Van Gogh’s wheatfields ‘under turbulent skies’

Van Gogh painted five major wheatfield landscapes in July 1890, just days before his death, while living in Auvers-sur-Oise. The article examines these late works—including *Wheatfield with Crows*, *Wheatfield under Thunderclouds*, *The Fields*, and *Wheatfields with Reaper*—and analyzes the artist's letters to his brother Theo and sister-in-law Jo, in which he described the fields as "under turbulent skies" and expressed both sadness and a sense of health in nature. It also corrects the long-held assumption that *Wheatfield with Crows* was his final painting, now believed to have been completed on 8 July, before the letters were written.

A First Look at the Big-Ticket Artworks that Galleries Are Bringing to Art Basel 2026

ARTnews previews the high-value artworks that galleries are bringing to Art Basel 2026 in Basel, Switzerland. The fair introduces a new opt-in program called Basel Exclusive, where 193 of the 240 exhibitors agree to withhold at least one top work from pre-fair previews to encourage in-person attendance. Among the highlighted offerings are a Francis Picabia canvas priced up to $600,000 at Galerie 1900-2000, and a 10-foot-square Robert Rauschenberg work from the ROCI MEXICO series at Gladstone, alongside a 1984 Keith Haring painting. Gallery principals express optimism about the market, noting the absence of competing auctions during the fair.

Gagosian and Olney Gleason to Present Solo Exhibition for Lee Krasner in France

Galleries Olney Gleason and Gagosian will present a solo exhibition of works by Lee Krasner at Gagosian’s Rue de Ponthieu space in Paris, opening October 19, 2026. The show, organized in collaboration with the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, will feature paintings and works on paper by the Abstract Expressionist artist. It coincides with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s blockbuster Krasner–Jackson Pollock exhibition opening October 4, and precedes Art Basel Paris’s 2026 edition.

Independent 20th Century adds 75% more exhibitors as it moves to the Breuer Building

Independent 20th Century, the art fair focused on modern and overlooked 20th-century works, will move to Sotheby’s Breuer Building on Madison Avenue for its September 2026 edition. The new venue, a landmark designed by Marcel Breuer and formerly home to the Whitney Museum, allows the fair to expand to 56 exhibitors—a 75% increase from previous years. This marks the first collaboration between a commercial art fair and a major auction house. Among the 33 new exhibitors are blue-chip galleries like Hauser & Wirth, Thaddaeus Ropac, and Sprüth Magers, alongside a stronger contingent of Latin American galleries. Returning participants include Luxembourg + Co and Salon 94, while around 80% of stands will feature solo or dual-artist presentations.

Independent 20th Century Heads to the Breuer With Its Biggest Edition Yet

Independent 20th Century, the art fair launched in 2022, is moving from the Battery Maritime Building to Marcel Breuer's former Whitney Museum building—now Sotheby's global headquarters—for its fifth edition, running September 24–27. The fair will be nearly twice the size of previous editions, featuring 56 exhibitors and over 130 artists, with roughly 80% of presentations dedicated to one or two artists. Highlights include Hauser & Wirth's presentation of Emma Kunz, Lévy Gorvy Dayan's presentation of Yves Klein, and Nahmad Contemporary's presentation of Lucio Fontana.

Lee Krasner Will Make Paris Debut via Gagosian, Olney Gleason

Lee Krasner will make her Paris debut in October 2024 with a solo exhibition at Gagosian's rue de Ponthieu gallery, organized in collaboration with Olney Gleason and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. The show will focus on her bold, large-scale works from the 1960s, a period of renewed confidence after she survived an aneurysm and a broken arm. It opens ahead of Art Basel Paris and coincides with a major survey at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous," which pairs her work with that of her husband, Jackson Pollock.

A brush with... Lisa Yuskavage—podcast

This episode of 'A brush with...' podcast features artist Lisa Yuskavage, who discusses her painting practice, influences, and career. Yuskavage, born in Philadelphia in 1962 and based in New York, creates stylized, often eroticized female figures in invented interiors and landscapes, drawing from art history, pop culture, and soft-porn magazines. She reflects on the 'emotional formalism' of her work, transformative visits to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Italy, the impact of Giovanni Bellini and Marcel Duchamp's Étant Donnés, and her admiration for artists like Agnes Martin, Philip Guston, and Laura Owens. The podcast is sponsored by Bloomberg Connects, which highlights museums where Yuskavage has had solo exhibitions, including the Morgan Library and Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, Aspen Art Museum, and Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), St. Louis.

Kim Gordon Nixes Noise Show, Lucien Smith and Jens Hoffmann Mount Comebacks, and More Juicy Art-World Gossip

Kim Gordon canceled her noise show at Lonti Ebers's Amant nonprofit in East Williamsburg at the last minute due to illness, leaving her Body/Head bandmate Bill Nace to improvise with Aaron Dilloway. The concert marked the closing of 'Folded Group,' a group exhibition curated by Gordon and Nace, and featured opening sets by MV Carbon and Jeff Hartford, with audio bleeding into Amant's upscale restaurant Zoli.

