asian art market

The Chinese art market experienced a 31% year-on-year decline in sales to $8.4 billion in 2024, its lowest level since 2009, according to the latest Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report. The downturn is attributed to slower economic growth, a property market slump, and broader economic uncertainties. However, other Asia Pacific markets showed resilience: Japan saw a 2% increase in sales, Australia's dealer market grew 11%, and China remains the second-largest auction market for postwar and contemporary art. Dealer sentiment is improving, with half expecting stronger sales in 2025.

huge olmec heads mesoamerica

A farmer in southern Mexico discovered the first Olmec head in the late 1850s while clearing land for corn cultivation. Since then, 17 colossal stone heads have been unearthed, primarily at the San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan archaeological site in Veracruz. Carved by the Olmec civilization between 1200 and 400 B.C.E., these basalt monuments range from 3.5 to 11.5 feet tall and weigh up to 45 tons. Each head features unique facial expressions and is thought to depict individual Olmec rulers, possibly serving as funerary monuments. The heads are now held by institutions such as the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City and the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology.

parties art swiss institute 2025 gala

The Swiss Institute held its 2025 Benefit Gala at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center, honoring artists Theaster Gates and Andro Wekua, patron Yan Du, Printed Matter (under Executive Director Lesley A. Martin), and the late curator Koyo Kouoh. The evening featured an a cappella performance by Tonewall, a paddle raise, a seated dinner, and an art auction led by Simon de Pury, with works by Chloe Wise and Michèle Sandoz. Attendees included collectors Maja Hoffmann, Eva Dichand, and Carola Jain; artists Chloe Wise, Tschabalala Self, and Sarah Morris; and other cultural figures.

artmosphere nonprofit arts education nationwide

Colette Thiebaud and Leon Barhoum founded Artmosphere, a nonprofit that delivers curated art education boxes called ARTicles to underserved schools across five U.S. states. Launched as a tribute to Thiebaud’s grandfather, the late artist Wayne Thiebaud, the organization recently received its largest donation from philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem and has partnered with FOG Design+Art to debut a family program. The founders are now planning an event at Art Basel Miami called Confections & Connections for emerging collectors and patrons.

quil lemons provincetown exhibition

Quil Lemons has organized a group exhibition titled "American Faggot Party" at Twenty Summers, a nonprofit arts space in a former schoolhouse in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The show, on view through September 28, features works by Lemons alongside peers and elders including Ryan McGinley, Ocean Vuong, and the late Felix Gonzalez-Torres. It reimagines James Montgomery Flagg's iconic wartime poster as a call to arms for queer community, blending protest, tenderness, and celebration. Contributing artists such as Diego Villarreal Vagujhelyi, Myles Loftin, and Slava Mogutin describe their works as intimate rallying cries for visibility and endurance.

gaetano pesce glass house summer party

The Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, hosted its annual Summer Party on a recent Saturday, honoring the late designer Gaetano Pesce. The event featured the debut of Big Surprise 2, a limited-edition resin vase created with Italian furniture firm Meritalia and inspired by two Feltri chairs from the host's collection. Guests enjoyed a site-responsive performance by dance company Pilobolus, the exhibition “Barbara Kasten: Structure, Light, Land,” a DJ set by Pete Brockman, and activations by Max Mara. Notable attendees included artists Deborah Brown and Naudline Pierre, architect Paul Goldberger, and museum director Cybele Maylone.

Dolce Vita is Over

Dolce Vita war gestern

Andrea Modica's new photobook "Italian Story" collects four decades of photographs taken in Italy, beginning with her first trip there in the late 1980s. Born in 1960 to a family with roots in Sicily and Naples, Modica received a Fulbright scholarship to travel to Sicily and photograph the origins of the Catholic imagery, gender roles, and family structures she experienced growing up in New York. The book, however, is not a documentary of her heritage; instead, it presents dreamlike, surreal images—motionless bodies in water, dead fish, figures behind mosquito nets, Madonna statues—that resist clear narrative or identity politics. Modica works with an 8x10 large-format analog camera and prints using the historic platinum-palladium process, giving the images a timeless, collaborative quality.

