Thursday, 21 May 2026
Phillips achieved $115.2 million in sales during its May 19 Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Sale, marking a 122% increase from the same sale last year. The auction featured 41 lots, all of which sold, with notable pieces including a pastel by Lee Bontecou that fetched $4.2 million, tripling its estimate. Sotheby's also reported strong results with a $303.4 million evening sale, surpassing previous totals despite the absence of standout lots.
David Sainsbury, a British politician and businessman, has donated £91.2 million to the Sainsbury Centre through his charitable foundation, Gatsby, marking one of the largest donations ever made to a UK museum. The funds will be used for extensive renovations to the grade II* listed building, designed by Norman Foster, including improvements to its energy efficiency and visitor amenities, with the aim of halving energy consumption and enhancing sustainability. The renovation project will also incorporate photovoltaic panels and updates to various facilities, although specific timelines for the work have yet to be announced.
The 61st Venice Biennale, curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, prominently featured environmental themes, emphasizing a connection to nature through the exhibition _In Minor Keys_. Kouoh's vision included installations such as Otobong Nkanga's rewilding of the Central Pavilion and a mini farm by artist-activist Linda Goode Bryant, showcasing local flora and promoting ecological awareness. The event highlighted the importance of 'all earthly elements' and aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the relationship between art, nature, and society.
Christie's auction house achieved $162.7 million in sales during its recent evening auction of postwar and contemporary art, led by Gerhard Richter's 'Candle' painting, which sold for $35.1 million. The auction included 42 lots, with a hammer total of $133.6 million, slightly exceeding expectations, and marked the highest total for this category in New York since 2021. Richter's works from the estate of dealer Marian Goodman accounted for $78.8 million, nearly half of the evening's total.
Italy's Galleria Borghese is facing opposition from heritage preservation organizations, including Italia Nostra Roma and Amici di Villa Borghese, over plans for a privately funded feasibility study aimed at expanding the museum. The approximately €900,000 initiative, sponsored by engineering firm Proger, seeks to address operational constraints as visitor numbers reached a record 630,760 in 2025. Museum director Francesca Cappelletti stated that discussions are in the early stages, with no specific project or architectural proposal currently existing.
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