Rob Pruitt, Viagra Falls (2008) via Tony Shafrazi Gallery

“Who’s Afraid of Jasper Johns?” runs from May 9 – July 12 at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York. Gavin Brown and Swiss artist Urs Fischer organized this show, which has been garnering a strong amount of publicity. Be sure to click on Art Observed’s exclusive covering of the opening. The exhibition celebrates juxtapositions throughout art and pays homage to Shafrazi’s legendary defacing of Picasso in the seventies by irreverent displays of art work out of context with traditional presentation. Different mediums, spaces, and uses of objects are shown. There are works from a wide range of artists, including,  Jeff Koons, Francis Bacon, Keith Haring, Cindy Sherman, to Rirkrit Tiravanija.

Tony Shafrazi Gallery
When Artworks Collide [NY Times]
Tony Shafrazi Defaces ‘Guernica’ Again [NY Magazine]
Picks: Who’s Afraid of Jasper Johns?” [ArtForum]
Tony Shafrazi Defaces ‘Guernica’ Again [NYMag]
AO on site: Fischer & Brown at Tony Shafrazi Gallery [ArtObserved]

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Alison Elizabeth Taylor, Era of Argus (2007) via NY Times

From May 22 – June 21, the James Cohan Gallery presents the works of Alison Elizabeth Taylor.  This will be her second solo show at the gallery.  She is best known for using the medium of wood marquetry. The artist creates narrative works which show American life with the underlying theme of violence and sexual tension. Taylor’s modern stories show the estrangement from nature. The subject matter is the barren American West and culture’s castaways.

James Cohan Gallery
Alison Elizabeth Taylor: New Works [Art Info]
An Artist Breathes New Life Into Renaissance Ways With Wood [NY Times] (more…)

Installation view via Team Gallery

Team Gallery in New York is currently showing der osten im norden des westens (which translates as ‘the north of the east of the west’) by Gert and Uwe Tobias. The title eludes to the unique provenance of the twin brothers -born in 1973 in Transylvania but currently based in Germany- who effortlessly blend Russian constructivism, Bauhaus architectural references, a strong historical sense and a dash of whimsy in their colorful, graphic work. This is their first exhibition in a New York gallery.

der osten im norden des westens [Team]
Interview with Gert and Uwe Tobias [veoh.com]

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Jake and Dinos Chapman via Telegraph UK

Jake, Dinos Chapman directing comedy on the art world [Telegraph UK]
Hedge-Funder Sender’s curator predicts art market “shakeout” [Bloomberg]
A Kehinde Wiley audio interview [Nat. Portrait Gallery via Norlos.com]
Julian Schnabel interviewed on the topic of film [Telegraph UK]
Waves of Russians buying choice contemporary treasures [Times UK]

Charles Saatchi via ArteSpain

Charles Saatchi, the influential British art dealer and advertising magnate, has signed a deal with The Art Trading Fund to advise contemporary art purchases in the Western market, as well as the emerging markets of China, India and the Middle East. Saatchi will garner more corporate patrons for his gallery and will receive a percentage of profits on pieces of art that go through his hands; the fund is hoping he “will bring global expertise to our plans to enter new markets.”

Hegde Funds gets tips on hottest artists [Bloomberg]
Art For Money’s Sake [Portfolio]
Saatchi to Advise Art Fund on Deals [New York Times]
Saatchi Signs Deal with Art Trading Fund [Artinfo]
Charles Saatchi will advise fine art hedge fund [Wall Street Journal]
World’s First Regulated Art Hedge Fund [Financial News]
Charles Saatchi [Wikipedia]
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Leonard Lauder via The New York Times

Lauder Steps Down as Whitney Chair [NY Times, Art Forum]
“The primary market has only one event, and that is Art Basel” [Bloomberg]
A look at the work of the Guggenheim’s Chief Conservator [NySun]
An Interview with Nan Goldin in her Paris home [The GuardianUK]

“untitled” by Raymond Pettibon via BFAS

From May 22 through July, 19, BFAS Blondeau Fine Art Services in Geneva is hosting the new exhibition of Raymond Pettibon entitled “Punk Epocha” which is composed of 70 drawings from the eighties.
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Raymond Pettibon [BFAS]
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Raymond Pettibon – Punk Epocha: 70 drawings from the Eighties [Artnet]

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Instructions (1989) via Saatchi

Paula Cooper Gallery is currently showing works on paper by Rudolf Stingel, in the recently opened 23rd Street space. Back in 1989, Stingel published a manual giving instructions for how to make knockoffs of his work; here Stingel paints directly onto those black-and-white instruction photos. He also follows his own directions and applies white onto white producing abstract patterns. The exhibition will be open through June 7th.

