Christie’s Quietly Deletes Digital Art Department

Christie’s has quietly dissolved its dedicated digital art department, laying off two staff members including vice president Nicole Sales Giles, as part of a strategic shift to fold digital art sales into its broader 20th and 21st Century Art category. The move follows a two-year contraction in the art market and a dramatic decline in NFT trading volume from $2.97 billion in 2021 to $197 million in 2024, mirroring similar downsizing at Sotheby’s and the shuttering of platforms like Async Art and KnownOrigin.

City Hall to mark 24th anniversary of 9/11 with art exhibition

City Hall in New York City will mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with an art exhibition organized by former NYPD officer Paul McCormack, who lost most of his sight due to chemicals at the cleanup site, and his wife Nicola McClean, a photographer. Their nonprofit, Ground Zero 360, is showcasing more than 30 works from a collection of over 120 pieces created by more than 60 international artists for the 10-year anniversary in 2011. The exhibition includes photographs, drawings, paintings, and mixed media, and features a portrait of Moira Smith, the only female NYPD officer killed on 9/11. The display will be open for two months starting Monday.

Euan Uglow monograph offers a fresh perspective through memoirs, papers and contributions

Andrew Lambirth's new book, *The Uglow Papers*, takes an unconventional approach to the monograph on British painter Euan Uglow (1932-2000). Instead of a traditional narrative, Lambirth compiles around 30 personal memoirs, papers, and contributions from friends, students, and colleagues—gathered through interviews, phone calls, emails, and letters. These firsthand accounts, paired with a concise introduction and a glossary of names, offer intimate recollections of Uglow's rigorous studio practice, his teaching methods, and his social life, including details about his Sunday night open houses and shared meals. The book also traces Uglow's artistic development from his studies at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts and the Slade School of Fine Art, through his mentorship under William Coldstream, to his own distinctive geometric and emotionally charged works like *The Diagonal* (1971-77) and *Pyramid* (1993-96).

How Private Art Collectors In Singapore Are Helping To Shape Our Artistic Future

Singapore entrepreneur Chong Huai Seng and his daughter Ning Chong are presenting "Artist's Proof: Singapore at 60," a landmark exhibition at Artspace @ Helutrans running until 17 August 2025. Featuring over 90 artworks from Chong's private collection, the show spans 1940 to 2025 and includes more than 50 artists, mostly Singaporeans, such as Cultural Medallion recipients Cheong Soo Pieng, Chua Mia Tee, and Lee Wen, alongside emerging talents. For the first time, Chong commissioned 11 new artworks and an original musical composition for the exhibition, which he describes as his "love letter to Singapore."

Works by Stanley Spencer 'never been seen before' to be auctioned this week

A collection of previously unseen artworks and personal memorabilia from the Stanley Spencer family archives will be auctioned this week. The sale, titled 'Kindred Spirits: The Artistic World of Sir Stanley Spencer,' includes drawings, paintings, early sketchbooks, letters, and personal artefacts that have never been published or exhibited. The collection was consigned by the Estate of Sir Stanley Spencer and offered by his grandson John Spencer, the last direct descendant, following the deaths of Spencer's daughters. The auction takes place at Dreweatts' Modern & Contemporary Art sale on July 10, 2025, featuring works by Spencer, his wife Hilda Carline, and his brother Gilbert Spencer.

Shrewsbury Arts Trail: Open Exhibition Wows at SM&AG

The Shrewsbury Arts Trail Open Exhibition has opened at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, showcasing 144 works selected from 347 submissions by 148 local and regional artists. Organizers Phil Langstaff, Jessica Richards, and Pat Wilcox curated the show without a specific theme to encourage creative freedom. The exhibition also includes works by internationally recognized artists such as Halima Cassell MBE, Ian Rayer-Smith, Laura Ford, James Tapscott, Jacob Chandler, Picasso, and Andy Warhol in a separate 'Inspirational Exhibition.' The Open Exhibition continues at The Parade Shops with an additional 48 works on display.

Art Meets Acne: The Opening Of The Acne Paper Gallery

Swedish fashion brand Acne Studios has opened a permanent art gallery called the Acne Paper Palais Royal in its original Paris location, which first opened in 2008. The inaugural exhibition features Dutch photographer Paul Kooiker, who photographed 42 art students from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam in black-and-white portraits reminiscent of classic school photos. The gallery will host a cross-disciplinary program including exhibitions, artist talks, magazine launches, and book signings.

