why leonora carringtons otherworldly sculptures are generating interest and controversy 2608664

Leonora Carrington, the British-born Surrealist artist, has seen a dramatic revival of interest in her work, with her paintings breaking auction records and her sculptures gaining new attention. However, a bitter dispute has emerged between supporters of her later bronzes and critics questioning their legitimacy, complicating her legacy. Carrington lived most of her life in Mexico and died in 2011 at age 94, but her reputation has soared posthumously, marked by a 2015 retrospective at Tate Liverpool, her influence on the 2022 Venice Biennale, and a current retrospective traveling from Palazzo Reale in Milan to Musée du Luxembourg in Paris. Her painting *Les Distractions de Dagobert* (1945) sold for $28.5 million at Sotheby’s New York in May 2024, setting a record for a British-born female artist, while her wooden sculpture *La Grande Dame (The Cat Woman)* (1951) fetched over $11.4 million in November 2024.

magritte drawing ebay rago wright auction 2633720

An anonymous buyer purchased an untitled René Magritte drawing on eBay for $1,580 in January 2025. The work, executed in ballpoint pen, colored pencil, and pencil on paper, will be auctioned by Rago/Wright in Lambertville, New Jersey on May 21 with a high estimate of $150,000—a nearly hundred-fold increase. The drawing depicts three giant white chess pieces towering over a landscape and once belonged to Mora Henskens, companion of Harry Torczyner, a friend and collector of the artist. It was acquired by Henskens from Magritte's widow, Georgette Berger Magritte, and later sold through VanDeRee Auctions before appearing on eBay.

sothebys 70 million giacometti bust may auction 1234739396

Sotheby’s will offer Alberto Giacometti’s 1955 bronze bust *Grande tête mince (Grande tête de Diego)*, hand-painted by the artist as a tribute to his brother Diego, at its May 13 modern art evening sale in New York with an estimate exceeding $70 million. The 25-inch-tall work, one of six casts, is being sold anonymously through the Soloviev Foundation and comes from the estate of real estate magnate Sheldon Solow. It was exhibited at the 1956 Venice Biennale and spent nearly two decades at the Fondation Maeght before Solow acquired it in 1980. The sale also includes a Piet Mondrian painting estimated at $50 million at Christie’s as part of the Leonard Riggio collection.

new frick collection elitist pleasure 1234738874

The Frick Collection in New York has reopened after a multiyear renovation and expansion by Selldorf Architects with Beyer Blinder Belle. Under director Ian Wardropper, the museum hired ambitious young curators who introduced fresh perspectives, including online programming focused on social contexts, temporary relocation to the Whitney's old space (Frick Madison) where they presented female old masters like Rosalba Carriera and contemporary artists of color like Barkley Hendricks, and a rehang that organized works by time and place. The expansion adds new exhibition spaces, a gallery for old master drawings, and opens the Frick family's former bedrooms to the public, housing treasures like gold ground paintings and Impressionist works.

German artist Georg Baselitz dies aged 88

German artist Georg Baselitz has died at age 88, as confirmed by the Thaddaeus Ropac gallery. Known for his expressive paintings and sculptures, Baselitz rose to prominence in the 1960s after a scandal over sexually symbolic works led to a high-profile court case. He pioneered painting canvases upside down from 1969 onward, a technique he used to grapple with German history and collective guilt. His work spanned six decades and included notable sculptures, such as a wooden figure at the 1980 Venice Biennale that appeared to perform a Nazi salute, which he later clarified was inspired by an African artifact. Baselitz achieved international acclaim in the 1980s and became one of Germany's highest-priced living artists, alongside Gerhard Richter.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries reframe 6,000 years of history

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is preparing to open its new $720m David Geffen Galleries, a massive undulating concrete structure designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor. Spanning Wilshire Boulevard, the new building adds 110,000 square feet of gallery space and 3.5 acres of public parkland, marking the completion of a two-decade capital project led by Director Michael Govan. The facility will house the museum’s permanent collection, which has been largely out of public view for seven years, and features innovative exhibition strategies such as hanging artworks directly onto concrete walls.

Lily Allen’s ‘West End Girl’ Portrait Makes Its Museum Debut

Lily Allen's portrait, created by Spanish artist Nieves González for the cover of her album 'West End Girl,' has gone on public display at London's National Portrait Gallery. The painting, which blends Old Master techniques with contemporary fashion, was loaned to the museum by Allen herself and will be exhibited for a year.

