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Phillips held its Modern and contemporary art evening sale in New York on Wednesday night, achieving $67.3 million in total sales—a 24.4 percent increase from the same auction last November. The sale featured 33 lots with a 94 percent sell-through rate, including a triceratops fossil that sold for $5.4 million through a partnership with natural history dealer Christian Link. Top lots included Francis Bacon's *Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer* (1967) at $16 million with premium, Jean-Michel Basquiat's *Exercise* (1984) at $3.8 million, and two works by Ruth Asawa. Only one artwork, a Jadé Fadojutimi, failed to sell, and there were no withdrawals.

alexander calder painted wood mobile christies 2701566

Alexander Calder's painted wood mobile "Painted Wood" (ca. 1943) sold for $20.4 million at Christie's 20th-century evening sale in New York, exceeding its $15–$20 million estimate. The work, from the collection of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, was acquired over 30 years ago and made its auction debut. Bidding was competitive among Christie's staffers Alex Rotter, Max Carter, and Patrick Saich, with Saich winning the lot for a client after a brief technical hiccup. The result is the second-highest price ever for a Calder at auction, behind "Poisson volant (Flying Fish)" (1957) which sold for $25.9 million in 2014.

The international gallery bridging contemporary artists and art history masters reopens in Milan: The Interview

Riapre a Milano la galleria internazionale che mette in dialogo artisti contemporanei e maestri della storia dell’arte. L’intervista

The artist-run space Octagon is set to establish a permanent home in Milan at Via Maroncelli 12, officially opening on April 15, 2026, during the city's Art Week. Founded by artist Jacopo Mazzetti in 2018, the gallery is transitioning from a nomadic model that saw recent collaborations in Paris and Athens to a fixed physical presence. The inaugural exhibition will feature works by the French Symbolist master Odilon Redon, maintaining the space's signature curatorial approach of bridging historical art with contemporary perspectives.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

New York: An Artist’s City

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by several major exhibitions, ranging from Cao Fei’s exploration of global agricultural shifts at Pirelli HangarBicocca to Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists. Other highlights include solo presentations by emerging and established artists across the city's commercial galleries and institutional spaces, coinciding with the Miart fair.

‘New Humans’: A Hallucinatory Humanism Worth Moving Toward

Milan’s art scene is currently anchored by 'New Humans' at Pirelli HangarBicocca, a major solo exhibition by Cao Fei that explores the intersection of technology, labor, and human identity. The show features immersive installations and films that document global farming practices and the surreal evolution of social structures in the digital age, alongside other key city-wide exhibitions including Anselm Kiefer’s portraits of female alchemists.

Tracey Emin | Sunday Morning with You (2015) | Available for Sale

The British artist Tracey Emin’s 2015 monotype titled "Sunday Morning with You" has been listed for sale through Carolina Nitsch Contemporary Art. The unique work on Somerset paper, priced at $25,000, exemplifies Emin’s signature confessional style and intimate draftsmanship.

Monet painting auctioned in France for more than 10 million euros

Monet-Gemälde in Frankreich für mehr als 10 Millionen Euro versteigert

A recently rediscovered landscape painting by Claude Monet, titled "Vétheuil, effet du matin" (1901), sold for €10.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in France. The sale exceeded its initial estimate of €6 million to €8 million and set a new record for a Monet work sold at auction within France. A second work, "Les îles de Port-Villez" (1883), also outperformed expectations, fetching €6.45 million during the same event.

À Bordeaux, la métamorphose du MADD

The Musée des arts décoratifs et du design (MADD) in Bordeaux has reopened its design-focused wing after three years of renovation, featuring a new entrance pavilion designed by Antoine Dufour Architectes that connects the historic Hôtel de Lalande and the former municipal prison. The overhaul includes a monumental shelving display of eighty vases by designers such as Andrea Branzi and Gaetano Pesce, a new "gallery of know-how" dedicated to rotating thematic presentations (starting with ceramics), a graphic arts cabinet showcasing the Jacques Sargos collection of over 130 drawings, and improved climate control for conservation.

