David Kemp obituary

David Kemp, the British artist known for creating fantastical sculptures from discarded junk and industrial detritus, has died at age 80. Kemp lived in Cornwall and transformed rubbish from abandoned tin mines into works that imagined a prehistoric cult, culminating in his "Museum of the Future" (later "Art of Darkness") installed at Botallack Count House. He received 38 public sculpture commissions across the UK between 1982 and 2011, including the colossal "The Old Transformers" in County Durham, "Tinner's Hounds" in Redruth, and works for the Eden Project such as "Garden of Plastic Delights."

“I Shot Andy Warhol” Upends the Myth of the Great Man

Mary Harron's 1996 film "I Shot Andy Warhol," now restored in 4K for its 30th anniversary, dramatizes the life of Valerie Solanas, the radical feminist author of the "SCUM Manifesto" who attempted to murder Pop art icon Andy Warhol in 1968. Starring Lili Taylor as Solanas and Jared Harris as Warhol, the film explores the intersecting worlds of Warhol's Factory and Solanas's desperate quest for fame and recognition, portraying both figures as deeply flawed and misunderstood individuals caught in a rapidly changing society.

10 Memorable Quotes from David Hockney

10 denkwürdige Zitate von David Hockney

David Hockney, the renowned British painter, has died at the age of 88. The article compiles ten memorable quotes from his career, drawn from interviews with Monopol, The Guardian, Die Zeit, and The Independent. In these quotes, Hockney offers sharp opinions on fellow artists like Gerhard Richter and Jeff Koons, reflects on smoking, cannabis, photography, and the environment, and shares philosophical insights about surface, depth, and the enduring nature of painting.

A Prized Lucien Freud Nude, Estimated at $47 M., is Poised to Break Records at Sotheby’s

A Lucian Freud nude portrait, *Sleeping by the Lion Carpet*, is expected to fetch between £25 million and £35 million ($33.4 million to $46.8 million) at Sotheby’s London on June 24. The painting depicts Sue Tilley, a model and frequent Freud muse who posed for the artist in the 1990s. Tilley expressed surprise at the market frenzy, recalling her sessions with Freud as “very pleasant.” The work is the final and most ambitious of Freud’s four monumental portraits of Tilley, and the last from the series to appear at auction since a 2015 sale set a record for a living artist.

What Carmen Maria Machado Wants You to Know About Power

Carmen Maria Machado, known for her short stories and memoir "In the Dream House," curated a one-room exhibition of paintings by Cuban artist Rocío García at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in New York. Titled "The Object of Power Is Power," the show features García's large-scale canvases exploring themes of sexuality, power, and migration, and marks Machado's first curatorial project after a decade of collaborating with visual artists.

‘I’m carrying rage like a blood-filled egg’: the best of Glasgow International – review

Glasgow International 2024 opens with a powerful show dedicated to David Wojnarowicz, featuring his paintings, photographs, and video works inside a decaying Georgian terrace house. Other standout works include Renèe Helèna Browne's film 'Flat' about rural survival in Donegal, Tanoa Sasraku's sculptural installation 'Tropical Hardware' exploring masculinity and war, and film installations by Rehana Zaman and Naeem Mohaiemen addressing labor conditions and historical violence. The festival unfolds against a backdrop of Glasgow's infrastructural decay, with landmarks like the Charles Rennie Mackintosh School of Art and the Centre for Contemporary Art closed or damaged.

Here is the Artist List for the 16th Gwangju Biennial

The 16th Gwangju Biennial, scheduled for September 5 to November 15, 2026, in South Korea, has announced its artist list featuring over 40 artists and groups. Curated by Singaporean artist and filmmaker Ho Tzu Nyen, the biennial is titled "You Must Change Your Life," a line from Rainer Maria Rilke's sonnet "Archaic Torso of Apollo." Ho, who represented Singapore at the 2011 Venice Biennale and organized the 2019 Asian Art Biennial, is working with assistant curators Che Kyongfa, Park Gahee, Brian Kuan Wood, Lee Yein, and Koyuri Sato.

Georg Baselitz review – a final, furious, chaotic reckoning with death

The article reviews Georg Baselitz's final body of work, created shortly before his death at age 88. Painted from a wheeled office chair due to physical frailty, the works depict falling bodies, upside-down nudes, and frantic insectile forms, grappling with mortality. The exhibition includes golden canvases that canonize Baselitz and his wife Elke, alongside recurring eagle motifs from his youth in postwar Germany.

