Paul McCarthy’s Chocolate Santa via Paper.

ArtObserved will have limited updates this coming week due to the Holidays. We will be back at full speed starting January 5, 2008.

Courtesy of the Guardian UK via C-Monster

Per Guardian

“Mark Kilner: Numbskull, 2007. One plastic skull encrusted with 630 ‘extra power’ paracetamol (AKA Tylenol) tablets. No diamonds”

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China’s Contemporary Art Museum via Art Newspaper

China’s first contemporary art museum backed by Belgian, Guy Ullens – [Art Newspaper]
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Best Upcoming Art Shows of 2008 – [Times Online UK]
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Mamontova Gallery in Russin debuts – [Bloomberg]
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Jeff Wall Show opens simultaneously in White Cube London, Guggenheim in Berlin – [Financial Times]
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UBS to display corporate Stash in Tokyo in ’08 – [Bloomberg]
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Picasso Stolen from Sao Paulo Art Museum – [ArtDaily]
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BP1 via Times Online

Basel does Bosch via the Garden of Earthly Delights [Times Online(UK)]
Brit Photography Icon, Sam Taylor Wood, bares all for Harpers [Harper’s Bazaar]
Ted Colen interview via ArtTalk, talks Deitch Hamster Nets [Juxtapoz]
Banksy peeved by re-sales in New York [Bloomberg via C-Monster]
New Picasso Book released, reviewed by NY Review of Books [NY Books]

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Damien Hirst’s “Mother and Child” via Guardian, Photograph by David Sillitoe

Damien Hirst has donated 4 major artworks worth £15m from his personal collection to The Tate Museums as part of the Tate’s Building the Tate’s Collection campaign. It is the first time Hirst has donated work to a museum. The works are:

(more…)

“Athenian Moon Owl” by Joseph Beuys via Tate

More on Gagosian Opening Gallery in Rome [Artnet]
Even More on Gagosian in Rome [TAN]
Coverage of The Fanciest Sattelite Parties at Art Basel Miami Beach [NYT]
The Insider – Profile of Gallerist Melissa Bent [The Moment]
New MoMA Acquisitions Include Joseph Beuys Pieces [NYT]

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Michael Craig-Martin, Self Portrait 1 via Bloomberg

Damien Hirst’s Mentor, Michael Craig-Martin, Makes a Comeback at Gagosian [Bloomberg]
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Richard Zeisler donates countless Masterpieces to Numerous American Art Institutions [NY Times]
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Hirst’s, “Mother and Child Divided” Sculpture, leaking in Oslo [FT]
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Species of Basel-ites per T Mag [T Magazine]
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Christie’s fails to hit their marks with Phillips Family Collection in London [Bloomberg]

via MoMA

Lucian Freud’s new show, The Painter’s Etchings, is opening this weekend at the MOMA. The show runs from December 16th until March 10th.

The Painter’s Etchings

“The Faun” Formerly attributed to Gauguin, via MAN

Art Basel Party Coverage [Style]
Miami Dispatch: The Weekend at Art Basel [Vogue]
Jeff Koons to Exhibit at Palace of Versailles Next September [Bloomberg]
Gauguin Sculpture at Art Institute of Chicago a Fake [MAN]
LACMA Receives Huge Gift of Modern Works [LA Times via MAN]

(Credit: Gage Academy)Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young for ArtObserved

Art Basel Miami, nestled in the sun and exorbitant hedonism that epitomizes Miami, began with a flush of exhibits, salacious parties, and collagen displays yesterday. The 4-day extravaganza is the most vital art show in North America and a requisite on the growing Art Fair circuit. To accommodate, Miami, usually a place that moves at the pace of its large population of retirees- adopted a New York pace- as party after party unveiled the newest pieces the Art world has to offer.

Beginning at 10 am, a media reception in the convention center hosted champagne, deviled shrimp and an opportunity to peak at the 200 gallery displays including 1500 artists. Held in a maze of white walls, it was immense and intimidating in size and visual stimulation. One critique is that at an event this large, the most time one can dedicate to a piece is a few seconds; no matter- as is widely known almost all the displayed pieces are already sold. So why head to Miami? Regardless of its commercial grandeur, intimidating size, and general over-exposure (most of New York has headed this way- and it is more likely this year to run into a record label executive, magazine intern, or investment banker than a legitimate artist), Basel and the manifold associated satellite fairs expose the state of the art world today, the commercially-accepted frontiers, the coinciding limitations, as well mandatory networking opportunities.

Full details after the jump. (more…)

Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young for ArtObserved

After the bustle of the opening Vernissage at Basel, attendees needed an infusion of energy. The Polo Ralph Lauren Party for the publication of RL’s newest photography book, sponsored by Interview Magazine, provided the perfect remedy: refreshing pear martinis. While Bruce Weber was a no show, Lance Armstrong stopped by to say hello.

Next, the party of the night was the Whitney Museum party at the Sagamore Hotel. (more…)

Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young for ArtObserved

The Vernissage (Opening) of Art Basel caused a traffic jam inside and outside of the Convention center. Though it was supposedly restricted on VIPs and press, the fair was overflowing with characters, well-suited men and art divas. Truth be told, it was more spectacle than substance as it was difficult to appreciate any of the actual pieces or talk with the artists while people shoved and sashayed by. However, with 200 galleries represented, (more…)

Rubell Family Collection booth at Art Basel Miami Beach
Photo by Charlotte Southern via Bloomberg

Collector’s Guide 2008 [Forbes]
Who Bought What at Basel [NYMag]
New York Galleries Plan to Open Sundays [NYMag]
DIA sells 22nd Street building for $38.5 Million [ArtsJournal]
Art Basel considers Branching out to Beijing [FT]
Kinky Puppets to Basquiat, Miami Fair Staged Exhilarating Show [Bloomberg]
High Prices, Robust Sales, Hangers-On Dominate Miami Art Fair [Bloomberg]
C-Monster Finds Echoes of Neckface in Artwork at Basel Miami [C-Monster]
Art Basel Diary [Radar via Gawker]
Video Footage of Art Basel Miami [NYTimes via Portfolio]
Gagosian May Open Office in China [NYMag via Portfolio]
Chelsea During Art Basel Miami Beach [Portfolio]

Courtesy of AFC
The Art Observed Staff is enroute to New York. We will have full coverage of all the Miami Art Basel Events starting Monday. Check in for more updates on the various events surrounding Basel.

