arrival ditches the art fair frenzy for the berkshires

Three art-world professionals—adviser Sarah Galender Meyer, gallerist Yng-Ru Chen, and artist Crystalle Lacouture—have launched Arrival Art Fair, a biannual, invitation-only event in North Adams, Massachusetts, at the Tourists hotel. The fair features 36 exhibitors selected by curators with regional ties, including galleries such as Jane Lombard, Sears Peyton Gallery, Jessica Silverman, Abattoir Gallery, and Wolfgang Gallery. Programming includes outdoor sculpture, museum talks, and an acquisition prize from the Williams College Museum of Art, with booth fees supplemented by philanthropic support to keep the fair free for visitors.

julie curtiss motherhood pumping painting

Artnet News journalist Annie Armstrong recounts her emotional experience at Art Basel Miami Beach, where she desperately sought to see Julie Curtiss's painting "Mary With the Medela" (2024), a portrait of a woman using a breast pump. As a new mother balancing work and pumping, Armstrong felt a deep personal connection to the work but arrived at the White Cube booth moments after it had been sold and removed from view, leaving her in tears.

Frieze New York marks 15th edition with expanded international reach

Frieze New York marks its 15th edition from 13-17 May at the Shed, featuring 68 galleries from over 25 countries. The fair includes 57 exhibitors in the main section and 11 in Focus, with nearly half maintaining a New York location. First-time participants include Europa, Sargent’s Daughters, Soft Opening, Ulrik, and W-galería. Latin American representation has grown significantly, with 14 galleries from the region, including Campeche from Mexico City, Isla Flotante from Buenos Aires, and Central from São Paulo. Christine Messineo, Frieze’s director of fairs for the Americas, highlights the fair’s increasingly international scope and the strong Brazilian contingent.

Under new ownership, Art Monte Carlo voices 'global ambitions'

The 10th edition of Art Monte Carlo took place from April 29 to May 1 in the Grimaldi Forum, featuring 26 exhibitors ranging from Old Master paintings to contemporary works by Picasso, Warhol, and Richter. The fair was acquired last year by Informa Prestige, a luxury offshoot of Informa, which also owns Miami's Untitled fair. Executive chair John Paton aims to grow the fair, nearly double its size within two years, and expand to another location, leveraging complementary audiences from yachting and supercars.

sales roundup art basel qatar

The inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar launched with a unique booth-less format, prioritizing single-artist presentations and regional connections over the typical high-speed frenzy of European fairs. While the pace of transactions was more measured, significant sales were reported, including a $250,000 video installation by Kutlug Ataman sold by Niru Ratnam to an institution and multiple works by regional stars like Ahmed Mater and Ali Cherri. High-value blue-chip items, including a $42 million Picasso, remained tucked away in private viewing rooms to accommodate the region's preference for discretionary collecting.

art basel qatar 2026 sales report art market

Art Basel Qatar concluded its first edition with strong attendance and sales, signaling Doha's emergence as a significant art market hub. The fair attracted over 17,000 visitors, with nearly half of the private collectors coming from the MENASA region, and saw institutional placements and steady sales across various price points. Notable sales included works by Lucy Bull, Issy Wood, Nari Ward, and Ahmed Mater.

art basel miami lineup change ross kramer

Art Basel Miami Beach has undergone a last-minute lineup change, with gallery Ross + Kramer being replaced by Ross + Co. following an unexplained split between principals Todd Kramer and Ryan Ross. Ryan Ross, who has been in the art business for decades and runs Arcature Fine Art in Palm Beach, will now show under the new name at the fair, which opens to VIPs next week. The change was reported by ARTnews, which noted that the fair's 2025 participant list still links to Ross + Kramer's website, and Ross + Co.'s page features outdated branding.

shanghai art021 west bund art recap

Shanghai's West Bund Art & Design fair and Art021 opened last week with unexpectedly strong sales, despite economic headwinds and regional competition. Many galleries reported brisk first-day sales, with Thaddaeus Ropac placing five works including a Martha Jungwirth painting for €500,000, and Hauser & Worth selling two works for over $1 million. However, major blue-chip galleries like Gagosian and Pace opted out entirely, while others like Almine Rech, White Cube, and David Zwirner scaled back their participation. The fairs took place against a backdrop of China's ongoing property slump and the overlapping Art Collaboration Kyoto, which siphoned attention from international collectors.

