In a ‘K-shaped’ economy, the art market's recovery could rely on the super-rich

Sotheby's and Christie's held a series of high-profile auctions in New York in late 2025, generating a combined $2.2 billion from major collections including the Leonard A. Lauder collection, the Cindy and Jay Pritzker collection, and the Robert F. and Patricia G. Ross Weis collection. Star lots included Gustav Klimt's portrait of Elisabeth Lederer ($236.4m), a Vincent van Gogh still life ($62.7m), a Frida Kahlo self-portrait ($54.7m), and a Mark Rothko abstract ($62.2m). Despite these strong results, the total was still 30% below the equivalent sales in 2022, and the article notes a growing number of contemporary gallery closures in 2025.

The eight hotly awaited art-venue openings we are most looking forward to in 2026

The article previews eight major art-venue openings expected in 2026, including the long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, Cardiff's first contemporary art museum (AMOCA), the V&A East Museum in London, the revived Palais de Danse studio of Barbara Hepworth in St Ives, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. It also notes the uncertain status of the Museum of West African Art in Benin City amid political disputes. These projects range from vast new museums and subterranean expansions to restored artist studios, many delayed by funding, planning, or construction challenges.

The most exciting museum openings in 2026

A trio of major museum openings is expected in Los Angeles in 2026: the expansion of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) with its new David Geffen Galleries designed by Peter Zumthor opening in April; the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founded by filmmaker George Lucas and designed by Ma Yansong, opening on 22 September; and the digital artist Refik Anadol's Dataland, the first museum devoted to AI-generated art, opening in spring. Additionally, the Victoria and Albert Museum opens V&A East in London on 18 April, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, opens an expansion on 6 June.

Art market 2025 review: all eyes on the Gulf as Trump destabilises global order

The global art market continued to contract in 2025, with prominent galleries such as Blum, Clearing, Sperone Westwater, Tilton, Kasmin, TJ Boulting, Project Native Informant, Nir Altman, and Altman Siegel closing due to challenging macroeconomic conditions. However, a rebound emerged at the top end by autumn, driven by Sotheby's white-glove sale of the Pauline Karpidas collection, strong VVIP sales at Art Basel Paris, and New York's November auctions, where Klimt's *Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer* (1914-16) sold for $236.3 million and Frida Kahlo's *El Sueño (la cama)* (1940) for $54.7 million. Christie's and Sotheby's reported increased sales from 2024, with second-half auctions up 26% year-on-year, though recovery remains uneven and concentrated in classic secondary-market tastes.

In the bag: Sotheby’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week finds success with Birkins and bling

Sotheby’s inaugural Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi (2-5 December) achieved a total of $133.4m across five live auctions held on a beachfront stage. The sale featured luxury items including a Hermès Birkin Voyageur owned by Jane Birkin ($2.9m), a 31.68-carat pink diamond called The Desert Rose ($8.8m), and a Patek Philippe watch set that became the second most valuable watch sold in Sotheby’s history ($11.9m). No art was offered, but the auction house sold 50 items privately, including the world’s largest fancy deep green diamond. The sell-through rate was strong, with only one piece of real estate and a couple of cars unsold, outperforming Sotheby’s earlier Saudi Arabia sale.

Two more mega museums open in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has opened two new mega museums on Saadiyat Island: the Zayed National Museum (ZNM) and the Natural History Museum, coinciding with the country's 54th National Day. The ZNM, one of five original institutions planned for the Saadiyat Cultural District in 2007, tells the story of the UAE from ancient civilizations to the present, featuring a reconstructed Bronze Age sailing ship and over 1,500 archaeological objects. The openings follow news that Frieze Abu Dhabi will launch next year and that Sotheby's will hold its first auctions in the emirate, with Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ now holding a minority stake in the auction house.

Star drawing from world’s largest private Rembrandt collection could bring $15m at auction

Billionaire entrepreneur Thomas S. Kaplan and his wife Daphne Recanati Kaplan are selling Rembrandt's drawing *Young Lion Resting* (circa 1638-42) from their Leiden Collection, one of the world's largest private holdings of 17th-century Dutch art. Sotheby's announced on November 3 that the work will be auctioned during its Old Masters sales in New York on February 4, 2026, with a pre-sale estimate of $15 million to $20 million. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Panthera, a wild-cat conservation organization co-founded by Kaplan and philanthropist Jonathan Ayers, marking the 20th anniversary of the organization's founding.

