COURTESY SOTHEBY’S
MARKET
Alex Rotter, who left his position as the co-chairman of contemporary art at Sotheby’s in February, is headed to Christie’s. He called the auction house “the Yankees,” and added, “I might as well go to the best team and make them even better, hopefully, with me coming there.” [The New York Times]
Ahead of his divorce from Amber Heard, Johnny Depp will auction his Jean-Michel Basquiat painting. No word on how much it’ll cost, but it’ll be expensive. [People]
Sotheby’s is offering fees to buyers, who can now accept money from the auction house in exchange for making a minimum bid. This system “makes them more competitive on the financial side with Christie’s,” said a partner in Danziger, Danziger & Muro LLP. [Bloomberg]
According to Marc Spiegel, the director of Art Basel, there may be a weakening art market, but that only means the galleries at this year’s edition of the fair will be bringing their best work. [The Art Newspaper]
GALLERIES
While it’s building a new home on West 22nd Street, Hauser & Wirth will temporarily occupy the former four-story Dia Art Foundation building. Annabelle Selldorf will adapt the space for the gallery. [The New York Times]
Almine Rech will open its New York space in October with a show of works by Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder. [The New York Times]
Jesse Stecklow at Chapter NY. [Contemporary Art Daily]
MARK BRADFORD
Before heading to the 2017 Venice Biennale, where he’ll represent the United States, Mark Bradford will have two museum shows. At the Clyfford Still Museum, he’ll curate a show of the Abstract Expressionist’s work, while at the Denver Art Museum, Bradford and Still’s paintings will be shown side by side. [The Denver Post]
CRIME
A Korean gallerist has been indicted for forging works by Lee Ufan. He’s being charged for copying three paintings and making $1.1 million in the process. [The Korea Times]