There Is No Real Normal State

"Es gibt keinen wirklichen Normalzustand"

Neurologe Mario de la Piedra Walter hat ein Buch über das kreative Gehirn geschrieben, in dem er retrospektiv Künstler wie Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, Frida Kahlo und Virginia Woolf untersucht. Er analysiert, wie neurologische Erkrankungen und Wahrnehmungsstörungen – etwa Synästhesie oder Epilepsie – die Werke dieser Künstler beeinflusst haben könnten, und stützt sich dabei auf Symptombeschreibungen in deren Werken und Biografien.

How Light Becomes Visible

Wie Licht sichtbar wird

A group exhibition titled 'Aether Commons. Refracted Cosmologies' at the Stefan Gierowski Foundation in Warsaw explores manifestations of light, placing works by Polish painter Stefan Gierowski (1925–2020) in dialogue with contemporary art. Curated by Berlin-based Azu Nwagbogu, the show features eleven artists including El Anatsui, Andile Dyalvane, Mona Hatoum, Esther Mahlangu, and Julian Kyusang Lee, whose works investigate light's behavior on surfaces, human perception, and how materials emit or absorb light.

Colen Lumley obituary

Colen Lumley, an architect, critic, and painter who helped shape postwar Cambridge architecture, has died at age 93. He was a partner to modernist architect Sir Leslie Martin, contributing to projects such as the Faculty of Music building at Cambridge University, the Museum of Modern Art Oxford, and the Gulbenkian Foundation gallery in Lisbon. After his architectural career, he devoted himself to painting, exhibiting through Cambridge Open Studios.

Is Betting on the Art Market a Terrible Idea?

Prediction market platform Kalshi has launched a section dedicated to art markets, allowing users to bet on outcomes such as whether Andy Warhol will break his auction record this year or if Gustav Klimt's "Portrait of Gertrud Loew" (1902) will sell for more than $40 million at Sotheby's. The platform, regulated by the US government, positions itself as a democratizing force that lets retail investors speculate on an otherwise inaccessible asset class, though trading volumes have been modest compared to other markets like celebrity wedding bets. Competitor Polymarket has hosted similar predictions for years but lacks a dedicated art betting product and is unregulated.

Heir of Margarethe Lieser Sues for Restitution of Gustav Klimt Portrait That Fetched $37.5 M. at Auction in Austria Before the Sale Fell Through

A woman claiming to be the sole heir of Margarethe Lieser has filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court seeking restitution of Gustav Klimt's "Portrait of Fräulein Margarethe Lieser." The painting was sold at Im Kinsky auction house in Austria in 2024 for $37.5 million, setting a record for any artwork sold at auction in Austria, but the Hong Kong collector buyer withdrew their offer after the sale. The suit, filed by Patricia J. Leahy on behalf of herself and others, names Austria's Eva Ropper and Im Kinsky as defendants, alleging the auction house failed to properly identify the subject and ignored the painting's Nazi-era provenance.

High-End Art Market Not Exclusive Enough For You? Now There’s an Art Show Aboard a 236-Foot Yacht Featuring Marina Abramović and Shirin Neshat

A new hyper-exclusive art experience called the Floating Art Hotel has launched aboard a 236-foot superyacht anchored in Monaco Bay during the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The vessel features a curated exhibition titled "States of Motion" with works by Marina Abramović, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Shirin Neshat, and Tomás Saraceno, alongside 14 private suites for a strictly vetted guest list of collectors and cultural figures. The project, conceived as a "traveling private members' club at sea," will later travel to Miami, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi.

Artists Threaten Lawsuit as Venice Biennale Award Crisis Deepens

Nearly 100 artists participating in the 2024 Venice Biennale have threatened legal action after their requests to be removed from consideration for a visitors' choice award were ignored. The artists, including Alfredo Jaar, Zoe Leonard, and Laurie Anderson, expressed shock that their names remained on the ballot despite repeated demands. The award, called the Visitors' Lions Award, was introduced as a last-minute replacement after the Biennale's traditional Golden and Silver Lion Awards were canceled when the jury resigned en masse. The jury stepped down following its decision to disqualify artists from countries accused of crimes against humanity, effectively barring Israel and Russia's pavilions, which led to legal threats from Israel's artist.

