van gogh roulin portraits mfa boston

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has opened "Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits," the first exhibition dedicated to Vincent van Gogh's portraits of the Roulin family—the local postman Joseph Roulin, his wife Augustine, and their children. The show brings together 14 of Van Gogh's 26 depictions of the family, including loans from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. The exhibition was inspired by a 2018 conversation between curators Nienke Bakker and Katie Hanson, who realized no show had ever focused on this working-class family that was so central to Van Gogh's portraiture.

10 most expensive women artists

A Frida Kahlo painting, *El Sueño (La Cama)* (1954), sold at Sotheby’s New York for $54.7 million, setting a new auction record for the most expensive artwork by a female artist. The article, using data from the Artnet Price Database, lists the ten most expensive women artists at auction, including Lee Krasner ($11.6 million for *The Eye is the First Circle*), Jenny Saville ($12.4 million for *Propped*), Marlene Dumas ($13.6 million for *Miss January*), and Agnes Martin ($18.7 million for *Grey Stone II*).

portland art museum expansion renovation

The Portland Art Museum has completed a $116 million expansion and renovation, integrating two neighboring buildings and adding nearly 100,000 square feet of public and gallery space. The centerpiece is a 21,000-square-foot glass pavilion named after Mark Rothko, who grew up in Portland and attended the museum's art school. The project, largely privately funded, unites the original 1932 Belluschi building with the 1927 Mark Building (a former Masonic Temple) via a transparent, 24-hour pedestrian tunnel. Director Brian Ferriso led the capital campaign, which also raised $30 million for the endowment, and recruited Hennebery Eddy Architects and Vinci Hamp Architects as designers.

andy warhol prints

Long-Sharp Gallery has opened a new online and in-person exhibition titled "Warhol's 1950s Printmaking: The Blotted Line" at the Conrad Indianapolis, showcasing a curated selection of Andy Warhol's early blotted line drawings from the 1950s. These works, which combine drawing and printmaking, feature motifs ranging from florals to figuration and were kept by Warhol after their creation, with provenance from his Estate. Gallery owner Rhonda Long-Sharp discusses the significance of these pieces, including a favorite work, *Roses* (ca. 1956), and shares insights into Warhol's personal history and artistic development.

It’s the Most Controversial Venice Biennale in Years. Can the Art Stand Up to the Noise?

The 2026 Venice Biennale is embroiled in controversy, with the US Pavilion at the center of a political storm. The Trump administration's State Department overhauled the selection process, bypassing the usual NEA panel and commissioning a nonprofit, the American Arts Conservancy, to organize the pavilion. Artist Alma Allen, who accepted the invitation despite threats from galleries and curators, presents a show that critics find politically muted. The Biennale's jury resigned days before the opening, and annual prizes were canceled, adding to the turmoil.

The Only Guide to This Year’s Venice Biennale You Will Ever Need

The 61st Venice Biennale opens amid significant turmoil. The entire jury of the International Art Exhibition resigned after a statement about withholding prizes from countries with leaders charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC, leading to the cancellation of the Golden Lion awards in favor of 'Visitors' Lions' to be given at the exhibition's end. The event has been further marred by the sudden death of artistic director Koyo Kouoh from liver cancer in early 2025, and the death of artist Henrike Naumann, who was set to debut work in the German pavilion. Additionally, the selection process for the American pavilion artist, Mexico-based sculptor Alma Allen, sparked controversy after a delayed grant application process.

Everywhere you need to be during Frieze L.A.

The Los Angeles art scene is preparing for a major surge of activity anchored by the return of Frieze Los Angeles to the Santa Monica Airport from February 26 to March 1. The week features a dense schedule of satellite fairs including the inaugural West Coast edition of Indianapolis’s Butter Fine Art Fair, the boutique Post-Fair in a historic Art Deco post office, and the poolside Felix Art Fair at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Major gallery presentations include James Turrell at Pace, Sam Gilliam at David Kordansky, and a high-profile opening for Christina Quarles at Hauser & Wirth.

8 Must-See Solo Gallery Shows in March

This month’s gallery circuit features a series of high-profile solo exhibitions across the United States, headlined by a museum-quality survey of Jasper Johns at Gagosian. The selection highlights diverse artistic approaches, from Johns’s seminal 1970s crosshatch paintings to Yuko Mohri’s kinetic installations at Tanya Bonakdar and Gabriel de la Mora’s material-focused conceptual works at Perrotin. Other notable shows include Christina Quarles’s new paintings at Hauser & Wirth, which explore themes of loss and resilience.

