José Dávila Makes Space the Subject in His New York Show

José Dávila's solo exhibition "The Simple Act of Positioning" opens at Sean Kelly gallery in New York, featuring sculptures that explore the relational placement of objects in space. The show includes totemic pillars of steel, concrete, volcanic rock, and automotive paint, framed by large black structures, inviting viewers to move through the gallery to fully experience the visual conversations between works. Dávila, originally from Guadalajara and trained in architecture, draws on Modernist precedents from artists like Marcel Duchamp and architects like Luis Barragán.

How Will the Venice Biennale Impact Alma Allen’s Market?

Artist Alma Allen has been selected as America's representative at the Venice Biennale, sparking controversy due to the unusual selection process under President Trump. The pavilion is commissioned by the newly formed American Arts Conservancy, led by Jenni Parido, who previously ran a pet food lifestyle shop and entered Trump's orbit through Mar-a-Lago pet charity events. Following the announcement, Allen's galleries Olney Gleason and Mendes Wood DM dropped him, but he was quickly picked up by high-profile gallery Perrotin. The article examines how the Biennale and its attendant drama might affect Allen's market, noting his longtime collectors include Beth Rudin DeWoody, Peter Morton, Jack Pierson, and others, while his auction prices have remained modest.

Leonora Carrington’s Enigmatic Sculptures Get a Rare Outing in New York

L’Space Gallery in New York is presenting “Shape of Dreams: Sculptures by Leonora Carrington,” a rare exhibition focused on the British Mexican Surrealist’s bronze sculptures and jewelry, on view through June 27, 2026. Produced with Consigna Gallery of Mexico City and the Leonora Carrington Council, the show includes works such as *The Palmist* and *La Inventora del Atole*, alongside a selection by her son Pablo Weisz Carrington. An interactive Tarot Reading Booth, featuring a deck designed by Carrington and an A.I. reconstruction of her voice, anchors the exhibition.

Stockholm's Market Art Fair wants to prove the 'periphery is now essential'

The 20th edition of Stockholm's Market Art Fair for Modern and contemporary art opens in a new waterfront venue at Magasin 9 in the Frihamnen docks area, running until 26 April. This year, 54 dealers—mostly from the Nordics—are joined by international galleries from the US and UK, including Anthony Wilkinson gallery (London) and albertz benda (New York). The fair expanded its reach last year by opening applications to galleries without existing Nordic ties. Notable presentations include new works by Ólafur Elíasson (i8 gallery, Iceland), dystopian paintings by Munan Øvrelid (Galleri Haaken, Oslo), and textile works by Petra Lindholm (Magnus Karlsson gallery). Prices range from SEK 28,000 to €195,000, with strong early sales reported.

Claude Lalanne’s set of bronze mirrors shatters artist's auction record at Sotheby's

A set of 15 bronze and copper mirrors by Claude Lalanne sold for $33.5 million at Sotheby's in New York, shattering the artist's previous auction record and surpassing the record price for works by her late husband and collaborator, François-Xavier Lalanne. The ensemble, which far exceeded its $15 million high estimate, drew fierce competition from five bidders over ten minutes.

Barbara Chase-Riboud Says She Declined US Pavilion Offer Because It Was ‘Not the Moment’

Sculptor Barbara Chase-Riboud has revealed she declined an offer to represent the United States at the 2025 Venice Biennale, stating that for her, "this was not the moment." The offer was made by the American Arts Conservancy, the nonprofit organization commissioning the US Pavilion. The revelation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the selection process that ultimately led to artist Alma Allen being chosen, following reports that the Trump administration removed diversity language from application materials.

Art Dubai Unveils Leaner ‘Special Edition’ Built Around Regional Core

Art Dubai has announced a streamlined "special edition" for its 2026 iteration, featuring a reduced roster of approximately 75 exhibitors. Scheduled for May 15–17 at Madinat Jumeirah, the fair is pivoting toward a regional core, with 60 percent of participants hailing from the Gulf and Southwest Asia. To address economic pressures and regional instability, the fair is implementing a novel risk-sharing financial model where booth costs are partially tied to sales performance.

alserkal art month dubai art week expansion art dubai 2026

Alserkal Avenue in Dubai is expanding its traditional Art Week into a five-week "Art Month" running from April 18 to May 18. This strategic extension includes 16 gallery exhibitions, over 100 public events, and a new commercially focused group show featuring 12 UAE-based galleries. The initiative aims to provide a more sustainable platform for the local art ecosystem, especially as the Art Dubai fair has been rescheduled to mid-May and adapted in response to regional instability.

'It was my job to create the view': US artist Liza Lou on making colourful works in her windowless warehouse

American artist Liza Lou discusses her recent shift in practice, moving from her famous large-scale bead installations to a new body of work that fuses oil painting with glass beads. After years of collaborative work in South Africa and focusing on monochrome tones, Lou has returned to a solitary studio practice in a windowless warehouse in the San Fernando Valley. This new phase is defined by a "headlong love affair with colour," inspired by the hallucinatory palette of the Mojave Desert and a transition from logical drawing to a more intuitive, freestyle process.

