This week's art news: rise of Surrealist artists, Pace & Sotheby's collab, Hilma af Klint legacy

and a selection of exciting exhibitions opening in Europe!

This week’s art news is again a good mix of interesting topics and would like to expand on, especially on the overlooked Surrealist female artists ( which I will look into in the next newsletter). In the second half of this letter, I talk about new exciting shows that I am worth seeing ( I will definitely visit the Serpentine and the National Gallery. I am not sure I will make it to Amsterdam, but those who will hopefully report back!). And lastly, for contemporary art and literature lovers there is a little bonus at the end !

⭐ There is a growing market interest in overlooked female Surrealist artists, following the recent surge in demand for works by figures like Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. London gallerist Alison Jacques is at the forefront of this movement, showcasing lesser-known 20th-century artists such as Maeve Gilmore and Bona de Mandiargues. Their rediscovery aligns with a broader shift in the art market, where speculative investments in contemporary "wet paint" works are declining in favour of steadier, historically significant artists.

Maeve Gilmore , Bona de Mandiargues

While some fear that this focus on the past could overshadow emerging artists, experts argue that a balance has been struck. The Venice Biennale, for example, included a significant number of deceased artists in 2024, but this retrospective approach has helped recognize previously ignored talents without entirely sidelining new voices. Ultimately, Jacques and other market players believe that only a select few of these rediscovered artists will achieve lasting historical significance.

⭐Sotheby’s and Pace Gallery are negotiating a potential partnership that would see the auction house make a significant investment in the mega-gallery. While details remain unclear, insiders describe it as a "new model" rather than an outright acquisition. The discussions come as both companies navigate financial challenges in a sluggish art market.

Pace has been seeking investors for some time due to high operational costs, including its costly Chelsea headquarters. Meanwhile, Sotheby’s, under billionaire owner Patrick Drahi, has faced declining sales, credit downgrades, and layoffs. A recent $1 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s ADQ helped stabilize its finances.

The partnership could benefit both parties: Pace would gain financial relief, while Sotheby’s could expand its private sales business and strengthen relationships with high-profile collectors. It may also help Sotheby’s leverage its new Breuer Building headquarters, while offering Pace an alternative to its expensive Chelsea lease.

I think we will see more and more such partnerships or new business models if you will. In fact, we are already seeing them; auction houses collaborating with fashion houses, galleries working together or implementing exclusive nomadic models. I am curious to see how Sotheby’s and Pace will work out.

⭐ There is an ideological battle over the legacy of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint. Her great-grandnephew, Erik af Klint, who chairs the Hilma af Klint Foundation, is fighting to restrict access to her paintings, arguing that they should only be available to spiritual seekers, in line with the artist’s wishes. Erik opposes commercial partnerships and major exhibitions, including a stalled deal with mega-gallerist David Zwirner.

Hilma af Klint

This position has created friction within the foundation, which has been embroiled in legal disputes for years. Erik cites a foundation statute that mandates the works be accessible only to those pursuing spiritual knowledge. However, critics, including art historian Julia Voss, argue that such restrictions would be a major cultural loss and are impractical to enforce. Meanwhile, af Klint’s work continues to gain international recognition, with major exhibitions at institutions like Tate Modern, the Guggenheim, and the upcoming show at MoMA.

EXHIBITION & OTHER RECS

🤍Vincent van Gogh and Anselm Kiefer, two influential artists from different eras, are being brought together in a groundbreaking two-venue exhibition opening in Amsterdam this March. Anselm Kiefer: Where Have All the Flowers Gone (Sag mir wo die Blumen sind) will be split between the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum, exploring Kiefer’s long-standing admiration for van Gogh while offering new perspectives on his artistic evolution. Organized in close collaboration with Kiefer, who has created new works for the event, the exhibition is designed as a single cohesive experience, with each museum focusing on distinct aspects of his work.

🤍Edvard Munch Portraits , National Portrait Gallery Edvard Munch, one of the greatest portraitists of the 19th and 20th centuries, captured family, friends, lovers, and fellow artists with bold colors and expressive brushstrokes. His intimate portraits and striking self-portraits have left a lasting impact on the genre.

🤍Arpita Singh: Remembering, Serpentine Galleries Remembering is Arpita Singh’s first solo exhibition outside India, showcasing key works from her six-decade career, selected in collaboration with the artist. Her paintings blend Bengali folk art and Indian narratives with personal emotions, social upheaval, and global conflict.

❤️For fans of literature and Anna Weyant, here is a match made in heaven. I already subscribed.