Linda | Art Privee ™

Munich, Salzburg and Vienna

Written by Linda on November 21, 2017. Posted in Uncategorized.

When one visits Munich, the first thing to do is not sign up for a “City Tour” but to visit the Documentation Center that focuses on World War II and the rise of the National Socialism party aka the “Nazi party”. The Center shows, in a very objective way, how the Nazi party started and its rise. The Documentation Center chronicles what part Munich played in the support, rule and crimes of the Nazi dictatorship. It is a fascinating museum with news clips, videos, and films explaining the history of the Nazi party.

If you are interested in Contemporary art, the Museum Brandhorst is a must see destination. The museum houses what was once the private collection of Audi and Annette Brandhorst. Their collection started in the 1970’s and shows some of their collection as well as rotating exhibitions focusing on prominent artists and important themes in contemporary art.
When I visited, on view was an extraordinary exhibition titled “Cy Twombly: In The Studio”. This retrospective of paintings, sculptures, drawings and photograph spans an arc that reaches from the early 1950s right up to a picture from Twombly’s very last series of works, completed in 2011.

The Lenbachhaus museum is known for their large collection of the works form the Blue Rider group. Established in 1911, the artists that are associated with this movement are Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc and Paul Klee and their works are shown prominently. Joseph Bueys is also highlighted with room after room of his works on view. The Lenbachhaus also shows international contemporary artist and when I visited there were a room filled with Sarah Morris’ works and Franz Ackermann’s wall paper and collages. It is worth the visit just to see the Olafur Eliasson mammoth chandelier in the entry hall.

The Pinakothek der Moderne collection is housed in a gorgeous contemporary building, dedicated to art from the last 50 years. The building is breathtaking inside and out and the collection is first class. What I found to be amazing were two photographs from Anselm Kiefer’s studio. The photos show how Kiefer “styles” his complex works before they are attached to canvas or lead.
Give yourself at least two hours to enjoy this this exceptional museum.

A little jewel of a museum is the Glyptothek which houses one of the world’s greatest collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. The sculptures are dazzling and definitely worth a visit.

A tour of the BMW building and showroom was a fun surprise. The architecture designed by Coop Himmelblau is exciting and a great place to visit if you are a car buff. On the tour we saw elegant Rolls Royce cars, the newly designed electric vehicles and other very fast cars. This is were consumers can pick up their ordered cars with great fanfare.

I was disappointed that I was not able to see the Goetz Collection. It is house in a Herzog + de Meuron building that looks beautiful. I will have to put it first on my list for my next visit to Munich.

I engaged a lovely art guide in Munich when I arrived a day early. Marion Bierbling took me to some contemporary museums that were not on our group’s schedule. She was terrific!

We decided to drive to Vienna because we wanted to visit Thaddaeus Ropac’s gallery and home on the way. Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery, was one of the highlights of the trip. His gallery represents heavy hitting contemporary artists such as Antony Gormley, Tony Cragg, Alex Katz and Georg Baselitz. On view was Stephan Balkenhol’s wood sculpture and new wood paintings.

After the gallery tour we were hosted to a fabulous lunch at Ropac’s home, Villa Emslieb. This beautifully scaled villa filled with art is situated in a vast garden on the outskirts of Salzburg. Ropac is famously quoted as saying, “as a gallery owner, I am my own best client!” This is true. In his private collection there are wonderful works by Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys, Anselm Kiefer and Sigmar Polke among others.

The most fun art piece was in his swimming pool. Big bold letters spell out two words, “BE AMAZING”. On this particular fall day the weather was perfect, the lunch in his magnificent dinning room was delicious and his art first rate. Thaddaeus Ropac “IS AMAZING”!

The numerous museums in Vienna are overwhelming. There are just so many excellent museums!

I would suggest going first to the museum Belvedere (Upper Belvedere) which is world renowned for its collection of masterpiece by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. A tourist warning, it is very crowded and I would visit this particular Museum early in the day.
The Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (MUMOK) is a fantastic contemporary art museums and deserves a couple of hours to enjoy the many floors. The architecture is very interesting, especially the elevator bank. When I visited the only artist that I was familiar with was Candida Höfer. Be sure to check out their fabulous book/gift shop and tea and cupcake bar. The gift shop sells multiple works by well-known artists. There are other museums in this museum complex that are worth while, all you need is a lot of time.

