Self-Portrait, Sir Anthony van Dyck at Sotheby’s, London
As supply diminishes and demand increases for Old Master works, this week’s sales at Sotheby’s and Christie’s in London may be remembered as significant in the recent history of the art market. Collectors seized the opportunity to purchase rare and significant works from the giants of European art history and pushed prices so high that numerous existing records were smashed. The auction of Old Masters and 19th Century Art at Christie’s on Tuesday, December 8, realized £68,380,250 – the highest ever total for an Old Masters auction. 2 of the top 5 prices ever paid for an Old Master work at auction were also witnessed at Christie’s in addition to new artist records for Raphael, Rembrandt and Domenichino. At Sotheby’s sale, a rare self-portrait of Anthony van Dyck that sold for £8,329,250, above the pre-sale estimate £2-3 million, helped bring the total within estimate at £15,098,250. Strong prices, record-breaking prices were also seen for works by the Dutch artist Cesar Boetius van Everdingen and the prominent British masters, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer and Samuel Scott.
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Currently showing at the Kunstmuseum-Wolfsburg  in Germany is an exhibit by Californian artist James Turrell. The exhibit marks the artist’s largest ever walk-through light installation. Situated within a museum context, the structure reaches eleven meters in height — almost touching the museum’s glass roof, and  covers 700 meters of floor area. Entitled “Bridget’s Bardo” the work is inspired by the cosmic qualities of the Roden crater– an extinct volcano in the desert outside of Flagstaff, Arizona and the site of Turrell’s ongoing and most ambitious project of his career. Turrell has been working on the crater since 1974 in an attempt to turn the subterranean crevice into a kind of artistic observatory where celestial light, in its myriad forms, can be studied and observed. The artist, who works predominantly with light, perception and space, has been working exclusively with the “immaterial” mediums since the 1960’s– continuously exploring the ways in which light interacts with surfaces, colors and spaces while using installation exhibitions to immerse viewers within the resulting visual–and often seemingly tactile– meditative experiences.
James Turrell, “Ganzfeld Piece (model)” 2008 Via DesignBoom
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Richard Wright’s winning wall painting, via TimesOnline
Last night, Richard Wright was announced the winner of the prestigious Turner Prize at a ceremony in Tate Britain. Wright’s highly intricate gold-leaf painting that won him the prize can be seen across one wall of the Turner Prize exhibition currently on display at Tate Britain through January 6, 2010.  Wright lives in Glasgow and so follows an illustrious line of Scotland-based winners – from Douglas Gordon back in 1996 to Martin Creed in 2001 and Simon Starling in 2005. At 49, Wright is the oldest man to win the prize since the under-50 age limit was imposed in 1991.
Wright rejected painting on canvas in the late 1980s and has become best known for his wall paintings which are temporarily crafted onto walls in overlooked places with the knowledge that they will soon be erased – almost everything Wright has created since this decision has been destroyed. His paintings combine graphic imagery and intricate patterning from sources as varied as Medieval painting, graphics and typography.
Four artists, working a variety of media, were in contention for the prize – Enrico David, Roger Hiorns, Lucy Skaer, and Richard Wright – Hiorns had been the critics’ favorite going into the competition.
–> Andrew Dickson, Arts Editor of the Guardian, talks to Turner Prize winner Richard Wright, Stephen Deuchar, Carol Ann Duffy, and 2001 Turner winner Martin Creed via The Guardian
Richard Wright: 2009 Turner Prize Winner [The Guardian] –>
A Turner Prize Winner Who Takes Viewers By Surprise [NY Times] –>
Turner Prize Winner Richard Wright Shocks World – Actual Art [Daily Mail] –>
Richard Wright Who Wrecks His Own Work Wins Turner Prize [Bloomberg] –>
I’d Like Him to Do My Living Room Wall [TimesOnline] –>
School of Art [BBC News] –>
You could call Wright’s art Minimalist, but it is also luxurious [Independent] –>
Richard Wright Wins Turner Prize [Financial Times] –>
Fresco Painter Richard Wright Wins Turner Prize [Reuters]
Groupon Class Action Suits Challenge Online Coupon Business.
Mondaq Business Briefing July 21, 2011 In the latest action to be filed in a series of class action lawsuits against Groupon, Inc., Carlos Vasquez filed a complaint on March 8, 2011 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of himself and other similarly situated consumers alleging that Groupon places unlawful expiration dates on its gift certificates. see here groupon houston
The action is preceded by similar class action suits pending in Illinois, Minnesota, California and Florida federal courts. In the complaint, Vasquez alleged that he purchased a $20 coupon for a one-month gym membership valued at $305, and the coupon expired two months later before he had the opportunity to use it. Because Vasquez was not aware that he could seek redress with the gym retailer, he claims that he lost the money that he invested.
