7 New Art Books to Step Into Spring

Artnet News has curated a selection of seven significant new art book releases for the spring season, highlighting diverse subjects from historical archives to contemporary memoirs. Featured titles include a deep dive into Frida Kahlo’s private sanctuary, 'Casa Roja,' authored by her descendants; a curatorial history of Hong Kong’s avant-garde art scene by Oscar Ho Hing-kay; and a vibrant exploration of color in contemporary art featuring works by Yayoi Kusama and Tomás Saraceno.

palestinian artist samia halabys market rise to continue this fall 1234749012

Palestinian American artist Samia Halaby has experienced a dramatic surge in market value and institutional recognition over the past decade, with eight of her top 10 auction results occurring in the last three years. A Christie's sale in May 2025 saw her 2013 painting *Water Lilies* sell for $138,600, more than triple its 2020 result, while her 1974 work *Mediterranean #279* set her current auction record at £400,000 ($534,000) in 2020. Her first US museum survey opened in 2024 at Michigan State University's Eli and Edyth Broad Art Museum, and her work has been shown at MoMA, Tate Modern, and the Centre Pompidou, which acquired a piece last year.

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Christie’s postwar and contemporary art day sale in London on Thursday totaled £12.2 million ($16.4 million), with over 80% of lots sold and 90% of those achieving prices within or above their presale estimates. Standout results included a 2020 painting by Somaya Critchlow selling for £57,150 (est. £15,000–£20,000), a small Etel Adnan painting going for £107,950 (est. £30,000–£50,000), and a Michelangelo Pistoletto mirror piece fetching £234,950—seven times its estimate. However, a Toyin Ojih Odutola painting and a Gerhard Richter gray painting failed to sell, reflecting a selective market.

'Reflection of resilience': Art Dubai's war-postponed edition opens to healthy sales

Art Dubai's 20th anniversary edition opened at Madinat Jumeirah after being postponed from April to May due to the US-Israel war in Iran and regional missile threats. Around 75 exhibitors dropped out, leaving roughly 50 participants, mostly from the region. The fair was reorganized in just eight weeks under executive director Benedetta Ghione and new director Dunja Gottweis, who created a new floor plan in a day and a half. The scaled-back format includes an embedded digital section, and initial sales have been strong, with works by Samira Badran, Mostafa Al Hallaj, Safeya Sharif, Alyazia Al Nahyan, Roudhah Al Mazrouei, and Nabil Anani selling at prices ranging from $3,500 to $360,000.

In Paris, Highly Mobile Gallerists

À Paris, des galeristes très mobiles

The Parisian art scene is experiencing a significant wave of gallery expansions and relocations across both the Right and Left Banks. Major developments include Kamel Mennour acquiring the former Malingue gallery space on Avenue Matignon for secondary market masterpieces, and Christophe Person moving from the Marais to a redesigned space on Rue du Bac with the backing of collector Jean Claude Gandur. Other notable moves include London-based Waddington Custot opening a Parisian branch, Singapore's Cuturi Gallery settling in the Palais-Royal, and Vincent Sator inaugurating a new space in the David Chipperfield-designed Morland Mixité Capitale complex.

art artist couples eric firestone gallery

A new exhibition titled “Couples” at Eric Firestone Gallery in New York features the work of 26 artist-partners, exploring how they navigate material, color, and form in complementary ways. The show runs through May 2. CULTURED magazine brought together five duos from the exhibition to answer questions about mixing professional and personal lives, with each artist responding without seeing their partner’s answers. Featured couples include Caitlin Lonegan and Spencer Lewis, who discuss topics such as sharing studios, jealousy, and role models like Charline von Heyl and Christopher Wool.

Frieze and NADA New York’s Early Sales Signal Buyer Confidence

Frieze New York opened its VIP preview on May 7, with early sales indicating cautious but steady buyer confidence amid economic uncertainty and the recent acquisition of the fair by Endeavor's former CEO Ari Emanuel. American buyers dominated, while Asian and European collectors were largely absent. Mega-galleries like Gagosian and Pace reported significant sales, including Jeff Koons's Hulk Elvis sculptures and works by Adam Pendleton and Lynda Benglis, though the atmosphere was more subdued and negotiation-friendly than in previous years.