I visited 21er Haus (Museum of Contemporary Art) not far from the center of Vienna. The works shown were very contemporary. Some of the installation made me smile. Yoko Ono’s “Mend Pieces” is an instillation that I saw last year in Chelsea. The concept is to put together some of the broken pieces of pottery and if you can mend the pottery pieces you can help mend world.

The World famous Albertina Museum does not fail to please. The big deal exhibition was “Monet to Picasso”. The show was excellent as well as the downstairs galleries filled with international contemporary artists.. Many American artists were represented. Such as Alex Katz, Roy Lichtenstein, Ross Bleckner and many more.

Germany and Austria is so full of cultural institutions it is hard to see everything that is worthwhile.

I must mentioning the “Sacher Torte” as part of the Vienna experience. It is the most delicious dessert that I have ever tasted. Visitors line up for hours to experience this treat at the Hotel Sacher where the torte was first created.

Museum Listings for Munich:

Museum Brandhorst

Lenbachhaus

Pinakothek der Moderne

Glyptothek

Museum Listings for Vienna:

Museum Belvedere

Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (MUMOK)

Albertina Museum

Museum of Contemporary Art

Austrian Museum of Applied Art

Hotels and Restaurants:

Zum Schwarzen Kameel; Hotel Sacher

Munich Art Guide:

Marion Bierling

0049 (0) 179 9313300

kunst@mukstudio.de

Visiting Japan’s Art Islands

Written by Linda on June 20, 2017. Posted in Uncategorized.

I was traveling in Japan when a Japanese billionaire bought a Basquiat painting at Sotheby’s for $110.5 million. I was not surprised.

The buyer, Yusaku Maezawa is the founder of the very popular online retail site, Zozotown. Maezawa has established a contemporary art foundation in Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo, and plans to show the work there after it tours institutions and museums around the world. There are many wealthy people in Japan who have spent billions creating their own private museums to showcase their collections. I was eager to visit as many private museums as I could on this trip. Some are very accessible like the Mori Art Center located on the top two floors of the Mori Tower designed by American architect Richard Gluckman. Others, like the the three museums on Naoshima Island, Teshima Island and Inujima Island, take a lot of planning and work to visit.

We started our visit at the charming Nezu Museum in Tokyo, which was once railroad industrialist Nezu Kauchiro’s private home and has a magnificent garden and tea houses. The galleries are filled with traditional Japanese art such as sculpture, ceramics, lacquer ware, bronzes and textiles, which is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

The Miho Museum, about an hour from Kyoto, is a an I. M. Pei-designed jewel. As you walk through a stainless steel tunnel under a mountain, you arrive at this spectacular private museum. It is small but reminiscent of the East Wing of the National Gallery in Washington DC. The museum houses the antiquities and Asian art from the collection of Nihoko Kiyama and her daughter Hiroko.

Other private museums espcially the three museums on Naoshima Island, Teshima island and Inujima Island take a lot of planning and work to visit. For example, to reach Naoshima island, visitors must be prepared to take a plane or train, taxi and a ferry!

There are three major museums on Naoshima Island. The Benesse House is a contemporary museum and hotel designed by Tadao Ando. This is where I stayed and my third floor hotel room allowed me access to works by Cy Twombly, Richard Long, Frank Stella, Bruce Nauman, and Hiroshi Sugimoto day and night. To walk to breakfast passing these masterpieces is an exceptional experience!

The Chichu Museum is another museum on the island and an Ando-designed masterpiece. Opened in 2004, it highlights only 3 artists: a breathtaking instillation room by Walter de Maria, Claude Monet’s water lily paintings displayed in a beautiful light-filled gallery and a James Turrell outdoor installation.

The Lee Ufan Museum is a tribute to Korean artist Lee Ufan and highlights his work in this third Tadao Ando designed museum on Naoshima Island.