The suit alleges that Groupon’s sale of coupons with short-term expiration dates is deceptive and illegal under state and federal laws. Specifically, the complaint states that Groupon is in violation of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (the CARD Act) and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), which prohibit the sale and issuance of gift certificates with expiration dates of less than five years after the date of issuance. However, under the definitions covered by the CARD Act, EFTA and the implementing rule Regulation E, a “gift certificate” and “gift card” must be issued “in a specified amount.” Clarifying the meaning of “specified amount” under the rule, the official staff commentary of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors states that “the rule does not apply to gift certificates or gift cards that entitle the cardholder to a specific ‘experience,’ such as a hotel stay or a golf lesson,” and expresses concern that sponsors of ‘experience’ cards would have to raise prices to adjust for anticipated cost increases over a five-year period if the five-year minimum expiration period applied. Despite the federal statutory definition of “gift card” and “gift certificate,” the complaint seeks to include the defendant’s gym membership coupon as falling within scope of the CARD Act and EFTA. The complaint also charges Groupon with breach of contract and violations of the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
In addition, the suit alleges that Groupon preys on unsuspecting consumers through its sales process whereby gift certificates are placed on sale and consumers feel pressured to act quickly – usually within 24 hours – to purchase the gift certificates under burdensome conditions. It further states that consumers “often cannot take advantage of and/or use the product or service they paid for before the expiration date unilaterally imposed” by Groupon. The complaint includes a sampling of internet postings by consumers who expressed frustrations about Groupon’s expiration dates, and states that “thousands of consumers have lost money” because of short-term expiration dates. The suit seeks restitution, disgorgement of monies that Groupon obtained as a result of the conduct at issue, compensative and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and a court order enjoining Groupon from engaging in these practices and requiring the company to fund an advertising campaign to remedy its allegedly lawful conduct. see here groupon houston
With similar class action suits pending against Groupon, it is unclear how courts will view the company’s practice of selling gift certificates with short-term expiration dates. However, after settling a lawsuit brought in Chicago last year, Groupon changed its terms of service to allow consumers to get refunds in cases where a merchant refuses to honor a coupon that is arguably still valid under state law. Because websites offering daily deals and discount coupons have significantly increased in numbers and popularity, the Groupon suits have the potential to affect many key players utilizing this business model and may shape how existing state and federal gift card laws will applyto online coupon services.
THE BOTTOM LINE Recent class action lawsuits brought against Groupon allege that its online discount coupons are subject to the five year federal minimum expiration period for gift cards as well as to relevant individual state expiration requirements, and may determine how these state and federal gift card legislation laws apply to online discount coupon providers.
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“There’s a lot less ornament and a lot more substance,” declared Micky Wolfson Jr., founder of Miami Beach’s Wolfsonian Museum – this phrase sums-up many reflections on the eighth edition of Art Basel Miami Beach closed on Sunday, December 6 where smaller parties dominated and collectors purchased cautiously. In keeping with tradition edgy Contemporary pieces were bestsellers at Art Basel Miami Beach with larger, museum-targeted pieces dominating the booths along with traditional works by Popular Latin American artists such as the Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco. Interestingly, while many Asian and European buyers skipped the fair, additional Portuguese speakers were hired to aid Latin American buyers who were out in force.
Santigold performs at the Raleigh Hotel
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David Hockney’s iconic painting “A Bigger Splash” (1967), is at the heart of the exhibition. Via Nottingham Contemporary.
Currently showing at the newly opened Nottingham Contemporary art space in the UK is a major exhibition of work by artist David Hockney. Over 60 works by the artist– including paintings, etchings and drawings, are on show from national and international museum collections for the museum’s inaugural exhibit, which focuses on re-examining the work that the artist produced while living in London and Los Angeles during the years 1960 to 1968. At the beginning of the 1960’s, Hockney was only in his mid-twenties and had already become one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary artists in Britain, building a national reputation for his distinctive, versatile art that was at once spontaneous, full of allusion and bold for its open references to homosexuality. Themes of the conventional yet “glamorous” California life abound in his work– particularly in his paintings of iconic glistening poolscapes and pristine lawns from the 1960’s, which evoke subliminal messages about society. Although Hockney has rejected the label of being a “Pop” artist, many of his works contain references to popular culture and draw inspiration from graffiti, magazine images, films and photographs, while also containing subtle indications of humor.  “1960-1968, A Marriage of Styles,” marks the first time that Hockney’s early work has been amassed in a collection since the Whitechapel Gallery retrospective of 1970.