History Made Material

Material gewordene Geschichte

The German Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale has been transformed by artist Sung Tieu, who clad its Nazi-era facade with millions of small marble tiles to replicate the look of a prefabricated East German apartment block—specifically the Gehrenseestraße housing complex in Berlin where she spent part of her childhood. Inside, the exhibition features glass casts of her mother's limbs, aluminum beams evoking cramped living quarters, and works by the late Henrike Naumann, all curated by Kathleen Reinhardt to explore bureaucracy, migration, and systemic violence.

The Emptiness That Will Still Be There Should the War End Tomorrow

"Die Leere, die noch da sein wird, sollte der Krieg morgen enden"

The group exhibition "Looking into the Gaps" at the Jam Factory in Lviv presents works by artists living in Ukraine or in exile, as well as by those killed on the front lines. Curated by Ukrainian artist Nikita Kadan, it is the fourth installment of a series exploring the fractures and diverse experiences within Ukrainian society, with this iteration focusing on the theme of loneliness rather than collective identity.

$450 Million Worth of Newhouse Trophies Come to Christie’s

Christie’s will hold a special evening sale in May featuring 16 artworks from the collection of the late Condé Nast chief S.I. Newhouse Jr., valued at a combined $450 million. The works are considered museum-quality trophies from one of the most significant private collections assembled in recent decades.

Hilma af Klint en 2 minutes

Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) is profiled as a pioneering Swedish abstract artist who created a vast body of visionary, large-scale abstract paintings decades before Kandinsky, yet kept them secret during her lifetime. The article traces her life from a childhood steeped in science and nature, through her studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, to her dual artistic practice: conventional landscapes and portraits for income, and radically abstract works guided by spiritualist séances and theosophical beliefs. She founded the group "The Five" with fellow female artists, and from 1906 onward produced the monumental series "Paintings for the Temple" (193 works), convinced she was channeling a higher force. She stipulated in her will that her abstract works not be revealed until 20 years after her death, and they were only rediscovered in the late 1960s.

Bob Ross paintings will go on view at Bonhams New York.

Four original paintings by the late American television personality Bob Ross are set to go on view at Bonhams’ new U.S. flagship gallery in New York on April 22nd. These works, which Ross created during his iconic series The Joy of Painting, will be sold at the auction house's American Art sale the following day. This event marks the third installment of a larger initiative to sell 30 of Ross's works to benefit public broadcasting.

Gino De Dominicis at Sant'Andrea de Scaphis

Sant'Andrea de Scaphis in Rome is hosting a solo exhibition of works by the late Italian artist Gino De Dominicis, curated by Luca Lo Pinto. The presentation, titled "1975+27," runs from March 13 through April 18, 2026, and features a selection of the artist's enigmatic works within the atmospheric setting of a deconsecrated 9th-century church.

Kazakhstan Presents “Qoñyr: Archive of Silence” at Venice Biennale

Kazakhstan has unveiled details for its national pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, titled “Qoñyr: Archive of Silence.” Curated by Syrlybek Bekbota, the exhibition features nine artists including Smail Bayaliyev, Asel Kadyrkhanova, and Ardak Mukanova, and will be hosted at the Museo Storico Navale. The presentation utilizes the Kazakh concept of "Qoñyr"—a term encompassing specific colors, sounds, and scents—to explore themes of Soviet domesticity, nuclear trauma, and cultural heritage through sound installations, video, and archival assemblages.

collectible body art: tattoos by lawrence weiner, peter marino and more hit the auction block

JOOPITER, Pharrell Williams's auction platform, launches its first standalone tattoo auction titled 'Inked: Tattoos by Contemporary Artists,' featuring commissioned designs by sixteen artists including Derrick Adams, Thom Browne, Jeffrey Gibson, and the late Lawrence Weiner. The sale runs from October 22nd to 31st, 2025, with select designs previewed at Dover Street Market during Art Basel Paris. Curated by Sharon Coplan, each tattoo design is accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity, and a complete set will be reserved for institutional donation.

