Argentine kinetic and optical art pioneer Julio Le Parc has died at age 97. In other art industry news, François-Henri Pinault has been appointed board chairman of Christie's; Art Basel Paris returns to the Grand Palais for its fifth edition under new director Karim Crippa; Tiwani Contemporary has permanently closed its London gallery; Gehry Partners will design a major renovation of the Getty Center; and the estate of Ansel Adams has spoken out against an unauthorized AI-colorized version of his photograph. The weekly roundup also covers auction highlights, including a T. rex fossil expected to fetch up to $30 million at Sotheby's, and the launch of new art fairs and residency programs.
This roundup matters because it captures key shifts in the art world's power structure, market dynamics, and institutional priorities. The appointment of François-Henri Pinault at Christie's signals a new era of leadership at one of the world's top auction houses, while the closure of Tiwani Contemporary reflects ongoing challenges for galleries focused on African and diaspora art. The Getty Center's renovation addresses overcrowding at a major Los Angeles institution, and the controversy over the AI-colorized Ansel Adams photograph highlights growing tensions between technology and artistic integrity. Together, these stories illustrate the evolving landscape of galleries, museums, auctions, and ethical debates shaping the contemporary art ecosystem.