Paint Drippings: Art Industry News February 23

This week’s art industry roundup highlights major shifts across the global market, including Art Basel’s announcement of 290 galleries for its flagship Swiss fair and Sotheby’s adjustment of its buyer’s premium rates. Significant personnel moves include Devyani Saltzman’s abrupt departure from the Barbican, which sparked an open letter from over 170 cultural figures, and Anne-Claire Legendre becoming the first woman to lead Paris’s Arab World Institute.

These developments signal a period of institutional restructuring and market recalibration. The expansion of gallery rosters—such as Hauser & Wirth taking on the Carol Rama estate—and the launch of new art consulting services by Bank of America reflect a competitive landscape where both commercial entities and legacy institutions are aggressively vying for collector engagement and cultural relevance.