Basquiat’s Iconic 1982 Work Set for Christie’s Evening Sale
With an estimated value between $20 million and $30 million, a standout 1982 work on paper by Jean-Michel Basquiat will be featured at Christie’s 21st Century Evening Sale. The piece portrays a classic Basquiat figure adorned with a laurel wreath. The consignor is Peter Brant, one of Basquiat’s major collectors. This large untitled piece, held […]
Ralph Lemon at MoMA PS1: An Exploration of Movement and Memory
Ceremonies Out of the Air at MoMA PS1 by Ralph Lemon presents over sixty artworks from the past decade—spanning dance, video installations, drawings, sculptures, photographs, paintings, and live performances. Lemon engages with postmodern dance and storytelling, using the body as an archive to challenge conventional perspectives. Lemon’s movement-based works challenge formalist conventions and disrupt historical narratives, […]
Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum at the Barbican: Exploring Colonialism and Identity through Cinematic Storytelling
It Will End in Tears at the Barbican presents a hauntingly immersive journey framed by minimalist “film sets” reminiscent of noir cinema. With influences from Hitchcock to Bessie Head, Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s visual storytelling delves into the complexities of identity, colonial legacies, and self-determination. Collaborating with set designer Remco Osório Lobato, Sunstrum creates minimalist, skeletal film […]
Labour’s Autumn Budget Boosts Arts Funding, Yet Future Stability Remains Uncertain
Chancellor Reeves announced a boost in funding for national museums in Labour’s autumn budget, which was welcomed by cultural figures. However, key arts organizations and regional museum leaders criticized the plans for not addressing long-term challenges in the sector. The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will receive a 2.6% real-terms increase, totaling […]
Frieze’s Art Fairs and Magazine Up for Potential Sale as Endeavor Goes Private
Endeavor, the parent company of Frieze—which owns a talent agency along with various sports and entertainment businesses—is preparing to go private. The company is reviewing the sale of its event assets, which include the art fairs and Frieze magazine. The Frieze-related announcement follows Silver Lake’s decision to take Endeavor private after three years on the […]
Human Presence: Francis Bacon at the National Portrait Gallery
Francis Bacon’s work delivers a raw, haunting exploration of human existence. Human Presence at London’s National Portrait Gallery invites viewers into his intense world through over 55 striking portraits, tracing his artistic evolution and challenging us to confront the fragile nature of identity. Visitors are drawn into Bacon’s unsettling style, beginning with Head VI (1949), […]
Toronto Biennial of Art 2024: Fragility, Resilience, Transformation
The Toronto Biennial of Art, titled Precarious Joys, features 55 artists at 12 locations throughout the city. The exhibition highlights the fragility of contemporary life while celebrating art as an agent of change, exploring the risks of visibility related to citizenship, Indigenous erasure, climate disaster, and gentrification. The Toronto Biennial is still in its early […]
Art Basel & UBS Survey: Art Collecting in 2024
The Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting highlights a rising interest in emerging and women artists in the art market. Most high-net-worth collectors are purchasing from new dealers, with over 75% acquiring paintings and a notable increase in works on paper, which climbed to over 50%. In the first half of 2024, public […]
Michael Craig-Martin at the Royal Academy of Arts: Beyond the Graphic and the Mundane
Michael Craig-Martin, a major figure in British art, blends pop, minimalism, and conceptual influences with humor. His retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts features early experimental pieces, vibrant large-scale paintings, monumental sculptures, and a dramatic site-specific installation. The retrospective begins with early conceptual works that are minimal yet complex, featuring pieces like Box That […]
Tracey Emin on the Lasting Impact of Women Artists
Tracey Emin stated on The Louis Theroux Podcast that male artists peak in their 40s, while women can create impactful work throughout their lives. She described Damien Hirst as a powerful force in his youth but suggested he is no longer at that level. Emphasizing that women “carry on coming” creatively, she described male artistic […]