In Geneva, John M Armleder’s Stunning Lesson in Art History

À Genève, la renversante leçon d’histoire de l’art de John M Armleder

The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (MAH) in Geneva has unveiled its sixth "carte blanche" exhibition, curated by the influential Swiss artist John M Armleder. Following in the footsteps of figures like Ugo Rondinone and Wim Delvoye, Armleder was invited by museum director Marc-Olivier Wahler to mine the institution's vast collection of 800,000 objects. The resulting show defies traditional museum hierarchies by juxtaposing fine art with decorative objects, such as silver-topped corks and musical instruments, alongside Armleder's own prolific output of multiples.

Gagosian's Rare Gallery Failures Reveal Art World's Challenges

Larry Gagosian, often considered the most powerful art dealer in the world, has publicly reflected on rare professional setbacks, including a failed 2016 gallery opening in San Francisco and a misunderstood location in Geneva. These admissions coincide with a strategic shift for his empire, marked by the opening of a new street-level gallery at 980 Madison Avenue in New York. The move signals a departure from the exclusive, upper-floor models of the past toward a more accessible physical presence.

Gianni Motti at Galerie Mezzanin

Gianni Motti presents a solo exhibition titled "Au-delà de tout doute raisonnable" at Galerie Mezzanin in Geneva. Running from March 13 through May 14, 2026, the show continues Motti’s career-long exploration of conceptual interventions and socio-political commentary.

In Lugano, there are 5 exhibitions dedicated to the Orient to discover around the city

A Lugano ci sono 5 mostre dedicate all’Oriente da scoprire in giro per la città

Five exhibitions dedicated to East Asian art are currently on view across Lugano, Switzerland. Four are housed in the city's two major museums, MASI and MUSEC, while the fifth is presented by Primo Marella Gallery. The shows feature a range of works, from historical Japanese kakemono scrolls and screens to contemporary art by Chinese artists Zhang Hong Mei and He Wei, and a survey of video art from South Korea.

"The Palestine Pavilion Exists, and It's in Turin": Interview on the Exhibition Dedicated to the History of Gaza at the Merz Foundation

“Il Padiglione della Palestina esiste, ed è a Torino”. Intervista sulla mostra dedicata alla storia di Gaza alla Fondazione Merz

The Merz Foundation in Turin is hosting the exhibition 'Gaza, il futuro ha un cuore antico. Materie e memorie del Mediterraneo' (Gaza, the future has an ancient heart. Matters and memories of the Mediterranean). The show, created in collaboration with the Egyptian Museum and the MAH – Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva, juxtaposes ancient archaeological artifacts from Gaza with contemporary artworks. It aims to present Gaza's history as a Mediterranean crossroads, moving beyond its current wartime representation. The exhibition features artifacts from a collection of about 500 pieces, temporarily held in Geneva, alongside works by contemporary artists like Samaa Emad, Mirna Bamieh, and Wael Shawky.

Auctions of the week: ancient paintings, Modern art and the Orient

The global art market is entering a high-intensity period between March 5 and 11, 2026, with a dense schedule of auctions spanning Italy, London, Vienna, and Geneva. Major international houses including Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Phillips, and Bonhams are hosting marquee 20th and 21st-century art sales in London, while Italian houses like Finarte, Pandolfini, and Bertolami focus on Old Master paintings, design, and private estates. Notable single-owner collections, such as the Roger and Josette Vanthournout Collection and the estate of Antonio Crivellaro, are among the week's highlights.

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Konstantina Krikzoni's solo exhibition "ARMATURA" at L'Appartement in Geneva presents a new suite of paintings born from a period of intense solitude. The works explore painting as a medium for self-expression, using the metaphor of an armature—the metal framework that supports sculptures—to represent an inner structure of fortification, endurance, and survival. The paintings feature elusive female figures and landscapes rendered with delicate layers of pigment, evoking ancient myths and goddesses, with works like *Warrior I* (2025), *L.K. I Killed the Pink* (2025), and the titular *Armatura* (2025) conveying emotional rawness and psychological drama.

why bailly gallery is betting big on paris 2739558

Bailly Gallery, a Geneva-based gallery founded in 2007 by Charly and Hanna Bailly with family roots in the art business since 1977, is expanding its presence in Paris by opening a full public gallery space after operating a private showroom there for several years. The new location, which took five years to find, includes both a public exhibition area and two private showrooms designed like apartments, allowing collectors to view works in a domestic setting. The gallery is known for its expertise in Impressionist, Modern, and Postwar art and design.

