us venice biennale plans collapse gagosian and wes anderson join forces for joseph cornell show and more morning links for november 6 2025 1234760347

The US government selected artist Robert Lazzarini and curator John Ravenal to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of America's founding. However, negotiations with a partner institution collapsed within three weeks, and the commission was withdrawn before any public announcement, leaving the international art world questioning who will ultimately represent the country. In other news, the original cover photograph for David Bowie's album *Aladdin Sane* sold for £381,400 at Bonhams London, setting a new auction record. Gagosian has teamed up with filmmaker Wes Anderson to recreate Joseph Cornell's New York studio in Paris for an exhibition titled "The House of Utopia Parkway: Joseph Cornell's Studio Reimagined by Wes Anderson." The long-anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has reignited calls for the British Museum to repatriate the Rosetta Stone, and a Denver-based cryptocurrency entrepreneur has unveiled a plan to build a 450-foot-tall statue of Prometheus on Alcatraz Island.

times esther kim varet campaign wet paint 2739465

Lower Manhattan is getting a new nonprofit art space called Times (styled in lowercase), founded by Summer Guthery and Francesca Sonara. Located on the fourth floor of 151 Lafayette Street above the Museum of Chinese in America, the 3,000-square-foot venue will operate for only three years. Its inaugural exhibition, featuring Danish artist Nina Beier, opens February 21 with a display of melting Cornetto ice cream cones. The space will officially open February 12 with a performance by Latvian choreographer Jana Jacuka. Guthery, previously founding artistic director of Canal Projects, and Sonara, former director of communications at Minnesota Street Project, met as graduate students at Bard College's Center for Curatorial Studies.

art basel miami beach bridget finn interview 2579315

Bridget Finn, who became director of Art Basel Miami Beach in July 2023, has organized the 22nd edition of the fair from start to finish for the first time. In an interview days before the VIP opening at the Miami Beach Convention Center, she discussed welcoming 286 galleries, the importance of hospitality, and the fair's role in Miami's art scene. She highlighted 34 new galleries joining this year, notable works by Augusto Machado and Roberto Huarcaya, and the fair's efforts to engage diverse audiences including VIPs, institutions, and the general public.

30 Iconic Feminist Works By Women Artists

ARTnews has expanded its list of iconic feminist works by women artists, adding 15 new entries to a previous selection. The article highlights specific pieces, such as Edmonia Lewis's *The Death of Cleopatra* (1876), Mary Cassatt's *The Reader* (1877), and Alice Pike Barney's *Medusa* (1892) and *Lucifer* (1902), providing historical context for each artist and their contribution to feminist discourse through art.

rothschilds mini louvre at center of family feud british museum on decolonization mission and more morning links for december 18 2025 1234767389

The British Museum is lending 80 significant Greek and Egyptian artifacts to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) as part of a new initiative promoting "decolonization through collaboration" rather than restitution. Director Nicholas Cullinan described the long-term loans as a form of "cultural diplomacy" that offers a constructive alternative to ownership disputes. Separately, the Rothschild family's secretive private art collection at Château de Pregny, dubbed a "mini-Louvre," is at the center of a legal battle between Nadine de Rothschild and her daughter-in-law Ariane de Rothschild over whether the artworks should remain in the château or be moved to a public museum in Geneva.

top auction moments of 2025 2712941

Artnet News rounds up the standout auction moments of 2025, highlighting both triumphs and disappointments. M.F. Husain's *Untitled (Gram Yatra)* (1954) smashed expectations at Christie's, selling for $13.8 million—more than double the artist's previous record and the first South Asian Modern work to exceed $10 million. In contrast, Piet Mondrian's *Composition with Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow, Black and Blue* (1922) fell short of its $50 million estimate at Christie's, missing the artist's auction record, while Alberto Giacometti's *Grande tête mince* (1955) failed to sell at Sotheby's despite a $70 million asking price, underscoring market volatility.

christies 21st century evening sale women artists records 1234762523

Christie’s 21st-century evening sale on Wednesday set new auction records for women artists Firelei Báez, Joan Brown, and Olga de Amaral. Báez’s painting *Untitled (Colonization in America, Visual History Wall Map, Prepared by Civic Education Service)* (2021) sold for $1,111,250; Brown’s *After the Alcatraz Swim #2* achieved $596,900; and Amaral’s *Pueblo H* (2011) soared to $3,125,000—more than double her previous record. The sale also set records for a neon/sculptural work by Glenn Ligon and a three-dimensional work by Richard Prince.

