Gustav Klimt’s 1914–16 portrait of Elisabeth Lederer sold for $236.4 million with fees during the first evening sale at Sotheby’s new headquarters at the Breuer Building in New York on November 18. Surpassing its $150 million estimate, the painting was acquired by a phone bidder with Julian Dawes, head of Impressionist and Modern Art, after a 20-minute bidding session. Auctioneer […]
# Exploring Contemporary Art and Culture: Key Exhibitions and Insights As the world experiences tumultuous times, art serves as a refuge—an intimate exploration of humanity amidst chaos. Current exhibitions highlight themes of intimacy, identity, and resilience, featuring diverse artistic expressions from renowned artists. These exhibits reflect personal and collective histories, inviting audiences to engage deeply with the art and its […]
**The Resurgence of John Singer Sargent: A New Auction Record for a Watercolor Masterpiece** In a notable evening at Christie’s during New York’s fall auction week, a watercolor by John Singer Sargent made waves by setting a new auction record for the artist’s works on paper. The sale of “Gondolier’s Siesta” (1902-03) attracted significant attention, selling for $7.2 million, including […]
**The Legacy of Black Art in Detroit: A Historical Perspective** The rich tapestry of Black art in Detroit is woven with stories of pioneering artists who broke barriers and forged a powerful legacy. At the heart of this cultural renaissance was Harold Neal, a renowned Detroit painter known for his profound contributions to the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s. […]
Last month, Bob Ross Inc., the organization overseeing the legacy of the deceased Bob Ross, committed to assist public television stations facing cuts in federal funding. To accomplish this, they revealed their plan to donate 30 Bob Ross paintings produced during his series, The Joy of Painting, a cornerstone of public TV, to generate funds. Currently, the first three have […]
Filmmaker Ken Burns has introduced an enthralling new six-part docuseries, “The American Revolution,” debuting on PBS. This 12-hour documentary took almost a decade to finish and provides a thorough examination of the Revolutionary War that established the United States. Co-directed by Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, with a script by Geoffrey C. Ward, the series investigates the intricacies and sacrifices […]
In an extraordinary accomplishment for worldwide peace initiatives, The HALO Trust, a British non-profit organization, has declared the removal of its 300,000th landmine from Sri Lanka. These explosive remnants from a lengthy civil conflict have historically presented significant hazards, displacing more than 280,000 Sri Lankans from their residences. After the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009, over 1.5 […]
In 1859, Antonio Salviati established his glassworks to aid in the restoration of a local historic site to its prior magnificence. A vase at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum narrates its tale. Angelica Hankins Photograph by Fabian Öhrn December 2025 This vase, crafted by Salviati & Company circa 1960, exemplifies how Murano glass adapted elegantly to modern trends. The […]
There was an era when shoppers could only purchase as much as they could bear. Despite the commonality of shopping carts today, it initially required some persuasion to adopt their use. Heide Brandes December 2025 Daniel Grizelj / Getty Images Sylvan Goldman, a businessman hailing from Oklahoma, was employed by a California grocery wholesaler following World War I when he […]
Best Friends Animal Society features an extensive campus nestled in Utah’s canyons, yet its impact has expanded to influence nearly every shelter across the nation By Douglas Starr Photographs by Shayan Asgharnia December 2025 Chubby the macaw came with self-plucking injuries, often due to stress, lack of stimulation, anxiety, or life transitions. At 22 years old during the 2025 photo, […]