THIS WEEK IN THE ART MARKET – FRIDAY 21ST JUNE 2024
Art Market News
HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD & ART BASEL ANNOUNCE THREE-YEAR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Art Basel have unveiled a landmark three-year global partnership, making HKTB the first tourism organisation worldwide to collaborate with Art Basel. This alliance, revealed at a press conference during Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland, designates HKTB as a Show Partner across all Art Basel shows starting from October 2024, beginning with Art Basel Paris. The partnership aims to spotlight Hong Kong as a vibrant hub for international cultural exchange and a gateway to the Chinese art market.
HKTB plans to enhance each Art Basel event with unique thematic experiences celebrating Hong Kong's rich art and cultural heritage. The collaboration kicks off at Art Basel Paris in October 2024, featuring immersive showcases that showcase the city's unique character. Dane Cheng, HKTB's Executive Director, emphasised the partnership's role in promoting Hong Kong's creative community and cultural legacy to global audiences. Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel, expressed enthusiasm for deepening connections between Hong Kong and the global art community through this ambitious initiative. This partnership underscores Hong Kong's status as a burgeoning cultural capital poised to attract more visitors and elevate its international profile in the art world.
https://travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/events/overseas/hong-kong-tourism-board-art-basel-announce-three-year-global-partnership/111073811
PICASSO MUSEUM LAUNCHES EXTENSIVE ONLINE ARCHIVE
The Picasso Museum in Paris has launched a comprehensive online portal featuring thousands of rare works by Pablo Picasso, making an extensive array of the artist’s creations and memorabilia accessible to the public for the first time. This digital archive includes 19,000 previously unseen photographs and is set to expand with 200,000 texts from Picasso’s workshops in the coming years. The initiative precedes the opening of a dedicated study centre near the museum later this year, aimed at supporting researchers and artists in residence. This new portal offers an extensive collection of Picasso’s artworks, essays, podcasts, and interviews, highlighting the enduring influence of the Spanish painter and sculptor, who co-founded the Cubist movement with Georges Braque. Picasso, who lived most of his life in France, passed away in 1973. The digital archive follows a series of exhibitions commemorating the 50th anniversary of his death, celebrating his lasting legacy in the art world.
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/pablo-picasso-rare-archives-online-portal-1234710084/
JUNE ART FAIR OFFERS INTIMATE ALTERNATIVE TO ART BASEL IN UNIQUE BUNKER VENUE
Located 200 meters from Art Basel, the June Art Fair offers an independent, intimate alternative within a converted concrete bunker. Founded in 2019 by dealers Esperanza Rosales and Christian Andersen, the fair aims to recreate the excitement of Liste, another Art Basel satellite fair. The venue, redesigned by Herzog & de Meuron, features 12 galleries, including newcomers like Cento from Glasgow and Lagune Ouest from Copenhagen. This year, the fair is smaller, allowing more space for exhibitors and utilising a cost-sharing model. Highlights include Rhett Leinster’s unique works at Cento, Gabriel Hartley’s paintings at Hagiwara Projects, and Yu Shuk Pui Bobby’s videos at VI, VII. Returning galleries like Frankfurt’s Parisa Kind showcase works by Isabelle Fein and Benjamin Echeverria. The fair’s collaborative, friendly atmosphere fosters a sense of camaraderie, making it a standout event where old friends and newcomers alike feel welcomed.https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/june-art-fair-2024-report-1234709882/
MOST COLLECTORS PLAN TO PASS ART ON TO NEXT GENERATION, STUDY FINDS
A new Bank of America Private Bank study reveals that over 75 percent of art collectors intend to pass their collections to heirs, reflecting a strong desire to maintain art legacies. The study surveyed more than 1,000 wealthy Americans, highlighting a significant decline in the likelihood of older collectors selling their art in the next year—from 25 percent in 2022 to just 6 percent. Conversely, younger collectors (ages 21-43) are more inclined to use art as loan collateral and are more active in purchasing art. Notably, 40 percent of younger respondents own art collections valued at $100,000 or more, compared to 17 percent of older collectors. Additionally, the study shows that younger collectors are driving the market, with many interested in financial performance and contemporary pieces. Despite recent market volatility, collectors remain reluctant to sell, awaiting more favourable conditions. The trend underscores the generational shift in art investment and collection strategies.
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/bank-of-america-private-wealth-survey-2024-art-collectors-report-1234709721/
LEGENDARY ART DEALER BARBARA GLADSTONE DIES AT 89
Barbara Gladstone, the influential art dealer known for her impact on the contemporary art world, passed away in Paris on June 16 at the age of 89. Born in 1935, she taught art history at Hofstra University before opening her gallery in New York in 1980. Today, Gladstone Gallery operates in New York, Brussels, and Seoul, representing over 70 artists and estates, including renowned names like Anicka Yi, Sarah Lucas, and Matthew Barney.
Her partners, Gavin Brown, Max Falkenstein, Caroline Luce, and Paula Tsai, praised her visionary leadership and deep commitment to artists. Gladstone's leadership transition began in 2016, ensuring the gallery's continued success. Art critic Jerry Saltz paid tribute to her on Instagram, calling her a "gallerist in extreme" and highlighting her remarkable achievements and lasting influence on the art community.
https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/barbara-gladstone-dealer-till-the-end-dies-aged-89/
COLLECTOR CHRISTIAN LEVETT OPENS MUSEUM OF WOMEN ARTISTS
Collector Christian Levett has opened a new museum dedicated to female artists, FAMM (Female Artists of the Mougins Museum), in Mougins, near Cannes. The museum, set to open on June 21, occupies the former MACM (Mougins of Classical Art), which Levett established in 2011.
The four-story museum will feature over 500 works from The Levett Collection, with exhibits rotating regularly. Levett aims to highlight the contributions of female artists from Impressionism to contemporary art, showcasing 100 pieces by more than 80 artists, including Louise Nevelson, Alice Neel, Lee Krasner, Leonora Carrington, Howardena Pindell, and Tracey Emin.
Levett's goal is for visitors to leave with a greater appreciation of the many talented female artists. His passion for female artists began with a Tracey Emin tapestry in 2012, expanding his collection to feature over 500 works by women. Levett also supports exhibitions like Tate Britain's "Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920."
https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/collector-christian-levett-mougins-museum/
Christina Park, hailing from South Korea and Shanghai, is currently undertaking a degree in psychology with a minor in business at Singapore's prestigious NTU. Her profound understanding of human behaviour and cognition, enriched by her international experiences, brings a unique and valuable perspective to Art Works. Christina excels in analytical writing, creative problem-solving, and rigorous research, driven by a deep-seated passion for enhancing the human experience.