Installation view. Kunstmuseum Basel, Kupferstichkabinett, Ankauf. Photo: Jonas Schaffter.
BASEL.- The Kunstmuseum Basel’s Kupferstichkabinett (Department of Prints and Drawings) holds around 300,000 works from seven centuries. Through donations and acquisitions, this collection continues to grow. An exhibition now showcases around 200 contemporary drawings, the majority of which were added to the collections in the past ten years, including works by Michael Armitage, Martin Assig, Silvia Bächli, Miriam Cahn, Róza El-Hassan, Pélagie Gbaguidi, Leiko Ikemura, Renée Levi, and Maja Rieder. The drawings reveal manifold facets. They are abstract or figurative, carefully considered or spontaneous. They probe questions of individual and collective identity amid differences of culture and religion. Or they boast broad strokes and rich colors, ignoring the line that divides the medium from painting. The exhibition Drawing Today offers insight into the Kupferstichkabinett’s collection- building strategy, which is exemplarily illustr ... More
18K gold Rolex Daytona Ref 116528 wristwatch, white MOP dial with diamonds. Circa 2011-2013. Accompanied by box and papers. Estimate: $18,000-$28,000
DENVER, PA.- Morphy’s most-loved sale from its always-busy calendar of events, the annual pre-Christmas Fine & Decorative Arts Auction, consistently delivers luxury, rarity and peerless quality to discerning collectors and holiday gift-givers. This year’s edition, which will be held on December 17-19, is brimming with superior jewels and watches, art pottery, silver, coins and dazzling Tiffany Studios lamps. “In our Fine & Decorative sales, we always make an extra effort to include lamps that are genuinely exceptional,” said Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions. “In the December sale, there are more than 40 Tiffany productions, as well as designs by Handel, Duffner & Kimberley, Pairpoint, Wilkinson and many other sought-after brands.” No one has ever understood how to fuse color and light quite like ... More
Superb Egyptian hand-built blue faience shabti of Nesytanebetisheru, Third Intermediate Period, 21st Dynasty, circa 1075-945 BC. Size: 150mm x 60mm (5.9in x 2.4in). Weight: 210g. Opening bid: £2,000/$2,550.
LONDON.- On Sunday morning, December 15, 2024, Apollo Art Auctions will roll out the red carpet for a very special Fine Ancient Art & Jewellery Auction exclusively featuring The Prince Collection, one of the largest royal-provenance collections ever presented by the Central London firm. The 280-lot selection includes breathtaking antiquities of Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Asian origin, with a timeline that spans the 40th century BC to 16th century AD. The live gallery auction, with absentee and Internet live bidding available through Apollo Live or LiveAuctioneers, will begin at 10:30am GMT (5:30am US Eastern Time). Prior to acquisition for The Prince Collection, many of the premier holdings were the property of esteemed collectors and institutions, ... More
The underwater contemporary photography exhibit kicks off with a free opening reception on Dec. 12; Full exhibit runs from Dec. 13, 2024, to June 1, 2025.
NASHVILLE, TN.- Metro Parks’ Parthenon and Centennial Park Conservancy announced today Christy Lee Rogers - The Muses, a visually stunning underwater contemporary photography exhibition, will be on display in the East Gallery of the Parthenon from December 13, 2024, to June 1, 2025. A free opening reception will take place on December 12 at the Parthenon from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Christy Lee Rogers’ photographs have graced the walls of galleries and museums across the globe but this is the first museum exhibit in the South for the artist, who is based in the Nashville area. Her work has earned praise for its emotional depth and otherworldly beauty. While the ancient Parthenon was a temple dedicated to Athena, the word museum originates from the Greek term for a temple for the Muses. Noticing Rogers’ mythologically influenced collections, the Nashville Parthenon ... More
Gash Hassan, excavation assistant, local assistant, Fincha Habera, Bale Mountains, SE Ethiopia. Photo: Götz Ossendorf.