India Art Fair strengthens its role as launchpad for South Asian talent

The 17th edition of the India Art Fair (IAF) in New Delhi is set to be its largest yet, featuring 87 galleries and positioning itself as a crucial launchpad for South Asian artists. The fair highlights the region's growing prominence, evidenced by its role in developing artists now featured in major exhibitions like India's national pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

47th Annual Valley Visual Art Show opens as first Carbondale Arts exhibit of the year

The 47th Annual Valley Visual Art Show has opened at the Carbondale Arts Gallery in Colorado, running from January 23 through February 26, 2026. Featuring 75 local artists, including Judy Fox-Perry, Marilyn Lowey, and Linda Halloran, the exhibition showcases a diverse range of works such as Fox-Perry's marble sculpture "In Good Hands," Lowey's surrealist-inspired photograph, and Halloran's kiln glass flowers. The show marks the first Carbondale Arts exhibit of the year and provides a platform for artists to experiment and present new creations.

Masters, women, and young voices: Egypt visual art scene in 2025 - Visual Art - Arts & Culture

Egypt's visual arts scene in 2025 saw significant growth, marked by the opening of new galleries and a surge in diversity of artistic approaches, aesthetics, and techniques, according to Ehab Ellaban, director of the Arts Complex in Zamalek, and artist Samir Abdelghany. The year featured major exhibitions honoring both established masters and emerging talents, including Mohamed Abla's participation in the 4th–7th Generation exhibition at Al Masar Gallery and his solo show In the Glow of the City, Ahmed Shiha's Egyptian Spirit at Picasso East Gallery, Salah Bisar's Glee at Ubuntu Art Gallery, and retrospectives for Esmat Dawestashy, Salah Abdel Kerim, Chafik Charobim, and Inji Efflatoun. Katherine Bakhoum's Between Sea and Sky at Safarkhan Gallery also highlighted the enduring relevance of Egyptian-French artists.

That time a bunch of radical artists got under the hood at Mia – and stayed there

A group of experimental Minnesota artists in the 1970s, frustrated with the established art scene, successfully pitched the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) to create the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP). Launched in 1975, MAEP gave artists direct control over curating a dedicated gallery within the museum, selecting their peers for exhibitions. Fifty years later, the program remains active, with artists chosen through an open call and an advisory committee, and has featured influential figures like Phyllis Wiener, Judy Onofrio, and George Morrison.

After being closed for years this gallery is opening its doors again

Toi Tauranga Art Gallery in Tauranga, New Zealand, will reopen to the public on November 15, 2025, after a three-year closure (2022–2025) for seismic upgrades and refurbishment. The gallery, originally opened in 2007, has been renovated to connect with the new council-led cultural precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa, which includes a library, museum, performing arts centre, and council chambers. The reopening programme, titled "Rawe," features local and international artists including Kereama Taepa, Pusi Urale, and esteemed senior Māori painter Darcy Nicholas, who is exhibiting in Tauranga for the first time.

How China’s private museums are navigating a post-boom era

China's private museum sector, which boomed in the 2010s with hundreds of new institutions often tied to property developments or vanity projects, is now contracting. Notable closures include Guangzhou's Times Museum (shuttered in 2022, later relaunched as a project space), OCAT Shanghai (closed indefinitely in 2021), and Qingdao's TAG Museum (suspended operations in 2024). Other prominent museums like Sifang Art Museum, Yinchuan MoCA, and Shanghai MoCA have scaled back, while Long Museum's future appeared uncertain after its owners auctioned part of their collection. The downturn follows the collapse of China's property sector, Covid-19 restrictions, and a broader economic slump.

Annual Open Art Exhibition to be held at Beverley Art Gallery

Beverley Art Gallery in the East Riding of Yorkshire will launch its 24th annual Open Art Exhibition on 27 September 2025. A record 300+ artists submitted works, with 126 pieces selected by jurors Sarah Howard of Hull Museums and Ferens Art Gallery and Andrea Martin of Lincoln Museum and Usher Gallery. The show features a range of mediums from professional and amateur artists, with prizes awarded by the Friends of Beverley Art Gallery and a People's Choice Award voted by visitors. Many works are available for purchase, and the exhibition runs until 18 December.