In the charming town of Naoshima, houses have been turned into art installations. Some of the artists who created these interventions are familiar names such as James Turrell and Hiroshi Sugimoto. I was told that there are 8 million abandoned houses throughout Japan due to low population and young people wanting to move to the city.

Another ferry is required to visit Teshima Island. Visiting the museum is a surreal experience, a combination of a futuristic visual dome and primitive amoeba-like water features rising from the floor of the dome joining other larger pools of water. It is both very meditative and mesmerizing.

Inuijima Island showcases Seirensho, an abandoned copper refinery where architect Hiroshi Sambuichi and artist Yukinori Yanagi collaborated to create a dramatic installation. This is the smallest of the three island with a population of just 45 inhabitants.

While coming from or going to Naoshima, you may want to visit the shrine- like Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum.

Visiting these art islands is an extraordinary experience but keep in mind you must adhere to tight schedules and book months in advance.

If there were to be two national treasures in Japan, one would be Tadao Ando and the other Yayoi Kusama. Many of the museums and private homes were designed by Ando and every museum gift shop sold Kusama products. They represent the best of Japan.

List of museums:

Mori Art Center, Nezu Museum, Miho Musuem, Benesse House, Chichu Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, Teshima Art Museum, Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum

Art Viewing in London and Paris

Written by Linda on February 21, 2017. Posted in Exhibitions, Foundations, Travel.

Anytime is the best time to travel to London and Paris to see art. I had to go this February to visit the Shchukin exhibition in Paris at the Fondation Louis Vuitton because the show was closing soon.

My first stop in London was the Tate Modern to see the Robert Rauschenberg exhibition. After, I walked across the lobby to visit the new Switch House that shows art from the 1960’s to now. On view, “The Radical Eye: Modernist Photographs from the Sir Elton John Collection” was a stunning show and beautifully curated. A video showed how John lived with his collection and was extremely interesting. Room after room was filled with vintage photographs hung salon style in his home in Atlanta. It was a treat to see how he lived with his collection that he clearly loves.

On view at the V&A was the most uplifting exhibition in London. “You Say You Want A REVOLUTION: Records and Rebels 1966-1970“.

This exhibit explores the significance of the late 1960s and 1970s. As you adjust your headset one walks through various galleries, it is a delight to hear the significant music of that decade. Installations of film, design, civil rights activism of that era are highlighted. The best gallery looped a film on Woodstock. One could spend hours there enjoying the music from that event. Seeing Jimi Hendrix playing the “Star Spangle Banner” was mind blowing.

On view at the National Portraits Gallery was “Picasso Portraits” a major exhibition of over 80 works focusing on the artist’s family, friends and lovers. Picasso Portraits shows the astonishing variety and breadth of his oeuvre.

It is always exciting to meet artists in their studios. I had the good fortune to visit the studios of Zadok Ben-David, Ron Arad, and Anish Kapoor. Edmund de Waal‘s installation of porcelain vessels were showing at the Gagosian Gallery. Waal was there to explain his art and how he came to make larger works in black. He is extremely charming and articulate. Waal gifted his book “The Hair With The Amber Eyes” to his visitors.

The Anslem Kiefer show at the White Cube Gallery was a museum quality exhibition. Kiefer’s lead works, paintings and towers were highlighted. It was a breathtaking art experience.

Traveling to Paris for the day just to see the Sergei Shchukin Collection took stamina but I was determined to see this show before it closed.

Dazzling beyond comprehension are the words that I would use to describe this unique experience. It was amazing that the Louis Vuitton foundation was able to obtain the rights from the two different museums in Russia to put the collection together for the first time in Paris. The foundation did a wonderful job curating each gallery to show off these stunning masterpieces. My favorite room exhibited works by Gauguin. The art in this room felt mysterious, primitive and spiritual. These vibrant paintings were so fascinating it was hard to leave.

Shchukin was a collecting genius and I will share a quote about him:
“Here is a collector-hero coupled with a researcher-experimenter possessing some of the traits of the ‘old art lover.'” -Alexandre Benoit

Returning back to London I looked over the catalog and felt very priviledge that I saw theses masterpieces in real life. This trip was an “art highlight” that I will always remember.

