Photography, a rapidly growing market: global auctions up 19% and increasing space for contemporary art.

The global photography market experienced a significant surge in 2025, with auction turnover at major houses like Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips rising 19.1% to $40.4 million. A key trend identified in the Deloitte Private report is the shift away from specialized photography-only auctions toward the integration of high-value photographic works into broader modern and contemporary art sales. This transition has helped drive the average hammer price up by nearly 39%, as seen with million-dollar results for artists like Man Ray, Cindy Sherman, and William Eggleston.

AstaGuru Auction house brings Raza, Husain, Souza and other masters to Nehru Centre, Mumbai

AstaGuru Auction House is launching the third edition of its 'ShowKeen' exhibition at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai. The two-day showcase features a curated selection of modern and contemporary Indian art, highlighting works by over 40 influential masters including S.H. Raza, M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, and Akbar Padamsee, alongside contemporary figures like Meetali Singh and Tom Vattakuzhy.

Piacenza, Klimt's Portrait of a Lady is back at the Ricci Oddi Gallery of Modern Art

Gustav Klimt’s "Portrait of a Lady" has returned to the Ricci Oddi Gallery of Modern Art in Piacenza following a successful loan exhibition at the My Art Museum in Seoul. The masterpiece resumes its permanent display just as the gallery prepares to unveil a comprehensive renovation of its 22 exhibition rooms. Designed by Lissoni & Partners, the redevelopment project has modernized over 1,000 square meters of the institution's floor space.

PRESS RELEASE: Christie’s First London-Based Middle Eastern Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Auction Builds On Dubai’s Success, Achieving £5,235,125 / $6,863,249 / €5,826,694 - Christie's

Christie’s successfully transitioned its Middle Eastern Modern & Contemporary Art evening auction from Dubai to London, achieving a total of £5.2 million ($6.8 million). The sale boasted high sell-through rates of 85% by lot and 88% by value, driven by bidders from 23 different countries. Significant highlights included world auction records for Iraqi artist Jewad Selim, whose painting "The Watermelon Seller" fetched over double its estimate, and Mahmoud Sabri, whose work "Grief" sold for more than ten times its high estimate.

Magic: The Gathering in Miniature III: A $100,000 Artist Proof Exhibition

Curator Donny Caltrider recently concluded "Magic: The Gathering in Miniature III" at Gallery Nucleus in Los Angeles, a specialized exhibition featuring 333 artist proof cards. The show brought together original sketches, inks, and paintings from 111 global artists associated with the iconic trading card game. Marking the third iteration of this series, the event saw record-breaking attendance and a significant commercial reception, with over 70% of the works sold during its two-week run.

CONTACT Inaugural Fundraising Gala and Auction

The CONTACT Photography Festival has announced its inaugural fundraising gala and auction, titled PICTURE THIS, to be held on February 24, 2026, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA). The event celebrates the festival's 30th anniversary and features a high-profile auction of works by renowned artists including Edward Burtynsky, Carrie Mae Weems, and Suzy Lake. Led by auctioneer Stephen Ranger, the evening aims to secure the financial future of North America’s largest photography festival.

Saudi painter Safeya Binzagr outshines Picasso at Sotheby’s second sale in Diriyah

Sotheby's second auction in Saudi Arabia, 'Origins II,' concluded with strong results, achieving a hammer total of $15.4 million and an 89% sell-through rate. The sale demonstrated robust demand for regional artists, particularly Arab Modernists, while some high-profile Western works were withdrawn or failed to sell. The standout lot was a 1968 painting by the late Saudi pioneer Safeya Binzagr, titled 'Coffee Shop in Madina Road,' which sold for $1.1 million, significantly outperforming a Picasso work in the same sale.

AstaGuru: An Eminent Digital Auction for the Elite

AstaGuru, an Indian online auction house founded in 2008, has established itself as a leading digital platform for modern and contemporary art, antiques, sports memorabilia, fine silverware, and writing instruments. The company achieved a world record with a ₹17.75 crore bid for a Tyeb Mehta painting in 2017 and boasts a 93% lot sale ratio, auctioning works by notable artists such as Ramkinkar Baij, Krishen Khanna, and Nandalal Bose. Led by directors Tushar Sethi and Vickram Sethi, the platform offers secure bidding, physical previews in Mumbai, and services including consultation, restoration, and valuation.

