Blockbuster exhibition highlights visionary women of abstract expressionism

The Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary has launched "Abstract Expressionists: The Women," a landmark touring exhibition featuring nearly 50 works by 32 female artists. Curated by scholar Ellen G. Landau and drawn from the private collection of Christian Levett, the show includes major figures such as Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, and Elaine de Kooning. It is the only East Coast stop for this exhibition, which organizes the works chronologically to trace the movement's evolution across New York, California, and Paris.

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Director Steven Soderbergh is set to release 'The Christophers', a new film centered on the London art world starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel. The plot follows a faded 1960s Pop Art star whose estranged children hire a former art forger to secretly complete his unfinished canvases to secure a future inheritance. Following its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, the movie is scheduled for a theatrical release in April.

‘My paintings are always really kitchen sink, everything’s thrown into them’: Christina Quarles on her new solo show in Los Angeles

Artist Christina Quarles has launched her first solo exhibition with Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles, titled "The Ground Glows Black." The new body of work features her signature fluid, elastic depictions of bodies, but introduces a more "untethered" and monochromatic aesthetic influenced by recent personal trauma. The paintings and works on paper were created in the aftermath of the Eaton fire, which destroyed the artist's home and community in Altadena.

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Construction on Barcelona’s Sagrada Família reached a historic milestone with the completion of the central Tower of Jesus Christ. The installation of a 56-foot cross atop the structure officially makes the basilica the tallest church in the world, fulfilling a key component of Antoni Gaudí’s original vision nearly a century after his death.

Christie’s Situates ‘Sailor Moon’ and ‘Doraemon’ Alongside Hokusai in Its Debut Anime Sale

Christie’s has announced its first-ever auction dedicated to the intersection of anime, manga, and traditional Japanese art. Titled "Anime Starts Here: Japanese Subculture Imagines Tradition," the online sale will debut during Asia Week New York in March, featuring a curated selection that ranges from 19th-century Katsushika Hokusai woodblock prints to original production drawings from iconic series like Sailor Moon and Doraemon. Key highlights include a rare 1953 drawing by the "God of Manga" Tezuka Osamu and a print of Hokusai’s legendary "The Great Wave."

Louvre Appoints Christophe Leribault as New Director

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Christophe Leribault has been appointed as the new director of the Louvre, succeeding Laurence des Cars following her resignation. Leribault, who currently leads the Palace of Versailles and previously directed the Musée d’Orsay, returns to the institution where he once served as deputy director of graphic arts. He takes the helm during a period of intense turmoil marked by staff strikes, a high-profile $102 million heist of the French crown jewels, and systemic security failures.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Christophe Leribault as the new president of the Louvre Museum, following the sudden resignation of Laurence des Cars. Leribault, an 18th-century art expert who was currently serving as the director of the Palace of Versailles, takes over the institution during a period of significant internal crisis. In a concurrent move, Annick Lemoine was named the new director of the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie, filling the vacancy left by the late Sylvain Amic.

Venice Biennale Announces Participating Artists; Christophe Leribault Poised to Replace Ousted Louvre President; Morning Links for February 25, 2026

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The Venice Biennale has officially released the artist list for its 61st edition, titled “In Minor Keys,” which is set to open in May 2026. Despite the sudden passing of curator Koyo Kouoh last year, the exhibition will proceed based on her vision of 'minor keys'—a concept focusing on quiet tones, poetry, and improvisation as alternatives to dominant historical narratives. Simultaneously, a major leadership reshuffle is underway in Paris, with Christophe Leribault expected to lead the Louvre following Laurence des Cars' departure, and Annick Lemoine appointed to head the Musée d’Orsay.

How four Los Angeles artists are doing a year after the wildfires

Four Los Angeles-based artists—Kelly Akashi, Christina Quarles, Adam Ross, and Kathryn Andrews—are navigating the long-term recovery process one year after devastating wildfires destroyed their homes, studios, and archives. Despite significant losses, including Adam Ross’s archive of 5,000 drawings, the artists have demonstrated remarkable resilience by securing temporary workspaces and continuing to produce new work for major events like Frieze Los Angeles and the Whitney Biennial.

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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.