Exhibition in Abu Dhabi marks collaboration between Korean and Emirati institutions

A partnership exhibition titled "Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits" has opened at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, featuring 29 Korean contemporary artists from the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) collection. Organized with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), the show includes works by Nam June Paik, Haegue Yang, Lee Bul, and others, and runs until 30 June. A reciprocal exhibition of Emirati artists, "Intense Proximities," will open at SeMA in December 2025. The curators, Maya El Khalil and Kyung-hwan Yeo, chose to present each country's art scene separately to allow full appreciation on its own terms.

Eric Cantona and Ella Toone help meld football and art for Manchester festival

The Manchester International Festival presents "Football City, Art United," an exhibition that pairs 11 footballers with contemporary artists to create collaborative artworks. Highlights include a tunnel installation by artist Paul Pfeiffer and former Dutch footballer Edgar Davids, recreating pre-match tension; a piece by Eric Cantona and artist Ryan Gander exploring fame; and an interactive work by artist collective Keiken with England star Ella Toone. The exhibition is co-curated by Serpentine artistic director Hans Ulrich Obrist, Josh Willdigg, and former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, and takes place at Aviva Studios in Manchester.

Oasis Fever Hits Sotheby's: 'Liam + Noel' Portrait Set to Fetch $2 Million USD

Elizabeth Peyton's 1996 double portrait of Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, titled *Liam + Noel (Gallagher)*, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's contemporary art sale in London on June 24. The painting is expected to fetch between £1.5 million and £2 million GBP ($2.03–$2.71 million USD). Created at the peak of the band's fame following their historic Knebworth Park shows, the portrait captures the brothers in a tight embrace, with Sotheby's specialist Antonia Gardner noting the "quiet tension" that foreshadowed their 2009 breakup. The work will be on public view at Sotheby's London galleries from June 18–24.

'Black Gold: Stories Untold' art exhibit reclaims forgotten histories of Black Californians at Fort Point

A new immersive art exhibition titled 'Black Gold: Stories Untold' opens at Fort Point in San Francisco, featuring 25 commissioned works by 17 artists that uncover the overlooked histories of Black Californians from the Gold Rush through Reconstruction. Curated by FOR-SITE, a nonprofit focused on art and place, the exhibition transforms the Civil War-era military fort into a multi-sensory space with beaded portraits, video installations, sculptures, and a tent installation by artist Umar Rashid. Works include Cheryl Derricotte's tribute to Mary Ellen Pleasant, a formerly enslaved woman who became a wealthy abolitionist.

Rangeley gallery to host opening for artist Gabrielle Castle

The Rangeley Friends of the Arts will host an Artist Reception for painter Gabrielle Castle at the Lakeside Contemporary Art Gallery in Rangeley, Maine, on Friday, June 13, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The reception celebrates Castle's portrait exhibition titled “At a Glance,” which will be on view through July 8. The gallery also currently features a collaborative show by Sonja Johnson and Timothy Straub called “AGOG, simply AGOG!” through June 10.

Italian art convinces, international art surprises

Sotheby's and Il Ponte held Modern and Contemporary art auctions in Milan at the end of May, achieving strong results for Italian 20th-century icons and international art. Sotheby's sale on 28 May featured 93 lots, 80 of which were auction debuts, and closed at approximately €11.4 million with a 90% sell-through rate. Top lots included Lucio Fontana's 'Concetto Spaziale, Attese' (1968), which sold for €1.56 million, and works by Giorgio de Chirico, Emilio Vedova, and Alighiero Boetti that far exceeded their high estimates. International highlights included Robert Indiana's 'Decade Autoportrait' selling for €245,000 and Willis Baumeister's 'Moby Dick' setting a record for the artist in Italy.

Augmented reality enjoys growing appeal as a tool for the art trade

Augmented reality (AR) headsets like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest II are gaining traction as tools for the art trade, according to experts interviewed in this article. Gallerists Will Shott and Hal Bromm see potential for virtual tours, studio visits, and previewing artworks in situ, while adviser India Price notes that seeing works at scale in one's own space could boost buyer confidence. However, Martin Murphy of Ringling College of Art and Design argues that practical barriers—such as device personalization and generational divides—may limit adoption among traditional collectors.

