Toronto Biennial of Art announces 2026 artists and theme

The Toronto Biennial of Art has unveiled the artist list and thematic framework for its 2026 edition, titled "Things Fall Apart." Curated by Allison Glenn, the exhibition will feature over 30 artists and collectives, including 17 new commissions that explore themes of syncopation, rupture, and the connective power of global waterways. For the first time, the biennial will expand its physical footprint beyond the Greater Toronto Area to include site-responsive projects in Detroit, New York, and Anchorage.

May 2026 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists

Colossal's May 2026 opportunities roundup lists multiple open calls, residencies, and grants for artists worldwide. Featured opportunities include the Scenerium 2026 Art Award (deadline May 7), the Hopper Prize offering $4,500 and $1,000 artist grants (deadline May 12), and the SaveArtSpace Billboard Art Open Call curated by Gigi Chen (deadline May 7). Other listings include the YICCA Art Prize, CIFRA Award, Cass Art Prize for the U.K. and Ireland, Sunshine Coast National Art Prize in Australia, an opportunity to get published in Artistonish magazine, and the Abbey Mural Prize.

Taiwan Presents “Screen Melancholy: Li Yi-Fan” at the Venice Biennale

The Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) presents the collateral event "Screen Melancholy: Li Yi-Fan" at the 61st Venice Biennale, held at the Palazzo delle Prigioni from May 9 to November 22, 2026. The exhibition features a new video installation and mixed-media work by Taiwanese artist Li Yi-Fan, curated by Raphael Fonseca, curator of visual arts at Culturgest in Lisbon and Porto. The installation integrates large-scale sculptural fragments with video and sound, exploring how screens mediate perception and emotional experience, in dialogue with the Biennale's theme "In Minor Keys."

louvre robbery history behind stolen crown jewels

Eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels were stolen from the Louvre Museum on October 19, including a pearl-and-diamond tiara and a bow-shaped brooch that once belonged to Empress Eugénie, as well as a sapphire parure and diadem owned by Queen Maria Amalia. The theft has drawn attention to the jewels' complex history: most of the Crown Jewels were auctioned off in 1887 by the French government to eliminate monarchical symbols, and the stolen pieces were among the few remaining in the Louvre's collection, some repurchased at great expense in the 1990s and 2000s with help from the Société des Amis du Louvre.

vatican museums restored raphael rooms cleaning project

The Vatican Museums have unveiled the final room of the Raphael Rooms in the Apostolic Palace after a decade-long cleaning and restoration. The project revealed that Raphael used a novel mural painting technique, applying oil paint directly to the wall rather than using traditional fresco. Restorers discovered a grid of metal nails embedded in the walls, intended to hold a natural resin surface for the oil paint, confirming earlier reports of this experimental approach. The room, dedicated to the Roman emperor Constantine, was completed by Raphael's students after his death in 1520.

art max hollein met museum interview

Max Hollein, director and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, discusses the institution's upcoming major projects in an interview with a chair of the Met's Vanguard Council. These include the groundbreaking of the new Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art, designed by Frida Escobedo, a major Raphael exhibition, and the Met Gala co-chaired by Beyoncé. Hollein reflects on the launch of the Vanguard Council, a next-generation patron group, and the museum's efforts to engage younger audiences.

artadia artists tennis court benefit

Artadia, a nonprofit grantmaker, held its third annual tennis tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Club in May 2025, moving the event from its traditional pre-Frieze slot in response to the year's wildfires. The fundraiser, co-chaired by Charles Gaines, Jennie Lamensdorf, and Rafael Flores, gathered over 130 guests including gallerists from Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and David Zwirner, as well as curator Mia Locks and artists Ally Hilfiger, Todd Gray, and Roksana Pirouzmand. Forty-five participants played in a rotating doubles format, while others socialized; Locks gave remarks and won the tournament.

DHM main building likely closed until 2031

DHM-Hauptbau wohl bis 2031 dicht

The German Historical Museum (DHM) in Berlin will remain without its main building, the Zeughaus on Unter den Linden, until at least 2031 due to further delays in its renovation. Museum director Raphael Gross announced that a binding timeline from the property owner and the federal construction authority is not expected until 2027, and a reopening before 2031 is unrealistic. In the meantime, the museum is using its modern Pei-Bau wing to host a new exhibition titled "Objekte. Geschichte. Geschichten," featuring around 200 highlights from its collection of one million objects, including a samurai armor once gifted to Adolf Hitler and objects from a refugee shelter.