Tate Modern to Mount Its First Monet Show Ever

Tate Modern has announced its 2027 exhibition program, headlined by "Monet: Painting Time," the museum's first-ever solo exhibition dedicated to Claude Monet since it opened 26 years ago. The show, opening February 27, 2027, will feature rarely seen works from global lenders and new research, following an initial presentation at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris opening this September to mark the centenary of Monet's death.

More Than Breakfast

Mehr als Frühstück

The article explores the enduring presence and symbolism of the egg as a motif throughout art history. It highlights works by artists from Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel the Elder to Salvador Dalí and Constantin Brâncuși, showing how the egg has been used in painting, sculpture, and photography to represent themes of origin, life, and perfect form.

Venice Biennale 2026 Highlights: Off-Site Exhibitions

ArtReview editors highlight off-site pavilions and exhibitions at the 61st Venice Biennale, running from 9 May through 22 November 2026. Featured works include Li Yi-Fan's film *Screen Melancholy* at Palazzo delle Prigioni, which uses motion capture and a free-trial videogame engine to explore digital alienation and the 'enshittosphere,' and Roberto Diago's installation *Free Men* at the Pavilion of Cuban Republic, comprising rusted iron heads, fragmented wooden figures, and text works critiquing political oppression in Cuba.

5 free must-see exhibitions to pick in Parisian galleries in May

5 expos gratuites coups de cœur à cueillir dans les galeries parisiennes en mai

Beaux Arts Magazine highlights five free exhibitions to visit in Parisian galleries in May 2026. At Galerie Mayoral, a show explores Alexander Calder's ties to Paris, featuring gouaches and totems. Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire presents Michel Jocaille's first solo exhibition, "Lily of the Valley," which uses lily-of-the-valley motifs to evoke labor history and camp aesthetics. Galerie Anne-Laure Buffard hosts a poignant dialogue between Diane Esmond, a painter whose works were burned by the Nazis, and her granddaughter Adrianna Wallis, whose photographs reference looted objects. Galerie Templon exhibits Alioune Diagne's paintings inspired by Wolof traditions, and another gallery shows prints by Swedish artist Mamma Andersson.

Au musée Picasso, l’artiste africain-américain Henry Taylor dévoile sa peinture d’un quotidien troublé par la violence

The Musée Picasso in Paris is hosting a retrospective of African American artist Henry Taylor, running until September 6. The exhibition centers on Taylor's 2007 painting *From Congo to the Capital, and Black Again*, a bold reimagining of Picasso's *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon* that replaces the original figures with darker-skinned women and introduces Josephine Baker and a white man's arm. The show follows the museum's series on African American painting, after Faith Ringgold in 2023 and ahead of a Harlem Renaissance exhibition in 2027.

Allison Katz’s Playful Paintings Hide Serious Ideas in Plain Sight

Painter Allison Katz, who lived in New York for seven years but hasn't shown in Manhattan for over a decade, returns with a major debut solo exhibition at Hauser & Wirth's Wooster Street location. Titled "Outta the Bag," the show features a suite of New York–centric paintings, including depictions of the city's museums and skyscrapers, as well as an ironically small "Big Apple" composition, marking a significant moment for the mid-career artist.

10 Must-See Shows During the Venice Biennale 2026

The 2026 Venice Biennale is embroiled in multiple controversies, including the cancellation and reinstatement of Australia's representative artist Khaled Sabsabi, ongoing calls to bar Israel from participating, criticism over allowing Russia to participate, and mounting voices to exclude the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump's actions in Iran. Despite these disputes, the article highlights that many of the city's most exciting shows will take place away from the main Biennale venues.

How This Cannabis CEO Brings an Edge to Art Collecting

How This Cannabis CEO Brings an Edge to Art Collecting

A cannabis industry CEO is applying the aggressive, data-driven tactics of his business to the art market, building a significant collection focused on underrepresented artists. Steve DeAngelo, co-founder of Harborside Inc., leverages his company's analytical approach to identify value and emerging trends, targeting works by artists of color, women, and LGBTQ+ creators that he believes are undervalued by the traditional market.

A major Jean-Michel Basquiat painting is expected to sell for more than $5 million in May.

