Travel

Heading to Frieze Seoul? Here’s What to Pack

Heidi Korsavong, co-founder of the Los Angeles-based art gallery Marta, shares what she can’t leave home without as she heads to South Korea’s capital city

By Alexandria Sillo

August 26, 2026

Person observing large, translucent brown fabric art hanging on a white wall. — Heidi Korsavong. Photo: Erik Benjamins courtesy of Marta Los Angeles

In early September, Frieze Seoul 2026 will return to COEX in Gangnam, South Korea, for its fifth edition. Collectors, patrons, and buyers from major international institutions will join Korean and international stars to take in art and programming from more than 125 galleries representing 30 countries from around the globe. But the excitement doesn’t stop when the viewing sessions end, as “Neighborhood Nights” and other cultural happenings offer plenty to fill the evening schedule. Ahead of what promises to be an exhilarating week in the capital city, Heidi Korsavong, the co-founder of Los Angeles-based gallery Marta, shares with Galerie what she’s packed in her suitcase.

Nine uniquely designed wooden chairs arranged in a semi-circle against a plain background. — “Minjae Kim & Myoung-Ae Lee” at Frieze Seoul, September 2-5, 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marta Los Angeles

What are you going for?

We’re presenting new sculptures by Minjae Kim and paintings by his mom, the artist Myoung-Ae Lee, at Frieze Seoul.

How many days will you be there?

Ten.

Portable watercolor paint set with twelve colors, water container, and brush, displayed open on a white background. — Kuretake watercolor set. Photo: Courtesy of KURETAKE

What aren’t you leaving home without?

My black leather Building Block tote—perfect for studio visits and shopping; my little Kuretake watercolor set and unlined notebooks (Muji, A6) for some quick sketches and notes from our trip.

Are you checking a bag or strictly carry-on?

Checking one bag. For art fairs, we find that there are too many outfit changes to get away with just a carry-on. My partner Benjamin and I finally invested in his-and-hers Rimowa check-ins: the polycarbonate ones, in black—aluminum is too heavy!

People lying on grass in a park with buildings and palm trees in the background under a clear sky. — *Shade* by Sam Bloch. Photo: Courtesy of Penguin House

What are the essentials in your carry-on for the plane ride?

Hydration packets, moisturizer, noise-canceling headphones (over-ear), and a good book; I’m currently reading Shade by Sam Bloch as research for an exhibition the gallery is putting together for 2028.

What is your day of travel outfit?

Generous and comfortable; we try to time flights so that we’re rarely jumping right into something. Commonly: black Pleats trousers (Hommes only, for me), the Rick Owens Boston Birkenstocks from several years back, an oversized black sweater, and a denim jacket (mine’s from the Patta outpost in Lagos) for when the plane inevitably gets too cold.

How many outfits for how many days?

Six outfits for ten days.

Woman in a beige trench coat sitting on a bench by a window, looking outside in a rustic room with wooden accents. — Heidi Korsavong. Photo: Fred Aartun courtesy of Marta Los Angeles

Do you have an “outfit formula?”

Black trousers and an oversized collared shirt (colors vary) during the day. Monochrome in the evenings, usually cream or black. Chelsea Mak has a white silk ensemble that is a recent favorite.

What kind of versatile staples are you packing?

Raw silk blazers in cream and black. A lightweight quilted duster to throw over a daytime outfit.