atlanta art fair hub

The second edition of the Atlanta Art Fair took place at Pullman Yards, a historic 27-acre former rail works in the Kirkwood district. The fair, directed by Kelly Freeman, featured around 80 dealers and attracted a diverse crowd, including many high school and college students, with a casual atmosphere far removed from typical art fair elitism. Freeman emphasized teaching the city how to use an art fair, prioritizing accessibility and long-term engagement over immediate sales.

sothebys robert mnuchin collection rothko

Sotheby’s has secured the personal collection of the late financier and legendary art dealer Robert Mnuchin for its marquee May auctions in New York. The 24-work consignment is headlined by Mark Rothko’s 1957 masterpiece 'Brown and Blacks in Reds', which carries an estimate of $70 million to $100 million. The collection also features significant works by Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Jeff Koons, reflecting Mnuchin's lifelong dedication to postwar abstraction and the New York School.

warhol muhammad ali 18 million art basel miami beach sale

Lévy Gorvy Dayan sold Andy Warhol's 'Muhammad Ali' (1977) for $18 million during the VIP preview of Art Basel Miami Beach. The painting, autographed by Ali and formerly owned by Richard L. Weisman, was displayed just a few hundred feet from the Miami Beach Convention Center, where Ali defeated Sonny Liston in 1964. The consignment was kept secret until ten days before the fair, and the work drew crowds of buyers and admirers, including Ali's sons and figures connected to Warhol's 'Athletes' series.

Art Basel unveils Basel Exclusive and further program highlights for its flagship show in June

Art Basel has announced new program highlights for its flagship fair in Basel this June, including a new initiative called Basel Exclusive. Developed in dialogue with galleries, Basel Exclusive requires participating exhibitors from the main Galleries sector to reserve at least one major work—or an entire presentation—from all pre-fair previews, online viewing rooms, and pre-sales, unveiling them publicly for the first time during the VIP opening on June 16. The fair also revealed the lineup for Unlimited, its platform for large-scale works, which will feature 59 projects by 66 international galleries, curated for the first time by Ruba Katrib of MoMA PS1. Unlimited Night returns on June 18 with extended hours and special performances.

‘Really encouraging’: Phillips’s modern and contemporary sale continues New York auction momentum

Phillips’s modern and contemporary evening sale on 19 November generated nearly $54.8 million ($67.3 million with fees), a 25% increase over the same sale last year. Out of 33 lots, only two failed to sell, achieving a 94% sell-through rate. The top lot was Francis Bacon’s *Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer* (1967), which hammered at $13.5 million, followed by an untitled Joan Mitchell work from 1957-58 at $12 million. The sale also included natural history objects for the first time, such as a juvenile Triceratops skeleton nicknamed 'Cera,' which sold for $4.35 million. Female artists performed strongly, with Ruth Asawa’s copper wire sculptures sparking lengthy bidding wars and Firelei Báez setting a new artist record that was later broken at Christie’s the same evening.

$23 million Gerhard Richter painting leads Art Basel Paris opening sales.

Art Basel Paris opened its 'Avant Première' day at the Grand Palais on October 21, 2025, with strong early sales led by Hauser & Wirth's sale of Gerhard Richter's *Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting)* (1987) for $23 million. Other notable sales included Julie Mehretu's *Charioteer* (2007) for $11.5 million at White Cube, Amedeo Modigliani's *Jeune fille aux macarons* (1918) for just under $10 million at Pace Gallery, and a Ruth Asawa sculpture for $7.5 million at David Zwirner. The fair, running through October 26, features 203 galleries and introduced the exclusive preview day as a new scheduling element.

This Fall’s Must-See Gallery Shows in New York

The article highlights a curated selection of must-see gallery shows opening in New York City this fall, coinciding with The Armory Show and the overlapping Frieze Seoul fair. Featured exhibitions include Ambera Wellmann's "Darkling" at Hauser & Wirth, Caleb Hahne Quintana's "A Boy That Don't Bleed" at Anat Ebgi, and shows by Sasha Gordon, Dew Kim & Filippo Cegani, Elizabeth Glaessner, Yuan Fang, Bernardo Pacquing, Celeste Rapone, and Omara Mara Oláh, among others. The piece also notes the group exhibition "Downtown/Uptown: New York in the Eighties."

chinas ultra contemporary moment

Artnet News profiles five ultra-contemporary artists working in China today, highlighting their practices amid shifting cultural narratives, economic pressures, and technological change. Featured artists include Xia Yu, known for tempera paintings of everyday life, and Ye Linghan, who creates monumental "data portraits" from smartphone screenshots. The article details their backgrounds, notable exhibitions, market prices, and upcoming projects, emphasizing their growing appeal to collectors and curators.

