African Artist Sekoto Shatters Expectations at Auction, Selling for Over Half a Million USD—Four Times the EstimateHow To Discover Your Art StyleExclusive interview with Sandy Copeman, founder of the World’s Finest scale models company – The Amalgam Collection | Part 1Tretchikoff’s Missing “Lost Orchid” Re-emerges at Bonhams African Art Sale In London
Maurice Leloir’s Four Historical Scenes Sell for €128,600 at BonhamsJacob Jordaens’s Portrait of His Wife Sells for €154,200 at BonhamsRenaissance Portrait Attributed to Conrad Faber Sells for €295,000 at BonhamsJodi the Nanotyrannus Sells for US$47.3 Million at Sotheby’sQianlong Emperor’s Jewel-Encrusted Gold Ewer Sells for US$7.11 Million at Christie’sHockney’s €282,200 Print Leads Warhol and Banksy in €1.06 Million Bonhams SaleMV Agusta Sells for $1.3 Million, Setting an Italian Motorcycle Auction RecordEnigma Machine Sells for £203,600 at Bonhams: Inside the 1941 Cipher DeviceUzo Egonu’s Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I Sets Auction Record at £198,900Yusuf Grillo’s One Man Band Sets Artist Auction Record at £461,300Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu Sells for £602,100, Setting a Sculpture Record at BonhamsRare Gandhi Portrait Achieves £152,800, Tripling Its EstimateBanksy’s British Cool Mickey Snake Triumphs at Bonhams, Selling for £330,600Whistler’s First Portrait Commission Sells for Five Times Estimate, Fetching $495,000Bridget Riley Stuns Art World as Myrrh Soars to $2.36M at Bonhams

Art History

Stories exploring the history of art through individual works, artists, discoveries, and changing interpretations. Coverage includes attribution debates, rediscovered paintings, cultural heritage, and the relationship between historical context and the art market.

Automata & Music Exhibition featuring Geneva’s Museum of Art and History (MAH) Objet d’Art Collection

By on
Pair of blue-and-gold musical automaton clocks, circa 1800, topped by elephants and ornate urns.

In partnership with GemGenève, the Museum of Art and History (MAH) is organizing an off-site exhibition featuring exceptional automata, musical, and other objets d’art from its collection. With a policy of promoting art and culture that dates back to the 18th century, MAH is now one of the leading museums in the world. This May, 25 small to medium-sized works of art created at the turn of the 19th century will be exhibited by MAH in an exclusive temporary display that will be open to GemGenève visitors. The show will also feature works on loan from the International Museum of Horology at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Swiss sculptor and automaton maker François Junod, as well as GemGenève exhibitors.

Exclusive Interview with Renowned Senior Expert Artworks Conservator & Restorer Venizelos G. Gavrilakis | Part 1

By on • ( 4 Comments )
Gloved conservator using a magnifying instrument and fine tools to examine a decorated religious icon.

VENIS STUDIOS is a company that undertakes conservation and restoration projects of all fixed and portable works of art such as paintings, icon panels, artworks, antiques, historical monuments, etc., in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Jordan, United States, and many other nations. Its purpose is to save artifacts and artworks by combining science with art. Recently, The World Art News had the pleasure to interview its President, Venizelos G. Gavrilakis, who shared with us fascinating images, stories, and facts about his unique art career. Here’s Part 1 of that conversation.

JAPAN ART EXPO: Japanese Swords, Art & Culture – June 2023

By on
Close view of Japanese armour with an ornate helmet and a face mask bearing a white moustache.

Japan Art Expo (JAE) is a unique two-day event in the heart of Europe. At once an art fair and educational conference, which will showcase the best of Japanese craftsmanship. There will be an international array of dealers from Europe and Japan specializing in various fields across Japanese Art. Dealers will be joined by scholars and specialists to bring their passion and expertise to professionals, collectors and hobbyists alike, all under one roof.

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Friend Gives Exclusive Interview and Presents New Book about The Artist

By on • ( 7 Comments )
Tom Zatar Kay holding an open book beside colorful portrait paintings.

In this Exclusive Interview with Tom Zatar Kay we talk about his new book: ‘JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT “THE KING”: My Friend SAMO – Late 1970-80s’ as well as The One And Only – Jean-Michel himself! His life. His art. The book features many interesting stories about Jean-Michel Basquiat, Tom’s lifelong friend who he calls SAMO, his interactions with celebrities and contemporary artists of the time. It contains exclusive photos that Tom has taken of people and artworks during his friendship with Jean-Michel.

With no page numbers, the book is intended to become art in itself, containing many pages that can be cut out and framed. Tom also written it to be a historic record for all hard core SAMO fans, a timeless collector’s edition of a high-profile artist who will be remembered forever. It has been purchased by Columba University, various libraries, and leading contemporary professionals from around the world. And now, without further ado, here’s our Exclusive Interview with Tom Zatar Kay.

