January 20 | Zurich's Rotwand gallery closes its doors

Article
As another Zurich gallery announces it is closing its doors, the art world’s big names announce exciting news for the coming months, including partnerships, blue-chip sales and new appointments.

A difficult market for Zurich galleries?

Zurich-based Rotwand gallery will close its doors in March after nine years of activity.

Owners Sabina Kohler and Bettina Meier-Bickel have in fact announced that its upcoming show, a solo exhibition of work by painter Klodin Erb opening on February 3 and running through March 18, will also be its last. The gallery represented both Swiss and international artists including William Hunt, Mikko Rikala, Filib Schürmann, Klaus Lutz and duo Anetta Mona Chisa & Lucia Tkacova. The news comes weeks after another Zurich gallery, RaebervonStenglin, had announced its closure. Read more on Monopol.


 

A new curatorial advisor for Frieze London

Frieze London has announced that SculptureCenter curator Ruba Katrib has been appointed curatorial advisor for the Focus section of the 2017 edition of the fair, running from October 5 through 8.

Previously, curators including Cecilia Alemani, Daniel Baumann, Raphael Gygax, Sarah McCrory and Rodrigo Moura had served as curatorial advisor for the Focus section of the fair, which showcased works by 37 galleries aged twelve years or younger last year. Read more on Artforum.

 

Ruba Katrib, Photography by Mike Vorrasi

 

Auction houses

Sotheby’s has announced that the 1982 work Eisberg by Gerhard Richter will be the star lot of its London Evening sale of Contemporary art, taking place on March 8.

One of Richter’s finest landscapes, the work is estimated at between £8 million  and £12 million and is to be auctioned for the first time, having remained in the same private collection since 1983. What makes the work particularly attractive to collectors is that Eisberg is the largest of only three iceberg paintings the artist has ever made. Alex Branczik, senior director and head of contemporary art for Europe at Sotheby’s, has revealed that several other works by superstar German artists will also be offered on March 8. The Art Newspaper has more information.

 

Gerhard Richter, Eisberg (1982),(Image: courtesy of Sotheby’s)


 

Art Review to join forces with the K11 Art Foundation

ArtReview and ArtReview Asia have announced a two-year partnership with the Hong Kong-based K11 Art Foundation.

The partnership was established in view of ArtReview’s “Future Greats” program, whereby the magazine nominates each year emerging artists that will make an impact on the international art world, selected by the world’s most renowned artists, curators and critics. The collaboration with K11 will help expand ArtReview’s focus on emerging artists into China and Asia, and will culminate in an exhibition planned to take place at the Foundation’s various platforms. Read the press release here.


 

Details announced on Art Paris Art Fair, including award for emerging artists

Art Paris Art Fair has announced the list of participating galleries for its 19th edition, taking place between March 30 and April 2, 2017 at Paris’ Grand Palais — the home of fairs such as FIAC and Paris Photo.

This year, Art Paris Art Fair will welcome some 130 modern and contemporary art galleries, hailing from 29 countries. In keeping with the fair’s desire to support the lesser-known international artistic scenes, this year’s edition will have a focus on African art, with 20 African galleries participating. This spotlighting of African art is being led by independent curator Marie-Ann Yemsi.  The sections “Solo Show” and “Promesses” will feature monographic exhibitions and focus on emerging artists respectively. The fair has also announced the establishment of the Prize L’ART EST VIVANT in collaboration with The Fine Art Collective, which will be awarded to one of the artists exhibited in the “Promesses” section of the fair — featuring 12 international galleries aged six years or less.

Some of the participating galleries include newcomers Tyburn Gallery, (London); Montoro 12 Contemporary Art, (Rome); Gallery Tableau, (Seoul); Art Twenty One, (Lagos); ADN Galeria, (Barcelona); Galeria Alvaro Alcázar, (Madrid); Galerie MAM, (Douala); and Artelli Gallery (Antwerp). The full exhibitor list is available via the fair’s official website.