Sotheby’s $304M Modern Evening Auction Confirms the Market Has Found Its Footing

Sotheby's Modern Evening Auction on May 19 achieved $304 million with a 98% sell-through rate across 45 lots, more than doubling the total from the equivalent sale in November. The auction was anchored by fresh-to-market masterpieces, including Henri Matisse's "La Chaise Lorraine" from the Barbier-Müller collection, which sold for $48.4 million—the second-highest price for a Matisse painting at auction. Other highlights included works from the Enrico Donati collection, which generated a combined $58.9 million, and Pablo Picasso's "Arlequin (Buste)" (1909) selling for $42.6 million. The sale contributed to a running combined total of $839.6 million for Sotheby's marquee sales, following strong results from the Mnuchin collection and Contemporary Day Auction.

The Top Collections Leading the May Marquee Auctions

The article reports that the May 2025 marquee auctions at Christie's and Sotheby's are being driven by a resurgence of major single-owner collections, reversing a period of trophy scarcity in the secondary market. Key collections include the $130 million Robert E. Mnuchin collection at Sotheby's, the personal collection of gallerist Marian Goodman at Christie's, and the S.I. Newhouse collection expected to generate around $450 million, featuring Jackson Pollock's 'Number 7A (1948)' and Constantin Brancusi's 'Danaïde (1913)'. The article notes that the ultra-high tier above $10 million rose 30% year-on-year, and single-owner collections in New York auctions totaled $730.9 million, an 89.9% increase from Q1 2025.

Chicago Art Movements Over The Years, From the Monster Roster to the Modern Moment

Chicago’s art history is defined by a series of indigenous movements that prioritized visceral, existential expression over commercial appeal. The article traces this lineage back to the late 1940s with the emergence of the Monster Roster, a group of artists including Leon Golub and Dominick Di Meo who returned from World War II to produce agonistic work. This movement was catalyzed by institutional resistance at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, leading to the creation of the independent Momentum Exhibitions which bypassed conservative juried systems.

London Saw Few Auction Shakeups as Guarantees Steadied the Market

Christie’s marquee evening sales in London achieved a combined total of £197.5 million ($263.8 million), characterized by a steady, prearranged atmosphere rather than high-stakes drama. The auction house relied heavily on financial safety nets, with a 52 percent year-over-year increase in third-party guarantees ensuring the sale of 21 key lots. While the event featured a theatrical unveiling of a new rostrum designed by Sir Jony Ive, the actual bidding remained largely conservative and focused on blue-chip stability.

Sotheby’s Hauls In $304 Million at Modern Art Auction, as Market Momentum Continues

Sotheby’s achieved $303.9 million in its modern art auction in New York, led by Henri Matisse’s *La Chaise Lorraine* (circa 1919) at $48.4 million and Pablo Picasso’s *Arlequin (Buste)* at $42.6 million. The sale included an auction record for a painted bottle, René Magritte’s *Femme-bouteille* (1955), which sold for $974,000. The auction featured conservatively priced material from smaller estates, with a 97.6% sell-through rate and a 63% increase over a similar sale last year.

Market Outlook for New York’s May Sales

New York's May sales season is underway with over $1.8 billion worth of art heading to auction at major houses including Sotheby's, where a monumental Rothko consigned by Robert Mnuchin is expected to fetch $70–100 million. Frieze New York opens at the Shed with 68 galleries, half of them local. Other notable developments include a major Banksy work hitting the auction block with one of its highest estimates ever, and the estate of sculptor Robert Therrien leaving Gagosian after nearly 30 years to join David Zwirner.