More than 100 artists threaten legal action against Venice Biennale

More than 100 artists participating in the Venice Biennale have threatened legal action against the organizers for ignoring their repeated requests to be removed from the visitor-voted Visitors' Lions awards. In a statement posted on e-flux on 3 June, artists from the Biennale's In Minor Keys exhibition and various national pavilions expressed disappointment that the Biennale failed to act on their demands, calling the lack of responsiveness disrespectful and the voting process lacking transparency. The signatories, including Walid Raad, Laurie Anderson, and Pio Abad, said they would begin next steps toward legal action, following a 20 May letter demanding their names be removed and votes disqualified. The Biennale responded on 28 May, stating artists would remain listed to guarantee visitors' freedom of expression but that votes for signatories would not be counted.

Lesbian rebels, exotic dancing and domesticity: New York’s Upstate Photography Biennial – in pictures

The Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) in Kingston, New York, has opened the first-ever New York Upstate Photography Biennial, featuring the work of 39 artists from the Hudson Valley and beyond. Co-curated by Marina Chao and Adam Giles Ryan, the exhibition showcases diverse photographic practices, including Morgan Gwenwald's documentation of a lesbian feminist collective in the 1970s, Allison DeBritz's collages challenging media objectification, Robert Kalman's portraits paired with handwritten responses about American identity, and Viktorsha Uliyanova's textile-based works confronting Soviet conformity. The show runs until September 6, 2026.

Follower of Hieronymus Bosch Painting Sells for Over 10 Times High Estimate in Strong Week for Old Masters in New York

A small painting of hell by a follower of Hieronymus Bosch sold for $537,600 at Sotheby’s in New York, more than ten times its high estimate of $30,000–$50,000, after a six-minute bidding war among ten bidders. The result came during a strong week for Old Masters sales, with Christie’s Old Masters and 19th Century Paintings sale totaling nearly $7 million (89% sell-through rate) and Sotheby’s similar sale reaching $6.4 million (92% sell-through rate). Other standout lots included Francesco Glielmo’s *Elijah and the Angel* ($114,300 against a $15,000–$20,000 estimate), Aert van der Neer’s moonlit landscape ($120,650), and a drawing by Giulio Benso ($53,760, over 13 times its estimate).

Christo-Inspired Public Artwork in Paris By French Artist JR Delayed Because of Storm

A public artwork by French artist JR, inspired by Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 1985 wrapped Pont Neuf, has been delayed after a storm damaged the installation over the River Seine in Paris. The piece, titled La Caverne du Pont Neuf, was scheduled to open on June 6 but has been postponed to a date after June 6 pending a full damage assessment. The trompe l'oeil wrapping transforms the 419-year-old bridge into a rocky outcropping and includes a sound element by Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk.

Venice Biennale Artists Threaten Legal Action Against Organizers For Disregarding Requests to Be Withdrawn from ‘Visitors’ Lions’ Awards

Over 100 artists are threatening legal action against the Venice Biennale Foundation for ignoring their requests to be removed from consideration for the new "Visitors' Lion" awards. The artists, including prominent figures like Laurie Anderson, Alfredo Jaar, and Lubaina Himid, signed a letter published on e-flux demanding their names be withdrawn from the ballot due to the inclusion of national pavilions by Israel and Russia. The dispute follows the resignation of the original Golden Lion jury, which had refused to consider pavilions of countries charged with crimes against humanity, leading the foundation to replace the prize with an audience-voted award. The artists say the foundation has not officially replied to their demands, and they now seek legal recourse.

Twins in a spin at the great British seaside: Sophie Green’s best photograph

Sophie Green discusses her photograph of twins on a spinning ride at a funfair in Weston-super-Mare, taken in 2021 as part of her ongoing project documenting the British seaside. The image captures the intense colors and joyful atmosphere of seaside leisure, which she began photographing during the Covid lockdown when beaches became vital gathering spaces. Green's broader documentary work explores themes of belonging, shared heritage, and subcultures, including projects on banger racing, Black-majority churches in South London, and Irish Traveller horse fairs.

JR's wrapped Pont Neuf installation in Paris damaged in storm

French artist JR's monumental public installation, La Caverne du Pont Neuf, which wrapped the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris in a trompe l'oeil canvas, was damaged by a storm just days before its scheduled opening on 6 June 2026. The project's technical experts are investigating the incident, and a new opening date will be announced after the assessment is complete. The work pays homage to Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 1985 wrapped Pont Neuf and is privately funded through sales of JR's works and support from Snap Inc., Bloomberg Philanthropies, Paris Aéroport, and Salesforce.

