NewsArt market
Gallery Climate Coalition expands to Berlin
The London-based eco-friendly initiative aims to reduce galleries' carbon footprints by at least 50% over the next decade—now German galleries are getting involved too
PreviewExhibitions
Lockdown easing: the best gallery shows to see in London right now
Eerie wooden cabins, rural quiltmakers and dismembered, tentacular dolls are among our highlights from the city's commercial exhibitions
NewsArt market
Frieze Los Angeles 2021 is cancelled, new venue for 2022
The fair will move from Paramount Studios to a tent on Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, for its next edition in February
NewsArt market
Christie’s to auction a slice of NFT history for $9m this May
Larva Labs created 10,000 CryptoPunks three years ago—and gave away most of them
PreviewArt market
Object lessons: from illuminated early golf memorabilia to a marble fragment with a twist
Our pick of the highlights from April's auctions
NewsArt market
Art Dubai fair opens—in real life—with 'pay nothing up front' plan for galleries
Most of the 50 exhibitors participating are based in the Middle East but seven who are unable to travel in person have sent works for "remote participation" stands
NewsArt market
Casting doubt over hopes of a 'normal' UK summer, Masterpiece London cancels June fair
The fair will hold an online event in some form, while the London Original Print Fair plans to hold a gallery-based event for 33 of its exhibitors this May
NewsArt market
Sacha Jafri reveals the backbreaking process of creating 'world's largest painting' that sold for $62m
The work sold to cryptocurrency entrepreneur Andre Abdoune and all proceeds will be donated to four charities fighting child poverty
NewsArt market
Banksy's Game Changer sells for record £16.7m in aid of charities supporting the NHS
The work appeared suddenly last May at the University Hospital Southampton as a thank you to its staff during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic
NewsArt market
Jean-Michel Basquiat's Warrior becomes most expensive western work of art sold in Asia at $41.7m
The 1982 work sold today at Christie's in Hong Kong to an Asian buyer
NewsArt market
Christie’s abandons Impressionist and Modern and post-war and contemporary sale categories
The new 20th and 21st century auction format will launch in New York this May
NewsNFTs
Sotheby’s gets in on NFT fever with a collaboration with digital artist Pak
Auction house's head of sale Max Moore has already personally bought a work by the artist
InterviewArt market
'No one feels ambivalent towards Russia': Jo Vickery on leaving Sotheby's, launching her art advisory and looking beyond politics
Despite its size and power, Russia is a blindspot for the international art market but Vickery wants to change that perception
NewsNFTs
Revealed: Metakovan, pseudonymous founder of ‘crypto-exclusive fund’ Metapurse, is the buyer of Beeple’s $69.3m NFT
Everydays: The First 5,000 Days sold at Christie’s yesterday—and the buyer says it is worth $1bn
NewsNFTs
Chinese tech entrepreneur reveals he was narrowly outbid for Beeple’s NFT—and computer said no when he tried to pay $70m
TRON blockchain founder Justin Sun says on Twitter that Christie’s website would not let him place another bid with 30 seconds to go of the online auction yesterday
AnalysisArt market
You’re fired! Art workers who have lost jobs report poor treatment by employers—and junior staff are most vulnerable
Some gallery and museum staff say they feel pressure to go into the workplace when they fear it is unsafe, while tough non-compete clauses can limit future employment options
NewsArt market
Winston Churchill's painting of Marrakech—given to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and sold by Angelina Jolie—sells for record £8.2m
Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque was one of three works by the former British prime minister sold at Christie's tonight for a total of £11.2m—to the same buyer
NewsArt market
The 'quintessential' Art Deco smoking (or vaping) room—yours for £2m
Jean Dunand's Les Palmiers was designed for a Parisian apartment in the 1930s
NewsArt market
Hauser and Wirth's Menorcan 'quarantine island' will open in July with Mark Bradford show
Warning: contains graphic images of sun-drenched Balearic art idyll
NewsArt market
House of Frieze: fair company reveals more details about new London gallery space
No.9 Cork Street will launch in October, to be hired out to galleries for pop-up exhibitions and used for Frieze talks and events year round
NewsArt market
Jean-Michel Basquiat's Warrior could become the most expensive Western work of art ever sold at auction in Asia