m f husain museum qatar opening november 2025 1234754969

A new museum dedicated to M. F. Husain, one of India's most important modernist artists, will open in Doha, Qatar, on November 28, 2025. Officially named Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum, it is operated under the Qatar Foundation and will be the first museum devoted solely to Husain. The 32,300-square-foot institution, located in Doha's Education City, draws from a newly formed permanent collection spanning paintings, tapestries, photographs, films, installations, and poetry. Highlights include a series on Arab civilization commissioned by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Husain's final work, Seeroo fi al ardh (2009), housed in its own gallery. The building's design is based on a 2008 sketch by the artist.

design miami 2025 brings out creatures and comfort 2723013

Design Miami 2025 preview drew a bustling crowd with over 70 exhibitors under the theme "Make Believe." Highlights included Katie Stout's whimsical carousel featuring marine animals, Roham Shamekh's biomorphic "Roots" sofa with integrated headphones, and ATRA's futuristic "Intelligence of Evolution" seating system upholstered in Hermès fabric. The Spanish silver brand Garrido showcased collaborations with Peter Marino, while the fair's 20th anniversary edition embraced a carnivalesque atmosphere with popcorn and mirrored walls.

art basel miami beach bridget finn interview 2579315

Bridget Finn, who became director of Art Basel Miami Beach in July 2023, has organized the fair's 22nd edition from start to finish for the first time. In an interview days before the VIP opening at the Miami Beach Convention Center, she discussed welcoming 286 galleries, the importance of hospitality, and the fair's role in Miami's art scene. She highlighted 34 new galleries joining this year, notable installations including works by Augusto Machado and Roberto Huarcaya, and the fair's efforts to attract a diverse public beyond traditional collectors.

Van Gogh’s family used an erotic Gauguin ceramic as a flower vase

A researcher at the Van Gogh Museum, Joost van der Hoeven, has revealed that Paul Gauguin's erotic ceramic, the Cleopatra Pot (winter 1887-88), was used as a flower vase by Vincent van Gogh's family. Gauguin brought the pot to Arles when he stayed with Van Gogh in 1888, and after Van Gogh's ear incident, Gauguin gave the pot to Vincent's brother Theo as a gift. The pot later remained with Theo's widow, Jo Bonger, and a photograph from 1925-26 shows it on her piano holding flowers, surrounded by still-life paintings.

british museum loans csmvs india 1234767692

The British Museum has sent approximately 80 artifacts on long-term loan to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, India. The loan includes an ancient Egyptian wooden riverboat model, Sumerian statues from 2200 BCE, a Roman mosaic from London, and a marble bust of Emperor Augustus. It is the largest loan of ancient material to India and the first such deal between the British Museum and a non-Western museum. The exhibition aims to counter "colonial misinterpretation" by emphasizing India's contributions to civilization.

India’s art market is fast growing—is it also maturing?

The third edition of Art Mumbai (13-16 November) saw strong sales and record auction prices for Indian Modernists, including MF Husain's *Gram Yatra* (1953) becoming the first Indian painting to sell for over $10 million. The fair, held amid surging private wealth in India, featured leading contemporary galleries reporting up to 90% sales on opening day, with works priced from $1,000 to $300,000. A recent reduction in India's goods and service tax on art from 12% to 5% has further boosted the market.

kiran nadar bought m f husain record breaking painting christies 1234757841

Kiran Nadar, a prominent Indian collector, revealed she purchased M.F. Husain's 1954 painting *Untitled (Gram Yatra)* for $13.8 million at Christie's New York, making it the most expensive work of Indian modern art ever sold at auction. The painting, originally owned by a Norwegian surgeon and later donated to Oslo University Hospital, was consigned after a 13-year deaccessioning process. Nadar and her husband Shiva, who have ranked on ARTnews's Top 200 Collectors list since 2019, will add the work to their collection of over 15,000 pieces, many displayed at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Delhi.

kiran nadar bought m f husain record breaking painting christies 1234757841

Kiran Nadar, a prominent Indian collector, revealed she purchased M.F. Husain's 1954 painting *Untitled (Gram Yatra)* for $13.8 million at Christie's New York, making it the most expensive work of Indian modern art ever sold at auction. The painting, estimated at $2.5–3.5 million, was originally owned by Norwegian surgeon Leon Elias Volodarsky and later donated to Oslo University Hospital, which consigned it after a 13-year deaccessioning process.

