arnulf rainer dead 1234767718

Arnulf Rainer, the Austrian artist known for his relentless experimentation and his signature "overpaintings" (Übermalungen), died on December 18 at age 96 at his home in Austria. His death was confirmed by his gallery, Thaddaeus Ropac. Over seven decades, Rainer produced abstract works tied to the Art Informel movement, layering dense pigment over existing images—first his own, then works by artists like Emilio Vedova. He also created "blind drawings" and overpainted photographic self-portraits in series such as "Face Farces" and "Body Poses." His career included major exhibitions at Documenta, the Venice Biennale, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Centre Pompidou, and he taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna from 1981 to 1995.

magritte bucksbaum collection sothebys sale 2698202

At Sotheby’s Modern evening auction, René Magritte’s 1942 painting *Le Jockey perdu*—which the artist considered a turning point in his career—sold for over $12.3 million, exceeding its high estimate. The work was part of a group of ten consignments from the estate of shopping mall magnate Matthew Bucksbaum and his wife Carolyn “Kay” Bucksbaum, influential collectors and philanthropists who met on a blind date in 1952. Alongside works by Salvador Dalí, Jean Dubuffet, Paul Klee, and Joan Miró, the evening sale netted more than $25 million, with remaining pieces appearing in subsequent day sales.

This influential L.A. collector bought the artists no one else would. The art world is finally catching up

Eileen Harris Norton, a foundational figure in the Los Angeles art scene, is being celebrated with a major exhibition of her collection at Hauser & Wirth. The show, "Destiny Is a Rose: The Eileen Harris Norton Collection," features over 80 works, many from her home, highlighting her five-decade commitment to collecting artists who were often her friends and neighbors, particularly women, artists of color, and Southern California-based artists.

blank space book review cultrure over men 1234760399

W. David Marx's book "Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century" argues that 21st-century culture has stagnated, blaming the Internet and its economies for a lack of innovation. The book cites critics like Jason Farago and Alex Ross who lament the death of monoculture and the failure of the Internet's promised diversity, while Marx himself longs for a past era of linear artistic progress defined by -isms like Realism and Cubism. However, the review criticizes Marx's framework as rooted in a 19th-century positivist fallacy, noting that art history has never been a clean linear progression and that overlooked artists—such as Hilma af Klint and Hector Hyppolite—have always complicated the canon.

rembrandt masterpiece undergoes conservation at germanys stadel museum 1234755009

The Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, is undertaking a major conservation treatment of Rembrandt van Rijn's monumental painting *The Blinding of Samson* (1636). The project, expected to last three to four years, will address signs of aging and previous restorations, remove non-original paint, and create a historically accurate frame. The conservation follows a 2021 research seminar and technical studies published in the journal *ArtMatters*, which revealed previously unknown underdrawing techniques and adjustments to the artist's color palette and composition.

rembrandt masterpiece undergoes conservation at germanys stadel museum 1234755009

The Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, is undertaking a major conservation treatment of Rembrandt van Rijn's monumental painting *The Blinding of Samson* (1636). The project, expected to last three to four years, will address signs of aging and previous restorations, remove non-original paint, and create a historically accurate frame. The conservation follows a 2021 research seminar linked to the museum's exhibition "Rembrandt in Amsterdam: Creativity and Competition," during which technical studies revealed previously unknown underdrawing techniques and adjustments to the artist's color palette and composition. Funding is provided by the Bank of America Art Conservation Project.

The Best Booths at Art Basel Hong Kong, From AI Magical Girls to Asia’s Unsung Masters

Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 showcased a vibrant array of talent, with standout presentations across its curated sectors like Discoveries and Insights. Highlights included Vin Gallery's ceramic skeleton shadow puppets by Ako Goto, Lucie Chang Fine Arts' case for the late painter Zhu Xinjian, and gdm's pairing of Kongkee's lightbox sculptures with abstract works by Thai modernist Tang Chang. The fair also featured a monumental, self-sabotaged neon sign by Kongkee reading "Price / Value."

