First Post
what to expect + june recap
Look, I didn’t want to start a Substack, but it sort of seems inevitable if you’re a writer. (A rant for another day.) So here’s the plan:
If you’re into art, specifically the business of art, that’s what I’m employed to write about. Auctions, art fairs, galleries, tastes and trends, tech, etc. At the start of each month, I’ll drop links to what I’ve worked on over the last 30 days, with a few ad hoc opinions thrown in here or there that maybe I didn’t include in the official published versions.
Note: My views are my own.
If you’re into astrology, that’s what I enjoy writing about. At the start of each astrological month (when the sun changes zodiac signs), I’ll send out some pithy predictions for the next few weeks. These will be lightly salted with some art-world related aphorisms.
Note: I am an amateur astrologer! Meaning I do this for fun, as a creative exercise. Don’t come for me if your horoscope isn’t spot on, and more importantly, don’t come for me if it is.
So let’s get started. Here’s what I was gabbin’ about in June, the art trade’s big blowout before all the HNWIs escape to their second and third homes in mountain and seaside towns.
Newsletters
Btw, I write a weekly news analysis column for Artnet’s industry-insider newsletter The Back Room, which comes out on Fridays.
Can London’s Summer Sales Season Be Revived? – Ok, so I didn’t write this one because I was wine drunk on a beach in Hydra. But my colleague Annie Armstrong did a fab job summarizing what was happening back in London (with some background reporting by moi).
One Takeaway From Art Basel: It Remains a Buyer’s Market – Sales are still down, but some galleries told me they were actually pleasantly surprised by how much they sold at Basel this year. I don’t trust anyone who’s telling me that everything’s a-ok, though.
What Do Artists Really Want from Gallery Representation? – This has been a topic swirling around for a while, from the rise of co-representation to the advent of the artist’s agency model. In this here era of the creator, more and more artists are seeking to go it alone.
New E.U. Import Regulations Are Causing ‘Procedural Paranoia’ for the Art Trade – If there’s one thing the art trade hates, it’s red tape.
Articles
This Storied British Estate Is Reinventing Itself as an Art Destination – I was treated to an overnight stay on the Duke of Richmond’s estate while reporting this out and it was a treat! I don’t know if it was because I was a journalist, a woman, or both, but when I left my accommodation to walk the grounds during some downtime before dinner, I was assigned a footman to escort me—very Pride and Prejudice. (Shoutout to Bradley, though, who was a great conversationalist.) During the cocktail hour, the theme from the 2005 Kiera Knightly version of P&P was actually playing in the garden while we sipped champagne, so I kinda think the Duke was playing the Mr. Darcy thing up. His Grace also remarked how my dress had been noticeable from across the grounds while I was out walking (with Brad)—as a comment from a member of the British aristocracy, that must almost certainly mean I looked like a tart. My friend, a lawyer, has since told me that I need to invest in more clothes of the “politician’s wife” aesthetic if I’m going to be hanging out with posh people.
Inside the Duke of Richmond’s house.
A Legendary Collector’s $81 Million Trove of Surrealist Art Heads to Sotheby’s – Sexy stuff! But Sotheby’s is just teasing so far, not a ton of details about the individual works up for sale yet.
Trump Officials Illegally Withheld Museum Funding: Federal Watchdog – An ongoing horror show.
Podcasts
As part of my job, I also host and co-produce a weekly micro-podcast about the art market, called Art Market Minute. I’ve got the feed linked to this stack, but also find it here.
Thanks for following my work! See you when Leo season hits in a couple weeks.