new trustees at seattle art museum industry moves

This week's art industry moves include François Ghebaly now representing Paris-based painter Xie Lei, a finalist for the 2025 Prix Marcel Duchamp, whose work is on view at the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris. Gray gallery in Chicago and New York has taken on pioneering abstractionist Candida Alvarez, with a solo exhibition planned for Fall 2027, while she continues to be represented by Monique Meloche Gallery. The Seattle Art Museum elected five new trustees: Joanna Beitel, Martha Draves, Margaret Morris, Jordon Voss, and returning former trustee Lyn Grinstein. The Khadhok—Tibetan Artists' Collective won the 2025 Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize, a $30,000 unrestricted award. Additionally, Canadian collector François Odermatt paid $19 million for Peter Doig's 1994 painting *Ski Jacket* at Christie's London, far exceeding its presale estimate.

tilton gallery to close after over 40 years and more art industry news

Tilton Gallery, a fixture of New York’s Upper East Side for over 40 years, has announced it will close its physical space following an upcoming Ruth Vollmer exhibition to focus on private projects. The week also saw significant leadership shifts, including Lisa Phillips announcing her retirement as director of the New Museum after 26 years, and Ebony L. Haynes being promoted to the newly created role of global head of curatorial projects at David Zwirner. Meanwhile, legal tensions surfaced as a court dismissed Ronald Perelman’s $400 million insurance lawsuit regarding fire damage to his art collection.

top lots jean michel basquiat

Artnet News examines the top five auction results for Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose meteoric rise and tragic death at age 27 fueled a legendary market. The list includes works such as "Versus Medici" (1982), which sold for $50.82 million at Sotheby's in 2021; "El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile)" (1983), which fetched $67.1 million at Christie's in 2023; and "Untitled" (1982), which reached $85 million at Phillips in 2022. The article highlights the artist's synthesis of graffiti and Renaissance aesthetics, his relationships with figures like Andy Warhol, and the explosive growth of his market over the past decade.

museum artist ranking june 2025

Artnet News published its quarterly museum artist ranking for June 2025, analyzing temporary exhibitions at over 250 U.S. museums to identify which living artists received the most institutional attention. The list includes over 4,500 names, with Indigenous contemporary artists dominating the top ranks: Cara Romero and Sky Hopinka remain highly visible, joined by Jeffrey Gibson and Andrea Carlson. Cindy Sherman appears in at least 10 group shows nationwide, while Alex Katz continues as a rare painter favored by museums at age 97. The ranking prioritizes career retrospectives, dedicated exhibitions, and special commissions over group show appearances.

Loïc Gouzer’s Auction Platform Fair Warning to Sell Major Banksy at Tiffany’s Flagship Store

Loïc Gouzer's auction platform Fair Warning will sell Banksy's *Girl and Balloon on Found Landscape* from the 'Crude Oils' series in an invitation-only live auction at Tiffany & Co.'s Fifth Avenue flagship store on May 20. The work, which carries a $13 to $18 million estimate, modifies a thrifted landscape painting with the artist's signature red heart-shaped balloon. It will be publicly viewable in the store before the sale.

thaddeus mosley sculptor dead

Thaddeus Mosley, the acclaimed American sculptor known for his monumental wood abstractions, has died at the age of 99 in Pittsburgh. Throughout a career spanning seven decades, Mosley transformed salvaged walnut, sycamore, and cherry wood into curvaceous, gravity-defying forms that balanced immense weight with a sense of lightness. Though he was a long-standing pillar of the Pittsburgh creative community, he achieved widespread national recognition and major museum representation only in his 90s.

gladstone gallery calder mobile fineberg collection art basel paris

Alexander Calder's market remains strong despite a broader art market downturn. Thirteen Calder works have sold for over $1 million at auction this year, all within or above estimates, led by Christie's sale of *Gypsophila* (1949) for $8.5 million. Next month, Gladstone Gallery will bring Calder's standing mobile *Caged Stone on Yellow Stalk* (ca. 1955) to Art Basel Paris, priced at $5.5 million, after it sold for $3.2 million at the Gerald Fineberg collection sale in 2023. This market resilience coincides with major institutional shows: the opening of Calder Gardens in Philadelphia and a Whitney Museum exhibition celebrating the centennial of Calder's *Circus* (1926–31).