The Best Booths at Expo Chicago, From a 16th-Century Belgian Manuscript to a Painting of a Mariachi Band

The 13th edition of Expo Chicago has opened at Navy Pier with a streamlined selection of 130 international exhibitors. This year’s fair features a more curated and manageable scale, drawing a significant crowd of museum directors, curators, and collectors to the Windy City. Notable presentations range from contemporary Canadian artist duos to rare historical artifacts, reflecting a high bar for quality across diverse media.

expo chicago sales vip day report

The thirteenth edition of Expo Chicago opened its VIP preview at Navy Pier with a streamlined floor plan and a focus on emerging talent. Despite a generally slow global art market, exhibitors reported strong early sales, including Nashville-based artist Annie Brito Hodgin’s debut outside her home state and Wenhui Hao’s near-sell-out presentation with Half Gallery. The fair’s decision to reduce the number of exhibitors from 170 to 130 was widely praised by dealers for improving the quality of presentations and making the event more navigable for collectors.

The Art of ‘The Christophers’: How the Film Created an Artist’s Fabled Oeuvre

Steven Soderbergh’s new film, The Christophers, explores the complexities of artistic legacy and authenticity through the story of Julian Sklar, a fictional washed-up artist played by Ian McKellen. The plot follows Sklar’s children as they hire an art restorer, played by Michaela Coel, to secretly finish their father’s legendary unfinished series to capitalize on his market value. To ground the film in reality, screenwriter Ed Solomon consulted with art world figures like dealer George Barker and artists Jann Haworth and Derek Boshier, while production designer Antonia Lowe and painter Barnaby Gorton created the physical artworks seen on screen.

Artists respond to the continuing toll of colonialism in the Americas

The Chicago art space Wrightwood 659 is hosting a major survey titled "Dispossessions in the Americas: The Extraction of Bodies, Land, and Heritage from La Conquista to the Present." Featuring over 35 contemporary Latin American artists, including Regina José Galindo and the late Ana Mendieta, the exhibition is the culmination of a multi-year research project funded by the Mellon Foundation. The show explores the historical and ongoing impacts of colonial dispossession on Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and LGBTQ+ communities through diverse media ranging from performance art to installation.

Alex Heilbron at as-is

Artist Alex Heilbron presents a solo exhibition at the Los Angeles gallery as-is. The show is featured as a lead review in the February 2026 issue of Contemporary Art Review LA, highlighting Heilbron's continued exploration of painting and visual language within the Southern California art scene.

Overdue payments to artists, landlords and workers at a popular gallery reflect pressures squeezing the dealer sector

The Hole, a prominent gallery with locations in New York and Los Angeles, is facing significant financial distress characterized by shuttered spaces and mounting legal disputes. Following a period of rapid expansion fueled by the 2021–2023 art market boom, the gallery has permanently closed its West Hollywood location and is currently facing multiple lawsuits from Manhattan landlords alleging over $180,000 in unpaid rent and taxes. Founder Kathy Grayson attributes the crisis to a sharp decline in sales starting in late 2023, which has left the gallery struggling to pay artists, staff, and creditors.

Patron Gallery Adds Miao Wang to Its Roster, and More: Industry Moves for April 1, 2026

Several galleries announced new artist representations and expansions. Patron Gallery added painter Miao Wang, who will appear at Expo Chicago; Jessica Silverman added Neo-Pop painter Koak; Anat Ebgi added painter Veronica Fernandez; and Sundaram Tagore Gallery opened a new London space. Additionally, Open Restitution Africa launched an AI-powered database to assist with restitution processes.

Eddie Kang at Gana Art Los Angeles

The article is a table of contents for the February 2026 issue of Contemporary Art Review LA, listing numerous features, interviews, and reviews. It highlights an interview with artist Eddie Kang at Gana Art Los Angeles, alongside other content covering topics like olfactory art, tarot, video art, and reviews of exhibitions across Los Angeles galleries and museums.

Miart Turns 30 With a Bigger, Bolder Edition in Milan

Miart, Milan's international modern and contemporary art fair, is launching its 30th-anniversary edition in a new, larger venue, the Allianz MiCo South Wing. The 2026 edition, themed "New Directions: Miart, but different," will host 160 galleries from 24 countries across three levels, featuring sections like Emergent for new voices, Established for historical dialogue, and a special film project called Movements.

arco madrid 2026 art fair report

The 45th edition of Arco Madrid opened at the IFEMA Madrid complex with a notably slower start than previous years. While initial VIP attendance appeared thin due to competing events and geopolitical factors, the fair regained its momentum by midday, drawing a crowd of international collectors and 211 galleries from 30 countries. Exhibitors noted a more relaxed atmosphere compared to major fairs like Art Basel, with visitors taking a more contemplative approach to acquisitions.