KAWS to take centre stage at second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi

The second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, a public art initiative focused on light-based works, will launch on 1 November 2025, featuring 23 installations across four locations including Jubail Island and Al Ain. High-profile street artist KAWS will present a large-scale work showing his signature COMPANION figure reclining while lifting a lit moon. Other participating artists include Emirati sculptor Shaikha Al Mazrou, Dutch duo DRIFT, Maitha Hamdan, Ammar Al Attar, and Hamburg-based Christian Brinkmann, who will debut an interactive audio-visual piece called Floral Resonance.

From royal visitors to extortionate eBay sales: new book offers rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of Vermeer blockbuster

The Rijksmuseum's 2023 Vermeer exhibition, widely considered the most successful show of the century, drew 650,000 visitors and assembled 28 of the artist's 37 known paintings. A new book, *Closer to Vermeer: New Research on the Painter and his Art*, reveals behind-the-scenes details: the initial plan for a broader thematic show was abandoned in favor of a focused Vermeer-only presentation; nine paintings could not be borrowed, including *The Concert* (stolen in 1990) and *The Astronomer* (on loan to Louvre Abu Dhabi); the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum refused to lend *Girl with a Wine Glass*, even rejecting an offer of buses for schoolchildren. The book also discloses that the Dutch king and queen visited multiple times during regular hours, that a quarter of visitors felt context was missing, and that over 3,500 complaints were filed about photography. The most expensive resold ticket on eBay reached $2,724.

Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World

The Art Institute of Chicago presents 'Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World,' a major exhibition running from June 29 to October 5, 2025, featuring over 120 works including paintings, works on paper, photographs, and ephemera. The show explores the personal interests and relationships that shaped the Impressionist artist, highlighting his focus on family, friends, sportsmen, and workers, as well as his unique depictions of nude men. It includes iconic pieces like 'Paris Street; Rainy Day' and 'Floor Scrapers,' alongside lesser-known works such as the Musée d'Orsay's recent acquisition 'Boating Party' and the Louvre Abu Dhabi's 'The Bezique Game,' many from private collections rarely seen by American audiences.

CIMB Artober Art & Soul 2025 is set to catalyse the growth of Malaysia’s art scene

CIMB Artober Art & Soul 2025, an annual art event organized by CIMB Group in Malaysia, has evolved from a pandemic-era lifeline for artists into a major cultural and commercial platform. This year’s edition features over 30 galleries, more than 100 artists, and includes never-before-seen works by the late Malaysian artist Datuk Ibrahim Hussein. The event has been recognized as an official programme of the Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting, underscoring its growing significance in the region.

‘Research powerhouse’: Abu Dhabi's Zayed National Museum confirms 2025 opening

Abu Dhabi's Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners on Saadiyat Island, will open in December 2025. The museum will feature star exhibits including the world's oldest natural pearl (the 8,000-year-old Abu Dhabi Pearl) and an 1,100-year-old Blue Qur'an. Centered on the life of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE, its galleries explore his values such as religious tolerance and trace the country's history from ancient times to the present. The museum aims to become a research powerhouse, supported by a dedicated research fund and collaborations with institutions like the British Museum.

Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World

The Art Institute of Chicago announces "Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World," a major exhibition running from June 29 to October 5, 2025. Featuring over 120 works—including paintings, drawings, photographs, and documents—the show offers a fresh perspective on the Impressionist artist, highlighting his intimate focus on family, friends, sportsmen, and neighborhood life, in contrast to his peers. Key loans include the Musée d'Orsay's recent acquisition "Boating Party" and the Louvre Abu Dhabi's "The Bezique Game," alongside the Art Institute's own "Paris Street; Rainy Day." The exhibition is organized collaboratively by the Art Institute of Chicago, the Musée d'Orsay, and the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Why is the art market turning Gulf-wards?

The art market is shifting its focus toward the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, following a sharp decline in Chinese luxury goods sales (18–20% drop in 2024) and a 31% slump in Chinese art sales. Auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s have established outposts in Saudi Arabia, with Sotheby’s first auction in Diriyah generating $17.3 million and attracting 35% new buyers. The UAE’s tax-haven status and lack of sanctions on Russians have drawn wealthy residents, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 campaign, led by Mohammed bin Salman, is pouring money into cultural projects such as AlUla, Art Week Riyadh, the Islamic Arts Biennale, and a new teamLab Borderless museum in Jeddah.

