at christies 13 6 million marlene dumas painting sets new record for living female artist at auction 2644908

Christie's 21st-century evening sale in New York on Wednesday night totaled $96.5 million, surpassing last year's $80.3 million, though the auction was characterized by caution, few fireworks, and a reduced number of lots. The headline event was Marlene Dumas's painting *Miss January* (1997) selling for $13.6 million with premium, setting a new auction record for a living female artist. The work, estimated at $12–18 million, was guaranteed and sold to a client bidding through Christie's deputy chairman Sara Friedlander; Miami collectors Don and Mera Rubell were the consignors. Other notable results included new records for Simone Leigh, Emma McIntyre, and Louis Fratino, while the top lot was Jean-Michel Basquiat's *Baby Boom* (1982) at $23.4 million. Four of 43 lots were withdrawn, and several works failed to sell, including an Ellsworth Kelly canvas with a $2 million low estimate.

frank lloyd wright lamp sothebys auction 2634454

A rare Frank Lloyd Wright lamp, the Double-Pedestal lamp, sold at Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction on May 13 for $7.5 million, far exceeding its $3–5 million estimate after an 11-minute bidding war. Designed in 1902 for the Susan Lawrence Dana House in Springfield, Illinois, the lamp is one of only two surviving examples; the other remains in the house’s collection. The sale set a new auction record for a Wright work, surpassing the previous high of $2.9 million for a 1902 ceiling light sold in 2023.

The Beautiful Renaissance of the [mac] in Marseille

La belle renaissance du [mac] à Marseille

The [mac] (Musée d’Art Contemporain) in Marseille is undergoing a significant revival following years of stagnation and underfunding. Under the new leadership of Stéphanie Airaud, who was appointed in 2023, the museum has completed major renovations including updated storage facilities, a new rooftop terrace, and a reorganized gallery layout. The institution is leveraging its impressive but previously underutilized collection of over 1,000 works—featuring masters like Basquiat, Klein, and Saint Phalle—while actively working to correct historical gender imbalances and strengthen ties to Mediterranean contemporary art.

KOO JEONG A “KANGSE X” at Hauser & Wirth, Zurich

Koo Jeong A presents "KANGSE X" at Hauser & Wirth in Zurich, an exhibition that extends from her previous show "ODORAMA CITIES" at the Korean Pavilion of the 60th Venice Biennale. The title derives from the Korean term "KANGSE," meaning spatial strength, and the show encompasses her multifaceted practice across drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, film, and animation, including her earlier work "MYSTERIOUSSS" (2017).

art institute of chicago director airplane incident 1234771300

James Rondeau, director of the Art Institute of Chicago, has given his first detailed interview about a 2023 incident where he removed his clothes on a flight from Chicago to Munich after consuming alcohol and prescription medication. The event led to police involvement and a voluntary six-week leave before the museum's board reinstated him, expressing confidence in his leadership.

hauser wirth palermo lucas museum morning links 1234765456

Hauser & Wirth is set to open its first Italian location in Palermo, Sicily, after purchasing a major part of the historic Palazzo Forcella De Seta. The neo-gothic palace, which previously hosted Manifesta 12 and housed Galleria Mediterranea, will be renovated with plans for completion by 2030, pending a 60-day public pre-emption period by local government and Italy's Ministry of Culture. Separately, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art announced the departure of chief curator Pilar Tompkins, less than a year after its director and CEO left, amid earlier layoffs; the museum remains on track for a September 2026 opening. Other news includes Laurence Rassel's appointment as director of the Rijksakademie, a record sale of an Elizabethan portrait at Sotheby's, and a Hermès Birkin bag owned by Jane Birkin selling for $2.3 million.

Il mitico artista-ceramista italiano Nanni Valentini torna negli Stati Uniti con una mostra sulla sua storia. Le immagini

The Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York, is hosting "Interspaces," a retrospective exhibition dedicated to Italian artist Nanni Valentini (1932–1985), a pivotal figure in ceramic art. Curated by Garth Johnson of the Everson Museum and Luca Bochicchio of the Museo della Ceramica di Savona, with oversight by art historian Flaminio Gualdoni, the show runs until September 6, 2026. It traces Valentini's evolution from functional pottery to conceptual wall works, featuring pieces like "I segni della terra" (1981) and "Impronta-totem" (1979), on loan from ABC-ARTE gallery. The exhibition marks Valentini's return to the U.S., where he first gained international recognition at the museum's 1958 Ceramic International, introduced by Lucio Fontana.