Brief History of Digital Art

By on • ( 12 Comments )
Vintage Macintosh computer on a red background beside the words “Brief History of Digital Art”.

Digital art has a rich history that spans several decades. The earliest forms of digital art can be traced back to the 1960s, when artists began experimenting with computers as a medium for creating visual art. One of the first artists to work with digital technology was John Whitney, who used a computer to create abstract animations in the 1960s. Whitney’s work laid the foundation for the development of digital animation and set the stage for other artists to explore the potential of computer technology.

In the 21st century, digital art has become a global phenomenon, with many artists using evermore powerful digital tools to create a wide range of art forms, including video art, installation art, and interactive art. With the advent of the internet and social media, digital art has become more accessible than ever, allowing artists to share their work with a global audience.

The Modigliani Affaire

By on • ( 2 Comments )
Detail of Amedeo Modigliani's self-portrait, showing his face, rust-red jacket and painter's palette.

The death of Amedeo Modigliani and of his devoted partner Jeanne Hebuterne starts one of the most emblematic stories of the Art Market, which will lead the works of the unfortunate Tuscan artist to be subject of an “exceptional enterprise of economic revaluation”.

The acme of the speculative operation has been reached with the auction award for 170,405,000 US dollars of the “Red Nude”, which previously belonged to Gualino Collection and to Feroldi Collection and then in 1950 was acquired by the art collector Gianni Mattioli thanks to the interest of his cousin, Fernanda Wittgens, the then Director of the Pinacoteca di Brera.

The valorization of Modigliani’s Work thus began in the ‘50s on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean: in Europe activities revolved around “Il Milione Gallery” in Milan and in America around Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Deposition of Christ by Donatello – The Mystery of a Restoration

By on • ( 3 Comments )
Detail of Donatello's Deposition of Christ relief, with mourners gathered around Christ above a decorated tomb.

We learned from the press that the Pontifical Delegation for the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua appointed a scientific committee composed of four scholars to evaluate the conservation and restoration program of the “Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata” which stands out in the square adjacent to the Basilica of Padua.

Since 2020, Ce.St.Art and the association Territori have conceived, promoted, and presented a far-reaching project which covers not only the restoration of the “Gattamelata Statue” but above all the restoration of the “Deposition of Christ” by Donatello stored inside the Basilica and which, while representing an absolute masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, is in a questionable condition.

Mexican Artist Said Dokins and UAE Master-Calligrapher Khalid Al Jallafis Display their Calligraphic Art at Guadalajara International Book Fair 2022

By on • ( 2 Comments )
Black calligraphic lettering on white paper, photographed at an angle.

This year, Guadalajara International Book Fair, the most outstanding meeting of the Spanish-language world, invited the UAE city of Sharjah as a guest of honor. It is the third largest of the seven Emirates and is considered to be the cultural capital of the Arab world by UNESCO.

For nine days, Sharjah Pavilion showcased the Arab culture and literature to Mexico through poetry and literature. There were many productive meetings as well as a variety of artistic and cultural events where writers, editors, researchers, artists, and spokespersons of Arab culture exchanges ideas, laying the foundations to better the relations between Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.  

Raphael’s First Signed Painting: The “Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine” of Città di Castello

By on • ( 1 Comment )
Cropped view of Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine, showing the Virgin and Child, Saint Catherine and two figures at left.

In 2010 the “(crypto)signature” in stylized letters “RAFFAEL SANT PXT” and the date 1501 in Roman numerals “MDI” were discovered inserted in the arabesque decoration of the border of Saint Catherine’s mantle.

The presence of Raphael in Città di Castello in those years is proven by the historical sources and consolidated by studies and therefore the date shown on the “small tablet or small panel painting” is perfectly consistent with the biographical events of the Artist.

Moreover, Raphael’s practice of affixing his signature and cryptosignature on paintings was his typical habit during his youthful period and it was also a practice of many other artists before becoming famous.

The Enigma of Raphael – Price Analysis and History of the Legendary Artist

By on • ( 6 Comments )
The Holy Family by Raphael, in the Louvre.

Raphael’s incredible works of art were already desired when he was alive. After his passing they became real cult objects and remained as such to this day.

An endless bibliography has dealt with the Raphaelesque myth and the desire to attribute works to his authorship has led over the centuries the scholars to recognize his hand where it wasn’t and not to take it into account even in cases where the documents said the opposite.

On the art market, the demand for Raphael’s paintings has always been characterized by very high values and this, of course, is an important factor of reflection to consider, which can sometimes become the keystone for the interpretation of attributive events.