christies riggio modern art new york evening auctions 2025

Christie’s spring marquee auctions in New York brought in a combined $489 million with fees across two evening sales: the Leonard & Louise Riggio: Collected Works sale and the 20th Century sale. The Riggio collection, featuring 39 works heavy on Surrealism, modernism, and Minimalism, achieved $272 million with buyer’s premium, led by Piet Mondrian’s Composition With Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow, Black and Blue (1922) at $47.56 million and René Magritte’s L’empire des lumières (1949) at $34.9 million. The 20th Century sale included major canvases by Monet, Rothko, and Warhol, but the hammer total of $409 million fell below the $446 million pre-sale low estimate, indicating the auction house did not meet expectations.

justin sun responds david geffen counter response giacometti

Hong Kong crypto entrepreneur and art collector Justin Sun has filed a new 100-page legal response in his ongoing lawsuit against megacollector David Geffen over Alberto Giacometti's sculpture *Le Nez* (1949/1965). Sun claims his employee Xiong Zihan Sydney stole the $78.4 million artwork—which he bought at Sotheby's New York in 2021—and sold it to Geffen without his knowledge. Geffen counters that Sun is experiencing "seller's remorse" and that the lawsuit is a sham. Sun's latest filing alleges that Geffen paid $2 million "under the table" to dealers David and Cole Tunkl to secure the piece, and reveals that Xiong has been detained in China since February at the Dezhou Detention Center.

A Guide to David Hockney’s Most Important Print Series

Lougher Contemporary, a UK-based specialist in blue-chip editions, has identified David Hockney's five most important print series for collectors. The series include the iconic Pool Series, inspired by Los Angeles swimming pools; the iPad Drawings, which began with the iPhone and evolved into works like 'The Arrival of Spring'; and The Weather Series, a set of six color lithographs influenced by Japanese Ukiyo-e prints. Other series are also highlighted for their market value and artistic significance.

End of investment art? Why the bottom of the market is flourishing

The art market in 2024 saw an aggregate 12% decline in sales to an estimated $57.5bn, driven by a slowdown at the ultra-premium end, according to the Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report and Artprice. However, the lower end of the market is flourishing: auction sales of works under $5,000 grew 7%, dealers with turnover under $250,000 reported a 17% increase, and sales of works under $20,000 reached record levels. Online platforms like Avant Arte, which sold $23m in print and sculpture editions (up 53% year-on-year), are key drivers, attracting younger and first-time collectors with affordable, editioned works.

Meet Me in New York: Alix Vernet

The Chicago art scene takes center stage with a curated guide to six essential exhibitions coinciding with the EXPO Chicago 2026 art fair. Highlights include Josh Brainin’s immersive two-channel video installation at Tala and a thematic exploration of Chicago’s urban infrastructure hosted at the Chicago Cultural Center, showcasing a diverse range of media from digital video to architectural critique.

Work in Progress: Akinsanya Kambon

Akinsanya Kambon’s work is featured as a highlight in a curated guide of six must-see exhibitions during the EXPO Chicago 2026 art fair. The selection spans a diverse range of media and venues, including Josh Brainin’s frantic two-channel video installations at Tala and a thematic exploration of urban infrastructure hosted at the Chicago Cultural Center.

In major auction night, rare Klimt painting smashes records at $236.4 million

Sotheby's held its first sale at its new US headquarters in New York, where Gustav Klimt's "Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer" sold for $236.4 million, becoming the most valuable work of modern art ever sold at auction and the most expensive artwork ever sold by Sotheby's globally. The record-breaking 20-minute bidding war also saw strong results for works by Edvard Munch ($35.1 million) and a Klimt landscape ($86 million), while the evening's total reached $706 million. However, two top lots by Kerry James Marshall and Barkley L. Hendricks failed to sell, and Maurizio Cattelan's gold toilet "America" drew only a single bid from Ripley's Believe It or Not! for $12.1 million.

