10 top lots auction 2025 2723777

Gustav Klimt's portrait of Elisabeth Lederer topped the list of the most expensive artworks sold at auction in 2025, achieving $236.3 million at Sotheby's New York on November 18—far exceeding its $150 million estimate and setting a new record for the artist. The painting came from the collection of the late Leonard Lauder, who died in June at age 92. Other top lots included two more Klimts from Lauder's collection, a newly offered Basquiat, and a record-setting Frida Kahlo work, alongside notable sales by van Gogh, Rothko, Mondrian, Monet, and Picasso, with many of the highest prices achieved during the blockbuster November auctions at Sotheby's and Christie's.

meet 5 artists transforming photography 2731217

Soho Beach House in Miami has reoriented its art collection around photography in late 2025, featuring works by established figures like Isaac Julien, JR, Laurie Simmons, Marilyn Minter, and Ming Smith alongside emerging artists such as René Matić, Caroline Allison, and Walead Beshty. The rehang, overseen by chief art director Kate Bryan, spans polaroids, performance-derived imagery, collage, and cameraless prints, with a focus on artists who use photography as a tool for broader inquiry.

lewis carroll rare alice in wonderland oxford 2731138

Lewis Carroll's personal copy of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' from the original 1865 run has been acquired by Oxford's Christ Church college and the Bodleian Libraries. The rare volume, donated by American philanthropist and bibliophile Ellen Michelson, contains the author's handwritten notes, sketched plans for a future nursery edition, and 10 original pencil sketches by John Tenniel used for the wood engravings. The book had never before been exhibited in the United Kingdom.

bianca censori peformance art bio pop 2728632

Australian architect Bianca Censori, known globally for her fashion and marriage to rapper Kanye West, debuted her first performance art piece titled "BIO POP" in Seoul. The 14-minute silent performance, staged over two days, features Censori baking a cake in a kitchen before pushing it to a living room filled with contortionists resembling her. The work is the first of seven planned performances over seven years, with future installments including "CONFESSIONAL (THE WITNESS)" and "BIANCA IS MY DOLL BABY (THE IDOL)."

norman rockwell thanksgiving freedom from want three facts 1926485

Norman Rockwell's iconic painting "Freedom From Want" (1943), known as the quintessential Thanksgiving image, is examined through three lesser-known facts. The painting was part of a series responding to FDR's "Four Freedoms" speech, initially rejected by the military's Office of War Information before being embraced for a war bond campaign that raised over $132 million. Rockwell used friends and family as models, including his wife and the family cook, who actually prepared the turkey depicted. The work has recently returned to the spotlight: a four-panel Rockwell suite sold for $7.2 million at Heritage Auctions to the White House Historical Association, while Rockwell's family criticized the Department of Homeland Security for using his art in divisive social media posts.

school of art institute of chicagos video data bank 2714672

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) laid off three of five staff members of its Video Data Bank (VDB), including director Tom Colley, as part of 20 total layoffs across the institution. The cuts, announced on November 12, eliminated leadership and key distribution and digital management roles, sparking outcry from the new-media art community. VDB, founded in 1976, is a leading archive of video art with over 6,000 works by artists including Nam June Paik, Bruce Nauman, and Pipilotti Rist, distributed worldwide via subscription streaming.

picasso panama papers ganz collection 469646

The Panama Papers leak has revealed that the 1997 sale of the Victor and Sally Ganz collection at Christie's New York was secretly orchestrated by billionaire currency trader Joseph Lewis. Lewis had already purchased the top works from the collection through a Christie's subsidiary, Spink & Son, months before the auction, and structured a guarantee that shared profits above $168 million. The sale, which set a private collection auction record at $206 million, included Pablo Picasso's "Women of Algiers (version O)" fetching $31.9 million. The documents also confirm that a Modigliani painting involved in a Nazi restitution case belongs to the Nahmad family.

man ray rediscovered 2663935

A rediscovered watercolor sketch by Man Ray, created in 1913 when he was in his early twenties, has resurfaced after decades in an attic and sold for £18,000 ($24,000) at Dreweatts auction house in Newbury, England, on July 10. The work, titled *Nude Playing Musical Instrument [Study for “Tapestry Painting”]*, is a preparatory study for a lost larger oil-on-linen tapestry and offers rare insight into the artist's pivotal transition from traditional painting to avant-garde experimentation inspired by European modernism encountered at the 1913 Armory Show.