A major Jean-Michel Basquiat painting is expected to sell for more than $5 million in May.

A major painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat, titled *Portrait of the Artist as a Young Derelict*, will be auctioned at Christie’s in New York this May. The 1982 work is a prime example of the artist's raw, graffiti-infused style and is expected to fetch over $5 million. This sale is part of Christie’s marquee spring auctions, highlighting continued strong market demand for blue-chip contemporary art.

Niklaus Stoecklin at Hauser & Wirth, Basel

Hauser & Wirth Basel is presenting a focused exhibition of works by Swiss artist Niklaus Stoecklin (1896–1982), featuring paintings and drawings spanning from the 1920s to the 1970s. The show includes several rarely seen pieces, highlighting Stoecklin's distinctive approach to depicting life—people, animals, trees, stones, and space—as he described it.

Art Fair Report: Stress Test

Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 drew 91,500 visitors and featured 240 galleries at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, alongside over 100 galleries at Art Central, three new boutique fairs, four new art spaces, multiple auction previews, and dozens of institutional shows and gallery openings. Despite a challenging 2025 that saw mega-galleries Pace and Perrotin close their Hong Kong spaces and auction results hit an eight-year low, blue-chip galleries reported strong sales, including David Zwirner’s USD 3.8 million sale of Liu Ye’s "Snow White" (2006) and Hauser & Wirth’s USD 2.95 million sale of a Louise Bourgeois work. The prevailing sentiment among collectors and gallerists was cautious optimism, with the phrase "Are you surviving?" overheard frequently.

Frieze New York, the Cranach in Hitler’s Munich apartment, Ajamu X—podcast

This episode of The Art Newspaper's podcast covers several art-world stories. Ben Sutton and Kabir Jhala discuss the current edition of Frieze New York, alongside other concurrent fairs like Esther and Tefaf, and preview the upcoming New York auctions. Ben Luke interviews Martin Bailey about a Lucas Cranach the Elder painting, 'Cupid Complaining to Venus' (1526-27), which once hung in Adolf Hitler's Munich apartment, with a newly published photograph from the 1940s. The episode also features a segment on Ajamu X's 'Glamour Posse' series from the early 1990s, part of the touring exhibition 'Gender Stories' opening at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, with comments from gallery head Charlotte Keenan.

Gagosian chooses Paris location to present three important late paintings by Francis Bacon

Gagosian gallery will present three significant late paintings by Francis Bacon in a dedicated exhibition at its Paris location on Rue de Castiglione. The show, running from April 11 to May 30, 2026, features 'Study from the Human Body — Figure in Movement' (1982), 'Study from the Human Body' (1986), and 'Man at a Washbasin' (1989-1990), marking the first time these specific works have been shown together.

Dóra Maurer, Hungarian Conceptual Artist, Dies at 88

dora maurer artist dead 1234773951

Dóra Maurer, a preeminent figure of Hungarian conceptual art, has died at the age of 88. Known for her multidisciplinary approach spanning film, photography, and painting, Maurer rose to prominence for her experimental work created under Soviet rule in Hungary. Her practice frequently explored themes of displacement, perception, and the mathematical shifting of forms, ranging from her 1970s performance-based photography to her later vibrant, geometric "Overlappings" paintings.

li hei di market analysis 1234769048

Li Hei Di, a young Chinese-born painter based in London, has emerged as one of the most closely watched artists in the ultra-contemporary market despite its recent downturn. Since joining Pace Gallery in September 2024 as its youngest artist, Li's works have appeared at auction 12 times, with eight sales in Hong Kong. Nearly every lot has exceeded expectations, often doubling or tripling high estimates. A standout was the painting *There Was One Summer Returning Over and Over; There Was One Dawn I Grew Old Watching* (2023), which sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong for HK$2.67 million—more than double its high estimate—setting a new auction record. Auction specialists and dealers emphasize that Li's market reflects a slow, sustained buildup rather than a speculative spike, with bidding and buying activity spanning Asia, Europe, and the United States.