Our 5 Favorite Gallery Exhibitions to See This Spring in Paris

Nos 5 expos coups de cœur à voir en galeries ce printemps à Paris

Paris is experiencing a vibrant gallery season this spring, marked by the arrival of major international players and the rediscovery of overlooked artists. Highlights include the opening of Singapore’s Cuturi Gallery at the Palais-Royal with a cross-disciplinary show on decadence, and the London-based Waddington Custot establishing a new space in Saint-Germain-des-Prés with an exhibition bridging Nabis masters and contemporary painters. Other notable shows include a first-ever public look at the surrealist collages of Roland Sig and a dialogue between neo-impressionism and contemporary art at Galerie Pavec.

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The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced the artist list for the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, opening January 30 in the JAX District of Diriyah, near Riyadh. Titled “In Interludes and Transitions,” the biennale is curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed and features over 65 artists, including more than 20 new commissions. Participants range from historic figures like Pacita Abad and Etel Adnan to emerging voices such as Raven Chacon and Dineo Seshee Bopape, working across painting, installation, film, sound, architecture, and publishing.

8 Artists Having a Breakout Moment This Fall

Artsy has identified eight artists poised for breakout moments during the fall 2025 art season, including Teresa Solar Abboud, who secured new representation by Lehmann Maupin and will debut a bronze sculpture at London's Hayward Gallery during Frieze Week, and Ana Cláudia Almeida, who is presenting her first major solo exhibition in New York with Stephen Friedman Gallery. The article highlights artists reaching new career milestones through gallery representation, solo debuts, and institutional exhibitions across major art capitals like Paris, London, and New York.

UAE art guide: 12 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, including Gallery Isabelle's 20th anniversary show

The UAE art scene is currently hosting a diverse array of exhibitions across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, despite regional disruptions. Key highlights include a major Picasso retrospective at Louvre Abu Dhabi, a 10th-century anniversary celebration at 421 Arts Campus titled 'Rays, Ripples, Residue,' and the inaugural photography exhibition at Sharjah Art Foundation’s new Al Manakh venue. These shows range from historical surveys of the human form to contemporary explorations of UAE’s urban development and climate change.

Lina Lapelytė Fills Hamburger Bahnhof with 400,000 Wood Blocks for Communal Building

Lithuanian artist Lina Lapelytė has filled Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof with 400,000 wooden blocks made of pine and spruce, creating a participatory installation titled “We Make Years Out of Hours.” Commissioned by Chanel, the work invites the public to build and rebuild structures from the 10-centimeter cubes. A series of weekly performances featuring a libretto by writers including Ocean Vuong, Etel Adnan, Forugh Farrokhzad, and Mahmoud Darwish will accompany the installation, which opens on May 1 and runs through January 10, 2027.

Édouard Glissant’s Museum-as-Archipelago

The article reviews the exhibition "The Earth, the Fire, the Water, and the Winds: For a Museum of Errantry with Édouard Glissant" at the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) in New York, the first U.S. showing of works from the personal collection of Martinician philosopher and writer Édouard Glissant. Curated from his archive, the exhibition features artists such as Roberto Matta, Wifredo Lam, Etel Adnan, Irving Petlin, Antonio Seguí, Öyvind Fahlström, Jack Whitten, and Mel Edwards, reflecting Glissant's friendships and intellectual exchanges across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Highlights include Antonio Seguí's large pastel works from his Titanic series.

Chanel to open major Lina Lapelytė commission at Berlin’s Hamburger Bahnhof.

