The Latest Trends in Contemporary Landscape PhotographyThe ‘Collòculi’ Exhibit by Internationally Recognized Artist and Filmmaker Annalaura di LuggoGroundbreaking study on Leonardo da Vinci’s red chalk drawing reveals the face of Federico da MontefeltroThe Bones of the Earth
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

New York

The World’s Most Expensive Dinosaur: $44.6 Million Stegosaurus ‘Apex’ Fossil | VIDEO

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Mounted Stegosaurus “Apex” skeleton beside a person, with its back plates and rib cage prominently visible. Photo: Matthew Sherman | Sotheby’s.

The stegosaurus known as “Apex” has set a new record, selling for $44.6 million at Sotheby’s auction in New York on July 17, 2024, making it the most valuable fossil ever sold. This significant sale exceeded its pre-sale low estimate by over 11 times and concluded with applause after 15 minutes of bidding. Seven bidders competed for “Apex” during the live auction, with an anonymous buyer ultimately securing the fossil. The buyer intends to explore loaning the specimen to a U.S. institution, stating, “Apex was born in America and is going to stay in America!”

Rare Basquiat Masterpieces Worth Over $60,000,000 Unveiled by Phillips

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Detail of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (ELMAR), 1982, with a red figure against blue and yellow areas.

The spotlight shines brightly on the monumental 1982 masterpiece, estimated to fetch a staggering $40-60 million. This captivating piece, dubbed ‘Untitled (ELMAR),’ commands attention with its sheer scale and intricate symbolism. Acquired by the Pellizzi Family just two years after its creation, this eight-foot-wide marvel stands as a testament to Basquiat’s transformative journey from street art prodigy to gallery luminary. Rich in iconography and imbued with self-referential imagery, ‘Untitled (ELMAR)’ offers a profound exploration of duality within the artist’s identity, encapsulating the essence of Basquiat at the zenith of his creative prowess.

ART WAR: Sotheby’s Emerges Victorious in Russian Billionaire’s Battle Over Alleged Fraud

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Sotheby’s sign beneath a row of flags on a building with a glass façade.

In a riveting conclusion to a three-week trial, a federal jury ruled in favor of Sotheby’s on Tuesday, dispelling the accusations of Russian billionaire oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, who claimed the prestigious auction house defrauded him of tens of millions of dollars in art sales. The drama unfolded as Rybolovlev accused Sotheby’s of conspiring with Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier to inflate prices for four significant works, including the famed “Salvator Mundi” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.

ART WAR: Russian Billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev vs. Sotheby’s in Epic $232.5 Million Art Fraud Trial

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Portrait of Dmitry Rybolovlev in a blue suit with his hands clasped beneath his chin.

In a high-stakes legal showdown gripping the art world, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev accuses renowned auction house Sotheby’s of orchestrating an elaborate art scam that cost him millions. The trial, underway in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, has thrust the secretive dealings of the art industry into the spotlight. Rybolovlev, with a net worth of $11.5 billion, made headlines as he pursued legal action against Sotheby’s, alleging collusion with Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier to inflate prices on four rare artworks, including the iconic “Salvator Mundi” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.

Christie’s Sells 3.5 Carat Blue Diamond Ring for $5.5 Million

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3.49-carat fancy vivid blue cushion-cut diamond ring sold for $5,495,000 at Christie’s.

On December 6th, Christie’s Rockefeller Center in Manhattan witnessed an extravagant showcase of luxury as the Magnificent Jewels auction unfolded. This event saw fervent bidding both in-person and over the phones, culminating in a remarkable total of $38,135,080. Impressively, 90% of the 152 lots available found buyers. The auction presented an exquisite collection of rare diamonds, significant colored stones, and distinguished jewels from renowned collections.

Monet’s Masterpiece Smashes Records at Christie’s with a Staggering $74,010,000 Sale

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Le bassin aux nymphéas by Claude Monet.

