roberts projects esmaa mohamoud cristin tierney debbi kenote 1234775791

The art world saw significant roster changes and leadership appointments this week, including Roberts Projects announcing representation of Esmaa Mohamoud and Cristin Tierney adding Debbi Kenote. Notable institutional moves include Charles Chemin being named Artistic Director of the Watermill Center and Julia Siemon stepping into a newly created Deputy Director role at the Bard Graduate Center. Additionally, the mid-season auction market showed unexpected strength, highlighted by Jeff Koons’s 'Winter Bears' selling for $7.6 million at Christie’s.

art sg jd museum sothebys singapore 2741222

The Asia-Pacific art scene saw significant activity across multiple sectors. Art SG reported increased attendance and sales, while the SAM Art SG Fund acquired works for the Singapore Art Museum. JD.com announced plans for a major new museum in Shenzhen, and several appointments and award winners were named across the region. Auction houses Bonhams Hong Kong and Sotheby's Singapore posted strong sales results, with the latter setting new artist records.

who was andrew crispo 2720889

Artnet News reports that David Hockney's 1968 double portrait *Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy* sold for $44.3 million at Christie's on November 17, becoming the artist's third-most expensive work at auction. The painting had previously failed to sell at Sotheby's in 1985, bought in at $570,000. Artnet's reporting revealed that the Christie's catalogue omitted the name of Andrew Crispo, a once-prominent New York dealer, from the painting's provenance. The article details Crispo's meteoric rise from a troubled youth in Philadelphia to a savvy art dealer who championed American Modernism, his important clients including Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, and his dramatic fall due to tax fraud, a prison sentence, and the IRS seizure of his inventory.

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies: Artists Revisit the Nude in Shows Across New York

This spring in New York, multiple exhibitions are revisiting the nude as an artistic genre, with artists exploring themes of flesh, harm, aging, and political oppression. Notable shows include Seung Ah Paik's "Self Configuration" series at Bortolami, where she paints distorted self-portraits that recall Surrealist and feminist traditions, and Joan Semmel's self-portraits at Alexander Gray Associates, which continue her decades-long focus on the nude body. These shows are part of a broader trend that also includes the New Museum's "New Humans: Memories of the Future."

Frida Kahlo: Making of an Icon

frida kahlo making of an icon 2736648

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has launched a major exhibition titled "Frida Kahlo: Making of an Icon," which explores the artist's transformation from a relatively unknown figure during her lifetime into a global cultural phenomenon. Curated by Mari Carmen Ramírez, the show features over 200 objects related to "Frida mania" alongside works by 80 contemporary artists who have been influenced by her legacy. The exhibition traces her life from her childhood in Mexico City and her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera to her emergence as a symbol for various social movements.

carmen de monteflores whitney biennial 2750535

At 92 years old, Puerto Rican artist Carmen De Monteflores has emerged as a breakout star of the 2026 Whitney Biennial. Her inclusion in the prestigious exhibition was facilitated by her daughter, renowned performance artist Andrea Fraser, who urged curators to view her mother's vibrant, shaped canvases that had been sitting in storage for decades. De Monteflores, who studied at the Art Students League and the École de Beaux-Arts, abandoned her painting career in 1969 due to the lack of opportunities for women, eventually becoming a psychologist and novelist.

tony bechara painter dead el museo del barrio 1234739644

Tony Bechara, a Puerto Rican-born artist known for his intricate multicolored grid paintings and his long tenure as board chair of El Museo del Barrio, died on his 83rd birthday. His death was confirmed by the museum, though no cause was given. Bechara spent decades creating labor-intensive canvases built from thousands of hand-painted quarter-inch squares, exploring randomness and controlled chaos. Beyond his studio practice, he served as board chair of El Museo del Barrio for 18 years, was a trustee at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Rail, and championed the work of painter Carmen Herrera, helping to secure her a Whitney Museum survey in 2016.

Think you have strong opinions about the 2026 Archibald prize? Check out the portraits that didn’t make the cut | Dee Jefferson

The article explores the annual ritual of the Archibald Prize, Australia's most famous portrait competition, through the lens of the 2026 edition. The author, Dee Jefferson, describes the predictable cycle of public enthusiasm, critical disdain, and media coverage that surrounds the prize, noting recurring trends like brown suits, oversized heads, and the dominance of male artists painting male subjects. The piece highlights specific works in this year's exhibition, including a portrait of musician Keli Holiday by Sindy Sinn that the author finds disorienting, and contrasts the main exhibition with the Salon des Refusés, the showcase of rejected entries, which includes a provocative portrait of Patricia Piccinini by Wendy Sharpe featuring exaggerated anatomy.