Rudolf Stingel [Paula Cooper Gallery]
Rudolf Stingel [ArtCal]

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Walton Ford, Tur (2007) via NY Sun

From May 8 to July 3, the Paul Kasmin gallery presents the works of New York born artist Walton Ford.  Ford works on large scale watercolors and his subject matter is mostly animals.  Though his work depicts animals almost scientifically, there are underlying themes such as colonialism, the impact of slavery, forms of political oppression, and present day social and environmental issues.  Hidden within the animal portraits are interwoven clues, jokes and folktales.

Back to Basics: Painters Walton Ford and Neo Rauch [NY Sun]
Paul Kasmin Gallery

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Image via Art Daily

The fifth annual Moscow World Fine Art Fair has drawn attention and the bank accounts of buyers from around the world. Travelers from Kyoto, New York, and Paris came to take advantage of Russia’s new exploding luxury goods market. There are 56 fine and decorative art vendors and 20 jewelry vendors who enjoyed brisk sales. There is €1 billion euros ( $1.6 billion dollars) worth of art at the fair. A highlight of the fair is Spanish artist José-María Cano’s oversized Wall Street Journal style illustrations of leading Russian personalities. The fair runs from May 28 – June 2nd.

Moscow World Fine Art Fair
Moscow Fair Brings Luxuries to Nouveau Riche [Art Info]
International Dealers Have $1.6 Billion of Art on Offer at the Moscow World Fine Art Fair [Art Daily]
A new Powerhouse for Moscow’s new rich [NY Sun]

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Yue Minjun, “Gweong-Gweong” via ArtNet

This weekend marked Christie’s first Hong Kong Evening Sale with artists such as Zeng Fanzhi, Zao Wou-ki, Yue Minjun setting auction records. Monday’s sale was the second day of Christie’s six-day auction of 2,400 paintings, gems and antiques that the company expects could tally HK$1.7 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Gun-Slinging Robot, Wooden Beams Mark Quiet Hong Kong Art Sale [Bloomberg]
Smiling Bombs, 101-Carat Diamond Lead Christie’s Hong Kong Sale [Bloomberg]
Picasso Women, Hirst Spots Mark Hong Kong Bid for Art-Fair Fame [Bloomberg]
Asian Contemporary Art Sets a Record [NYTimes]
Asian art records tumble at Christie’s Hong Kong auction [China Post] 5.26.08

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Fritza Riedler via Klimt.com

Klimpt’s dual acumen in portraiture and decorative design [GuardianUK]
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Tom Sachs’s Hello Kitty Sculptures: copyright violations? [NYMag]
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Art economist interview on her new global market study [ArtInfo]
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11 global art scene cities [ForbesTraveler]
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Rare interview with collector-scion/billionare Nicolas Berggruen [Financial Times]

Sekretärin via Gerhard Richter

From May 15, until July 2nd, the National Art Museum of China is presenting a selection of works of Gerhard Richter painted between 1963 until 2007. The exhibition will show at least 56 paintings. Gerhard Richter is considered as one of the greatest and most expensive contemporary artist of his generation.

Gerhard Richter. Paintings 1963-2007 at The National Art Museum of China [Art Daily]
Gerhard Richter [Gerhard Richter]
Richter, Top German Artist, Shuns `Crazy’ Market, Opens Show [Bloomberg]

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Kauffman Desert House in Palm Springs via greatbuildings

Christie’s auction of Neutra house didn’t actually close [NYTimes]
Recent auction results belie underlying market weakness [Economist]
Herzog & de Meuron to design Kolkata Museum of Modern Art [ArtForum]
Ukranians as a new force in art buying [Financial Times]
A financial take on the state of the art market [TheStreet.com]
Guggenheim and Met hunt for museum heads [New York Sun]

Balloon Flower (Magenta) via jeffkoons

A Jeff Koons sculpture, Balloon Flower (Magenta), which has been in the Dallas collection of Howard and Cindy Rachofsky for seven years, is set to be auctioned at Christie’s London June 30 and may fetch $23.5 million. The sculpture, originally purchased for $1 Million, has gained value as Koons has emerged as one of the world’s most influential contemporary pop artists. Balloon Flower is from the same “Celebration” series as the sculptures which are currently on view on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Koons Prices Balloon, ‘Flower’ Will Be Sold [NYTimes]
Jeff Koons: Iconoclast [Sundance]
Koons Sculpture to Fetch Millions[Bloomberg]
Christie’s Announces Sale of Koons [Art Daily]
Rachofsky’s Sell Koons to Focus Collection [Dallas News]
Koons Balloon Soars to Auction [ArtInfo]

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Francisco Goya The Witches’ Flight via Goya in Times of War [Museo Nacional del Prado]

For the 200th anniversary of the events of May 1808 and the start of the Spanish War of Independence, the Museo del Prado presents a major exhibition of Goya’s work. Almost 200 works by the artist are currently shown.

