Kobel's Art Weekly Archive

Highlights Munich photo S.K.

Kobel's Art Weekly 43 2025

The fair duo Frieze London and Frieze Masters are returning to their old strengths with new formats, observes Gina Thomas for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "White Cube, Gagosian, Thaddaeus Ropac and Hauser & Wirth may generate the highest sales with the stars they represent. However, Frieze London is also keen to promote smaller, partly subsidised galleries with experimental art in ... read more

VIP passes for the highest bidder

Kobel's Art Weekly 42 2025

Cut-throat competition has broken out among art fairs in the Persian Gulf. After Art Dubai initially positioned itself more internationally with a new management team, Art Basel announced the launch of a new fair in Qatar in May. The initial plan was to have around 50 galleries. In fact, almost 90 exhibitors are taking part in the premiere of Art ... read more

shortly before Artnet's Annual General Meeting September 2025; photo Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 41 2025

At first glance, there seems to be no end in sight to the demise of galleries. Almine Rech is closing its London gallery and liquidating its UK business, reports Melanie Gerlis in The Art Newspaper (paywall may apply): "The international gallery Almine Rech has closed its space in London's Mayfair and put its UK business into voluntary liquidation. Filings to ... read more

Here we go again: Art Cologne Palma Mallorca beach towel from 2007; photo by Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 40 2025

It's happening again: Art Cologne is making a second attempt in Mallorca. Following my initial report in Monopol and later in Artmagazine, Eileen Kinsella also reports for Artnet: "News of the expansion comes as something of a surprise, but a bright spot nonetheless, as numerous other major art fairs have ... read more

Fine Art Biennale Paris 2025; photo Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 39 2025

The auction results for the Karpidas collection in London are cause for celebration for George Nelson at Artnews: "The Sotheby's sale of British socialite and arts patron Pauline Karpidas's collection blew past its £53 million high estimate on Wednesday night, taking in £100 million (all prices include fees). The “white glove” result—meaning 100 per cent of lots sold—was the highest ... read more

Viennacontemporary 2025; photo Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 38 2025

The crisis in the art market is described in figures in the new Artnet Intelligence Report (PDF). In her analysis contained therein, Katya Kazakina paints a bleak picture: "The art world finds itself in a precarious position as it moves towards the second half of 2025. It seems like not a week goes by without ... read more