5 free must-see exhibitions to pick in Parisian galleries in May

5 expos gratuites coups de cœur à cueillir dans les galeries parisiennes en mai

Beaux Arts Magazine highlights five free exhibitions to visit in Parisian galleries in May 2026. At Galerie Mayoral, a show explores Alexander Calder's ties to Paris, featuring gouaches and totems. Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire presents Michel Jocaille's first solo exhibition, "Lily of the Valley," which uses lily-of-the-valley motifs to evoke labor history and camp aesthetics. Galerie Anne-Laure Buffard hosts a poignant dialogue between Diane Esmond, a painter whose works were burned by the Nazis, and her granddaughter Adrianna Wallis, whose photographs reference looted objects. Galerie Templon exhibits Alioune Diagne's paintings inspired by Wolof traditions, and another gallery shows prints by Swedish artist Mamma Andersson.

5 Trends Shaping the 2026 Venice Biennale

The 2026 Venice Biennale has opened to the public, featuring the main exhibition 'In Minor Keys' conceived by the late Cameroonian Swiss curator Koyo Kouoh, who died unexpectedly in May 2025. Kouoh, the first African woman appointed to lead the Biennale, had her curatorial team—including Rasha Salti, Marie Hélène Pereira, and Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo—carry forward her vision of art as a 'shared and sustaining force.' The opening was weighted with politics and emotion.

Marica Vilcek, Art Historian Whose Foundation Upheld the Work of Immigrants, Dies at 89

Marica Vilcek, art historian and co-founder of the Vilcek Foundation, has died at 89 in New York. She and her husband Jan, both immigrants from Czechoslovakia, established the foundation in 2000 to provide grants and prizes, primarily to immigrant artists, curators, and scientists, celebrating their contributions to American society.

worst artworks we saw around the world in 2022 2219621

Artnet News editors compiled a list of the worst artworks they encountered in 2022, including a chaotic performance by Poncili Creación at NADA Miami, an overproduced Danish Pavilion installation by Uffe Isolotto at the Venice Biennale, and a Paul Cézanne painting at the Barnes Foundation that disappointed a critic. The article offers subjective, critical takes on these works, describing the NADA performance as bizarre and jolting, the Danish pavilion as graphic and lacking a powerful message, and the Cézanne as a disappointment within an otherwise memorable museum visit.

The Same Dead Thing Alive: Contemporary Archives in L.A. and Beyond

MONUMENTS at MOCA and The Brick

The article reviews the exhibition "MONUMENTS" held at both MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles) and The Brick, as covered by Contemporary Art Review LA. The review, written by Qingyuan Deng, appears in Issue 43 (February 2026) of the publication, which also features other reviews, interviews, and essays on topics ranging from olfactory art to tarot and video art.

2026 Carla Art Auction is Live!

The Dealers: Marta Makes Magic

The article profiles Marta, a prominent art dealer in Los Angeles, highlighting her recent activities and influence within the contemporary art scene. It details her gallery's program, her relationships with artists, and her specific curatorial approach that has garnered significant attention.

Interview with Kelly Wall

The article is an interview with artist Kelly Wall, conducted by Olivia Gauthier, published in the February 2026 issue of Contemporary Art Review LA. It appears within a broader issue exploring themes like scent in art, tarot, and social urgencies in contemporary practice.

Art as Memorial in Lotusland

The article "Art as Memorial in Lotusland" by Aleina Grace Edwards appears in the February 2026 issue of Contemporary Art Review LA (CARLA). It is part of a larger issue exploring themes like scent in art, tarot, social urgencies in curation, and video art, positioning it within a critical discussion of contemporary art practices in Los Angeles.

How to Buy Minimalist Art

Artsy Editorial offers a guide on buying Minimalist art, explaining the movement's core principles of geometric shapes, limited color palettes, and material reduction. The article highlights key artists such as Carl Andre and Polly Apfelbaum, and emphasizes that Minimalism focuses on the idea behind the work rather than the artist's technical skill.

Our Guide to New York Art Week 2025

New York Art Week 2025 is condensed into a single mega-week starting May 5, featuring major art fairs including Frieze New York, Independent, and TEFAF New York, alongside gallery openings, auction previews, and museum shows. The guide provides a day-by-day itinerary, fair overviews, and practical tips for navigating the week, emphasizing that many events are ticketed or free and do not require VIP passes.

art guide new york exhibitions

The article reviews the joint exhibition "Hunks" at Bureau gallery in New York, featuring works by painter Julia Rommel and photographer Lucas Blalock. Rommel's post-minimalist abstract paintings, created through folding and stapling canvases, explore color and texture with a personal touch, while Blalock's digitally manipulated photographs blend studio effects and surreal editing. The show runs through February 21, 2026, at the gallery's 112 Duane Street location.

art new york fall gallery show guide

Cultured's fall gallery show guide for New York highlights five exhibitions opening in September 2025. Christopher Kulendran Thomas presents 'Peace Core' at Gagosian, featuring an AI-auto-edited video of pre-9/11 TV footage alongside paintings of a Sri Lankan massacre. Catharine Czudej's 'God is Good' at Meredith Rosen Gallery combines corrupted QR codes and religious imagery with a line of merchandise. Florian Krewer's 'cold tears released' at Michael Werner explores animalistic human nature through thickly layered oils. Ohad Meromi's 'At Rest' at 56 Henry focuses on moments of inactivity and reflection. Nayland Blake's three-part exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery includes a retrospective on the AIDS crisis and new sculptural works.