The 1982 painting will be sold in a single-lot evening sale at Christie's Hong Kong on 23 March with an estimate of $31m to $41m
NewsArt market
English house museum Kettle's Yard to sell donated collection to raise funds
Group of 36 works left by John Ady is hoped to make around £35,000 for the Cambridge gallery when it sells at Cheffins auction house this month
NewsArt market
Christie's closes access to historic archive due to staff cuts
The vast collection of auction catalogues dates back to Christie's very first sale in 1766 and has been an invaluable resource for dealers and academics
NewsArt market
'The London art world we started in could fit in a single pub': Frieze turns 30
The magazine and fair brand celebrates three decades with an online festival this month and launch of new membership programme
NewsAuctions
Botticelli portrait sells for record $92.1m at Sotheby's in New York
A portrait of a Young man holding a roundel (around 1470-80) by the Renaissance master seemingly sold to a Russian buyer
NewsArt market
Tefaf Maastricht 2021 postponed again—this time to September
Dutch art fair will now run immediately before the delayed Art Basel, while Tefaf New York Spring has been cancelled altogether this year
NewsObject lessons
Object lessons: from a rare outing for an Old Testament Rembrandt to a Bernini double act
Our pick of highlights from New York's Master Week sales
NewsArt market
Déjà vu: Art Basel postponed from June to September—again
Swiss fair was also delayed from June to September in 2020, before being cancelled altogether due to coronavirus
NewsArt market
UK Supreme Court judgment on pandemic insurance payouts 'not a blank cheque' for art organisations
Some insurers using "aggressive tactics" to reduce barrage of claims following rejection of appeal on clarification of business interruption cover
PreviewThe Year Ahead 2021
Art fairs in 2021—expect spring jitters, a summer crush and maybe even a return to some normality
After a year marked by cancellations, international fairs such as Art Basel, Frieze and Tefaf are vying for attention in an already crowded year
NewsArt market
Tech-savvy Sotheby's $5bn global sales beat Christie's $4.4bn in 2020
The two rivals have made record online and private sales as pandemic overturns traditional live auction format
NewsArt market
Grime stars: paintings set new records for Domenico Ghirlandaio and Jan Davidsz de Heem despite being covered in dirt
Christie's end of season Old Masters evening sale in London totals £22.8m, despite last-minute withdrawal of Bernadino Luini's Nativity
AnalysisArt market
‘We have to broaden our reach, be more interesting’: the year the Old Master trade went digital
The pandemic has forced a resolutely analogue trade to go digital. Despite the technical hurdles, the results have surprised even traditionalists
NewsArt market
Rare Georges de la Tour painting sells for record €4.3m—the most expensive Old Master painting ever sold at auction in Germany
The 17th century painting of a young girl blowing on brazier by the French baroque painter sold at Lempertz in Germany today
NewsArt market
Frieze takes gallery space on London's Cork Street for 'ambitious' exhibitions
Magazine publisher and fair organiser plans to rent the premises on a permanent basis
AnalysisArt market
Six of the best catalogues raisonnés
From Leonardo to Bacon, take your pick from a selection of essential texts on leading artists
NewsArt market
This Hans Memling painting failed to sell at Christie's—now its owner has given it back to Bruges where it was painted over 500 years ago
The work was offered for sale at £1.5m to £2.5m in 2019 but US collector Bill Middendorf has decided to give it to the Belgian city
NewsArt market
Instagram rules but don't expect loyalty: new report analyses our online art buying behaviour
The latest Hiscox Online Art Trade Report found that online only art sales at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips more than tripled at $597m
NewsArt market
New gallery platform South South launches to promote art from outside the dominant US-Europe axis
Goodman Gallery's Liza Essers came up with the idea in lockdown and plans an online selling event, called Veza, using auction technology in February
AnalysisArt market
'One of the most shocking, tumultuous years on record': art market figures reflect on 2020—and guess at what 2021 might hold
The pandemic has ripped apart the industry as we know it this year but it has sparked innovation and conversation like never before
AnalysisArt market
Art market 2020: the year of cancel culture and bricks-and-clicks
A year marked by wholesale event cancellations and job losses has also seen the art market innovate to keep businesses going.