11 Must-See Museum Exhibitions in 2026

Artsy has published a list of 11 must-see museum exhibitions scheduled for 2026, highlighting major retrospectives and biennials. The article opens by reflecting on 2025's trend of amplifying marginalized voices, citing exhibitions like "Paris Noir" at the Centre Pompidou and the Turner Prize win of neurodivergent artist Nnena Kalu. For 2026, the piece notes a shift toward large-scale retrospectives of established figures, including Tracey Emin's "A Second Life" at Tate Modern and "Raphael: Sublime Poetry" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, alongside major biennials such as the 61st Venice Biennale, the 18th Lyon Biennale, and the 16th Gwangju Biennale.

22 art exhibitions in L.A. to look forward to in 2026

Los Angeles is set for a major year in visual arts in 2026, with 22 notable exhibitions and events planned across the city. Highlights include the opening of the world’s first AI arts museum (Dataland), the long-awaited Lucas Museum, Yoko Ono’s first solo show in L.A., and the LA Art Show featuring Sylvester Stallone’s abstract works and a new Latin American Pavilion. Other exhibitions include a Selena retrospective at the Grammy Museum and a video art survey at the historic Variety Arts Theater.

In memoriam: remembering art world figures who died in 2025

This article from The Art Newspaper, published as 2026 begins, memorializes key figures from the art world who died in 2025. The list includes artist and activist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, filmmaker and artist David Lynch, conceptual artist Mel Bochner, collector and patron Guy Ullens (co-founder of Beijing's UCCA), curator Koyo Kouoh (the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale), photographer Sebastião Salgado, broadcaster Alan Yentob, and sculptor Joel Shapiro. Each entry summarizes their career highlights and contributions.

All we want for Christmas: The Art Newspaper 2025 gift guide

The Art Newspaper has published its 2025 Christmas gift guide, featuring a curated selection of art-related presents. Suggestions include art supplies from London's historic L. Cornelissen & Son, Japanese Irojiten color pencils, and cookbooks like "The Kitchen Studio: Culinary Creations by Artists" and the out-of-print "The Museum of Modern Art Artists' Cookbook." The guide also includes fantasy gift lists from Frieze and Art UK, with items such as Alexander Calder playing cards and a Tom of Finland cushion from House of Voltaire, alongside more unusual ideas like a sponsorship deal for a Victorian loo or a Lego Louvre heist set.

8 Must-See Solo Gallery Shows in December

Galerie magazine has curated a list of eight must-see solo gallery shows across the United States for December, highlighting exhibitions from New York to Los Angeles. Featured artists include Alex Da Corte, whose show at Matthew Marks Gallery presents 11 new sculptures in a narrative setting, including life-size self-portraits as the Pink Panther and Popeye; and Sylvia Snowden, whose exhibition "On the Verge" at White Cube in New York showcases 20 paintings from her career, exploring human struggles and joys through textured impasto works. Other notable shows include Marilyn Minter's portraits of celebrities at Regen Projects in Los Angeles.

Sotheby’s Shatters Records at Its Breuer Debut as a $236.4M Klimt Leads the $706M Evening Sale

Sotheby's held its debut evening sale at the Breuer building in New York on November 18, achieving a record-breaking $706 million total. The highlight was the white-glove auction of Leonard A. Lauder's collection of 20th-century masterpieces, which alone brought $527.5 million. Gustav Klimt's portrait *Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer* (1914-16) sold for $236.4 million, setting a new record for the artist and for Sotheby's Modern category. The evening also included a strong Contemporary sale led by Maurizio Cattelan's golden toilet at $12.1 million, with active bidding from Asian collectors.

Mon oncle d’Amérique

Art Basel Paris officially opened on October 22, 2024, with a new VIP tier called 'Avant-Première' granting early access to favored collectors. The fair saw a shift in mood from socializing to business-focused transactions, with multimillion-dollar works on offer, including a Gerhard Richter painting reportedly sold for over $20 million by Hauser & Wirth. Pre-fair events included dinners hosted by Marian Goodman for artist Paul Sietsema, gallery openings at Salon 94's new Palais-Royal space, and a VIP evening at the Musée d'Orsay for a Bridget Riley exhibition. American galleries and collectors dominated the week's parties, with events by David Zwirner, Gladstone, and others.