$60 M. Lichtenstein Comes to the Block at Christie’s, Potentially Joining His Priciest Works at Auction

Christie’s will offer Roy Lichtenstein’s 1964 painting *Anxious Girl* from the collection of legendary New York collector-dealer Holly Solomon and her husband Horace, with an estimate of $40–60 million. If it reaches its high estimate, it will become the artist’s second-priciest work at auction, trailing only *Nurse* (1964), which sold for $95.4 million in 2015. The work leads Christie’s 20th-century evening sale on May 18, amid a flurry of high-value consignments as both Christie’s and Sotheby’s aim to sustain momentum after posting improved 2025 results.

arco madrid 2026 art fair report

The 45th edition of Arco Madrid opened at the IFEMA Madrid complex with a notably slower start than previous years. While initial VIP attendance appeared thin due to competing events and geopolitical factors, the fair regained its momentum by midday, drawing a crowd of international collectors and 211 galleries from 30 countries. Exhibitors noted a more relaxed atmosphere compared to major fairs like Art Basel, with visitors taking a more contemplative approach to acquisitions.

kim gordon was always an artist first

Kim Gordon, the co-founder of Sonic Youth, is currently the subject of two major exhibitions at Amant in Brooklyn. The first, a solo survey titled "Count Your Chickens," showcases two decades of her multidisciplinary practice including painting, ceramics, and film, while the second, "Folded Group," is a group show she co-curated with Bill Nace featuring artists who bridge the gap between music and visual art.

keisha scarville brooklyn museum uovo prize

Brooklyn-based photographer Keisha Scarville has been named the 2026 winner of the Brooklyn Museum’s Uovo Prize. The award includes a $25,000 cash prize, a solo exhibition at the museum, and a public art commission featured on the facade of Uovo’s Bushwick facility. Her upcoming presentation, titled "Where Salt Meets Black Water," will debut in May 2026 and features vinyl reproductions from her "Mama’s Clothes" series, which explores Guyanese heritage and maternal legacy through textiles.

Art Market Minute: March 9

art market minute mar 9

The Gulf region’s art market is navigating a period of significant instability as escalating geopolitical tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran threaten the upcoming Art Dubai fair. Long considered a safe haven for global culture and commerce, the United Arab Emirates now faces questions regarding its perceived insulation from regional conflict just weeks before its major international art event.

Patarei Prison Could Become Museum

paterei prison could become museum

Estonia’s Minister of Justice, Urmas Reinsalu, has proposed transforming the historic Patarei Prison in Tallinn into an international museum and research center dedicated to the crimes of communism. The sprawling 10-acre seaside complex, which served as a site of political incarceration under Soviet rule until 2002, remains largely unrestored, containing haunting remnants such as surgical tools and tattered bunk beds. The proposal has gained significant diplomatic traction, receiving formal support from representatives of eight EU member states during a recent meeting in the Estonian capital.

domingo zapata worlds largest mural saudi arabia

Spanish artist Domingo Zapata has been commissioned by Saudi Arabia to create the world's largest mural, a 540,000-square-foot work the size of nine football fields. The project, part of the $63 billion Diriyah cultural zone in Riyadh, will take five to six years to complete and involves a team of about 100 artists, engineers, and architects. Zapata describes it as a "Middle Eastern version of the Sistine Chapel."

will the recent art market momentum continue into 2026

Artnet News columnist reflects on the fragile state of the art market as 2025 ends, noting that global instability and troubling news have dampened buyer psychology. Despite this, major auction houses reported strong annual sales—Sotheby's at $7 billion (up 17%) and Christie's at $6.2 billion (up 6%)—and a series of high-profile sales, including the Pauline Karpidas collection auction and Leonard Lauder's Gustav Klimt portrait fetching $236.4 million, have sparked renewed momentum. The article quotes advisors and dealers who sense a market bottom has passed, with buyers returning to auctions and fairs like Art Basel Miami Beach.