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Opens Nicolai Fechin: An Artistic Journey October 2025

The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma will open "Nicolai Fechin: An Artistic Journey" on October 3, 2025. The exhibition features over fifty drawings and paintings spanning the Russian artist's career, drawn from the museum's permanent collection, the Eugene B. Adkins Collection, and a private Oklahoma collection, with many works on public view for the first time. The show explores Fechin's travels from Russia to New York, New Mexico, and Southern California, highlighting how family, training, and cultural encounters shaped his vibrant portraits.

Art in Wisconsin—Art and Science and Art: The Semi-Hidden Wonders of the James Watrous Gallery

The James Watrous Gallery, a nonprofit art space located on the third floor of the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin, is dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists and curators with ties to the state. Unlike the nearby Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) and Chazen Museum of Art, which feature national and international artists, Watrous Gallery focuses almost exclusively on Wisconsin-based practitioners. Directed by Jody Clowes for the past decade, the gallery selects exhibitions through an open call every three to four years, with a committee of artists, arts workers, and curators from across the state. Recent shows include works by artists such as Shane McAdams, Lois Bielefeld, Dakota Mace, and the collaborative duo Shana McCaw and Brent Budsberg. The gallery is part of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, and each exhibition is featured in the Academy's publication "Wisconsin People & Ideas," often connecting to broader themes like climate and energy.

New ‘Of the Earth’ art exhibition opens at Detroit Lakes’ Ortenstone Gardens

A new public art exhibition titled 'Of the Earth' has opened at Ortenstone Gardens and Sculpture Park in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The exhibition features three sculptures by Polish-American artist Olga Ziemska, who is also the park's first artist-in-residence, supported by local nonprofit Project 412. The works incorporate natural materials like river rocks, sticks, and grass, and join Thomas Dambo's troll sculpture 'Barefoot Frida' as permanent attractions at the 50-acre park, which was donated to the city by the Mark and Cindy Fritz Foundation.

The Orlando Museum of Art presents their biggest exhibition of the year

The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) will present the 2025 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition, its biggest show of the year, celebrating the state's most innovative artists. The eleventh annual exhibition features ten selected artists: Nathalie Alfonso, Eddie Arroyo, Leo Castañeda, Kelly Joy Ladd, Amanda Linares, Kandy G. Lopez, Jiha Moon, Troy Simmons, Cornelius Tulloch, and Lisu Vega. An opening preview party on May 30 will include the announcement of one artist receiving a $20,000 prize, while a $5,000 "People's Choice" award will be decided by public vote throughout the summer, with the winner revealed at the closing ceremony on August 21.

Liz Munsell Named Vice President of Brooklyn’s Powerhouse Arts

Liz Munsell has been appointed Vice President of Curatorial Arts and Programs at Brooklyn's Powerhouse Arts, a creative nonprofit in Gowanus. She will develop public programming, exhibitions, and community engagement, while overseeing artist residencies and art fairs, including the upcoming Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair. She succeeds Diya Vij, who left to become New York City's cultural affairs commissioner.

Valerie Mercer and the Long Work of Putting African American Art Where It Belongs

Valerie Mercer, the lead curator of African American art at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), has spent over two decades building a collection that now includes more than 700 works. Last fall, the museum unveiled a major reinstallation titled "Reimagine African American Art," moving African American art from scattered locations to the heart of the institution, near Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals. The rehang traces a lineage from 19th-century painters like Robert S. Duncanson to modern innovators like Sam Gilliam, covering key cultural movements such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement.

An art gallery

Students from Becket Washington School and their families gathered at the Becket Arts Center for the opening of a dedicated exhibition featuring student artwork. The show, hosted in the center's upstairs gallery, highlights the creative output of local youth and remains open to the public through April 26.