Must-see Van Gogh exhibitions in 2026

Several major Van Gogh exhibitions are scheduled for 2026 across Japan and the Netherlands. In Nagoya, the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art hosts "Van Gogh's Home: The Van Gogh Museum" (January–March), featuring 24 paintings and five drawings from the Amsterdam museum. Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum presents "Yellow: More than Van Gogh's Favourite Colour" (February–May), exploring the color yellow through Van Gogh's Sunflowers and works by other artists. A touring exhibition from the Kröller-Müller Museum, "The Grand Van Gogh Exhibition," travels from Kobe to Fukushima and Tokyo with 37 paintings and 20 drawings. The Kröller-Müller Museum itself plans "All Van Goghs" (September 2026–January 2027), reuniting its entire collection for the first time since 1984. Den Bosch's Noordbrabants Museum examines Van Gogh's influence on Jan Sluijters in "Jan and Vincent: About Light" (October 2026–February 2027). Several ongoing exhibitions continue into early 2026, including "Van Gogh and the Roulins" and "Captivated by Vincent" at the Van Gogh Museum, and "Van Gogh and the Potato" in Den Bosch.

Discover 10 Highlights from Art Basel Paris 2025

Art Basel Paris 2025, now in its fourth edition, took place from October 22–26 at the restored 1900 Paris Exposition venue, a Beaux-Arts landmark with Art Nouveau iron and glasswork. The fair hosted 206 international galleries and introduced a new 'Avant-Première' V.V.I.P. day on October 21, where each gallery could allocate six guest passes. Blue-chip sales were swift, led by Hauser & Wirth selling Gerhard Richter's *Abstraktes Bild* (1987) for $23 million to a European collector. Other notable sales included Bruce Nauman's neon sculpture *Masturbating Man* for over $4.7 million and Amedeo Modigliani's *Jeune fille aux macarons* (1918) for $10 million at Pace Gallery. The fair also featured curatorial sectors Emergence (16 solo presentations by emerging artists) and Premise (ten historical projects with works predating 1900).

A tale of two philanthropies: why private foundations differ in London and Paris

Two new private philanthropic art spaces have opened in London this month: YDP (Yan Du Projects) in Bedford Square, founded by Chinese patron Yan Du, and Ibraaz in Fitzrovia, funded by Tunisian-Swiss banker Kamel Lazaar and run by his daughter Lina Lazaar. YDP focuses on Asian and Asian diasporic art, while Ibraaz centers art of the "global majority," featuring works like Ibrahim Mahama's installation and a library by the Otolith Group. Both founders, in their early 40s, represent a younger generation of patrons prioritizing social impact over legacy.

When Gagosian Goes So Do His Galleries, How Hockney’s Swimmer Swam Away, and Green Shoots in the Gallery World

Kenny Schachter's article opens with a broad critique of the political climate under the Trump administration, linking it to a chilling effect on free speech and democracy, before pivoting to the art world. He notes the absence of a U.S. representative for the 61st Venice Biennale, mentions Marilyn Minter's protest piece, and references David Hockney's *Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)* at Christie's. The piece also touches on market negativity, the resilience of art, and skepticism about the Middle East as a market savior.

Jenny Saville: ‘You are having a conversation with the paint, as well as with the sitter’

British artist Jenny Saville, known for her monumental paintings of the female form, is the subject of a major survey exhibition titled "The Anatomy of Painting" at the National Portrait Gallery in London, which opened in June. The show traces her practice from the 1990s to the present day, featuring portrait heads and figures that push the boundaries of portraiture. Saville, who broke the auction record for a living female artist in 2018 when her self-portrait "Propped" (1992) sold for £9.5m at Sotheby's, discusses her influences—including Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Frank Auerbach—and her ongoing exploration of corporeality and painterliness in an interview with The Art Newspaper.

Exhibitions Coming to North Texas Museums this Summer

Museums across the Dallas-Fort Worth area have announced their summer exhibitions, including a range of shows from Western art that influenced Hollywood to immersive installations and historical surveys. The Sid Richardson Museum in Fort Worth debuted "The Cinematic West: The Art That Made the Movies," which explores how artists like Frederic Remington and Charles Russell shaped early silent Western films through paintings, sculptures, and ephemera. The Dallas Museum of Art reopened its popular Yayoi Kusama infinity room, "All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins," while the Nasher Sculpture Center opened "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture," featuring 50 works from its permanent collection. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art is opening "East of the Pacific: Making Histories of Asian American Art" alongside a Richard Avedon exhibition.

At Sotheby’s, a $70M Giacometti Fails to Sell While Works By Munch and Cézanne Ignite Buyer Excitement

Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction on May 13, 2025, achieved $186.4 million in sales but was overshadowed by the failure of its headline lot: Alberto Giacometti’s hand-painted bronze bust *Grande tête mince (Grande tête de Diego)*, estimated at $70 million. The work, consigned by the Soloviev Foundation, went unsold after minimal bidding, lacking a guarantee or irrevocable bid. Other highlights included a strong performance by Edvard Munch and Paul Cézanne works, with 40% of lots exceeding high estimates. Notable sales included Georgia O’Keeffe’s *Leaves of a Plant* ($12.97 million) and Alexander Calder’s *Four Big Dots* ($8.285 million), both fresh to market.