Kara Walker Fronts Loewe’s 180th Anniversary Campaign Nodding to Its Art-Filled Past

Loewe has launched a campaign for its 180th anniversary, featuring a capsule collection, an anniversary magazine, and an animated film that highlight the brand's deep ties to the art world. The campaign includes photographs by Talia Chetrit of the collection—adorned with lion motifs—alongside brand ambassadors Julia Garner, Sissy Spacek, and artist Kara Walker, who also appears in a promotional video. This follows the tenure of former creative director Jonathan Anderson, who emphasized art collaborations with figures like Lynda Benglis and Richard Hawkins, and the brand's new creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez continue that tradition.

Miró-Gemälde aus Monaco wird in München versteigert

Munich auction house Karl & Faber will auction a Joan Miró painting from a private collection in Monaco on June 11, as part of its 'Modern Art, Post War & Contemporary Art' sale. The work, titled 'Peinture' (1936), is estimated at €2–2.5 million and is described as one of the most significant Miró pieces offered on the German auction market in over 25 years. The auction also features around 310 lots, including a tempera by Paula Modersohn-Becker valued at €300,000–400,000.

Kölner Dom kostet bald 12 Euro Eintritt - aber nicht immer

Cologne Cathedral, one of Germany's most famous churches and a UNESCO World Heritage site, will charge a €12 entry fee starting July 1. The decision, announced by the cathedral chapter after years of debate, aims to cover rising costs for maintenance, protection, and operations. Exceptions include free entry on certain religious and national holidays, and for worshippers, children under 13, and people with disabilities. Two separate entrances will be used: a free north entrance for prayer and a paid west entrance for full sightseeing, though the chapter says it will trust visitors rather than enforce a 'belief check'.

Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, American artist and satirist, has died at age 40 in São Paulo, local media reports

Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, the American artist and satirist known online as Jerry Gogosian, has died at age 40. She was found dead at the Rosewood hotel in São Paulo, Brazil, on 31 May, according to local media reports. Helphenstein gained fame through her Instagram account, which amassed over 151,000 followers by offering sharp commentary on blue-chip dealers, art fairs, and the art world's inner workings. She previously ran a Los Angeles gallery and later launched the Jerry Gogosian persona in 2018, a name blending critic Jerry Saltz and mega-dealer Larry Gagosian. Her projects included a Sotheby's sale titled 'Suggested Followers: How the Algorithm is Always Right,' a Substack newsletter, and a podcast called 'Art Smack.' She had recently signed with United Talent Agency and expressed ambitions to work for Art Basel's parent company.

‘Like a Klingon prison’: inside Barack Obama’s audacious, near-windowless, $850m presidential library

The article describes the upcoming opening of Barack Obama's $850 million presidential library on Chicago's South Side, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. The 70-meter-tall, mostly windowless granite monolith, nicknamed the "Obamalisk," has drawn comparisons to a flak tower or Klingon prison due to its angular, fortress-like appearance. Obama was deeply involved in the design, pushing for angular forms inspired by sculptor Brâncuși, reversing the architects' usual process of designing from the inside out.

5 New Books to Transport You Elsewhere This June

ARTnews lists five new art books for June 2026 that use art and history as portals to other times and places. The selections include Isaac Butler's 'The Perfect Moment' on the 1980s culture wars, Deborah Levy's 'My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein' on the modernist icon, Ruth Bernard Yeazell's 'Vermeer's Afterlives' on the Dutch painter's legacy, Rem Koolhaas's 'Rem Before Koolhaas' collecting his early journalism, and Katja Hoyer's 'Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe' on the artistic golden age of the Weimar Republic.

My latest masterpiece – a house for toy farm animals! What my son learned from a day making art at home

A parent and art critic spends a day at home with their toddler making and looking at art, from morning play with magnet tiles and crayons to a visit to the William Morris Gallery. The day includes reading art-themed books like Miffy and Mildred the Gallery Cat, decorating the child's room with prints by Moira Frith and William Nicholson, and a trip to a local gallery where the child knows the attendant by name.

Cupcakes, bunting and a bus stuck in the mud: the funeral of Martin Parr – in pictures

Martin Parr's funeral was held at Woodlands Memorial Garden near Bristol, organized by his family and the Martin Parr Foundation. The ceremony featured his favorite music, including 'The Girl from Ipanema,' and was followed by a country fete-themed celebration with bunting, clingfilm-wrapped sandwiches, sad-faced cupcakes, and a tombola of unwanted Christmas gifts, recreating food from his famous photographs. Guests included artist Grayson Perry, who spoke fondly of Parr's obsessive nature and work ethic. Photographer Sophie Green documented the event, as Parr had long been interested in breaking the taboo of funeral photography.