The "-ber" Months
vacation's over
We’ve arrived at the “-ber” months and you know what that means: it’s one, short chaotic slide into Christmas from here.
August was that month that I said I was going to get through all of my back-burnered projects at work and at home. Sadly, I was only somewhat successful on that front—best laid plans and all that. Given that the art trade slows down in August while the wealthy are out yachting and such, my weekly Artnet newsletter, The Back Room, and weekly art market podcast, Art Market Minute, took a rest. I used the time to write a few other things this month (and lay the groundwork for some longer-lead projects).
Writing
Inside Pauline Karpidas’s Legendary Surrealist Collection Bound for Auction – Imagine picking up some of these Surrealist works directly from the artists’ estates. Incredible. Some people are just in the right place at the right time… with the right money. I am always lost, late, and lacking a wealthy husband. This Sotheby’s auction happens in a couple of weeks and is expected to rake in £60 million, which is the highest estimate ever placed on a single-owner collection in Europe. The auction house over-estimated its big Old Masters collection in May so TBD how this goes. At least the current frenzy for Surrealism is working in their favor.
Bollywood Star Sonam Kapoor on the Women Who Shaped Her Eye for South Asian Art – Another gorgeous woman, another gorgeous collection.
Immersive Experience Reimagines ‘Phantom of the Opera’ With Works by Major Artists – When my best friend came to visit me in London this summer, we booked a fancy night out to play tourists in my city. It was complete with a lux hotel room, a Michelin-star meal, and a trip to His Majesty’s Theatre to see the one and only Phantom of the Opera. Reader: It still slaps. Color me surprised to hear that there’s an immersive redux of the show in New York right now that includes work by Marina Ambramović, Kenny Scharf, and Bob Dylan—who apparently does metalwork?? Who knew.
Andra Ursuța Is Sculpting a Vision of Civilization in Decay – Remember my trip to the Greek island of Hydra in June? It was for this show. I was a fan!
Smithsonian’s Latino Gallery Temporarily Closes Amid Federal Review – The Trump administration launched a full-scale attack on the Smithsonian in August. It’s tough to keep up with all of the fasc-y stuff unfolding right now, but luckily this running list I started (and continually update) will break down each event by date.
Artist to Watch: Erin M. Riley’s Tapestries Examine Hard-Hitting Themes While Breaking Down Barriers – The above stories are all the product of my day job at Artnet. But I moonlit briefly for the August issue of Galerie magazine, writing up a little story about Erin M. Riley’s latest tapestries, which explore domestic violence and coercive relationships. It opens this week at P.P.O.W in New York. Go see it.
Editing
As an editor, a lot of one’s work is behind the scenes. But there are so many great stories I get to work on, and so many great writers I get to work with, that I thought I’d highlight a few that I ideated and edited in the last month here:
Her Husband Made Her Give Up Painting. Now This Overlooked Impressionist’s Market Is Soaring by Jo Lawson-Tancred
Everything You Need to Know About the Bayeux Tapestry by Jo Lawson-Tancred
The Joy of Bidding: Bob Ross’s Market Booms With Back-to-Back Auction Records by Sarah Cascone
How Dinosaur Bones Became Billionaires’ Collectibles by Vivienne Chow
Museums Are Under Fire. Silence Isn’t an Option by James Steward
Up Next
September will be a bumper month! Keep an eye out for:
My number crunching in Artnet’s Mid-Year Intelligence Report, dropping soon. Spoiler: the market is still contracting.
An appearance by moi at the Art Business Conference in London on September where I will be presenting said Mid-Year data.
A four-part series I helped develop, edit, and write on how museums are facing a rapidly shifting funding landscape.
The Return of The Back Room and Art Market Minute.
Lastly, ICYMI, on this Substack, I also write monthly horoscopes geared toward the art world. They come out at the turn of the Zodiac season, so around the third week of every month. Your Virgo season ‘scopes are here. Would recommend reading… it’s a big month with two eclipses.