The Brazilian art world comes together to fight fundamentalism
More than 1,000 Brazilian artists and art world professionals have signed an open letter protesting the climate of “hate, intolerance and violence against free expression in both art and education”. Signatories include Eliana Finkelstein, co-founder of Galeria Vermelho, but also artists Carlito Carvalhosa, Bárbara Wagner, Sandra Cinto, Iran do Espírito Santo, Cao Guimarães and Lucia Koch.
Following the closure of an exhibition dedicated to queer art earlier last month at Porto Alegre’s Santander Cultural Center, and the recent uproar caused by artist Wagner Schwartz’s performance at Sao Paulo’s Museum of Modern Art, the pro-democracy collective Pela Democracia, who published the protest letter, have lamented “that right-wing militants, segments of the neo-Pentecostal churches, some politicians, members of the state, the police and the Public Ministry are working together against artistic productions and institutions. They censor exhibitions, harass visitors and museum employees and use social media networks to demean and outrage people they disagree with.” More via O Globo.
Ataque Automático (1985), obra de Milton Kurtz - Imagem: Divulgação
The world’s biggest private Warhol collection “held hostage”
The 1,300 work-strong Mugrabi collection — including the largest number of Warhol works held in private hands — is currently being held at a New Jersey storage facility by Mana Contemporary. In 2014, the company agreed to provide storage space in exchange for the Mugrabi family’s recommendation of Mana’s services to their clients.
The company is now refusing to release the Mugrabis’ works on account of $500,000 of unpaid storage fees. According to the Mugrabis, Mana’s conduct is “destroying the family’s business”, as works held at the facility are scheduled to appear at museum exhibitions or have already sold. Read more on Bloomberg.
Bacon is back on the market
After Francis Bacon’s Study of Red Pope 1962. 2nd version, estimated at between £60 and £80 million, did not sell at Christie’s last June, Sotheby’s has announced that it will auction off another important work by the artist in New York next month: the triptych Three Studies of George Dyer, which hasn’t been shown publicly since a 1967 exhibition at Marlborough Gallery.
The triptych, painted in 1966, is estimated at between $35 and $45 million, and is currently on show at Sotheby’s London. More via Art Market Monitor.
Francis Bacon, Three Studies of George Dyer