ppow owen fu nicola vassell na kim industry moves 1234755010

P.P.O.W. gallery has taken on representation of artist Owen Fu, while Nicola Vassell Gallery now represents Na Kim, known for her book covers and paintings. Jessie Washburne-Harris has been named Global Director at White Cube, overseeing the gallery's U.S. growth. Chris Sharp Gallery added Mark A. Rodriguez to its roster, and Berry Campbell took on the estate of Louisa Chase. Mexico City dealers Misa Yamaoka and Yuna Cabon launched an artist residency program at Third Born gallery. The article also reports that combined evening sales at Christie's, Phillips, and Sotheby's in Hong Kong totaled $136 million, a significant drop from $208.6 million last fall, and highlights the rising market interest in 17th-century artist Michaelina Wautier.

claire oliver gallery expands new york 1234750054

Claire Oliver Gallery is expanding its Harlem townhouse location in New York, adding the upper floors to its existing street-level space. The new areas will be dedicated to a more intimate, salon-style presentation, moving away from the traditional white cube model. The expansion will be inaugurated on September 5 with a solo exhibition by BK Adams on the ground floor and a group show upstairs featuring represented artists including Barbara Earl Thomas, Carolyn Mazloomi, Gio Swaby, and others.

bobby anspach everything is change 2659868

The Newport Art Museum in Rhode Island has opened "Bobby Anspach: Everything is Change," the first institutional solo exhibition for the late American artist Bobby Anspach, who died in 2022 at age 34. Curated by Taylor Baldwin, the show traces Anspach's development of immersive sculptural environments, particularly his "Place for Continuous Eye Contact" series, which uses materials like pom-poms, lights, fabric, and found objects to create psychologically charged spaces. The exhibition includes early works, paintings, and large-scale installations that Anspach had previously shown at venues such as New York's Spring Break Art Show and outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

who was ching ho cheng 1234744132

Ching Ho Cheng (1946–89), a Chinese-American artist who described himself as working "with paper, instead of on it," is the subject of a revival of interest, including a current solo show at Bank gallery's New York outpost featuring his airbrushed gouache works from the mid-to-late 1970s. Cheng, who lived and worked in Suite 903 of New York's Chelsea Hotel, created spiritual, experimental works ranging from psychedelic paintings to torn-paper pieces and monumental oxidized sculptures, before his career was cut short by AIDS-related complications. His papers at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art were digitized in 2024, and his work will be included in a group show at the Whitney Museum of American Art and a major institutional retrospective at the Addison Gallery of American Art in 2027.

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Artnet News journalist Annie Armstrong recounts her emotional experience at Art Basel Miami Beach, where she desperately sought to see Julie Curtiss's painting "Mary With the Medela" (2024), a portrait of a woman using a breast pump. As a new mother balancing work and pumping, Armstrong felt a deep personal connection to the work but arrived at the White Cube booth moments after it had been sold and removed from view, leaving her in tears.

art calvin tompkins new yorker dies

Calvin Tomkins, the longtime New Yorker writer known for his intimate profiles of modern and contemporary artists, has died at age 100 in his home in Middletown, Rhode Island. Over more than six decades, Tomkins profiled giants of the art world including Marcel Duchamp, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, John Cage, Georgia O'Keeffe, Kerry James Marshall, and Rashid Johnson, beginning with a 1959 assignment on Duchamp that launched his career. He continued writing sweeping profiles as recently as 2024.

art gerhard richter interview paris show

The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris will host a major retrospective of Gerhard Richter's work, opening on October 17 and occupying all 34 of its galleries. Curated by Nicholas Serota and Dieter Schwarz, the exhibition assembles 270 works spanning over six decades, from early photo-paintings like 'Tante Marianne' (1965) to the final abstractions he made before stopping painting in 2017. The show traces Richter's evolution from his upbringing under Nazism and Socialist Realism in East Germany to his defection to the West and his ongoing daily pencil drawings. A companion show at David Zwirner's Paris gallery will feature Richter's later painted works and recent drawings.

john vincler new york gallery guide summer

The article surveys several New York gallery exhibitions during the transition from spring to summer 2025, focusing on how the human body is depicted in contemporary art. Key shows include David Zwirner's "Circa 1995: New Figuration in New York," featuring works by John Currin, Lisa Yuskavage, Marlene Dumas, Luc Tuymans, Laura Owens, and Peter Doig; Skarstedt's "Andy Warhol: Oxidation Paintings," presenting Warhol's urine-reactive abstract works; and Rachel Harrison's "The Friedmann Equations" at Greene Naftali, which explores spectatorship and the somatic through photographs, drawings, and sculptures.