June 29, 2026
Your morning brew of art world media
Welcome to Art Spell, a daily, comprehensive roundup of art news and reviews for the visual arts community. Today’s Editor’s Pick is Why one season of successful auctions won’t transform the art market by Scott Reyburn for The Art Newspaper. Record-breaking auction sales signal strength at the top of the art market, but rising costs and gallery struggles continue to weigh on the broader industry.
The Art Newspaper
EDITOR’S PICK - Scott Reyburn, Why one season of successful auctions won’t transform the art market: While impressive results in New York and London suggest buoyancy at the very top end, further news of closures and downsizing illustrates the soaring costs facing bricks-and-mortar galleries.
Ruth Millington, Remembering Desmond Morris, the Surrealist painter and zoologist who explored the artistic abilities of apes
Gareth Harris, What does the latest parliamentary report reveal about the ‘financial resilience’ of UK government-sponsored museums?
Artnet
Andrew Russeth, Swiss Institute Buys Space by New Museum, Plans Bowery Move
Margaret Carrigan, Has London’s Art Market Finally Beat the Brexit Blues?
Margaret Carrigan, A $60M ‘Magnum Opus’ Collection Heads to Auction—and More Art Industry News
Margaret Carrigan, Nari Ward Tackles the Immigrant Experience at Deste Foundation’s Hydra Fete
Min Chen, Why Animation Art Is Hotter Than Ever—and More Collectibles News
Vittoria Benzine, What Is the Raphael Loggia, the Vatican Masterpiece Being Restored After 500 Years?
Vittoria Benzine, John Singer Sargent Painting Reveals Hidden Image During Conservation
ARTnews
Osman Can Yerebakan, Seven Artworks to Catch Up On During the FIFA World Cup
Tessa Solomon, Vatican Museums Launch Major Restoration of Raphael’s Famous Frescoes
Leigh Anne Miller, Committee Urges Irish Government to Establish New Laws and Policies Related to Restitution
Tessa Solomon, US State Department Seeks Designs ‘Exemplifying America’s Exceptionalism’ for Venice Architecture Biennale
Andy Battaglia, White House Historical Association’s $7.2 M. Rockwells Are Finally on View
Tessa Solomon, Ancient City of Sardis Earns UNESCO World Heritage Status After Nearly 70 Years of Excavation
Harrison Jacobs, Maximilíano Durón and Leigh Anne Miller, Critic Sebastian Smee Joins The Atlantic, MIT Museum Gets I.M. Pei Archive, and More: Industry Moves for June 26, 2026
Harrison Jacobs, Upstate Art Weekend Opens For 7th Edition—Here Are 5 Shows to See
Harrison Jacobs, A ‘Lucky’ Orange Handbag Designed by Fiancée of Knicks Star Karl Anthony-Towns Heads to the Guggenheim
Maximilíano Durón, Untitled Art, Houston Lines Up 95 Galleries for Sophomore Edition in October
Devorah Lauter and Harrison Jacobs, Christie’s Lukewarm London Sale, Researchers Decipher Mount Vesuvius Scroll, and More
ArtReview
Mariacarla Molè, Palermo, the Orphan City
The Guardian
Kate Connolly, ‘We were broke, but fascinated by freedom’: exhibition showcases East German artist Gabriele Stötzer
Steve Dow, ‘The beach was and still is an Aboriginal space’: artist Billy Bain on reclaiming the sand and waves
Hyperallergic
Hakim Bishara, Ed Woodham in All the Odd Places
AX Mina, Hyperallergic’s Art Tarotscope for the Summer Solstice
Alisyn Amant, Every Dog Has Its Artist
Isa Farfan, Misan Harriman to Step Down From Southbank Centre
Lakshmi Rivera Amin, A View From the Easel
Valentina Di Liscia, Family Urges Help for Venezuelan Artist Trapped Under Earthquake Rubble
The Los Angeles Times
Ryan Steven Green, Mystery artist steps forward as future of iconic bird atop L.A. eyesore in doubt
From the Editors, Movies, books, art and music to explore as America turns 250
The New Yorker
Rachel Syme, The Met’s “Costume Art” Makes a Case for Fashion
From the Editors, The Artistry of Tarot
Observer
Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, Painter Justin Bua Might Just Be Art’s Most Outspoken Defender of Skill
Elisa Carollo, Christie’s and Phillips Kept London’s June Auctions Moving But Not Flying
Elisa Carollo, In the Icelandic Pavilion, Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir’s Mythmaking Takes Its Most Fluid Form
Dan Duray, One Fine Show: “Sophie Calle, Something Missing?” at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
T Magazine
Lauren O’Neill Butler, The Artist Painting Pastoral Landscapes in Technicolor
Urgent Matter
Adam Schrader, Satellite imagery shows quake destruction around Venezuela’s coastal landmarks
Adam Schrader, Connecticut man pleads guilty to stealing Courbet painting
Adam Schrader, Jay-Z figurine lawsuit heads for dismissal after art gallery, photographer reach settlement
Adam Schrader, Judge rejects gallery owner’s bid for a default win in assault lawsuit
Adam Schrader, Below the Fold: Injury suits cluster at New York City museums
Adam Schrader, Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner presses on with Santa Barbara museum appeal
Adam Schrader, National Hellenic Museum denies damaging George Petrides sculptures
Urgent Matter
From the Editors, Arts Calendar: Happenings for the Week of June 28
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