Before the Night of Museums, monuments across France open their doors for three exceptional nocturnal events

Avant la Nuit des musées, des monuments de la France entière ouvrent leurs portes pour trois nocturnes exceptionnelles

The crowdfunding platform Dartagnans is launching the 2026 edition of "Nuit des monuments" (Night of Monuments) from April 17 to 19 across France. This initiative opens dozens of privately owned historic sites, many of which are usually closed to the public, for unique nocturnal experiences including lantern-lit tours, puzzle games, and immersive light displays. Notable participants include the Château de Cercamp, the Château de la Matray, and the Fondation Vasarely in Aix-en-Provence.

the hunt edmonia lewis death of cleopatra statue 2564366

Edmonia Lewis’s monumental marble sculpture, 'The Death of Cleopatra', debuted to massive acclaim at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia before vanishing into a bizarre century-long obscurity. After failing to sell, the two-ton masterpiece transitioned from Chicago saloons to a racetrack—where it served as a grave marker for a horse—and eventually sat neglected at a shopping mall construction site, exposed to vandalism and the elements.

m f husain museum qatar 2723322

Qatar has unveiled a new museum dedicated entirely to the late Indian Modernist artist M.F. Husain, titled Lawh Wa Qalam: M.F. Husain Museum. Located in Doha's Education City, the museum houses over 150 artworks spanning from the 1950s to his death in 2011, including paintings, poetry, photography, tapestries, sculptures, and installations. The museum, opened on November 28 by the Qatar Foundation chaired by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, fulfills a long-held dream of the artist, who was granted Qatari citizenship in 2010 after self-imposed exile from India. The building was designed by architect Martand Khosla based on a sketch Husain himself created for his envisioned museum.

Record sales and a tax break close out blockbuster year for South Asian Modern market

Two record-breaking auctions closed a blockbuster year for the South Asian Modern art market. On 27 September, Saffronart in New Delhi sold 85 lots for $40.2 million—the largest single sale ever in South Asia—while on 29 September, Sotheby’s in New York sold 54 lots for $25.5 million, a record total for South Asian art in the West. These followed Christie’s March sale of M.F. Husain’s mural *Gram Yatra* (1954) for $13.7 million, the highest price ever for an Indian painting. India also enacted a major tax reform, cutting the Goods and Service Tax (GST) on art from 12% to 5%, further stimulating the market.

11 must-see works in MAM's new Bradley Collection exhibition

The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) has opened a new exhibition titled "The Bradley Collection of Modern Art: A Bold Vision for Milwaukee" in the Baker/Rowland Galleries, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Peg Bradley's donation of nearly 400 works to the museum. The show features highlights from the collection, including pieces by Wassily Kandinsky, Raoul Dufy, and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, alongside works by American artists like Georgia O'Keeffe and Andy Warhol. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to see these works in a new setting and learn more about Bradley as a collector and philanthropist.

Berlin is the capital of contemporary performance. Here's why

Berlino è la capitale della performance contemporanea. Ecco perché

Berlino si conferma capitale della performance contemporanea, con musei e spazi non teatrali che diventano luoghi di azione e sperimentazione. L'articolo descrive quattro recenti performance: 'Glitch Choir – Vocal Variations' di Deva Schubert allo Schinkel Pavillon, dove il corpo e la voce esplorano il glitch come condizione fisica e politica; 'Roses Rising – The Movement' di Leila Hekmat al Gropius Bau, un rituale collettivo di danza e musica; e altre opere che trasformano istituzioni come l'Hamburger Bahnhof in dispositivi di produzione sensoriale. Anche il Bode Museum partecipa con 'The Healing Museum', uno spazio di meditazione interreligioso.

british museum lending program 2732038

The British Museum has launched a new long-term lending program, transferring some 80 Greek and Egyptian antiquities to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, India, for a three-year exhibition. Director Nicholas Cullinan presented the initiative as a collaborative alternative to the contentious debate over repatriation, aiming to share artifacts with former British colonies without permanently deaccessioning them. The loans are part of a 15-year partnership between the two museums, and Cullinan has signaled plans to negotiate similar arrangements with China, Nigeria, and Ghana.

The Great Indian Art Mafia

The Indian art market has undergone a dramatic transformation, shifting from a selective market with works priced between Rs 5-25 crore to a record-breaking phase where prices now routinely cross Rs 50-100 crore. Key sales include M.F. Husain's 'Gram Yatra' (1954) for approximately Rs 118 crore in 2025, currently the highest price for an Indian artwork, and significant price escalations for modern masters like Tyeb Mehta, S.H. Raza, and Amrita Sher-Gil.