sothebys 2025 sales results analysis

Sotheby's is projecting $7.0 billion in consolidated 2025 sales, a 17% increase over the previous year and the strongest result in the company's history. Auction sales rose 26% to $5.7 billion, driven by high-quality consignments including the Leonard A. Lauder Collection and a $236.4 million Klimt painting. Luxury sales climbed 22% to $2.7 billion, while RM Sotheby's surpassed $1 billion for the first time. The opening of Sotheby's new global headquarters at the Breuer Building was a commercial centerpiece, generating $1.17 billion in its inaugural week. The company also expanded rapidly in the Middle East, staging the first international auction in Saudi Arabia and launching Collectors' Week in Abu Dhabi.

hong kong fire arts groups asian art news

A devastating fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po neighborhood, which killed at least 151 people, has prompted a period of mourning and led several major cultural institutions to cancel or postpone public events. The Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust cancelled a press conference for the "No Limits" program, while M+ rescheduled its "Night: Festive Play" event. Meanwhile, art fairs and galleries continue to announce developments: Kiaf Seoul will run concurrently with Frieze Seoul in 2026, Contemporary Istanbul will introduce a new Focus Asia section, and Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 will feature new sectors Echoes and Zero 10. In the market, On Kawara's "NOV. 27, 1984" sold for HK$8.5 million at Bonhams Hong Kong, and standout results were seen at Sotheby's Hong Kong.

goddard tiffany window heads to auction

A Tiffany Studios stained-glass window, the Goddard Memorial Window, sold for $4.2 million at Christie's Design Sale on June 12, 2025, exceeding its high estimate of $3 million. Commissioned in 1909 by Mary Edith Jenckes Goddard for St. Luke's Episcopal Church in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, the window features a pastoral landscape with an apple blossom tree, symbolic of youth. The sale follows a surge in the Tiffany window market, including a record $12.4 million sale at Sotheby's in November 2024 and recent acquisitions by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Crystal Bridges Museum.

sothebys lauder day sale

Sotheby's held a day sale on Wednesday featuring 30 works from the collection of cosmetics heir Leonard Lauder, generating $3.84 million against an estimate of $2.22 million to $3.29 million. The sale followed a strong Tuesday auction led by a Gustav Klimt portrait from Lauder's collection that achieved the second-highest price ever for an artwork at auction. Standout results included works by Dorothea Rockburne, Elizabeth Murray, and Lyonel Feininger that far exceeded their estimates, while a Claes Oldenburg sculpture sold for $444,500, the top price of the day.

manny davidson collection sale sothebys paris

Sotheby's Paris is selling "The Manny Davidson Collection: A Life in Treasures and Benevolence," a multi-owner sale of nearly 500 lots spanning Old Masters, 19th-century British paintings, 18th-century gold enamel, and decorative objects. Highlights include a rediscovered Michael Sweerts portrait estimated at €800,000–€1.2 million, a Thomas de Keyser portrait of a silversmith, and a Joshua Reynolds self-portrait study. The sale, which includes an evening auction on November 5 and an online component, was previewed by Sotheby's global head of private sales, Old Masters, Chloe Stead.

art market minute jul 7

Artnet News reports on the rising market interest in abstract artist Jack Whitten, following his current retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The article highlights Whitten's innovative techniques, such as his "Slab" paintings made with Afro combs and his "Greek Alphabet" series, and notes that despite his long-standing reputation among fellow artists, his market is only now gaining momentum.

parthenon marbles update

Greece is building a cultural coalition with Italy to strengthen its campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum. Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli pledged support during a visit to Athens and announced the repatriation of 145 ancient coins. Greek culture minister Lina Mendoni is leading efforts to build international backing, and the two countries have devised joint cultural initiatives, including an exhibition of modern Greco-Italian metaphysical painters. Meanwhile, the U.K.'s Labour government has taken a neutral stance on the issue, departing from the previous Conservative government's opposition, and negotiations between Greece and the U.K. are described as "ongoing and constructive."

tamara de lempicka boucard christies auction

Christie’s London is auctioning Tamara de Lempicka’s 1928 painting *Portrait du Docteur Boucard*, which has not been seen on the market in 40 years. The work, depicting doctor and bacteriologist Pierre Boucard, is expected to sell for between £5 million and £8 million ($6.18 million and $9.89 million). The sale coincides with the close of Lempicka’s historic retrospective at San Francisco’s de Young Museum—the first U.S. survey of the Art Deco master—and ahead of its opening at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.