art basel paris vip preview sales report

Art Basel Paris opened its VIP preview on Wednesday, following a new invite-only preview called Avant Première on Tuesday. Major galleries reported strong sales, including Hauser & Wirth's $23 million Gerhard Richter abstract, the highest reported sale at the fair. Other notable sales included Julie Mehretu's $11.5 million painting at White Cube, a $4.7 million Bruce Nauman neon at Hauser & Wirth, and a $2.5 million Marlene Dumas painting at David Zwirner. Dealers noted that the staggered two-day opening helped spread out crowds and allowed collectors to return for the official VIP day, with many describing the fair as the most successful edition in Paris to date.

art basel paris avant premiere vip sales report

Art Basel Paris launched a new ultra-exclusive invitation-only preview called Avant Première, held one day before the official VIP preview. The four-hour event on Tuesday afternoon saw strong sales, with Thaddaeus Ropac selling works including a 1953 Alberto Burri for €4.2 million and two George Baselitz pieces, while Hauser & Wirth sold Gerhard Richter's 1987 *Abstraktes Bild* for $23 million, the highest reported sale. The fair limited each gallery to six invites with plus-ones, resulting in an estimated 3,000 attendees compared to 6,000 for the regular First Choice preview, creating a more manageable and urgent atmosphere.

art basel 2025 sales report

Art Basel 2025 in Switzerland, now in its 55th edition, opened with 289 exhibitors amid a soft and unpredictable art market. Major sales included a Ruth Asawa sculpture for $9.5 million at David Zwirner, a Gerhard Richter painting for $6.8 million, and a Keith Haring from 1983 for $3.5 million at Gladstone. The top reported sale was David Hockney's 'Mid November Tunnel' (2006) for $13-17 million at Annely Juda Fine Art. Hauser & Wirth headlined with a moody Mark Rothko from the early 1960s, while galleries adopted strategies of offering wide price ranges and diverse styles to hedge against market uncertainty.

art basel 2025 major works sales

Art Basel 2025 opened in Basel, Switzerland, with nearly 300 leading galleries showcasing high-value artworks despite a turbulent art market. Major works include a Gerhard Richter abstraction (1987) at David Zwirner, priced around $30 million, a Ruth Asawa hanging sculpture sold for $9.5 million, and Picassos at Pace and Helly Nahmad Gallery, with the latter's *Femme nue couchée jouant avec un chat* (1964) listed at $28 million after fetching $21.2 million at auction two years ago. The fair runs through Sunday, offering rare opportunities to view and purchase blue-chip pieces.

7 Essential Museum Exhibitions to Visit in Paris

Paris is hosting a major art week with Art Basel Paris returning to the renovated Grand Palais, alongside numerous other fairs like Paris Internationale, Design Miami.Paris, and Asia NOW. To complement the fair circuit, Galerie has curated a list of seven essential museum exhibitions across the city, including shows on Pontus Hulten with Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely at the Grand Palais, a Gerhard Richter retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton featuring over 270 works, and a survey of Melvin Edwards at the Palais de Tokyo, among others.

Independent Art Fair Trades Downtown for the World

The Independent Art Fair has moved to Pier 36 on the Lower East Side waterfront for its 17th edition, running through May 17. The fair features 76 booths with a more spacious, warehouse-like layout, and a noticeably older, glossier crowd compared to previous years. Exhibitors include Los Angeles-based ATLA and Diane Rosenstein galleries, as well as international participants like Bogotá's SGR Gallery, showcasing solo presentations by artists such as Yoshikazu Tanaka, Kuniko Kinoto, and Johan Samboní. The fair has also announced partnerships with Sotheby's for its 20th-century edition and with the nonprofit Henry Street Settlement, signaling a tension between upscale ambitions and local community ties.

Eyecatchers and Discoveries

Eyecatcher und Entdeckungen

The 42nd edition of Art Brussels has scaled down to 138 exhibitors from 165 in 2025, responding to a sluggish contemporary art market and economic uncertainty. The fair introduces a new section called 'Horizonte,' curated by Devrim Bayar of Kanal Centre Pompidou, featuring six large-scale installations including Pao Hui Kao's delicate paper-and-lacquer refuge and Oswald Oberhuber's €380,000 panoramic painting 'Paradiesgarten.' Galleries are now consolidated into one hall, with fewer blue-chip participants but a continued focus on living artists (95% of the 500 shown). Notable presentations include Xavier Hufkens' solo show of Cassi Namoda, Krinziger's works by Marina Abramović and Monica Bonvicini, and Richard Saltoun's historical mix of Fernand Khnopff, Everlyn Nicodemus, and Suzanne Van Damme.