Looking at Art in Miami After the Fairs

Written by Linda on January 5, 2017. Posted in Exhibitions, Foundations, Travel.

Art Basel Miami draws crowds from around the world. After the fair is over there are still many opportunities to view art in Miami.

Our tour started early in the Wynwood Arts District. We went to Panther Coffee for coffee and a delicious almond croissant, while we waited for the galleries and boutiques to open. The scene was bustling, very young and hip with a Williamsburg vibe. A few doors down from the Panther Coffee is Scotch & Soda, a clothing boutique with very cool and reasonably priced clothing for men and women.

A short walk from Panther are the Wynwood Walls at 2520 NW 2nd Avenue. Artists have painted the sides of the buildings like giant canvases. The large-scale paintings are extraordinary works of art, not typical graffiti.

The De La Cruz Collection was my first stop after the Wynwood Walls. This jewel of a museum is privately funded by Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz. They consider this collection an extension of their home having shared their collection with the public for over 25 years. The current exhibition, “Progressive Praxis,” displays the merging of a variety of styles and mediums by contemporary artists. Some familiar named artists included in the show are Tauba Auerbach, Dan Colen, Aaron Curry, Mark Bradford, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, and Guyton/ Walker among other notable artists. This beautifully designed museum is filled with exciting contemporary art on all three floors.

It is always exciting to visit the Rubell Family Collection. Inspired by the Rubell’s trip to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte this year’s show “New Shamans/Novos Xamas” highlights Brazilian artists. The first floor of the foundation is devoted to paintings, photographs and sculptures of 12 emerging and mid career Brazilian artists. “High Anxiety: New Acquisitions” on the second floor presents selections of artworks acquired since 2014. I can not wait to see their new campus that is scheduled to open in 2018.

“The Margulies Collection at the WAREHOUSE” is a gigantic 45,000 square foot newly renovated space. The Warehouse presents exhibitions from the collection of the internationally known collector Martin Z. Margulies. This breathtaking exhibition of the work from Anselm Kiefer is enough to draw you to visit this museum quality exhibition over and over. Special rooms have been built to show Kiefer’s stunning works in the best possible way. The warehouse also offers the opportunity to view work from other well known artists such as Jannis Kounellis, Ricard Serra, Donald Judd, Olafur Eliasson and many, many more.
Before you leave the Margulies collection be sure to go into their office where you will find Jason Schmidt’s work. On the walls are a portion of Schmidt’s photographic documentation of the most significant contemporary artists working today.
Schmidt has photographed over 600 artist since 1996, his work is compelling and it is fascinating to see recognized artists in their creative environment.

The Bakehouse Art Complex provides local contemporary artists with studios to work in and a gallery to show their art. Housed in an old Art Deco bakery this foundation is a place I like to visit each time I am in Miami. The public is invited to tour the studios, watch the artists create and buy works on the spot. It is opened every day from 12:00 to 5:00. Russian ceramicist Gerbi Tsesarskaia, who received a MS in Mechanical Engineering at the Marine Technical University in St. Petersburg and a MFA from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, is one artist that we have been following. Gerbi teaches ceramics and has shown her work nationally and internationally. My friends who collect her work bought three more pieces on this visit. There are many, many more museum to see and gardens to experience, I am looking forward to the next trip to Miami.

Miami Addresses:

Panther Coffee
2390 2nd Avenue, Miami

Wynwood Walls
2520 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami

Lunch Recommendations:
Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink
130 NE 40th Street, Miami

Mandolin Aegean Bistro
4312 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami

Boutiques
Scotch & Soda
2310 NW 2nd Avenue

Art Gems in San Francisco and Palo Alto

Written by Linda on November 14, 2016. Posted in Exhibitions, Foundations, Travel.

When traveling, my goal is to focus on private museums and art foundations that are highlighted in my website, Art Privee. I want to share special art experiences with other art lovers who might not be aware of these extraordinary places that are available to all.

