Art Daddy Weekly Wrap Up for 4/18/25
All the art daddy news that is fit to print.
This week feels like the calm before the storm, daddies. Sure, Art Dubai is happening and yes, the collectors are laundering money like it’s an Olympic sport but the rest of us are just biding our time, eagerly awaiting the spring fair blitzkrieg. It's coming. And it's going to be chaotic.
But first, some pressing gossip: Daddy’s arch-nemesis Erica P. has slithered back into town, presumably to pay her respects at Lar-Bear’s big 8-0. That’s right, on April 19th, our billionaire art overlord celebrates eight decadent decades of girlbossing, gatekeeping, and gaslighting the global art economy.
And yet… my invite mysteriously got lost in the mail? Interesting. Especially considering someone on the receiving end of larry@gagosian.com opened last week’s Art Daddy newsletter over 100 times. No Larry, I’m not stalking you, I just know how to read Substack analytics. And if you checked your inbox more often, maybe you would’ve responded to that heartfelt email I sent offering you my childbearing years (via surrogate, of course) over a year ago. Just something to think about while you blow out those candles.
Next week kicks off with AIPAD, then rolls straight into Frieze, TEFAF NY, Independent, SPRING/BREAK, and more (in that exact order, don’t get it twisted).
Let’s be honest though: the only reason anyone goes to TEFAF NY is for the movie-star oyster shuckers and the bottomless Ruinart. I can already taste those oysters with the sherry mignonette on the side and the glistening, chiseled shuck boys roaming the aisles with their little knife buckets strapped to their waists like sexy, seafood-toting utility belts. T-minus 20 days, Daddy. And then? We do it all over again in the concrete hellscape that is Basel. The mothership of fairs. And yet, I’m feeling... uninspired this year. Burnout? Ennui? Or just sick of $8 cappuccinos and bad lighting? Try all of the above.
And for those of you feeling overwhelmed by the whirlwind of art, oysters, and overpriced cappuccinos, Daddy’s got you. I’m officially launching Art Daddy Day Care™, a bespoke concierge service for keeping your daddies fed, hydrated, and appropriately dressed during peak fair season. Think emotional support, wardrobe consultation, and the occasional Ruinart refill. You're welcome.
Summer is right around the corner too and if you want an interesting house guest, and are a daddy who needs some company, why not throw your hat in the ring for the Art Daddy’s Hamptons application? Daddy will happily join you on your Hamptons estate and you will have the most fun date at any social event for the summer and beyond. The deadline closes 6/1/25.
And speaking of fairs, let’s talk artbro fashion because nothing says “I sell secondary-market Fontanas” like a very specific pair of pants. As I’ve said before, we’ve got two main camps.
Camp One is the Bed Godsill brigade: chinos (khaki or salmon, if he’s feeling wild), a pastel button-down, a navy blazer, and either Belgians or Hokas, depending on how much cardio the day involves. This is the international art bro uniform. You can wear it to the office, to TEFAF, to the Hamptons, to your ex-wife’s charity gala - it’s versatile. It transcends.
I never get tired of sharing this pic. Also note the holes in the Belgians.
Then we have the European daddies or just the more fashion-forward ones who show up in perfectly tailored suits that scream “I summer in Forte dei Marmi.” They top it off with sensible sneakers (Hokas again, because we get it, booth duty is brutal), and sometimes even a tie, if they’re feeling flirty. I can already see the sea of khakis and pastel puffery on the horizon. And you know what? I’m here for it. Let the daddy parade begin.
In the meantime keep reading for all things art daddy.
Tell Your Dad
In my newest Substack series, Tell Your Dad, I’m creating a space for art-world gossip, hot tips, and spicy takes. Want something called out? Think something deserves more attention that other outlets are ignoring? This is the place for it. Send your tips to theartdaddyy@gmail.com or slide into my DMs @theartdaddy_.
Larry Gagosian Turns 80: Billionaire, Bachelor, and Still Running the Art Game
Larry Gagosian, the silver fox ringmaster of the global art circus, is turning 80 this weekend — and naturally, the art world is losing its mind. Billionaire dealer, perennial power-lister, and founder of the Gagosian empire (aka the LVMH of galleries), Larry has been slinging blue-chip masterpieces like Warhols and Twomblys before most of today’s collectors were out of prep school. With over 17 locations worldwide, he’s less a gallerist, more a sovereign state. And unlike the work he sells, Larry’s not slowing down, just leveling up.
Lare Bear in a tux. Presumably what he will wear on Saturday too.
Of course, no Larry retrospective would be complete without addressing his real favorite medium: women half his age. While others collect Picassos, Larry prefers collecting PYTs with trust funds and Met Gala invites. He’s the king of the art-world, launching an auction paddle in one hand, a model in the other. Honestly? He’s the last of the old-school art tycoons who can still make headlines by showing up somewhere with a 26-year-old and a Cézanne in the same week.
And in classic Larry fashion, he’s closing out his reign at the Madison Avenue flagship with a full-circle flex: a Picasso farewell show, because of course he is. The show is packed, the A-lists are list-ing, and rumor has it this is the last big hurrah before Larry bids farewell to his iconic Upper East Side space this summer. But don’t get it twisted this isn’t a retirement party. It’s a coronation.Daddy’s watching, and honestly? Larry should be in love with the Art Daddy. It’s the only age-inappropriate relationship that actually makes sense.
