emily fisher landau sothebys results 2391881

Sotheby's held a landmark evening auction on November 8 featuring 31 works from the collection of Emily Fisher Landau, a noted art patron who amassed around 1,200 works over 102 years. The sale achieved $406.4 million, surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $344.5–$430.1 million and becoming the most valuable auction dedicated to a female collector in history. Highlights included Pablo Picasso's *Femme à la montre* (1932), which sold for $139 million—the second-highest price for a Picasso at auction—and record-breaking results for Agnes Martin's *Grey Stone II* ($18.7 million), Mark Tansey's *Triumph Over Mastery II* ($11.8 million), and Jasper Johns's *Flags* (1986) ($41 million). Other notable sales included works by Cy Twombly, Ed Ruscha, and Andy Warhol's portrait of Landau.

robert mnuchin dealer dead 2731264

Robert Mnuchin, an investment banker turned prominent art dealer, died at 92 in Bridgewater, Connecticut. After a 33-year career at Goldman Sachs, he opened C&M Arts in 1992, later partnering with Dominique Lévy to form L&M Arts, and eventually running Mnuchin Gallery. He represented major artists like Willem de Kooning, Andy Warhol, and Mark Rothko, and advised billionaires including Steve A. Cohen and Mitchell Rales. Notably, in 2019 he secured Jeff Koons's sculpture *Rabbit* (1986) for Cohen at Christie's for $91 million, a record for a living artist at auction.

banksy walled off hotel reopens and more morning links for december 15 2025 1234766716

The Louvre was forced to close on Monday after staff launched strike action demanding urgent building renovations, improved security, increased staffing, and protesting a planned 45% ticket price increase for non-EU visitors. The strike follows a turbulent period for the museum, including a daylight theft of French crown jewels worth $102 million, a water leak damaging hundreds of documents, and safety concerns closing galleries. Meanwhile, Banksy's Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem has reopened for the first time since 2023, after closing following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war. The hotel, which opened in 2017, sits opposite the West Bank barrier and features original Banksy works, positioning itself as a cultural platform for peace and Palestinian artists.

alma allen us venice biennale pavilion non political artist 1234761631

Alma Allen, a sculptor known for sleek, abstract works, has been selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, marking the country's 250th anniversary. The selection process, run by the US State Department and funded by the newly formed American Arts Conservancy—which the article notes is stocked with Trump allies—has drawn criticism for favoring politically neutral art. Allen's sculptures, often made of marble and wood with digital technology, are described as aesthetically inoffensive and reminiscent of Constantin Brâncuși, with no apparent commentary on current US issues.

ripleys buys maurizio cattelan gold toilet sothebys 1234762386

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has been revealed as the buyer of Maurizio Cattelan’s 18-karat gold toilet sculpture “America” (2016), which sold for $12.1 million at Sotheby’s “Now & Contemporary” auction on November 18, 2025. The work, consigned by billionaire collector and Mets owner Steve Cohen, hammered at $10 million after a single bid, just above the value of its raw gold. Sotheby’s had previously only identified the buyer as a “Famous American Brand.” Ripley’s announced the acquisition on Instagram, calling it the most valuable object in its collection and noting plans for public display, possibly allowing visitors to sit on the fully functional toilet.

steve cohen consignor maurizio cattelan golden toilet sothebys 1234760545

Top 200 Collector Steven A. Cohen has been revealed as the consignor of Maurizio Cattelan's golden toilet sculpture, *America* (2016), which will be auctioned at Sotheby's on November 18. The work, made of 18-karat gold and weighing over 100 kilograms, was purchased from Marian Goodman Gallery in 2017. It will be displayed in a bathroom at Sotheby's Breuer Building before the sale, with a starting bid expected around $10 million based on the price of its weight in gold. The piece has a notable history: one version was exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum, offered to the Trump White House as a loan alternative to a van Gogh painting, and another was stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019, making Cohen's the only extant version.

steve cohen revealed as consignor of cattelans golden toilet sothebys paris takes 21 5 m from davidson sale gladstone gallery now represents robert colescott morning links for november 7 202 1234760559

Billionaire financier and collector Steven Cohen has been revealed as the owner of one of Maurizio Cattelan's golden toilet sculptures, *America* (2016), which he purchased from Marian Goodman Gallery in 2017. Sotheby's will auction the 18-karat gold work on November 18 with an opening bid of about $10 million. Separately, Sotheby's Paris achieved €18.6 million ($21.5 million) from the collection of late real estate mogul Manny Davidson across two sales, the highest total for a single-owner sale in France this year. In other news, Gladstone Gallery now represents the estate of Robert Colescott, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art is planning a major Vincent van Gogh exhibition titled "Van Gogh's Sunflowers: A Symphony in Blue and Yellow" for 2026.