Michael Craig-Martin, Hearing Things, 2003 via Tate Modern

Christie’s Sale of Rubens, Old Masters, Shows Guarantee Risk [Bloomberg]
Craig-Martin, Damien Hirst’s Mentor, Makes Comeback at age 66 with Show at Gagosian, London [Bloomberg]
Guide to Art Fair Stereotypes [T]

Debuting at Basel, James Westwood’s “Plywood Chateaux” via the Orlando Sentinel

Basel Alternatives – Breaking down the competitors [Newsmaker]
The best booth at Basel? [NY Mag]
Reliving the Swarm at Basel [Bloomberg]
Basel-opoly, are the prices for too high? [Miami Herald]
Uber VIP’s Private Showings [Portfolio]

via Hustlers of Culture

Jeffery Deitch kicked off Basel last night with hybrid burlesque/proto-punk performance, Heaven and Hell, featuring CocoRosie and The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black.

ArtLoversNY
WSJ

Images after the Jump

via AmyWilson

More pics to come…

Per Page Six:

“THE Art Basel convention in Miami this week has drawn planeloads of hard-partying New Yorkers. Tonight, Condé Nast and jeans company 7 for All Mankind co-host an event at the Ice House, while Cartier serves dinner at the Botanical Gardens and Jimmy Choo pours for the fashionistas at the Raleigh. Dennis Hopper will be at the Russia Miami exhibit organized by Jana Bullock and Hugo Boss. Tomorrow, Vanity Fair and MoMA hold a bash at the Shore Club, while Linda Evangelista hosts a dance party with Visionaire at the Florida Room. On Saturday, the event’s closing night, Russell Simmons and Allison Weiss Brady throw a benefit for the Rush Philanthropic Organization at Intermix, as Adidas stages a Y3 event in the design district. But the big invites for Saturday are the private dinner at Paul Wilmot‘s home and the soiree for Julian Schnabel and Lou Reed‘s flick “Berlin” at Set.”

Courtesy of the Spider Awards

“Containers”, the series of Cargo Containers turned galleries, forming a miniature village, features young contemporary artists including new work from Ryan McGinness. Last nigh, for the opening of Basel, they held a free Iggy Pop performance at 10 pm. They have created an impromptu stage for Iggy out of the cargo containers as well.

Off the Radar
Sun Sentinel
ArtNet

Containers Images after the jump.

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Thomas Zipp on Paper – Via Hikari

Weather was clear and sunny the day the fair opened, many escaping the heat into the hordes of people who had purchased tickets or somehow found their way into the exclusive Vernissage, or opening of the fair. While some seem determined to close the details on any hot pieces that managed to make to the fair yet unsold (many pieces are sold to collectors before the galleries even make it to the fair) most seemed to just be milling around aimlessly. However there was a buzz in the air and excitement to see such masterpieces as Basquiats that were hidden for years in a private collection at Jan Krugier’s booth, a breathtaking 5 channel video piece by Doug Aitken at 303 Gallery’s booth and a performance utilizing a piece by Jim Shaw (performed by his assistant) complete with four armed electric guitar and burlap hooded cloak.

More Images post-jump
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Hernan Bas Painting via Hikari

A not to miss on the Miami Art Basel agenda, is the famous Rubell Family Collection. Displayed in the design district in a large, blockish, museum-esque building. While a private collection, there’s nothing private feeling about it, including the vacuous galleries, bookstore and several banners on light posts proclaiming its presence. It’s clear that the Rubell’s have contributed and shaped the contemporary art world as we know it.
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Tank Inspired Bronze wins Inaugural Kandinksy Prize for Russian Contemporary Art [Bloomberg]
Gagosian’s Take on the Russian Art Scene [Men’s Vogue]
Britain to invest $100 Million into Tate Organization [Xinhuanet]
LA Contemporary Art Fair to debut January 2008 [Espaces]
Gap Founder to Open Contemporary Art Museum in San Francisco’s Presidio [SF Chronicle]

Image via tfaoi.com

On November 16th the 2008 Biennial Artists were announced. The curatorial team stressed a broader take on the American Art scene, moving away from the post-punk sway exhibited in 2006. This expansion primarily pertains to the genres and mediums covered within the biennial, not the physical number of artists, as there were 100 artists selected in 2006 compared with 81 for 2008’s Biennial. Also unique to the upcoming show, is the use of the Armory space on Park and 67th, primarily for perfomance and interactive exhibitions.
Headliners include John Baldessari, Robert Bechtle, Mary Heilmann, Michael Smith and Sherrie Levine.

ArtNews
Whitney.org
NYTimes
Full list of artists after the jump. (more…)

Courtesy of the Naked Eye

Art Observed has multiple members of our staff currently enroute to Miami for Art Basel 2007. We will be updating the site live for the duration of the week. Check in for our latest posts. If you have any information you would like to pass onto us please e-mail us.