thaddeus mosley new york wood sculptures

Thaddeus Mosley, a 98-year-old sculptor based in Pittsburgh, creates monumental wood sculptures that weigh hundreds of pounds and rise high into the air. Working alone in a cavernous studio, he carves cherry and walnut using gouges, comparing his process to judo. Despite his long career spanning seven decades, Mosley remained largely unknown outside Pittsburgh until recently. He has now gained wider recognition following his inclusion in the 2018 Carnegie International, and his work is currently featured in a major exhibition at New York's City Hall Park, where he shows giant bronze versions of his wood creations.

Matisse Is a Crowd-Pleaser. Here’s What the Crowds Rarely Get to See

Acquavella Galleries in Manhattan has unveiled a major exhibition featuring over 50 works by Henri Matisse, many of which are rarely seen pieces drawn from private collections. This comprehensive survey includes paintings, drawings, and sculptures that span the artist's prolific career, offering a unique glimpse into works that typically remain behind closed doors.

Photographer Zanele Muholi is named the 2026 Hasselblad Award laureate.

South African visual activist Zanele Muholi has won the prestigious 2026 Hasselblad Award, one of the highest honors in photography. The award, which includes a cash prize and a major exhibition at the Hasselblad Foundation in Gothenburg, Sweden, recognizes Muholi's decades-long dedication to documenting and celebrating Black LGBTQIA+ communities in South Africa and beyond. Their powerful portraits and self-portraits challenge historical erasure and create a profound visual archive of resistance and existence.

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.

Andy Warhol | Original Exhibition Poster (2021) | For Sale

An original Andy Warhol exhibition poster from 2021 is being offered for sale by Baldwin gallery, with locations in London, Miami, and Dubai. The offset lithograph on paper measures 19.7 × 27.6 inches, is in mint condition, unsigned, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. Priced at £650, the work ships from London with domestic shipping at £45 and international at £55, and is covered by the Artsy Guarantee.

Titian's ‘Bacchus and Ariadne’ to get a refresh with bank conservation grant

Bank of America’s annual art conservation program has awarded grants to 18 projects this year, including the restoration of Titian’s *Bacchus and Ariadne* (1520-23) at the National Gallery in London. The painting will be removed from display next month for conservation work that involves placing it on a new fabric support and repairing paint loss. Other funded projects include Rembrandt’s *The Night Watch* at the Rijksmuseum, bronze palms at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, *Gaki Zōshi* at the Tokyo National Museum, Matisse’s *La Négresse* at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and works at the Museo de Arte de Lima and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

hammer museum leadership michael wellen regan pro

The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles has appointed Michael Wellen as its new chief curator and Regan Pro as chief of learning, engagement, and research. Wellen joins from Tate Modern, while Pro was previously at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The appointments fill key leadership roles that had been vacant, with the chief curator position open since 2023.

see super bowl heroes depicted in classical paintings

A Nobilified, a start-up that lets customers insert themselves into classic paintings for about $140, has created a series of artworks depicting Super Bowl heroes from the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in historical masterpieces. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady appears as Prometheus (1868) by Gustave Moreau, tight end Rob Gronkowski as Abduction of Ganymede by Jupiter (ca. 1644) by Eustache Le Sueur, while Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is shown in Ideal portrait of a Spanish King (ca. 1643) by Alonso Cano, with other players featured in works by John Singleton Copley and Benjamin West.

perez art museum miami jose carlos diaz chief curator

The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) has appointed José Carlos Diaz as its new senior director of curatorial affairs and chief curator, effective October 13. Diaz, a Miami native, returns from the Seattle Art Museum where he served as deputy director of art since 2022, overseeing curatorial programs and the "Calder at SAM" initiative following a major gift of 48 Calder works. He succeeds Gilbert Vicario, who left in February. Diaz previously worked at PAMM when it was the Miami Art Museum, and has held curatorial roles at the Bass Museum of Art, Tate Liverpool, the Liverpool Biennial, and the Andy Warhol Museum.