Arne Glimcher’s $50M Pollock Falls Flat in Sotheby’s Private Auction—and More Art Industry News

Sotheby's attempted a private auction of Jackson Pollock's "Number 19, 1951" at its Manhattan headquarters on June 2, with an asking price of $50 million, but the sale collapsed due to insufficient bidders. The work was owned by Pace Gallery founder Arne Glimcher, and Sotheby's star auctioneer Oliver Barker was flown in from London for the event. In other news, Pace Gallery downsized by cutting 50 artists and laying off 50 staff, Sotheby's London announced a Lewis Collection sale headlined by a Modigliani estimated at over £45 million, and Freeman's appointed Muys Snijders as CEO. The British Art Fair returns to Saatchi Gallery in September, and Art Basel released its "Basel Exclusive" artist list.

Independent 20th Century Announces Details of 2026 Fair at the Breuer Building

Independent 20th Century has announced details for its fifth edition, taking place from September 24–27, 2026, at the Breuer Building in New York, now home to Sotheby's global headquarters. The fair will feature 56 exhibitors and over 130 artists, making it the largest iteration yet, with a focus on diversifying the 20th-century art canon. Participants include Luxembourg + Co., Mariane Ibrahim, and Berry Campbell, the latter presenting a show titled “The Women of Stable Gallery.” The fair will also host live performances and events, and its new location is part of a multi-year partnership between Sotheby's and Independent announced in 2025.

Almine Rech Now Represents Famed Surrealist Leonora Carrington

Almine Rech gallery has become the exclusive partner of the Consejo Leonora Carrington in France, representing the estate of the famed Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. The partnership will debut with a bronze sculpture cast from a life model Carrington created in 2010 at Art Basel in June, followed by a solo exhibition at the gallery’s Paris Turenne location in September. The exhibition, organized with the Consejo Leonora Carrington (founded by Carrington’s son, Pablo Weisz Carrington) and the art advisory firm Rossogranada, will feature paintings, drawings, sculptures, tapestries, and writings.

‘I think about him every time I go swimming’: David Hockney remembered by Rachel Whiteread, Jeremy Deller and more

The Guardian publishes a tribute to David Hockney, featuring personal reminiscences from artists Rachel Whiteread, Jeremy Deller, and Tacita Dean. Whiteread recalls first seeing Hockney on TV in the 1970s and marvels at his swimming pool paintings, which she thinks about every time she swims. Deller describes Hockney as a great role model who humanized technology, recounting how Hockney designed a banner for a Manchester procession that angered an anti-smoking councillor. Dean shares a story of meeting Hockney in 2014, where he spontaneously painted her son Rufus, coining the family motto "Inspiration, she does not visit the lazy."

Francesca Casadio Named Director of Getty Conservation Institute, GRIMM Opens Amsterdam Space, and More: Industry Moves for June 12, 2026

This week's art industry moves include Francesca Casadio's appointment as director of the Getty Conservation Institute, effective fall 2026. Casadio, currently vice president and Grainger Executive Director of Conservation and Science at the Art Institute of Chicago, will lead the GCI. GRIMM gallery celebrates its 20th anniversary by opening a new Amsterdam space in a 17th-century canal building and launching an artist residency at Château Val Croissant in Provence. Steven Nelson has been named inaugural executive director of the Sam Gilliam Foundation, moving from the National Gallery of Art. Additionally, Elif Saydam won the Tiemann Prize for Contemporary Painting, and two Claude Monet works—Nymphéas (1907) and Camille assise sur la plage à Trouville (1870–71)—are estimated at a combined $67 million ahead of Sotheby's London sale.

David Hockney obituary

David Hockney, the celebrated British artist known for his vibrant paintings of Los Angeles swimming pools and his distinctive use of acrylic paint, has died at the age of 88. The obituary traces his career from his early days at the Royal College of Art, where he was influenced by RB Kitaj, to his move to California in the 1960s, where he created iconic works such as "A Bigger Splash" (1967) and "Peter Getting Out of Nick's Pool" (1966). It highlights his fascination with the artificiality of Los Angeles and his technical shift to acrylics, which allowed for brighter colors and a flat surface texture ideal for depicting chlorinated pools.