Art Paris 2026: 10 Booths for Great Discoveries

Art Paris 2026 : 10 stands pour faire de belles découvertes

The 28th edition of Art Paris has opened at the Grand Palais, marked by a vibrant and optimistic atmosphere. The fair features a diverse array of works ranging from Fabrice Hyber’s monumental inflatable bears at the entrance to a curated selection of contemporary ceramics, textiles, and innovative paintings. A central highlight is the "Reparation" thematic itinerary curated by Alexia Fabre, which connects various artists through the concept of healing and transformation.

At the Grand Palais, the Art Paris 2026 Fair is Rich with Great Promise

Au Grand Palais, la foire Art Paris 2026 riche de belles promesses

The Art Paris 2026 fair is set to return to the Grand Palais, solidifying its reputation as a vibrant, French-focused alternative to the more elite Art Basel Paris. Under the long-term leadership of artistic director Guillaume Piens, the edition will feature 165 exhibitors, with a deliberate 60% representation of French galleries. The fair's structure includes the "Promesses" sector for emerging galleries curated by Marc Donnadieu, alongside two major thematic paths: "Babel – Art and Language in France" curated by Loïc Le Gall, and "Reparation" curated by Alexia Fabre.

The New York Fairs Are Done. What Remains?

The article reflects on the conclusion of New York's spring art fair season, highlighting TEFAF New York at the Park Avenue Armory and the Independent Art Fair, which relocated to Pier 36. It notes the ongoing Focus fair for emerging Asian art and spotlights specific artists, including Taiwanese painter Tseng Chien-Ying at Kiang Malingue's booth and Frank Gaard at Post Times, describing their works and the fair's atmosphere of discovery.

Art Dubai’s 20th edition rallies its local art community amid regional tensions.

Art Dubai, the UAE's premier art fair, opened its 20th edition as a scaled-down "Special Edition" from May 14–17 at Madinat Jumeirah, after being postponed due to the Iran–Israel war. For the first time, entry was free, and the lineup was pared to 50 galleries, most from the region, including Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Jeddah, Ramallah, and Dubai.

The 5 Best Booths at miart 2026

The 30th edition of miart opened its doors at the Allianz MiCo convention center in Milan, marking a significant milestone for Italy’s premier international modern and contemporary art fair. As the city continues its ascent as a global art capital, the 2026 fair attracted a diverse continental crowd of collectors and professionals ahead of the upcoming Venice Biennale.

tefaf 2026 female old masters

The 2024 edition of TEFAF Maastricht has opened with a significant focus on rediscovered female Old Masters, highlighted by the third annual 'Map of Women Artists' which now features over 670 works. Major dealers like Lullo Pampoulides and Koetser Gallery are showcasing high-value pieces by Artemisia Gentileschi, Virginia da Vezzo, and Michaelina Wautier, drawing immediate attention from institutional leaders including Metropolitan Museum of Art director Max Hollein.

affordable art fair new york city

The Affordable Art Fair New York returns for its spring 2026 edition at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea, featuring a diverse array of local and international exhibitors. A central highlight of this year's fair is the curated exhibition "Sight Unseen: How Photography Shapes Perception," which showcases artists pushing the boundaries of photography through new technologies, sculptural elements, and alternative processes. All works at the fair are priced between $100 and $12,000, maintaining the event's commitment to price transparency and accessibility.

rhea dillon joyce joumaa baloise art prize art basel

The Baloise Art Prize, worth $36,800, has been awarded to artists Rhea Dillon and Joyce Joumaa at Art Basel. Dillon's "Leaning Figures" sculptures, made from soap and molasses, were presented by London's Soft Opening gallery. Joumaa's installation "Periodic Sights," shown by Montreal's Eli Kerr Gallery, features photographs of Tripoli and Beirut commenting on energy crises in Lebanon. The prize is given annually to two artists in the fair's Statements sector.