NewsArt market
Carphone Warehouse billionaire David Ross did buy the Royal Opera House's $12.8m Hockney—now he is loaning it back
The portrait of David Webster will return immediately to the opera house before going to the National Portrait Gallery in 2023 for its reopening exhibition
NewsArt market
Rediscovered painting by Leonardo da Vinci's 'little devil' lover and collaborator sells for record €1.7m in France
Penitent Magdalene by Salaì, who entered Leonardo's workshop at the age of ten, was estimated at €100,000 to €150,000 and is one of only a handful of known works by the artist
NewsArt market
Pace to take over Blain Southern's former gallery in London expansion
Announcement comes as two of the gallery's presidents in the US are facing allegations of abuse in the workplace
NewsArt market
New York state sues Sotheby's for allegedly helping collector evade tax on $27m of art
Auction house "vigorously refutes the unfounded allegations" made by the attorney general, who claims the auction house knowingly aided the offshore company Porsal Equities
InterviewArtists
‘Prison is boring as hell’: Sarah Lucas on isolation and judging art by inmates
The artist speaks about her role in judging the Koestler Awards for art made by UK prisoners and the importance of creativity in confinement
NewsArt market
Gagosian director Sam Orlofsky let go following allegations of ‘unacceptable and repugnant’ misconduct against women
Gallery brought in outside counsel to investigate claims against the senior New York-based digital-focused director, who was suspended without pay last month
PreviewPrivate view
Our pick of must-see gallery shows opening around the world in November
From new works by the emerging artist Collins Obijiaku in Accra to a pre-election tribute to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg in Los Angeles
NewsArt market
French and German art fairs forced to cancel as new national lockdowns come into force
Fine Arts Paris and Art Cologne boldly believed they could run Covid-secure events in November, but both have had to relent to new restrictions
NewsArt market
Ancient Greek bust of Hercules dug up in a garden will now appear in virtual reality at Tefaf Online
ArtAncient has created a VR experience of the marble bust to enliven the digital version of the now-cancelled New York fair
NewsAuctions
The Royal Opera House's David Hockney painting sells for £12.8m at Christie's amid deaccessioning debate
The auction house's four-part £90.2m "20th Century: London to Paris" sale saw small bursts of energy for quality lots in the wake of Frieze and Fiac's cancellations
NewsClosures
Marian Goodman to close London gallery
The New York-based art dealer will instead launch a project initiative in the city, with no permanent space, starting next autumn
InterviewArt market
'The art world had become extremely aggressive': Rachel Lehmann on a return to localism and intimacy in the art market
As Lehmann Maupin opens at London's Cromwell Place, its co-founder speaks about systemic change—and addresses recent allegations against the gallery
NewsArt market
Tefaf Maastricht shifts back from March to May as Covid-19 disruption extends into 2021
The 34th edition of the Dutch art fair will run from 31 May to 6 June, two days shorter than normal, while the fate of Tefaf New York Spring hangs in the balance
NewsArt market
In search of la bella vita, Mendes Wood sets up in bucolic Italian villa
Gallery opens an exhibition of works by Cristina Canale, Vojtěch Kovařík, Paulo Nazareth and Brice Guilbert at Villa Era as clients seek a more rural art experience during pandemic
PreviewPrivate view
Private view: must see gallery shows opening in October
From Theaster Gates's black bricks at Gagosian to Gillian Wearing's contemplative lockdown self-portraits at Maureen Paley
NewsArt market
Paula Rego leaves Marlborough gallery for Victoria Miro
The 85-year-old artist will have a major retrospective at Tate Britain in 2021
InterviewArt market
'I'm always amazed, in this business, by how seriously some people take themselves': Stephen Friedman on 25 years as an art dealer
The Canadian came to London as a 22-year-old, fell in love with the city and never left
NewsArt market
Class of 2020: five picks from Art Basel's online viewing room (another one)
The latest virtual fair, OVR:2020, limits 100 galleries to showing six works each, all produced this year—we pick our highlights
NewsArt market