Mickalene Thomas, Known for Her Glittering Depictions of Black Women, Joins Jack Shainman Gallery

Mickalene Thomas, the artist celebrated for her glittering, rhinestone-adorned portraits of Black women, has joined New York’s Jack Shainman Gallery. She will have a solo exhibition at the gallery in January 2028 while maintaining existing representation with Yancey Richardson (New York), Galerie Nathalie Obadia (Paris), and Baldwin Gallery (Aspen). Thomas, who earned her MFA from Yale in 2002, works across painting, photography, collage, video, and installation, drawing on art history, popular culture, and African textiles. Her work is held by major institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum, and her touring exhibition “Mickalene Thomas: All About Love” opened at the Broad in 2024.

David Hockney, Revolutionary and Beloved Painter, Dies at 88

David Hockney, the revolutionary British painter known for his vivid swimming pool scenes, portraits, and relentless experimentation across media, died on Thursday in London at age 88. His publicist Erica Bolton confirmed the news. Hockney worked until the end, leaving behind a seven-decade career that spanned acrylics, watercolors, photo collages, iPad drawings, and immersive installations, with major retrospectives at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris (2024) and a current show at Serpentine North in London.

Duane Michals, Maker of Enigmatic Sequences of Images That Defied Photography’s Conventions, Dies at 94

Duane Michals, the influential American photographer known for his sequential, narrative-driven images that challenged traditional photography, died on June 9 at age 94 in a Manhattan hospital. His death was confirmed by DC Moore Gallery, which represented him since 2013. Michals pioneered the use of multi-image sequences—often five to nine photographs—to tell enigmatic, often surreal stories, with works like "Death Comes to the Old Lady" (1969) and "Things Are Queer" (1973) exploring themes of mortality, time, and perception. He frequently hand-wrote titles on his prints, a practice born from his lack of formal photography training.

Legacy dealer Marianne Rosenberg unearths family archive for New York show

Marianne Rosenberg, an Upper East Side dealer and descendant of the storied Rosenberg gallery dynasty, has opened a new exhibition titled "Giacomo Manzù: The Artist and his Dealer" at her gallery Rosenberg & Co., running until 27 June. The show features sculptures, works on paper, and archival letters that explore the decades-long relationship between Italian sculptor Giacomo Manzù and her father, Alexandre P. Rosenberg, who represented Manzù until his death in 1987. Marianne, who left a career in international aviation finance law to open her gallery in 2015, continues her family's focus on Impressionist and Modern art while also working with contemporary artists and pursuing restitution of artworks looted by the Nazis during World War II.

David Hockney, Master Painter of Modern Life, Dead at 88

British painter David Hockney, renowned for his vibrant depictions of 1960s and ’70s Los Angeles life, died in London on June 11 at age 88. His publicist Erica Bolton announced his death. Hockney rose to prominence in the 1960s by reviving figurative painting and the human form amid the era's abstraction, later embracing digital tools like the iPad and immersive art. His career included iconic works such as *A Bigger Splash* (1967) and *Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)* (1972), and he consistently depicted queer life, openly challenging censorship before homosexuality was decriminalized in England.

Influential art world figure Joe Hage moves from the shadows to take top billing

Joe Hage, the reclusive founder of Heni art services and manager of artists including Damien Hirst, Gerhard Richter, and Peter Doig, is stepping into the public eye. He is backing a major Barbara Hepworth exhibition at London's Courtauld Gallery, titled "The Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen Exhibition: Hepworth in Colour" (12 June–6 September). The exhibition is named after Hage's law firm, Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen LLP (JHAB), an elite dispute resolution and advisory practice based in London.

Frieze Lines Up Nearly 300 Galleries for Its Two London Fairs in October

Frieze London and Frieze Masters will take place in Regent’s Park from October 14 to October 18, featuring nearly 300 galleries. Frieze London will host 172 exhibitors, while Frieze Masters will have 138, with eight galleries participating in both, including Hauser & Wirth, Hales, and Alison Jacques. The fairs will include curated sections such as the new “The Code Universe,” organized by Carol Yinghua Lu, and the Artist-to-Artist and Focus sections, alongside blue-chip and emerging galleries.

‘I make casts of their feet!’ Rachel Whiteread, Michael Armitage and more on how they get their kids into art

Five artist parents—Rachel Whiteread, Michael Armitage, Chantal Joffe, and Rachel Maclean—share their personal approaches to introducing young children to art. Whiteread describes letting her boys play in her studio and casting their hands and feet for fun; Armitage lets his daughter lead, using his materials in unexpected ways; Joffe emphasizes good materials and allowing mess; Maclean prefers making art at home over museum visits. The article includes practical tips and photographs of children interacting with artworks.