ai weiwei new artwork ukraine russia

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei will debut a new site-specific work in Kyiv, Ukraine, this fall, responding to the country's ongoing war with Russia. Titled "Three Perfectly Proportioned Spheres and Camouflage Uniforms Painted White," the installation will be on view at Pavilion 13, a Soviet-era exhibition space, from September 14 to November 30. Commissioned by the nonprofit Ribbon International, the work reimagines Ai's "Divina Proportione" series (2004–12) using metal spheres encased in camouflage fabric painted white, symbolizing layered realities and the concealment of truth during conflict.

museums bet major paintings on super bowl win

The Seattle Art Museum and the Clark Art Institute in New England have placed a wager on the Super Bowl, each betting a major landscape painting from their collection on their respective home teams. Seattle Art Museum director Kimerly Rorschach has offered Albert Bierstadt's "Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast" (1870), while Clark Art Institute director Michael Conforti has put up Winslow Homer's "West Point, Prout's Neck" (1900). The losing museum will loan its painting to the winner for three months, covering all shipping and expenses.

ai weiwei rebel retrospective seattle

The Seattle Art Museum has opened “Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” the largest U.S. retrospective ever for the Chinese dissident artist. The exhibition features iconic works such as the neon sign *FUCK* (2020), the sculpture *Middle Finger* (2000), and the photographic series “Study of Perspective” (1995–2011), alongside pieces that remix art history—from Duchamp-inspired readymades to Lego versions of Old Masters. Curated by Ping Foong, the show spans Ai’s career, including his politically charged responses to the Sichuan earthquake and his infamous 1995 performance *Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn*.

Gabrielle Goliath’s "Elegy" Comes to Venice

South African artist Gabrielle Goliath’s installation "Elegy" was initially censored by South Africa’s Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, who blocked it from the country’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale over its focus on Palestinian grief. After public outcry and support from several organizations, the work was instead installed in a Venice church, where critic Aruna D’Souza describes it as "hauntingly beautiful and achingly tender." The article also covers related news: a smear campaign against British-Nigerian photographer Misan Harriman for his Palestinian solidarity, and a list of summer art books.

Seattle Art Museum continues Alexander Calder exhibition series

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) has announced a new exhibition, "Monochrome: Calder and Tara Donovan," as part of its ongoing Calder at SAM initiative. Opening May 13, 2026, and running through January 17, 2027, the show is co-curated by artist Tara Donovan and Catharina Manchanda, SAM's Jon and Mary Shirley Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. It explores how both Alexander Calder and Donovan use monochrome—particularly black—to examine materials, movement, and perception. Donovan's works from five series, including installations made from tar paper and Mylar, will be displayed alongside two of Calder's matte black pieces: the mobile "Jacaranda" (1949) and the stabile "Mountains" (1976).

Enrico David: ‘It’s as if the objects are there as an avatar for something that has gone’

Italian-born, London-based artist Enrico David is the subject of a major retrospective at the Castello di Rivoli Museo d'Arte Contemporanea near Turin, titled 'I'm Back Tomorrow.' The exhibition, his largest to date, spans three decades of his work and occupies the museum's 147-meter-long Manica Lunga gallery. David first gained attention in the late 1990s for his large embroideries featuring masked figures, many purchased by collector Charles Saatchi, but later shifted to creating psychologically charged sculptures of mutated humanoid forms. The show is arranged not thematically or chronologically but as a series of 'vertebrae' anchoring the space, with elements evoking trade fairs and commercial design—a language familiar from his father's neon-sign business.

May Arts Calendar 2026

The May Arts Calendar 2026 highlights a wide range of visual art exhibitions and events in the Seattle area, including group and solo shows at galleries such as Gallery B612, Visual Arts Gallery No. 85, JG Art Gallery, Piano Nobile, ArtXContemporary Gallery, and Common Objects. Notable exhibitions include "Layered Being: A Celebration of AAPINH Heritage" at Gallery B612, "Moving As One" by Tetsuo Aoki, "Material Meditations" featuring woodworker Andy McConell, blacksmith Maria Cristalli, and mixed media artist Jill Kyong, and "TADAIMA: 'I'm Home'" at MOHAI, which explores Japanese American history through dolls. The calendar also features a solo show by Yaminee Patel and a group show titled "Moga" at Fresh Mochi, celebrating Japanese and Japanese American artists.

