At Art Basel Hong Kong, More Collectors Are Buying With Purpose

Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 opened with a renewed sense of optimism, featuring 240 galleries and a significant emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region. The VIP preview saw a surge in attendance primarily from regional collectors across mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, signaling a robust recovery for the local market. While international travel remains a factor, the fair's success is increasingly driven by a localized ecosystem of younger collectors and long-term public investments in cultural infrastructure like the M+ museum.

Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale Springs To Life

Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale in London achieved a robust total of £131 million, more than doubling the results of the previous year's equivalent auction. The event was characterized by a high 98% sell-through rate and was anchored by significant single-owner collections, most notably works from billionaire Joe Lewis. Highlights included a Francis Bacon self-portrait that fetched £16 million and a record-breaking sale for Leon Kossoff, whose "Children’s Swimming Pool, Autumn Afternoon" sold for £5.2 million, nearly four times his previous auction record.

Los Angeles museums on the cusp of new golden age

Los Angeles is entering a transformative period of cultural expansion, marked by nearly $3 billion in new museum construction and institutional growth. Key projects include the imminent opening of Peter Zumthor’s $835 million expansion of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the debut of Refik Anadol’s AI-focused Dataland, and the long-awaited opening of George Lucas’s $1 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. These developments, alongside expansions at The Broad and The Huntington, are timed to solidify the city's infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics.

A brush with… Catherine Opie—podcast

The article is a transcript or description of a podcast episode featuring an interview with photographer Catherine Opie. She discusses her artistic journey, influences, and the themes central to her work, including identity, community, and representation within LGBTQ+ communities and American society. The podcast also promotes her upcoming 2026 exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Fridericianum in Kassel.

David Hockney: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation

The Portland Art Museum has opened an exhibition titled "David Hockney: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation." The show features a significant selection of works by the renowned British artist, drawn from the extensive holdings of collector and philanthropist Jordan D. Schnitzer and his foundation.

One of London’s Most Unmissable Art Exhibitions in 2026 Will Open This Week

The Courtauld in London is opening 'Seurat and the Sea,' the first exhibition dedicated to Georges Seurat's seascapes, on February 13, 2026. The show will feature 26 paintings, oil sketches, and drawings created by the artist between 1885 and 1890, including works like 'The Beach at Gravelines' and 'Seascape at Port-en-Bessin, Normandy.'

Meet 14 Women Shaping India’s Booming Art Scene

Artsy profiles 14 influential women who are shaping India's rapidly evolving art market, including Nita Mukesh Ambani, Jaya Asokan, Shireen Gandhy, and others. The article highlights their roles as founders, directors, collectors, and patrons, with a focus on the upcoming 17th edition of the India Art Fair, which will feature a record 135 exhibitors. Each woman is described as contributing to the growth of galleries, auction houses, biennales, and cultural institutions across the country.

11 Must-Visit Museums Opening in 2026

The article highlights 11 major museum openings and expansions scheduled for 2026, including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (designed by Frank Gehry, focusing on modern and contemporary art from West Asia, North Africa, and South Asia), the New Museum in New York (reopening March 21 after a major expansion by OMA), the V&A East Museum in London (featuring a debut exhibition on Black British music history), and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. Other notable projects include the Memphis Art Museum and the Drift Museum in Amsterdam, reflecting a global surge in cultural infrastructure.

Pulitzer Arts Foundation celebrates 25th Anniversary with Exhibition

The Pulitzer Arts Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the exhibition "Dialogues & Conversations," which explores artistic exchange through the lens of curator and collector Emily Rauh Pulitzer. Featuring over 35 artists—including Edgar Degas, Willem de Kooning, Dan Flavin, Alberto Giacometti, David Hammons, Jasper Johns, Donald Judd, Bruce Nauman, Medardo Rosso, and Doris Salcedo—the show presents around 90 works spanning the late 19th century to the present. These pieces come from Mrs. Pulitzer's personal collection, assembled with her late husband Joseph Pulitzer Jr., as well as from her curatorial work at Harvard Art Museums and Saint Louis Art Museum, and loans from The Museum of Modern Art and private lenders.