Old Masters Records: Gentileschi, Michelangelo, Rembrandt

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Old Masters Week in New York saw a resurgence in the sector, highlighted by the Italian Ministry of Culture's $14.9 million private acquisition of a rare two-sided panel by Antonello da Messina from Sotheby’s. The week featured high-profile sales at both Sotheby’s and Christie’s, resulting in new auction records for major figures including Artemisia Gentileschi and Michelangelo, as well as a record price for a Rembrandt drawing. The success was attributed to a high level of museum participation and more realistic pricing strategies compared to previous seasons.

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Major auction houses including Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips are experiencing a significant shift as luxury goods—such as cars, watches, handbags, and jewelry—see explosive growth while fine art sales decline. In 2025, fine art sales at the 'Big Three' fell by 35% to $7.04 billion, whereas luxury auction sales rose 18% to $1.84 billion. This trend is most visible at Sotheby’s, where luxury now accounts for a third of total revenue, driven by massive private sales and strategic expansions into sectors like collector cars.

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Billionaire collector William I. Koch is set to auction his extensive collection of Western American art at Christie’s New York in January. Titled "Visions of the West," the sale features 76 lots with a combined low estimate of $50 million, potentially doubling the current auction record for the genre. Highlighting the event is Frederic Remington’s 'Coming to the Call', which carries an estimate of $6 million to $8 million and could set a new individual record for the artist.

Frieze Los Angeles reflects the city’s resilience

Frieze Los Angeles has returned to the Santa Monica Airport for its seventh edition, marking the first iteration since the fair was acquired by Ari Emanuel’s live events venture, Mari. The event features nearly 100 galleries from 22 countries, balancing global powerhouses like Gagosian and Hauser & Wirth with a strong contingent of local Los Angeles mainstays. Fair director Christine Messineo emphasized the fair's role as a central gathering point for the international collecting community within the city's sprawling landscape.

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The American Federation of the Arts (AFA) has launched a major touring exhibition titled "Abstract Expressionists: The Women," featuring nearly 50 works from the collection of Christian Levett. Currently on view at the Muscarelle Museum of Art in Virginia, the show highlights 32 artists who were pivotal to the movement but often overshadowed by their male peers. The exhibition includes masterpieces by celebrated figures like Helen Frankenthaler and Lee Krasner alongside rediscovered works by lesser-known painters such as Emiko Nakano and Yvonne Thomas.

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The Raab Collection has listed a rare, enigmatic manuscript fragment by George Washington for $10,000, featuring the unique phrase "Fathers of the Senate!" The snippet was likely excised from a larger document in the 19th century by biographer Jared Sparks to satisfy autograph seekers. This sale joins a wave of high-value Americana hitting the market, including Jack Kerouac’s original 'On the Road' scroll at Christie's and a collection of vintage film posters at Propstore.

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Brazilian authorities are targeting the art collection and luxury assets of Daniel Vorcaro, the CEO of the recently liquidated Banco Master SA, as part of a massive fraud investigation. Following the bank's collapse due to insolvency and regulatory violations, liquidators filed subpoenas in a Miami federal court to probe Vorcaro’s dealings with blue-chip galleries and auction houses. Officials believe the financier may have funneled bank funds into high-value artworks and real estate to shield his wealth.

Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space

The Royal West of England Academy in Bristol is hosting "Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space," an expansive exhibition curated by artist Ione Parkin. The show bridges the gap between hard science and artistic imagination, featuring works that range from Susan Derges’s lunar photography to Christopher Le Brun’s monumental 12-panel painting of the moon’s phases. By blending scientific inquiry with creative expression, the exhibition explores how celestial phenomena, NASA data, and planetary movements inspire contemporary visual art.

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Sotheby's has increased its buyer's premiums globally, with the new fee structure taking effect on February 13. The changes mean buyers of lower-value lots will pay higher rates, with the premium for works sold in New York for up to $2 million rising from 27% to 28%. This move follows similar adjustments by rivals Christie's and Phillips, as auction houses seek to bolster revenue during a prolonged art market downturn. Sotheby's also recently raised $900 million through art-backed loans via securitization.

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The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has issued new grant application guidelines that explicitly reference President Donald Trump's executive orders and his vision for U.S. culture. The guidelines encourage applicants to align with orders like "Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again," which mandates classical style for government buildings, and "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which seeks to control exhibition content. The cover letter also points applicants to orders on combating antisemitism and anti-Christian bias, which appears to warn against pro-Palestinian applications.