canaletto walpole heads to christies auction 2643675

Canaletto's painting "Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day" (1731–32) sold for £31.9 million ($43.9 million) at Christie's Old Masters evening sale in London, setting a new auction record for the Italian painter. The work, which once hung in the offices of Britain's first prime minister Robert Walpole, surpassed its presale estimate of £20 million and is the largest Canaletto composition to appear at market in two decades, noted for its exceptional preservation and execution during the artist's career peak.

picasso ceramics studio reopens 2662100

Pablo Picasso's former ceramics studio, the Madoura Pottery workshop in Vallauris, France, is set to reopen to the public in 2027 after a €7 million ($8.2 million) renovation. The studio, opened in 1938 by ceramicist Suzanne Ramié and her husband Georges, was a creative hub for Picasso, Matisse, and Marc Chagall before closing in 1997. Mayor Kevin Luciano has led the project, which includes structural repairs, asbestos removal, a new 3,000-square-foot extension for a museum entrance, and a 20,000-square-foot public garden. The first construction phase is complete, with the second starting this fall.

waterhouse tennyson lady of shalott 2650097

English painter John William Waterhouse created three paintings based on Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shalott," depicting a cursed woman from Arthurian legend. The article explores Waterhouse's deep admiration for Tennyson, noting that he filled his copy of Tennyson's works with sketches. It reveals that Waterhouse painted the story in reverse chronological order, starting with the final scene in 1888, then the moment of temptation in 1894, and finally the lady's lament in 1915. The article also identifies the model for the first painting as likely Waterhouse's wife, artist Esther Kenworthy Waterhouse, and describes symbolic details in the work, such as the snuffed candles foreshadowing death.

curator andrea von goetz alps 2659767

Curator, collector, and artistic director Andrea von Goetz founded Sommer Frische Kunst in 2011 as a humble artist-led retreat in Bad Gastein, Austria, housed in the historic Kraftwerk am Wasserfall building. Over 15 years, the initiative has grown from a small artist-in-residence program into an internationally recognized contemporary art festival at 1,000 meters above sea level, featuring major exhibitions, public art projects, and its own art fair, art:badgastein. The 2025 anniversary is marked by a reunion exhibition titled "Welcome back!" co-curated with Dr. Silvie Aigner.

no artists arent the winners of the new gilded age 19279

The article critiques the current art market frenzy in New York, where fairs and auctions dominate the scene, and argues that the relationship between art and money is being misrepresented in mainstream media. It cites recent op-eds by David Brooks, Tyler Cowen, and Matthew Yglesias, who suggest that wealth inequality benefits artists by boosting the financial returns of fine art. The author counters that these commentators conflate the art market with artists' livelihoods, ignoring the precarious reality most artists face.

phillips modern and contemporary art by the numbers 2644759

Phillips held its marquee May auction in New York, achieving $52 million in total sales, down from $86.3 million the previous year. The top lot was a Jean-Michel Basquiat work owned by David Bowie, which sold for $6.59 million. Four lots were withdrawn before the sale, five failed to sell, and the sell-through rate was 77.5 percent. Despite a low-energy room, five artist records were set, including four for women artists: Ilana Savdie, Olga de Amaral, Kiki Kogelnik, and Grace Hartigan, and one for James Turrell.

the gates christo jeanne claude 2609948

Artist duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude developed 'The Gates' for New York City's Central Park in 1979, but the project faced over two decades of bureaucratic hurdles before finally being installed in 2005 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The work consisted of 7,503 steel gates with orange nylon fabric along 23 miles of pathways, using 5,390 tons of steel. Now, on its 20th anniversary, a comprehensive survey titled 'Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City' is being held at the Shed, accompanied by an augmented reality experience via the Bloomberg Connects app.

