First Zeng Fanzhi Solo Show on the West Coast Opens at Fabien Fryns Fine Art

LOS ANGELES, CA.- Fabien Fryns Fine Art in Los Angeles presents an exhibition of works by Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi. The exhibition – consisting of 2 “Warhol” and 3 “Mao” portraits – is the artist’s, one of Chinese contemporary art’s brightest stars, first solo show on the West Coast. The exhibition opens on October 2, 2010, from 5 to 7p.m. and ends on December 4, 2010. This exhibition coincides with the launch of the new monograph “Zeng Fanzhi” published by [...]

Kunstmuseum Basel Exhibition Focuses on the Formative Period of Warhol as a Painter

BASEL.- After a successful career in advertising illustration, Andy Warhol (b. 1928) decided in the early 1960s to work as an independent artist. The world of consumption, of the media and mass industry remained his central interest. The exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Basel focuses on the years between 1961 and 1964, the formative period of Warhol as a painter and graphic artist. During these years, he undertook a fundamental renovation of pictorial expression. As early as the mid-1960s, he opened [...]

Munch, Warhol, Picasso’s Take on Women at Bonhams Print Sale

LONDON.- They modelled for three of the greatest artists who ever lived. One was murdered by her lover; another shot herself; the third lives on, a potent reminder of Hollywood’s glamour years. And their images lead Bonham’s Print sale in London on 13 July. The star lot is an impression of Edvard Munch’s Madonna, thought to be the first hand coloured version of this iconic image. The model was his mistress, Dagny Juel, a femme fatale who, after numerous ill-fated [...]

Fifty Important Works by Andy Warhol are on View at the Hay Hill Gallery

LONDON.- Fifty important works by Andy Warhol are on view at the Hay Hill Gallery this summer. The exhibition offers a rare and fascinating insight into Warhol’s creative mind and working processes, with an unprecedented number of works juxtaposed with their preparatory drawings. Highlights include a unique collection of Andy Warhol’s Indians (Native Americans) (1986), exhibited alongside the working drawings. These seventeen works of art form an important part of Warhol’s oeuvre. They provide a rounded study of Warhol’s graphic [...]

Christie’s Sale of Asian Contemporary and Chinese 20th Century Art Totals $39 Million

HONG KONG.- Christie’s Hong Kong completed its Evening Sale of Asian Contemporary Art and Chinese 20th Century Art on May 29th, 2010 with a remarkable 100% sell-through rate. With a sale total of HK$303 million/US$39 million that is three times over the estimate, this is the first white glove auction for any Evening Sale in Asia. The top lot was ‘String Quartet’ by Chinese 20th Century artist Chen Yifei, a work which broke a new auction record at HK$61.1 million/US$7.85 [...]

Works by Andy Warhol on View at the Seattle Art Museum

SEATTLE, WA.- Works by Andy Warhol, arguably one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century, are on view at the Seattle Art Museum. World renowned for his iconic large scale paintings and prints, such as his Campbell’s Soup Cans of 1962, and “mass produced” portraits of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, Warhol also produced a large body of photographs and films that explore powerful themes and seem to offer personal glimpses [...]

Did Duchamp was a quack? What about contemporary artists?

How an artist can consider his masterpiece an object that he even produced? For me, Duchamp was a quack, but I forgot one thing: the historical context!

Arkansas Arts Center Announces Executive Director’s Resignation

LITTLE ROCK, ARK.- After more than seven years with the Arkansas Arts Center, Dr. Ellen “Nan” Plummer announced her resignation today, effective immediately, as Executive Director of the museum in order to pursue new opportunities. “It’s been a privilege to serve as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Arts Center,” said Plummer. “My tenure in Arkansas has been some of the best years of my career. However, I’m looking forward to enjoying some down time as I pursue some new [...]

Olyvia Fine Art Presents an Unmissable Exhibition of Unique Andy Warhol Portraits

LONDON.- Olyvia Fine Art presents ‘Andy Warhol: Portraits’; an unmissable exhibition of paintings, unique prints and films. Opening today, the show displays some of Warhol’s most celebrated works alongside previously hidden gems, showcasing Warhol’s distinctive style in a vivid and comprehensive collection. Alongside these exclusive portraits are a rare series of ‘Screen Tests’. These enchanting silent films created by Warhol provide a voyeuristic record of the characters that once roamed his factory studio. A key initiator of the American pop [...]

Ben Lewis Investigates the Rise and Fall of the Contemporary Art Market

LONDON.- The contemporary art boom is now over, but between 2003 and Autumn 2008 the world witnessed a craze for collecting contemporary art unprecedented in history. During the last frenzied year of this boom, art critic and film-maker Ben Lewis followed the contemporary art market, travelling to art fairs, auctions, museums, and the offices and homes of billionaire art collectors,, interviewing dealers, auctioneers, gallery-owners, art market analysts and art collectors, trying to find out the reasons behind this historic phenomenon. [...]

Flo Peters Gallery Opens the Year with Exhibition by Three American Photographers

HAMBURG.- The Flo Peters Gallery starts into the new year with a group exhibition of the highest quality. Under the name Three! the Gallery presents the all American photographers Christopher Makos, Paul Solberg and Vera Mercer. On show will be Polaroids and Photographs by Man Ray-student and Andy Warhol-companion Christopher Makos, as well as colour photographs from Paul Solberg´s cycle Bloom, Eight and Flower on the ground floor. The Galleries first floor will be dedicated to Vera Mercer´s photographic still [...]

“Still Lifes and Feet”, 1956-1961, by Andy Warhol at Paul Kasmin Gallery

NEW YORK, NY.- Paul Kasmin Gallery presents “Andy Warhol: Still Lifes and Feet, 1956-1961.” This selection of over 50 black-and-white ballpoint pen drawings from the artist’s personal sketchbooks will be on view for the first time as a group at 293 Tenth Avenue from January 7 to February 6, 2010. From his student days until the weeks before his death in 1987, Warhol drew prolifically and in his studies of the human form, he returned time and time again to [...]

The art market: ‘When you have the right property … you get fireworks’

The autumn sales of Impressionist and modern art held in New York this week demonstrated that big money is still available on the right works of art but that the market will mercilessly reject the run-of-the-mill. The two evening sales were an exercise in contrasts. Christie’s offered a lacklustre selection of works of art on Tuesday and failed to find buyers for almost a quarter of the 41 lots, and its total fell short of expectations, raising just $65.7m, well [...]