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.

14 best art exhibitions to see in Tokyo in 2026

Tokyo's museums have announced their 2026 exhibition schedules, featuring a diverse lineup of international and domestic shows. Highlights include 'YBA & Beyond: British Art in the 90s from the Tate Collection' at the National Art Center, a major retrospective of Hajime Sorayama at the Creative Museum Tokyo, and a solo exhibition of Lithuanian artist M. K. Čiurlionis, alongside shows by Picasso, Ron Mueck, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Minami Tada.

Comment | The dissolution of Antwerp's museum of contemporary art should serve as a warning to all

The Flemish ministry of culture has ordered the closure of M HKA, the museum of contemporary art in Antwerp, Belgium, and the transfer of its collection to S.M.A.K. in Ghent. A planned €130m new building for M HKA, ready to break ground, has been cancelled. In response, artists and cultural workers have launched a "Museum at Risk" campaign, occupying the museum's entrance and pressuring city councillors, while international artists like Emilia Kabakov and the estate of Christian Boltanski are demanding the return of their works.

Our pick of the shows to see in the world's great art cities in 2026

The article presents a curated selection of upcoming art exhibitions across major global cities in 2026, highlighting key shows in Paris, New York, and Tokyo. In Paris, notable exhibitions include a Georges de la Tour show at the Musée Jacquemand-André, a Renoir retrospective at the Musée d'Orsay, and a Henri Rousseau exhibition at the Musée de l'Orangerie. New York features solo shows of Egon Schiele at the Neue Galerie, Thomas Gainsborough at the Frick Collection, and Paul Klee at the Jewish Museum, while Tokyo focuses on women artists from the 1950s and 60s at the National Museum of Modern Art and a centennial exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

1+1. Relational Art: at MAXXI a major exhibition reflects on the legacy of Nicolas Bourriaud's critical revolution

The MAXXI museum in Rome has opened a major exhibition titled "1+1. Relational Art," which examines the legacy of Nicolas Bourriaud's influential 1998 book "Relational Aesthetics." The show brings together works by artists from the 1990s generation—including Maurizio Cattelan, Douglas Gordon, Pierre Huyghe, Philippe Parreno, Liam Gillick, and Dominique González-Foerster—who pioneered art based on human interactions and social contexts rather than traditional autonomous objects. The exhibition reflects on how Bourriaud's theory, developed from studio visits with these young artists, redefined art criticism by proposing that artworks be judged by the interhuman relations they produce or evoke.

Political statements at Art Basel Miami Beach are sparse but strident

At Art Basel Miami Beach, one year into Donald Trump’s second presidential administration, most galleries are avoiding overt political themes, though a few notable exceptions stand out. The most talked-about piece is Maurizio Cattelan’s marble sculpture *Bones (2025)*, a crashing eagle metaphor for the nation’s state, shown on Gagosian’s stand. Other politically charged works include Nicholas Galanin’s burned totem pole and drone-inspired rug, David Hammons’ *African American Flag (1990)*, and Tim Youd’s typewriter performance of Hunter S. Thompson’s book. Most exhibitors, however, focus on apolitical American iconography or market-driven choices.

New York Galleries: Openings and Closings of the Week (11/11—11/16)

The Best Art Exhibits to See in New York City Right Now

New York City's autumn art scene features a diverse array of exhibitions across major museums. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Man Ray: When Objects Dream" showcases 60 rayographs alongside 100 paintings and prints, exploring the artist's camera-less photography technique. The Brooklyn Museum presents "Monet and Venice," placing 19 of Monet's Venetian paintings in dialogue with works by John Singer Sargent and others, while also hosting "Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200," a retrospective on the institution's two-century history. The New York Historical Society offers "The Gay Harlem Renaissance," highlighting queer Black artists and writers of the Harlem Renaissance, and "The New York Sari," examining South Asian women's fashion influence since the Gilded Age.