Required Reading

Required Reading

Thousands marched in Buenos Aires on March 9 for a 24-hour women's strike, with one group staging a symbolic artwork by wrapping a continuous blindfold across their faces to protest patriarchal control. This followed a UN report urging Argentina's government to address gender-based violence. Separately, a *Guardian* investigation revealed UK museums hold over 260,000 human remains, many taken from former colonies, which MPs have condemned as a barbaric legacy of imperialism.

university of north texas victor quinonez exhibition censorship 1234773453

The University of North Texas (UNT) abruptly canceled and removed artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez's traveling solo exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Alla" from its CVAD Gallery, locking the gallery doors and drawing blinds over the windows. The university terminated the loan agreement with Boston University Art Galleries, which originated the show, and scrubbed all mentions of the exhibition from its website and social media without providing a reason to the artist.

‘Surreal Salon 18,’ Curated by Swoon, to Open at Baton Rouge Gallery with 60+ Artists

The 18th edition of Surreal Salon, an annual international exhibition celebrating Pop-surrealism and Lowbrow art, will open at Baton Rouge Gallery – center for contemporary art (BRG) from January 2 to 25, 2026. Curated by special guest juror Swoon (Caledonia Curry), the multimedia show features over 60 artists from the U.S. and abroad, selected from nearly 800 submissions through a blind jurying process. The exhibition is free and presented in partnership with Louisiana State University’s School of Art, with additional events including a talk by Swoon on January 26 and a costume soiree on January 24.

A vocabulary of touch: exhibition of sculpture by blind and partially blind artists opens in Leeds

The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds has opened "Beyond the Visual," the first major UK exhibition of sculpture centered on blind and partially blind artists and curators. Co-curated by Ken Wilder, Aaron McPeake, and Clare O'Dowd, the show features works by 16 international artists including Henry Moore, Barry Flanagan, Lenka Clayton, Emilie Louise Gossiaux, David Johnson, and others. The exhibition prioritizes touch, sound, and sensory engagement, with all objects available to handle, textured flooring mats, high-contrast signage, and audio descriptions. It includes new commissions such as David Johnson's "Nuggets of Embodiment" (2024-25), made of 10,000 stone-plaster Digestive biscuits with Braille text.

Taiwanese artist Val Lee first solo exhibition in the UK opens at HENI Project Space.

Taiwanese artist Val Lee presents her first solo exhibition in the United Kingdom, titled *Val Lee: The Presence of Solitude*, at the HENI Project Space within the Hayward Gallery in London. The exhibition, organized in partnership with the RC Foundation, Taiwan, runs from October 7, 2025, to January 11, 2026, and features film, photography, and costume works that explore themes of isolation and solitude. Key works include *Valley in the Minibus* (2024), which examines 'non-places' through a masked figure traveling with strangers, and *The Sorrowful Football Team* (2025), a slide projection depicting a blind football team in Japan as a metaphor for political repression under Taiwan's White Terror rule.

The World's Most-Visited Museums – and Why Germany is Falling Behind

Die meistbesuchten Museen weltweit – und warum Deutschland hinterherhinkt

The Art Newspaper's 2025 ranking of the world's most-visited museums reveals a global landscape dominated by institutions in Paris, Seoul, London, and New York. The Louvre leads with just over nine million visitors, followed by the Vatican Museums and Seoul's National Museum of Korea, which doubled its attendance to 6.5 million. Notable trends include strong post-pandemic recoveries at New York's MoMA and the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, while London's Tate Modern and National Gallery still lag significantly behind their 2019 numbers.

Brooklyn Museum Plans $13 Million Overhaul for New African Art Galleries

The Brooklyn Museum has announced a $13 million renovation project to establish a permanent 6,400-square-foot home for its extensive African art collection. Scheduled to open in Fall 2027, the new Arts of Africa galleries will feature approximately 300 works ranging from ancient Meroitic ceramics to contemporary pieces. The architectural overhaul, led by Peterson Rich Office and Beyer Blinder Belle, will transform former storage spaces on the museum's third floor into four distinct gallery environments.