citigroup mexico bank 2063484

Citigroup is selling its Mexican retail banking operation, Citibanamex, along with a collection of approximately 2,000 Mexican artworks dating from the 18th century to the present. The collection includes works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Leonora Carrington, and Remedios Varo, and is considered the most important private painting collection in Mexico. Citibanamex has stated the collection is an integral and indivisible part of the sale and will not be sold separately.

artcurial twenty one contemporary 2647329

On June 6, 2025, Artcurial Paris will host "Twenty One Contemporary," a curated auction dedicated exclusively to 21st-century art. The sale features works by artists such as Xavier Veilhan, Barthélémy Toguo, Aboudia, Thomas Houseago, and Guillaume Bresson, spanning experimental sculpture, painting, and works on paper. Highlights include Veilhan's machine-carved birch sculpture "The Neptunes" (2015), Toguo's large-scale watercolor "Homing Pigeon" (2005), and Bresson's photorealistic "Sans titre" (2010), with estimates ranging from €15,000 to €120,000.

art bites illustrator marginel wright enright frank lloyd wright sister 2633392

Maginel Wright Enright, the youngest sister of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is the subject of this article highlighting her career as a prolific children's book illustrator and commercial artist. Born in 1877, she studied at the Chicago Art Institute and worked for the engraving firm Barnes, Crosby Co. before illustrating 63 children's books, including works by L. Frank Baum (author of *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*), Johanna Spyri's *Heidi*, and Clara Ingram Judson's *Flower Fairies* series. She also contributed to magazines such as *Woman's World* and *McClure's*, and created a World War I poster.

michelangelo pistoletto great pyramids art degypte 2644086

Italian artist and Arte Povera pioneer Michelangelo Pistoletto, aged 91, has been announced as a headliner for the 2025 edition of "Forever Is Now," an annual outdoor exhibition at the Great Pyramids of Giza. Pistoletto will create a monumental installation described as merging ancient civilization with modern ideas, with full details yet to be revealed. The project involves his Cittadellarte foundation, which is offering a fully-funded three-year bachelor course at its Unidee Academy in Biella, Italy, to Egyptian artists, supported by the Italian Institute of Culture in Cairo.

by the numbers christies 21st century sale edges out estimate aided by bounty of guarantees 2645323

Christie’s 21st-century art sale on Wednesday achieved $96.5 million in total sales, a 20 percent increase over the same sale last year. The auction featured 43 lots, with four withdrawn before the sale, and a sell-through rate of 83.7 percent (92.3 percent after withdrawals). The top lot was Jean-Michel Basquiat’s *Baby Boom* (1982), which sold for $23.4 million. The sale was heavily supported by guarantees—24 lots were guaranteed, including 18 with third-party guarantees—accounting for 75 percent of the total presale low estimate. Auctioneer Yü-ge Wang faced cautious bidding, prompting playful remarks as collectors tested lower increments.

how much should an art fair cost 2639061

Frieze, the international art fair group, has been sold to Ari Emanuel, the Hollywood power broker who previously owned it through Endeavor. Emanuel acquired Frieze via a new, unnamed company from his former entertainment conglomerate, which was recently taken private by Silver Lake. The deal, valued at approximately $200 million according to sources, includes all seven fairs, Frieze magazine, and the No. 9 Cork Street exhibition space. Simon Fox will remain CEO. The sale comes just days before Frieze New York’s 2025 edition and follows months of speculation about the fair's future ownership.

baishui resonating with water 2584963

At Art Basel Miami Beach, Shanghai- and Hong Kong-based artist Baishui debuted seven large-scale mirrored stainless-steel sculptures titled "Raindrop 1-7" (2024), which invert the scale of raindrops to become enormous, solid forms that slow viewers down and invite reflection. The works were presented as part of the Land Art Forward platform alongside Alan Sonfist's "Burning Forest" (2024), forming a collaborative project called "Rebirth in the Inferno" that explores the fusion of water and fire in response to climate change.

Italy purchases rare Caravaggio painting for $34.7 million.

Italy purchases rare Caravaggio painting for $34.7 million.

The Italian government has purchased Caravaggio's *Ecce Homo* for $34.7 million, preventing the 17th-century masterpiece from leaving the country. The painting, which depicts a bound Christ presented to the crowd, was sold by its private owners after its rediscovery and authentication in 2021. The state exercised its right of first refusal to match a sale agreed with an unnamed foreign buyer, securing the work for public ownership.