The Ultimate Guide to New York Art Week 2025

New York Art Week 2025 is underway as the international art world converges on the city for a series of major spring fairs. Galerie has surveyed six key fairs—Frieze New York, Independent, TEFAF New York, NADA New York, Future Fair, and Esther II—highlighting standout artworks and notable presentations. Highlights include Jeff Koons' Hulk sculptures at Gagosian, Claire Tabouret's new paintings at Perrotin, and Tuan Andrew Nguyen's kinetic sculptures at James Cohan. Independent returns to Spring Studios with its 16th edition, featuring a new curatorial initiative, Independent Debuts, showcasing 26 emerging artists including Shafei Xia, Laura Footes, and Lewis Brander.

emily sargent

The article reveals that Emily Sargent (1857–1936), sister of famed portraitist John Singer Sargent, was a dedicated and original watercolorist whose extensive body of work remained hidden for decades. In 1998, a family member discovered a trunk containing 440 of her watercolors, and after nearly 25 years, the Sargent family has begun donating these works to major museums in the U.S. and U.K., including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (45 works), the Tate, London (29), the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. (24), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (22), and the Brooklyn Museum (20).

A Londra si allestisce un’installazione di Christo e Jeanne-Claude che non si era mai vista prima

An unprecedented installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, titled "Air Package on a Ceiling," is being exhibited for the first time at Gagosian's Grosvenor Hill space in London, opening May 21, 2026. The work was originally conceived in 1968 for the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia but never realized due to technical constraints. It was rediscovered in 2018 when Lorenza Giovanelli, Christo's former studio manager, found a detailed scale model hidden inside a pedestal. The exhibition also includes early works such as "Wrapped Automobile—Volvo, Model PV-544" (1981), not seen in thirty years, alongside preparatory drawings and collages.

Art Workers Plan Venice Biennale Strike

Cultural workers, labor unions, and grassroots groups are planning a strike at the Venice Biennale on Friday, May 8, organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance and others. The action, described as the first organized strike within the Biennale, aims to protest Israel's inclusion in the event, with participants withholding their labor and calling to "shut down the genocide pavilion." The article also covers other art news, including exhibitions in Los Angeles, a profile of nonagenarian artist Mohammad Omer Khalil, and memes about the Met Gala.

Remembering Raghu Rai, Jack Thornell, and Jarvis Rockwell

Hyperallergic's weekly 'In Memoriam' column honors eight recently deceased figures from the art world, including Indian photojournalist Raghu Rai (1942–2026), Argentine abstract painter Ides Kihlen (1917–2026), Israeli painter and activist Yair Garbuz (1945–2026), British photographer Mark Gerson (1921–2026), Japanese art collector Kurt Gitter (1937–2026), Danish antiquities dealer Ittai Gradel (1965–2026), indigo textile artist Leigh Magar (1968–2026), and Kenyan muralist Patrick Mukabi (1967–2026). Each entry summarizes their life, career highlights, and contributions to visual art and photography.

Rare Letter Reveals Cash-Strapped Monet Once Put His Paintings Up as Collateral

A rare 1875 letter from Claude Monet, up for auction on March 25, reveals the artist secured a 1,000-franc loan by pledging 35 of his paintings as collateral. The document details his agreement to repay the loan from the proceeds of a future sale, listing specific works including the later-famous 'La Japonaise,' and highlights his persistent financial desperation during this period.

At the Tate Modern, the Moving Renaissance of Tracey Emin

À la Tate Modern, la bouleversante renaissance de Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin has returned to the Tate Modern for a major retrospective titled "A Second Life," marking a poignant milestone in her career. The exhibition features over a hundred works, including the iconic and once-scandalous "My Bed," which first catapulted her to international fame during the 1999 Turner Prize. This survey explores her evolution from the "enfant terrible" of the Young British Artists to a Dame of the British Empire, showcasing her multidisciplinary practice across painting, sculpture, and installation.

Look Inside the Art-Filled Home of New York City's Cultural Crusaders

This profile explores the Upper West Side residence of Crystal McCrary McGuire and Raymond J. McGuire, a power couple deeply embedded in New York City’s cultural and financial sectors. Their home serves as a private gallery for a significant collection of African American art, featuring masterworks by Norman Lewis, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Elizabeth Catlett, and Romare Bearden. The couple’s shared passion for collecting began independently, sparked by their formative years studying in France, and has since evolved into a joint mission to preserve and live alongside Black artistic heritage.