltz can pull some strings and help the pup get into his talk tomorrow? (see Victoria Siddall’s Guide to Frieze New York and What Not to Miss).

We’re assuming whoever turned the dog away was blithely unaware of her celebrity status—or was concerned the dog would damage the millions of dollars worth of art in the tent. Luckily for Pickle (and Howard), that’s never happened. “The only reason I can do it is because she is so well behaved,” Howard told the Daily Beast. Living in a studio space shared by Howard and her fiance, artist Nat Ward, “she grew up knowing that things are very delicate.”

Fortunately, the week hasn’t been a total bust for Pickle, who posed for pictures at Jack Shainman, Anton Kern, and the arty nail salon Vanity Projects.


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