In a groundbreaking auction at Christie’s on November 9, 2023, Claude Monet’s masterpiece, “Le bassin aux nymphéas,” achieved a record-setting sale of USD 74,010,000. The iconic painting, dating from 1917-1919 and measuring 100.1 x 200.6 cm, surpassed all expectations, becoming one of the most expensive Monet artworks ever sold. Widely celebrated as a landmark of late Impressionism, “Le bassin aux nymphéas” captures the essence of Monet’s famed gardens at Giverny. The large-scale canvas showcases the artist’s signature play of impasto and vibrant brushwork, offering a mesmerizing portrayal of the flowing planes of flowers and the expansive lily pond.

Phillips Announces Groundbreaking New Digital Platform Presenting Works by Cj Hendry and Other Contemporary Artists

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Glossy red crown sculpture by Cj Hendry against a pale background.

Phillips is pleased to announce Dropshop, a digital platform offering limited-edition releases of primary market art and objects in partnership with the artists, collaborators, and brands defining contemporary culture. Dropshop is the first and only platform in the international auction sphere that partners directly with working artists, disrupting the traditional, long-held dynamics between the primary and secondary markets. Phillips will collaborate with partners on every step, from conception and curation through to fabrication and promotion.

Amref Health Africa’s ArtBall and Auction Honors Artist Julie Mehretu and the Power of Ethiopian Youth 

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Speaker at a lectern beside two seated guests on the red Amref ArtBall stage.

On February 25, 2023 at 26 Bridge in Brooklyn, NY, Amref Health Africa will host their annual ArtBall event  and adjoining art auction, creating a connection between African culture and philanthropy to celebrate and  highlight the talent of the African continent. This year Amref Health Africa will honor world-renowned  Ethiopian artist Julie Mehretu with the Rees Visionary Award. 

ArtBall features a Contemporary African, Pan-African, and Black art auction, entertainment, food and  beverages from award-winning Black-owned vendors, an installation, and an award ceremony, and has grown  from just over 300 attendees to nearly 800, with an emphasis on the African diaspora. Notable hosts and guests  have included Solange, Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Antwaun Sargent, Kimberly Drew, Hank Willis  Thomas, Isolde Brielmaier, Shantell Martin, Nina Chanel Abney, Jack Shainman, Young Paris, and many more. 

Rough Diamond Financing – Sarine and DELGATTO Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement

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Sarine and DELGATTO press-release graphic about their rough-diamond financing agreement.

Until now assessing rough diamonds was an inaccurate subjective process, at best. This, along  with the difficulty in providing unique identification means, reduced their attractiveness as collateral.  The DDFF and Sarine’s groundbreaking cooperation utilizes Sarine’s various proven industry leading technologies, including the Galaxy® and DiaExpert® platforms along with the Advisor® and  related software processes, to accurately, objectively and rapidly evaluate rough diamonds, as well  as uniquely tagging them, with the result being the ability to reliably ascertain the optimally produced  polished diamonds’ potential value, and hence confidently provide financing. The DDFF will apply  Sarine’s technologies to evaluate if the rough diamond is eligible for the requested financing, and  at what level. 

Sarine signs an MOU to acquire a majority stake in New York’s Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL)

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Sarine press-release graphic announcing an MOU to acquire a majority stake in GCAL, over a large diamond image.

Hod Hasharon (Israel), 11 January 2023 – Singapore Exchange Mainboard listed Sarine Technologies Ltd (“Sarine” and along with its subsidiaries “the Group”) (U77:SI; SARN.TA), a worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of precision technology  products for the evaluation, planning, processing, measurement, grading and trading of diamonds  and gems, is pleased to announce the signing of a non-binding MOU to purchase, subject to the  usual due diligence reviews and to reaching and executing a definitive agreement, a majority share  of GCAL against an all cash consideration.

The Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. GCAL is a highly respected gemological laboratory  founded in 2001 by Mr. Don Palmieri, a veteran of over 50 years in the diamond industry, and his  wife, Pamela. Today, it operates as a family-owned business in New York City, on the city’s famous  Diamond Way, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 47th Street, with son Angelo in the role of Chief  Operations Officer (COO). GCAL provides services for the grading and certification of natural and  lab-grown diamonds, coloured diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls and precious metals.