UK High Court ruling could be 'welcome news' for arts organisations denied Covid-19 insurance payout
Judgment this week ruled in favour of the Financial Conduct Authority's test case seeking clarification of policies as many insurers refuse to pay out during the pandemic
NewsArt market
Galleries cast doubt on the return of fairs in 2021 in latest Art Basel and UBS report
Covid-19 has forced galleries to cut staff by 33% on average as sales plummet 36% in the first half of 2020—and optimism is dwindling for next year
NewsCommercial galleries
Hauser & Wirth appoints Fortnum & Mason head as first global chief executive
Ewan Venters will join the mega gallery in January with a focus on leading the business while co-presidents concentrate on the artists
NewsArt market
Status of $4.8m Modigliani painting challenged as legal battle over artist's catalogues raisonnés ramps up
French expert Marc Restellini claims substantial modifications to Italian painter's 1915 portrait of Beatrice Hastings were not mentioned by Christie's when the picture was sold—twice
PreviewCommercial galleries
Private view: must-see gallery shows opening in September
From Danh Vo in London to Linda Stark in Los Angeles
NewsArt market
London's £20m Cromwell Place gallery hub to open on 10 October
Complex, housed in five townhouses in South Kensington, was due to open in May but the launch was delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown
NewsArt market
War declared over lucrative Modigliani 'monopoly' as Wildenstein Plattner Institute fights back at Marc Restellini
Institute is claiming copyright ownership and right to publish expert’s research, alongside share of profits from Institut Restellini which it claims charges €30,000 per inquiry
NewsArt market
All change at Tefaf: finance chief takes on managing director role as art fair reduces New York staff
Charlotte van Leerdam will take on additional role as organiser of Maastricht and New York events as Sofie Scheerlinck steps down and chief executive is not replaced
NewsArt law
Yves Bouvier evaded paying taxes on £276m of art sales, Swiss authorities claim
Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court ordered documents unsealed that call into question whether the dealer declared all profits from sales made to Dimitry Rybolovlev
NewsArt market
Sotheby's racks up $2.5bn of sales so far this year—down 26% on 2019
Value of private sales at auction house remain around the same as last year at $575m but number of online auctions more than doubles
NewsCommercial galleries
Gogo Greece lightning: Gagosian opens new gallery in Athens
Gallery has had a premises in city since 2009 but will open bigger space this September with exhibition of Brice Marden's work
NewsArt fairs
Scaled back 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair will go ahead in October—despite Frieze cancellation
Smaller fair and online collaboration with Christie's planned as UK government says trade fairs can resume from 1 October
NewsArt market
Restituted Renaissance battle scene highlight of Sotheby’s pick-and-mix £150m evening sale
Six works were withdrawn by nervy vendors just before the start but Rembrandt to Richter sale still totalled nearly £150m, topped by a £22.3m Joan Miró
NewsArt market
Openings and collabs: how dealers are finding reasons to be cheerful
A spate of activity is helping galleries move forward during the pandemic
NewsArt market
Christie's $420.9m global relay sale was ambitious—but did they really need four auctioneers?
The four-hour event was intended to illustrate the auction house's global and democratic nature, but it also showed that less is often more
NewsArt market
James Murdoch's firm invests in Art Basel's embattled owner MCH Group
Media and entertainment investment firm Lupa Systems will become the events company's anchor shareholder, holding around a third of shares if approved on 3 August
NewsArt market
Quran quietly sells for record £7m despite questions over its provenance
Manuscript sold at Christie's first live sale in London since the coronavirus lockdown, but academics say its ownership history should be more transparent
PreviewLondon Art Week
From a £16m Rembrandt to a £3,000 dolphin, London Art Week for every (ok, some) budgets
Highlights from the online version of the “pre-contemporary art” event for galleries and auction houses which launches today and runs until 10 July
NewsArt market
Might Rupert Murdoch be Art Basel's next big investor?
