Influential German artist Georg Baselitz dies at 88
Georg Baselitz, the influential German artist known for his Neo-Expressionist style, has died at the age of 88, as confirmed by Thaddaeus Ropac on April 30. Born Hans-Georg Kern in 1938, Baselitz was renowned for his inversion technique, which depicted subjects upside down to emphasize the painting itself over narrative content. A posthumous exhibition titled Eroi d'Oro, showcasing his final works, is set to open at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice on May 6, coinciding with the Venice Biennale.
National Gallery of Art receives record $116 million donation
The US National Gallery of Art received a $116 million donation from the foundation of collector and NGA trustee Mitchell P. Rales, marking the largest programming gift in the gallery's history. This funding will support the gallery's nationwide lending program.
Joe Lewis to Auction £200 Million Art Collection
Billionaire Joe Lewis is set to auction his £200 million art collection at Sotheby's in London this June, potentially marking the most valuable single-owner sale in the city's history. The collection features works by notable artists including Gustav Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, and Francis Bacon, with highlights such as Klimt's 1902 portrait of Gertha Felsőványi expected to fetch between £20 million and £30 million. This sale follows a successful auction of four School of London artworks from the Lewis collection in March, which garnered $47.7 million.
Martha Ortiz resigns amid harassment allegations at museum
Martha Ortiz has resigned as the director of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá following allegations of harassment against staff, just two months after the dismissal of artistic director Eugenio Viola. Ortiz's departure highlights ongoing concerns regarding workplace conduct within the institution.
Stephen Friedman Gallery Files for Bankruptcy with £7.8 Million Debt
Stephen Friedman Gallery has disclosed a total debt of £7.8 million in its bankruptcy filings, with £800,000 owed to artists Alexandre Diop, Deborah Roberts, and Kehinde Wiley. The gallery's largest creditor is Coutts & Company, owed £3.1 million, while other significant debts include £1.4 million to Pentland Group and £505,113 to the Pollen Estate. The gallery, which employed 27 staff in the UK and five in the US before its closure in February, reported a loss of £1.9 million for the year ending December 31, 2023.
Banksy unveils new statue in central London
Banksy has confirmed that a new statue located in Waterloo Place, central London, is his work. The sculpture, which depicts a suited man with his face obscured by a flag, was installed in the early hours of April 29 and bears the artist's signature on its plinth. Since its appearance, crowds have been drawn to the site, which is near several historical monuments, including those dedicated to Edward VII and Florence Nightingale.
Lucas Museum Unveils Inaugural Exhibition Lineup
George Lucas, co-founder of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, announced the museum's inaugural exhibition lineup, featuring 18 thematic exhibitions and showcasing over 1,200 objects across more than 30 galleries. Set to open on September 22, the museum will include works by notable artists such as Dorothea Lange and Frank Frazetta, with exhibitions covering various media and genres, including photography, architecture, and comics. The museum, designed by Ma Yansong, spans 300,000 square feet and aims to explore the diverse ways images convey narratives.