Drones, Uncle Sam, and Grand Master Rafael: 10 Must See Exhibits This Spring

New York City’s museum landscape is entering a major spring season characterized by high-profile retrospectives, institutional reopenings, and the 82nd Whitney Biennial. Key highlights include a massive Raphael survey at the Metropolitan Museum of Art featuring over 200 works, the reopening of the expanded New Museum with a tech-focused exhibition on the future of humanity, and a major survey of sculptor Carol Bove at the Guggenheim. The season also features thematic shows exploring American folk art, Dutch Golden Age masterpieces, and the relationship between Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

The Price Points Powering the Art Market

The article, part of the Artnet Intelligence Report: Year Ahead 2026, analyzes art market performance by price bracket in 2025. The $1 million-to-$10 million range was the strongest segment, with sales totaling $3.5 billion—a 20.8% increase from 2024. Sales above $10 million rose 36.1% to $2.3 billion, boosted by high-priced masterpieces at New York's November auctions. The $100,000-to-$1 million bracket saw $3.2 billion in sales, up 6%. Meanwhile, works under $10,000 and in the $10,000-to-$100,000 range grew less than 1%, indicating cautious buyer behavior.

Treasures From Matthew Perry’s Estate Head to Auction for a Good Cause

Heritage Auctions will sell a trove of artifacts from Matthew Perry's estate starting June 5, including scripts and memorabilia from the sitcom *Friends*, artworks by Banksy and Mel Bochner, and personal items like a 3D portrait of his invented superhero "Mattman." Proceeds benefit the Matthew Perry Foundation, a nonprofit focused on ending addiction stigma and expanding access to evidence-based care, founded after the actor's death in 2023.

New UCCA CEO Kong Lingyi on the Beijing Institution’s Future

Kong Lingyi has been appointed as the new CEO of the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, succeeding Philip Tinari who stepped down shortly before the Lunar New Year. A veteran of the institution since 2012, Kong previously served as vice president of brand and is now tasked with overseeing UCCA’s multiple branches in Beijing, Beidaihe, and Yixing. Her leadership marks a shift toward a new management structure focused on institutional sustainability and public accessibility.

Lost Cecil Beaton and Lee Miller Photos Turn Up in Old Scrapbook

A previously unknown scrapbook containing over 150 unseen photographs by Cecil Beaton and Lee Miller has been acquired by the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Compiled between 1943 and 1949 by Roland Haupt, a darkroom assistant who processed film for both photographers during World War II, the album includes rare war reportage, portraits, and personal mementos. Among the highlights is an unpublished alternative shot of Miller in Adolf Hitler’s bathtub and Surrealist-inflected images of the conflict's aftermath.

$25 Million Modigliani Goes to Jewish Heir in Landmark Restitution Case

A New York Supreme Court judge has ruled that the estate of Jewish art dealer Oscar Stettiner is the rightful owner of Amedeo Modigliani’s 1918 painting "Seated Man With a Cane." The decision concludes an 11-year legal battle led by Stettiner’s grandson, Philippe Maestracci, against billionaire art dealer David Nahmad. The court found that the painting was unlawfully seized by the Nazis after Stettiner fled Paris in 1939 and that subsequent sales, including the 1996 purchase by Nahmad at Christie’s, did not extinguish the original owner's rights.

Pete Davidson’s Pop-Filled Art Collection Revealed in Westchester Home Listing

Actor and comedian Pete Davidson has listed his Westchester County home for $2.2 million, revealing a vibrant art collection rooted in pop culture and nostalgia. The 2,300-square-foot residence features a diverse array of works ranging from Peter Max prints and Al Hirschfeld caricatures to contemporary design pieces like the Gufram x Paul Smith 'Sunset Cactus.' The interior reflects Davidson's 'man cave' aesthetic, blending high-end collectibles with whimsical references to television, film, and his native Staten Island.