Media and television mogul is reportedly in negotiations to take a stake in art fair's Swiss parent company MCH Group
NewsArt market
London galleries launch concurrent exhibitions on AR app
New co-operative grew out of a WhatsApp group set up in March for galleries to share advice in the wake of UK’s coronavirus lockdown
NewsArt market
To encourage galleries, Art Basel in Hong Kong relaxes application criteria for 2021 fair
Galleries no longer required to have a physical space, down payments cut from 100% to 25% of stand fees and automatic re-admittance for 2020 ABHK exhibitors
NewsArt fairs
October Frieze fairs in London will be smaller, reconfigured and may be combined—if they can go ahead, organisers say
The fair group sent a letter to exhibitors guaranteeing full refunds if its autumn events are also forced to cancel due to virus concerns
NewsArt fairs
Nanne Dekking steps down as Tefaf chairman, replaced by Hidde van Seggelen
Art dealer takes the reins of the fair's executive committee, while four women join the board of trustees
InterviewArt market
'You need to predict what will be important in tomorrow’s world': Xavier Hufkens on opening another gallery during a pandemic
The art dealer is opening a third space in Brussels today with an exhibition of new works by Sterling Ruby
PreviewCommercial galleries
Private view: must-see gallery shows opening around the world as lockdowns lift
From Michael Wolf's lush images of Hong Kong to the minimalist works of Alice Tippit in Chicago
NewsArt market
Fugitive art dealer Inigo Philbrick found on Pacific Island, charged with $20m fraud scheme
London and Miami-based Philbrick, on the run since October, was arrested by FBI on Vanuatu on Thursday
NewsArt market
Friends with benefits: art dealers cosy up to auction houses for online sales
As part of a growing trend, Sotheby's is launching The Dealer's Eye, two sales of works consigned by nearly 40 Old Master galleries in London and New York
NewsArt market
Let the distress sales begin: cash-strapped British Airways to sell some of its art collection
Airline has called in Sotheby's to value and sell at least ten pieces from its collection, which includes works by Damien Hirst, Bridget Riley and Peter Doig
NewsArt market
Smells like team spirit: London galleries work together to reopen from 15 June
David Zwirner, White Cube, Pace, Gagosian among galleries opening their doors next week—but don’t forget your face mask
NewsArt market
Art Basel cancels Swiss edition in September due to coronavirus concerns
Flagship fair will relaunch next June in Basel as organisers focus on delivering Miami Beach show in December
NewsLawsuits
Insurers hit by art-world class action lawsuit as coronavirus crisis bites
Claimants including major museums and art galleries accuse companies of failing to pay out on Covid-19 pandemic
NewsArt market
Art Basel's September fair thrown into further doubt
In frank letter, organisers scrap Monday deadline for exhibitors as Swiss authorities delay decision on large-scale events until 24 June
NewsArt market
Art SG cancels inaugural fair—again
After postponing last year, first edition planned for this autumn will now happen in November 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic
NewsArt market
Convicted art fraudster Ezra Chowaiki subject of yet more legal drama
New racketeering suit against the disgraced New York art dealer, brought by a Spanish collector regarding paintings by Picasso and Léger, gets off to a mixed start
NewsAuctions
Just the one: Christie's scraps major June New York sales in favour of a 'global relay' auction in July
Hybrid sale of 20th century art and design will take place over four live-streamed sessions in Hong Kong, Paris, London and New York
NewsCharity
Artists including Anish Kapoor design posters to raise funds for patients in NHS mental health units
The charity Hospital Rooms is releasing six limited edition posters for sale for £50
InterviewArt market
'It's a time to do things, not think': Danny Katz on the art of dealing and not overthinking in a pandemic
Ahead of his sale at Sotheby's this month, the London art dealer talks about the obsessive pursuit of knowledge and why he is not interested in contemporary art
Newscoronavirus
UK galleries and auction houses can reopen from 1 June, government says
Art trade associations have been lobbying to be recognised as “non-essential retail” in phase two of the lockdown exit roadmap; museums will have to wait until phase three in July