paint drippings art industry news may 2

This week's art industry roundup covers major developments including the sale of Frieze to Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel for $200 million, the opening of Frieze New York amid a cautious market, and the appointment of Alexander Rotter as global president of Christie's. Other highlights include the collapse of a record $32 million Gustav Klimt sale due to restitution issues, Phillips adding country-of-origin details to lot descriptions due to tariff confusion, and gallery moves such as Petzel now representing Tschabalala Self and Hauser & Wirth selling its Upper East Side townhouse for $10.5 million. The Mellon Foundation announced $15 million in emergency funds for state arts councils to offset cuts by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

asia rising morgan stanley artnet

Artnet News and Morgan Stanley have collaborated on a report analyzing the art market's recovery after COVID-19, with a focus on Asia's emergence as a powerful engine. Using data from the Artnet Price Database and Artnet Analytics, the report shows that China (including Hong Kong) has become a dominant force, overtaking the U.S. and U.K. in fine-art auction sales. By 2020, China reclaimed the top-selling global fine-art auction market position, and as of mid-2021, it remains neck and neck with the U.S. The report also examines the role of Hong Kong, which has consistently contributed over 40% of China's fine-art sales, driven by its unique economic policies and integration into the global art market.

the venice biennale spotlights the market for latin american art

The Venice Biennale, often called the 'Olympics of the art world,' is spotlighting Latin American art in its 2024 edition. Curated by Adriano Pedrosa, director of the São Paulo Museum of Art and the first South American and openly queer person to hold the role, the exhibition titled 'Foreigners Everywhere' features over 330 artists, with more than 80 having ties to Latin America—about 24 percent of the show, up from 11 percent in 2022. The article examines the market for Latin American art, noting that while auction records exist (e.g., Frida Kahlo's $34.9 million painting), total auction volume for Latin American artists has declined from $388.3 million in 2015 to $245.5 million last year, reflecting a specialized market dominated by a few internationally recognized figures.

emily fisher landau sothebys results

Sotheby's held a landmark evening auction on November 8 featuring 31 works from the collection of Emily Fisher Landau, a noted art patron who amassed around 1,200 works over 102 years. The sale achieved $406.4 million, surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $344.5–$430.1 million and becoming the most valuable auction dedicated to a female collector in history. Highlights included Pablo Picasso's *Femme à la montre* (1932), which sold for $139 million—the second-highest price for a Picasso at auction—and record-breaking results for Agnes Martin's *Grey Stone II* ($18.7 million), Mark Tansey's *Triumph Over Mastery II* ($11.8 million), and Jasper Johns's *Flags* (1986) ($41 million). Other notable sales included works by Cy Twombly, Ed Ruscha, and Andy Warhol's portrait of Landau.

philipp kaiser leaves marian goodman gallery

Philipp Kaiser is leaving Marian Goodman Gallery after more than six years, with his last day on May 2. He will remain as a curatorial consultant as needed. The gallery cited the recent Los Angeles wildfires as a factor in his decision to return to independent curatorial practice. Kaiser joined in 2019, a surprising move given his museum background, and became president and partner in 2021 when founder Marian Goodman stepped back. During his tenure, the gallery opened new spaces in New York and Los Angeles, but also lost major artists Gerhard Richter, Nan Goldin, and William Kentridge to rival galleries.

the very quotable larry gagosian turns 80 and more juicy art world gossip

Larry Gagosian turned 80 on Saturday, and the art world marked the occasion with two blockbuster exhibitions: a de Kooning show in Chelsea and a Picasso exhibition uptown, curated by Paloma Picasso. This edition of Wet Paint, an Artnet News gossip column by Annie Armstrong, celebrates Gagosian's lesser-known talent for delivering memorable quotes to journalists, despite his legendary elusiveness. The article catalogs some of his most striking lines, including a menacing comment to an employee after the 2008 crash, a Bond-villain-style text to artist Issy Wood, and a six-word response to Jeff Koons leaving for Pace Gallery.

Georg Baselitz obituary

Georg Baselitz, the German painter and sculptor known for his provocative, expressionistic works and his iconic upside-down paintings, has died at the age of 88. The article traces his life from his childhood in war-torn Germany, through his early career as a rebellious artist in divided Berlin, to his rise as an international art star. It highlights his 1961 manifesto poster "Pandemonium I," his rejection of American abstraction, and his controversial 1963 exhibition that was raided by police for its explicit content.

