London gallery Project Native Informant closes after 12 years, citing 'volatile and unsustainable environment'

Project Native Informant, an east London gallery known for its adventurous program featuring artists like DIS, Sin Wai Kin, Juliana Huxtable, and Hal Fischer, is closing after 12 years. Founder Stephan Tanbin Sastrawidjaja announced the decision on Instagram on October 31, citing a volatile and unsustainable global economic, political, and social environment, along with personal factors. The gallery had not staged an exhibition since July 2024 and had previously lost commercially viable artist Joseph Yaeger, who signed with Modern Art and Gladstone in 2023.

Artist Explores Desire, Power, And Objectification Through A BDSM Lens In New Solo Exhibition

Swedish-born, Brooklyn-based artist Helena Calmfors presents 'Floral Disciplines,' her debut solo exhibition at The Untitled Space gallery in New York, on view from October 23 to November 7, 2025. Curated by Indira Cesarine, the show features watercolors, photography, and performance that explore queer identity, eroticism, and power through the visual language of BDSM, blending floral imagery with fetish iconography to challenge patriarchal and heteronormative frameworks.

‘Is it possible to come back from this?’: Tehran’s art community on recovering from the 12-day war

Tehran's art community is grappling with the aftermath of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, which has battered the economy, driven up inflation, and slowed art sales as collectors tighten spending. Despite these challenges, galleries like 8Cube and O Gallery are showing resilience: 8Cube's group show "Expectant," curated by sculptor Bita Fayyazi and featuring 28 emerging artists, drew 1,500 visitors on its opening night in August, signaling a tentative return to cultural life. Gallery founders report that sales have plummeted, with collectors shifting to gold or foreign currency, and that rising costs, electricity outages, and water shortages add pressure.

JD Malat Gallery brings Paris-based artist Sophie-Yen Bretez to Dubai

JD Malat Gallery Dubai is presenting *The Unsaid Remains Remembered*, the debut solo exhibition in the Middle East by Paris-based artist Sophie-Yen Bretez. The show features large-scale canvases that move beyond the human figure to explore landscapes, domestic objects, and natural motifs, using symbolic thresholds like windows, tables, clocks, and fruit to evoke memory, silence, and transformation. Bretez describes her approach as a 'dramaturgy of passage,' capturing unseen moments when time overlaps and absence carries presence.

Signal Space Gallery for Digital Art to Launch in Prague

Signal Space, a new permanent gallery dedicated to digital art, will open in Prague's Neo-Renaissance Market Hall on September 30, 2025. Launched by the collective behind the Signal Festival, the inaugural exhibition, "Echoes of Tomorrow," features eight artworks including pieces by Playmodes Studio, Shohei Fujimoto, Quayola, and Max Cooper. The gallery aims to offer deeper engagement with digital media beyond typical screen-based content, with a program that also includes DJ sets, live performances, and lectures on creative coding.

Frame Work: HORSE game becomes art in downtown Detroit

A new interactive art exhibition called "HORSE" has opened in downtown Detroit at 1001 Woodward Avenue, transforming a basketball court into an artistic installation. The centerpiece is a seven-armed sculpture featuring 21 basketball hoops at various angles and heights, inviting visitors to shoot hoops and play the game HORSE. Created by California-born, Detroit-based artist Tyrrell Winston—known for repurposing objects like basketballs—the project was developed in collaboration with landlord Bedrock and gallery Library Street Collective. The exhibition also includes a 30-by-50-foot painting, a sculpture made of old basketballs, a merchandise store, and a photo spot. It runs through October 5, with hours from Wednesday to Sunday.

Artist to Watch: Erin M. Riley’s Tapestries Examine Hard-Hitting Themes While Breaking Down Barriers

Brooklyn-based artist Erin M. Riley is preparing to unveil her latest and largest weavings in a solo exhibition at New York's P.P.O.W gallery in September 2025. Her tapestries tackle hard-hitting themes such as family trauma and domestic abuse, drawing on memory, photographs, and everyday iconography. Riley, who studied at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Tyler School of Art and Architecture, initially faced pushback from both galleries and traditional weavers but has since become a leading figure in the blurring of fine art and craft. Her new works incorporate embroidery for the first time and include pieces like "Road Reverberations" (2024), which uses crowdsourced quotes from survivors of abusive relationships.