Pier 24 Photography houses the extensive photography collection of the Pilara Foundation. Focused on photography, this couple has amassed an extraordinary collection in a very short time. The current show titled “Collected” is an exhibition of nine Bay Area photography collections which also include works from the foundation. Pier 24 offers a mesmerizing view of the Bay Bridge as well as wonderful art.

The Anderson Collection, situated on the beautiful Stanford University campus, is worth the 40 minute drive from San Francisco. The Anderson Collection shows the “best of the best” of modern and contemporary American Art. The collection started by “Hunk” and “Moo” Anderson began in the 1960’s and they still continue to collect today. The museum, a real work of art, was designed by Richard Olcott/Ennead Architects.
The Andersons seemed as delighted with the building as they are with the masterpieces that hang inside.
These extraordinary paintings by Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, Richard Diebenkorn and Mark Rothko, highlight examples of the New York schooling Art, Bay Area Figuration and the California Light and Space movement. Visiting this jewel of a museum is a rewarding art experience.

Paris and the French Riviera

Written by Linda on October 31, 2016. Posted in Foundations, Travel.

Picasso never fails to please.

When visiting Paris this year, the most exciting show that I saw was at the Picasso Museum, which reopened in 2014 after a five year renovation. We had a private tour of the new exhibition, “Picasso-Giacometti“. This highly anticipated show was organized by the Annette and Alberto Giacometti Foundation, pairing the paintings, sculpture and drawings by these two great masters of 20th century art.

Next, we ventured south, where we found more Picasso treasures. In Antibes, we visited the Chateau Grimaldi. Picasso was given a studio in Antibes to use in 1946, after the war. He worked there for only two months, creating sculptures and ceramics. His production was so prolific that the Musée Picasso in Antibes is comprised of works that he made just in that two month period.

One of the main reasons I wanted to travel to the south of France was to visit two private sculpture gardens that are open to the public in Provence.

The Bernar and Diane Venet Foundation is a must see. The artist is a passionate collector of works by his fellow artists including Frank Stella, Sol LeWitt, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd and many others.

The day we visited the foundation, Venet showed us around his home and told us stories of how he acquired his art. After, we walked the grounds, admiring his monumental sculptures and installations. Venet installed two pieces by famed artist James Turrell, one in a building and the other outside in nature. Both are magnificent.

Venet also created a beautiful Frank Stella pavillion. During our visit, he regaled us with stories of how he acquired the pieces. When you visit, make sure to give yourself ample time to enjoy the property and the art.

The next stop was a visit to Domaine Du Muy, a contemporary sculpture park newly created by the illustrious Mitterrand family.

Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand hosted a beautiful lunch overlooking a Subodh Gupta sculpture. When hiking the rugged trails in this park, one comes across sculpture after sculpture by internationally renowned artists. These works are carefully arranged in a natural setting by Edward Mitterrand and Simon Lamunière, guest curator. Some of the exceptional pieces are the Yayoi Kusama’s 1600 spheres placed in a pond, Claude Lalanne’s “Pomme de New York” and David Saltiel’s polished mirrors, reflecting nature. It is great fun walking the hills and coming across these sculptural gems. Be sure to wear walking shoes.

Our last stop was Villa Santo Sospri in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a beautiful estate open to the public, where Jean Cocteau created frescoes inspired by Greek mythology.

Part of the fun of traveling with an art group is getting entree to marvelous private collections. Allard Hans Georg Von Rohr was our lecturer and guide. Allard is a genius. In addition to having a photographic historical memory, he knows everyone in the art world.

In France, we saw collections that not only focused on contemporary art, but
also interior design and gardens. The furniture and lighting were unique; some pieces were playful and others elegant. The garden we saw in the French Riviera was a work of art. Sculptures were dispersed in groupings of succulents that also became little sculptures itself.

I adored the placement of Danh Vo’s deconstructed “Statue of Liberty” next to the view of the Eiffel Tower in one collection.

Collectors can be so generous. Each year Daniel and Florence Guerlain give a contemporary drawing prize honoring three artists. The prize has been in existence since 1921. They hosted a beautiful lunch and private viewing of their collection pre FIAC. We ate well at private homes and restaurants, stayed in wonderful hotels and saw memorable art.