This Vietnam veteran lost his sight, but not his vision. Now, his art hangs in the Denver Art Museum

Jim Stevens, a Vietnam War veteran who was shot in the head and later became legally blind after a stroke in 1993, has created a new painting technique using monofilament as a canvas. His artwork, "Blues Man," now hangs in the Denver Art Museum as part of the exhibition "Beyond the Military: From Combat to Canvas," which Stevens helped organize. Stevens serves as president and director of Denver's Veterans Arts Council and has earned Veterans Affairs’ National Gold Medals for Fine Art.

artdiscovery launches insured authenticity guarantee 1234760977

ArtDiscovery, a scientific art analysis firm with offices in London and New York, has launched what it calls the world's first insured authenticity guarantee for artworks. The service combines connoisseurship, provenance research, laboratory science, and proprietary AI, then backs the conclusion with an insurance policy from an A+ rated global insurer. If a certified attribution is later proven incorrect, the policy covers financial loss to the artwork's owner. The company's CEO, Denis Moiseev, and CFO, Steven Maslow, explained that the insured certificate is priced at 60 basis points of the certified value and travels with the artwork as a transferable warranty. The launch follows ArtDiscovery's acquisition by Hephaestus Analytical, a London-based tech company that uses AI, provenance research, and chemical analysis for authentication.

Women in Art Fair Returns to London

The Women in Art Fair (WIAF), the UK's leading fair dedicated exclusively to women artists, will return to London's OXO Gallery for its fourth edition from May 7-10, 2026. The event will showcase 80 artists selected from 600 applicants through a blind review process, featuring a program of exhibitions, awards, and events, including a Creative Health & Wellbeing Day.

Heartware Store transforms into a love hotel for a NSFW art exhibition by Taiwanese artist IKUIKU

Heartware Store & Gallery in Singapore has been transformed into a love hotel for a NSFW art exhibition by Taiwanese artist Ikuiku, titled 'Ikuiku Love Hotel.' Running from January 24 to March 15, 2026, the solo show pairs cute, seemingly innocent illustrations with sexual humor, featuring risograph prints, a new zine debut, and themed merchandise such as hotel keychains, towels, memo pads, and a condom blind box. The opening weekend includes an invite-only preview, live portrait drawing, and an artist talk.

Yellow Dog Art Bar and Gallery hosts artists, events in Denton

John Bramblitt, a Dallas native and Denton-based artist who lost his eyesight about 20 years ago while studying at the University of North Texas, opened Yellow Dog Art Bar and Gallery in mid-2023. The venue combines a bar with a gallery space, exhibiting and selling work from local artists, hosting open mic nights for live music and poetry, painting workshops, bad movie screenings, trivia, and karaoke. Bramblitt, who continued painting after losing his sight from complications with epilepsy and Lyme disease, also travels for speaking engagements, teaches painting to the visually impaired, and consults museums on accessibility. The gallery's name is partly inspired by the Blue Dog gallery in New Orleans and by Bramblitt's service dog, a yellow Labrador named Zuke.

'Blind Sight': Local artist to present show at Equinox Village

The Gallery at Equinox Village in Manchester, Vermont, will host an exhibition titled "Blind Sight" by local resident and artist Jane Johnson. The opening reception on November 20 will feature live music by Mark LaChac, appetizers, and refreshments, and the show runs through January 6. Johnson, who became legally blind in October 2024, presents a whimsical collection including "Vermont Impressions" paintings, pierced portraits, and floral arrangements, inspired by her journey before and after losing her sight.

Governor’s Art Show, one of Colorado’s largest fine art exhibitions, returns to Loveland

The 35th annual Governor’s Art Show has returned to the Loveland Museum, showcasing a juried selection of fine art from across Colorado. This year’s exhibition features approximately 60 artists, including 10 first-time participants, selected through a competitive blind jury process. The show includes a diverse range of media, from Lorri Acott’s life-size bronze animal sculptures to Jane DeDecker’s new works blending bronze with fused glass, and Faye Crowe’s Western-influenced abstract paintings.