David Hockney, “Life Painting for a Diploma,” (1962)Â Via Guardian
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An annual event at both Basel and Miami Beach since 2004, Art Basel Conversations has hosted platform discussions ranging from single artists exploring their practice to larger panels including the leading players of the art world. This week the renowned Beijing artist Ai Weiwei initiated the series at the new Oceanfront area at Art Basel Miami Beach. Ai Weiwei, whose courageous voice has earned him the label as a dissident to be watched by the Chinese government, opened-up to his audience and moderator Philip Tinari about merging art and activism and the challenges he has faced in his efforts to speak freely in a land of oppression.
Untitled  (2-5-75 Bernstein) (1975) by Donald Judd, via Simon Lee Gallery
Currently on view at Simon Lee Gallery in London is Donald Judd‘s ‘Progressions: 1960s and 1970s.’ This solo show of the American minimalist artist reveals the evolution of his manufacturing processes used in his three-dimensional and wall-mounted works. The exhibition features the artist’s early wall pieces and emphasizes the artist’s exploration of the relationship between color and the object.
Yesterday, New Art Dealer’s Alliance fair (NADA) opened its doors to a long list of top collectors and gallery directors that included Jay Jopling, Todd Levin and Lucy Mitchell-Innes. The stampede of eager art lovers cleared-out the booths that started the day filled with contemporary art from talented rising artists from around the world. The fair, now in its seventh year, is celebrating 80 of the world’s top budding galleries selected from 30 countries.
David Hendren’s installation at the Kim Light/Lightbox Gallery booth at NADA
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Currently showing at the Kunsthaus Graz in Graz, Austria is a group exhibition of work by artists Andy Warhol, Christopher Wool and Barnett Newman. The show is designed to explore parallels between the three artists and to simultaneously shed light on the influence of American Abstract Expressionism on Minimalism and Pop Art. A critical assumption underlying the exhibit is the idea that Warhol was influenced directly by Newman’s work.  Christopher Wool, one of America’s most significant contemporary painters, is brought into the comparison by way of his “Word Paintings,” which demonstrate a “mediatisation” of images and an overall radical approach to conceptual art–comparable to that of Warhol’s. Ultimately, “Painting Real” is a unique reflection on the work of Warhol and Newman from the contemporary perspective of Christopher Wool–supporting the idea that Wool’s work would never have been conceivable without the transformative work that both Warhol and Newman produced in the generation preceding him. Exploring shared themes of space, time and repetition, the exhibit functions as a kind of  historical compilation that speaks to the cumulative nature of artistic movements and the inner dynamics that propel them.
Variation on Color Seed Space Time Love (2009) by Ernesto Neto, via Bob van Orsouw
Currently on view at Bob van Orsouw in Zurich is Ernesto Neto‘s ‘Variations.’ Presenting his work for the second time at the gallery, in this show the artist displays his latest sculptures representing variations of biomorphic shapes. The viewer experiences these works in multi-sensory dimensions; they can enter, touch, and explore the established forms. Neto even experiments with the sense of smell in these works with different spices filling the inside of his sculptures.
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Kehinde Wiley’s portait of Michael Jackson entitled Equestrian Portrait of King Phillip II at Deitch Projects
It is rumored that in years gone by determined collectors were dressing as janitors in order to sneak into Art Basel Miami Beach prior to its official opening in order to snatch the most coveted pieces before their rivals. While this kind of vigor has not returned to the fair since the economic crash stalled the art market in 2008, the mood at today’s VIP preview seemed to be reflect the the vote of confidence that was delivered to the American art market when active bidding returned to the floor of the Post-war and Contemporary Auctions in New York last month.
Currently showing at the Cleveland Museum of Art is a landmark exhibition of work by leading Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin and his contemporaries. Encompassing 75 paintings, works on paper, wood carvings and ceramics by the artist, along with several works by his colleagues, the show focuses on illuminating how the artist developed his signature style by re-creating, on a smaller scale, the radical, independent art show that Gauguin and his artistic colleagues organized during the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. While Gauguin was excluded from the extravagant exhibition of conservative, academic paintings at the Grand Palais, he found a way to present his more avant-garde works and those of his colleagues at Monsieur Volpini’s Cafe des Arts, located on the grounds of the Exposition. The event, which was entitled “L’exposition de Peintures du Groupe Impressionniste et Synthetiste” is  now recognized as being the first Symbolist exhibition in Paris. The Cleveland Museum’s “Paul Gauguin: Paris 1889” re-creates the avant-garde event, bringing viewers into late 19th century Paris, into a replicated cafe–complete with wallpaper and cafe tables–and embedding them within a telling historical context.
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Art Observed is currently in Miami preparing for tomorrow’s preview of the eighth edition of America’s largest contemporary art fair: Art Basel Miami Beachwhich will open to the public on Thursday December 3 and run through December 6. More than 250 of the some of the most prestigious galleries from across the world will present over 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Earlier this year at Frieze Art Fair in London, organizers told the New York Times there were reports of ”significant sales from new and established galleries exhibiting at the 2009 fair.” Now, in light of results that exceeded expectations at Sotheby’s and Christie’s evening sales – with the former fetching $134.4m for 55 lots and the latter bagging $74.2m for 39 lots – there is further reason for confidence to be restored in the art world.