Feral Hot Glass owner working toward opening | Gallery Glances

Feral Hot Glass, a glass-blowing studio and event space founded by artist Mark Rubelowsky, is nearing completion in Geneva, Ohio. Rubelowsky and his father broke ground in April 2024 on a property that includes a house and land for grape-growing, transforming the original plan for a pole barn into a full facility. The studio will offer glass-blowing classes, workshops, events, and an Airbnb rental, with unique features like glass birds embedded in walls for a scavenger hunt. Rubelowsky, a 2019 Cleveland Institute of Art graduate, works alongside fellow glassblower Rob Coby.

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.

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Post-Fair will return to Santa Monica from February 26–28 for its second edition, bringing 30 galleries and 31 total exhibitors to the Art Deco former post office that helped define its identity. Founded by Los Angeles dealer Chris Sharp, the fair debuted last year as a low-cost alternative to Los Angeles's expensive fair scene, offering single-artist presentations at a flat fee. This year's edition expands internationally with new participants from Europe and Asia, including Edouard Montassut (Paris), Lovay Fine Arts (Geneva), MISAKO&ROSEN (Tokyo), and P21 (Seoul), alongside additions like Anton Kern (New York), Eli Kerr (Montreal), and White Columns.

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A rare Fabergé Winter Egg, made of crystal and adorned with 4,000 diamonds, sold for £22.9 million ($30.2 million) at Christie’s London on Tuesday, setting a new auction record for any Fabergé egg. The sale was part of a 48-lot collection titled “The Winter Egg and Important Works by Fabergé from a Princely Collection,” which achieved a total of £27.8 million ($37.1 million). The egg was created for Russia’s imperial family by Alma Theresia Pihl, one of the few women in Fabergé’s St. Petersburg workshop, and fabricated by her uncle, chief jeweler Albert Holmström. It had previously sold at Christie’s in Geneva in 1994 and in New York in 2002.

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Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed inheritance tax on Sunday, with 78% voting no. The tax, introduced by the Social Democrats, would have applied a 50% rate to inheritances and gifts exceeding 50 million Swiss francs (about $62.3 million). Billionaire Peter Spuhler threatened to leave the country if the tax passed, and Swiss wealth managers warned that other ultra-wealthy individuals would follow, citing their mobility and options to optimize taxes.

The new art conglomerate: Pace Gallery, Emmanuel Di Donna and David Schrader join forces

Pace Gallery, Emmanuel Di Donna, and David Schrader have announced a joint venture to launch Pace Di Donna Schrader Galleries (PDS), a new entity focused on secondary market sales. The partnership, revealed on the eve of Art Basel Miami Beach, will operate from a new headquarters on Manhattan's Upper East Side, with equal partnership among the three. PDS will leverage Pace's global network of galleries in cities including Los Angeles, London, Geneva, Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. Di Donna, founder of Di Donna Galleries and former Sotheby's vice chairman, brings expertise in Surrealist, Modern, and post-war art; Schrader, a former Sotheby's head of private sales, adds auction-house experience. The venture is set to begin operations in early 2025, with Di Donna's team moving to the new space in summer 2026.

More than 160 artists selling their work to raise funds for medical, humanitarian aid in Gaza

More than 160 artists have donated works to an online charity auction called "100 Artists for Gaza," with all proceeds going to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Organized by artists Mai-Thu Perret, Vidya Gastaldon, Sarah Benslimane, and art specialist Anne Lamunière, the sale features works by notable figures including Kara Walker, Wolfgang Tillmans, Peter Doig, and Olafur Eliasson. The pieces, each roughly 8 by 12 inches, have been exhibited at the organization's Geneva headquarters since November 11, with a live auction concluding on December 2.

Geneva art exhibition in support of nuclear abolition

Geneva is hosting a new anti-nuclear art exhibition by Italian artist and activist Enrico Muratore, known professionally as EMA, under the title "Promemoria: Sending out an SOS." The multimedia project, which began as a series of paintings and now includes a book, song, video, and live readings, is presented at ICAM (Institut des Cultures Arabes et Mediterraneennes) with support from ICAN and the organization Colorier L’Avenir. The exhibition features selected paintings from the Promemoria series and live readings of EMA's fable inspired by George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984. It was officially opened by Christoph Wieland, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Geneva, and Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN.

harry clarke geneva window wolfsonian miami 2576058

The Wolfsonian FIU in Miami Beach is exhibiting "Harry Clarke and the Geneva Window," showcasing a luminous stained glass window created by Irish artist Harry Clarke (1891–1931) for the League of Nations building in Geneva. Commissioned by the Irish Free State in 1926, the window was completed in 1930 but ultimately rejected by the Irish government due to its controversial content, including depictions of drunkenness, nudity, and Protestant writers. The exhibition juxtaposes the window with late 19th and early 20th-century Irish decorative artworks and explores Clarke's life, his premature death from tuberculosis at age 41, and the political and cultural turmoil of post-independence Ireland.

harry clarke geneva window wolfsonian miami 2576058

The Wolfsonian–Florida International University in Miami Beach is exhibiting "Harry Clarke and the Geneva Window," showcasing a luminous stained glass window created by Irish artist Harry Clarke (1891–1931) for the League of Nations building in Geneva. Commissioned by the Irish Free State in 1926, the window was ultimately rejected by the Irish government due to its controversial content, including depictions of drunkenness, nudity, and Protestant writers. The exhibition explores the window's scandalous history, Clarke's life cut short by tuberculosis at age 41, and the broader context of Irish nationalism and the Celtic Revival.