Roberto Bernardi | The Unknown Event (2025) | Available for Sale

Roberto Bernardi | L'evento sconosciuto (2025) | Available for Sale

Italian hyperrealist artist Roberto Bernardi has listed a new oil on canvas painting titled "L'evento sconosciuto" (2025) for sale through GALERIE VON&VON. The work, priced at €14,400, is being featured in conjunction with his upcoming exhibition "Unfolding," scheduled to run from April 16 to June 20, 2026. Bernardi, known for his meticulous attention to detail and photorealistic style, has a long-standing presence in the international art market and museum circuit.

philip tinari leaves ucca beijing hong kong tai kwun 1234769464

Philip Tinari is leaving his role as director and CEO of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing after 14 years to become deputy director and head of art at Tai Kwun Culture & Arts in Hong Kong, starting February 23. He succeeds curator Pi Li, whose contract expires in February. Tinari oversaw UCCA's transition to a nonprofit museum in 2018 and its expansion with three new venues, including UCCA Dune, UCCA Edge, and UCCA Clay, while organizing major exhibitions of artists such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Cao Fei, and Anicka Yi.

WATCH | Steelman to host studio tour with Arts and the Park Saturday and Sunday

Bethannie Newsom Steelman will host a studio tour at 415 Park Ave. in Hot Springs on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11 a.m., as part of Arts and the Park. The event features live painting by Steelman, musical performances by Ricko Donovan, DJ Schaeffer, Gino Del Ray, and the band Inoculated Log, as well as New Orleans-style snowballs from Spa City Snowballs. Steelman, who creates murals for businesses, began renting her studio in April and is excited to share her creative process with the public.

The National Gallery of Art Embraces New Role as Lending Library, Thanks to a Big Gift That Sends Artwork to Other Museums

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., has received a $116 million donation from the Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation to fund its 'Across the Nation' lending program. The gift, the largest programming-related donation in the museum's history, will support shipping, installation, and other costs associated with sending artworks on two-year loans to smaller regional museums across the United States, from Alaska to Florida.

[ANN] Kuala Lumpur looks set to enter its 'museum moment' this year

Kuala Lumpur is experiencing a wave of new museum and gallery openings in 2025, marking a significant cultural expansion for the Malaysian capital. Key developments include the Merdeka Textile Museum, set to open in August within the Merdeka 118 tower and billed as Asia's first state-of-the-art textile museum; Muara Arts, a public gallery project by Creador Foundation opening in September in the historic Medan Pasar district; and recent openings such as the heritage building Seri Negara and restored gallery spaces at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad. These join earlier private collector-led spaces like Ur-Mu (2022), Toffee (2023), and +N (2025), as well as the established Ilham Gallery (2015).

Kuala Lumpur looks set to enter its “museum moment” this year

Kuala Lumpur is experiencing a surge of new museum and gallery openings, signaling a significant expansion of its cultural infrastructure. Key developments include the recent opening of the heritage site Seri Negara and the restored Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, with major upcoming projects like the Merdeka Textile Museum and the Muara Arts gallery set to launch later in 2026.

Scene Calendar: Local theater, live music, dance, PorchFest 2026

The Gainesville region is hosting several significant visual arts events this week, headlined by the Harn Museum of Art’s exhibition "Florida in the Frame." This expansive show features over 65 artists, including American masters Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent alongside Florida Highwaymen painters, exploring a century of the state’s evolving landscapes and culture. Additionally, the Gainesville Fine Arts Association is presenting "Song," a group exhibition of music-inspired local art, while the ninth annual Santa Fe Springs Plein Air Paintout invites the public to watch artists work live at O’Leno State Park.

Kimbell Art Museum’s free community programs this spring

The Kimbell Art Museum has announced an extensive lineup of free community programming for the Spring 2026 season. The schedule features a diverse array of events including gallery discussions, hands-on art-making workshops for children, live music performances, and scholarly lectures. A significant portion of the programming is designed to complement the special exhibition, "The Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem," through documentary screenings and expert-led talks.

