This week's art news + must see during Frieze week NY
+ must see London
Firstly, I would like to say I can’t believe it’s already May - probably the most important month for art in New York thanks to upcoming art fairs. Sadly, having a 3-and-a-half-month-old baby doesn’t allow me to go this year ( although travelling with a baby is not as challenging as I thought it would be), so Instead, we kicked off May in my favourite island and ‘second home’ Mallorca. For an island, the art scene is quite impressive, and I cannot wait to share more in my upcoming expansion of the Stellar Club. I’m so grateful to all my wonderful readers that I decided I want to take this letter to the next level - currently working on new features and content - stay tuned!
Back to today’s letter—we start with some art news I find worth discussing and then my curated selection of shows to see in London now and during Frieze week in New York.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS
⭐ How David Salle taught an AI to think like a painter
I am personally not a fan of AI in relation to art but I read an interesting article written by the artist David Sale about AI. Once skeptical of AI, he explored its potential through a two-year collaboration with technologist Grant Davis. Aiming to create more dynamic, painterly imagery, they trained a custom AI model using a dataset of figurative art, including Sale’s own work. Traditional AI lacked artistic nuance, but their tailored approach led to “artificial unintelligence”—unexpected, rule-breaking forms. Using a visual tool called Wand, Sale generated hybrid images, printed them on canvas, and painted over them, blending machine output with human expression to create layered, uncanny works that bridge tradition and the future.
What do we think of this? Ultimately, David Salle concludes that AI is a tool, not an author—powerful in its capacity to remix and reinterpret, but still reliant on human direction and artistic intent.
⭐ Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel is acquiring Frieze
The global art fair and publishing group, from Endeavor—the entertainment company he co-founded—in a deal valued at nearly $200 million. This marks the first acquisition by Emanuel’s new global events company, backed by Apollo Global Management and RedBird Capital Partners. Frieze, which began as a contemporary art magazine in 1991 and now operates seven international fairs, will retain its CEO Simon Fox and leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. The deal comes amid a downturn in the art market, with global sales falling 12% in 2024 to their lowest level in eight years. Despite the challenging market, Emanuel sees Frieze as a strategic foundation for his events venture and a source of personal inspiration.
⭐Rare Early Basquiat to Head Sotheby’s New York Auction, $10M–$15M Estimate
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s market remains strong, with a rediscovered early painting set to headline Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Auction in New York this May. The 1981 untitled work, painted when Basquiat was 20, has not been publicly seen in 36 years and is expected to fetch $10 million to $15 million. This piece is part of a high-profile auction season that includes fresh-to-market works from renowned private collections, such as the estate of Barbara Gladstone and the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation. Other top lots include works by Lucio Fontana, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, and Ed Ruscha. Despite a general slowdown in the high-end art market, Sotheby’s anticipates strong results, with total sales expected to range between $382.9 million and $525.2 million. The Modern and Contemporary auctions will showcase rare, valuable pieces, driving attention from collectors looking for exceptional works.
⭐ TEFAF Most Affected by Trump’s Tariffs in New York Next Week
New US tariffs on art imports, including 7.5% on artworks from China and 25% on steel and aluminum sculptures, have caused complications for galleries at art fairs like Frieze and TEFAF New York. Many galleries have adjusted by renting furniture, using items stored in the US, or avoiding Chinese imports. Tariffs are based on the artwork's country of origin, not the artist's nationality, adding confusion, especially for pieces like Les Lalanne's furniture. While galleries face rising costs, attending these fairs remains crucial for exposure and sales.
MUST SEE DURING FRIEZE WEEK NEW YORK
🤍Barbara Gladstone Collection at Sotheby’s
On view until 15th of May
Sotheby’s will auction 12 significant works from the estate of renowned art dealer Barbara Gladstone on May 15, 2025, in New York. The collection, valued at over $12 million, features pieces by artists such as Richard Prince, Andy Warhol, Mike Kelley, Carroll Dunham, Elizabeth Peyton, and Alighiero e Boetti.
🤍Hilma af Klint at MoMA 11 May - 27 September 2025
A pioneer of abstract art, af Klint’s newly exhibited 1919–1920 botanical sketches reveal her spiritual effort to connect nature and the soul, blending scientific detail with mystical symbolism.
🤍John Singer Sargent at The Met until August 3
Nearly 100 works chart the American portraitist’s formative years in Paris, showcasing iconic pieces like Madame X and examining the celebrity culture that shaped his career.
*note: I saw his show in Tate Britain a year ago ( first time seeing his work and learning about it) and I was really impressed. Something tells me the show at The Met will be even bigger. Highly recommend.
🤍Rashid Johnson at the Guggenheim until January 18 2026
Johnson’s largest show yet spans 30 years of work, exploring Black identity and masculinity through ceramics, film, photography, and large-scale installations.
🤍The Gatherers at MoMA PS1 until October 6
Fourteen international artists tackle themes of waste, conflict, and environmental decay using recycled materials and immersive installations.
MUST SEE LONDON IN MAY (or at some point)
🤍The Genesis Exhibition: Do Ho Suh: Walk the House until October 19
This major survey exhibition of Korean-born, London-based artist Do Ho Suh showcases three decades of his work, including large-scale installations, fabric architectures, sculptures, drawings, and videos. Suh explores themes of home, identity, memory, and belonging through immersive, life-sized replicas of past homes and spaces. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on how we inhabit and move through the world, with many works shown for the first time.
*note: Very excited about this show. It will be also highly instagrammable.
🤍Jose Maria Velasco until August 17
This is the first UK exhibition dedicated to 19th-century Mexican artist José María Velasco, known for his detailed panoramic landscapes of the Valley of Mexico. Blending art and science, Velasco depicted both the natural beauty and industrial transformation of his country, incorporating geological accuracy and historical symbolism. The show marks 200 years of UK-Mexico diplomatic relations and honors Velasco's legacy as a major figure in landscape painting.
🤍Valentino Cortazar and Daisy Dodd-Noble: Dialogues until June 28
LAMB Gallery's second Dialogues exhibition pairs Colombian painter Valentino Cortázar and British artist Daisy Dodd-Noble, highlighting their surreal takes on landscape painting. Cortázar’s vibrant, memory-infused works draw from both Colombian and Mediterranean scenes, while Dodd-Noble’s dreamlike, colorful landscapes reflect her global travels. Though from different generations and backgrounds, their art shares a deep reverence for nature and evokes a sense of escapism, resonating with contemporary environmental concerns.
*note: I have been following and loving Daisy Dodd-Noble’s dreamy landscapes for a few years now. It’s great to see how well she is doing and love this show in conversation with Valentino Cortazar.
Resources:
https://www.ft.com/
https://www.artnews.com/
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/