The group exhibition "Desperate, Scared, But Social" at the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art (Langson IMCA) explores the complexities of contemporary social dynamics and collective anxiety. The show brings together diverse artistic perspectives to examine how individuals navigate a landscape defined by political instability, environmental concerns, and the pervasive influence of digital connectivity.
The artist Catherine Opie is currently the subject of a major three-decade portrait survey, 'To Be Seen', at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The exhibition highlights Opie’s career-long commitment to representing the LGBTQ+ community, specifically the leather dyke scene in Los Angeles, through a lens that balances defiance with playfulness. Even her most provocative works, such as the 1993 self-portrait featuring a domestic scene carved into her back, are revealed to contain elements of humor and historical allusion that counter the despair of the AIDS crisis and personal heartbreak.
The Swedish artist Hilma af Klint is receiving her first major solo exhibition in France, organized by the Grand Palais and the Pompidou Centre. The show focuses on her "Paintings for the Temple," a series of groundbreaking abstract works created years before male peers like Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian claimed to have invented the movement. Af Klint, a mystic who believed she was guided by higher spirits, famously ordered her work to be hidden for 20 years after her death, convinced the world was not yet ready for her vision.
Christie’s has announced that it will auction works from the personal collection of the late legendary dealer Marian Goodman during its May marquee sales in New York. The collection is headlined by seven paintings by Gerhard Richter, including the iconic 1982 work *Kerze (Candle)*, which carries an estimate of $35 million to $50 million. The total group of works from Goodman’s Manhattan home is expected to realize approximately $65 million.
Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, departing her long-standing role at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Starting September 1, Chiu will report to Mariët Westermann, CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, effectively splitting the leadership responsibilities previously held by Richard Armstrong. During her decade-long tenure at the Hirshhorn, Chiu was known for staging massive blockbuster exhibitions, including the record-breaking Yayoi Kusama "Infinity Mirror Rooms" show, though she also faced criticism for commercial ventures like a reality TV competition.
The Museum of Modern Art has launched a massive retrospective of Marcel Duchamp, featuring over 300 works spanning the artist's career from the early 1900s to the late 1960s. Organized in collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the exhibition eschews a heavy-handed narrative in favor of a methodical, factual presentation. Key highlights include the controversial "Genre Allegory" (1943) and his iconic readymades, alongside his early experiments in painting like "Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2)."
The Museum of Modern Art has launched a major retrospective of Marcel Duchamp, co-organized with the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibition tracks the artist's evolution from his early Cubist experiments and the scandal of 'Nude Descending a Staircase' to his radical invention of the readymade, exemplified by the infamous urinal, 'Fountain'. The show presents a comprehensive look at 'The Duch' through a reverential, church-like atmosphere, concluding with his later years as a dapper, enigmatic figure of the avant-garde.
The International Fine Prints and Drawings Association (IFPDA) Print Fair at the Park Avenue Armory is honoring the legacy of master printer Kenneth E. Tyler. A central highlight of the event is the presentation by the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) of a new three-volume catalogue raisonné documenting Tyler Graphics from 1986 to 2001. The 94-year-old Tyler, a foundational figure in American printmaking, collaborated with titans of Modern art including Robert Rauschenberg, Helen Frankenthaler, and Roy Lichtenstein across his storied career at Gemini GEL and Tyler Graphics.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has launched a major retrospective of Marcel Duchamp, marking the first comprehensive North American survey of the artist’s work in over 50 years. Co-organized with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Centre Pompidou, the exhibition traces Duchamp’s evolution from his early Cubo-Futurist paintings to his revolutionary "Readymades" and optical experiments. The show features seminal works such as Nude (Study), Sad Young Man on a Train and explores his various personas, including his female alter ego, Rrose Sélavy.
Major international institutions have secured significant new acquisitions, ranging from intimate photographic archives to monumental silver reliefs. The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art received over 400 stereoscopic slides by Ronnie Cutrone documenting Andy Warhol’s Factory, while the Germanisches Nationalmuseum acquired Luigi Valadier’s final silver masterpiece, 'Lamentation of Christ'. Additionally, the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation donated 14 works to the City of Paris, including the early sculpture 'Package on a Luggage Rack' for the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris.
The article profiles Marta, a prominent art dealer in Los Angeles, highlighting her recent activities and influence within the contemporary art scene. It details her gallery's program, her relationships with artists, and her specific curatorial approach that has garnered significant attention.
An anonymous artist collective known as the Secret Handshake has installed a 10-foot-tall golden toilet sculpture titled 'A Throne Fit for a King' near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The work is a satirical monument to former President Donald Trump's controversial renovation of the White House's Lincoln Bathroom, which he outfitted with gold fixtures during a government shutdown.
Artnet's Price Database analysis reveals that the most-searched artists by its users have remained remarkably consistent over the past decade. Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Marc Chagall continue to hold the top three positions, with David Hockney and Yayoi Kusama joining the list, while Salvador Dalí and Lucio Fontana have dropped off.
David Hockney has launched a critique against the prevalence of abstract art while debuting his latest exhibition, "A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts About Painting," at the Serpentine Galleries. The 88-year-old artist, recovering from an infection at his Kensington studio, presented a nearly 300-foot-long frieze of iPad drawings depicting the seasonal shifts of his Normandy gardens. The show emphasizes Hockney's commitment to figurative representation and observation, utilizing new stippling techniques and reverse-perspective compositions.