BERLIN.- Africa boasts the longest history of humanity and its ancestors on Earth. It is the birthplace of human history, from where cultural techniques and survival strategies spread to the rest of the world. The continent's diversity and adaptability to environmental changes have shaped its people, fostering innovative survival strategies. Archaeological finds, artistic expressions, and historical writings offer profound insights into the craftsmanship, technology, and environment of past eras, illustrating the extensive exchange of ideas and goods across vast distances. The groundbreaking exhibition project, “Planet Africa: An Archaeological Journey Through Time,” is now open to the public. Launched at Berlin’s James-Simon-Galerie in late 2024, the exhibition has captivated audiences with its profound exploration of Africa’s archaeological history. After its debut in Berlin, the exhibition will continue its tour across multiple German cities, including Munich and Chemnitz ... More
LONDON.- Gagosian announces Japanese Art History à la Takashi Murakami, an exhibition of new paintings by Murakami at its Grosvenor Hill gallery in London. In this presentation, the artist pursues his fascination with the narrative of Japanese art by offering his own interpretations of historical paintings. By “Murakamizing” these iconic images, he ponders the erosion of the nation’s ancient splendor; he also considers the ways in which it has been impacted by new aesthetics and values associated with its opening to the West after the end of the Edo period (1603–1868). Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu: Iwasa Matabei RIP (2023–24) is modeled on Iwasa Matabei’s Rakuchū-Rakugai-zu Byōbu (Scenes in and around Kyoto) (Funaki Version) from the collection of the Tokyo National Museum. The original seventeenth-century work depicts the city in extraordinary detail across ... More
Kondo Takahiro, Large Conical Bowl, 2020 Glazed porcelain with metallic overglaze, 14 1/4 × 22 1/4 in. (36.2 × 56.5 cm) Gift of Alan Beller, in honor of the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th Anniversary 2024.38
BROOKLYN, NY.- The Brooklyn Museum has acquired over 330 artworks this year, enriching its encyclopedic collection representing 6,000 years of creative excellence. These acquisitions strengthen institutional holdings across collection areas, including American Art, Arts of Africa, Asian Art, Contemporary Art, Feminist Art, Decorative Arts and Design, and Photography. More than one hundred of the acquisitions are gifts of art given by the Museum’s valued donors in honor of its 200th anniversary. They will be displayed in the upcoming exhibition Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200, open February 28, 2025–February 22, 2026. In particular, the exhibition will showcase extraordinary gifts of contemporary art, including paintings, photographs, video, sculpture, and ceramics. Exemplary gifts of work by well-established artists such as Julie Mehretu, Robert Frank, Alex Katz, and Coco Fusco ... More
LONDON.- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has named Six Columns by 31/44 Architects as the winner of RIBA House of the Year 2024, the annual award for the UK’s best new home. Designed by Will Burges, Director of 31/44 Architects, as a family home for himself, his wife and two children, Six Columns cleverly occupies a tight urban plot in the leafy suburbs of Crystal Palace, South London. As the family occupy the building, they will continue to tinker with it, inside and out, allowing it to evolve to their changing needs over time. Named after the six columns that form the main structure of the building, the two-storey, four-bedroom house echoes the proportions and materials of neighboring terrace houses, while retaining its own individual character that references the designer’s broad architectural influences, such as the Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe or the Case Study houses ... More
Alexander Calder, Polychrome six, 420 000 €. Courtesy Sotheby's.
PARIS.- On December 4 and 5, Sotheby’s Paris concluded the year with two significant auctions of modern and contemporary art, achieving a combined total of over €15.5 million. These sales, held at Sotheby’s new location at 83 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, showcased an expertly curated selection of works that drew international collectors. Approximately 45% of the lots surpassed their high estimates, marking a strong finish for 2024, with the annual total for this specialty exceeding €112 million. The highlight of the week was the auction of the Françoise Mayer and Marc Sohier collection, which fetched €5,932,920. This collection represents the vision of Françoise Mayer, a trailblazing gallery owner who championed kinetic art and geometric abstraction in Europe. Her legendary gallery in Brussels was home to groundbreaking exhibitions ... More
Apollo 11 Flown American Flag on a Crew-Signed Presentation Certificate.
DALLAS, TX.- Bidding interest soared for a signed, framed display of Four Flown Space Suit Patches from Apollo 10 that once belonged to an astronaut acknowledged as one of the most prolific in the history of the U.S. Space program. By the time the final bid landed, the display of patches from astronaut John Young more than quadrupled its pre-auction estimate when it sold for $137,500. The out-of-this-world result for this magnificent lot led Heritage’s December 6-7 Space Exploration Signature® Auction to $2,737,584, thanks to eager participation by more than 1,500 bidders. “John Young’s name is sprinkled throughout the annals of the U.S. Space program,” says Brad Palmer, Director of Space Exploration at Heritage Auctions. “The fact that this lot performed so well shows that Heritage Auctions’ clients not only want items that belonged to astronauts, but they also ... More
RIGA.- Concluding the pop-up exhibition series The Close up of Design Processes, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Riga, in cooperation with the association Design Export Alliance, presents the fourth exhibition, Winter, which is on view from 5 December 2024 to 2 February 2025. Just as the seasons sequentially are changing, consequently the third show in the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design’s (MDAD) pop-up exhibition series The Close up of Design Processes, titled Autumn, is conceptually and thematically replaced by the next one – Winter. This exhibition serves as a grand finale to the museum’s 35th anniversary project, bringing together 14 Latvian brands. “This exhibition gather all members of the Design Export Alliance at one table, providing a rich insight into the contemporary Latvian design scene. The winter show is characterized by colour contrasts – the whiteness of snow and the blackness of charcoal. The exhibition reflects the tranquil nat ... More
Hermès Exceptional Collection 25cm Matte White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Birkin Bag with 18k White Gold & Diamond Hardware.