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This week's art industry roundup covers major developments across auctions, galleries, and art fairs. Highlights include $1.6 billion in art heading to auction at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips in New York; the sale of the 'Mellon Blue' diamond for $25 million at Christie's Geneva; and the Vanderbilt jewels fetching $4.2 million at Phillips Geneva. In galleries, Sperone Westwater faces possible closure or major transformation after 50 years, while Upsilon Gallery opens a new space in Milan. The IFPDA Print Fair rebrands and expands to include drawings, and Abu Dhabi Art will relaunch as Frieze Abu Dhabi next year. The Gallery Climate Coalition reports that 80% of its members have cut carbon emissions by over 25% since 2019.

paint drippings art industry news nov 14 2713592

This week's art industry roundup covers major developments across auctions, galleries, and art fairs. Highlights include $1.6 billion in art heading to auction at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips in New York; the sale of the 'Mellon Blue' diamond for $25 million at Christie's Geneva; and the Vanderbilt jewels achieving $4.2 million at Phillips Geneva. In galleries, Sperone Westwater faces possible closure or transformation after 50 years, while Upsilon Gallery opens a new space in Milan. The IFPDA Print Fair expands to include drawings and rebrands, and Abu Dhabi Art will relaunch as Frieze Abu Dhabi next year. The Gallery Climate Coalition reports significant emissions reductions among its members.

auction houses tapping into jewelry boom brooklyn public library launches art lending program paris photo returns morning links for november 14 2025 1234761805

Christie's incoming global head of jewellery, Max Fawcett, predicts a strong London Jewels sale, citing a 'purple patch' for the division after achieving $87.7 million in New York and a sold-out Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva. Heritage Auctions, Phillips, and Sotheby's also report record jewellery and watch sales, with demand outstripping supply. Separately, the Brooklyn Public Library has launched an experimental art-lending program alongside its exhibition 'Letters for the Future,' featuring works by 35 artists that patrons can borrow. The article also notes the return of Paris Photo to the Grand Palais, archaeological discoveries in Italy, and updates on trans-inclusivity guidance for UK museums.

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Phillips’s “Geneva Jewels Auction” on Monday achieved CHF 13.7 million ($17 million) in total sales, with 96 of 113 lots sold (85% sell-through rate). Twelve lots from the Vanderbilt family sold out, contributing CHF 3.42 million ($4.25 million)—four times their low estimate. The top lot was “The Vanderbilt Sapphire,” a 42-karat sugarloaf Kashmir sapphire and diamond brooch by Tiffany & Co., which sold for CHF 2.88 million ($3.57 million), exceeding its $1–1.5 million estimate. Other highlights included a Cartier Magnificent diamond brooch ($560,582), a Bulgari “Serpenti” belt ($368,383), and multiple Cartier “Panthère” jewels. The auction drew over 1,600 visitors and bids from 44 countries.

qatar to build gulfs largest art storage facility anish kapoor threatens legal action after us border agents pose next to bean sculpture morning links for november 12 2025 1234761234

Qatar is planning to build the Gulf region's largest full-service art storage and logistics facility near Hamad International Airport, in a partnership between QC+ (a strategic partner of Qatar Sports Investments and Art Basel) and Gulf Warehousing Company. The complex will offer secure storage, conservation services, and private viewing rooms, allowing artworks to be stored and traded without entering Qatar's customs territory, similar to freeports in Geneva, Luxembourg, and Singapore. Separately, British artist Anish Kapoor is considering legal action after US border patrol agents posed for a photo in front of his Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago, which he condemned as emblematic of 'fascist America.' Kapoor previously sued the US National Rifle Association for using the sculpture in a 2017 video.

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A rare blue diamond pendant known as the Mellon Blue, owned by art collector Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon, sold for $25.5 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on Tuesday. The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue, internally flawless pear-shaped diamond had a pre-sale estimate of $20–30 million. This price is 22 percent less than the $32.6 million it achieved at Sotheby’s in 2014 as part of Mellon’s collection sale, and nearly 60 percent less when adjusted for inflation. The buyer was not disclosed.