13 modern chair designs that remain utterly timeless

A recent Christie's online auction, 'Modern Collector: Design and Tiffany,' featured a range of iconic 20th-century chair designs that achieved significant sale prices. Highlights included Gaetano Pesce's 'Nobody's Perfect' series chair selling for $6,350, Hans J. Wegner's 'Valet' Chair for $8,255, and a set of four Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR10 chairs for $5,334.

Art Professor Christopher Richards Honored by Museum at FIT Exhibition

Brooklyn College Associate Professor of Art Christopher Richards is being honored with a major exhibition at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The exhibition, "Art X Fashion," is directly inspired by his scholarship on African and global fashion, exploring the relationship between fashion and fine art through over 140 objects from the museum's collection.

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Artist Christina Zimpel has released a new limited-edition print titled CLAP (2025) through a collaboration between Artspace and Lincoln Center Editions. The work, an edition of 36 with unique hand-embellishments in gouache, features a female figure clapping against a vibrant pink field, exploring themes of gesture, sound, and individuality.

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This week's art industry news covers significant developments across fairs, auctions, galleries, and museums. Frieze New York announces its 15th edition with a strong Latin American gallery presence, while the India Art Fair reports robust sales, including works by Atul Dodiya and N.S. Harsha fetching up to $600,000. Sotheby's will offer a major Francis Bacon self-portrait from the collection of Joe Lewis, and Christie's is set to sell three masterpieces from Agnes Gund's collection, estimated at over $123 million. Gallery news includes Federica Beretta's return to Opera Gallery and David Zwirner's new representation of painter Louis Fratino.

paint drippings art industry news feb 16 2745624

This week's art industry news covers significant developments across fairs, auctions, galleries, and museums. Frieze New York announced its exhibitor list for May, highlighting a strong Central and South American gallery presence. The India Art Fair reported robust sales, with works selling for up to $1.3 million. Sotheby's will auction a major Francis Bacon self-portrait from the Joe Lewis collection, while Christie's is set to sell three masterpieces from Agnes Gund's collection, including a Mark Rothko. Gallery news includes Federica Beretta's return to Opera Gallery and David Zwirner's new representation of painter Louis Fratino. French authorities arrested nine individuals in a ticketing fraud scheme targeting the Louvre and Versailles.

wassily kandinsky painting worth 15 5 m to headline christies 20 21 spring evening sale in london alongside henry moore work 1234773512

Christie's London will offer Wassily Kandinsky's painting *Le Rond Rouge* (1939) with a high estimate of £15.5 million ($21.3 million) in its 20th/21st Century evening sale on March 5. The work, a key piece from the artist's Paris period, has been in prominent collections and was last sold at Sotheby's New York in 2018 for $20.6 million. A major Henry Moore bronze sculpture, *King and Queen* (1952-53), with a £15 million estimate, will also headline the same sale.

wassily kandinsky painting worth 15 5 m to headline christies 20 21 spring evening sale in london alongside henry moore work 1234773512

Christie's London will offer Wassily Kandinsky's painting *Le Rond Rouge* (1939) with a high estimate of £15.5 million ($21.3 million) in its 20th/21st Century evening sale on March 5. The work, a key piece from the artist's Paris period, has been in prominent collections and was last sold at Sotheby's New York in 2018 for $20.6 million. The sale will also feature a fresh-to-auction Henry Moore bronze sculpture, *King and Queen* (1952-53), estimated at up to £15 million.

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Chinese authorities have concluded a major investigation into the Nanjing Museum, revealing decades of alleged mismanagement and corruption that led to nationally significant artworks being funneled into the private market.

art market minute feb 16 2745962

Chinese authorities have concluded a major investigation into the Nanjing Museum, revealing decades of alleged mismanagement and corruption that led to nationally significant artworks being funneled into the private market.

5 Art Openings* in London this week.

A series of art events are opening in London this week, headlined by a major exhibition at Raven Row dedicated to Conceptual artist Christine Kozlov and her network of peers. The show, curated by Rhea Anastas, focuses on Kozlov's contributions from the mid-1960s to late 1970s and includes works by figures like Joseph Kosuth and Adrian Piper. Meanwhile, the gallery Soup is launching a two-person exhibition titled 'Common Place' featuring small-scale paintings by British artists Matthew Clifton and Faith Hughes.