De Kooning Painting Recovered, Yayoi Kusama Gets Museum in Tokyo, and More Fresh News

The recovered painting by Willem de Kooning is readied for examination by (left) UA Museum of Art Exhibitions Specialist Nathan Saxton, and Kristen Schmidt, Registrar. Image courtesy of University of Arizona Museum of Art

 

News and updates from around the arts and auction community:

  • Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre, missing for 32 years, has been returned to the University of Arizona Museum of Art by a Good Samaritan from New Mexico. Preliminary authentication confirms it is the famous painting that was cut out of its frame and removed by a man and woman who followed a museum staff member inside the gallery on Nov. 29, 1985. [Read more from the UAMA]
  • Fans of Yayoi Kusama, the undisputed queen of polka dots, will soon be able to pay homage to the ground-breaking Japanese artist in her very own museum. The five-story Yayoi Kusama museum will open on October 1 in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward. [Read more from the Art Newspaper]
  • Rock legend Kirk Hammett’s collection of classic horror and sci-fi art has gone on display at the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts. The exhibition features 135 works amassed by the Metallica guitarist over the last three decades. [Read more from PEM.org]
  • To mark the centenary of the October Revolution, Tate Modern in London is planning a new exhibition titled Red Star over Russia: A Revolution in Visual Culture 1905–55. Drawn from the remarkable collection of graphic designer David King (1943-2016), the posters, prints and photos present a visual history of Russia and the Soviet Union from the overthrow of the last Tsar through Stalin’s campaign of terror. [Read more from Tate Modern]

 

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Readers can broaden their horizons in Jasper52 book auction Aug. 20

‘Several Papers Relating to Money, Interest and Trade … ’ by John Locke. First Collected Edition of Locke’s most important economic papers. London: Printed for A. and J. Churchill, at the Black-Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, 1696. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Jasper52 image

 

NEW YORK – Art, architecture, design and history come together on Sunday, Aug. 20, in a comprehensive book auction presented by Jasper52. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Rago to conduct blue-chip coin and currency auction Aug. 24

U.S. 1902 Liberty $10 gold proof coin (from a mintage of only 113). Estimate: $50,000-$100,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center image

 

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – On Thursday, Aug. 24, Rago will hold its largest auction to date of rare and fine U.S., world and ancient coins and currency. Featuring numismatic delights that run the gamut from highly accessible to highly desirable, the auction is certain to offer something for every budget and every level of collector in this 462-lot auction. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Mid-Hudson Galleries to sell ultimate popular culture trove Aug. 18-19

The hood scoop on this beautiful 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is personally inscribed by Burt Reynolds ‘The Bandit,’ with the glove box autographed as well. Estimate: $35,000-$45,000. Mid-Hudson Galleries image

 

CORNWELL-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – Although Bonne Terre, Missouri, is just a small town, it is home to a huge and astounding collection of pop culture memorabilia. About an hour south of St. Louis is a cavernous building containing the lifelong collections of local entrepreneur, Kevin Blackwell. The fabled collection, well known to locals, will be sold at one extraordinary auction Aug. 18-19. Mid-Hudson Galleries is handling the sale. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.Continue reading