Artist's exhibition to showcase his journey from 'outsider' to 'master'

Local artist Steve Harrington-Ellsmore presents his exhibition "Phantasmagorical Experience" at Unity Art Studio in Andover, running from May 13 to June 7. The show traces his journey from a self-taught "outsider artist" to a formally trained practitioner, featuring surreal paintings, installations, and collages that have drawn comparisons to Bosch and Dali. Harrington-Ellsmore, who graduated from Winchester School of Art in 2006 with a degree in fine art sculpture, is known for vibrant collages and oil paintings that conjure dreamlike landscapes, often incorporating prominent figures for cultural commentary.

In Rotterdam, a new art museum explores the city's rich history of migration

The Fenix Museum of Migration opens in Rotterdam on May 16, housed in a former warehouse transformed by MAD Architects into a dramatic space centered on a double-helix staircase called the Tornado. The museum explores migration through art, with a major exhibition titled *All Directions* featuring over 100 artists, a photography show *The Family of Migrants*, and a maze built from 2,000 suitcases. Director Anne Kremers and foundation director Wim Pijbes emphasize the museum's role in telling stories of both departure and arrival in a city shaped by centuries of global movement.

Review | Johns Hopkins exhibit elevates the artists of its city

Kriston Capps reviews a Johns Hopkins exhibition that highlights Baltimore-based artists, focusing on Derrick Adams's 2019 series "Deconstruction Worker." The series features portraits with skewed geometric forms and rich fabrics, referencing Dada, cubism, and contemporary Black artists like Mickalene Thomas and Lorna Simpson. The review positions Adams as a leading figure in contemporary painting.

Folk is having a revival—in the art world too

The article reports on the growing revival of folk culture in the visual arts, centered on the Neo Ancients festival in Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK. The second edition of the festival, held over May Day weekend, featured an eclectic mix of music, Morris dancing, talks, film screenings, and exhibitions celebrating British folklore. Art dealer James Elwes organized a show at the local gallery Rattle and Brash, featuring artists like Sue Webster, Jeremy Deller, and Stanley Donwood, who presented works outside their usual practices. Exhibitions included Donwood's 'Floralia' and Webster's new self-portraits exploring pregnancy and reinvention.

Neufeldt Unveils Latest Exhibit of Student Art in Her Home

Cal State San Marcos President Ellen Neufeldt hosted a reception at her home on April 27 to unveil the third exhibition of student art in her home gallery. The exhibit features 11 pieces by four student artists—Emma Dill, Adel Bautista, Kaia Pappas, and Erin Wilmot—curated by professional artist and CSUSM alumna Sarah Bricke, who also curated the previous display. The show explores portraiture as a site of experimentation across photography, printmaking, and mixed media.

Face to face: at Pallant House Gallery, meet the artists who paint, draw and sculpt other artists

Pallant House Gallery in Chichester is presenting 'Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists,' an exhibition exploring how artists have portrayed one another from the early 20th century to the present. Featuring over 130 artists by at least 80 different hands, the show spans painting, sculpture, installation, photography, drawing, and printmaking, with works arranged chronologically to highlight artistic circles, friendships, rivalries, and collaborations. Highlights include multiple portraits of Francis Bacon by Lucian Freud and Maggi Hambling, candid photographs of Young British Artists by Johnnie Shand Kydd, and a new double portrait by Ishbel Myerscough and Chantal Joffe.

Kemper Art Museum wins best monograph award

The Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis has won the 2024 best monograph award from the Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) for its exhibition catalog "Adam Pendleton: To Divide By." The catalog, published by the museum and distributed by the University of Chicago Press, was honored during the society's Outstanding Catalog Awards ceremony in Denver on April 4. Edited by Kemper curator Meredith Malone, the volume features essays by Malone, Joshua Chambers-Letson, Hal Foster, and a conversation between Pendleton and critic Isabelle Graw, along with transcripts of two film portraits by the artist.

New Exhibition by Activist Artist Shines Human Light on Homeless

Zhenya Gershman, a Moscow-born, bi-coastal painter based in New York and Los Angeles, is opening a new exhibition titled "ICU2" on May 10, the second part of her "I See You" project addressing homelessness. Gershman, who began her career at age 14 in St. Petersburg and now runs Zhenya's Art Academy, draws inspiration from subway encounters, approaching strangers to photograph them and transforming candid, imperfect shots into oil-on-canvas portraits. The exhibition follows her previous activist projects, including a portrait of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a painting of a Ukrainian war victim that sold for $100,000 to benefit the Ukraine Red Cross.