Greenville County Museum of Art showcases ‘At This Moment’ exhibition

The Greenville County Museum of Art (GCMA) will open “At This Moment: Portraits of South Carolina Artists” on November 12, featuring 78 photographs taken over ten months by photographer Jerry Seigel. Seigel was commissioned by GCMA’s Mark Sloan and Tom Styron to travel across the state and capture portraits of notable artists including Sigmund Abeles, Shepard Fairey, Pearl Fryar, Jonathan Green, Mary Jackson, Jasper Johns, Grainger McKoy, George Read, Brian Rutenberg, Leo Twiggs, and Mary Whyte. The exhibition runs through January 11, 2026, and will be accompanied by a book of the same title containing Seigel’s photos and biographical information on each artist.

Ten essential works of art to see in Dresden

The article presents a curated guide to ten essential artworks in Dresden, Germany, highlighting the city's recovery from World War II devastation to reclaim its status as a Kunststadt (city of art). It focuses on masterpieces housed in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD), including Raphael's *Sistine Madonna* (1512/13) at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Caspar David Friedrich's *The Great Enclosure* (1832) at the Albertinum, and a tiny cherry pit with 185 carved heads from the Grünes Gewölbe. The piece traces Dresden's golden age under rulers Augustus the Strong and Frederick Augustus II, whose acquisitions built one of Europe's most celebrated art collections.

‘Everyone benefits’: Art Basel’s chief on the new Paris VVIP slot and the viability of its Qatar fair

Art Basel Paris held its fourth edition with a new VIP preview slot called Avant Première, where galleries nominated six key collectors to enter the fair on Tuesday afternoon before the main opening. Major sales were reported, including a $23 million Gerhard Richter painting at Hauser & Wirth, a Modigliani for nearly $10 million at Pace, and a $7.5 million Ruth Asawa sculpture at David Zwirner. CEO Noah Horowitz discussed the rationale for the exclusive preview, the renaming of the VIP relations team to 'collector and institutional relations,' and the viability of the upcoming Art Basel Qatar fair amid growing competition in the Gulf region.

'I want to show the real deal': property developer Rajan Bijlani on his Modernist design collection

Property developer Rajan Bijlani, based in north London, has turned his home Fonthill Pottery—formerly the residence and studio of ceramicist Emmanuel Cooper—into a showcase for his collection of 20th-century design, sculpture, and paintings. His focus is Modernist furniture, particularly works by Pierre Jeanneret, one of the architects of Chandigarh, India. Bijlani owns over 500 pieces, including Jeanneret's 1960 Dining Table and Easy Chairs (1956), as well as works by Le Corbusier and George Nakashima. He staged his first home exhibition last year featuring South Asian diaspora artists, and this year presents 'Electric Kiln,' pairing Jeanneret and Le Corbusier pieces with works by Cooper, Lucie Rie, and Frank Auerbach. Some works are for sale to fund future shows, including a Japan-themed exhibition and one timed to London Gallery Weekend.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Announces Historic Expansion Opening

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, has announced a historic expansion, increasing its size by 50 percent to 114,000 square feet, with a grand opening scheduled for June 6 and 7, 2026. The expansion, designed by Safdie Architects, includes fully reimagined galleries and is celebrated by two landmark gifts: 18 major works by women artists donated by chairperson Olivia Walton and her husband Tom Walton, and 200 artworks by over 100 artists donated by collectors Candace and Michael Humphreys. The Walton gift features artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Alice Neel, and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, while the Humphreys gift introduces many new artists to the museum's holdings.

17 NYC art exhibitions we’re most excited about in fall 2025

The article highlights 17 New York City art exhibitions opening in fall 2025, with six previewed in detail. Major events include the long-awaited reopening of the Studio Museum in Harlem on November 15 with a new seven-floor building and shows featuring Tom Lloyd and works from its collection; the New Museum's reopening after renovation with the inaugural exhibition "New Humans: Memories of the Future"; and the Whitney Museum's "Sixties Surreal" exhibition surveying American art from 1958 to 1972. Other notable shows include a Robert Rauschenberg centennial exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum, Ai Weiwei's public installation "Camouflage" on Roosevelt Island, and a fashion-focused exhibition at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library.