Peter Blake’s studio brought to life at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in West London has announced a major retrospective of Sir Peter Blake, scheduled to open in November 2026. The exhibition, titled 'Peter Blake: In the Studio,' features a full-scale reconstruction of the artist's Hammersmith workspace, providing an immersive look at the environment where his seven-decade career unfolded. The show will display a wide range of media, including his iconic Pop Art paintings, sculptures, and recent collages that respond to the works of William Hogarth.

Vasarely’s Hometown Honors Renowned Artist with Newly Restored Museum

The city of Pécs, Hungary, has reopened the Victor Vasarely Museum following a comprehensive renovation to mark the 120th anniversary of the artist's birth. The updated institution features a modernized building and a redesigned curatorial approach that showcases approximately 400 works, including monumental screen prints from the "VI-VA Album" that have been in storage for over 50 years. New interactive spaces and a focus on international dialogue place Vasarely’s Op Art legacy within the broader context of 20th-century geometric abstraction.

Work by Group of Seven's to be featured at Contemporary Calgary's LOOK2026

Contemporary Calgary has announced the details for its upcoming LOOK2026 auction fundraiser, featuring a prestigious selection of works by Canadian masters and contemporary stars. The auction will include pieces by Group of Seven member L.L. FitzGerald, Maxwell Bates, and Chris Cran, alongside contemporary works by artists such as Kablusiak. The event was bolstered by a significant contribution from Calgary-based philanthropist and collector John Lacey, who reached out to CEO David Leinster to support the institution's mission.

Sold-out auctions suggest Hong Kong’s art market is back. But is it?

Hong Kong’s art market showed signs of a significant rebound during the March art week with two rare "white glove" auctions, where every lot was sold. Christie’s led the momentum with a 100 percent sell-through rate totaling HK$655.8 million, followed by Sotheby’s, which achieved HK$548.4 million and set a record for the most valuable work by a female artist sold at auction in Asia with Joan Mitchell’s La Grande Vallée VII.

Houston's Own Opera Gallery Opens In River Oaks District — An International Art Coup Draws A-Listers

Opera Gallery has officially opened its latest international location in Houston’s River Oaks District, marking the occasion with a series of high-profile events including a collector's preview and a VIP opening. The new space debuted with an impressive inventory of modern and contemporary masterpieces, featuring works by blue-chip artists such as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Yayoi Kusama, and Keith Haring. The opening festivities drew a significant crowd of Houston’s social and art elite, signaling a major addition to the city's luxury retail and art landscape.

Comment | Latest auctions prove Old Masters are not ‘out of fashion’

Recent Old Master auctions in New York have defied narratives of market decline, totaling over $185 million across Sotheby’s and Christie’s. High-profile sales included a newly discovered Michelangelo drawing for $27.2 million, a Canaletto masterpiece for $30.5 million, and a record-breaking Rembrandt drawing sold for $17.8 million. These results, alongside the Italian state's $14.9 million acquisition of an Antonello da Messina, suggest that historical masterpieces remain premier "civilisational assets" and stable financial havens during periods of economic volatility.

The largest regional gallery in NSW has opened just two hours from Sydney

Newcastle Art Gallery has officially reopened following a major $145 million site-wide transformation, doubling its footprint to become the largest public art gallery in New South Wales outside of Sydney. Designed by Clare Design in collaboration with Smith and Tzannes and Arup, the expansion adds 1,600 square metres of exhibition space, a new learning studio, and upgraded facilities to house a collection of over 7,000 works. The inaugural exhibition, "Iconic, Loved, Unexpected," features nearly 500 pieces ranging from colonial-era paintings to contemporary commissions by artists like Megan Cope and Shellie Smith.

Vancouver Art Gallery gifted more than 800 photographs by Stephen Shore

The Vancouver Art Gallery has received a major gift of over 800 photographs by the acclaimed American photographer Stephen Shore. Donated by the Chan family, the collection primarily features Shore’s seminal series "Uncommon Places" (1973–81), which documented North American landscapes and interiors in vivid color. This acquisition establishes the gallery as one of the world's leading repositories of Shore’s work, with a dedicated exhibition of the series scheduled to open on March 27.