Recommended Restaurants:
Paris
-Restaurant Michel Rostand
-Restaurant Violin d’Ingres
-Market
-Le Train Bleu
French Riviera
-La Petite Maison
-La Colombre d’Or
-Le Reserve de Nice
Hotels
-Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat

Joop van Caldenborgh’s Beautiful Brainchild: Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar

Written by Linda on October 5, 2016. Posted in Foundations, Travel.

The world of private museums is constantly changing: every day, collections are unveiled, new (and often unexpected) collaborations between institutions arise and boundary-pushing architectural marvels are built. The private museum sphere often sees the pairing of the historic and the contemporary in beautiful settings – nowhere is this tradition better displayed than the newly opened Museum Voorlinden in the Netherlands.

Fresh off of a September 11th opening, the Museum Voorlinden is located in Wassenaar, a stunning landscape with forests, dunes, winding waters, vast grasslands and gardens. The opening exhibition is an “ode” to the late Ellsworth Kelly, the first solo exhibition of the artist’s work in the Netherlands since 1979.

The most impactful private museums are the ones that spring from the deep passion and dedication of their often collectors. Museum Voorlinden is the brain child of Dutch businessman Joop van Caldenborgh, who, according to the New York Times, started designing the museum seven years ago, meticulously planning out all the details of the museum’s infrastructure to ensure a seamless viewing experience for visitors. The director, Wim Pijbes, was most recently general director of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The new Ellsworth Kelly exhibition is well-matched by the permanent collection, which includes pieces tailor made for the museum. James Turrell captures the scenery and natural light of Wassenaar with a piece called Skyspace. Argentine conceptual artist Leandro Erlich created “Swimming Pool” specially for Voorlinden.

If you happen to be in the Netherlands, we encourage you to also explore the unique art and architecture of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. And while you’re at it, make sure to check out the private museum scene.

Art, Architecture, and Design in the Netherlands

Written by Linda on July 13, 2016. Posted in Travel, Uncategorized.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a vibrant city with a unique contemporary architecture, a showcase for modern design. This extensive harbor area is one of the busiest in Europe. The city is dotted with bridges, buildings and even staircases designed by well-known architects, many of whom have relocated their offices to this Netherlands hub.

I was compelled to visit Rotterdam when I saw a picture in a travel magazine of the MRDV designed Market Hall. The design and interior mural were so fascinating that I had to see this structure in real life. As it turns out, the Market Hall was more stunning in real life than I could have imagined.

Amsterdam

At first glance, Amsterdam has an unchanging old world charm that seems even more quaint in 2016. But don’t let the exterior fool you. This city is home to the most extraordinary and advanced interior design workshops.

Designer and entrepreneur Joris’ Laarman created a “lab” which utilizes the most advance technology in creating chairs, tables, other interior accessories and even bridges. He collaborates with scientists, engineers and craftsmen using 3-D printing to create these works. His gigantic machinery that produces these objects is something straight out of Star Wars.

We also visited the design studio of the great Marcel Wanders. He is a prominent interior and product designer. His works can be seen at the Andaz Hotel. Wanders also has a design store where one can purchase his works in Amsterdam and New York called Moooi.

Studio Drift was founded in 2006 by Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn. The aim of this studio is to merge nature and technology. We saw that concept in full force on our visit. Real dandelions were dissected and glued to LED lights on a bronze structure. We were all mesmerized by the process. I was able to purchase one of their lights at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and am thrilled to have it in my collection.

We saw amazing private collections and visited artists’ studios. Many of the studios had government support. Entire buildings were were devoted to artists’ studios in some of the nicest part of Amsterdam with moderate rents.

The food was delicious and we especially enjoyed eating at the restaurant in the Rijksmuseum.

I intend to return to the Netherlands soon. Museum Voorlinden, a private museum located in Wassenaar, is opening in the fall of 2016.

