Art that makes you go jump in the night
Scary art news from Art Forecast! 👻
If you’re looking for a last-minute Halloween costume, may I suggest going as Marina Abramovic and Ulay in their 1980 Rest Energy performance? All you need is a white dress shirt, a black skirt, black pants, and a bow and arrow. Pose, step, repeat. Let the sorrow of love into your Halloween this year!
On the first of each month (tomorrow), I report on industry changes—new artist representation, gallery openings and closings, and miscellaneous news, such as new CEOs or directors. If you have a tip or would like something included, email me at tatum@artforecast.info.
All art news today has a spooky angle to it! Enjoy and talk very soon…
Spooky & Scary Art News
I am beyond obsessed with this Edvard Munch hair painting. All of her wigs are so creative.
Is Frieze for sale? Maybe. Endeavor Group Holdings, a global entertainment, sports, and content company, is exploring the sale of several assets, including Frieze, the Miami Open and the Madrid Open. The potential divestment follows a $13 billion private equity deal with Silver Lake, which will take the company private. While the assets are under evaluation, no definitive sales are confirmed. Frieze fairs (along with the recently acquired Expo Chicago and the Armory Show) are set to proceed as planned for 2025.
The annual art market bible, the Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting, says art spending has dropped by 32 percent, mostly due to a dip at the top end of the market. The median spend has remained relatively stable—which is a good sign. The Robb Report has a good breakdown of the survey.
Perhaps the scariest story in this newsletter…A parent wrote into the New York Times advice column asking if they should pose nude for the 11-year-old child prodigy. The answer to this question is always NO. Truly—what kind of artistic advantage do you think a child will get from learning to sculpt anatomy?
At least once a year, I see an article about a toddler selling art for thousands of dollars. “There was even rumor over the summer that he had been offered $325,000 for one canvas,” ArtNet reports. I think we need to collectively agree to stop letting this happen.
Are you watching Love is Blind? I have fielded a few texts about an art dealer who’s a contestant this season and, apparently, the villain. Read an interview with Leo Baudy here. In the show, he’s quoted saying, “I’m not trying to build an influencer career. I’m a rich fucking art dealer.” Yikes.
A palate cleanser:
The Whitney Museum of American Art is making art more accessible to younger generations by offering free admission to all visitors aged 25 and under. The initiative was made financially possible through a donation of over $2 million from artist Julie Mehretu, who serves on the museum's board of trustees.
In a statement, Mehretu said:
“I did not have access to contemporary art museums as a young adult, and when I moved to New York, I was waiting tables—it was hard to access contemporary art and culture, as it’s hard for so many grad students and young people. If you really want to push the discourse and evolve the discourse, many more people need to have access to be able to participate, and this programme is a step in the right direction—and we need more.”
Julie Mehretu has two million to give away to the Whitney? Amazing. Does she contribute to her alma maters as well? She must be the wealthiest RISD student ever.