Author: Sam Art
The Eiffel Tower, arguably the most recognizable landmark in Paris, has been closed to visitors since Wednesday due to a workers’ strike. The closure came on the centenary of the death of Gustave Eiffel, the French engineer whose company designed and built the tower for the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889. The landmark is expected to play a major role in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Eiffel Tower staff have declared a strike ahead of contract negotiations with the Paris municipal government, which owns the landmark, according to the media. France 24. Related Articles The tower can receive up to 20,000…
A long-running inheritance dispute over Franz West’s estate, reportedly worth more than $50 million, has finally been settled after Austria’s highest court ruled last month that all of the Austrian sculptor’s art should be donated to the Franz West Private Foundation , which is represented by Gagosian, Eva Presenhuber and Bärbel Grässlin. The decision overturns an earlier court ruling that awarded ownership of West’s works to his widow and children.West’s last wish was to separate his art from his other assets, making his widow and children heirs to his estate while transferring his art—and all rights to it—to the foundation,…
If one were looking for a common thread that ties the 2023 art market into a neat package, a market softening or some variation on that theme, it would be a good bet. As early as May, forecasters were shouting about the inevitable market slowdown, citing bullish expectations from shippers and the rising cost of money. But not everything has changed. Although an auction of Gerald Fineberg’s collection at Christie’s last May seemed to mark the end of a brief boom, the sale also showed that top artists with established markets, such as Christopher Wool and Jeff Koons, could not…
As of my knowledge cutoff in January 2022, there isn’t a single “most expensive” painting by Andy Warhol that stands out definitively, as auction results and records can change over time. However, I can provide a general overview of Andy Warhol’s impact on the art market, his notable works, and the trends in his auction prices. Andy Warhol, a leading figure in the Pop Art movement, is renowned for his unique approach to art, elevating everyday objects and celebrity culture into iconic works of art. His use of mass-production techniques and bold, vibrant colors has left an indelible mark on…
You’ve seen the headlines. “Kate Fowle, former director of MoMA PS1, joins Hauser & Wirth” . “Pace Gallery Hires Hirshhorn Museum Curator Mark Beasley to Lead Its New ‘Live’ Art Program. In recent years, there has been a steady exodus of high-profile American museum curators into the commercial sector. But look a little further and you’ll find that the trend doesn’t stop in the curatorial department. Mid-level registrars, senior event producers, visitor services associates, video editors, retail assistants, and even museum educators too they’re making the switch.And their transitions may have an even greater impact and reveal more about the…
A climate activist who smeared red and black paint on Edgar Degas’ iconic ballerina sculpture has pleaded guilty to a charge of “causing injury” at the National Gallery of Art (NGA) exhibition in Washington, DC. Joanna Smith entered her plea on Dec. 15 in U.S. District Court, according to a Department of Justice press release. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and could be fined up to $250,000.The incident in question took place on April 27, when Smith and a fellow climate change activist named Timothy Martin entered the NGA with water bottles filled with paint,…
Andy Warhol, the iconic figure in the world of contemporary art, had an unparalleled ability to transform everyday objects into profound works of art. While it’s challenging to pinpoint a single favorite painting, as Warhol’s body of work is vast and diverse, one of his most celebrated pieces that encapsulates his artistic philosophy is undoubtedly “Campbell’s Soup Cans.” Created in 1962, “Campbell’s Soup Cans” is a series of 32 paintings, each depicting a different flavor of Campbell’s Soup. This body of work marked a pivotal moment in the Pop Art movement and established Warhol as a leading figure in the…
Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on On Balance, to ARTnews newsletter on the art market and beyond. Sign up here to receive it every Wednesday. The year started on a cool day, with 100 percent visibility. At least that’s how it seemed at the time. Christie’s was still soaring from the November 2022 night sales, when Paul Allen’s collection fetched $1.5 billion. If that sales season was any indication, the market was all high and frothy. ART SG, the Singapore-based art fair, finally launched its inaugural edition in January (with a little help from Art Basel’s parent company, MCH…
While the global art market seems to be suffering from a general malaise between complex geopolitical conflicts, inflation and high interest rates, Asia seems to be on a markedly different path. Last year saw a 14 percent year-on-year decline in sales in mainland China and Hong Kong, according to the latest report. Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report. While sales in the region were still 13 percent above 2020’s $11.2 billion, it was the second-lowest total since 2009 and the report found that auction sales fell in Japan, South Korea and other markets small internationally in 2022. With…
A $20 million Philip Guston painting topped the reported sales list at Art Basel’s VIP day in Miami Beach, which opened yesterday. the painting, Painter at night (1979) was sold by Hauser & Wirth, who also announced the sale of a $2.4 million George Condo painting and a $1 million Henry Taylor painting. “For us, this opening of Art Basel Miami Beach was a resounding affirmation of the strength and resilience of the American art market,” said Marc Payot, president of Hauser & Wirth. Other seven-figure sales announced by galleries at the fair included: Other notable opening day sales of…