Goya in Times of War [Museo Nacional del Prado]
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The stained cape of his heart [Financial Times]
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Prado Pulls Goya Painting [ArtInfo]
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Goya at the Top of His Game [New York Sun]

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Pharrell on his design for Perrotin Gallery via [BBC]

Gallerist Perrotin collaborates with Pharrell [Billionaire Boys Club]
The recent effect of “non-doms” on the art market [Portfolio.com]
German gallery tries to halt Beuys sculpture sale [The Art Newspaper]
Vanessa Beecroft, Peter Brandt (2x) Aby Rosen in today’s Page Six [NYPost]
Remembering Robert Rauschenberg [NYMag]

Anish Kapoor Blood Stick (2008) via erikjsommer

Gladstone Gallery is currently exhibiting new work by the sculptor Anish Kapoor at both its 24th Street and 21st Street locations.  The exhibition is the first at Gladstone’s new gallery space on 21st street.  Kapoor uses divergent materials such as stainless steel and vibrant colored dyed wax to make his work, always placing a premium on the viewer’s interaction with the sculpture.

Anish Kapoor [Gladstone Gallery]
Interview with Anish Kapoor [Bloomberg]

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Playing the Building via Creative Time

From May 31- August 10, the artist and musician David Byrne will transform the landmark Battery Maritime Building in lower Manhattan into a massive ‘sound sculpture.’ The project is being executed with the help of Creative Time, the innovative arts organization known for its experimental public art. Visitors will be invited to ‘play’ the building, making music by controlling an organ that is attached to devices installed throughout the structure.

Playing the Building [Creative Time]
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David Bryne [David Byrne]
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David Plays the Building [Gothamist]
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David Byrne Explains [Fargfabiken]
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Teaching An Old Building New Vibes [NY Times] (more…)

Image via World’s Best Ever

today:
First look street art exhibit at the Tate [World’s Best Ever]
Studio visit interview with Ernesto Neto [ArtInfo via C-Monster]
Former Met Director de Montebello as NYU Professor [NY Times]
Art charity raises to buy Rubens for Tate where British state failed [Bloomberg]
French billionaires battle at Sotheby’s last week [Art Info]

Lucian Freud, Naked Portrait with Reflection, (1980) via Evening Standard

Following the success of Post-war and Contemporary art sales in New York, Christies has announced they will offer a rare Francis Bacon painting and a Lucian Freud masterpiece for his London auction. These two pieces are considered the most valuable and important works to come up for auction.

Boom for Bacon and Freud [Evening Standard]
Freud Masterpiece and Bacon Triptych Highlight Christie’s London Auction [ArtDaily]

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Vincent Van Gogh, Dr Paul Gachet (2nd Version) (1890) via Guardian UK

The painting in question was stashed in an Athens bank vault along with a sketchbook, which may be the last work of Vincent van Gogh.  The painting is a portrait of his physician, Dr. Gachet.  Doretta Peppa, claims her father “liberated” it from the Nazis during the war. 

Is the Van Gogh ‘find’ too Good to be True? [Guardian UK]
Discovered Painting May Be Van Gogh’s Last [ArtInfo] 

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Roy Lichtenstein via Gagosian Gallery

From May 12 through June, 28 Gagosian Gallery in New York is hosting the exhibition of Roy Lichtenstein, “Girls.” The works are a series of images of women, taken directly from newspaper and romance comic books from post-war in America.

Gagosian Gallery
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Roy Lichtenstein, “Girls” [Time Out]
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Lichtenstein’s Primary Ladies [NY Sun]

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“Study for Head of George Dyer” by Francis Bacon via Bloomberg

Sotheby’s to sell $15.6M Bacon portrait of suicidal boyfriend [Bloomberg]
IMPei’s new Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar [Financial Times]
Turner Prize announces 2008 Short List [Artforum]
Was Spring NY auction bidding “eerily thin?” [Wall Street Journal]
Update: Tate Street art exhibition includes only non-British [Financial Times]