Art Basel Qatar Taps Former Mathaf Director Wassan Al-Khudhairi to Shape 2027 Fair

Art Basel has appointed Iraqi curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi as artistic director for the 2027 edition of Art Basel Qatar, succeeding Egyptian artist Wael Shawky who shaped the inaugural edition. The fair will take place January 28–30, 2027, with preview days on January 26–27, at Doha Design District and M7 in Msheireb Downtown Doha. Al-Khudhairi, former founding director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, brings deep ties to Qatar and international curatorial experience from biennials including Gwangju and the Asian Art Biennial.

Latin American galleries dominate at Frieze New York

Frieze New York 2025 features a surge of 14 Latin American galleries from Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, reversing a trend of withdrawal seen during the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. Non-profit support from organizations like Latitude, which helped all eight Brazilian exhibitors, and a concerted effort by Frieze’s Americas team have enabled this increased presence, despite ongoing challenges such as high shipping costs, tariffs, and visa denials—exemplified by Mexican artist Dr Lakra being unable to attend his own show at Kurimanzutto.

expo chicago 2026 exhibitor list

Expo Chicago has announced the list of over 130 exhibitors for its 2026 edition, taking place April 9–12 at Navy Pier. The fair has been reduced by nearly 25 percent compared to 2025, with a smaller floor plan designed to foster deeper engagement. New features include a partnership with the Obama Presidential Center, whose museum director Louise Bernard will curate two sections, and the rebranding of the Exposure section as Focus, curated by Katie A. Pfohl. The Profile section will be curated by Essence Harden, and a continued partnership with the Galleries Association of Korea will bring 12 Korean galleries.

atlanta art fair hub

The second edition of the Atlanta Art Fair took place at Pullman Yards, a historic 27-acre former rail works in the Kirkwood district. The fair, directed by Kelly Freeman, featured around 80 dealers and attracted a diverse crowd, including many high school and college students, with a casual atmosphere far removed from typical art fair elitism. Freeman emphasized teaching the city how to use an art fair, prioritizing accessibility and long-term engagement over immediate sales.

post fair 2026 santa monica exhibitors

Post-Fair will return to Santa Monica from February 26–28 for its second edition, bringing 30 galleries and 31 total exhibitors to the Art Deco former post office that helped define its identity. Founded by Los Angeles dealer Chris Sharp, the fair debuted last year as a low-cost alternative to Los Angeles's expensive fair scene, offering single-artist presentations at a flat fee. This year's edition expands internationally with new participants from Europe and Asia, including Edouard Montassut (Paris), Lovay Fine Arts (Geneva), MISAKO&ROSEN (Tokyo), and P21 (Seoul), alongside additions like Anton Kern (New York), Eli Kerr (Montreal), and White Columns.

auudi dorsey expo chicago

Expo Chicago opened on Thursday at Navy Pier Festival Hall, featuring 20 exhibitors from South Korea in partnership with the Galleries Association of Korea. The fair, acquired by Frieze in 2023 alongside the Armory Show, balances regional character with an increasingly international feel. In the 'Exposure' section spotlighting emerging artists, New York-based Palo Gallery devoted its booth to New Orleans artist Auudi Dorsey (b. 1992). By opening day, Dorsey's painting *Rumble* (2025), depicting a Black boxer, sold for $14,000. The work belongs to his 'Gunslinger' series, named after the Louisiana State Penitentiary's boxing team and inspired by boxer Clifford Etienne. Dorsey's booth, designed with wood-like wallpaper to evoke boxing gyms, drew praise. His recent group show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 'In The Game: Sports, Art, Culture,' and a forthcoming solo exhibition at Palo Gallery, 'Southern Whips' (opening May 15), underscore his rising profile.

warhol muhammad ali 18 million art basel miami beach sale

Lévy Gorvy Dayan sold Andy Warhol's 'Muhammad Ali' (1977) for $18 million during the VIP preview of Art Basel Miami Beach. The painting, autographed by Ali and formerly owned by Richard L. Weisman, was displayed just a few hundred feet from the Miami Beach Convention Center, where Ali defeated Sonny Liston in 1964. The consignment was kept secret until ten days before the fair, and the work drew crowds of buyers and admirers, including Ali's sons and figures connected to Warhol's 'Athletes' series.