Christie's to offer the Collection of visionary Danish collector Ole Faarup as a key highlight of its October 20/21 Marquee Week - Christie's

Christie's will auction the collection of Danish collector Ole Faarup during its October 2025 Marquee Week, featuring around 140 lots with an overall estimate of £16–22 million. Highlights include major works by Peter Doig, Chris Ofili, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, alongside Danish and international artists. Proceeds from the sale will benefit The Ole Faarup Art Foundation, which supports emerging artists and cultural institutions.

Meet the Lawyer-Turned-Dealer Opening a Jewel-Box Gallery Uptown—and More Juicy Art World Gossip

Artnet News's Wet Paint column reports that former David Zwirner director Felix Rödder is opening his own gallery, Rodder (no umlaut), on September 18 at 22 East 80th Street on the Upper East Side, in the same building as Sprüth Magers. The jewel-box space, formerly Barbara Mathes Gallery, will debut with a solo show of sculptural paintings by Wyatt Kahn. Rödder, a lawyer-turned-dealer, plans to mix contemporary programming with historical exhibitions, keeping overhead low and avoiding art fairs for now. The column also teases a mention of Aby Rosen's involvement in the New York mayoral race.

The Big Review | David Hockney 25 at Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris ★★★★

The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris has opened "David Hockney 25," a major retrospective billed as focusing on the past quarter-century of the British artist's work but actually spanning his entire career, from a 1955 portrait of his father to recent Yorkshire landscapes. The exhibition, curated by Norman Rosenthal and supported by the foundation's substantial budget, features loans from institutions worldwide and private collections, including the striking "Berlin: A Souvenir" (1962). It is the largest Hockney show ever staged, filling the Frank Gehry-designed museum with iconic swimming pool scenes, double portraits, vibrant landscapes, and densely hung salon-style galleries of family and friends.

Gustave Caillebotte blockbuster that sparked controversy in France opens in Chicago—with one key difference

A major Gustave Caillebotte survey exhibition, originally titled *Gustave Caillebotte: Painting Men* (in French, *Caillebotte: Peindre Les Hommes*), has opened at the Art Institute of Chicago with a revised title: *Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World*. The change was made after an internal focus group found the original title too narrow, and before the show even debuted in Paris. The exhibition, co-curated by Gloria Groom (AIC), Paul Perrin (Musée d’Orsay), and Scott Allan (Getty), explores Caillebotte’s preference for male subjects—such as rowers, soldiers, and card players—without asserting that the artist had same-sex relationships. It previously sparked controversy in France, where critics accused the curators of imposing an American-influenced, reductive queer reading on the artist.

Review: Alex Da Corte’s colorful, pop-inspired art show in Fort Worth

Alex Da Corte's exhibition "The Whale" at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is the first museum show to focus on his relationship to painting, though it defies traditional definitions. The show features a variety of works including "puffy paintings," "slatwall paintings," and "reverse glass paintings," alongside a video where Da Corte portrays Marcel Duchamp. Curated by Alison Hearst, the exhibition also integrates some of Da Corte's works into the museum's permanent collection galleries, a first for the institution.

Christie’s presents Post-War to Present as a highlight of its London Summer Season - Christie's

Christie’s has announced its London Summer Season, running from June to August 2025, with the Post-War to Present sales as a central highlight. The season includes live and online auctions, selling exhibitions such as 75 Years of New Contemporaries and Modern British Art: A Selling Exhibition, and cultural partnerships. Key auction highlights include Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's '8pm Zaragoza' (estimate £500,000–700,000), Victor Man's 'The Chandler' (estimate £300,000–500,000), and works by David Hockney, Cecily Brown, KAWS, and Georg Baselitz. The live sale takes place on 26 June, with online bidding from 17 June to 1 July.