In pictures: meet the newcomer galleries debuting at Art Basel

Art Basel has unveiled its lineup of newcomer galleries for the upcoming fair, featuring seven emerging and rediscovered artists from around the world. The debutants include Kyiv-based Sana Shahmuradova Tanska, whose monumental painting addresses the war in Ukraine; Japanese textile artist Junko Oki, showing embroidered vintage garments; and Italian feminist poet Mirella Bentivoglio, represented by a participatory tree sculpture. Other highlights include Parisian Ndayé Kouagou's video work on mass media, conceptual feminist Tina Girouard's wallpaper pieces from the 1970s, London-based Alexandra Metcalf's deconstructed grandfather clocks, and Georgian artist Nika Kutateladze's installation about rural depopulation. The galleries presenting these artists are Gunia Nowik Gallery (Warsaw), Kosaku Kanechika (Tokyo), Repetto Gallery (Lugano), Nir Altman (Munich), Anat Ebgi (Los Angeles), Ginny on Frederick (London), and Gallery Artbeat (Tbilisi).

Five art exhibitions to check out around Brookline this summer

Praise Shadows art gallery in Brookline's Coolidge Corner is among five venues offering free art exhibitions this summer. The gallery presents "Pigment Spells," a solo show by Boston-based artist and Boston University professor Lucy Kim, featuring resin casts of found objects covered in oil paint. Other exhibitions include David Weinberg's "Explorations" at Gallery 93 in the Brookline Senior Center, which combines photo montages with medieval manuscripts, and Gateway Arts' "Artists Assortment," a tribute to current and former artists with disabilities featuring celebrity portraits. The roundup also highlights the accessibility of these spaces, which welcome visitors without admission fees.

Art Basel reveals exhibitor lineup for Paris fair's 2025 edition

Art Basel Paris has announced the exhibitor lineup for its 2025 edition, which will bring 203 galleries to the Grand Palais this autumn. The fourth edition features 89% returning exhibitors from last year and 25 newcomers, with a strong Parisian presence—one-third of participants operate a space in the French capital. The main sector includes 177 exhibitors such as Thaddaeus Ropac, Mor Charpentier, and Acquavella Galleries, while the Emergence section offers 16 solo stands for emerging artists, and the Premise sector challenges art historical canons with pre-1900 works and obscure practices. Highlights include a joint presentation by Gordon Robichaux and Stars of Janet Olivia Henry's dioramas, and a solo stand by Arash Nassiri at Ginny on Frederick.

Independent art fair adjusts as market slows

The Independent art fair in New York, running until 11 May, features 85 exhibitors—its largest edition yet—with 26 solo debuts. Amid a slowing art market, galleries are adjusting pricing strategies, with a notable increase in works priced between $10,000 and $20,000, which now account for about one-third of offerings. Several galleries reported strong sales during the VIP preview, including Long Story Short selling six works by Keita Morimoto and Ricco Maresca Gallery selling out its vintage board game collection for a six-figure sum. Co-founder Elizabeth Dee noted that VIP registrations were up 30% year-over-year, and dealers like Charles Moffett deliberately chose established artists to match collector comfort levels.

Seoul appeal: Korean art captivates Indonesia’s affluent connoisseurs

South Korean artist Choi Sang Chul, in his late 70s, held the opening of his exhibition 'Mumool' at Baik Art gallery in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 20, 2025. The event drew a crowd of wealthy local art patrons, and several of his works were sold before the ceremony ended. Choi, who earned a BFA from Seoul National University and has rejected artistic trends since the 1970s, uses unconventional methods like stones instead of brushes to create his pieces. His work initially received a tepid response at Art Jakarta in 2023, but interest has since grown.

The Photography Show fair in New York sets new attendance record

The Photography Show, presented by the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD), returned to New York’s Park Avenue Armory for its second consecutive year from 23-27 April, featuring 64 exhibitors. The fair set a new attendance record with nearly 15,000 visitors, driven by strong foot traffic and a buzz around the iconic venue. Executive director Lydia Melamed Johnson noted the optimism surrounding the fair, which also highlighted Indigenous women photographers such as Jessica Eaton, Cara Romero, and Shelley Niro.