Lebanese Artist Ali Sbeity Reportedly Killed in Israeli Strike

Lebanese artist Ali Sbeity was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern town of Kafra. The death was confirmed by the Artists at Risk Connection and reported by local media. Sbeity was known for his vibrant portraits and landscapes of his rural hometown, which he frequently shared on social media.

Giant glacier painting disappears from Argentina’s presidential palace after new law passes loosening protections for these icy regions

Days before Argentina’s Congress approved an amendment to the glacier law that weakens protections for glacial regions to facilitate mining, President Javier Milei’s government removed a monumental painting of the Perito Moreno Glacier from the Casa Rosada presidential palace. The work, Helmut Ditsch’s photorealist *The Triumph of Nature* (2006), had been on loan and on display since 2012. The government cited “maintenance reasons” and “structural damage,” but the artist says he was not notified and has contacted lawyers. A portrait of Juan Domingo and Evita Perón was also removed the same day, with the same vague explanation.

And the (Senior Show and URECA Art Exhibition) Winners Are …

The Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at Stony Brook University hosted the opening reception of the ninth annual combined Senior Show and URECA Arts Exhibition on April 29, drawing about 300 attendees including students, faculty, staff, university leaders, and local museum curators. The Senior Show, a nearly 50-year tradition, features works by senior studio art majors and minors, while the URECA exhibition highlights undergraduate research-based art selected by faculty. This year's exhibition is noted for its diversity in subject matter and materials, from chalk painting to digital media, and runs through May 22.

In Paris, this exhibition invites you to engage in a dialogue with paintings.

Artist Aurore Guez is transforming the Wilde Galerie in Paris into an immersive, imaginary café for a two-day exhibition titled "LE CAFÉ" on April 25 and 26, 2026. The installation features interactive paintings and talking portraits of figures such as Kalash and Lujipeka, where visitors can trigger recorded dialogue to converse with the artworks. The 80-square-meter space will utilize warped scenography and actors playing waiters to blur the lines between traditional painting, performance art, and stage design.

What Did Mozart’s Life Look Like?

An exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum, titled "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Treasures from the Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg," presents a curated journey through the composer's life and career. The show features well-preserved ephemera, including Mozart's childhood violin, original sketches for the opera "The Magic Flute," and personal letters that reveal his scatological humor, alongside portraits of his patrons.

A Roma fotoromanzi e cliché sono i protagonisti di una mostra femminista a Villa Medici

A retrospective exhibition titled "Fotoromanzo" by French artist Nicole Gravier (born 1949) is on view at Villa Medici, the French Academy in Rome. The show explores Gravier's semiotic dissection of Italian photo-romance magazines from the 1970s, using irony and staged self-portraiture to deconstruct the fabrication of femininity and patriarchal narratives. The exhibition runs concurrently with a separate show dedicated to filmmaker Agnès Varda at the same venue, highlighting parallel feminist inquiries into women's representation.

An Argentine artist inaugurates a brand-new space dedicated to photography in Turin

Un artista argentino inaugura a Torino le attività di un nuovissimo spazio dedicato alla fotografia

A new photography space called K! has opened in Turin's San Salvario district, inaugurated by Argentine artist Emilio Nasser with his exhibition "La Cornuda de Tlacotalpan." The space is the latest curatorial project of the Kublaiklan collective (Rica Cerbarano, Francesco Colombelli, Elsa Moro, Aleksander Masseroli Mazurkiewicz) and focuses on research, production, and education centered on the relational power of photography. Nasser's exhibition reinterprets a fading Mexican legend from Tlacotalpan by involving the local community in a collective reconstruction through drawings, transcriptions, and mud masks, resulting in a choral portrait of the mythical Cornuda creature.

Inside a Black Panther Family Album

Scholar Leigh Raiford examines the personal family archives of Black Panther Party leaders Kathleen and Eldridge Cleaver, specifically focusing on photographs taken during their period of exile in the 1970s. The analysis centers on how domestic objects, such as a zebra-print carver chair and various African artifacts, transitioned from private household items to iconic symbols of Black Power and cultural nationalism in the public sphere.