René Magritte's surrealist masterpiece *La Magie Noire*, unseen on the market for nearly a century, will be auctioned at Sotheby's Paris later this month with an estimate of over $8 million. The painting was originally purchased by the family of WWII resistance heroine Suzanne Spaak, who supported Magritte during a financially difficult period. Separately, three major museums designed by star architect David Adjaye—the Princeton University Art Museum, the Museum of West African Art in Benin City, and the Studio Museum in Harlem—are set to open this fall, but institutions are downplaying Adjaye's involvement following sexual misconduct allegations he denied in 2023.
This article matters because it highlights two significant art-world narratives: the rediscovery of a major Magritte work after decades off the market, which underscores the enduring value and market power of surrealist masterpieces, and the ongoing reputational fallout for Adjaye, whose architectural legacy is now being cautiously handled by institutions amid misconduct allegations. The piece also touches on broader industry news, including gallery closures, new dealership expansions, and the death of a longtime ARTnews publisher, reflecting the dynamic and often contentious state of the global art scene.