Yves Klein Research Grant 2026: A Funded Residency for Emerging Scholars

The Yves Klein Foundation has launched its first Research Grant for 2026, offering a CHF 6,000 stipend and a one-week funded residency in Paris to emerging scholars under 35 who hold a PhD or postdoctoral degree. The program invites original research projects that deepen understanding of Yves Klein’s work, ideas, and legacy, with access to archives and scholarly guidance provided. Applications are due by 15 June 2026, with selection based on originality, scientific quality, and feasibility.

Hamburg Culture Prize Renamed After Namesake’s Nazi Ties Emerge

Hamburg's Senator Biermann Ratjen Medal, a culture prize awarded for nearly five decades, is being renamed the Medal for Art and Culture in Hamburg after historian Helmut Stubbe da Luz uncovered evidence that the prize's namesake, Hans Harder Biermann-Ratjen, confirmed his Nazi Party membership in a 1943 application. Biermann-Ratjen, who later served as Hamburg's senator for culture, had been deemed not to have been a member during post-war de-Nazification, but the new research prompted the city to rebrand the award.

ArtPhilly Presents “What Now: 2026”

ArtPhilly has announced the inaugural edition of its city-wide festival, "What Now: 2026," scheduled to open on May 27, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States. The five-week event will feature over 30 newly commissioned projects by Philadelphia-based artists, including performances, installations, and podcasts, staged across festival districts in public spaces and institutions. The festival is led by Creative and Executive Director Bill Adair and Curatorial and Deputy Director Tania Isaac, with a curatorial committee of 17 local curators selecting works that explore the nation's past, present, and future.

A sonic tribute to the act of speech on New York City’s Roosevelt Island

Sound artist Hans Rosenström has launched a site-specific sound installation titled "Out of Silence" at Four Freedoms Park on New York City's Roosevelt Island, running until 21 June. The multi-speaker work features layered voices sung by the Estonian choir Vox Clamantis, arranged across four sections of the park as an homage to Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 Four Freedoms speech. Rosenström, a Finnish artist based in Stockholm, developed the project during an International Studio & Curatorial Program residency in New York in 2024, after being approached by Latvian curator Alina Girshovich to mark the 90th birthday of composer Arvo Pärt. The park's memorial to FDR was designed by architect Louis Kahn, who was born in Estonia and benefited from New Deal programs.

Morocco debuts at the Biennale with an exploration of its age-old craft traditions

Morocco is debuting its first national pavilion at the Venice Biennale with a monumental installation titled "Asetta" by artist Amina Agueznay. The 300-square-meter site-specific work, located in the Arsenale, draws on centuries-old Moroccan craft traditions, including weaving, beadwork, and embroidery. Agueznay conducted field research across Morocco and collaborated with over 130 artisans, mostly women, some of whom she has worked with for decades. The installation explores the transmission of traditional craftsmanship and shared memory, and incorporates the concept of the threshold (âatba) from Moroccan vernacular architecture, offering visitors both an immersive experience and functional seating.

Comment | 'Artnet-Artsy merger: a Bloomberg for art?'

Artnet and Artsy have officially merged under private equity firm Beowolff Capital, founded by former Goldman Sachs trader Andrew Wolff. The deal, which took Artnet private, has already led to layoffs at both companies—including at least seven staff members from Artnet News—and the closure of Artnet's Berlin office. Jeffrey Yin, CEO of Artsy, will lead the combined entity. The merger aims to combine Artnet's vast database of 18 million auction results with Artsy's primary market gallery network to create a seamless user experience for discovering, researching, and buying art.

Shakespeare’s London Home Finally Located After Centuries of Mystery

Scholar Lucy Munro of King’s College London has identified the precise location of William Shakespeare’s only owned London home in the Blackfriars neighborhood. By analyzing a 1668 property map created after the Great Fire of London, Munro pinpointed the site—now occupied by Ireland Yard and St. Andrew’s Hill—which was previously known only through vague historical references to the Blackfriars Gatehouse.

Foundation, a Prominent NFT Platform of the 2021 Boom, Shuts Down After Failed Sale

Foundation, a prominent Ethereum-based NFT marketplace that launched during the 2021 digital art boom, has announced it will shut down following a failed acquisition by the digital art company Blackdove. CEO Kayvon Tehranian confirmed that the platform has entered a one-year wind-down phase, urging users to migrate their assets as no other viable buyers exist in the current market. The closure follows the collapse of a deal that was intended to provide long-term stewardship for the platform, which had facilitated over $230 million in sales since its inception.

