Welcome to the Friday Weekly Wrap-Up newsletter, where we explore the intersection of Art, Fashion, and Pop Culture.
🆕 V&A East Storehouse Opens This Saturday
Get ready to nose-dive into over 500,000 treasures at Here East, Olympic Park. From Egyptian sandals to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kaufmann Office, Picasso’s mega masterpiece to PJ Harvey’s guitar, it’s a backstage pass to art, design, fashion and performance. Free entry, opens tomorrow, 31 May!
💰 Sotheby’s Smashes Records
The Jordan & Saunders Old Masters sale hit a jaw-dropping $64.7 M, the highest single-owner Old Masters haul ever. Star of the show? Luis Meléndez’s cauliflower still life, breezing past its 25-year record to fetch $6.3 M after a five-minute bidding face-off. Veggies have never been so valuable.
🔍 Artnet Goes Private for $65 M
Beowolff Capital just scooped up 65% of Artnet and is offering €11.25/share (a 97% premium!) to take it private, deal closes today! After swallowing Artsy, they’re on a digital‐art world-domination spree. Watch this space. One comment by @bthomstevenson about the deal reads: ‘Data is about to be the new curator, and Beowolf just bought the museum.’
🇮🇹 Venice Biennale 2026: In Minor Keys
Curator Koyo Kouoh’s magnum opus lives on. The Venice Biennale will move forward with its 2026 edition, even after the unexpected passing of its curator aged 57, Koyo Kouoh, earlier this month. Scheduled to open on 9 May, the edition is titled ‘In Minor Keys’, and will unfold exactly as she envisioned.
🎨 amfAR Auction Debate
On Instagram, art-world jokester Dan Rosen wondered, “Why not GOOD art for a GOOD cause at amfAR?” Tracey Emin fired back in the comment section, “they got more money auctioning art by celebrities than they would by good artist.” Fair point, whether it’s Warhol or your cousin’s doodles, if it fuels HIV/AIDS research, that’s art with heart.
🛒 What’s in Our Cart This May?
Say hello to our brand-new monthly segment in your Friday Weekly Wrap!
May we suggest these art-world fits and fragrance hits? Think sculptural statement earrings to gallery front desk worthy candles, our perfectly curated picks will elevate your studio uniform, desk vibe or gallery-visit outfit. Head to our full May round-up and start cart-stashing now: ➡️ Browse Here
Stay gorgeous, stay curious and see you next week!
— The Art Gorgeous Team