Larry, Blink Twice if You’re Being Held Hostage by an Influencer
Erica P. is back, and daddy doesn’t like it. The glamazon nemesis of Daddy herself, the girlie whose life is basically one long Reel that starts with “paid partnership with” came back into town this week just in time for Larry G’s 80th birthday bash. She’s the kind of girl who rolls up to a Hauser & Wirth dinner in head-to-toe archival Alaïa and somehow still tags it #gifted. Her life? Less art world insider, more luxury skincare campaign shot in soft light with captions like “restorative rituals > revenge.” Ugh.
But don’t be fooled by the La Mer glow and the strategic friendships with foundation board members; she's here with intentions. Daddy clocked her name to likely be on the list for Larry’s birthday on the 19th, and suddenly the group chat is on fire. Is she back to make peace, or just to poach Daddy’s spot as the only person in New York who can call Larry “Lare-bear” and get away with it? One thing’s for sure: Daddy wants Larry, and Erica knows it. Game on.
Erica P. from the 2019 Cannes Red Carpet and something tells me this was many moons and surgeries ago.
Erica has been relentlessly trying to pry Larry away from me, and frankly, it’s getting embarrassing for her. I know she thinks that 45-second cameo in Emily in Paris three years ago catapulted her to international fame, but let’s be real: it was blink-and-you-miss-it background work, not a breakout role. She’s basically Anna Weyant cosplay: same blowout, same baby-voiced ennui, but somehow even less to say. And yes, I’ve had enough of Anna too, but at least she knew which side of the canvas the paint went on.
This is so giving influencer life and sponsored by.
I mean, what do Larry and Erica even talk about? Her favorite Erewhon smoothie? Whether her Aura Ring is synced? Larry, sweetie, this isn’t you. You built an empire, and now you’re going to throw it all away for a girl whose personality is sponsored by Olaplex? I'm just asking the hard questions here, like: How did we get here? Because this? This is not billionaire behavior.
Jerry Missed the Season and the Spotlight: Basel Called, And Said 'Who’s This?
Oh honey, Jerry Gogosian popped up in Basel off-season like someone who missed the memo and the moment. Wandering the empty halls like a ghost of art gossip past, she’s giving “once had a take, now just taking selfies.” Basel in April? That’s not avant-garde, that’s just bad calendar management. Once the darling of the meme-elite, now it’s all recycled jokes and lukewarm takes, while the real tea is spilling over on Substacks and close friends stories. Relevance? Left the chat. But hey, at least the backdrop is pretty for the grid.
Art News Headlines
Daddy-Approved: Theaster Gates and Tommy Kha Snatch Guggenheim Glory
Daddies, the Guggenheim Fellowship just dropped its 2025 class, and it's serving us visionary realness. Among the standout names are Theaster Gates, the Chicago-based artist and urban planner whose practice fuses art, architecture, and social justice; and Tommy Kha, the Memphis-born photographer known for his introspective and often surreal self-portraits that explore identity and belonging.
Tommy Kha part of the 2025 Guggenheim class and now a Guggenheim daddy.
These two are not just collecting accolades, they're reshaping the cultural landscape. Gates continues to transform communities through his artistic and architectural interventions, while Kha's work challenges and expands the boundaries of contemporary portraiture. Their inclusion in this prestigious fellowship is a testament to their groundbreaking contributions to the art world.
The meme that slapped back.
P.S. Word on the street is my Guggenheim Fellow meme made the foundation’s president laugh out loud. Yes, I am that good.
Crypto Clown Show: Justin Sun Sues for Giacometti, Geffen Claps Back with Receipts
In one of the spicer headlines this week, it seems like the art crypto bros are at each other's throats again. Justin Sun, who bought the Catelan banana in December then ate it, is now back in the news. Crypto bad boy Justin Sun just threw down the legal gauntlet at art world titan David Geffen over Giacometti’s Le Nez, which Sun thought he owned after dropping a cool $78.4M at Sotheby’s.
The artwork at the center of the bro lawsuits.
Plot twist? Sun claims his ex-art adviser pulled a Houdini, finessed forged docs, and sneakily sold the piece to Geffen—who’s now clapping back with a countersuit, calling BS and brandishing receipts. It’s crypto bros vs. blue-chip barons, and honey, this battle’s got more drama than a Venice Biennale VIP lounge. Read all about it from ARTnews here.
Faith Ringgold Gets the Gallery She Deserves: Jack Shainman Secures the Queen
Oh, Daddy is thrilled about this one: the Faith Ringgold estate just hitched its wagon to Jack Shainman Gallery and honestly? It’s about damn time. Ringgold isn’t just an icon, she’s the blueprint.
The Queen herself.
Her quilts? Revolutionary. Her politics? Sharp enough to cut through a Basel VIP line. This is the woman who gave us Tar Beach and American People while most of the art world was still pretending abstract expressionism wasn’t just white men crying on canvas. With Shainman behind her legacy now, expect the shows to be loud, smart, and finally getting the coins and context she’s always deserved. Ring the bell, daddies, a real queen is entering the building. Read the full article from TAN here.
In a NYT Style section manner, I also want to set forth some taste making elements.
I am reading: I'm reading Dancing on My Own by Simon Wu and rereading Bluets by Maggie Nelson.
I am drinking: Polar summer flavored seltzers are here.
I am looking at: All the men over 60 with real estate in other countries on daddy apps. I am also going to auctions to meet men over 60 with real estate in other countries so this counts as a form of looking