‘I am very decisive’: designer Jennifer Gilbert on what she collects and why

Designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Jennifer Gilbert, based in Detroit, is selling select works from her contemporary art and design collections at Sotheby's in New York this spring to fund the opening of her own cultural space, Lumana, in Detroit's Little Village neighborhood. Highlights include Joan Mitchell's 1976 canvas *Loom II* (est. $5m-$7m) and Kenneth Noland's 1958 *Circle* (est. $4m-$6m), with proceeds supporting new generations of artists and institutions. Gilbert, who serves on the boards of Cranbrook Academy of Art and BasBlue, recently featured works from her collection in the exhibition *Seen/Scene* at the Shepherd art space.

The Most Expensive Jean-Michel Basquiat Works Ever Sold at Auction

ARTnews published a listicle ranking the most expensive Jean-Michel Basquiat works ever sold at auction, updated as of May 15, 2026. The article traces Basquiat's rise from street artist under the moniker SAMO to a major figure in the downtown New York scene, highlighting key relationships with Keith Haring, Diego Cortez, and curator Henry Geldzahler. It notes that Basquiat's entire mature output was created between 1981 and 1984, and that his 1983 painting *Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown)* sold at Sotheby's in May 2026 for $52.7 million, placing it among his top sales. The piece also details earlier top sales, including *Untitled* (1982) for $29.3 million at Christie's in 2013 and *Flesh and Spirit* (1982–83) for $30.7 million at Sotheby's in 2018.

The Most Expensive Works by Mark Rothko Sold at Auction

Mark Rothko's paintings continue to command top prices at auction, with a list of his most expensive works updated in May 2026. The article details sales including 'Orange, Red, Yellow' (1956), 'Untitled' (1952) for $66.2 million, 'White center (Yellow, pink and lavender on rose)' (1950) for $72.8 million, 'No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue)' (1954) for $75 million, and 'No. 10' (1958) for $81.9 million. It also notes that in May 2026, Rothko's 'Brown and Blacks in Reds' (1957) sold for $85.8 million at Sotheby's from dealer Robert Mnuchin's collection, narrowly missing the artist's record.

In Pictures: the best of Venice at Frieze New York

Frieze New York 2025 features a curated selection of works by artists also showing at the Venice Biennale, including Precious Okoyomon, Alma Allen, Dayanita Singh, Alvaro Barrington, and Paulo Nazareth. The fair highlights pieces ranging from Okoyomon's intimate works on paper at Mendes Wood DM to Allen's bronze wall sculpture at Perrotin, priced between $30,000 and $150,000. Other notable stands include Nabil Nahas's fractal-inspired painting at Lawrie Shabibi and P420, Singh's archival photographs at Frith Street Gallery, and Barrington's carnival-themed paintings at Emalin, alongside a sculpture by Sung Tieu.

Robert Mnuchin’s Rothko Sells at Sotheby’s for $85.8 M., Narrowly Missing a Record

A Mark Rothko painting, *Brown and Blacks in Reds* (1957), formerly owned by the late influential art dealer Robert Mnuchin, sold at Sotheby’s on Thursday night for $85.8 million. The work hammered at $74 million, falling short of the upper end of its $70–$100 million estimate, but with premium fees it became the second-most expensive Rothko ever sold at auction, narrowly missing the artist’s record of $86.9 million set by *Orange, Red, Yellow* (1961) in 2012. The painting was part of a sale devoted to Mnuchin’s collection, which also included works by Willem de Kooning, Pablo Picasso, Franz Kline, and Jeff Koons.

Sotheby’s $433 Million Contemporary Evening and Mnuchin Sales Kicked Off New York’s May Marquee Auctions

Sotheby's held two major evening sales in New York—the Mnuchin collection sale and The Now & Contemporary Evening Auction—generating a combined $433.1 million. The Mnuchin sale achieved a white-glove result of $166.3 million, led by Mark Rothko's *Brown and Blacks in Reds* (1957) which sold for $85.8 million, while the contemporary auction reached $266.8 million, with Jean-Michel Basquiat's *Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown)* as the top lot. The results fell within presale estimates but marked a 133% increase over last May's contemporary sales.