Independent 2026 Exhibitor List Announced

independent 2026 exhibitor list

Independent has unveiled the exhibitor list for its 17th edition, scheduled for May 14–17, 2026. The fair is relocating to a new venue at Pier 36 in New York’s Lower East Side and will feature 76 exhibitors showcasing over 100 artists. Notably, more than 70 percent of the booths will be dedicated to solo presentations, including a special solo project by Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons and sculptural installations by Gretchen Bender and Francis Upritchard.

Hong Kong Art Week 2026: Art Basel Preview

hong kong art week art basel preview

Hong Kong’s art market is signaling a cautious recovery in 2026 as the city prepares for its marquee Art Week. Despite macroeconomic improvements in real estate and equities, the sector is grappling with significant logistical hurdles caused by the US–Israel–Iran War. Shipping costs between Europe and China have surged by 30%, leading to the cancellation of the International Antiques Fair and the withdrawal of high-profile delegations like the Sharjah Art Foundation.

The Big Ideas Driving Art Paris This Year

Art Paris 2026 will take place from April 9–12 at the Grand Palais, featuring two major curated themes: "Babel – Art and Language in France," guest-curated by Loïc Le Gall, and "Reparation," curated by Alexia Fabre. The fair will include roughly 165 galleries, with sectors like Promises for emerging artists, Solo Show for monographic presentations, and French Design Art Edition.

Carla Soirée & Art Auction 2026

The article is a table of contents for the February 2026 issue of the Contemporary Art Review LA, listing its featured articles, interviews, dealer profiles, and exhibition reviews. The content covers a wide range of subjects including olfactory art, tarot art, the Made in L.A. 2025 biennial, video art, and reviews of shows at various Los Angeles galleries and museums like MOCA, the Orange County Museum of Art, and Château Shatto.

New Museum unveils new OMA-designed building ahead of March 21st reopening.

The New Museum in New York has unveiled its major 60,000-square-foot expansion, designed by the architectural firm OMA, specifically Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas. The project, which took a decade from architect selection to completion, required a two-year closure and doubles the institution's gallery space. It debuts with new commissions by artists Tschabalala Self and Klára Hosnedlová ahead of its public reopening on March 21st.

jackie saccoccio van doren waxter

Van Doren Waxter in New York is hosting "Portraits," a solo exhibition dedicated to the late American abstract painter Jackie Saccoccio. The show features five paintings and seven works on paper that showcase Saccoccio’s mature style, characterized by a physically demanding process of dragging, pressing, and dripping paint. These works bridge the gap between gestural abstraction and the psychological depth of traditional portraiture, drawing inspiration from both Abstract Expressionism and Roman Baroque aesthetics.

every copy spring issue kara walker print unmanned drone sketch

Artist Kara Walker has transformed a decommissioned monument of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson into a new, grotesque sculpture titled "Unmanned Drone" (2023). After curator Hamza Walker secured the bronze statue from Charlottesville, Virginia, the artist reconfigured its parts at a New York foundry to create a 12-foot horse-man hybrid that subverts traditional heroic iconography. The work is currently the centerpiece of the "Monuments" exhibition at the Brick in Los Angeles, co-presented by MOCA LA.

ai david salle painting removed spruth magers

A painting by David Salle titled "Hatchet" (2025) was removed from his solo exhibition at Sprüth Magers in Los Angeles following allegations of plagiarism. Critics and social media users pointed out that the work's central figure—a woman in a black-and-white dress holding a sledgehammer—bore a striking resemblance to the 2021 painting "Impact" by artist Kelly Reemtsen. While Salle is a pioneer of the Pictures Generation known for appropriation, the gallery stated the work was withdrawn out of respect for both artists and to acknowledge the ongoing dialogue regarding authorship.

frieze los angeles satellite fairs report

The Felix Art Fair kicked off LA Art Week at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, drawing significant crowds despite logistical hurdles. While long lines for elevators slowed the initial flow of visitors to the upper floors, exhibitors reported steady interest and early sales. New York-based dealers faced particular challenges arriving for the opening due to a major Nor’easter that disrupted flights across the East Coast, forcing many to finalize their booths just hours before the VIP preview.

work of the week maria berrio la cena

María Berrío’s mixed-media masterpiece "La Cena" (2012) is returning to the auction block at Christie’s post-war and contemporary day sale on May 17. The work, which draws inspiration from Da Vinci’s "The Last Supper" and features Berrío’s signature intricate collage style, is being sold by New York collector Dow Kim. Kim acquired the piece just two years ago for $1.56 million, significantly exceeding its initial estimate.

art basel qatar first fair sales

Art Basel has launched its inaugural edition in Doha, Qatar, debuting a specialized format that emphasizes solo artist presentations and a slower, more meditative pace compared to its flagship fairs. The event features a curated selection of international galleries including Pace, Lisson, and Almine Rech, with a layout designed to foster deeper engagement and introduce regional collectors to the fair circuit.