Leaner, nimbler and more discreet: why some art advisory firms are growing in a downturn

A growing number of "super advisory" firms are being founded by former top-level auction house executives, offering leaner, more discreet art advisory services without the high overheads of major auction houses and galleries. Notable examples include Art Intelligence Global (AIG), launched by Amy Cappellazzo and Yuki Terase after leaving Sotheby's, and Patti Wong & Associates, founded by former Sotheby's Asia chair Patti Wong. These firms leverage decades of experience and personal client relationships to compete in a cautious market where major auction houses have cut staff and digitized operations.

The Jury of the 2026 Venice Art Biennale Will Be Completely Composed of Women

La giuria della Biennale d’Arte di Venezia 2026 sarà tutta composta da donne

The organizing body of the Venice Biennale has announced the international jury for its 61st International Art Exhibition, titled 'In Minor Keys.' For the first time, the five-member jury is composed entirely of women: Solange Oliveira Farkas (president), Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi. They will award the prestigious Golden Lions and special mentions during the awards ceremony on May 9.

A Midwest Frieze: Kate Sierzputowski Takes the Reigns as Director of Expo Chicago From Founder Tony Karman

Kate Sierzputowski has officially stepped into the role of Director at Expo Chicago, succeeding longtime founder Tony Karman following the fair's acquisition by Frieze. As the fair prepares for its April 2025 edition at Navy Pier, Sierzputowski is overseeing a significant transition that includes a streamlined roster of 130 galleries and a more integrated branding presence from the Frieze parent company.

Art exhibitions to explore in the UAE this September

This September, the UAE is hosting a diverse array of art exhibitions across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, ranging from group shows to solo presentations and digital art showcases. Highlights include 'Summer Collective: Wavering Hope' at Ayyam Gallery, featuring 12 Syrian artists; Colombian artist Ana Escobar Saavedra's first solo show at 421 Arts Campus; 'To Know Malaysia Is To Love Malaysia' at the Cultural Foundation, presenting works by NYU Abu Dhabi MFA graduates; 'History Encoded' at kanvas, tracing digital art from algorithmic works to AI and blockchain; and Marwan Bassiouni's 'New Western Views' at Lawrie Shabibi, exploring mosque interiors in Western landscapes.

Why the inaugural Art Week Riyadh was a fair in everything but name

The inaugural Art Week Riyadh (AWR), organized by Saudi Arabia's Visual Arts Commission, took place from April 6-13 in the Jax district of Diriyah. Though officially billed as a non-commercial curated exhibition, the event functioned much like an art fair, with 32 galleries displaying available works, price lists visible on stands, and sales conducted throughout the week. The main exhibition, titled "At The Edge," was curated by Vittoria Matarrese with associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit Lelandais, featuring galleries from Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Standout presentations included works by Ayesha Sultana, Mohamed Bourouissa, Mohammed Al Resayes, and Miramar Al Nayyar, alongside a moving image section and a satellite program of open studios and gallery shows.

Choreography Instead of Cartography

Choreografie statt Kartografie

The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, titled "In Interludes and Transitions," has opened in the JAX District of Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Featuring works by approximately 70 artists across five converted warehouses, the exhibition is curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed with a scenography designed by Formafantasma. Despite regional geopolitical tensions, the event showcases major installations by international artists such as Petrit Halilaj and Thao Nguyen Phan, emphasizing a "choreographic" rather than cartographic approach to global art.

elvira dyangani ose departs macba abu dhabi biennial

Elvira Dyangani Ose is stepping down as the director of the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) in April, months before her contract was set to expire. Her resignation follows a conflict with the MACBA Consortium, which ruled that her new appointment as director of the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial was incompatible with her leadership role in Barcelona. Dyangani Ose, who became the first woman and first person of color to lead the institution in 2021, had requested to balance both positions, but the governing body denied the proposal.

israeli airstrike doha qatar risk of planning art basel fair

On Tuesday, Israel carried out a missile strike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas leaders, with explosions reported in the Leqtaifiya neighborhood and smoke visible over the Katara cultural district. The strike comes as a shock to Qatar, which has built a reputation for stability and is home to major art institutions operated by Qatar Museums, including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, and the Museum of Islamic Art. Art Basel, which announced in May a partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+ to launch Art Basel Doha in February 2026, said it is closely monitoring developments and remains committed to the fair's inaugural edition.

uae to open massive museum in december that reflects historical trajectory of the country

The Zayed National Museum, a new mega museum designed by Foster + Partners, will open on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island in December. Named after the UAE's first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the museum will feature six permanent galleries spanning 300,000 years of history, displaying artifacts including a 1,000-year-old Qur'an, the world's oldest natural pearl (the 8,000-year-old Abu Dhabi Pearl), and objects from the Palaeolithic to Iron Age. It will also host loans from international institutions like the British Museum.

