Auctions Christie’s 20th/21st Century Sale in London Pulled in an Underwhelming $81 Million, Signaling a Market Correction The sale achieved a high sell-through rate but many lots went under hammer at prices below their low estimates. By Vivienne Chow, Jun 28, 2023
Crime French Artist Claude Lévêque Has Been Indicted as More Accusers Come Forward Alleging the Artist Sexually Assaulted Them as Minors The charges mark the latest chapter in a multi-year investigation into Lévêque, who has been accused of abuse by as many as 10 victims. By Taylor Dafoe, Jun 28, 2023
Pop Culture Barbie’s Real-Life Hot Pink Malibu Dreamhouse, Complete With Ocean Views and a Roller Rink, Is Available to Rent on Airbnb The mansion has been redecorated by Ken for its return to Airbnb. By Brian Boucher, Jun 28, 2023
NFTs Vera Molnár’s New Generative Art Series, Which Reimagines Typography With Algorithms, Will Kick Off Sotheby’s Blockchain Program Gen Art, Sotheby's new blockchain venture, is focused on a single slice of the NFT universe: generative art. By Richard Whiddington, Jun 28, 2023
Auctions Klimt’s ‘Lady With a Fan’ Sets a New Auction Record in Europe, Making $108.4 Million at Sotheby’s Mini-Marathon of London Sales The artist's final portrait—it was still on the easel in Klimt's studio when he died in 1918—is now the most expensive artwork ever sold in Europe. By Eileen Kinsella & Sarah Cascone, Jun 27, 2023
NFTs Digital Art Platform Feral File Turns Two With a Starry Retrospective Featuring Works by Refik Anadol, Tyler Hobbs, and More The retrospective features 33 works gathered from Feral File's past shows. By Min Chen, Jun 27, 2023
Law & Politics A U.S. Judge Permanently Banned Digital Artist Mason Rothschild From Selling His ‘MetaBirkin’ NFTs, Handing a Win to Hermès Back in February, a jury found Rothschild had violated Hermes's trademark rights. By Richard Whiddington, Jun 27, 2023
People Pope Francis Welcomes Artists—Including Andres Serrano of ‘Piss Christ’ Fame—in a Ceremony Celebrating the Vatican’s Contemporary Art Collection The artist says the pontiff even gave him a 'mischievous smile.' By Brian Boucher, Jun 27, 2023
Art World Art Industry News: Princess Diana’s Cheeky ‘Black Sheep’ Sweater Could Fetch $50,000 at Auction + Other Stories Plus, a jewel scammer gets jail time in Dresden and Yasufumi Nakamori will helm the Asia Society in New York. By Artnet News, Jun 27, 2023
Museums & Institutions A German Museum Came Up With an Insanely Low-Tech Solution to Protect Its Rembrandt Canvas From a Leaky Ceiling The Gemäldegalerie in Berlin draped a plastic sheet over its Rembrandt painting and set a bucket in front of it. By Sarah Cascone, Jun 26, 2023
Museums & Institutions Hermitage Amsterdam Rebrands as H’ART Museum After Severing Ties With the St. Petersburg Flagship Institution The Centre Pompidou, the British Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum are on board as its new partner institutions. By Vivienne Chow, Jun 26, 2023
Crime A Tourist Was Caught on Camera Defacing the Colosseum With His Keys. He Could Face Serious Legal Consequences A stranger filmed the identified man scratching the words “Ivan + Hayley ‘23” on the historic landmark. By Artnet News, Jun 26, 2023
Art World Art Industry News: South Korean Student Thought a Museum Wanted Him to Eat the $120,000 Duct-Taped Banana + Other Stories Plus, the New Museum puts the focus on Mire Lee and Damien Hirst raises funds for Uganda. By Artnet News, Jun 26, 2023
On View The Essentials: How to Understand Mark Bradford’s Evolving Approach to Art Through Four Stunning New Works “Mark Bradford: You Don't Have to Tell Me Twice” is on view through July 28. By Gabé Hirschowitz, Jun 23, 2023
NFTs Christie’s Is Selling Mind-Bending NFTs by Artists Mad Dog Jones, Nadya Tolokonnikova, and More to Benefit Psychedelic Research The sale hopes to raise $600,000 for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. By Richard Whiddington, Jun 23, 2023