ruth asawa moma smithsonian closes morning links 1234756779

The Smithsonian Institution, a government-funded museum network in Washington, D.C., was forced to close this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown, marking another blow after repeated attacks by the Trump administration. The National Gallery of Art had already closed the previous weekend, while the Smithsonian had used its own funds to stay open until now. Separately, a traveling Ruth Asawa retrospective opening at New York's Museum of Modern Art on October 19 is reportedly the museum's largest show ever dedicated to a woman artist, featuring 376 works across 16,000 square feet, though MoMA has not officially confirmed this record. Other news includes a forgotten Paul Gauguin painting heading to auction at Artcurial, Sotheby's seeking third-party guarantees for three Klimt paintings from the Leonard Lauder collection, a reattributed Liotard portrait, and Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña winning the 2025 Roswitha Haftmann Prize.

duct taped banana maurizio cattelan comedian eaten again 1234747892

A visitor at France's Pompidou-Metz ate a banana from Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual artwork "Comedian" (2019), which consists of a banana duct-taped to a wall. Security staff intervened calmly, and the work was reinstalled within minutes, as the fruit is regularly replaced per the artist's instructions. The incident occurred during the exhibition "The Endless Sunday," celebrating the museum's 15th anniversary, which features 30 works by Cattelan alongside over 400 others from the Musée National d'Art Moderne.

ken griffin 13th amendment copy sothebys 1234746499

Billionaire hedge fund founder Kenneth C. Griffin has been revealed as the buyer of President Abraham Lincoln's handwritten copy of the 13th Amendment, which sold at Sotheby's for $13.7 million including buyer's premium. The document, one of only four privately held copies, was part of Sotheby's "Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana" sale. Griffin also acquired a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation for $4.4 million. The auction house announced the winner on Monday, noting that Griffin secured the amendment by phone after competitive bidding.

dan colen sky high farm biennial exhibition 1234742011

Artist Dan Colen and his nonprofit Sky High Farm are launching a new biennial exhibition titled “TREES NEVER END AND HOUSES NEVER END,” opening June 28 at a historic apple cold storage warehouse in Germantown, New York. The exhibition, curated by Colen, features over 50 artists including Alvaro Barrington, Nan Goldin, Roni Horn, and Rirkrit Tiravanija, and marks the farm’s relocation from its original 40-acre site in Ancramdale to a new 560-acre property in Ancram. The biennial serves as an alternative fundraising model for the organization, which grows nutritious food for communities lacking access to fresh produce and has never sold its harvest.

art basel paris 2 2493112

Art Basel Paris is undergoing a major transformation for its third edition, officially rebranding from 'Paris+ par Art Basel' and moving into the newly renovated Grand Palais. The historic venue, fresh from a $500 million restoration, allows the fair to expand its footprint by 26 percent, hosting 194 galleries compared to last year's 154. The move includes the opening of the ornate balconies for emerging galleries and a new sector called Premise, signaling the fair's transition from a successful 'preamble' to a permanent fixture in the French capital.

The Business of KAWS: What Data and a Museum Show Reveal About His Market

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is currently hosting a major survey of KAWS, marking the final stop of a three-city tour that highlights the artist's unique blend of commercial savvy and institutional ambition. The exhibition features a range of works from diamond-encrusted sculptures for Kid Cudi to a 'genius' membership drive that sold 1,000 KAWS-branded museum memberships at $300 each. Despite a significant cooling in his auction results—dropping from a 2019 peak of $112.9 million to just $7.72 million last year—the artist continues to draw massive crowds, particularly among younger demographics.

scottsdale art week 2026 2750857

Scottsdale Art Week is returning for its second edition from March 19–22, 2026, at the Westworld of Scottsdale. The fair will feature over 110 international and local galleries, showcasing a mix of blue-chip modern and contemporary works alongside historic, Indigenous, and Western art. This year's event includes partnerships with major regional institutions like the Phoenix Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum for a series of curated programs and panel discussions.

paint drippings art industry news mar 3 2 2749401

Frieze Los Angeles launched with significant early momentum as Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel acquired three quilts by artist Yvonne Wells from Fort Gansevoort before VIP hours officially began. The fair's opening day saw robust activity, including the $3.7 million sale of an Ed Ruscha painting, while major galleries like Pace Prints and Opera Gallery announced strategic expansions into Los Angeles and Houston respectively.