It is the great Mark Rothko leading Sotheby's first auctions in New York

È il grande Mark Rothko a guidare le prime aste di Sotheby’s a New York

Sotheby's kicked off New York's art and auction week with two major sales on May 14, 2026, led by the highly anticipated Robert Mnuchin: Collector at Heart Evening Auction. The top lot was Mark Rothko's "Brown and Blacks in Reds" (1957), which sold for $85.8 million, the second-highest price ever for the artist at auction. The Mnuchin auction achieved a "white glove" sale, selling all 11 lots for a total of $166.3 million, followed by The Now & Contemporary Evening Auction which brought in $266.8 million. Combined, Sotheby's generated $433.1 million, a 133% increase over its May 2025 session. The sales reflect a strong return of high-value trophy lots to the secondary market, driven by the dispersal of prominent collectors' estates.

nada new york

NADA New York returns for its 11th edition with significant changes, including a new venue at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in West Chelsea. The fair, organized by the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA), will feature 111 exhibitors from 19 countries, with 54 first-time participants. A highlight is the sixth edition of the TD Bank Curated Spotlight, organized by Owen Duffy of Asia Society Texas, which spotlights nine galleries and artists from Texas and Mexico, fostering dialogue between the two regions. The fair runs May 7–11, 2025.

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Nicole Saikalis Bay, an architect and patron, divides her time between Milan, London, Beirut, and Paris, where she has built a triple-pronged artist support network: the Saikalis Bay Foundation, a Milan exhibition space called Circolo, and the nonprofit WeAre Projects. Her collection began as a private impulse to live with art, focusing on modern Italian masters like Enrico Castellani and Fausto Melotti, and has expanded to contemporary artists such as William Kentridge, Nari Ward, and Tacita Dean. This month, Circolo presents work by ten rising artists of Lebanese heritage, reflecting her commitment to supporting artists from regions in need.

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On Tuesday, Gucci, CULTURED magazine, and Anna Freedman hosted a cocktail party at the Gucci Aspen boutique to celebrate the Anderson Ranch Summer Series, curated by CULTURED Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson for the second consecutive year. The event honored artist Kelly Akashi and MoMA PS1 Chief Curator Ruba Katrib, who will lead upcoming conversations in the series. The boutique was transformed into an intimate salon, with guests including collectors, museum curators, and patrons mingling over champagne and hors d'oeuvres, while a violin performance set the tone for the evening.

laura de gunzburg gabriel chipperfield art family young collectors

Laura de Gunzburg, a 35-year-old cultural advisor and daughter of arts patron Nathalie de Gunzburg, and Gabriel Chipperfield, a 36-year-old developer and son of architect David Chipperfield, discuss their art collection and collecting philosophy in an interview. The couple, who support institutions like the Dia Art Foundation, Serpentine Galleries, and Turner Contemporary, share insights on their first purchases, rookie mistakes, and the artists they follow, including Alvaro Barrington, Alicja Kwade, and Mary Stephenson.

gabrielle chanel la pausa restoration peter marino

Cultured reports on the meticulous restoration of La Pausa, the Mediterranean villa built by Gabrielle Chanel in 1928, led by architect Peter Marino. After Chanel sold the property in 1953 to American collectors who later donated it to the Dallas Museum of Art, the house of Chanel reacquired it in 2015. Over the following decade, Marino worked with Chanel’s heritage team, including Hélène Fulgence, to restore the villa to its original state using archival images, blueprints, and original furnishings sourced at auction. The villa, perched in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, will now serve as a creative retreat for artists and writers.

heading to basel swiss collector suzanne syz has a priceless list of fair dos and donts

Swiss collector Suzanne Syz, a longtime attendee of Art Basel since its early days as a "mammoth indoor flea market," shares her insights and advice for navigating the fair. In an interview with Cultured, Syz discusses her collection, which includes works by Barbara Kruger, Julian Schnabel, Olivier Mosset, and Peter Fischli, and offers tips such as skipping long lines, focusing on the Statements section for emerging artists, and trusting gut instincts over spreadsheets. She also highlights the distinct Swiss art scene, praising institutions like Kunsthalle Zürich and MAMCO, and schools like HEAD and ECAL.

This week's openings in Parisian galleries

Les vernissages cette semaine dans les galeries parisiennes

This week's openings in Parisian galleries feature a wide range of exhibitions across the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and other districts. Highlights include Galerie Alain Margaron's group show "Du modèle à l'autoportrait" exploring the body in works by André Derain, Jean Hélion, Fred Deux, and Zoran Mušič; Kim Myoung Nam's first solo show at Galerie UNIVER / Colette Colla, presenting perforated paper pieces; and Galerie Wagner's collective exhibition dedicated to Latin American artists Milton Becerra, Olga Luna, and Claudia Lavegas. Other notable shows include Louis Pion's ink-on-envelope series at Galerie Incognito Artclub, Léonore Chastagner's raw ceramics at Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou, and solo presentations by Quentin Gouevic and Jérôme Zonder at Galerie Nathalie Obadia.

