When the back-to-school feeling hits in September and the holidays are over, it’s easy to feel a little low. Fear not: below we give details on some standout shows to look forward to this autumn. From Picasso to Munch and Michelangelo to Jasper Johns, they are sure to brighten anyone’s mood:
Who knew that Old Masters drawings would be the talk of the season? While two blockbuster exhibitions in the UK are currently focusing on the genre, to great critical acclaim, the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has just announced the acquisition of 16 Old Master drawings in its largest-ever purchase by value (reportedly more than $100 million).
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Throughout the centuries many artists have been inspired by the South of France; the light, the sea and the magnificent views. It remains a popular holiday destination; a few of us at Gurr Johns are heading there for the summer holidays, which got us talking about our favourite places to retrace the footsteps of the modern masters and enjoy the regions artistic gems. Here are a few of our top tips:
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On 16 June, the Financial Times quoted Harry Smith, Chairman and Managing Director at Gurr Johns, in their article on recent Old Master auctions.
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Frank Lloyd Wright designed some of the most beautiful buildings of the 20th century and 2017 celebrates the 150th birthday of the highly influential American architect. In honour of this anniversary the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York are holding a major exhibition of his work in Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive. Best known for his iconic Fallingwater, the architect designed over 1000 buildings, nearly half of which were realized and this show offers a thrilling insight into the mind of this prolific and visionary man. Each section of the show is based around a key item or group of objects from his archives, and it comprises around 450 works including models, building fragments, films and drawings. Open now until 1 October 2017.
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The summer auctions of Impressionist, Modern, Post-War and Contemporary art in London are one of the major moments for the art market, and they’ve traditionally been the key art moments of the year in the British capital. This year, the tradition was slightly scuppered by Christie’s surprise decision not to hold any auctions of Post-War and Contemporary Art but the other auction houses carried on as normal nonetheless, giving the season a slightly odd dimension but still presenting a chance to see the art market at work and gain market intelligence before the long summer break.
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If you have any interest in art and antiques, this is the week to be in London. With a whole host of art auctions, fairs and events taking place across the city, and offering everything from antiquities to contemporary art, you’re going to need your stamina! Here we give you our take on four of the main events, along with a round-up of what to expect from the auctions.
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The 21st century has seen rather an explosion in the number of museum projects worldwide with particularly notable openings in recent years in the Middle East, where Qatar and Abu Dhabi have invested heavily in the cultural sector, and in China, where it is estimated that over 2,000 new museums have been built this century. Elsewhere, examples of major projects are plentiful; from Tate Modern (opened in 2000) to major privately-supported museums including the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, the Punta della Dugano in Venice, the Broad Museum in Los Angeles, and the Long Museum in Shanghai. And all the while, national museums continue to develop and adapt to modern audiences. We have picked out a few upcoming developments which have recently pricked our interest.
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This week sees the art world descend on Switzerland for the 48th edition of Art Basel, the giant of Modern and Contemporary art fairs. Bringing together more than 290 of the world’s leading galleries and showing works by more than 4,000 artists (with an estimated collective value of over $3 billion), the fair officially opens this Thursday (15th June). Launched in the 1970s, when art fairs were rarities, the event now welcomes almost 100,000 visitors a year and has also expanded with editions in Miami Beach and Hong Kong, as well as an ever-increasing roster of partnerships and initiatives.
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There has been a lot of well deserved buzz this week as the exhibition ‘Raphael: The Drawings’ opened at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. This truly extraordinary show includes 120 drawings by the Renaissance master and is on view until 3 September 2017. Not since a British Museum exhibition in 1983 has such an extraordinary gathering of his drawings been on view, and this is definitely a show not to be missed.
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