Art News

From her childhood in early 1900s Brooklyn to the end of her life in East Hampton, Lee Krasner painted with a distinctive, courageous vision. It was this vision that pushed her to persevere as an artist in spite of adversity and tragedy.

Nearly ninety, Pablo Picasso found himself in an utterly changed world. He was restless: “I have less and less time, and yet I have more and more to say.”

As one would expect, the semi-annual Oak Interior auction at Bonhams London is chockful of sturdy chairs and clunky chests. There’s also plenty of antique iron, brass, pewter, stone, and copper–if you happen to be furnishing a castle, this is the sale for you–but the lot with the most presence is this rough-hewn English oak jail door dating from the 1630s (or earlier) and showing “fascinating and macabre prisoner graffiti,” according to the auctioneer.

Artist Frank Stella entertains us in his vast Hudson Valley studio, reflecting on works in progress as well as those being offered at Christie’s.

In this episode of Expert Voices, join Prints & Multiples specialist John Maher in an exploration of Litho #1 (Waves #1), a masterpiece of printmaking by Willem de Kooning. A rare example of de Kooning’s early print work, Waves #1 comes from an edition of only 12 prints that has not been seen at auction in over two decades. De Kooning’s composition was crafted amid a burst of spontaneity and combines the immediacy of the single pass lithograph with the powerful brushstrokes that Abstract Expressionism is known for. While most known for his brightly colored canvases, this work reinforces De Kooning’s belief that “sometimes there’s more light in black and white”. (29 April | New York)

The Steinberg Collection represents one of the great private curatorial achievements of the past half century, informed by rare intelligence, dedicated research and a meticulous eye.

In this episode of Anatomy of an Artwork, lose yourself in the intricate details of this Tibetan Thangka Depicting a Hevajra Mandala. Vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow bring countless buddhist figures to life, from the sixteen-armed deity Akshobya-Hevjra to the Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen, a fourteenth century ruler of Tibet.

Discover an incredible insight into human psychology captured through the theme of portraiture, in this episode of Expert Voices. Sotheby's upcoming sale ‘Traits et Portraits’ (28 March | Paris) features 24 works on paper from a distinguished private London collection and includes highlights by Gericault, Ribera and Picasso. Taking place during the Salon du Dessin, Paris’s annual festival of works on paper, the sale features a dazzling group that spans four centuries and delves deeply into the art of portraying the human soul.

Moove over, Manhattan, cow coming through! And not just any cow, this one’s a molded plaster bovine sculpture drawn and painted by beloved children’s author/illustrator Maurice Sendak in the manner of his Caldecott Medal-winning book, Where the Wild Things Are.

With two upcoming auctions, Christie's offers the unique opportunity to compare the artistic outputs of some modern masters. Contemporary Edition, on February 27, features a variety of prints from Joan Mitchell, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and others. Their Post-War to Present sale, taking place the next day, offers singular works from some of the same artists.