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy closing for summer, but 37 other exhibitions on view at museums in May

The article provides a roundup of museum exhibitions on view in Southwest Florida during May, highlighting five new openings, eight closings, and 25 continuing shows across museums from Sarasota to Naples. Featured exhibitions include Molly Hatch's site-specific ceramic installation "Amalgam" at Sarasota Art Museum, Jillian Mayer's interactive "Slumpies" sculptures, a group show "Something Borrowed, Something New" with works by Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, David Hockney, Yoko Ono, Kara Walker, and Ai Weiwei, and Maria A. Guzman Capron's solo textile exhibition "Penumbra." The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy is noted as closing for the summer.

Andy Warhol | Cow II.11A (1971) | For Sale

Andy Warhol's screenprint "Cow II.11A" (1971) is being offered for sale by Composition.Gallery, priced at $15,200. The work is a color screenprint on wallpaper, printed by Bill Miller's Wallpaper Studio, Inc., New York, and published by Factory Additions, New York, for a Warhol exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art from May 1 to June 13, 1971. It is part of a limited edition of 100, stamped by the artist's estate, and includes a certificate of authenticity.

'If I love something, I buy it': Los Angeles-based Rina Mark on the art she collects and why

Los Angeles-based collector Rina Mark discusses her four-decade history of acquiring art, highlighted by her deep connection to the legendary printmaking studio Gemini G.E.L. Mark, a former LACMA docent, reveals a spontaneous approach to collecting, often purchasing works on instinct. Her collection features a strong emphasis on iconic West Coast and Pop artists, including John Baldessari, Roy Lichtenstein, and Ed Ruscha, whose work "Pico and Sepulveda" she recently acquired due to its personal connection to her college years.

ART SG and Singapore Art Week

ART SG, Southeast Asia's leading contemporary art fair, returns to the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands from 23–25 January 2026, with previews on 22 January. The fair features three core sectors—Galleries, Focus, and Futures—and for the first time co-presents S.E.A. Focus, curated by John Z.W. Tung with artistic consultation by Emi Eu, themed 'The Humane Agency'. Highlights include Melati Suryodarmo's performance 'I Love You' (2007) from the UBS Art Collection, presented in the UBS Art Studio, with a re-performance and artist talk. Singapore Art Week runs concurrently from 22–31 January 2026, offering exhibitions, installations, and performances across the city, including a collaboration between Rockbund Art Museum and ART SG at The Warehouse Hotel.

Fairfield University Art Museum Exhibition to Commemorate 250th Anniversary of the U.S., Opens Jan. 23

Fairfield University Art Museum will open a major loan exhibition titled "For Which It Stands…" on January 23, 2026, running through July 25, 2026, as part of the university's commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibition features over 70 works by diverse artists from the early 20th century to the present day, all centered on depictions of the American flag, including pieces by Jasper Johns, Faith Ringgold, Robert Rauschenberg, Shepard Fairey, Julie Mehretu, Childe Hassam, and a new textile sculpture by Maria de Los Angeles commissioned for the show. Works are lent by private collectors, artists, galleries, and institutions such as the Delaware Art Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, and the Gordon Parks Foundation.

Art Gallery of Ontario gets gift of more than 450 works

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Toronto has received a major gift of 474 artworks from the late collectors Carol and Morton Rapp, including prints, photographs, sculptures, and artist books by 203 artists. Highlights include 13 screenprints by Andy Warhol, eight works by Robert Rauschenberg, nine by Jasper Johns, and pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Barnett Newman, Claes Oldenburg, Lee Bontecou, and David Hockney, as well as contemporary works by Kara Walker, William Kentridge, Yinka Shonibare, and Rachel Whiteread. The Rapps, who began collecting in the 1960s, had a long relationship with the AGO dating back to 1966.