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Last week at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, the inaugural Art Abu Dhabi brought major figures from the international art world to the to rich capital of the United Arab Emirates. Â A boutique fair in comparison to Frieze, Dubai, Basel, and Miami, the event showcased only fifty galleries. The event was nevertheless international and high-profile displaying masterworks by Alexander Calder, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons et al many of which had never before been shown in the region.
Princess Michael of Kent at Galerie Gmurzynska and viewer looking at Gursky, via artforum
– Close to $100M of Russian art aims to be sold for Russian Art Week in London, where the vast growth of wealth in Russia allows for repatriation of that country’s works [Bloomberg] more on this here [WallStreetJournal]
A discerning look into some of the less disclosed but nevertheless driving forces and relationships behind various high profile exhibitions [Financial Times]
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Currently on view at Gladstone Gallery is an exhibition of new paintings by Carrroll Dunham. Over the past several years, much of Dunham’s work has focused on an iconic male character – often wielding a gun and baring his genitalia – set in flat abstraction. These paintings represent a shift in the gender of the main character, but also a move towards richer landscapes. Returning to a familiar motif of trees, Dunham places a nude female figure in a garden, a playfully exposed Eve alone amongst cartoonish trees and cacti, occasionally bathing, her ass stuck out, breasts hanging down, pubic and underarm hair spiraling wildly.
Installation view of Carroll Dunham’s exhibition at Gladstone Gallery
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An excerpt of an earlier collaborative performance at The New Museum’s Younger Than Jesusshow
On November 20th, ArtObserved attended a Performa event that was unlike many others. The evening started out engulfed in the crowd of stylish audiences, which noisily filled the small entrance lobby and occasionally poured out onto the sidewalk for a smoke or some air. As many languages resonated across miniature gallery, anticipation seemed to rise to a crecendo. Needless to say, The Kitchen filled to capacity.
The artist, a young French native who is now based in Berlin, shuffled in and out of the performance space beyond the large black doors. Hurried, yet composed, he let escape an occasional smile to the public.
Currently on exhibit at Gladstone Gallery in Brussels is an exhibition of new work by Elizabeth Peyton. The show, which reveals a continuation of Peyton’s focus on personal and stylized portraiture, encompasses a group of works on paper and employs a variety of mediums– water colors, colored pencil and  pastel pencil. The depicted subjects in Peyton’s new body of work range from historical figures like Napoleon and Cezanne’s “Madea” to portraits of contemporary artists such as Klara Liden and Rirkrit Tiravanija.
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Now on view at the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden is Georg Baselitz‘s ‘Dresdner Frauen/ Women of Dresden.’ The exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall and features major works by the artist that commemorate the destruction of Dresden at the end of the second World War. Baselitz and his wife designed the layout of the exhibition in order to emphasize works based on the artist’s reflections on the history and culture of Dresden.
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Nothing Matters/ The Empty Chair (2008) by Damien Hirst, via White Cube
I feel like I’ve arrived somewhere…In a completely different way. I feel I’ve got the tools to navigate somewhere. All that expression- doubts, fears, everything- can come out in this arena. -Damien Hirst in conversation with Gorn Burn, 2009
Currently on view at the White Cube in London are nineteen new paintings by Damien Hirst. The new works are exhibited at the gallery’s Mason Yard and Hoxton Square locations. Previously criticized at the Wallace Collection this fall, since the opening of ‘Nothing Matters’ Hirst’s new oil paintings have been selling well. Tim Marlow, the exhibition’s director at White Cube, reported that even before the exhibition opened, five of the seven largest works sold with the most expensive going for £9.5 million or $15.7 milllion. Prices for the paintings began at £235,000.
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Now on view at Helly Nahmad Gallery in London is a retrospective of the Impressionist master Claude Monet. The exhibition highlights the artist’s trips to London and Venice and the series works he created at the beginning of the century.  The character of each city is depicted through beautiful atmospheric effects of luminous sunlight or heavy London fog. This exhibition is very significant and notable in its presentation of a major impressionist in a private, intimate gallery space. The Financial Times calls the retrospective “the most beautiful exhibition in London this winter.”
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Currently on view at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel are recent works by American artist Jenny Holzer (b.1950). On display are Holzer’s paintings and sculptures as well as her famous LED installations which portray compelling as well as overwhelming combinations of visual imagery and text. The exhibition also incorporates a selection of works chosen by the artist from the Beyeler collection including those by Giacometti, Picasso, Malevich, and Francis Bacon. The exhibition extends outdoors with light projections onto major suites in Basel, Baselland, and Zurich.
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