Marian Goodman’s Prized $65 Million Collection Lands at Christie’s

Christie’s has announced the sale of the private collection of the late legendary art dealer Marian Goodman, who passed away in January at age 97. Estimated to bring in approximately $65 million, the collection is headlined by a group of significant works by Gerhard Richter, an artist Goodman championed for four decades. The centerpiece of the auction is Richter’s 1982 painting "Kerze (Candle)," which carries a high estimate of $50 million and will lead a series of dedicated sales in New York this May.

robert mnuchin dealer dead

Robert Mnuchin, an investment banker turned prominent art dealer, died at 92 in Bridgewater, Connecticut. After a 33-year career at Goldman Sachs, he opened C&M Arts in 1992, later partnering with Dominique Lévy to form L&M Arts, and eventually running Mnuchin Gallery. He represented major artists like Willem de Kooning, Andy Warhol, and Mark Rothko, and advised billionaires including Steve A. Cohen and Mitchell Rales. Notably, in 2019 he secured Jeff Koons's sculpture *Rabbit* (1986) for Cohen at Christie's for $91 million, a record for a living artist at auction.

Mark Rothko Painting Agnes Gund Hung in Her Living Room Sells for $98 M., Setting a Record

A Mark Rothko painting, *No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe)* (1964), formerly owned by prominent art patron and Museum of Modern Art president emerita Agnes Gund, sold at Christie’s on Monday night for $98.4 million (including fees). The work, which Gund purchased directly from Rothko in 1967 and kept in her living room until her death last September, received about a dozen bids before hammering at $85 million to a buyer represented by Christie’s specialist Rachael White Young. The sale broke Rothko’s previous auction record of $86.9 million set in 2012 for *Orange, Red, Yellow* (1961), also at Christie’s New York.

Robert Mnuchin's $85.7m Rothko leads Sotheby's $407.5m auction in New York

Sotheby's evening auction in New York on May 13, 2025, realized $407.5 million ($433.1m with fees), led by Mark Rothko's "Brown and Blacks in Reds" (1957) from the collection of the late dealer Robert Mnuchin, which sold for $74m ($85.7m with fees). The sale opened with all eleven lots from Mnuchin's collection achieving a 'white glove' result, totaling $140.7m ($166.3m with fees), and continued with a mixed-vendor contemporary section that added $223m ($266.8m with fees), setting four new artist records.

‘I am very decisive’: designer Jennifer Gilbert on what she collects and why

Designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Jennifer Gilbert, based in Detroit, is selling select works from her contemporary art and design collections at Sotheby's in New York this spring to fund the opening of her own cultural space, Lumana, in Detroit's Little Village neighborhood. Highlights include Joan Mitchell's 1976 canvas *Loom II* (est. $5m-$7m) and Kenneth Noland's 1958 *Circle* (est. $4m-$6m), with proceeds supporting new generations of artists and institutions. Gilbert, who serves on the boards of Cranbrook Academy of Art and BasBlue, recently featured works from her collection in the exhibition *Seen/Scene* at the Shepherd art space.

Bruno Bischofberger, Swiss Art Dealer and Early Backer of Basquiat, Dies at 86

Bruno Bischofberger, the influential Swiss art dealer, collector, and historian, died on Saturday at age 86. He opened his first galleries in Zurich and St. Moritz in 1963, championed American Pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, and became an early backer of Jean-Michel Basquiat, representing him from 1982. Bischofberger also helped found Interview magazine with Peter Brant and was a longtime exhibitor at Art Basel.