Red Carpet Reception proves new home’s a winner for Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale | NONPROFIT REGISTER

The 34th Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale held its Red Carpet Reception on Thursday night, drawing over 1,000 guests to its new venue on the second floor of The Legacy, the recently completed $100 million headquarters of the National Western Stock Show. The 2026 show features 93 participating artists and 354 works, including wildlife, landscape, sculpture, and plastics, with a sales goal exceeding $1 million to benefit the National Western Scholarship Trust. Featured artist Logan Maxwell Hagege of Ojai, California, presents works such as "Springtime in the Rockies" ($85,000) and "Indigo Stripes" ($18,500), while his piece "Hopeless Dreamer" was purchased for the Stock Show's Permanent Collection.

Oliver Jeffers: Artist's first Belfast exhibition in more than 20 years

Artist and author Oliver Jeffers is holding his first exhibition in his hometown of Belfast in over 20 years. The show, titled "Disasters and Interventions," is on view at the Naughton Gallery at Queen's University and features a series of works where Jeffers inserts calamitous scenes—such as an oil tanker spill or an airship crash—into tranquil vintage landscapes, transforming calm into catastrophe. The project began when he found a discarded print in New York's Chinatown and began painting into it, eventually building a collection over 14 years that balances tragedy with a wry, thoughtful humor.

Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper & Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale Achieve $56.5 Million - Christie's

Christie's New York held back-to-back Day Sales on November 18, 2025, featuring Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper in the morning and Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale in the afternoon. The two sales achieved a combined total of $56.5 million, with top lots including Edgar Degas's *Danseuses sur la scène* ($1.14 million), Childe Hassam's *The Flower Seller* ($2.15 million), and Robert Delaunay's *Portrait de Jean Metzinger* ($2.03 million). The sales drew from notable collections such as those of Robert F. and Patricia G. Ross Weis, Carol and Terry Wall, and Arnold and Joan Saltzman, with strong bidding across American, Latin American, and European artists.

Philadelphia museum opens $20m expansion after winning back cancelled funding from Trump administration

Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia will unveil a $20 million expansion on November 1, adding the Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art and Education—a converted 19th-century mansion with 14 galleries and an education studio. The project, which also includes four acres of new green space, was funded in part by a gift from the Maguire Foundation and follows the museum's acquisition of the adjacent building in 2021. The expansion allows the museum to display more of its 8,000+ works by regional artists, including Pennsylvania Impressionists and Violet Oakley's preparatory sketches.

“Soy de Tejas” & Cheech Marin: Showcasing Texas Latinx Art in California

The third edition of "Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art" opened at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in Riverside, California. Curated by Rigoberto Luna, the exhibition brings together Texas Latinx artists, including Tina Medina, Karla Garcia, Cande Aguilar, and Joe Peña, showcasing their work on a national stage after previous iterations in San Antonio and Fort Worth. The opening weekend highlighted the significance of presenting Texas artists outside their home state, with Cheech Marin himself engaging with the artists and their families.

The Dutch Masters Were Women, Too

A New York Times article highlights the overlooked contributions of women artists in the Dutch Golden Age, challenging the traditional male-dominated narrative of Dutch Masters. It profiles several female painters such as Judith Leyster, Rachel Ruysch, and Maria Sibylla Merian, whose works were historically undervalued or attributed to men.

Chihuly glass art exhibition fuels SA economy with record visitor turnout

The "Chihuly in the Botanic Garden" exhibition at Adelaide Botanic Garden concluded after seven months, drawing 1.4 million visitors and generating $55.7 million in economic benefits for South Australia. The show featured Seattle-based artist Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures, including ticketed experiences like "In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly" and "Chihuly Nights," which attracted over 200,000 attendees. Key artworks, including the Glacier Ice and Lapis Chandelier and the Jet and Crimson Fiori, will remain as permanent fixtures thanks to donations from local philanthropists.