Of the Love that Moves the Sun and the Other Stars: An Interview with Amalia Cross

DEL AMOR QUE MUEVE EL SOL Y LAS OTRAS ESTRELLAS. ENTREVISTA A AMALIA CROSS

The Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende (MSSA) in Santiago has inaugurated a major collection-based exhibition titled "Del amor que mueve el sol y las otras estrellas," curated by art historian Amalia Cross. The show revisits the museum's unique history—from its origins during Salvador Allende’s presidency and the international "Operation Truth" to its period of exile following the 1973 coup and its eventual return to Chile. Featuring works by global icons such as Alexander Calder, Lygia Clark, and Yoko Ono, the exhibition emphasizes movement and collective action across various mediums including sculpture, video, and installation.

Several Eternities in a Day: Form in the Age of Living Materials

The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles presents "Several Eternities in a Day: Form in the Age of Living Materials," a spring 2026 exhibition running from April 5 to August 23. Curated by Jill Spalding, the show features works by artists including Edgar Calel, Guadalupe Maravilla, Carmen Argote, and others, exploring the concept of "Brownness"—a fluid identity rooted in ancestral memory, animal kinship, and a profound connection to living materials. The exhibition is organized into three acts: large-scale installations, paintings and works on paper, and ceramics, offering a visceral and immersive experience that draws on precolonial traditions across the Americas.

parties printed matter 50th anniversary

Printed Matter, the nonprofit artists' bookstore and publisher, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala at the High Line Hotel in New York. The event featured speeches honoring co-founder Pat Steir and artist Ed Ruscha, performances from the opera *Einstein on the Beach*, and a crowd of notable artists, museum directors, and gallerists including Joan Jonas, Glenn Ligon, MoMA Director Christophe Cherix, and Larry Gagosian. Founded in 1976 by Sol LeWitt, Pat Steir, and Lucy Lippard, Printed Matter has become a vital platform for artist books, operating a bookstore, exhibition space, and one of the world's largest book fairs.

art what to see in nyc galleries right now 2

This week's What's On column highlights must-see gallery shows in New York City, including Simone Fattal's bronze and ceramic works at Greene Naftali and kaufmann repetto, Sol Lewitt's early works at Paula Cooper, Charles Atlas's portraits at Luhring Augustine, John Akomfrah's eight-channel installation at Lisson, and Brenda Goodman's new exhibition at Sikkema Malloy Jenkins. On the Upper East Side, the Metropolitan Museum of Art presents Helene Schjerfbeck's self-portraits in "Seeing Silence," the Jewish Museum features Joan Semmel's radical nudes, and White Cube hosts Marguerite Humeau's cave-inspired show "scintille."

art must see 2026 museum shows

Cultured magazine has published a preview of must-see museum shows for 2026, highlighting exhibitions across the United States. Featured shows include a survey of the late Los Angeles artist Noah Davis at the Philadelphia Art Museum, the first solo New York institutional exhibition in over 35 years for Pat Oleszko at SculptureCenter, a Carol Bove survey at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Biennial 2026, a comprehensive Raphael exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Lucas Samaras photography show at the Art Institute of Chicago, a Ming Smith exhibition at the Portland Museum of Art, and a Bruce Conner film showcase at the Marciano Art Foundation.

art best most iconic photos of the 21st century

Cultured magazine asked 25 photographers to each select a single image for a time capsule representing the first quarter of the 21st century. The resulting portfolio includes works by Juergen Teller (a Balenciaga ad featuring Putin, Trump, and climate imagery), Sinna Nasseri (a cat amid a California wildfire), Naima Green (a domestic scene mediated by smartphones), Lele Saveri (a critique of property ownership), and Trevor Paglen (a CIA black site in Kabul), among others.

How Wayne McGregor’s epic ballets draw on help from his artistic friends

Choreographer Wayne McGregor’s upcoming production at the Royal Opera House, 'Alchemies', highlights his career-long commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration with visual artists and designers. The program features a world premiere with costumes by fashion designer Saul Nash, alongside revivals of 'Yugen' and 'Untitled, 2023'. These works incorporate significant contributions from the art world, including set designs by ceramicist Edmund de Waal and previous collaborations with figures like Tacita Dean and Olafur Eliasson.

Raphael Met Museum Retrospective Review

raphael met museum retrospective review 1234778857

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has launched "Raphael: Sublime Poetry," the first major retrospective of the Renaissance master ever staged in the United States. Curated by Carmen C. Bambach, the exhibition features 237 works, including rare loans of drawings and monumental tapestries that have not left Madrid since the 16th century. While some of his most famous paintings remain in Europe, the show provides an exhaustive look at the artist's development from a teenage prodigy to a papal favorite.