A Pablo Picasso work unearthed in the recent discovery of 271 of the late artist’s work in Paris, France. Image courtesy The Telegraph.

In September, a couple boarded a train to Paris with a suitcase full of works by Pablo Picasso, including, as the New York Times reports, “several watercolors, dozens of lithographs, more than 200 sketches and 9 Cubist collages, in the hopes of having it authenticated by Claude Ruiz-Picasso, the artist’s son and the administrator of the Picasso estate.” The trip was at the request of the artist’s son after reading a letter Mr. Le Guennec had sent him requesting authentication.

The works’ owners are Pierre Le Guennec, 71, and his wife Danielle, 68. Mr. Le Guennec had worked as an electrician at three of the famed Spanish-born artists’s properties in the French Riviera in the early 1970s. The couple had kept the works in their garage for the past thirty plus years, but after Mr. Le Guennec’s recent surgery, they thought it best to evaluate the works for their children’s inheritance.

Instead of giving the authentication the Le Guennecs anticipated, Mr. Ruiz-Picasso contacted the Fight Against Traffic in Cultural Goods and his family’s lawyer, Mr. Jean-Jacques Neuer. Among heirs Mr. Neuer represents are Mr. Ruiz-Picasso, Picasso’s stepdaughter Catherine Hutin-Blay, and four others. A law suit was filed on September 23 claiming the works as stolen goods. Two weeks later, on October 5, the Le Guennecs were stunned to find the artworks seized from their home by police.

Pierre Le Guennec, retired electrician to Picasso, from whose house the works were seized by French police. Image courtesy The Guardian.

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Tiermetabolismus V (Katzchen) by Jonathan Meese at Bortolami Gallery, Art Basel Main Fair, Hall B, Booth I-09.

Art Observed will be on site as of today for the ninth edition of the America’s biggest contemporary art fair: Art Basel Miami Beach which will open to the public on Thursday December 2 and will run through Sunday, December 5.

The main section of the fair will house over 180 galleries and over 40,000 are expected following the December 2nd opening.  Annette Schönholzer and Marc Spiegler are the main fair organizers alongside its main sponsor UBS with Cartier, NetJets and AXA Art as the associate sponsors.  While Art Basel is still the main draw, the NADA Fair (the New Art Dealers Alliance) up the road at the Dauville Beach Resort will open to the public Thursday December 2. It will run through Sunday December 5 and also should not be missed.

Untitled (Art Fair Floor) by Ryan Reggiani.  Kate Werble Gallery at Nada Art Fair, booth 312.

The fair week is notable for its bridging of the Latin American buyers with American and British art centers as well as its uniquely intense amalgamation of social, media, fashion and other spheres of influence into the business of selling art.

The global art market seems to have stabilized this year and the main fair, along with its very significant satellites, should be met with lively buying this round.  Beyond this, all around Miami, the social calendar will be infused with events to the point where there is little chance to avoid regretfully missing something.

A view of an installation by Terrence Koh at The Island, an event during the week (see bel0w).

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John Baldessari, Epaulet, Hand, Arm, Baton and Elephant Leg, 2010. All Images © John Baldessari courtesy of Marian Goodman.

Pioneering California-based conceptual artist John Baldessari has been making his way around New York this fall.  Concurrently with his retrospective Pure Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Marian Goodman Gallery is entering its final week of Sediment (Part 2), an exhibition featuring a selection of the artist’s new painted works.

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John Baldessari, Bowtie, Shirt, Person (with Shadow) and Money, 2010.

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“For the Love of God” 2007, platinum diamond and human teeth. Image via White Cube Gallery, Beyond Belief exhibition.

“For the Love of God,” Damien Hirst‘s globally recognized piece in which he encrusted a circa-1800 AD skull with 8,601 diamonds (including a £4 million pear-shaped pink diamond embedded in the forehead), is now on display through May 1, 2011 in the Palazzo Vecchio – the massive Renaissance fortification and historic seat of the Florentine government.  The 2007 work, an iconic symbol of the last art boom, has not been displayed publicly in recent years.