May Things to Do: Visual Art

This article from a Seattle arts publication rounds up May visual art events, including the Seattle Art Book Fair (May 9–10) at Washington Hall featuring over 85 artists and free admission; Timothy White Eagle's exhibition "Once Wild River" (May 9–June 21) at Mini Mart City Park, culminating his EPA artist-in-residency; "Monochrome: Calder and Tara Donovan" (May 13–Jan 17, 2027) at the Seattle Art Museum, where Donovan responds to Alexander Calder's black works; "Rebels + Icons: The Photography of Janette Beckman" opening May 15 at MoPOP, the largest collection of her iconic musician portraits; and Drie Chapek's "Then Is Now" (May 21–June 27).

April Arts Calendar 2026

The Seattle region is hosting a diverse array of visual arts exhibitions throughout April and May 2026, with a strong emphasis on cultural identity and heritage. Highlights include Akash Pamarthy’s solo photography show "Sikh Ohio" at the M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery, Miya Sukune’s historical installation "TADAIMA: I’m Home" at MOHAI, and a permanent mural installation by Erin Shigaki at Bellevue College. These shows span various media, from traditional Korean moon jar-inspired ceramics by Kelly Haejung Paik to experimental works made of rice and lentils by Yaminee Patel.

6 free Seattle art exhibits in April at museums and galleries

The article highlights six free art exhibitions taking place in Seattle during April, spanning both museums and commercial galleries. It provides a curated list of accessible cultural offerings for the public.

When The Gallery opened, it sparked a revival that changed Pioneer Square forever

Foster/White Gallery is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a cornerstone of Seattle’s Pioneer Square, a neighborhood it helped transform from a derelict district into a thriving arts hub. Founded by Richard White in 1966, the gallery became a pioneer in the area, representing legendary Northwest School artists like Morris Graves and Mark Tobey. Despite the recent closure of other long-standing neighborhood staples like Davidson and Linda Hodges galleries, Foster/White remains a symbol of continuity and resilience.

Alexander Calder, Brilliant Sculptor of Air and Color Celebrated at the Fondation Vuitton

Alexander Calder, génial sculpteur de l’air et de la couleur célébré à la fondation Vuitton

The Fondation Louis Vuitton is hosting a major celebration of Alexander Calder, the American sculptor who revolutionized 20th-century art by introducing movement and play into the medium. The article traces Calder's formative years in Paris starting in 1926, where the young engineer-turned-artist gained avant-garde fame with his 'Cirque Calder'—a miniature circus of wire and fabric figurines. This period marked his transition from traditional painting to his signature 'drawings in space,' featuring wire sculptures of figures like Josephine Baker that projected dancing shadows and captured the kinetic energy of the era.

A new, monochromatic perspective on Alexander Calder at SAM

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) has opened "Monochrome: Calder and Tara Donovan," a new exhibition in its Calder at SAM series that pairs two matte-black Alexander Calder sculptures with works by Brooklyn-based artist Tara Donovan. Curated by Donovan alongside SAM curator Catharina Manchanda, the show uses black as its sole color to highlight materials, texture, and form. Highlights include Calder's 1949 mobile "Jacaranda" and 1976 maquette "Mountains (1:5 intermediate maquette)," juxtaposed with Donovan's sculptures made from industrial materials like plastic stir sticks, slinkys, tar paper, and mylar. The exhibition runs through January 17, 2027.

Autumn Arts: Visual Art

Seattle's galleries and museums are launching a fall season of exhibitions addressing politics, identity, and the environment, alongside works celebrating beauty. Highlights include Karey Kessler's map-inspired show 'the Where' at Shift Gallery, Ethan Murrow and Mary Finlayson exhibitions at Winston Wächter Fine Art, Anila Quayyum Agha's immersive light installation 'Geometry of Light' at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and a politically charged neon show 'Call It What It Is' at The Factory. The city-wide Art + Culture Week returns for its second edition, featuring free events across 12 neighborhoods.