The Great Indian Art Mafia

The Indian art market has undergone a dramatic transformation, shifting from a selective market with works priced between Rs 5-25 crore to a high-stakes arena where record-breaking sales are now common. Between 2023 and 2025, multiple works crossed the Rs 50-100 crore threshold, with M.F. Husain's 'Gram Yatra' (1954) achieving the highest price to date at approximately Rs 118 crore, acquired by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The market has expanded to over Rs 3,000 crore, with projections of Rs 10,000 crore by 2030.

‘This is how art history is built’: unprecedented Mumbai exhibition unites works of Indian and Arab Modernism

A new exhibition titled 'Resonant Histories' has opened at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) museum, running until 16 February 2026. It is the first show to focus on the relationship between Indian and Arab Modernism, featuring over 40 works lent by the Sharjah-based Barjeel Art Foundation alongside pieces from Mumbai's Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF). The exhibition highlights visual and thematic resonances between artists from both regions, such as Syrian painter Marwan Kassab-Bachi and Indian master Francis Newton Souza, and addresses shared post-colonial struggles through works by artists like Chittaprosad Bhattacharya, Krishen Khanna, Abdul Qader Al Rais, and Naim Ismail. It also explores direct cultural exchanges, for example Egyptian artist Nazek Hamdi's adaptation of Bengali folk-art.

India’s art market sees major resurgence in 2025; M F Hussain’s work breaks record

India's art market experienced a major resurgence in 2025, driven by record auction sales for modernists like M.F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta, and V.S. Gaitonde. Husain's 'Gram Yatra' became the first Indian painting to sell for over USD 10 million, setting a new benchmark. The boom is fueled by India's strong economy, rising private wealth, digital platforms, and increased global recognition. The India Art Fair in Delhi and the launch of India Art Fair Contemporary in Mumbai highlighted strong sales, with galleries selling 90% of their stands on preview day. A reduction in India's goods and services tax on art from 12% to 5% further boosted the market, while independent reports estimate Indian art auctions reached Rs 2,456.7 crore, up over 20% from the previous year.

ancient egyptian pleasure boat portus magnus 2725487

Underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio and his Institut Européen d’Archéologie Sous-Marine (IEASM) team have discovered the remains of a 35-meter-long ancient Egyptian pleasure boat, known as a thalamagos, in the submerged Portus Magnus off Alexandria’s harbor. The 28-meter preserved timbers, found seven meters underwater and buried under sediment, represent the first physical evidence of such vessels, previously known only from ancient texts like Strabo's Geography and the Nile mosaic at Palestrina. The ship, built in Alexandria and propelled by oars, features a central pavilion and Greek graffiti from the 1st century C.E., and may have sunk around 50 C.E. during the destruction of the temple of Isis on Antirhodos Island.

‘People didn’t believe it was real’: Indigenous artists push to shut the Everglades migrant-detention facility Alligator Alcatraz

Miccosukee and Seminole artists, culture-bearers, and youth organizers are protesting the opening of a migrant-detention facility nicknamed Alligator Alcatraz at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida. In July, a communal action coordinated with the collective Unidos Immokalee included ceremony, dance, sign-making, and distribution of supplies, with participants like Kendal Osceola and Maeanna Osceola speaking out against the facility, which they see as colonial violence on ancestral lands. The facility, run by Florida’s Division of Emergency Management in partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security, opened on 3 July and has faced legal challenges, including a temporary halt to construction by a federal judge in August, though a September appeals panel stayed the shutdown order.

Florida’s Indigenous Artists Take Center Stage at Miami Art Week

Two Florida museums, HistoryMiami Museum and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, have organized an exhibition titled "Yakne Seminoli" ("Seminole World") for Miami Art Week, featuring works by over 25 Seminole artists. The show spans traditional crafts like beadwork and basketry alongside contemporary media including painting, photography, and AI-generated art, aiming to highlight Seminole creativity and resilience. It includes pieces by the late Jimmy Osceola, Gordon O. Wareham, and Hali Garcia, among others.

Raja Ravi Varma Becomes The Highest Value Modern Indian Artwork At Auction

Raja Ravi Varma’s 1890s masterpiece "Yashoda and Krishna" has set a new record for the most expensive Indian artwork ever sold at auction. During Saffronart’s Spring Live Auction, the painting fetched Rs 167.2 crore (approximately $18 million), far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of Rs 80–120 crore. The work was acquired by billionaire Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, chairman of the Serum Institute of India, who has pledged to make the national treasure available for periodic public viewing.