paint drippings art industry news feb 2 spanish dealers 2742104

A series of significant developments occurred across the global art industry this week. Expo Chicago announced a scaled-back edition under new director Kate Sierzputowski, while the Outsider Art Fair revealed its exhibitor list. A long-lost Renaissance portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola resurfaced at the Winter Show. Christie's will sell the collection of the late MoMA trustee Barbara Jakobson, featuring works by Jeff Koons and others. Bonhams made a key hire, and Sotheby's priced a major art-backed securitization. In gallery news, Alissa Friedman returned to Salon 94, Mary Cork joined Lehmann Maupin London, and several artists gained new representation, while New York's Francis Irv gallery announced its closure.

art trends 2026 2738010

Art critic Ben Davis reflects on the cultural landscape of early 2026, identifying a chaotic aesthetic defined by AI-generated imagery, esoteric Nazi dog whistles, internet trolling, and gaudy luxury, which he calls the "Chaotic Style." He also discusses the muted response to the 2025 Fall of Freedom initiative, the ongoing credibility crisis of liberal institutions over Gaza, and the need for serious AI criticism that moves beyond dismissing it as "slop."

is dawn arriving for milans art scene 2691936

Thaddaeus Ropac, a major European blue-chip gallery, opened its seventh location in Milan in January 2025, occupying a prime palazzo previously home to Massimo de Carlo and Peres Projects. The inaugural exhibition pairs Georg Baselitz and Lucio Fontana in a show titled "L’aurore viene." The move has reignited debate about whether Milan is finally poised to become a contemporary art capital, despite past false starts and the city's stronger identity as a fashion and design hub.

records fall during 706 million night at sothebys turbocharged by blue chip lauder trove 2714943

Sotheby's achieved a record-breaking $706 million auction night at its new global headquarters in the Breuer Building, New York, the highest total in the auction house's 281-year history. The sale was propelled by the collection of late art patron Leonard A. Lauder, whose 24 pieces sold for $527.5 million, led by Gustav Klimt's *Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer* (1914–16) which fetched $236.4 million, becoming the second-priciest artwork ever sold at auction. A subsequent contemporary and ultra-contemporary art sale added $178.5 million.

signed book hov jay z auction 2663301

A signed, limited-edition book titled *The Book of HOV: A Tribute to JAY-Z*, created in collaboration between Jay-Z's Roc Nation, French publisher Assouline, and artist Daniel Arsham, is being auctioned at Christie's. Only five copies exist, and the book is estimated to sell for $100,000 to $150,000, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Brooklyn Public Library. The auction, part of a contemporary editions sale running from July 7 to July 22, follows a 2023 exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library that attracted 600,000 visitors.

paint drippings art industry news jun 30 2662140

Sotheby's London modern and contemporary evening sale brought in $85.7 million, down from $105 million last year, with highlights including a $10 million Tamara de Lempicka and a record $9.6 million auction result for Jenny Saville's drawing 'Mirror'. In other market news, a crowdfunding campaign raised over £100,000 to help Bristol Museum acquire a rediscovered J.M.W. Turner painting, and a Tiffany Studio window sold for $4.2 million at Christie's. Galleries announced new representation deals: James Cohan now represents Ranti Bam, Maruani Mercier represents Kate Gottgens, and Yancey Richardson represents Karen Gunderson; Ronchini gallery is moving to a new Mayfair location. Tate launched a £150 million endowment fund, the Louvre announced an international architectural competition to address overcrowding, the Uffizi imposed selfie restrictions after a tourist damaged a painting, the Cleveland Museum of Art acquired a rare Giambologna marble, and Italy's culture minister pledged support for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

leonard lauder cubist obituary 2657181

Leonard A. Lauder, the billionaire art collector, philanthropist, and cosmetics magnate, has died at age 92. Lauder helped grow his mother Estée Lauder's namesake business into a global cosmetics empire, serving as president, CEO, and chairman. He was also one of the most significant art philanthropists of his era, donating a Cubist art collection valued at over $1 billion—including 78 works by Picasso, Braque, Léger, and Gris—to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2014, later expanded with additional works and funding for the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art. He also made the largest gift in Whitney Museum history in 2008, worth $131 million, and amassed a collection of 130,000 historic postcards promised to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

kenny schachter new york fair auction recap 2648049

Kenny Schachter's article for Artnet News draws a parallel between President Jimmy Carter's 1977 energy-crisis plea to lower thermostats and the current art-market response to Trump-era tariff turmoil. He reports that the spring 2025 auction cycle generated $1.25 billion, continuing a decade-long decline from the 2014 peak, with bidders spending less and big-ticket sellers stuck. Schachter also promotes his own no-reserve auction, "Hoarder #6," scheduled for July 8–17 at Phillips, and critiques Trump's economic policies and crypto ventures, name-dropping Justin Sun as a major holder of $Trump tokens.