Anthropomorpha at the Arts Club

The Arts Club of Chicago is currently hosting "Into Your Arm’s Length," a solo exhibition by New York-based artist Oren Pinhassi. The installation features a series of anthropomorphic sculptures crafted from sand and polymer, which Pinhassi integrates with rigid architectural elements like steel bedframes, glass panels, and venetian blinds. These hybrid forms create a surreal landscape where bulbous, organic shapes appear to interact with or "clutch" domestic furniture, challenging the viewer's perception of texture and weight.

‘My personal language’: Edmonds artist to hold final exhibition

d'Elaine Herard Johnson, a 93-year-old artist from Edmonds, Washington, is preparing for her final exhibition in December. Born legally blind, she began sculpting and painting as a child, later earning a scholarship to Central Washington University and a master's degree from the University of Washington. Over her career, she has completed more than 1,200 paintings, exhibited in over 700 shows, and developed a Myth and Lore series since 1971. Her final show will feature works inspired by goddesses, reflecting her journey as a woman artist. Johnson plans to donate her estate, including her art, to Edmonds College to fund scholarships through its arts program.

Local blind artist shares her process for creating art for new exhibition

A local blind artist is preparing for a new exhibition and has shared the unique methods she uses to create her artwork. She relies on tactile sensations, memory, and specialized tools to compose and execute her pieces, often working with textured materials and three-dimensional forms.

Local blind artist shares her process for creating art for new exhibition

Visually impaired artist Charlynne 'Char' Boddie is showcasing her unique creative process ahead of a new exhibition. Despite being legally blind, Boddie utilizes specialized techniques, including tactile markers and high-contrast lighting, to produce vibrant paintings that challenge traditional perceptions of accessibility in the arts.

’Zodiac Crossroads’ comes to Kent-Harrison art gallery

The Ranger Station Art Gallery in Harrison Hot Springs has launched "Zodiac Crossroads," a solo exhibition by artist Johnny Tai. The collection features tactile 2-D aluminum etchings that blend Chinese and Western astrological symbols, specifically designed to be experienced through touch. Tai, who is blind and partially deaf, created the works to bridge the gap between traditional visual art and sensory accessibility.

‘In Full Bloom’ Art Exhibition by local blind artist – FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports

A solo exhibition titled 'In Full Bloom' by a local blind artist has opened in Kansas City. The show features the artist's work, which explores themes of nature and perception through a unique sensory and tactile approach.

'In Full Bloom' Art Exhibition by local blind artist

Kansas City artist is debuting a new exhibition titled 'In Full Bloom,' showcasing a collection of works created entirely from memory. Despite losing her sight several years ago, the artist has continued her creative practice, adapting her techniques to produce vibrant visual art without the use of her vision.

‘A really pivotal moment’: 6 neurodivergent artists highlighted in a sensory-dense, striking exhibition

An exhibition titled 'LOOK HERE' opens at Haverford College's Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, featuring six neurodivergent artists from Greater Philadelphia who are connected with the Center for Creative Works (CCW). Curated by Jennifer Gilbert alongside CCW artists Paige Donavan and Mary T. Bevlock, the show highlights diverse works including mixed-media sculptures by blind artist Cindy Gosselin, textured ceramics by Clyde Henry, marker drawings by Allen Yu, and contributions from Kelly Brown, Tim Quinn, and Brandon Spicer-Crawley. The gallery is designed for accessibility, with lowered paintings, sensory backpacks, braille booklets, ASL-embedded videos, and custom seating by artists.

Actor Sharon Stone is up for the Women in Art Prize

Actor Sharon Stone, known for her role in *Basic Instinct*, has been nominated for the Women in Art Prize, now in its eighth year. The non-profit award exclusively honors women artists, and Stone began painting intensely during the Covid-19 lockdowns, holding her first solo gallery show at Allouche Gallery in Los Angeles in 2023. Other finalists among the 25 competing for 22 awards include painter Bianca Raffaella, who is registered blind, and Jenny Lewis, whose work addresses menopause. The prize also features the Paula Rego Painting Prize, created with the artist's estate to honor her influence on women in the arts. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at the British Library on 17 September, hosted by historian Amanda Foreman, with an exhibition at York Street Gallery in London from 16-24 September.