The Pallazzo Vecchio, the current home of Damien Hirst’s diamond skull.  Image via Turismo Intoscana.

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Giacometti’s sketch of Van Gogh, executed in a 1961 textbook on Post-Impressionism by John Rewald. Image via the NY Times.

The private Upper East Side showroom run by former Christie‘s experts Christopher Eykyn and Nicholas Maclean has been temporarily opened to the public for a major exhibition of work by Alberto Giacometti. “In Giacometti’s Studio — An Intimate Portrait” runs from October 29 through December 18, and features nearly 100 objects ranging from major sculptural works to intimate drawings sketched in books and on newspapers, some of which have seldom or never been displayed publicly. The show’s contents were drawn from the collection of Giacometti’s late nephew Silvio Berthud, and organized by art historian Michael Peppiatt (a close friend of the artist’s family). “In Giacometti’s Studio” coincides with the publication of a book of the same title authored by the curator.

Alberto Giacometti, Le Nez, 1947. Image via Artinfo.

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Last night was the opening for Shadow Fux, a new collaboration between artists Rita Ackermann and Harmony Korine at the The Swiss Institute at Broadway and Broome Street, Soho, New York. The event was very well attended, with crowds to the corner on Broadway waiting to get into the fourth floor space. The opening had a number of large scale works in three rooms as well as a film screening in the furthest back room.

All on site photos from Art Observed

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John Currin, Mademoiselle, 2009. All images via Gagosian Gallery.

On view at Gagosian Gallery’s Madison Avenue venue is an exhibition of new and recent paintings by John Currin. Best known for his provocative, realist pictures inspired by Old Master works and vintage Danish pornography, Currin has expanded his figural repertory of female nudes to include satirical aristocratic portraits and mannerist re-imaginings of advertisements from Cosmopolitan.

John Currin, The Dogwood Thieves, 2010.

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Edward Hopper, Seven A.M., 1948. All images via the Whitney.

Modern Life: Edward Hopper and His Time, which opened last month at the Whitney Museum, presents roughly 85 works by the artist and his most immediate American contemporaries. Tracing Hopper’s singular vision of American realism over more than six decades, the exhibition stages a selection of paintings from their permanent collection (with several exceptions) in the context of works by members of the Ashcan school, the Precisionists, Social Realists, and others who examined modern urban and rural life in the first half of the twentieth century. Through comparisons of Hopper’s formal approach and social interests with those of the artists working nearest to him, the show reveals both conceptual intersections and stylistic distinctions between it’s titular master and his diverse peer group.

Edward Hopper, Early Sunday Morning, 1930.

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Saturday Night brought out supporters for Art in General’s annual young patron benefit at the newly opened Bunker Club in New York.   The night consisted of artist performances, drinks, and dancing, all in support of Art in General’s exhibitions and programs.

The New Sound Karaoke, with performances by husband & wife duo, Black Waterfall & Bobby Service, played by artists Lynne Chan and Bobby Abate (see video)  performed amalgams of 80’s glam rock and other genres alongside videos they produced.  Also shown was an animation by Kinho Karsyn, along with performances from guest vocalists Ben Coonley, June Fagley, Khaela Maricich, Michael O’Neill, and Jeanine Oleson.

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Luc Tuymans, Speech, 2010. All images via David Zwirner Gallery.

In a series of new paintings entitled Corporate, Belgian artist Luc Tuymans explores the social implications and troubling consequences of corporations and corporate identities. Tracing the origins of modern industry back to the dissolution of medieval feudalism, Tuymans addresses the mechanisms by which these entities shape contemporary culture. Through the visual vocabulary of corporate life, ranging from workplace lighting conditions to iconographies of trade and marketing, Tuymans distills the essential formal qualities of this phenomenon’s historical impact.

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Luc Tuymans, Fortis, 2010.

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Joseph Beuys, Stripes from the House of the Shaman, 1964-1972. All images via Kunstsammlung NRW.