met gala 2025 looks artworks 2640024

The 2025 Met Gala, officially the Costume Institute Benefit, was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, launching the exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The event drew a star-studded guest list, with celebrities channeling the theme of Black dandyism through tailored silhouettes, bold patterns, and luxurious fabrics. Several attendees, including Cardi B, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Colman Domingo, and Janelle Monáe, wore outfits that directly referenced specific artworks, such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s *Veronica Veronese*, Frank Stella’s *Rectangular Orange Painting with Diagonal Pattern*, and Hyacinthe Rigaud’s portrait of Louis XIV.

emily fisher landeau collection auction fate 2350982

Christie’s and Sotheby’s are competing to secure the estate of Emily Fisher Landau, the noted art collector who died in March at age 102. Her collection, valued between $375 million and $500 million, could become a major highlight of the November evening sales, helping offset a sluggish first half for auction results. The Big Three auction houses have seen a 51 percent drop in total sales year-over-year, with Christie’s and Phillips both reporting significant declines.

Filthy fossil fuels, a dizzying debut and the ominous side of the moon – the week in art

The Guardian’s weekly art roundup highlights the opening of 'Extraction' at Jupiter Artland, an exhibition featuring artists like Marguerite Humeau and John Gerrard that explores the environmental impact of fossil fuels. Other notable UK openings include Michaela Yearwood-Dan’s museum debut at The Whitworth, a survey of Paula Rego’s drawings at Victoria Miro, and a showcase of Thérèse Oulton’s textured landscapes at Vardaxoglou.

Megamurals, Guerrilla Girls and something rotten in the Oval Office – the week in art

The Guardian's weekly art roundup highlights several exhibitions, including Wilhelm Sasnal's politically charged paintings at Sadie Coles HQ in London, a Joan Eardley retrospective in Edinburgh, and a Guerrilla Girls show in East Sussex. It also reports on Art UK's digitization of over 6,700 UK murals, the theft of Impressionist paintings from an Italian museum, and the discovery of a stolen ancient gold helmet.

Contemporary Art Market Declines For Fourth Straight Year, as Old Masters and Impressionist Works Rebound: Art Basel UBS Report

Contemporary Art Market Declines For Fourth Straight Year, as Old Masters and Impressionist Works Rebound: Art Basel UBS Report

The contemporary art market has declined for the fourth consecutive year, with auction sales for postwar and contemporary works falling to $4.5 billion in 2025 from a peak of $8.5 billion in 2021. Simultaneously, the market has seen a significant rebound in more established categories, with auction sales of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works rising 47% and Old Masters climbing 30% last year.

paint drippings art industry news feb 16 2745624

This week's art industry news covers significant developments across fairs, auctions, galleries, and museums. Frieze New York announces its 15th edition with a strong Latin American gallery presence, while the India Art Fair reports robust sales, including works by Atul Dodiya and N.S. Harsha fetching up to $600,000. Sotheby's will offer a major Francis Bacon self-portrait from the collection of Joe Lewis, and Christie's is set to sell three masterpieces from Agnes Gund's collection, estimated at over $123 million. Gallery news includes Federica Beretta's return to Opera Gallery and David Zwirner's new representation of painter Louis Fratino.

Zoe Leonard Departs Hauser & Wirth for New York’s Maxwell Graham Gallery

Zoe Leonard, a celebrated conceptual artist whose work will appear at the Venice Biennale next week, has left Hauser & Wirth—a global gallery with 14 locations—to join Maxwell Graham, a smaller New York-based gallery known for spare conceptual presentations. Leonard will continue to be represented by her longtime galleries, Cologne’s Galeria Gisela Capitain and Milan’s Raffaella Cortese. Maxwell Graham staged its first Leonard exhibition last year with “Display,” featuring photographs of historical objects in museums. Leonard is the second artist to depart Hauser & Wirth in the past year, following George Condo’s exit in November.