Unplanned Freud Tribute at the Met

A month ago, with no fanfare or press release and little signage to speak of, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art installed 17 major oil paintings by the British figurative master Lucian Freud.

The show of forceful fleshy nudes, sixteen of which hail from anonymous private collections, was originally billed as "British Painting After World War II."
 Read More

Collector Valentine Goes Public With LA Outpost

Dean Valentine, the trend-setting Los Angeles collector known for pursuing emerging artists, is opening an exhibition space named Bowmont Art to showcase his holdings. The first show includes works by Nathan Hylden, Alex Hubbard and Dianna Molzan. "There are parts of my collection I've never seen," Valentine said in a phone interview with A.i.A., explaining that a significant portion of his artworks remain in storage. He has been acquiring since 1995 and describes his collection as "too big."
 Read More

Edward Dolman Lured to Qatar From Christie's

Christie's International chairman Edward J. Dolman is leaving the London-based auctioneer to join the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA). After a 27-year rise at Christie's, Dolman has been tapped to serve as executive director of the QMA, which currently oversees three museums in Doha, the Qatari capital.

Dolman will report to QMA chairperson and daughter of the Qatari emir, H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
 Read More

Where are the American Collectors at Art Basel?

The dulcet strains created by Turner Prize winner Susan Philipsz didn't stand a chance Tuesday morning, amid the abrasive din of fairgoers at the hectic VIP opening of Art Basel, the world's most highbrow trade show. Philipsz's sound piece, New Oysters (2010), played over three white speakers, perched in the corners of Berlin dealer Isabella Bortolozzi's stand.

The artist's angelic Baroque chrous was a welcome respite from the thousands of paintings and sculptures on view around the convention hall. Priced at just over $28,000 from an edition of three, none of the installations had sold at the fair, said gallery representative Marta Lusena. "It's not easy to show a sound piece in a fair," noted Lusena.
 Read More