Nikyle Begay Resurrects Century-Old Diné Weavings

Nikyle Begay, a Diné shepherd and weaver based in the Navajo Nation, is revitalizing ancestral weaving techniques that were historically marginalized by the colonial trading-post economy. By breeding Navajo Churro sheep and mastering complex twill patterns once used for functional saddle blankets, Begay bridges the gap between traditional agricultural practice and contemporary fine art. Their work involves the entire lifecycle of the medium, from shearing and processing wool to reconstructing intricate designs that fell out of favor when commercial markets prioritized specific regional styles for non-Native buyers.

A Bodybuilder’s 3,300-Year-Old Egyptian Stele Heads to TEFAF

A 3,300-year-old Egyptian stele once owned by bodybuilding pioneer Ben Weider is set to be a highlight at TEFAF New York this May. The limestone carving, which depicts Pharaoh Thutmose IV, was gifted to Weider in 1964 and recently surfaced at a Montreal auction before being acquired by the London-based gallery David Aaron. Alongside the stele, the gallery will present a 2,500-year-old greywacke bust of a goddess, which was recently authenticated after being dismissed as a fake due to its pristine condition and 18th-century restorations.

Art Market Minute: Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 Analysis

art market minute mar 30

Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 served as a critical barometer for a shifting global art market, characterized by a move away from impulsive buying toward a more deliberate and cautious collector base. Industry experts observed that the traditional first-day frenzy has been replaced by extended decision-making timelines, as buyers navigate a complex landscape of rising logistical costs and regional economic shifts.

biennale of sydney jewish group pro palestine artists

The Biennale of Sydney has officially denied allegations of discrimination and bias following claims from Australia’s Jewish community that the exhibition's selection process favored anti-Zionist artists. The controversy intensified when the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies declined a preview invitation, citing "objectionable social media activity" by participating artists rather than the artworks themselves. In response, the Biennale maintained that its selection process is based strictly on artistic merit and that the organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.

unt faculty open letter victor quinonez exhibition cancelation

Faculty at the University of North Texas's College of Visual Arts and Design have issued an open letter protesting the abrupt and unexplained cancellation of a solo exhibition by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez. The letter, addressed to university leadership, argues the removal violates UNT's own policies on academic freedom and non-discrimination based on content, and demands an explanation for the decision.

art market minute feb 2

Saudi Arabia is scaling back some of its ambitious 'gigaprojects' under the Vision 2030 plan due to falling oil prices and budget constraints, raising questions about the future of its major cultural investments. This shift occurs as the art world's attention turns to the Gulf region for the inaugural Art Basel Qatar, highlighting the tension between grand cultural ambitions and economic realities in a key emerging art market.

the art marketplace private sales

A new digital platform called the Art Marketplace, founded in mid-2025 by Elliot Safra and a group of partners, aims to streamline private art sales by addressing common frustrations in the secondary market. Unlike traditional auction houses or gallery sales, the platform lists artworks without images, revealing only key details like artist name, description, price, and last update. Requests for images or condition reports are vetted to ensure qualified interest, prioritizing confidentiality and avoiding public exposure that could harm a work's market value. Sellers can list works in minutes, bypassing intermediaries like advisors or dealers, while buyers gain access to previously obscure off-market inventory.

us withdrawal un cultural organizations alarm

President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from 66 international organizations, including several that safeguard creative rights and freedoms, via a January 7 memo. The New York-based Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) expressed deep concern, particularly over the impact on its partner, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). ARC listed affected organizations such as the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, the Freedom Online Coalition, the UN Democracy Fund, UN Women, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, and the International Development Law Organization, all of which support artistic freedom, cultural heritage, and protections for artists under threat.

non bank art loans defaults rise deloitte private arttactic

Half of non-bank art lenders experienced loan defaults in 2024, up from 17 percent in 2022, according to the Art and Finance Report 2025 by Deloitte Private and ArtTactic. The report notes that while the wider art market has shrunk since 2022—sales fell 12 percent to $57.5 billion in 2024—the market for art-backed loans has grown to an estimated $33.9–$40 billion. Non-bank lenders are increasingly taking on riskier clients, with some charging over 15 percent interest, while private banks reported zero defaults in 2024.