Where to see art in Houston now: 10 exhibits and shows opening in October

Houston's October art scene is dominated by exhibitions exploring scientific and cosmic themes, including plasma installations, fractal worlds, and quantum landscapes. Notable shows include Anahita Bradberry's 'Spectral Field' at Diverseworks, Julius Horsthuis's 'Fractal Worlds' at Artechouse, and 'Growing Up Jewish' at Holocaust Museum Houston. The month also features CraftTexas 2025 at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 'Lines of Resolution' at Menil Drawing Institute, and a farewell show at Anya Tish Gallery.

Art Lender Accuses Maddox Gallery of Inflating Value of Art Used as Collateral—’Bizarre and Irrational’ Claim, Says Gallery

Luxury Asset Capital (LAC) has filed a civil complaint in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York accusing Maddox Gallery of inflating the value of artworks used as collateral for loans. The dispute stems from a 2023 deal in which Maddox provided substitute collateral—works by Duncan McCormick and Albert Willem—in exchange for a George Condo painting previously held by LAC. LAC alleges that Maddox engaged in a "pump and dump" scheme, artificially bidding up auction prices for McCormick and Willem works to 10–15 times pre-sale estimates, then using those inflated values to justify trades. After the alleged bid-rigging stopped, auction prices fell, and LAC claims it is left with works worth only a fraction of what Maddox represented. Maddox Gallery co-founder Nick Sharp denies the claims as "bizarre and irrational," calling the lawsuit a baseless attempt to unwind a voluntary agreement.

Our 7 Favorite Artworks Under $10,000 from the 2026 New York Art Week Fairs

New York Art Week 2026 features over 350 art fair booths across Manhattan, with six major fairs forming the core of the event. The article highlights seven favorite artworks priced under $10,000, offering accessible entry points for collectors during the city's busiest art season.

Meet the London Perfumer Building a Collection Around Humor and Instinct

Cherry Cheng, a London-based perfumer, has curated a personal art collection in her Notting Hill flat that reflects her instinctive and humorous approach to collecting. The collection features works by artists such as Beau Gabriel, Miranda Keyes, Sarah Pucci, Juliette Teste, Araki Nobuyoshi, Katrien de Blauwer, Lucile Littot, Leo Costelloe, Sebastian Espejo, and Joline Kwakkenbos, displayed throughout her home like a diary of her tastes.

What Every Collector Should Know About Buying Performance Art

Artsy Editorial explores the complexities of collecting performance art, explaining that ownership typically involves acquiring documentation, scores, or rights to reactivate a performance rather than the live event itself. The article outlines how artists, dealers, and collectors navigate transactions for this ephemeral medium, addressing the challenges of preservation, display, and market value.

5 Artists on Our Radar This April

Artsy has highlighted five emerging and established artists to watch this April, selected based on recent gallery representation, exhibition success, and market data. The list features Peruvian painter Sylvia Fernández, known for her meticulous and majestic depictions of the natural world, alongside four other artists who have made significant impacts through recent art fairs and new bodies of work.

Two Monet Paintings, Unseen for a Century, Resurface at Auction

Two significant paintings by Claude Monet, unseen by the public for over a century, are being offered at auction by Sotheby's Paris. The works, *Les Îles de Port-Villez* (1883) and *Vétheuil, Effet du Matin* (1901), have been held in private collections for 115 and over 100 years respectively, with the former last exhibited in the early 20th century at Paul Durand-Ruel's New York gallery. Their combined estimates make them the most valuable Monet paintings to appear at auction in France since 2001.

Chickens, train surfers and Marilyn Monroe: Magnum’s print sale – in pictures

Magnum Photos, in partnership with The Photographers' Gallery, is holding a print sale titled 'Odyssey' featuring works from over 100 of its photographers. The sale includes iconic images from artists like Eve Arnold, Alec Soth, and Chris Killip, with themes ranging from personal journeys and American life to global migrations and cultural rituals. The event runs until March 29, 2026.

us mashal auction basquiat picasso diane arbus 1mdb scandal

The US Marshals Service is auctioning four artworks by Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Diane Arbus that were surrendered to the US Department of Justice in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. The online-only auction, run by Gaston and Sheehan auction house in Texas, began on July 16 and closes on September 4, with no buyer's premium. The works include Basquiat's *Self Portrait* (1982) and *Red Man One* (1982), Picasso's *Tête de taureau et broc* (1939), and Arbus's *Child with a Toy Hand Grenade* (1962). The pieces were linked to fugitive financier Jho Low and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who surrendered them after they were located in Switzerland.