Artnet News' Wet Paint column reports on two summer art parties. The White Columns benefit auction in New York raised $350,000, with works donated by 60 commercial galleries. Highlights included a KAWS 'Companion' piece selling for $16,500 and a Florian Krewer painting for $14,000, auctioned by director Matthew Higgs. Separately, London gallerist Sadie Coles has vacated her 1 Davies Street space after a decade and will open a new 6,000-square-foot location at 17 Savile Row, a historic townhouse that once housed the Burlington Fine Arts Club.
These stories matter because they reveal the resilience and evolution of the art market amid a 'complicated art economy.' White Columns' continued success underscores the enduring importance of alternative spaces in launching artist careers, while Sadie Coles' move to Savile Row signals a strategic shift in London's gallery landscape, linking contemporary commerce to a historic art-world venue. The gossipy tone also highlights the social dynamics and inside-baseball moves that define the art trade.