Happy Friday!
Qatar has announced exciting plans for its first quadrennial contemporary art exhibition, set to align with the upcoming Frieze Abu Dhabi in November.
The fallout from the Epstein saga continues, with new connections emerging related to SFMOMA.
A remarkable Michelangelo sketch of a foot recently fetched an astounding $27.2 million at auction.
The Headlines
QATAR'S NEXT MOVE. The inaugural Art Basel Qatar wraps up on Saturday, but the Gulf nation is already focused on its next significant art initiative: a contemporary art quadrennial named Rubaiya Qatar. This event is strategically scheduled to coincide with the launch of Frieze Abu Dhabi this November. Qatar Museums, the organizers behind the quadrennial, have unveiled fresh details about the exhibition, which will take place throughout the emirate and showcase over 50 artists along with new commissions. The primary exhibition, titled "Unruly Waters," will be curated by Tom Eccles, Ruba Katrib, Mark Rappolt, and Shabbir Hussain Mustafa. The exhibition will explore the movement of people and ideas, drawing inspiration from the ancient Maritime Silk Road, natural landscapes, and current ecological and geopolitical changes, as indicated in a press release. Notable participating artists include Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Sophia Al Maria, Mohamed Bourouissa, and Lydia Ourahmane. Additionally, it was revealed that there will be a special pavilion dedicated to works by Gerhard Richter, a project that was initially challenging to realize but is now confirmed to open in November, as stated by Sheikha Al-Mayassa, chair of Qatar Museums.
Related Articles
FALLOUT. The recent revelations from the Epstein files continue to attract attention worldwide, particularly regarding his connections to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Documents indicate that Jeffrey Epstein donated a piece by John F. Simon Jr. to SFMOMA in 2001 through a fractional-ownership agreement. The museum reportedly deaccessioned this artwork in 2019, following Epstein's death in jail. Other documents suggest that Epstein may have financially supported a piece by Neri Oxman that was later displayed at the museum.
The Vilcek Foundation has honored Matthew Bogdanos with one of its 20th annual awards for excellence in the arts and sciences. Bogdanos is recognized for establishing the Antiquities Trafficking Unit within the New York District Attorney's office, which has successfully seized over 5,000 looted antiquities valued at more than $300 million.
A rediscovered drawing of a foot by Michelangelo, believed to be a preparatory work for the Sistine Chapel, achieved a remarkable price of $27.2 million at Christie's, far exceeding its estimated value of $1.5 million to $2 million. This sale surpasses Michelangelo's previous auction record of $21 million for a sketch sold in 2022.
In an unexpected turn, a meeting scheduled to announce the winner of an architectural competition for a major renovation of the Louvre, which includes a new gallery for the Mona Lisa, has been postponed indefinitely, raising questions about the project's future.
Artist Claire Taboure defended her controversial proposal to install new stained-glass windows in Notre-Dame de Paris during her first major solo retrospective at Museum Voorlinden. Despite criticism regarding the removal of existing undamaged windows from the 2019 fire, Taboure emphasized the importance of evolving historical contexts in architecture.
LACMA has announced that its new David Geffen Galleries will open on April 19 for members, while general admission will commence on May 4. The building, designed by Peter Zumthor, has been a topic of debate over its brutalist architecture.
Finally, a recent study by ArtTactic and Deloitte suggests that investing in the stock market may be more financially advantageous than investing in art.