Damien Hirst | Hands in Prayer (Coral) (2010) | For Sale

This article is a sales listing for Damien Hirst's sculpture "Hands in Prayer (Coral)" (2010), a limited-edition bronze work from his series "Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable." The piece is offered by Kristy Stubbs Gallery in Dallas, Texas, priced at $225,000. The listing includes details about the work's materials, dimensions, edition number (2/3), and condition, along with a biography of Hirst highlighting his career as a Young British Artist, his major exhibitions at institutions like Tate Modern and the National Gallery of Art, and his record-breaking auction sales.

'V' from 'Hockney's Alphabet' , 1991

This article is a sales listing for David Hockney's limited-edition lithograph 'V' from the 1991 portfolio 'Hockney's Alphabet', offered by Baldwin gallery for £1,850. The work is signed by the artist and editor, comes with a certificate of authenticity, and is printed on Exhibition Fine Art Cartridge paper in an edition of 250. The listing includes a biography of Hockney, noting his iconic California pool paintings, his record-breaking $90.3 million sale at Christie's in 2018, and his representation by major international galleries.

Rothko from Robert Mnuchin collection fetches US$85.8m, becoming artist’s second-priciest work at auction

A red-and-black Mark Rothko painting, *Brown and Blacks in Reds* (1957), sold for US$85.8 million at Sotheby’s New York on May 14, becoming the artist’s second-most expensive work at auction. The canvas came from the collection of Robert Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs partner turned gallerist, and was the star lot of a dedicated 11-lot evening sale that totaled US$166.3 million. The winning bid was placed by Sotheby’s chairman Helena Newman on behalf of a telephone client, with the hammer falling at US$74 million against an estimate of US$70–100 million. The painting was originally owned by Joseph E. Seagram & Sons and hung in the lobby of the Seagram Building, a landmark of corporate modernism designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson.

Rothko from Robert Mnuchin’s Estate Sells for $85.8 M., Leading Sotheby’s New York’s $433.1 M. Contemporary Art Sale

Sotheby’s New York held a $433.1 million modern and contemporary art sale at its Madison Avenue headquarters, led by Mark Rothko’s *Brown and Blacks in Reds* (1957), which sold for $85.8 million. The auction opened with 11 works from the estate of legendary dealer Robert Mnuchin, totaling $166.3 million, including a second Rothko and pieces by Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Pablo Picasso. The contemporary art segment followed, with Jean-Michel Basquiat’s *Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown)* (1983) selling for $52.7 million. The overall sale was described by advisers as robust but not particularly exciting, and it significantly exceeded the $186.1 million equivalent sale from last year.

Contemporary Icons and Modern Masters Headline This Major May Sale

Rago/Wright is hosting two major spring sales on May 14, 2026: 'Pure Edge: American Geometric Abstraction, Selected Works from the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Buenos Aires' and a Post War and Contemporary Art sale. The first features 19 works from the museum's premier collection of American geometric abstraction, while the second spans 20th- and 21st-century art. Highlighted lots include Sam Gilliam's 'Sun Woman' (1970, est. $300,000–$500,000), Annie Morris's 'Stack 7 (Ultramarine Blue)' (2015, est. $150,000–$200,000), Miyoko Ito's 'Adam and Eve' (1957, est. $200,000–$300,000), and Maria Martins's 'Impossible' (1946, est. $150,000–$200,000).

Basquiat’s 'Museum Security' leads Sotheby’s New York contemporary evening sale at US$52.7m

Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1983 painting 'Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown)' sold for US$52.7 million at Sotheby's Now and Contemporary Evening Auction in New York, becoming the fifth-most expensive Basquiat ever auctioned. The work, estimated at over US$45 million and backed by an irrevocable bid, hammered at US$45.3 million to a telephone bidder represented by Sotheby's Lucius Elliott. The auction totaled US$266.8 million with fees, selling 40 of 44 lots, and combined with the preceding Robert Mnuchin collection sale—led by Mark Rothko's 'Brown and Blacks in Reds' at US$85.8 million—the evening brought in US$433.1 million.