Lithuanian interdisciplinary artist Lina Lapelytė will present a large-scale sonic installation and performance titled "We Make Years Out of Hours (2026)" at Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof — Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, opening May 1st during Berlin Gallery Weekend 2026. The work is the second iteration of the Chanel Commission, with performances scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays through January 10, 2027, and a public preview on April 30th.

literature hans ulrich obrist curator book

Hans Ulrich Obrist, the prolific Swiss curator and artistic director of Serpentine Galleries, discusses his lifelong passion for books in a new interview timed to the U.S. release of his memoir "Life in Progress." Obrist reveals his daily ritual of buying a book, which has amassed an archive of over 40,000 volumes housed at LUMA Arles, and shares current reading recommendations including Kenneth O. Stanley's "Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned." He also reflects on the serendipitous origins of his Instagram Post-it note project, inspired by philosopher Umberto Eco and artist-poet Etel Adnan.

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Cem A., an artist and anthropologist known for the art meme page @freeze_magazine, argues that the art world is suffering from an oversupply of graduates trained by art schools that cannot sustain them. He describes a paradox where art graduates face high unemployment and are dismissed as unqualified for non-art jobs, while those who remain in the field must align with market trends and the attention economy, risking burnout and compromised creativity. Cem A. shares his own experience of being rejected for being "too artsy" before finding success through his Instagram page, which opened doors that traditional career paths could not.

Art Dubai 2026 first look: What to expect at the 20th fair

Art Dubai returns to Madinat Jumeirah for its 20th edition, running from Friday to Sunday with a free preview day on Thursday. The fair features a more concentrated layout than previous years, with gallery booths, institutional exhibitions, public art, poetry readings, DJ sets, performances, and multimedia installations gathered in the main conference area. Notable participants include co-founder John Martin, who returns as a gallerist nearly 20 years after helping launch the event, and Emirati artist Rami Farook, whose sand-built booth presents works reflecting on Dubai and the Gulf. Gallery One from Ramallah draws attention with Palestinian artist Amjad Ghannam's reinterpretations of Pablo Picasso, inspired by his experience as a former political prisoner.

A tour of 10 must-see booths at the miart 2026 fair in Milan

Un giro in 10 stand da non mancare alla fiera miart 2026 a Milano

The 30th edition of miart, Milan’s international modern and contemporary art fair, has launched at the Allianz MiCo South Wing under the artistic direction of Nicola Ricciardi. Titled "New Directions," the 2026 edition features 160 galleries from 24 countries, organized into sections like Emergent, Established, and Established Anthology. Despite some logistical complaints regarding the new layout, the opening saw high attendance and early optimism from dealers regarding sales.

Why This Storied London Gallery Is Planning Its Future in Paris

Waddington Custot, a cornerstone of London’s art scene, is formalizing its leadership succession as Victor Custot joins his father, Stéphane, as board director. The younger Custot, who transitioned from a career in tech, is now spearheading the gallery’s strategic expansion. Central to this new chapter is a significant move toward Paris, reflecting a broader shift in the European art market landscape following Brexit.

art luz carabano young artist

Luz Carabaño, a 30-year-old Venezuelan-born artist based in Los Angeles, is featured in Cultured's 2025 Young Artists list. Known for her small, candy-hued canvases with glossy, imperfect surfaces, Carabaño's work has attracted attention from galleries such as Nina Johnson, Lulu, Hoffman Donahue, and April April. In the profile, she discusses her creative process, including a formative painting called 'araña' made from a bandsaw offcut, her admiration for writer John Berger, and her reliance on a single palette knife. She also expresses a dislike for iPad art and names her dream dinner party guests: Natalia Goncharova, Luchita Hurtado, and Etel Adnan.

SILSILA: Highlights from the Dalloul Collection Including Modern & Contemporary Middle Eastern Art - Christie's

Christie’s has announced a major auction titled "SILSILA: Highlights from the Dalloul Collection," scheduled for November 6, 2025, in London. The sale features 20 exceptional works from the Beirut-based Dalloul Collection, a premier repository of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, alongside pieces from other private owners. Key highlights include masterpieces by Paul Guiragossian, Mahmoud Saïd, and Samia Halaby, with a specific focus on Lebanese and Palestinian artistic heritage.