Talking Texas Art: The Panhandle

Glasstire has announced the second installment of its "Talking Texas Art" panel series, scheduled for April 23, 2026, at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) in Lubbock. Part of the publication’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, the event focuses on the Texas Panhandle's creative landscape. The panel features prominent regional figures including Judy Tedford Deaton of The Grace Museum, Jon Revett and Amy Von Lintel of West Texas A&M University, and Charles Adams of CASP, moderated by Glasstire’s William Sarradet.

NEXT in the Gallery: April art includes baseballs, ambiguous boundaries and scraposaurs

Pittsburgh’s art scene is preparing for a busy spring season with a diverse array of exhibitions opening across the city’s galleries and public spaces. Highlights include Hugh Watkins’ multi-disciplinary retrospective at Christine Fréchard Gallery, Dale Lewis’s massive "Scraposaurs" sculptures made from recycled metal at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and a unique exhibition of hand-painted baseballs by the late umpire George Sosnak. These shows serve as a creative prelude to major upcoming regional events like the 59th Carnegie International and the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Henry Moore and Dorothea Tanning set records at Christie's triple-header sale in London

Christie’s London achieved a robust £197.4 million total across three evening sales, representing a 52% year-on-year increase for the season. The marathon auction was defined by a high 96% sell-through rate and record-breaking prices for major artists, most notably Henry Moore, whose sculpture "King and Queen" sold for £26.3 million. The evening demonstrated a strong appetite for "fresh to market" works and Surrealist masterpieces, even as some lots hammered at the lower end of their estimates.

5 small Denver art exhibits offer big thrills in the coming weeks

Denver’s art scene is currently highlighting several intimate yet impactful exhibitions during the transitional spring season. Key highlights include a multi-venue celebration of Colorado artist Ana María Hernando with solo shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, alongside a group showing at Robischon Gallery. Additionally, the Denver Art Museum is showcasing its textile and photography archives through two distinct exhibitions: "Conversation Pieces," featuring high-fashion acquisitions from Chanel to McQueen, and "What We’ve Been Up To: People," a survey of portrait photography spanning from the 19th century to the present.

UK’s Hepworth Wakefield announces new co-directors

The Hepworth Wakefield in West Yorkshire has appointed Olivia Colling as executive director and Laura Smith as artistic director, filling the leadership void left by former director Simon Wallis, who departed last summer to lead the Royal Academy of Arts. Colling, who joined the gallery in 2015, previously oversaw commercial income and capital projects, while Smith, who arrived in 2022, has focused on expanding the collection and curated a Helen Chadwick retrospective in 2025; her upcoming exhibition features the late Indian sculptor Mrinalini Mukherjee.

Exhibit With More Than 100 Masterworks Opens This Week at Birmingham Museum of Art

The Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) opens "Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 1850–1950" on January 30, featuring over 100 masterworks from iconic artists including Monet, Matisse, Cézanne, Cassatt, Degas, Renoir, and Pissarro. The traveling exhibition, curated by the Brooklyn Museum, has been significantly expanded by BMA with over 40 works from its own collection, making it a unique venue on the tour. The show runs through May 24 and coincides with the museum's 75th anniversary, with thematic sections on Landscape, Still Life, Portraits and Models, and The Nude.

Thai pharma dynasty opens doors to 1,000-piece contemporary collection

The Dib Bangkok museum, housing a 1,000-piece contemporary art collection amassed by the late Thai businessman and musician Petch Osathanugrah, opened this month in a converted 1980s warehouse in Bangkok. The project was completed by his son Purat 'Chang' Osathanugrah, president of Bangkok University and CEO of Zipcode, with inaugural director Miwako Tezuka (formerly of Asia Society Museum) leading the institution. The 7,000 sq. m space, designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture, features 11 galleries, a courtyard, sculpture garden, and a satellite project space called Dib26.

Vancouver Art Gallery gifted 131-work private collection from Hong Kong

The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) has received a landmark donation of 131 works by 78 artists from an anonymous Hong Kong-based collector, named the Art Continuum Hong Kong (ACHK) collection. The gift, the largest contribution of Hong Kong art in the gallery's history, spans painting, sculpture, printmaking, film, installation, and lens-based media from the 1950s to the present, chronicling social, political, and cultural change in Hong Kong. It includes works by internationally recognized artists such as Luis Chan, Irene Chou, Tsang Kin Wah, Wesley Tongson, Sin Wai Kin, and Wucius Wong, as well as Hong Kong-born, Vancouver-based artists like Howie Tsui and Lam Tung Pang. The VAG will present an exhibition of the donation alongside its permanent collection in 2027, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from the UK to China.