Helen Legg has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, transitioning from her current role as director of Tate Liverpool. Starting in June, Legg will oversee the institution’s exhibitions, collections, and public programming, succeeding a period of leadership that saw her manage a major $46 million renovation project at Tate's northern outpost.
The article focuses on the curatorial approach and artistic ethos of the 2025 edition of the 'Made in L.A.' biennial, highlighting how artists are actively engaging with pressing social and political issues rather than retreating into quietism or abstraction. It examines specific works and the overall thematic drive of the exhibition, which is organized by the Hammer Museum and the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
The article is an interview with artist Kelly Wall, conducted by Olivia Gauthier, published in the February 2026 issue of Contemporary Art Review LA. It appears within a broader issue exploring themes like scent in art, tarot, and social urgencies in contemporary practice.
On a recent podcast, artist Damien Hirst identified his manager, Joe Hage, as the most influential person he's met, praising his work with other major artists. Hirst also downplayed the role of major galleries like Gagosian and White Cube, comparing them to 'estate agents,' and revealed a new private commission: an amethyst-encrusted grotto for the Getty family.
Christie’s London has announced that David Hockney’s monumental print 'Autour de la maison, été' (2019) will headline its spring prints season. Measuring nearly 40 feet long and printed on a single sheet of paper, the work depicts the artist’s Normandy estate with a high estimate of £300,000 ($400,000). The piece is noted for its cinematic scale and narrative structure, drawing direct inspiration from the medieval Bayeux Tapestry.
David Hockney has unveiled a major exhibition at London’s Serpentine North, featuring the UK debut of his nearly 300-foot-long iPad frieze, 'A Year in Normandie'. The exhibition also showcases ten brand-new paintings from 2025, including intimate portraits of his inner circle and a series of abstract compositions that playfully reference the styles of Mark Rothko and Gerhard Richter.
British portrait artist Jonathan Yeo is bringing his augmented reality exhibition, "Spectacular," to South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin following its debut at the Centre Pompidou. Developed in collaboration with Snap Inc., the showcase utilizes AR glasses to animate Yeo’s traditional oil paintings, including his famous portrait of King Charles III and a depiction of Cara Delevingne. The experience allows viewers to interact with the works, such as having a digital butterfly from the King's portrait land on their hand, while exploring the intersection of static portraiture and immersive technology.
London’s Design Museum has announced a major retrospective for the Japanese creative polymath NIGO, marking his first significant museum exhibition outside of Japan. Opening in May, the show will feature over 700 objects, including vintage clothing, childhood artifacts, and runway looks that trace his evolution from a punk-influenced student at Bunka Fashion College to the founder of A Bathing Ape (BAPE) and the current artistic director of Kenzo.
Aardman Animations is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a major immersive exhibition titled "Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More" at London’s Lightroom venue. Opening in October 2026, the 50-minute experience will utilize 36-foot-high projections to showcase the studio's claymation legacy, featuring archival footage, original sets, puppets, and newly created animation sequences. The show will be narrated by co-founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton alongside various voice actors, tracing the studio's history from its school-day origins to its status as an employee-owned powerhouse.
gerhard richter church windows
Gerhard Richter has been commissioned to design three stained-glass windows for Tholey Abbey in Saarland, Germany's oldest monastery church. The 87-year-old artist's designs will be unveiled in September, with the final installation expected by summer 2020 as part of the abbey's broader restoration. The project is being funded by a private investor and includes a collaboration with Richter’s longtime creative partner, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
The article "Art as Memorial in Lotusland" by Aleina Grace Edwards appears in the February 2026 issue of Contemporary Art Review LA (CARLA). It is part of a larger issue exploring themes like scent in art, tarot, social urgencies in curation, and video art, positioning it within a critical discussion of contemporary art practices in Los Angeles.
Christie’s has secured a prestigious collection of 35 to 40 artworks from the estate of the late media mogul S.I. Newhouse, valued at approximately $450 million. Scheduled for the May auction season, the selection is headlined by Jackson Pollock’s drip painting 'Number 7' (1948) and Constantin Brancusi’s bronze sculpture 'Danaïde' (1913), both estimated at around $100 million. The consignment marks the fourth time Christie’s has handled material from the Newhouse estate, which has previously set records for artists like Jeff Koons.
Christie’s London achieved a robust £197.5 million ($265 million) across a triple-header of evening sales, including the 20th/21st Century, Art of the Surreal, and the Vanthournout Collection auctions. The evening was headlined by a record-breaking £26.3 million sale of Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture 'King and Queen', alongside new auction highs for Surrealist artists Toyen and Dorothea Tanning. Despite some pre-sale withdrawals and a marathon four-hour runtime, the house achieved a 96 percent sell-through rate by lot.
ai art copyright supreme court ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from computer scientist Stephen Thaler, effectively upholding lower court rulings that AI-generated artwork cannot be copyrighted. The case centered on a 2012 digital work titled "A Recent Entrance to Paradise," which Thaler claimed was created autonomously by his AI system, DABUS. By refusing the case, the court leaves in place the U.S. Copyright Office's stance that copyright protection requires "traditional human authorship."