5 Under-Recognized Artists Getting Their Due in New York This Season

The article highlights five under-recognized artists whose exhibitions are on view in New York this season, focusing on Domenico Gnoli at Lévy Gorvy Dayan and Raquel Rabinovich at Hutchinson Modern and Contemporary. Gnoli, an Italian painter who died in 1970, is known for his pallid, claustrophobic depictions of everyday subjects, while Rabinovich, who died at 102 in January 2026, created somber minimalist paintings exploring silence and withholding. The piece notes that New York galleries often use the pre-fair period to showcase less prominent artists of great promise.

can slimmed down expo chicago still throw weight around

The 15th edition of Expo Chicago, scheduled for April 9–12, marks a significant transition as the fair's first outing under new director Kate Sierzputowski and its third since being acquired by Frieze. The upcoming edition features a streamlined roster of approximately 130 galleries, a 25 percent decrease from previous years. While blue-chip giants like Gagosian and Zwirner are absent, the fair maintains a strong lineup including Karma, Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, and local mainstays like Monique Meloche, complemented by satellite events and a high-profile benefit directed by Maurizio Cattelan.

art basel paris 2

Art Basel Paris is undergoing a major transformation for its third edition, officially rebranding from 'Paris+ par Art Basel' and moving into the newly renovated Grand Palais. The historic venue, fresh from a $500 million restoration, allows the fair to expand its footprint by 26 percent, hosting 194 galleries compared to last year's 154. The move includes the opening of the ornate balconies for emerging galleries and a new sector called Premise, signaling the fair's transition from a successful 'preamble' to a permanent fixture in the French capital.

The Business of KAWS: What Data and a Museum Show Reveal About His Market

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is currently hosting a major survey of KAWS, marking the final stop of a three-city tour that highlights the artist's unique blend of commercial savvy and institutional ambition. The exhibition features a range of works from diamond-encrusted sculptures for Kid Cudi to a 'genius' membership drive that sold 1,000 KAWS-branded museum memberships at $300 each. Despite a significant cooling in his auction results—dropping from a 2019 peak of $112.9 million to just $7.72 million last year—the artist continues to draw massive crowds, particularly among younger demographics.

art industry news october 9 2019

Sotheby’s Hong Kong concluded its fall auction series with a robust $426 million total, headlined by a record-breaking $25 million sale for Yoshitomo Nara. Amidst this market momentum, Nara’s upcoming LACMA retrospective was announced to travel to Shanghai’s Yuz Museum. Meanwhile, the New York art scene is bracing for major institutional milestones, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 150th-anniversary plans and the imminent public opening of MoMA’s $450 million expansion.

bob rennie national gallery of canada donation 24 artworks

Vancouver-based collector Bob Rennie and his family have donated 24 significant contemporary artworks to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The gift features a major installation by Kerry James Marshall titled 'Wake' (2003–25), alongside works by Brian Jungen, Jin-me Yoon, and 17 pieces by Christopher Williams, marking the latter's debut in the museum's permanent collection.

Paint Drippings: Art Industry News November 21

paint drippings art industry news nov 21

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has appointed Daniel H. Weiss, former head of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as its new director and CEO to provide stability following the controversial dismissal of Sasha Suda. The transition occurs amid a legal battle, with the museum filing court documents alleging Suda misappropriated funds and falsified records. Meanwhile, the auction market saw a historic moment at Sotheby’s, where Gustav Klimt’s 'Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer' sold for $236.4 million, setting a new record for the artist and becoming the most expensive Modern work ever sold at auction.

israeli artist doron langberg addresses atrocities gaza

Israeli artist Doron Langberg is launching his first New York exhibition in seven years at Jeffrey Deitch’s Tribeca gallery, marking a significant shift in his practice. Known primarily for "New Queer Intimism" and domestic portraits, Langberg’s new body of work pivots toward monumental landscapes that grapple with his Jewish identity and the destruction in Gaza. The exhibition features works inspired by his family’s Holocaust history in Ukraine, used as a lens to process current geopolitical violence.

roberts projects esmaa mohamoud cristin tierney debbi kenote

The art world saw significant roster changes and leadership appointments this week, including Roberts Projects announcing representation of Esmaa Mohamoud and Cristin Tierney adding Debbi Kenote. Notable institutional moves include Charles Chemin being named Artistic Director of the Watermill Center and Julia Siemon stepping into a newly created Deputy Director role at the Bard Graduate Center. Additionally, the mid-season auction market showed unexpected strength, highlighted by Jeff Koons’s 'Winter Bears' selling for $7.6 million at Christie’s.

