The Art Daddy's Weekly Daddy Wrap up for 6/15/24
From Basel to a search for a replacement for AD former staple the Christie's head of photography, here is all the art daddy news that is fit to print for 6/15/24.
This week marked one of the biggest fairs in the art world's seasonal calendar ––Art Basel. It is what I have dubbed the daddiest of all the fairs and brought back its popular Basel Social club for this edition as well. And with 285 galleries there, it was wall to wall daddies. While most art world people were either in Basel, or playing close attention, there were also other things that happened in the news this week as well too. Keep reading for a Basel breakdown, other important news items, as well as an exciting art daddy announcement in the search for a replacement for Darius Himes.
Basel Breakdown
Following the news of both Christie's and Sotheby's announcing multiple layoffs over the last two weeks, and tepid auction sales from May, many were anxious to see how sales would fare at Basel. While the fair officially ends tomorrow on Father's Day (yay daddies!) All week there have been reports from galleries on how sales performed.
Daddies descending on Basel.
Joan Mitchell's Sunflowers (1990–91) sold for a cool $20 m from David Zwirner to open the fair. Some other highlights from Zwirner both included Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting) from 2016 sold for $6 m. Some other major sales included Yayoi Kusama’s Aspiring to Pumpkin’s Love, the Love in My Heart (2023), which went for $5 million. Additionally Josef Albers’s Study for Homage to the Square (1966) sold for $1.6 m. This was rounded out by Joan Mitchell’s Untitled (c.1973) that went for $1.3 million
Hauser & Writh also performed well selling Arshile Gorky’s Untitled (Gray Drawing (Pastoral) )sold for $16 m. Some other standout sales included. Blinky Palermo’s Ohne Titel (Untitled) (1975) sold for $4 m. Louise Bourgeois’s Woman with Packages (1987–1993) went for $3.5 m. Mark Bradford’s Pink Pearl (2024) fetched $3.5 m. And Jack Whitten’s Xzee III (1977) got $2.2 m.
“At the same time, we recognize that the art market is undergoing a period of recalibration. … There is clearly a degree of caution in the market these days. However, I will say, given the energy in the halls today, that the art market is very much still here, and very strong,” Head Basel daddy CEO Noah Horowitz said about the market in a press conference following the VIP preview of the fair.
And he's right, when you pack it full of a who's who of the art world and the wealth and elite who are there to buy and sell, that is generally what you'll get––daddies trying to keep the market moving. Since Basel is regarded to be THE fair, how things perform here tends to be a barometer of the market overall. While it's no secret the art market is currently in a bit of a downward spiral, there are larger factors to consider such as global politics, the state of the US economy,and other factors, however, many at the fair were quick to point to major sales that were made to underscore that the art market is making a come back
CNBC reported that global art auction sales were down by 28% from 2022. This was the first blip on the art market's radar since the pandemic, and the average price dropped 32%, making it the largest decline since 2017. By all accounts the fair performed well this year and according to multiple art outlets, many dealers across the board reported strong sales giving people a chance to relax a little about what seemed more like daddy doom and gloom. With upcoming auctions at Sotheby's and Christie's next week as well it will be interesting to see how buyers respond to the performance in Basel.
Basel Social club
Daddies enjoying the outdoor experience of the famed Basel Social club.
There was also the Basel Social club, which offered fair going daddies a more relaxed and rural experience. Featuring 70 galleries, SCB has a full on bucolic feel. Located in Bruderholz, which is about 15 miles from Basel, it has a completely different vibe. To my mind it seems like the Hudson River Valley of Switzerland if you will. This served as the backdrop of some outdoorsy and quaint art activities and a chance for people to bond at the fair in another way. It seems like a far cry from the hallowed coke filled halls of Tres Rois, but still uniquely Swiss nonetheless. This also produced a fantastic anonymous piece by an unknown gallerist for The Art Newspaper (get in touch with me daddy).
Some Basel Shade
The piece from TAN was next level amazing. Whoever the gallerist they enlisted to do this and embed among everyone else, I applaud you. This was some of the best reporting I saw all week about the fair. I will now quote from my favorite part.
More Allegations Against Kehinde Wiley Result in a Canceled Museum show.
Following a sexual assault allegation that broke on social media two weeks against Kehinde Wiley, the painter of the famous Barack Obama presidential portrait took to IG to On Tuesday morning to defend himself. On the artist's Instragram page he produced mutiple screenshots of text messages between himself and Joseph Awuah-Darko, who first accsued him of sexual assault. In the post, Wiley called the accusations'' baseless and defamatory.”
Image of the artist Kehinde Wiley.
To date, three people have accused Kehinde Wiley of sexual assault inclding Nathaniel Lloyd Richards. Following this, two museums have also canceled or postponed upcoming Wiley shows. The Minneapolis Institute of Art canceled a traveling exhibit of his work and the Joslyn Art Museum has posted one. This produced another dramatic layer to this story that is unfolding about this painting daddy.
Anne Pasternak's Home Vandalized
Following a May 31st a Pro-Palestine protest at the Brooklyn Museum which resulted in 34 being arrested, and a huge police presence, several museum board trustees' homes were vandalized this week, including museum director Anne Pasternak. Pasternak's home was defaced with red paint and a banner that read “Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum White-Supremacist Zionist.” Also “blood on your hands” was stenciled on the home as well.
There is an ongoing police investigation and the NYPD has labeled this a hate crime. There were also three other homes that were defaced and the police are working to link them together.
Father's Day
Tomorrow marks Father's Day, a big holiday for daddies everywhere! To everyone who is an actual daddy to both human and animal children, and even if you're not, you should celebrate daily, because we are all daddies on the inside.
And, as I always like to remind people, you can't choose your dad, but you can choose your daddy!
A Thank You from The Art Daddy
I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank the art daddy readers and IG followers who sent in pictures this week! They were all so great and it was exciting to see the fair from your perspective. There were even some real celebrity sights with Larry G., DH and even Simon de Pury.
Here is DH and Simon getting cozy in a repost. Clenched teeth emoji.
While people slacked a little on sausage sightings, overall it was great to see and I am glad I could experience it from that POV. Keep the pix coming from all your upcoming art events daddies.
Official Search for a Replacement for Darius Himes Begins on 6/25
Since the public break between AD and DH, the art daddy has felt a void and you have to. DH played a special role In the art daddy's story, and now the official search will begin later this month.
The official search begins on 6/25/24. In the meantime, start to think of comparable daddies who could add to the art daddy's world. And hopefully, they are receptive to the attention and being objectified. Stay tuned for more details.
Things AD is currently obsessed with:
In a NYT Style section manner, I also want to set forth some taste making elements.
I am reading: This is from last month but WSJ reporter Kelly Crow takes a deep look into what happened to the dealer Brent Sikkema and the details surrounding his tragic death.
I am drinking: Trader Joe’s Watermelon Lemonade Seltzer.
I am looking at: I have been looking at the wonderful paintings of Louis Fratino this week and have been revisiting his wonderful fall 2023 show at Sikkema Jenkins a lot online this week.
Until next time daddies be sure to follow The art daddy substack as well as on Instagram to get your daily dose of daddies. Dm's are always open for news, gossip, and tea sessions.