The Japanese city of Saitama, just north of Tokyo, has announced that will launch its own triennale next year, headed by director Takashi Serizawa, who formerly led nomadic exhibition space P3.  “Cities are not just accumulations of buildings and roads, but rather a composite of human endeavor, history, and culture that develops over time,” says Serizawa.  “I envision the Saitama Triennale as a kind of “soft urbanism” — a social experiment intended to breathe some creativity into the workings of this city, as a nucleus of culture and art.” (more…)

The Guardian reports that Marina Abramovic is currently working on a major installation in Sydney for July of 2015.  The artist was courted by arts philanthropist John Kaldor, who previously brought Abramovic’s work to the country in his 2013 exhibition 13 Rooms. (more…)

An article in The Guardian notes the growing popularity for online auctions as a means of discovering young artists, and offering an entryway for new collectors to first experience the art market.  “The idea is to make great art available to a far broader audience,” says Joshua Blackburn, founder of online gallery Artful. (more…)

Marianne Boesky Gallery has announced that it will open a new exhibition space in downtown New York, titled Boesky East.  Located at 20 Clinton Street, the space will open its doors May 4th with an installation by Pier Paolo Calzolari.  “I’m looking forward to expanding our reach into such an exciting neighborhood for art,” Boesky told Art Observed.  “Clinton street will be a wonderful complement to our Chelsea and Uptown locations.”

W Magazine has published a profile on dealer Maxwell Graham and his Essex Street Gallery space.  Having worked previously with Greene Naftali, Graham has run Essex Street for the past several years, and discusses his approach to running his space.  “It’s good to not do things properly sometimes,” he says. “I don’t always like the shows that happen here—but sometimes it’s not about me. It’s okay if something fails, as long as it’s taking a risk. I don’t want my artists to rely on art to make a living. I almost wish my younger artists would take after the older ones and disappear for 30 years. And, hopefully, I’ll be here for them to come back to.”  (more…)

Larry Gagosian’s proposed space in the Mayfair neighborhood of London has been approved, and will take up residence after renovations headed by Caruso St John, the firm responsible for the refurbishment of Tate Britain.  “We’re really excited to be working with Gagosian to create a preeminent commercial art gallery for London and we are delighted that Westminster City Council has given us the go-ahead,” says Ian Morrison, development director for Grosvenor’s London. (more…)

Sotheby’s first auction in mainland China closed today with an impressive final sales tally of over $37 million.  The final results included a record-setting $14,725,457 final price for Zao Wou-Ki’s 1958 canvas, Abstraction.   (more…)

Gerhard Richter, White, (1988), via Phillips

Frieze London opened its doors to VIP’s and the press today, beginning another hectic week of exhibitions, sales and, as is to be expected, major auctions from Phillips, Sotheby’s and Christie’s.  Beginning tonight, the three auction houses will look to capitalize on the atmosphere of frenzied competition that so often marks the major art weeks, with each bringing forth a strong collection of works from across the contemporary art landscape.

Peter Doig, Red Canoe (2000), via Christie’s (more…)

Gallerist Marian Goodman will open her new London space in the fall of 2014, and spoke with Art Info about the size and scope of her third gallery.  “The London gallery was inspired by our artists, many of whom are eager to show there but do not already have working relationships with other London galleries,” Goodman said.  “The London scene is so dynamic that I have been thinking about opening there for a very long time, it was just a question of finding a wonderful space.” (more…)

The Serpentine Sackler, via The Guardian

The newly completed redesign of the Serpentine Sackler Gallery is set to open this Sunday in London’s Kensington Gardens neighborhood, featuring a sloping new design extension by architect Zaha Hadid, which complements a freshly renovated gunpowder store initially constructed in 1805.

The Serpentine Sackler, via The Guardian (more…)

Art mogul Larry Gagosian has announced plans to open his 3rd London gallery in the city’s Mayfair neighborhood, and his 13th gallery worldwide.  The new space is set to open this fall.  “We’ve been looking for a bigger place in Mayfair, one that would resemble a Chelsea gallery,” Gagosian says. “And this has great space with over 15-foot-high ceilings.” (more…)

The Economist is reporting on the Dallas Art Fair, a young art fair looking to do for the Texan metropolis what Art Basel Miami Beach did for Florida’s South Beach.  Growing from a small 37 exhibitor event in its first year, a number of local and international galleries and institutions, including the Dallas Contemporary, are now participating in what is being billed as Dallas Art Week, showcasing the city’s emergence as a major American arts hub.  “It is the opportunity to reach out to the rest of the cities across America and say that you can participate in this appetite we have for art,” says mayor Mike Rawlings. (more…)