DALLAS, TX.- It was an excellent day at Heritage Auctions on Thursday, when an Hermès Exceptional Collection 25cm Matte White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Birkin realized $250,000, leading Heritage’s Dec. 5 Luxury Accessories Signature® Auction to a $2,582,425 finish. In the Exceptional Collection by Hermès, luxury handbags meet fine jewelry, and this bejeweled beauty features 18k white gold hardware delicately set with 4.05 carats of brilliant diamonds. Crafted from Niloticus Crocodile, a rare and exquisite material, the hand-dyed ombré bag draws inspiration from the snow-dusted peaks of the Himalayas, with a coloring process so detailed that it ensures each Himalaya Birkin is truly one of a kind. “The Hermès Diamond Himalaya Birkin is nothing short of exquisite,” says Diane D’Amato, Heritage’s Director of Luxury Accessories, Private Sales & The Boutique. “It’s a work of art and the pinnacle ... More
Fred Wilson (American, born 1954). Grey Area (Brown Version), 1993. Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of William K. Jacobs, Jr. and bequest of Richard J. Kempe, by exchange (2008.6a–j)
NEW YORK, NY.- The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today its upcoming exhibition schedule, through May 2025. The dynamic lineup includes over a dozen new exhibitions and introduces audiences to impressive loans and new ways to engage with the Museum’s collection displays. “The remarkable array of exhibitions in our upcoming season reflects The Met’s unparalleled commitment to presenting art from across time and around the globe in compelling and innovative displays,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited to welcome audiences to these truly extraordinary shows and collection displays this spring.” Highlights of the ambitious season include Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature (opening February 8), presented in honor of the 250th anniversary of Friedrich’s birth in 2024 and the first ... More
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Oxford Cultural Leaders celebrates 10th anniversary with new Academic Director OXFORD.- As it marks its 10th anniversary, Oxford Cultural Leaders announced the appointment of Dr Xa Sturgis CBE as its new Academic Director. Currently Director of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Dr Xa Sturgis brings to the role a wealth of experience and expertise within the cultural sector. Dr Sturgis steps up to the role after Professor Paul Smith, co-founder and Academic Director of Oxford Cultural Leaders, announced his retirement. As a founding member of the OCL programme, Professor Paul Smith had been instrumental in its success, passionate about building leadership capacity within the cultural sector and bringing together expertise from arts and business. Dr Sturgis is a long-standing member of the OCL faculty with a deep understanding of the programme’s vision and will continue to build on the solid foundation laid by Professor ... More
Mudec-Museo delle Culture di Milano opens an immersive, site-specific installation by Adrian Paci MILAN.- Il vostro cielo fu mare, il vostro mare fu cielo is an immersive, site-specific installation by Albanian artist Adrian Paci that reimagines the heart of the museum, the Agora. The installation transforms this monumental space with a mosaic of blue-green hues that refer to the colours of the sea. Each fragment of this seemingly abstract composition is actually a detail taken from photographs published in newspaper articles about migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. Adrian Paci searches through Italian and international newspapers from the early 1990s to the present day to create a necessarily partial archive of the tragedies that occur to those who seek a new life through exile and often find death instead. The artist does not show us the disaster, nor the drowned and the saved, but chooses the detail that unites all the stories told, ... More
Hosfelt Gallery brings together a group of exquisite drawings by Bruce Conner SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- San Francisco’s Bruce Conner is one of the most important artists of the late 20th Century—pioneering art-making in sculpture, drawing, photography, collage and video. In Wayfinding, Hosfelt Gallery brings together a group of exquisite drawings made with “magic” marker between 1963 and 1975 that follow just one of Conner’s many aesthetic and conceptual paths. Drawing was always a central part of Conner’s more than 50-year practice, but the 1963 introduction of the Pentel felt-tip watercolor marker was a game changer. Instead of constantly refilling the nib with ink, the “magic” marker enabled him to draw a continuous line without lifting pen from paper. At first this led to frenetic, hatch-like marks, which both define and veil representational images. By 1965, Conner developed an automatic drawing technique that could be used ... More
Case of sealed 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards scores $2.52 million to lead Heritage's Winter Sports Catalog Event DALLAS, TX.- After spending some extra time on ice, a case of 16 sealed and unopened boxes of the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards returned to the auction block to lead Heritage’s $23.77 million December 5-7 Winter Sports Catalog Auction. And, as expected, it once again scored a record win, realizing $2.52 million to become the most valuable wax case ever sold at auction — because its checklist includes a teenaged Edmonton Oilers rookie named Wayne Gretzky. The case’s consignor, who hails from the Western Canadian province of Saskatchewan, was a rabid collector in the 1960s and ’70s who snatched up endless amounts of Canadian-made cards to trade with fellow travelers in the United ... More
Neuer Berliner Kunstverein opens the first European survey exhibition of Kiri Dalena BERLIN.- Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.) presents the first European survey exhibition of artist, filmmaker, and activist Kiri Dalena. Known for her documentary approach, Dalena establishes a close connection to her subjects; for over 20 years, she has been a committed advocate for human rights in her native Philippines. Her work confronts issues of state persecution, political injustice, and social inequality in her home country, underscoring the importance of civil and artistic protest. Examining the lived experiences of marginalized communities under past and present regimes, Dalena captures both suffering and resilience in her installa- tions, photographs, and video works. The exhibition at n.b.k. brings together both early and recent works by Dalena, all marked by a rigorous and original visual language that merges politics ... More
Making art together in Edo Japan
Flashback
On a day like today, Scottish architect and painter Charles Rennie Mackintosh died