My objects are to be seen as stimulants for the transformation of the idea of sculpture…or about art in general. They should provoke thoughts about what art can be and how the concept of sculpting can be extended to the invisible materials used by everyone. – Joseph Beuys

As part of the Düsseldorf Quadriennale 2010, the Kunstsammelung am Grabbeplatz and Schmela Haus present “Joseph Beuys. Parallel Processes.” The two-part exhibition, which opened September 11, 2010, will remain on view through January 2011, culminating in a symposium on the life and work of the influential and enigmatic Social Sculptor.

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Cy Twombly, Camino Real II, 2010. All images courtesy of Gagosian Gallery.

On October 20th, Gagosian Gallery inaugurated its Paris space with an exhibit of five new paintings by Cy Twombly, grouped under the title “Camino Real,”  as well as a selection of the artists’ bronze sculptures.  The opening of Gagosian’s ninth gallery was scheduled to coincide with the start of FIAC, the International Contemporary Art Fair, which took place in Paris from October 21 to 24.  These works will be on display in the gallery’s project room until December 23, 2010.

Cy Twombly, bronze sculptures exhibition view, 2010.

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All installation photos courtesy of Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont.

On view in Paris at the Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont through Saturday, November 20 is Jeff Koons‘ “Popeye Sculpture.” The exhibition marks the artist’s third solo show in France, held at the same venue as his first in the country in 1997. Combining images and motifs from the popular cartoon strip with brightly-colored inflatable animals and assorted pool toys, Koons constructs an elaborate network of references, ranging from icons of mainstream culture to art historical iconography.

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Postcard from RCA Secret 2010 at the Royal College of Art, all photos via The Guardian

Twenty-eight hundred postcards are on view at the Royal College of Art in London through 6 pm this Friday, November 19. Until November 20th, the artists who created them will remain anonymous, their names (signed on the back of each card) revealed to buyers only after purchase during a one-day sale. The collection constitutes RCA Secret 2010: an annual exhibition and sale of postcard-sized art benefiting the Royal College of Art Fine Art Student Award Fund. To add to the allure of the unknown, a few household names are among the 1,000+ participating artists, including Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, Yoko Ono, Jake Chapman, Olafur Eliasson, Yinka Shonibare, Sir Peter Blake, John Baldessari, fashion designers Manolo Blahnik, Mary Quant and Sir Paul Smith, animator Nick Park, photographer David Bailey, film maker Mike Leigh and designers Ron Arad and James Dyson. Students and graduates from the Royal College of Art comprise the majority of the participants.

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These Days (2008-2009) by Damien Hirst, via Gagosian Gallery

Currently on view at the Gagosian Gallery (Davies Street) in London is “Poisons + Remedies:” an exhibition of new paintings by Damien Hirst, in which the artist explores the opposition between life and death through binaries of color and scale. In these works, Hirst expands upon his now-iconic use of the skull, represented starkly here in black and white, contrasting it with colorful, detailed images of scattered pills, which also reflect his ongoing interest in pharmacological motifs.

Passover (2008-2009) by Damien Hirst, via Gagosian Gallery

Simone de Pury gets down to close a bid from Jen Brill, Kaws and others fill the crowd.  All photos by Caroline Claisse for Art Observed.

Last night was the annual benefit for RxArt, held on 29th Street, just off 6th avenue in Chelsea, New York.  RxArt is a charity organization which fosters ” artistic expression and awareness through the challenging yet rewarding task of engaging patients through contemporary art in healthcare facilities.”  The non-profit organization curates and installs art work, from some of the most recognizable contemporary artists working today, in hospitals and other healthcare locations.   Last night was, again, a success with artist’s work for silent auction along the walls of the event space and with a live auction that took place at 9 o’clock which featured the master of ceremonies Simone de Pury in rare auctioneer form.  The event never fails in gathering many notable artists and art world professionals as attendees, this year bringing Kaws, Dan Colen, Will Cotton, Nate Lowman, Aaron Young, Terry Richardson, Ryan McGinley and others.