AT THE ART GALLERIES

Jag Gallery in Key West has announced an open call for its 7th annual "Poolside" juried exhibition, seeking 2D and 3D original artwork with swimming pools as the subject. The show opens with a reception on August 5, and selected artists will be notified by July 12, with an entry fee of $35 per artwork and a 50/50 commission split. The article also highlights current shows at other local Key West venues: Harrison Gallery is featuring vibrant paintings by Santa Fe artist Melinda K. Hall, Shade Ceramics and Shutter Photography is displaying pottery by Mark Klammer and landscape photography by Sarah Carleton, and it notes the legacy of the late textile artist Suzie dePoo.

Step into the Sublime Sculptures of Bobby Anspach at the Newport Art Museum

The Newport Art Museum is hosting "Everything is Change," the first solo museum exhibition of the late sculptor Bobby Anspach. Curated by Taylor Baldwin, Anspach's former MFA professor at RISD, the show features immersive installations from his *Place for Continuous Eye Contact* series, alongside a documentary by Julia Barrett Mitchell and a restorative space called "The Nature of Choice" designed by architect Lauren Rottet. The exhibition spans five rooms across two floors, with trained guides facilitating visitors' experiences of Anspach's kaleidoscopic, perception-altering works.

Chico Art Center exhibit combines landscape paintings with clay sculptures

The Chico Art Center is presenting a dual exhibition featuring landscape paintings by Dayton Claudio and ceramic sculptures by the late Nora Pineda. Claudio, known for his public murals including a 3D mural on a parking garage in downtown Chico, draws inspiration from nature and urban landscapes. Pineda, who passed away in April, created clay works influenced by her Mexican heritage and studied art at Chico State. The exhibition runs until July 18, with an opening reception on June 21.

Harmless Art: Kim Sang-yu Exhibition Becomes Healing Space

A retrospective exhibition for the late Korean artist Kim Sang-yu, titled 'A Person Who Does Not Easily Fade,' is being held at the Seoul Museum of Art to mark the centennial of his birth. The show, featuring over 150 works, has become a popular destination for meditation and healing, with visitors describing the serene paintings as comforting and harmless.

Zīnah (Adornment): Oman’s Pavilion Tunes the Biennale to Resonance Over Spectacle

At the 60th Venice Biennale, the Sultanate of Oman presents "Zīnah (Adornment)," a pavilion conceived by artist and curator Haitham Al Busafi. The immersive installation, on view at the Arsenale Artiglierie from 9 May to 22 November 2026, draws on the Omani tradition of adorning horses with silver (al-zaanah) to explore themes of relation, movement, and shared presence. Visitors enter through darkness into a field of Omani sand, beneath a canopy of silver elements that respond to movement with sound. The work incorporates drawings by students and emerging artists from a workshop in Muscat, emphasizing collective authorship.

This Exhibition Explores How Faith Ringgold Changed the Art World

The Mandeville Art Gallery at the University of California San Diego is hosting "Faith Ringgold: Full Circle—The Teachings and Her Legacy," a comprehensive exhibition honoring the late artist and former faculty member. Curated by Mashonda Tifrere, the show features works spanning from 1976 to 2023, including Ringgold’s iconic story quilts, soft sculptures, masks, and political posters. The collection highlights her multidisciplinary approach and her commitment to centering Black American life and feminist narratives through her unique fusion of fine art and traditional craft.

fashion jewelry tiffany and co bunny mellon

Tiffany & Co. has released a new iteration of its Bird on the Rock collection, drawing inspiration from the Virginia estate of the late Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon, a horticulturalist, art collector, and devoted patron of Tiffany designer Jean Schlumberger. Mellon, who died at age 103, owned nearly 150 pieces by Schlumberger, including one of the first Bird on the Rock brooches from 1965. The new collection, designed under Chief Artistic Officer Nathalie Verdeille, features fine and high jewelry pieces that echo Schlumberger's original motifs, with gemstones like tanzanite and turquoise chosen to honor his preferences.

