Billionaire Collector Ken Griffin’s Basquiat Buying Spree Continues

Billionaire collector Ken Griffin has significantly expanded his holdings of Jean-Michel Basquiat, notably acquiring the 1983 masterpiece 'In Italian' from the collection of Peter Brant. The acquisition came to light through press materials for an upcoming exhibition at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) titled "Basquiat: Figures, Signs, Symbols," which will showcase nearly a dozen works from Griffin’s private collection. The show, curated by PAMM director Franklin Sirmans and Griffin’s curator Megan Kincaid, includes other high-profile acquisitions such as the 1982 'Untitled (Skull)' previously purchased from Yusaku Maezawa.

Brooklyn Museum Treasures, History-Making Guitars—and More Collectibles to Watch

The Brooklyn Museum is deaccessioning approximately 200 objects from its collection, including American furniture, artworks, and textiles, through a sale hosted by Brunk Auctions on April 9. Highlights include a rare circa 1690 walnut dressing table, estimated at $80,000–$120,000, and a late 17th-century oak cupboard. The museum states the sale is part of an ongoing effort to convert storage spaces into galleries and that proceeds will fund collection care and new acquisitions.

Understanding Nifty Gateway’s demise is paramount for NFTs’ fans and critics alike

Nifty Gateway, a once-prominent curated NFT marketplace, has announced its closure after failing to achieve its ambitious goal of converting one billion people into NFT owners. The platform, which initially succeeded by focusing on digital art sales, leveraged social media metrics like Instagram popularity to select artists such as Kenny Scharf, Filip Hodas, and FVCKRENDER, favoring a pop-centric, visually digestible aesthetic.

Gallery Not Paying? Call Kenny Schachter’s Kollection Agency. He Gets Results!

Art world provocateur Kenny Schachter addresses the current climate of anxiety within the industry, touching on everything from the existential threats of advanced AI tools like Anthropic’s Mythos to the 'doomster' narratives of market analysts. Amidst reports of dwindling demand and galleries struggling with non-paying clients, Schachter highlights the enduring value of historical works, such as a 1799 Goya etching, while dismissing claims that screens are replacing physical art in the home.

Art Card: Helen Frankenthaler at the Milwaukee Art Museum (Hand Signed by Helen Frankenthaler) , 1985

A rare, hand-signed offset lithograph invitation card from a 1985 Helen Frankenthaler exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum has surfaced on the market. The two-sided card, which served as an invitation for the show "Frankenthaler, Works on Paper, 1949-1984," was signed by the artist in ink during her talk at the opening reception on October 3, 1985. It is currently presented in a double-sided frame to preserve the integrity of the signature and the exhibition text.

Lost John Constable Painting Rediscovered in Texas Bound for Auction

Lost John Constable Painting Rediscovered in Texas Bound for Auction

A long-lost, large-scale oil study by John Constable for his famous painting *The Cornfield* has been rediscovered and authenticated after decades in a rural Texas museum. Scientific analysis, including pigment tests and infrared reflectography, confirmed the materials and techniques match Constable's own, leading experts to declare it the largest known study for the 1826 masterpiece. The work, which had been mistakenly cataloged as a copy, will now be auctioned by Heritage Auctions in Dallas this June.

London galleries Edel Assanti and Emalin both announce expansions

London-based contemporary galleries Edel Assanti and Emalin have both announced significant expansions within the UK capital. Edel Assanti is opening a second, more intimate location in St. James’s to complement its larger Fitzrovia flagship, launching with a focused exhibition of works by Lonnie Holley. Simultaneously, Emalin is moving its primary operations from Shoreditch to a sprawling 5,000-square-foot space in Clerkenwell previously occupied by Modern Art, while maintaining its historic Shoreditch outpost.

Irene Monat Stern | Untitled (circa 1970s) | Available for Sale

The estate of Irene Monat Stern has made the painting 'Untitled' (circa 1970s) available for sale, highlighting the artist’s unique contribution to the Color Field movement. A Holocaust survivor who settled in Southern California, Stern developed a signature technique of staining unprimed canvas with acrylics to create organic, blossom-like forms. Her work is characterized by a sense of weightlessness and spatial depth that distinguishes her from contemporaries like Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler.

Jennifer Gilbert Consigns Blue-Chip Works to Sotheby’s to Fund Detroit Arts Space

Philanthropist Jennifer Gilbert is consigning a selection of blue-chip postwar artworks to Sotheby’s this spring to fund Lumana, a new arts nonprofit in Detroit. The auction highlights include Joan Mitchell’s 'Loom II', estimated at $5 million to $7 million, and a significant target-style painting by Kenneth Noland that could set a new auction record for the artist. The collection also features works by George Rickey and Harry Bertoia, emphasizing a cohesive blend of midcentury abstraction and design.

Collector Jennifer Gilbert Is Selling Modernist Masterpieces to Fund Her New Arts Space

Jennifer Gilbert, the Detroit-based entrepreneur and philanthropist, is auctioning a selection of Modernist masterpieces from her private collection to fund Lumana, a new nonprofit arts organization. The sales, scheduled for May and June at Sotheby’s New York, include high-profile works by Joan Mitchell and Kenneth Noland, with an overall fundraising goal exceeding $10 million.

