Interviews & Essays

Stock exchanges have been offering the public a piece of corporate earnings since the Dutch East India Company opened one in 1602, but only recently has art become a tradable security. Half a dozen or so investment firms specializing in art shares have been steadily evangelizing the potential financial benefits of owning a stake in otherwise out-of-budget works. 

Acclaimed Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton (1972)– two-time winner of the Archibald Prize, the most prestigious portraiture prize in Australia– has a solo show opening in October at New York’s Albertz Benda gallery. Del Kathryn Barton: the more than human world runs October 30th through December 13th and features two new bronze sculptures and a series of new 

A longtime presence on the San Francisco art scene, Rowland Weinstein founded Weinstein Gallery in 1992. The gallery, which specializes in non-objective and Surrealist art from the pre–World War II period in Europe through Abstract Expressionism and the New York School, is dedicated to the rediscovery of marginalized artists and to the idea that art should be accessible to everyone.

Born in England, formed as a surrealist in Paris, residing in Mexico since 1942, Leonora Carrington had her first solo exhibition in New York in 1948. It was held at the Pierre Matisse Gallery, arranged by her patron, Edward James, an eccentric English collector who also championed the work of Salvador Dalí.

On August 16, 1972, at Riace Marina on the south coast of the Italian boot, amateur diver Stefano Mariottini reported to the local Carabinieri station the presence of archaeological finds which he had stumbled upon while underwater fishing. Five days later, two of the most precious remnants of the ancient world emerged from the Ionian Sea: bronze giants almost two meters tall, surprisingly intact. 

Known as the Renaissance's greatest sculptor, Michelangelo was often commissioned to apply his talents to other mediums such as painting and architecture.

Contemporary museums and galleries are faced with the dual challenge and opportunity of working directly with living artists to display work in a way that feels authentic to both parties. However, in an increasingly politicized and polarized world, it has become harder than ever for exhibitions to strike a mutually agreeable balance between presenting the artists’ intended messages and the ones that will keep other stakeholders happy. 

As government funding for cultural programs decreases in Western countries, a different trend appears in the Middle East, where culture is increasingly viewed as a key driver for economic and social progress. Dubai, benefiting from its cultural diversity— home to over 200 nationalities— thrives on a mix of global ideas, fueling innovation and creativity. Through strategic investments in cultural tourism, Dubai has established itself as a major international hub. 

Michelangelo, Van Gogh, and Picasso have been alluring subjects for filmmakers throughout the history of cinema. Artists of far lesser stature have also inspired filmmakers over the years. Some are deserving of our attention while others are better left “undiscovered.” Here are a few examples that may surprise you and further ignite your curiosity to explore their legacy.

The impending closure of Christie’s digital art department and the reduction in staff working on NFT sales at other auction houses during the past year calls into question the future of once-astronomically-priced blockchain assets.