Must See in Amsterdam:
Stedelijk Museum
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
Anne Frank House
Portuguese Synagogue, 1675

Must See in the Hague (very close to Amsterdam):
The Mauritshuis: On view “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” and the “Goldfinch”
The Gemeentemuseum Den Haag: This museum holds the largest collection of Piet Mondrian and many other world class artists.

Frieze & Beyond: A New York Art Week

Written by Linda on May 24, 2016. Posted in Exhibitions.

A magnificent art week in New York kicked off with the VIP opening of the hotly-anticipated Frieze Art Fair on Randall’s Island. Galleries from every corner of the globe were represented. Since this fair is a magnet for serious collectors, the commercial galleries in New York are showing their most interesting artists. Many of the shows are museum-quality, like the one at Mitchell-Innes & Nash, which highlights Tom Wesselmann in a powerful retrospection that is beautifully curated. Another high-quality installation is also on view at Acquavella gallery, which shows the early works of Jean Dubuffet accompanied by a stunning catalogue.

The Lisson Gallery recently opened a gorgeous new space on 24th street in Chelsea. Carmen Herrera is their inaugural exhibition artist. The show is fresh and exciting filled with vibrant colors and shapes created by an artist who will be 101 on May 31st.

Twice a year, the Guggenheim holds meetings for the International Directors Council that correspond to the auction schedules. Besides purchasing new and exciting acquisitions for the museum, this year we were treated to a curator-led tour of “But a Storm is Blowing From Paradise: Contemporary Art of The Middle East and North Africa” curated by Sara Raza.

We also had the opportunity to visit 3 impressive young women artists in their studios in Brooklyn, Jessica Dickinson, Sara Vanderbeek and Jacqueline Humphies.

It seems like the “art week” in New York explodes into three weeks. It is almost impossible to see the offerings at all three auction houses, attend the art fairs, gallery openings, see galleries uptown and downtown plus read about installations that one may have missed! At the conclusion of this art whirlwind, the gallery show that really lingers in my mind is Eric Fischl’s work at the Skarstedt Gallery. It felt so “now”‘with beautiful painting and imagery.

Art Basel Miami Beach 2015

Written by Linda on December 20, 2015. Posted in Uncategorized.

Everyone seemed to be a VIP at Art Basel Miami Beach 2015. Besides the stabbing, the rain, the floods, and traffic jams, collectors said they had a great time at the fair because the art was fantastic. In fact, there was so much material for sale, I wondered how it would all be absorbed?The most apparent trend this year was an emphasis on “women artists” who are being shown and highlighted in many of the private museums, private collections and commercial galleries. Pace Gallery showed Louise Nevelson‘s work, and many pieces sold immediately. The Rubell Family Collection focused on the women artists that were in their collection such as Janine Antoni, Rineke Dijkstra, Yayoi Kusama, and Isa Genzken.

Janine Antoni at the Rubell Family collection.

Their open breakfast, where fiancées were working together to provide buttered bread for the throngs of visitors in Jennifer Rubell‘s Devotion, was a lot of fun. The man cut loaves of bread, and the woman buttered it and gave it to guests. The line was very, very long.

Ana Mendieta‘s work is always on view at the de la Cruz Collection. I think of her third floor space as more of a shrine than an art installation.

The most exciting new space was the Jeffrey Dietch and Larry Gagosian pop-up gallery showing figurative works by well known artists. Architecturally, the space was fascinating and beautifully curated. They also showed many women artists, such as Marlene Dumas, Elizabeth Payton, Jenny Saville, and Dana Schutz, whose works were figurative.

Pop-up gallery from Jeffrey Deitch and Larry Gagosian

Dana Schutz at the Rubell Family Collection.

The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse was a knock out. Their new installation of Anselm Kiefer‘s work was museum quality and a “must see.”

Anselm Kiefer's work in the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse — Anselm Kiefer’s work in the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse

Tracey Emin's work "Always More," a perfect description of the art frenzy — Tracey Emin‘s work “Always More,” a perfect description of the art frenzy

As usual, there were too many auxiliary fairs, museum shows, and installations to see everything, but Art Basel Miami Beach 2015 was a high-quality experience, leaving art lovers feeling that they should have seen more.

Author: Linda