Phillip Bahar steps into top job at MSU's Broad Art Museum

Phillip Bahar has been appointed as the fourth director of the Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, succeeding previous leadership since the museum opened in 2012. In an interview with WKAR's Inside The Arts, Bahar discussed his vision for the museum, emphasizing his role as an institutional curator rather than a hands-on curator of exhibitions, and his commitment to supporting artists at all career stages, from established figures like Zaha Hadid to emerging and mid-career artists such as Diana Al-Hadid.

Exhibition series launched to celebrate Sussex artistic talent

Hastings Contemporary has launched Sussex Spotlight, a new exhibition series celebrating artists with connections to the Sussex region. The inaugural show, running from November 19, 2025, to January 18, 2026, features St Leonards-based painter Alessandro Raho, known for his refined portraits and still-life works. The series is free to attend and supported by David and Sarah Kowitz.

Artes Mundi 11 Prize and Exhibition

The six artists shortlisted for the 2025 Artes Mundi 11 prize present works addressing displacement, colonial trauma, and migration amid divisive global politics. The exhibition, held at the National Museum Cardiff and other Welsh venues, features Sancintya Mohini Simpson’s subversive Indian miniature-style paintings depicting the horrors of indentured labor, alongside works by Jumana Emil Abboud, Anawana Haloba, and Sawangwongse Yawnghwe. The prize, the UK’s largest cash award for an exhibition at £40,000, continues its evolution by offering solo presentations across multiple venues.

The opening of the Princeton University Art Museum, explained

The Princeton University Art Museum (PUAM) is set to reopen with a new building featuring nine main pavilions, including a European Art Pavilion and an Ancient Mediterranean Art Pavilion, along with study spaces, lecture halls, and a restaurant called Mosaic Restaurant. In an advance tour, Director for Collections and Exhibitions Chris Newth and spokesperson Stephen Kim answered community questions about dining options, study areas, and the museum's rotating exhibitions, which will display only about four percent of the collection at a time. Notable returning works include Antioch mosaics, a Guanyin sculpture, Andy Warhol's "Blue Marilyn," and Charles Willson Peale's "Washington at Princeton." The museum will host a 24-hour opening event for students.

A secular church for the art of Alexander Calder opens in Philly on Sunday

A new $100 million art center dedicated to Alexander Calder, called Calder Gardens, opens on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Sunday, September 21. Designed by architect Jacques Herzog of Herzog & de Meuron with landscape by Piet Oudolf, the building features underground galleries, sunken gardens, and no wall text, encouraging visitors to have a personal, sacred experience with Calder's sculptures, paintings, and works on paper. The Calder Foundation built the space, and the Barnes Foundation administers it in partnership.

Christie’s expects Elaine Wynn’s collection to bring $75m, while her record-breaking Bacon triptych goes to Lacma

Christie’s will auction more than a dozen jewels from the collection of the late billionaire and philanthropist Elaine Wynn this autumn in New York, with total estimates exceeding $75 million. Highlights include Lucian Freud's *The Painter Surprised by a Naked Admirer* (2005) and Richard Diebenkorn's *Ocean Park #40* (1971), each estimated at $15–$25 million, alongside works by Joan Mitchell, J.M.W. Turner, Wayne Thiebaud, and others. Meanwhile, the crown jewel of Wynn’s collection—Francis Bacon’s 1969 triptych *Three Studies of Lucian Freud*, which she bought for a record $142.4 million at Christie’s in 2013—has been bequeathed to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) and will debut in its new David Geffen Galleries building next April.

Buffalo AKG Art Museum's new 'Northern Lights' exhibit brings Arctic landscapes to Buffalo

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum has opened a new exhibition titled 'Northern Lights,' featuring over 70 paintings of Nordic and Canadian landscapes created between 1880 and 1930. The show includes works by Edvard Munch, best known for 'The Scream,' and was curated by Helga Christoffersen. The exhibition opened on a First Friday with pay-as-you-wish admission and will run through January 2026. Consuls general of Canada and Finland joined museum staff at a press conference to highlight the cross-border significance of the collection.