Tenorio defies the stereotypical with monochrome art exhibition

Merc Tenorio, a self-taught artist, poet, former teacher, and veteran, presents her eighth solo exhibition titled “/liminal/” at the Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA) Gallery. The show features acrylic paintings exclusively in monochrome, stripping away color to challenge both herself and viewers to focus on texture, shape, light, and shadow. Tenorio draws inspiration from Vincent van Gogh and describes her limited palette as emancipating, emphasizing that her intent is not commercial viability but emotional expression and personal evolution.

Towering ambition: the Swiss artist Not Vital's Alpine playground

Swiss artist Not Vital, known for his multidisciplinary practice and SCARCH hybrids, owns Schloss Tarasp, an 11th-century castle in the Engadin region of Switzerland, which he bought in 2016. The castle is part of a foundation he established that also includes Parkin Sent, a sculpture park he acquired in 1998, and the 17th-century Planta House Ardez. Vital's installations in the park, such as "Punt dals asens (Donkey Bridge)" (2001) and "JOSÜJO (Disappearing House)" (2007), invite visitors to explore nature, while at the castle he installed "House to Watch the Sunset" (2018), a tower-like sculpture that challenges architectural logic.

Celebrating British rave culture and the African-American experience in new Croydon video exhibition

A major new art exhibition titled HARDCORE/LOVE opens at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon, showcasing seminal video works by acclaimed artists Arthur Jafa and Mark Leckey. The exhibition combines Jafa's 'Love is the Message, The Message is Death' (2016) and Leckey's 'Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore' (1999), and is led by artist-run studio programme Conditions in partnership with gallerist Gavin Brown. It will run until August 10, 2025.

Gaudi’s original vision for Casa Batlló has been restored

Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona has undergone a €3.5 million restoration that returns the building’s rear façade and private courtyard to their original 1906 design. Led by architect Xavier Villanueva, the year-long project employed local artisans to rebuild Gaudí’s vaulted balcony support system, reinstate lost features such as planters and a pergola, and restore original colors using 85,000 Nolla mosaic pieces, ironwork, stucco, and trencadís. The work coincides with the 20th anniversary of the building’s UNESCO World Heritage designation.

Italian art convinces, international art surprises

Sotheby's and Il Ponte held Modern and Contemporary art auctions in Milan at the end of May, achieving strong results for Italian 20th-century icons and international art. Sotheby's sale on 28 May featured 93 lots, 80 of which were auction debuts, and closed at approximately €11.4 million with a 90% sell-through rate. Top lots included Lucio Fontana's 'Concetto Spaziale, Attese' (1968), which sold for €1.56 million, and works by Giorgio de Chirico, Emilio Vedova, and Alighiero Boetti that far exceeded their high estimates. International highlights included Robert Indiana's 'Decade Autoportrait' selling for €245,000 and Willis Baumeister's 'Moby Dick' setting a record for the artist in Italy.

Augmented reality enjoys growing appeal as a tool for the art trade

Augmented reality (AR) headsets like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest II are gaining traction as tools for the art trade, according to experts interviewed in this article. Gallerists Will Shott and Hal Bromm see potential for virtual tours, studio visits, and previewing artworks in situ, while adviser India Price notes that seeing works at scale in one's own space could boost buyer confidence. However, Martin Murphy of Ringling College of Art and Design argues that practical barriers—such as device personalization and generational divides—may limit adoption among traditional collectors.

Is Banksy getting personal? New lighthouse mural prompts speculation over its philosophical meaning

Banksy has unveiled a new mural on Instagram after a six-month hiatus, depicting a black lighthouse with the stenciled phrase “I want to be what you saw in me.” The work, located in Marseille’s Rue Félix Fregier, marks the first time the artist has referred to himself in the first person in a public mural. Speculation about its meaning ranges from a tribute to a deceased artist known as Lonely Farmer to a moment of rare self-reflection, though Banksy’s studio Pest Control declined to comment.