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Pay the Debt to Nature (2010) by Kaws, via Galerie Perrotin

Currently on view at the Galerie Perrotin in Paris is New York- based artist Kaws‘ “Pay the Debt to Nature.” The exhibition reveals a collection of nine paintings, five grisailles, and three monumental sculptures in fiberglass of his fetish personalities, including “Companion,” a pirate skull on the body of Micky Mouse and “Accomplice,” replicating the head of a rabbit.

Blackout (2010) by Kaws, via Galerie Perrotin

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All images by C. Claisse for Art Observed.

Art Observed was on site at Spencer Brownstone Gallery for the lively B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beamer), a one night event in which 25 artists participated in a collaborative, interactive installation of “moving light, sound, and performance” generated by the use of portable projectors. Curated by Rafaël Rozendaal, the evening aimed to create a three-dimensional environment in which the viewer was fully immersed in web-browser images transitioning, intersecting, and merging in a way that reflected the act of surfing the internet. The event has previously been held at venues in Berlin and Athens, and will take place again in Los Angeles this week on Friday November 19, 2010.

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Roxy Paine, Distillation, 2010. All images courtesy of James Cohan Gallery.

A  large scale installation evoking circulatory systems, arboreal forms, and industrial power-plants has taken over every room in James Cohan Gallery, even the offices. The new work by entitled Distillation, is by New York born artist Roxy Paine, and is part of his Dendroid series. Other works in the series are outdoor sculptures featuring steel tree-like sculptures, including the work Maelstrom, which was exhibited on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art last year. The sculpture begins in the first room, right near the receptionist’s desk, with what looks like an industrial steel tank, complete with valves and pressure gauges. The work extends from this main tank to evoke a variety of conflicting visual cues: internal organs, blood vessels, tree branches, weather vanes, computer mainframes, and of course, the material itself–industrial steel piping. No casting is used to make his works; instead, Paine uses a complex process of soldering and bending the material. Certain areas retain the marks of this process, such as serial numbers, soldering marks, and product names, while other areas are painted red or are highly polished. The sculpture extends throughout the gallery space, extending even into the back offices.

Roxy Paine, Distillation, 2010.

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Pipilotti Rist, 2010 SI Tribute Artist, and Sam Keller, Director Fondation Beyer and 2010 SI Award Recipient.
All images by Patrick Meagher for Art Observed.

Art Observed was On Site for the Swiss Institute’s 2010 Benefit Dinner and Auction. This year’s event honored Fondation Beyer Director Sam Keller and artist Pipilotti Rist. It also featured a live auction by Phillips de Pury Chairman Simon de Pury, which included works by Rita Ackerman and Harmony Korine, Pipilotti Rist, Paul McCarthy, and Jenny Holzer. Guest speakers for the evening were Marilyn Minter and Benedikt Taschen.

Prince George Ballroom, The Swiss Institute’s 2010 Benefit Dinner and Auction.

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The CHERYL Group, partnering with American Apparel, at P.S.1 MOVE!. Image courtesy of CHERYL.

The weekend after the closing of the ambitious survey “Greater New York,” visitors once again flocked to MoMA PS1 for Move!, a two-day event featuring 14 collaborations between artists and fashion designers.  Curated by Cecilia Dean, editor of Visionaire, and David Colman of the New York Times, the project featured interactive performance-based installations and saw 3,000 participants over two days.

Participating artists and designers included: Kalup Linzy and Diane Von Furstenberg; Rob Pruitt and Marc Jacobs; Terence Koh and Italo Zucchelli (Calvin Klein Collection); Tauba Auerbach and Ohne Titel; Olaf Breuning and Cynthia Rowley; Brody Condon and Rodarte; Rashaad Newsome and Alexander Wang; Dan Colen and Proenza Schouler; David Blaine and Adam Kimmel; Jonah Bokaer and Narciso Rodriguez; CHERYL and American Apparel; and Ryan McNamara and Robert Geller; and TELFAR + Lizzie Fitch, Rhett LaRue, Fatima Al Qadiri, Ryan Trecartin, and Leilah Weinraub.

The CHERYL Group, partnering with American Apparel, at P.S.1 MOVE!. Image courtesy of CHERYL.

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