Esther Mahlangu has managed to adapt these traditional geometries onto modern and unconventional surfaces: from canvases to cars, airplanes, and design objects.
ROME.- On October 25, 2024, Black Liquid Art inaugurated its new venue in Rome with an exhibition dedicated to Esther Mahlangu, one of the most iconic representatives of contemporary African art. This event provides an opportunity to engage with the work of one of the most powerful voices in South African art, blending Ndebele tradition with modernity and taking her cultural message beyond the boundaries of time and space. Esther Mahlangu, an internationally renowned painter, has participated in some of the most significant exhibitions on the global art scene, from *Magiciens de la Terre* to *Africa Remix*, and her work is featured in the world’s most important institutions, museums, and private collections. Her pieces are deeply appreciated not only internationally but also in her homeland, South Africa, wher ... More
Max Liebermann, Blumenstauden am Gärtnerhäuschen nach Nordosten (Flowering shrubs by the garden shed facing north-east). Oil on canvas. 54,1 x 75,3 cm, ca. 1926. Live-Auction, Estimate: €450.000 – 650.000. Courtesy Sotheby's.
COLOGNE.- The upcoming auctions at Sotheby's Cologne in November 2024 will combine a wide range of categories, appealing to the collections and passions of collectors in Germany, Europe and beyond. Both the live auction Modern & Contemporary ... More
Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849, Waltz, attributed to Chopin : autograph manuscript, between 1815 and 1849, recto. The Morgan Library & Museum, Bequest of Arthur Satz, 2019, Salz 1.10***. Photography by Carmen González Fraile, 2024.
NEW YORK, NY.- Curator Dr. Robinson McClellan uncovered a previously unknown waltz written in the hand of composer Frédéric Chopin in The Morgan Library & Museum’s collection. The discovery of an unknown work by Chopin has not happened since the late 1930s. The Morgan’s manuscript ... More
‘Unseen But Not Forgotten’.
DUBLIN.- Making the Unseen Unmissable: A mural that shines a light on the issue of family homelessness in Ireland has been unveiled in Dublin’s Temple Bar. It was created by street artist and activist Sarah Bracken Soper to raise awareness of the work and fundraising efforts of homelessness charity Focus Ireland. Known for creating artwork reflecting social, cultural and climate justice issues, Soper’s artwork is designed to be thought-provoking and start a conversation around the urgent ... More
MUNICH.- Since its opening on June 27, 2024, over 100.000 people have already visited the exhibition “Andy Warhol & Keith Haring. Party of Life.” Interest among the public is huge. Art Minister Markus Blume enthused: “Pop, party, crowd puller! The exhibition ‘Andy Warhol & Keith Haring. Party of Life’ is drawing crowds to Museum Brandhorst ... More
DRESDEN.- In 1603, a now iconic painting became a part of the Kunstkammer Dresden. It shows the foot artist Thomas Schweicker (1540-1602) from Schwäbisch Hall – a man born without arms who achieved national fame as a calligrapher. The work was exhibited in the second room of the Kunstkammer, ... More
LONDON.- Narratives about the Middle Ages are dominated by men. Male authors recorded history and wrote great works of literature, male rulers commanded kingdoms and fought wars, male authorities controlled religion. In traditional histories, medieval women’s roles have often been side-lined and limited to a few stereotypes and generalisations. ... More
PARIS.- Christie’s presents Un Salon par Alexis Mabille, an exhibition and private sale in the style of the greatest couturiers being held in Paris from October 24 to November 19. While New Yorkers could admire the works of Francois-Xavier Lalanne in a scenography by Simon Porte Jacquemus, Christie’s France has entrusted the scenography of this exhibition to another fashion icon, Alexis ... More
DUBLIN.- A new exhibition, from the exceptional photography collection donated to IMMA by Dr David Kronn, opened at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. This display presents a selection of 130 works showcasing Dr Kronn’s longstanding commitment to building a diverse collection of photographic works for nearly 30 years. Photography has held ... More
Bronzino, García de Medici. Oil on panel Ca. 1550. ROOM 49 Citron (Citrus medica).
MADRID.- The Museo del Prado’s thematic routes are intended to encourage a new way of looking at the Museum. To achieve this, the Prado requests the collaboration of professionals from outside the institution and the range of disciplines normally represented in it. The aim is to offer visitors a different, unusual but also rigorous ... More
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.- The Santa Barbara Museum of Art announced the opening of two significant exhibitions, Friends and Lovers (through March 2, 2025) and Accretion: Works by Latin American Women (through April 13, 2025). Both exhibitions delve into themes of identity, resilience, and cultural expression through the diverse work of contemporary artists, offering ... More
Dr Michael Brand, photo: Hugh Stewart.
SYDNEY.- The director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Dr Michael Brand, today announced he will be stepping down from his position in July 2025 after leading the most significant transformation in the institution's history and cementing its reputation as one of the world’s foremost art museums. This December, the Art Gallery marks the second anniversary of the completion of the Sydney Modern Project which included the opening of its award-winning new building, Naala Badu, and the revitalisation of the ... More
Jacques Louis David (French, 1748–1825), Portrait of Dominique-Vincent Ramel de Nogaret, 1820, oil on canvas. Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, Gift of Aso O. Tavitian Foundation.
WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS.- The Clark Art Institute has received one of the largest gifts in its history from the foundation of the late philanthropist Aso O. Tavitian. The gift includes 331 works of art from Mr. Tavitian’s personal collection and more than $45 million to endow a curatorial position to oversee the collection, provide necessary support for the collection’s long-term care, and fund ... More
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Historic DC Comics collection shatters records at Heritage Auctions, surpassing $5.26 million in unprecedented event DALLAS, TX.- “WOW!!!!” That’s how DC Studios co-chief and Superman writer-director James Gunn reacted over the weekend to a Vermont Public radio story about Christine Farrell and her lifelong quest to collect every book DC Comics ever published. But it might just as well have been a response to Heritage’s initial auction of Farrell’s legendary and once-mysterious assemblage, which surpassed all expectations by realizing $5,261,617 when it ended Saturday afternoon. There wasn’t a single comic left on the spinner rack. Nearly 1,800 bidders worldwide collected every one of the 489 comics and original works of art offered in the October 25-26 The Christine Farrell Complete DC Collection: Comics & Comic Art ... More
Sculptural Ubaldo Vitali tea and coffee service brings form and function to Heritage's fall silver auction DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 13 Fine Silver & Objects of Vertu Signature® Auction begins and ends with 20th-century design from iconic to rare, bookending a fascinating selection of 19th-century works by the likes of Paul Storr; Rundell, Bridge & Rundell; and a celebrated cast of American manufacturers. Among the auction’s 294 lots is a five-piece silver tea and coffee service created in 1985 by the renowned silversmith Ubaldo Vitali. “A stunning blend of functionality and artistic expression, the service boasts sleek, fluid curves that create an interplay of kinetic reflections, inviting the viewer to circle the set and observe how it changes with each step,” says Karen Rigdon, Heritage’s Vice President of Fine Silver & Decorative Arts. The sculptural tea and coffee service is a copy of a set Vitali produced as a commission for the Newark ... More
Robert Peak's original artwork for Apocalypse Now poster leads Heritage's Illustration Art Auction DALLAS, TX.- “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” Depending on your age and movie intake, if you take a close look at this image — it’s the original artwork for the official art of a very famous movie — a particular quote may come to mind. Few movies can boast a universally recognized “catchphrase,” but 45 years after its release, the epic American synthesis of the Vietnam War, Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, is in itself synthesized by its most famous line of dialogue, as well as this artwork. This masterpiece of illustration is a highlight of Heritage’s November 15 Illustration Art Signature® Auction. The acclaimed American illustrator Robert Peak is its creator, and this work, the original final painting used as the movie’s primary U.S. promotional material and poster, is widely considered one of his most indelible creations. ... More
The Rockwell Museum welcomes Erin M. Coe as new executive director CORNING, NY.- The Board of Trustees of The Rockwell Museum announced the appointment of Erin M. Coe as the new executive director, effective January 6, 2025. With decades of experience as a museum leader, curator, educator and arts advocate, Coe brings a wealth of expertise and vision to The Rockwell as it advances its position as a destination and community resource for American art and culture. Coe’s distinguished career most recently includes her tenure at the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State, where as director she provided transformative leadership, re-envisioning the museum’s mission and goals, enhancing its national reputation, as well as the strategic direction of the institution, which celebrated its 50th anniversary as the university art museum at Penn State in 2022. She was at the forefront of a major capital project resulting ... More
Bologna Academy of Fine Arts honors renowned artist Luigi Ontani BOLOGNA.- The prestigious Bologna Academy of Fine Arts has bestowed its first-ever honorary degree in Visual Arts Painting upon the acclaimed artist Luigi Ontani. The ceremony, held in the Aula Magna, was a significant event, marking a historic moment for the institution. The event began with welcoming remarks from President Rita Finzi and Director Cristina Francucci. Professor Maria Rita Bentini, a renowned art historian, delivered a laudation honoring Ontani's extraordinary contributions to the art world. Following the laudation, Ontani himself delivered a captivating lectio magistralis, sharing his insights and artistic philosophy. The ceremony culminated in the official conferral of the honorary degree, followed by a poetic reading by Lorenzo Sassoli de Bianchi. The event coincided with the grand inauguration of the newly restored ... More
'The Best, The Rest, and The Unexpected Guests' opens at Bechtler Stiftung USTER.- The Best, The Rest, and The Unexpected Guests, curated by the artist Lorenza Longhi, combines selected works from the collections of the Bechtler family with works by contemporary Swiss artists. The focus is on Longhis subjective view of the collections, whereby her artistic perspective reveals surprising references within the diverse selection of works. Looking back on the collecting activities of the Bechtler family, the exhibition includes key works from the 1960s to the present day and invites a fresh dialog by contrasting them with current positions. The retrospective on the collection activity of the Bechtler family encompasses key works from the 1960s to the present and creates a lively dialogue through the contrast with con-temporary positions, going beyond a mere coexistence. Longhi invites visitors to enter the exhibition ... More
Exhibition explores forces of relocation and assimilation through works of seventeen African Diasporic artists CHESTNUT HILL, MA.- The McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College is presenting States of Becoming, an exhibition curated by Fitsum Shebeshe and produced by Independent Curators International. It examines the dynamic forces of relocation, resettling, and assimilation that shape the artistic practices of a group of seventeen contemporary African artists, and informs the discourse on identity construction within the African diaspora. The artists, who either relocated to the United States or are first-generation born, have lived and worked here within the last three decades. The traveling exhibition is on view from September 9 to December 8, 2024. The McMullen is the first New England venue to host States of Becoming, ... More
Artist Runo Lagomarsino: Narrating Exile In a Visual Language
Flashback
On a day like today, French sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle was born
October 29, 1930. Niki de Saint Phalle, born Catherine-Marie-Agnès Fal de Saint Phalle (29 October 1930 - 21 May 2002) was a French sculptor, painter, and film maker. In this image: French-born artist Niki de Saint Phalle presents her sculpture "L'Ange Protecteur," 'Guardian Angel' in the main hall of the central train station in Zurich, Switzerland on Nov. 14, 1997.