Austin’s SAGE Studio & Gallery features work of local creators, prepares for art fair

SAGE Studio & Gallery in East Austin supports artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities, providing studio space, community, and gallery representation. Founded in 2017 by Lucy Gross and Katie Stahl, the organization has paid over $200,000 in commissions to its artists, with some earning upwards of $30,000 annually. Artists like Molly Hale create works in fiber, paint, pastels, and other media, and SAGE has collaborated with brands such as Vans, Whataburger, and Austin FC. The studio is preparing for an upcoming art fair.

“Living Archive” Converge+Vertex: Traversing the Minor Gesture of Timeliness concludes exhibition at Barrett Art Gallery

Barrett Art Gallery at Santa Monica College held a closing reception for "Converge+Vertex: Traversing the Minor Gesture of Timeliness" on May 6, featuring DJ sets by artist Leah King, dinner from Alta Adams, and works by Black artists from Los Angeles. Curator Cole James described the exhibition as a "living archive" exploring positive Black representation in a post-racial environment. The show, which had been delayed after a shooting at SMC's media campus, marked the first gallery display for artist Cassidy Everage, recipient of the Otis College Charles White scholarship.

Exhibition of original Bob Dylan paintings to open in London

Bob Dylan, the 83-year-old musician, will unveil 97 recent original paintings at the Halcyon Gallery in London in an exhibition titled "Point Blank." The works are based on sketches created between 2021 and 2022, depicting characters, objects, and scenes from his life, and have been painted over with vivid colors to create what Dylan describes as "living, breathing entities that have emotional resonance." The show opens on 9 May and is free of charge.

Four Galleries to Watch in Milan

Four Milanese galleries—eastcontemporary, MATTA, Martina Simeti, and zaza’—are gaining significant attention for their dynamic programming and role in shaping the city's contemporary art scene. These spaces are championing emerging and mid-career artists, often with a focus on conceptual and research-based practices, and are contributing to a shift in the city's artistic energy, particularly beyond its traditional commercial centers.

GALLERY AN INVITATION TO ENJOY CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE CITY OF BUENOS AIRES

Gallery, a free contemporary art event in Buenos Aires, returns for its first 2026 edition on Saturday, May 16th, connecting over 40 galleries, museums, art spaces, and foundations across the Recoleta, Retiro, and Microcentro neighborhoods. Organized by Arte al Día and Pinta, the event features guided tours led by specialists, live music performances, and special activities at each meeting point. Participating venues include Rolf Art, Vasari, Fundación Klemm, ARTHAUS CENTRAL, Isla Flotante, and others, with support from the Buenos Aires City Ministry of Culture.

And the (Senior Show and URECA Art Exhibition) Winners Are …

The Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at Stony Brook University hosted the opening reception of the ninth annual combined Senior Show and URECA Arts Exhibition on April 29, drawing about 300 attendees including students, faculty, staff, university leaders, and local museum curators. The Senior Show, a nearly 50-year tradition, features works by senior studio art majors and minors, while the URECA exhibition highlights undergraduate research-based art selected by faculty. This year's exhibition is noted for its diversity in subject matter and materials, from chalk painting to digital media, and runs through May 22.

What Portland’s First New York Art Gallery Means for the City

Portland art gallery ILY2 (“I Love You Too”) has opened a permanent outpost in New York City, marking the first time a Portland gallery has established a permanent space in the city. The new gallery, located between Chinatown and Tribeca, inaugurated its space with the second installment of the group show SOFT PINK HARD LINE, which originally started at ILY2’s Portland gallery in the Pearl District. The expansion was conceived by philanthropist Allie Furlotti, who founded ILY2 during the pandemic as a series of pop-up residencies to support local artists.

Could TikTok become the place to buy and sell works of art?

TikTok potrà diventare il posto dove comprare e vendere opere d’arte?

TikTok Shop has launched a new "Fine Art" category, allowing users to buy and sell artworks directly within the app. The initiative was spearheaded by British artist-influencer Sophie Tea, who sold a series of 20 oil paintings titled "Bric-a-Brac" during a three-hour live stream that combined performance art, studio visits, and televised sales. Each piece sold for around £2,800, with TikTok taking a 9% commission. The move applies discovery commerce—where products find users through social feeds rather than active searches—to the art market, bypassing traditional gallery intermediaries.