Art Basel strives to maintain its prestige

Art Basel s’efforce de maintenir son prestige

Art Basel has announced details for its 2026 edition in Basel, featuring 290 galleries from 43 countries. The fair introduces a new "Basel Exclusive" label, which designates select major artworks unveiled exclusively during the VIP opening, with participating galleries agreeing not to preview these works through pre-sale channels. Twenty-two galleries from the 2025 edition are absent, some due to closures (Blum, Sperone Westwater) and others shifting to Art Basel Paris (Art: Concept, Emanuela Campoli, Fergus McCaffrey, David Nolan Gallery, Jeffrey Deitch). The fair maintains a re-enrollment rate above 90% and adds about twenty newcomers, including twelve in the main sector. For the first time, galleries from Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey will participate, expanding geographic representation. The fair also highlights its strong modern art offering, with specialized dealers like Acquavella Galleries, Landau Fine Art, and Mayoral.

Weekly News Roundup: June 12, 2026

Frieze Seoul 2026 announces its fifth edition with over 125 galleries from 30 countries, returning to COEX in Gangnam from September 2–5 in partnership with Kiaf SEOUL. Hong Kong debuts its first permanent Yayoi Kusama outdoor sculpture, a three-meter-tall green polka-dotted pumpkin at The Twins Tower I in Kai Tak. The Taishin Arts Awards names Indigenous Taiwanese performance collective TAI Body Theatre as Grand Prize winner for their work qaqay (2025). Iranian German artist Natascha Sadr Haghighian wins the inaugural LVM Insurance Art Prize for Public Art for her installation 86° WALTER HALİT (2025).

Duane Michals, Who Expanded Photography’s Boundaries With Élan, Dies at 94

Photographer Duane Michals, known for pushing fine-art photography's narrative potential by incorporating text and cinematic frame-by-frame sequences, died on Wednesday in Manhattan at age 94. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania in 1932, Michals began adding text to his images in 1974, challenging conventions like Henri Cartier-Bresson's "Decisive Moment." His career spanned commercial work for magazines like Esquire and Mademoiselle, album covers, and portraits of stars including Robin Williams and Tilda Swinton, alongside a parallel art practice that explored death, sexuality, dreams, and paternal love through sequenced photographs, paintings, and sculptures. His first solo show was at New York's Underground Gallery in 1963, and his breakthrough museum exhibition came at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1970.

Steven Adrian Stewart, Founder of Kansas Gallery, Dead at 46

Steven Adrian Stewart, founder of the Lower East Side's Kansas Gallery, has died at age 46. Stewart died on May 26 in Lawrence, Kansas, near where he grew up; no cause of death was provided. He founded Kansas Gallery in 2011, representing a roster of emerging artists including Michael Berryhill, Mira Dancy, Ethan Greenbaum, and Sylvan Lionni, before closing the space in 2016. After moving to Melbourne, Australia, he cofounded Futures Gallery in 2021 and later worked at Elizabeth Leach Gallery in Portland, Oregon. Stewart is survived by his wife, artist Jen Berean, and their two children.

Roberta Smith Still Has Notes

Roberta Smith, the longtime co-lead art critic for the New York Times and a towering figure in American art criticism, is the subject of a new documentary titled *House of Criticism*, which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film focuses on Smith and her husband, New York magazine critic Jerry Saltz. In conjunction with the film's debut, Smith gave an interview reflecting on her career, her critical method, and her views on the art world today.

See Never-Before-Shown Martin Wong Works, Now On View in a Show Of His Chinatown Paintings

A new exhibition at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago, “Martin Wong: Chinatown USA,” presents over 100 works by the late self-taught artist, including 11 never-before-exhibited paintings and the never-before-seen back side of a large canvas. The show focuses on Wong’s depictions of San Francisco’s and New York’s Chinatowns, featuring iconic imagery such as Bruce Lee, Peking opera performer Mei Lanfang, and the pagoda-style building at 241 Canal Street. It is the first monographic institutional show of Wong’s work in nearly a decade, complemented by a concurrent New York exhibition, “Martin Wong: Popeye,” at P.P.O.W. Gallery, which closed in June 2026.

Duane Michals, grand inventeur de récits et de mirages photographiques, est mort

Duane Michals, the American photographer known for his narrative sequences and hand-written texts, died on June 9 in New York at age 94. A self-taught artist, he rejected photojournalism's "decisive moment" and instead created photographic series that explored identity, desire, memory, time, death, and spirituality. His work is currently featured in the exhibition "Fragile Beauté. Photographies de la collection de Sir Elton John et David Furnish" at the Jeu de Paume in Paris.

Death of David Hockney: 12 works that tell the trajectory of a cult painter

Mort de David Hockney : 12 œuvres qui racontent la trajectoire d’un peintre culte

David Hockney died on June 11, 2026, at age 88. The article presents a slideshow of 12 iconic works spanning his career, from early portraits like *Portrait of My Father* (1955) to his famous California pool scenes such as *A Bigger Splash* (1967) and *Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)* (1972), as well as later iPad paintings and photocollages. The selection traces his evolution across mediums—oil, acrylic, photocollage, digital drawing—and themes including hedonism, English and Norman landscapes, and intimate personal reflections.