Royal Academy of Arts announces partnership with 60 London galleries
The Royal Academy of Arts has announced that it is launching a partnership with 60 of London’s leading art galleries as part of the Mayfair Art Weekend — running June 30 through July 2 — with the aim of “breaking down some of the perceived barriers around the art world in Mayfair.”
The event, formerly known as Brown’s London Art Weekend, will take place in the Royal Academy’s premises in Burlington House, and will bring together powerhouse galleries such as Gagosian, David Zwirner, Hauser & Wirth, Lévy Gorvy, Almine Rech and Victoria Miro. Other than blue-chip dealers, the Royal Academy of Arts will also host a free arts festival, showcasing “temporary works” by emerging artists. Read more on The Art Newspaper.
For the first time, an African architect for the Serpentine Pavilion
From June 23 through October 8, the visitors of the Kensington Gardens will be met by a huge wooden disc floating above the lawn, designed by the architect Diébédo Francis Kéré for the Serpentine Pavilion. It is the first time that an African architect is in charge of the project. Diébédo Francis Kéré, who lives and works between Berlin and Gando (Burkina Faso) has commented: “The tree was always the most important place in my village,” he says, describing the inspiration for his design. “It is where people come together under the shade of its branches to discuss, a place to decide matters, about love, about life. I want the pavilion to serve the same function: a simple open shelter to create a sense of freedom and community.” The architect has never designed a building in England, a conditio sine qua non to be chosen for the project. The Guardian has more information.
Photo : Serpentine gallery
Mari Spirito resigns from Alt, Istanbul
After just over a year at Alt — an exhibition and art center which opened its doors in Şişli, Istanbul, at the beginning of last year — Mari Spirito, who had been appointed as director and curator of the space in February 2016, has announced she will resign.
Spirito will continue to work at Protocinema, “a transnational experiment making project” presenting “nomadic exhibitions in New York and Istanbul”, where she is curator and founding director. Artforum has more information.
Rodney Graham, “Vexation Island [Can Sıkıntısı Adası]” (1997) (all images courtesy of Alt)
A £14 million Basquiat to lead Sotheby’s London Contemporary Evening sale
Sotheby’s has announced that Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face) — painted in 1982, and now valued at £14-18 million — will lead the auction house’s Contemporary Evening sale in London, taking place on March 8.
The work hasn’t appeared at auction since 1987, when it sold for $23,100 — one of the highest prices ever paid for a work by Basquiat at the time. More information via Art Market Monitor.
