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The most expensive artwork ever sold at auction, a charity benefit at Gagosian, and participatory art were among the stories in the week's news. Read on for ArtWeLove’s news digest, now also available in email form—bringing a comprehensive roundup of the week’s art developments to your digital doorstep. If you aren’t signed up, click here. As always, we welcome your feedback at editorial@artwelove.com.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE WALKING MAN EVER AND OTHER UPBEAT ART MARKET UPDATES
Last week, the most expensive work of art ever sold at an auction, a 1960 Alberto Giacometti bronze titled Walking Man I, sauntered out of the possession of Commerzbank AG at Sotheby's London and, some suspected at first, into the arms of Russian business billionaire, Roman Abramovich. The $104.3 million dollar man was originally part of a commission for Chase Manhattan Bank that Giacometti struggled with until he abandoned the project all together. In other cheerful news, Christie’s International announced that four major paintings by Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Rauschenberg, currently owned by best-selling author Michael Crichton will be part of May’s auction. The good news doesn't stop there. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has successfully raised the funds required to build a new wing to host Gap Inc founders Donald and Doris Fisher's collection. This project will triple the museum’s exhibition space. An international search for the architect will begin this fall.
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS RECEIVED A HELPING HAND
The recent benefit at New York's Gagosian Gallery had all the cool art-kids giving and avid collectors hustling. Artist Richard Serra and his wife Clara saw to it personally to generate the energy behind the event by either writing personal letters or dialing up the 82 artists included in the sale. The dynamic voice of soprano Jessye Norman, spokeswoman for the Partnership for the Homeless, shed a beautiful light on the path of giving and demonstrated the organizations mission statement by beginning with the old inspirational “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Two million dollars, without auction house commissions, will go to Family Resource Center, a children’s shelter in East New York.
SOME INTRIGUING FORMS OF PARTICIPATORY ART MAKE THE HEADLINES
The Guggenheim welcomes Tino Sehgal and his exciting new exhibition named "This Progress." Sehgal and the museum's curatorial team have recruited more than 100 people to guide daily visitors up the spiral of the museum and into the depths of their own personal investigation, thus creating a living sculpture of the Museum itself.
In a similar participatory note, you can hail your own work of art in New York City. Art Adds, a recent project utilizing the advertising space found on top of NYC taxi cab roofs, has secured 500 of them to display artworks by artists such as Shirin Neshat, Alex Katz, and Yoko Ono.
Last but not least, American photographer Spencer Tunick is searching for thousands of Australians to strip off on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in the name of art.
Related Articles
"Giacometti Bronze Breaks World Record Auction Price" [via The New York Times]
"Sotheby's Sells Giacometti for Record $104.3 Million" [via The Wall Street Journal]
"Johns, Picasso to Top $30 Million Sale of Writer Crichton’s Art" [via Bloomberg.com]
"Museum Raises $250 Million to Show Fisher Art, Triple in Size" [via Bloomberg.com]
"Class Reunion" [via Artforum.com]
"Dancing Economist Sehgal Empties Guggenheim With Weird New Show" [via Bloomberg.com]
"It’s Me, I’m Alive: A Conversation with Yoko Ono" [via popmatters.com]
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