‘An institution where you delve into works’: details of AlUla Contemporary Art Museum announced

The Royal Commission for AlUla has announced further details about the forthcoming AlUla Contemporary Art Museum, designed by architect Lina Ghotmeh. The museum's curatorial vision, centered on heritage, environment, and community, was unveiled alongside the opening of a preview exhibition, 'Arduna,' co-curated with the Centre Pompidou. The institution plans to build deep, long-term relationships with artists, acquiring comprehensive bodies of work, archives, and unrealized projects to be digitized and made accessible.

SILSILA: Highlights from the Dalloul Collection Including Modern & Contemporary Middle Eastern Art - Christie's

Christie's will hold a live auction titled 'SILSILA: Highlights from the Dalloul Collection including Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art' on 6 November 2025 at King Street, London, with an online sale running from 28 October to 11 November. The evening sale features 20 exceptional works from the esteemed Dalloul Collection in Beirut, Lebanon, led by masterpieces from artists such as Mohamed Melehi, Mahmoud Saïd, Dia Al-Azzawi, Marwan, Huguette Caland, Paul Guiragossian, Samia Halaby, and Kamal Boullata. A preview will be held at Christie's Dubai from 3-10 October, showcasing highlights including Guiragossian's 'Automne (Autumn)', El Rayess's 'Soukhour Meyrouba', and Said's 'La colline de Mekarzel'.

Albanian dictator’s fortress-like palace becomes ‘hub for artistic experimentation’

Vila 31, a Brutalist compound in Tirana that once served as the fortress-like residence of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, has been transformed into an artistic hub called Vila 31—Art Explora. Opened in April by the Paris-based Art Explora Foundation, the site now hosts up to 30 international artists annually for residencies and experimentation, with programming developed in collaboration with the École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy, the Museum of Contemporary Art Skopje, and Oral History Kosovo. The conversion, led by NeM Architectes, preserves key elements of the original structure while radically reimagining its interior, turning a symbol of repression into a center for creative freedom.

Editorsʼ picks: 6 projects not to miss at Art Basel Miami Beach 2025

Six notable projects at Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 are highlighted, including presentations by Chicago-based galleries Document, Gray, moniquemeloche, and Patron, which showcase artists who experiment with material form and lived experience. Other featured works include Aleksandra Waliszewska's cat-centered paintings at Dawid Radziszewski, Myungmi Lee's vibrant game-inspired works at Wooson, Etel Adnan's rare 1960s drawings at Galerie Lelong, and Mary Bauermeister's newly discovered 1950s works on paper at Michael Rosenfeld Gallery.

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY MIDDLE EASTERN ART - Christie's

Christie's London will host a live evening sale of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art on November 9, 2023. The auction features 58 works from artists across the Middle East and North Africa, including contemporary figures like Ahmed Mater and Sultan bin Fahad, and modern masters such as Etel Adnan and Mahmoud Sabri. Key lots include Mater's 'From the Real to the Symbolic City' and Adnan's 'Untitled'.

Monumental commissions and pioneering women artists take centre stage at Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026

The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale has opened in Riyadh’s JAX District under the title 'In Interludes and Transitions.' Curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, the exhibition features over 65 artists from 35 countries, focusing on themes of migration, oral storytelling, and the movement of ideas across borders. The show is housed in repurposed 1970s industrial warehouses with a scenography designed by Formafantasma that emphasizes intimacy despite the monumental scale of the venues.

Everything to Know About Christie’s Modern Middle Eastern Art Auction

Christie’s has opened an online auction of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art, running through May 8th and featuring 69 works from across the Gulf, Levant, North Africa, Iraq, and Iran. The sale is led by pioneering artist Samia Halaby’s 2013 painting 'Water Lilies', estimated at $100,000–$150,000, and includes a dedicated 'Saudi Now!' section with 12 pieces by Saudi artists such as Ahmed Mater and Manal AlDowayan. Over a third of the lots are by women artists, including Etel Adnan, Helen Khal, Huguette Caland, Tala Madani, and Tagreed Darghouth, alongside North African figures like Mohamed Melehi and Hassan Hajjaj.