Ed Ruscha | Angel (2014) | For Sale

Ed Ruscha's 2014 lithograph "Angel" is being offered for sale through Leslie Sacks Gallery in Santa Monica. The work is a unique color trial proof from an edition of 60, measuring 23 by 16 inches, hand-signed and numbered by the artist, and includes a certificate of authenticity. The listing appears on Artsy, where the price is available on request, and notes increased collector interest over the past 14 days.

Joan Miró | Silence (1967) | For Sale

Joan Miró's 1967 lithograph 'Silence' is being offered for sale by Epicentrum Art Gallery for €6,000. The work is a limited edition print on Arches paper, hand-signed by the artist, and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Miró, a leading Surrealist and pioneer of automatism, created the piece during a prolific period of his career, and it is part of an edition of 100.

Coveted Rothko From Robert Mnuchin’s Collection Nets $85.8 Million in New York

A major Mark Rothko painting, *Brown and Blacks in Reds* (1957), from the collection of the late financier and dealer Robert Mnuchin, sold for $85.8 million at Sotheby’s New York, becoming the second-highest price ever achieved for the artist at auction. The work, estimated at $70–100 million, was part of an 11-lot sale dedicated to Mnuchin’s collection, which also includes works by Willem de Kooning, Pablo Picasso, and Franz Kline. A phone bidder won the painting, with Helena Newman, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, handling the bid.

It is the great Mark Rothko leading Sotheby's first auctions in New York

È il grande Mark Rothko a guidare le prime aste di Sotheby’s a New York

Sotheby's kicked off New York's art and auction week with two major sales on May 14, 2026, led by the highly anticipated Robert Mnuchin: Collector at Heart Evening Auction. The top lot was Mark Rothko's "Brown and Blacks in Reds" (1957), which sold for $85.8 million, the second-highest price ever for the artist at auction. The Mnuchin auction achieved a "white glove" sale, selling all 11 lots for a total of $166.3 million, followed by The Now & Contemporary Evening Auction which brought in $266.8 million. Combined, Sotheby's generated $433.1 million, a 133% increase over its May 2025 session. The sales reflect a strong return of high-value trophy lots to the secondary market, driven by the dispersal of prominent collectors' estates.

Marc Chagall | Île Saint-Louis (1959) (1959) | For Sale

Marc Chagall's lithograph *Île Saint-Louis (1959)*, a limited-edition print in colors on Arches paper signed and numbered by the artist, is being offered for sale through an online auction hosted by LLB Auction on Artsy. The work, estimated at €10,000–€15,000, is part of a Contemporary Art Spring 2026 sale and carries a starting bid of €9,000. The listing includes provenance details, a condition report option, and a buyer's premium.

Carole A. Feuerman | Miniature Serena (with Blue-Green Tube) (2021) | For Sale

Carole A. Feuerman's sculpture "Miniature Serena (with Blue-Green Tube)" (2021) is being offered for sale. The work is an oil on resin piece with 24K gold leaf cap, table-top scale, measuring 10 x 17 x 8 inches, from a variant of 10. Feuerman, born in 1945, is an American sculptor and author credited with co-founding the Hyperrealist movement in the late 1970s, known for figurative works of swimmers and dancers. Her public sculptures have been displayed globally, including at Central Park, the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, the Venice Biennale, and the State Hermitage Museum. She has received multiple awards, including the Medici Award, and her works are in the permanent collections of 31 museums and owned by notable figures such as Steven A. Cohen, former President Bill Clinton, and Dr. Henry Kissinger.