Yves Saint Laurent’s Lalanne Mirrors Set for $15 Million Sale

Sotheby’s has announced the sale of a monumental set of 15 gilt-bronze mirrors by Claude Lalanne, originally commissioned by fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent for his Paris apartment. The mirrors are the centerpiece of a 123-lot auction from the collection of Jean and Terry de Gunzburg, scheduled for April 22 at the Sotheby’s Breuer building. Estimated to fetch between $10 million and $15 million, the mirrors represent a significant appreciation in value since the de Gunzburgs acquired them for approximately $2.4 million at the historic 2009 Saint Laurent estate sale.

waterhouse tennyson lady of shalott

English painter John William Waterhouse created three paintings based on Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shalott," depicting a cursed woman from Arthurian legend. The article explores Waterhouse's deep admiration for Tennyson, noting that he filled his copy of Tennyson's works with sketches. It reveals that Waterhouse painted the story in reverse chronological order, starting with the final scene in 1888, then the moment of temptation in 1894, and finally the lady's lament in 1915. The article also identifies the model for the first painting as likely Waterhouse's wife, artist Esther Kenworthy Waterhouse, and describes symbolic details in the work, such as the snuffed candles foreshadowing death.

wet paint romero britto cruise

Artnet News' gossip column Wet Paint reports on a Valentine's Day dining experience aboard a simulated Princess Cruises ship at Pier 59 in Chelsea Piers, New York. The event, titled "Love by Britto: First Artistically Inspired Dining Experience Celebrating 'Love'," was designed by Miami-based artist Romero Britto, featuring his signature kaleidoscopic pop art on plates, wine labels, paperweights, and even toilet paper roll stickers. Chef Rudi Sodamin prepared the meal, which included a cocktail with edible glitter and heart-shaped desserts. Britto himself attended a run-through the previous night, and the $214 tickets for the final evening were sold out.

art basel qatar

Art Basel is expanding to the Middle East with a new fair in Doha, Qatar, set to launch in February 2026. The inaugural edition will feature around 50 galleries from local and international scenes, held across two venues: M7 and the Doha Design District. The fair is a partnership between Art Basel, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), and QC+, a cultural commerce collective under Qatar Museums. A new artistic director will be announced soon, and the fair aims to scale up over time, with additional art activations in outdoor spaces like Msheireb Museums and Barahat Msheireb square.

by the numbers a marathon night at sothebys moves 186 1 million worth of contemporary art

Sotheby's held a marathon night of three sales in New York, totaling $186.1 million in contemporary and ultra-contemporary art. The evening began with single-owner sales from the collections of the late dealer Barbara Gladstone and veteran dealer Daniella Luxembourg, both achieving 'white glove' results with no buy-ins. The main sale featured 42 lots, led by Jean-Michel Basquiat's *Untitled* (1981), which sold for $16.4 million. Overall, 66 of 69 lots sold, with a 94% sell-through rate, though the total fell short of the $234.6 million achieved in the equivalent sale last year.

decorative art sold 2024

Sales in the decorative-art category—including design objects, furniture, jewelry, and watches—dropped nearly 42% year on year in 2024, netting $3.3 billion, the lowest total in a decade. The average price of a decorative artwork at auction fell 39.5% to $13,010, also the lowest since 2014. Sotheby’s and Christie’s remained nearly tied, with Sotheby’s edging ahead by $72.9 million. Europe led regional sales with $1.3 billion, followed by Asia at $1 billion and North America at $898 million.

by the numbers despite 70 million giacometti failure sothebys made money at modern evening sale

Sotheby's Modern art evening sale in New York generated $186.4 million in total sales after fees, but the headline was the failure of Alberto Giacometti's 1955 sculpture *Grande tête mince (Grande tête de Diego)*, estimated at $70 million, which failed to receive a single bid. Despite the high-profile flop, Sotheby's walked away with $34.4 million in buyer's premium net of fees paid to third-party backers, and because it did not guarantee the Giacometti, it faced no financial risk from the unsold lot. The top seller was Pablo Picasso's *Homme assis* (1969), which sold for $15.1 million with fees. The sale's sell-through rate was 76.9 percent, and the hammer total of $152 million fell $88.3 million below the presale low estimate.

frank lloyd wright lamp sothebys auction

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.