Venice Biennale opens without a jury amid strife over Russian and Israeli participation

The Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions, opens its most contested edition in memory without a jury after the jury resigned in protest over the participation of Israel and Russia, both under investigation by the International Criminal Court for human rights abuses. Protests have erupted outside the Israeli and Russian pavilions, with demonstrators clashing with police, while feminist groups from Ukraine and Russia converged on the Russian Pavilion and Palestinians remembered artists killed in Gaza. The Biennale has replaced the jury with a public vote via email, with winners announced at the close on November 22.

Kathryn Williams lights a new creative spark

Kathryn Williams, a Liverpool-born singer-songwriter and visual artist based in Newcastle, opens her first solo North East exhibition, "Striking Image," at The Biscuit Factory in Ouseburn on May 8. The show features tiny, expressive portraits painted on matchboxes, reimagining historical miniatures on humble household objects. Williams, who has released 17 albums, written a novel, and hosted a podcast, approaches this exhibition as another strand of her lifelong creative practice, emphasizing freedom and process over product.

Iberdrola Celebrates 125th Anniversary With Major Art Exhibition At The Reopened Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

Iberdrola has opened the exhibition "Parallels and Meridians" at the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum to celebrate its 125th anniversary. The show features over one hundred works from the company's corporate art collection and coincides with the museum's reopening after a major expansion and refurbishment. The opening ceremony was led by Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galán and Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, with attendance from regional officials including Ibone Bengoetxea, Amaia Arregi, Elixabete Etxanobe, Ana Otadui, and museum director Miguel Zugaza. The exhibition runs until 30 August.

Hessink’s to hold inaugural Georgian art auction in Tbilisi

Hessink’s Tbilisi Auction House has announced its inaugural international auction, "Contemporary Georgian Art," scheduled for April 27, 2026, at the Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi. The sale will feature 90 works ranging from the late Soviet era to contemporary pieces, highlighting prominent figures such as Alexander Bandzeladze and Vera Pagava alongside emerging talents. To ensure global reach, the auction will be broadcast via digital platforms including Drouot and Invaluable, preceded by a week-long public preview.

Evanston History Center exhibit highlights local female artists

The Evanston History Center has launched "Unveiling Evanston Women Artists," a new exhibition dedicated to the historical contributions of female creators in the Illinois city. The show was sparked by a recent donation of works by the late artist Blanche Gildin, who rarely exhibited during her lifetime, and features approximately a dozen local artists including Lucile Roebuck Keeler and Rosemary Zwick. Spanning the early 20th century through the 1970s, the collection includes paintings, sculptures, and commercial illustrations that reflect the creative shifts of the civil rights era.

Sculpture of John Rhoden opens at Memorial Art Gallery

The Memorial Art Gallery has officially opened a major exhibition dedicated to the work of the late American sculptor John Rhoden. The opening reception, held on March 28, 2026, welcomed patrons and community members to explore a collection that highlights Rhoden’s unique ability to blend modernist sculpture with rhythmic, global influences.

Historic Attendance Elevates Korean Cultural Legacy as ‘Korean Treasures’ Exhibition Draws to a Close in Washington

The 'Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared' exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington D.C. concluded on February 1st after drawing an estimated 65,000 visitors. The show featured over 200 works from the vast personal art collection of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee and was celebrated with a gala event hosted by Samsung Electronics and the museum, attended by the Lee family, U.S. politicians, and business leaders.

Florida’s Indigenous Artists Take Center Stage at Miami Art Week

Two Florida museums, HistoryMiami Museum and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, have organized an exhibition titled "Yakne Seminoli" ("Seminole World") for Miami Art Week, featuring works by over 25 Seminole artists. The show spans traditional crafts like beadwork and basketry alongside contemporary media including painting, photography, and AI-generated art, aiming to highlight Seminole creativity and resilience. It includes pieces by the late Jimmy Osceola, Gordon O. Wareham, and Hali Garcia, among others.