Pussy Riot protest at Venice Biennale forces Russian pavilion to briefly close

On the second day of the Venice Biennale preview, the activist group Pussy Riot staged a chaotic protest at the Russian pavilion, forcing it to temporarily close. Wearing pink balaclavas and carrying flares, about 40 activists—including members of Femen—gathered outside the pavilion, shouting slogans like "Blood is Russia's Art" and attempting to enter before being pushed back by police. Founding member Nadya Tolokonnikova led the protest, condemning Europe for allowing Russian participation despite the war in Ukraine. Separately, the Art Not Genocide Alliance (Anga) demonstrated outside the Israeli pavilion, which was locked from inside, over Israel's war in Gaza.

Anish Kapoor says US’s ‘politics of hate’ should exclude it from Venice Biennale

Anish Kapoor has called for the United States to be excluded from the Venice Biennale, citing the country's "abhorrent politics of hate" and "incessant warmongering." His comments follow the resignation of the five-member international jury, who stepped down in protest over the inclusion of Israel and Russia. Kapoor praised the jury's decision as "courageous" but argued they should have also targeted the US. The US pavilion, featuring artist Alma Allen and his exhibition "Call Me the Breeze," has faced scrutiny over perceived Trump administration interference and a delayed selection process. Meanwhile, the Israeli and Russian pavilions remain flashpoints, with over 200 participants signing a letter demanding the cancellation of the Israeli pavilion, and the Russian pavilion closed to the public but viewable through windows.

Masterpieces by Klimt, Matisse and Freud set for London’s most valuable auction

Sotheby's will auction a major collection of masterpieces by artists including Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, Lucian Freud, and Francis Bacon, consigned by Joe Lewis and his daughter Vivienne, whose family owns Tottenham Hotspur. The collection, expected to fetch over £150 million, is projected to become the most valuable ever offered in London, with highlights such as Klimt's 'Bildnis Gertrud Loew' (estimated £20-30m) and Egon Schiele's 'Danaë' (estimated £12-18m, potentially setting a new artist record). The works will be exhibited in New York and London before the June sales.

When archaeology was dominated by men | Letters

A reader named Elke Bachler writes a letter to The Guardian challenging a sentence in a review of Thomas Laqueur's book *The Dog's Gaze*. The review described a prehistoric scene as showing "a boy and a dog" standing together in wonder before cave art. Bachler argues there is no evidence the child was a boy, noting that archaeology has historically been dominated by men who interpreted evidence through contemporary gender roles.

The Wonderful World that Almost Was by Andrew Durbin review – the queer artists who shaped New York cool

Andrew Durbin's new book, 'The Wonderful World that Almost Was,' is a double biography of painter and sculptor Paul Thek and photographer Peter Hujar. It chronicles their artistic maturation, their open and unapologetic gay relationship, and their central role in defining the 'cool' of the New York creative scene from the 1950s to the mid-1970s, before their deaths from AIDS.

Artists, clowns, runaways: a stay at the Chelsea Hotel – in pictures

Photographer Albert Scopin has released a new book through Kerber Verlag documenting his residency at New York’s iconic Chelsea Hotel between 1969 and 1971. The collection features rare, intimate portraits of the hotel's legendary inhabitants, including a young Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe before their rise to global fame, alongside long-time manager Stanley Bard and avant-garde figures like Vali Myers and Holly Woodlawn. Scopin’s lens captures the 'creative chaos' of the era, from the art-filled lobby to the eccentric private quarters of residents like composer George Kleinsinger.

The Guide #237: Fab 5 Freddy, the street artist at the heart of New York’s creative zenith

A new memoir by Fred Brathwaite, known as Fab 5 Freddy, chronicles his life as a pivotal figure connecting the emerging hip-hop and graffiti scenes of 1970s and 80s Brooklyn with the downtown Manhattan art world. The book, "Everybody's Fly: A Life of Art, Music, and Changing the Culture," serves as an all-access pass to a transformative era, featuring encounters with icons like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and Debbie Harry.