work of the week david hockney english garden

David Hockney’s 1965 painting 'English Garden' is returning to the auction block at Sotheby’s London with an estimate of £2.5 million to £3.5 million ($3.4 million to $4.7 million). Painted while Hockney was teaching at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the work is recognized as his first English landscape and has been held in a private collection for nearly thirty years. It was last sold at auction in 1997 for just £89,500.

paint drippings art industry news mar 3 2

Frieze Los Angeles launched with significant early momentum as Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel acquired three quilts by artist Yvonne Wells from Fort Gansevoort before VIP hours officially began. The fair's opening day saw robust activity, including the $3.7 million sale of an Ed Ruscha painting, while major galleries like Pace Prints and Opera Gallery announced strategic expansions into Los Angeles and Houston respectively.

paint drippings art industry news feb 2 spanish dealers

A series of significant developments occurred across the global art industry this week. Expo Chicago announced a scaled-back edition under new director Kate Sierzputowski, while the Outsider Art Fair revealed its exhibitor list. A long-lost Renaissance portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola resurfaced at the Winter Show. Christie's will sell the collection of the late MoMA trustee Barbara Jakobson, featuring works by Jeff Koons and others. Bonhams made a key hire, and Sotheby's priced a major art-backed securitization. In gallery news, Alissa Friedman returned to Salon 94, Mary Cork joined Lehmann Maupin London, and several artists gained new representation, while New York's Francis Irv gallery announced its closure.

top artists auction 2025

The article reports that the top tier of the art auction market rebounded strongly in 2025, with the ten most expensive lots totaling $757.1 million, a 48% increase from 2024. Gustav Klimt became the top-selling artist, driven by the sale of his *Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer* (1914–16) from the collection of the late Leonard Lauder, which was the most expensive artwork of the year. The rankings saw significant shifts: René Magritte, the top artist in 2024, fell to sixth place, while blue-chip names like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat strengthened their positions. Notably, no women or living artists appeared among the top 20 sellers in 2025, a reversal from the previous year when Yayoi Kusama and Joan Mitchell were present.

7 must see museum shows on view across asia in 2026

Artnet News highlights seven must-see museum exhibitions across Asia in 2026, with a focus on women artists and diverse themes. Key shows include a retrospective of Korean sculptor Kim Yun Shin at the Hoam Museum of Art in Yongin, a posthumous exhibition of Japanese painter Rey Camoy at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, a manga and fantasy art survey at M+ in Hong Kong, and a solo show by Belgian artist Carsten Höller at the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing.

palm beach art guide museums galleries and gardens

Palm Beach is emerging as a major art destination, bolstered by Miami's growing art scene. The article highlights key cultural attractions including the Norton Museum of Art, which underwent a Norman Foster-designed expansion in 2019 and features Dutch Golden Age masterworks from the Leiden Collection, as well as a growing contemporary collection. Other notable sites include the Flagler Museum (Whitehall), a Gilded Age mansion showcasing historic interiors and a private railcar, and the Bunker Artspace, a private museum founded by collector Beth Rudin DeWoody in a converted toy factory, displaying over 600 works from her collection.

museum artists

The article reflects on the final 2025 edition of the Museum Artists list, which tracks the most exhibited artists in U.S. museums each quarter. The author notes that the top artists—such as Marie Watt, Jeffrey Gibson, and Rose B. Simpson—have remained consistent throughout the year, with a narrow band of stars appearing in many shows while a long tail of artists have limited visibility. Below the top 15, notable names include Julie Mehretu, Wangechi Mutu, and Jean Shin, with a cluster of older white female artists like Petah Coyne and Joyce Kozloff also gaining recognition.

rosemarie trockel curious weird spruth magers gladstone

Rosemarie Trockel, the elusive German artist known for her wildly varied and conceptually challenging work, is the subject of a rare profile in ARTnews. The article traces her emergence from the 1980s Cologne art scene, where she became notorious for refusing interviews and producing art that defies easy categorization—spanning knitting machines, video, sculpture, and drawing. A key photograph from her teenage years, showing her in a room plastered with celebrity cutouts, is presented as a rare origin story, though its authenticity is left ambiguous. The piece highlights her declared constants of "woman, inconsistency, reaction to fashionable trends" and her insistence that art should remain a process of discovery rather than a vehicle for fixed meaning.