anna marie tendler other art fair

Anna Marie Tendler is presenting her interactive "House of Self Portrait Booth" at the Other Art Fair in Brooklyn, where she photographs fairgoers in a darkly romantic style inspired by her acclaimed 2021 self-portrait series "Rooms in the First House." The booth, which has previously appeared at the fair's Los Angeles and Chicago editions, features props from Tendler's own home, including a horned skull, a gramophone, and Victorian-style lampshades. Tendler's original series emerged from a period of personal struggle following her highly publicized divorce from comedian John Mulaney and an extended stay in a psychiatric hospital.

lalanne auction london

A rare complete set of Claude Lalanne's green-painted 'Ginkgo' dining suite will be auctioned at Christie's London on June 5, 2025, as part of a single-owner sale from the collection of Baron Diego von Buch. The 12-piece set, sold as four individual lots, is expected to fetch over £1 million ($1.4 million) total, with individual estimates ranging from £100,000 to £300,000 per lot. The sale includes 100 lots from von Buch's homes across Europe, featuring works by François-Xavier Lalanne, Fernand Léger, Fernando Botero, and Lee Ufan.

how much should an art fair cost

Frieze, the international art fair group, has been sold to Ari Emanuel, the Hollywood power broker who previously owned it through Endeavor. Emanuel acquired Frieze via a new, unnamed company from his former entertainment conglomerate, which was recently taken private by Silver Lake. The deal, valued at approximately $200 million according to sources, includes all seven fairs, Frieze magazine, and the No. 9 Cork Street exhibition space. Simon Fox will remain CEO. The sale comes just days before Frieze New York’s 2025 edition and follows months of speculation about the fair's future ownership.

art shipping in turmoil as tariffs trigger delays

President Trump's tariff policies are causing significant disruption in the art shipping industry, despite artworks themselves remaining largely exempt from import taxes under U.S. law. While Section 1702(b) of the IEEPA protects artworks, books, and films from presidential trade restrictions, antiques and design objects are subject to a 10 percent universal tariff, creating confusion for customs officers. Meanwhile, changes to de minimis rules—lowering the threshold for formal customs processing from $2,500 to $800—have forced DHL to temporarily suspend certain shipments and caused multi-day delays. Smaller art dealers relying on global logistics firms are particularly affected, as bespoke fine-art shippers like Crozier, UOVO, and Cadogan Tate are often too expensive for lower-value works under $10,000.

natalie white arrested political protest

Artist Natalie White was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for vandalizing federal property after painting “ERA NOW” in red letters on the pavement of the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. The protest followed a 16-day, 250-mile Equal Rights Amendment march from New York to DC. White surrendered to Capitol Police earlier this month and spent 14 hours in jail. Her lawyer, Ronald Kuby, arranged the surrender and noted that because the cleanup cost was under $1,000, the charge remained a misdemeanor. White faces up to a year in prison.

kamala culture failure

Ben Davis, an art critic, analyzes the failure of Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign through the lens of its visual culture, particularly a MoveOn.org poster in Brooklyn that renders Harris's face entirely from emojis—smiley eyes, fist-bump skin, octopus lips, and coconut necklace. He argues this poster epitomizes the campaign's reliance on incoherent internet vibes and substance-free memes, contrasting it with Shepard Fairey's uninspired "FORWARD" poster and the self-parody of "Brat Summer" aesthetics. Davis blames Democratic Party consultants for wasting over $1 billion on a campaign that failed to connect with voters on economic anger, instead offering wonkish proposals and appeals to nonexistent Liz Cheney Republicans.

switzerland buhrle foundation settlement manet jewish heirs

The foundation overseeing the Emil G. Bührle collection has reached a settlement with the heirs of Jewish collector Max Silberberg over Édouard Manet's painting *La Sultane* (c.1871), allowing the work to remain on view at the Kunsthaus Zurich. Bührle, a German Swiss industrialist who profited from arms sales to Nazi Germany and used slave labor, amassed a collection now known to include many Nazi-looted artworks. The settlement follows a 2021 report by Raphael Gross finding that over a quarter of the 205 loaned works likely belonged to Jewish owners, sparking public protests and artist Miriam Cahn's withdrawal of her works from the museum.