A Rare Blue-Green Diamond Ring Sold for Over $17 M. At Christie’s Geneva

A rare 5.5-carat blue-green diamond ring, named Ocean Dream, sold for over $17 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Zurich on May 13, 2026. The triangular-cut stone, estimated at $9–12 million, is set in an 18-karat white gold band with pink and white diamonds. The buyer was an unnamed private client, and the ring took 20 minutes to sell. It had previously fetched nearly $10 million at Christie’s Geneva in 2014.

Un Rothko adjugé près de 86 M$

A painting by Mark Rothko was sold for nearly $86 million at auction. The sale, conducted by an undisclosed auction house, achieved a price within the upper range of expectations for the artist's mature abstract works, reflecting sustained demand for top-tier modern art.

971 Art Gallery Boosts Dubai's Position as a Global Hub for Luxury Contemporary Art and Investment

971 Art Gallery, a new luxury contemporary art space, has opened in Dubai, positioning the city as a growing hub for high-end art and investment. The gallery aims to attract international collectors and investors by showcasing blue-chip contemporary artists and offering a curated experience that blends art with luxury lifestyle.

Art Collectors Bet on Known Quantities Amid Market Reset

The Impressionist and Modern art category became the most lucrative market segment in 2025, generating $4.7 billion in sales—a 29.5% increase from 2024—as collectors favored established names amid a cautious market. The $10-million-plus bracket surged 68.6% to $1.5 billion, while the number of lots sold hit a decade high of 122,213. Postwar and contemporary art ranked second with $4.1 billion, but its average price per lot dropped to a decade low of $23,027. Old Masters saw a 41.2% rise to $708.6 million, partly driven by the Thomas A. Saunders III collection at Sotheby’s, though that sale fell short of estimates. Ultra-contemporary art continued its four-year decline, falling 26.5% to $229.9 million, with average prices tumbling 72.4% from their 2021 peak.

Can Three Auction Houses Sell $2.6 Billion Worth of Art in One Week?

The New York Times reports that three major auction houses are poised to sell $2.6 billion worth of art in a single week during the spring season, driven by five luxury artworks. The sales are among the most anticipated in years, with major buyers shifting focus away from female and younger artists toward more traditional, established names.

Art gallery owner pursues expansion of historic Museum Mile building

Salon 94 founder Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn is pursuing an expansion of a historic building on Museum Mile at 3 East 89th Street in Manhattan. The project aims to enlarge the gallery's footprint on the Upper East Side, a move reported by Crain's New York Business.

Tatiana Malinovscaia | 130x100cm-Blue Distance in Quiet Light (2026) | For Sale

Tatiana Malinovscaia's painting "Blue Distance in Quiet Light" (2026) is being offered for sale by Artseeker Gallery. The 100x130 cm acrylic on canvas work features a restrained abstract composition with muted blues, ivories, beiges, and charcoals, built through layered textures and tonal contrasts. Malinovscaia, a self-taught Moldovan artist, explores the interplay between architectural clarity and atmospheric abstraction, with light acting as a central structural element that reveals nuanced variations across the textured surface throughout the day.

Frieze New York Opens Strong, But the Real Test Is Just Beginning

Frieze New York has opened with strong early sales, particularly in the Focus section, which is dedicated to emerging and underrepresented artists. This year's Focus prize was awarded to W Galería for its presentation of Seba Calfuqueo, a Mapuche artist whose work addresses colonialism, environmentalism, and gender identity through ceramic sculptures and hair-based materials. Her pieces are priced between $8,000 and $40,000, reflecting the market's growing interest in politically engaged contemporary art.

Art market trends 2025: Impressionist & Modern hit $4.7B, up 29.5%

According to the 2025 art market trends, Impressionist and Modern art generated $4.7 billion in auction sales, a 29.5% increase from 2024, overtaking Postwar and Contemporary art to become the year's largest auction segment. Meanwhile, Ultra-contemporary art continued its decline, and Old Masters gained ground, signaling a broader shift in collector behavior toward established, blue-chip works.