Art

Art Industry News: The Locked-Down Super Rich Are Impulse-Buying Jewelry Through Online Auctions Like There’s No Tomorrow + Other Stories – artnet News

Published

4 years ago

April 23, 2020

Art Industry News is a daily digest of the most consequential developments coming out of the art world and art market. Here’s what you need to know on this Thursday, April 23.

NEED-TO-READ

Gerhard Richter’s Donation Raises More Than Half a Million – At a charity auction to raise money homeless aid, some 30 signed “Candle” prints by Gerhard Richter sold out almost immediately, raising €650,000 ($700,000) for the homeless in his home city of Cologne. Other famous artists also donated works to the “Art Helps” auction, including Rosemarie Trockel, Jeff Koons, and Markus Lüpertz. (Monopol)

Mike Kelley Foundation Revises 2020 Grants – In light of the current crisis, the Mike Kelley Foundation is lifting restrictions on how its grants, which are usually reserved for project-related expenses, can be used this year. The foundation’s executive director Mary Clare Stevens said, “In the midst of a global crisis that is putting an unprecedented strain on our cultural community, grant-making in the arts has a heightened sense of urgency.” Recipients include California Institute of the Arts/REDCAT; Human Resources LA; Los Angeles Filmforum; and the Vincent Price Art Museum. (Los Angeles Times)

Here’s Why a New Deal-Style Public Art Program Is a Pipe Dream – In this moment of upheaval, many have called for a revival of the Federal Art Project, part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s sweeping New Deal plan, which put thousands of artists to work. But politics and society were different then, and partisan divides did not run as deep. President Trump and other politicians, such as Nikki Haley, have targeted arts funding in particular as an extravagance. “I’m not sure you can get Congress to agree on anything,” said Barbara Bernstein, founder of the New Deal Art Registry. “Especially not something as easy to make fun of as an art program.” (New York Times)

Art-World Figures Protest Plan to Demolish Public Sculpture – The non-profit Cultural Landscape Foundation, with support from prominent art-world figures, is appealing to the National Geographic Society to cancel plans to remove the 1984 installation Marabar from its Washington, DC, campus as part of renovations. The 6 foot-by-60 foot reflecting pool by New York-based artist Elyn Zimmerman is lined by cut boulders, and was described by Whitney Museum director Adam Weinberg as an art historical “masterpiece” in an open letter. (The Art Newspaper)

ART MARKET

Will Art Fairs Return in 2020? – Sure, presumably you’ll be able to hold an art fair at some point this year—but will anyone come? It is uncertain whether, even if lockdowns are lifted, international collectors (or dealers, for that matter) will jump on planes to pack into Art Basel this fall. Dealers have until May 1 to reconfirm their participation. (TAN)

Bored Rich People Are Spending a Lot on Jewelry Online – Collectible jewelry sales are doing well amid the current crisis. As Catherine Becket, a Sotheby’s jewelry specialist, put it, wealthy clients “leading relatively dreary lives” are “wearing big diamonds inside their homes because it brings joy.” Since the beginning of March, Sotheby’s has launched four online jewelry sales, with 92 percent of lots sold and 61 percent exceeding their high estimates. Next up: a 1930s-era Cartier bracelet offered in a dedicated online sale, starting tomorrow, with an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. (Bloomberg)

Artnet’s Prints and Multiples Sale Exceeds $1 Million – Artnet Auctions’s Premier Prints & Multiples sale brought in a total of $1.1 million, up 10 percent from the equivalent sale in 2019. The auction—which was led by Keith Haring’s Retrospect, which sold for $180,000—also saw a boost in the average lot price, up 38 percent from the same sale last year. (Press release)

COMINGS & GOINGS

Renaissance Society Nabs Rising Star as Director – The curator and writer Myriam Ben Salah has been named the new executive director of the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago. Ben Salah co-curated the now-delayed fifth edition of the Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A. biennial. She will take up her new post on September 15. (Artforum)

Taipei Biennial Releases Artist List – The Taipei Biennial has released the artist list for its 2020 edition, “You and I Don’t Live on the Same Planet,” which is slated to run November 21 through March 14 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Artists on the list include Mika Rottenberg, Hai-Hsin Huang, and the artist duo Cooking Sections. (Artforum)

Artist Lois Weinberger Dies at 72 – The Austrian artist as died at age 72 in Vienna. Weinberger was interested in nature’s influence on migration and his most famous work, What is beyond plants is at One with Them, produced for Documenta X in 1997, saw him plant foreign weeds along 330 feet of an abandoned railway track. (ARTnews)

FOR ART’S SAKE

Vandals Target Berlin’s Gay Museum – Anonymous vandals threw stones at the window of the Gay Museum in Berlin last weekend, damaging but not breaking the glass. Officials spotted the damage on Monday, but it remains unclear whether it was a targeted attack. (Monopol)

Gilbert & George Create a Free Coronavirus Work – Gilbert & George are the latest artists to offer up free downloadable posters for people to post in their living-room windows—but they are taking a slightly different tack from the colorful rainbow images put forth by others. The duo’s slogans include “Gilbert & George say: Don’t catch it!” and “Gilbert & George say: Don’t get it!” (Guardian)

See Olafur Eliasson’s Back to Earth Initiative – Yesterday, Olafur Eliasson unveiled his new artwork for Earth Day, which comprised nine animations of views over the Earth, released on the hour for nine hours. Now, you can see a sampling of the final product—produced as part of the Serpentine Galleries ‘Back to Earth” initiative—below. “On Earth Day, I want to advocate—as on any other day—that we recognize these various perspectives and, together, celebrate their co-existence,” Eliasson said of the work. (Press release)

Follow artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source link

Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Harry Miller

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com

Source link

Art

Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

4 weeks ago

August 18, 2024

Harry Miller

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

Source link