Chickens, train surfers and Marilyn Monroe: Magnum’s print sale – in pictures

Magnum Photos, in partnership with The Photographers' Gallery, is holding a print sale titled 'Odyssey' featuring works from over 100 of its photographers. The sale includes iconic images from artists like Eve Arnold, Alec Soth, and Chris Killip, with themes ranging from personal journeys and American life to global migrations and cultural rituals. The event runs until March 29, 2026.

Stephan Balkenhol New Bronze Sculptures 2026 - Man in a White

German sculptor Stephan Balkenhol has unveiled two new hand-painted bronze editions, "Man in a White Shirt and Black Pants 2026" and "Venus 2026." Released in editions of 30 and standing 68 cm tall, the works are being showcased and sold through Frank Fluegel Galerie across its Nuremberg and Kitzbühel locations. The release coincides with the artist's participation in the Art Cologne Palma de Mallorca Fair and precedes his 70th birthday in 2027.

Dream Win With a Catch

Traumgewinn mit Haken

A 58-year-old sales engineer from Paris has won a 1941 Pablo Picasso portrait titled "Tête de femme" through a charity raffle. The winner acquired the masterpiece, valued at approximately €1.45 million, by purchasing a single €100 ticket. Organized to benefit Alzheimer’s research, the international lottery sold 120,000 tickets across 152 countries, raising a total of €12 million.

New Exhibit Gives You the Chance to Support SA Artists and Own Original Prints!

Johannesburg’s Artist Proof Studio (APS) is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a benefit exhibition and online auction hosted in partnership with Strauss & Co. Running through April 17, 2026, the event features original prints from a diverse roster of talent, ranging from world-renowned figures like William Kentridge to emerging students currently enrolled in the studio’s programs. The initiative includes a physical showcase at Strauss & Co’s Houghton gallery and a digital sale designed to engage both seasoned and first-time collectors.

The Journal of Antiquarians and Galleries No. 10 Has Just Been Published

Le Journal des Antiquaires et Galeries n°10 vient de paraître

The tenth issue of Le Journal des Antiquaires et Galeries has been released, focusing on the resilience of the art market amidst geopolitical and economic headwinds. The publication highlights major spring events including Art Paris, Art Brussels, and the Paris Gallery Weekend, while introducing the newly formed Federation of Art Market Actors (FAM’Art).

Briscoe Western Art Museum's annual event hits record $2.3M in art sales, marks 25th anniversary success

The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s 25th anniversary Night of Artists (NOA) Exhibition and Sale achieved a record-breaking $2.345 million in sales during its opening weekend. The event, held in San Antonio, saw 72% of the featured contemporary Western artworks sold immediately, including high-value pieces by Gladys Roldán-de-Moras and Todd Connor. Several prestigious honors were awarded, including the "Cowboy Bob" Museum Purchase Award, which secured Morgan Weistling’s portrait of Buffalo Bill Cody for the museum’s permanent collection.

Children and Satyr: Two Artcurial Sales in Paris

Enfants et satyre : deux ventes Artcurial à Paris

Artcurial in Paris is holding two upcoming sales on March 25, featuring a diverse collection of works on paper. The sales include a drawing of a camel by Jean-Pierre Houël, a preparatory sketch of a plucked chicken by Jean-François Tourcaty, a study of a man wearing a satyr mask by Parmigianino, and a drawing by Thomas Couture depicting a scene from his painting 'Pierrot en correctionnelle.'

Across the Major Houses, Hong Kong’s March Sales Confirm a New Collecting Maturity

Hong Kong's major auction houses—Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips—concluded their March sales series with strong results, demonstrating resilience in the Asian art market. The sales were characterized by a high sell-through rate, robust bidding, and a notable shift towards collecting driven by deep knowledge and passion rather than pure speculation.

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Billionaire hedge fund manager and prominent art collector Kenneth C. Griffin has issued a stark warning regarding the global economy, stating that a recession is inevitable if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed through the end of the year. Speaking at the Semafor World Economy summit, Griffin highlighted that the closure of this vital oil passageway has created energy shocks and treacherous conditions for central bankers, potentially forcing further interest rate hikes to combat inflation.

Important private collections feature in Strauss & Co March sales of modern and contemporary

Strauss & Co has announced its upcoming Evening Sale of Modern and Contemporary Art scheduled for March 24, 2026. The auction features 96 lots, headlined by significant private consignments including the Stan and Li Boiskin Art Collection and the Patricia Fine Art Collection. High-value works from South African masters such as Irma Stern, J. H. Pierneef, and Gerard Sekoto will lead the sale alongside a robust selection of contemporary pieces by artists like William Kentridge and Mary Sibande.

UK council criticised over sale of collection including works by pioneering photographer Tony Ray-Jones

Kent County Council is facing sharp criticism for the deaccessioning and sale of 168 lots from its art collection, including a significant archive of 33 photographs by the influential postwar British photographer Tony Ray-Jones. The auction, held at Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers, also features works by Andy Goldsworthy and Sidney Nolan. The council cited financial pressures and a lack of viable storage as the primary reasons for the sale, admitting that the works were not offered to local museums or galleries before being sent to auction.

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Kenny Schachter explores the existential threat posed by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence and its projected impact on the global economy by 2028. Citing the Citrini Report, he highlights a future of mass unemployment among white-collar professionals—the primary demographic for art consumption—who account for over 50% of discretionary spending in the U.S. As tech leaders like Jack Dorsey begin significant workforce reductions attributed to AI, the financial foundation of the art market appears increasingly precarious.