Artist Yeesookyung Reimagines Works Through AI in Seoul-Jeju Exhibition

Artist Yeesookyung, known for her "Translated Vase" series that repairs broken ceramics with gold, has created new AI-driven video works for the exhibition "Fail Better," jointly held at Forum & Space in Seoul and Vido Gallery in Jeju through June 13. The two-person show, curated by Kim Yoon-kyung, also features media artist Yangachi and includes works like "Moonlight Crown," which uses real-time GPS and weather data to generate ever-changing forms, and "Oh, Rose!," a digitally bred rose series produced through an AI generative system.

Louvre Abu Dhabi director Manuel Rabaté leaves to head India’s largest private art museum

Manuel Rabaté, the inaugural director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi since 2016, has been appointed as the first chief executive and director of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in New Delhi. He will step down from his current role on March 7 and join the Indian museum in the first half of this year.

Seeing beyond: Issam Kourbaj on mentoring three young artists for Abu Dhabi Art

Artist Issam Kourbaj is curating and mentoring three emerging UAE-based artists—Salmah Almansoori, Maktoum Al Maktoum, and Alla Abdunabi—for the Beyond Emerging Artists programme at Abu Dhabi Art, which runs November 19–23 at Manarat al-Saadiyat. The artists are creating new works for the fair and separate outdoor installations in Al Ain, including at historical sites like Al Ain Oasis and Jebel Hafeet Tombs, with the outdoor pieces on view for six months. Kourbaj, a Syrian-born artist based in Cambridge, selected the trio for their diverse materials and shared focus on place and memory.

Frieze to launch Abu Dhabi edition in November 2026

Frieze has announced it will launch an Abu Dhabi edition in November 2026, marking its first fair in the Middle East and its eighth global event. The fair will take over the existing Abu Dhabi Art fair through a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), and will be held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District. Dyala Nusseibeh will remain as director. The announcement comes as Frieze's rival Art Basel prepares to launch its own Middle East fair in Doha, Qatar, in February 2025, and follows the recent acquisition of Frieze by Hollywood tycoon Ari Emanuel via his holding company Mari, which has financial ties to Abu Dhabi-based investors.

Art, Public Space, and Urban Regeneration: The New Issue of the Render Newsletter Arrives

Arte, spazio pubblico e rigenerazione urbana: arriva il nuovo numero della newsletter Render (iscrivetevi!)

Artribune has announced the release of the 55th edition of its bi-weekly newsletter, Render, which focuses on public art, urban regeneration, and contemporary architecture. This latest issue features a deep dive by researcher Fabio Ciaravella into the role of public monuments in shaping societal views on peace versus war, alongside an interview with Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak regarding the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the newsletter highlights Italian urban renewal projects, the trend of repurposing abandoned cinemas, and upcoming events like Milan Design Week.

The regeneration of Rome's former barracks begins, where the Museum of Science will also rise. Objectives and timeline of the construction site

Parte la rigenerazione delle ex caserme di Roma, dove sorgerà anche il Museo della Scienza. Obiettivi e tempi del cantiere

The Italian government, through Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and COIMA Sgr, has launched the regeneration of the former Guido Reni military barracks in Rome's Flaminio district. The 5-hectare site, abandoned since 2019 and located opposite the MAXXI museum, will be transformed into a mixed-use urban district including housing, retail, a hotel, green spaces, and a new Museum of Science. Demolitions are set to begin in October 2026, with the project expected to be completed by 2029. The museum will be designed by Rome-based studio ADAT, which won an international competition in 2023.

In Minor Keys: The 61st Biennale di Arte Venezia Opens Under Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025).

The 61st Biennale di Arte Venezia opens under the posthumous curatorial vision of Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025), the late Cameroonian-born curator who reshaped contemporary African and diasporic art discourse. The central exhibition, spanning the Giardini and Arsenale, features 111 participants including artists, collectives, and artist-led organizations from across the Global South, with works in textiles, film, sculpture, and performance that interrogate colonialism, migration, and ecological repair. The Biennale is also marked by a pronounced presence of African and diasporic narratives across national pavilions, including several first-time pavilions from the African continent.