Every week, Artnet News brings you Wet Paint, a gossip column with exclusive scoops. If you have a tip, email Annie Armstrong at aarmstrong@artnet.com.
The hottest club in Los Angeles is… Sotheby’s!
This is a sentence I never thought I’d write: The best party frieze los angeles This year might have been… sotheby’s auction.
While the ultra-high-priced lots at regular evening sales bring excitement, the events themselves tend to be quite sleepy.That wasn’t the case with music industry moguls. Jimmy IovineTuesday night at his mansion with the rapper/producer. Dr. Dre, with the collector pulse music group Founder Josh Abraham,dealer david kordanskiand a group of Sotheby’s staff members joined forces to sell 11 works of art for a profit. Iovine and Young CenterDre and Iovine’s experimental, technology-focused academy. University of Southern California.
I stopped by Poker Wiz/Producer before arriving. jeff MagidStunning Mid-Century Home in the Hills Before the auction, he had a glass of champagne where many of his fellow collectors had gathered. “It’s great that Iovine does this for charity,” one person said, and we all nodded as the beat played. “But I would also like to see the inside of his house!”
The dazzling necklace tesla and vintage cars Curled up around the cul-de-sac where Iovine’s house is beverly hills. The event took place at my home’s roller skating rink. In other words, it’s right below the tennis court.
Although the invitations were strictly sent to VVVIP, both Elon Musk and jeffrey bezos It was rumored that he was on the guest list.Unfortunately they didn’t show up, but by the evening some super-money-picked art types, like advisors, were standing in the newly carpeted rink sandy hellerdirected by Gagosian sophia cohen,collector Stavros Meljos.
Hollywood also had a big hit with TV hosts. katie couric, splash producer Brian Glavinformer Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof,producer benny blancosports agent rich paul Everyone appears.
Many leading artists also took part, including those who donated their works to the charity auction. jennifer guidy, chase hall, Hilary Pesisand even the elusive Ed Ruscha “That’s cool,” I said. austin wiener, who worked in sales. “Artists aren’t usually in the room to do things like this.”
The lobster rolls were passed around, the gin and juices were poured, and lo and behold… james cordenTV personality, Keith McNally nemesis, took to the podium to begin the auction. “There’s going to be a coup! In the words of Ed Ruscha, a coup d’état,” he said, referring to Ruscha’s acrylic painting that ended up being sold. $130,000. “It’s a pleasure and frankly a favor that I’m doing something like this,” he joked. Late at night, Timbaland Grabbing the microphone, the guests staggered into their performance.
Naturally, dealers were also on hand. jack siebert and In honor of Fraser. karmaThe dynamic duo of brendan dugan and Siniša Máčkovićit was like enjoying. karma artist Anne Craven and reggie burrows hodges I got my job sold $60,000 and $320,000; Each. “Dre and Reggie Burroughs grew up in Compton at the same time, so we got involved seriously,” Dugan said. “He’s a big collector of his work.”
Handsome people gathered at the auction $2.5 millionaverage approx. $225,000 per lot. One of the collectors of light and space works asked me when the last hammer fell. “Does the appeal of bringing together so many people and holding an auction like this outweigh the appeal of an art fair?” The answer was obvious.
Come to Felix for the atmosphere, stay for the art
Poolside at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on the first day of the Felix Art Fair. Photo by Annie Armstrong.
As the decades passed, Los Angeles always seemed poised to become a full-fledged arts capital. But after many confusing stops and stars, it seems the moment has arrived for the “25-year overnight sensation,” as Ed Ruscha once said of himself.
“In some ways, it feels like the art world here has doubled in size in one year,” says the collector. dean valentineis a co-founder. felix art fairtold me in the just published Artnet art intelligence report. “The problem with LA is that artists have always been here, creativity has always been here. But the art world infrastructure was lacking. Now it seems like everything is catching up.”
walk in hollywood roosevelt As he performed Felix’s sixth repetition on Wednesday and felt the excitement in the room, it was clear Valentine’s decision was correct. of course, There’s no way it’s not there World Series of Art Poker At this time, because this year the game was moved to a private residence, but there were plenty of other distractions. (Last time, it was on the top floor of a hotel, where poker-loving friends gathered) jack black, Jonas Wood, Jeff Poeand Adam Alessi I put it out there for everyone to see. )
This year, an opportunity to impulsively deplete your bank account came through a pop-up. Dover Street Market Bespoke retail experiences created by artists available in the lobby Oscar Tuazon.Could you be interested in the next pair? van X sterling ruby shoes for $160?
Anyway, let’s talk about art. Among my highlights were the eerie surrealist paintings. Kira Selvin in king’s leapan enthusiastic sculpture made from found objects black dice Co-Founder Bjorn Copeland in europamischievous memento mori by jane corrigan in sea viewMr.’s room and a series of electrical drawings by Mr. tyson leader in Tiff Sigfries.
As I circled the poolside cabana gallery, the first day felt a little more subdued than usual. That was borne out by the chatter in the elevator lines heading to the 11th and his 12th floor exhibition halls, with wait times significantly shorter than in his 2023.
“This year we’re better organized,” says Felix’s other co-founder. mills moran, he said to me. “We meandered through the lines, disney world style. ” Collector Dan Teran Agreed. “That said, I don’t think it’s slow for the gallery. Things seem to be going well.” He noted large-scale paintings such as; Kai Christensen Knowles in romex And the sculptures are matt johnson in of ranch‘s booth.
upstairs to her 12th floor booth, Silke Lindner “I started to expect a different pace,” he told me. Sales started quickly, and she had no doubts it would do well by the end of the week. She said this is not an experience unique to current LA. “in Nada With shows in Miami and New York, things start out slow, and then sales slowly but steadily start to pick up. I was worried about the last performance at first, but it ended up being sold out! It’s a change of pace. ”
Felix’s newcomers seemed to be as happy with the relaxed energy as with the sales. “I started my gallery in a sandwich shop in London, so doing an art fair in a hotel is like a back alley,” he jokes. freddie powell from Ginny on Frederick’s Gallerywhich steadily sold works by various artists at prices below. $4,000 to $10,000. Powell said, “I’m satisfied because I was able to publish a lot of works.” “And we reconnected with some old clients. American galleries, which I love, do things like this. Tara Downs on the other side of us, alex schran”The Romex owner said, “I’m down the hall.”For me, it’s a great conversation to be a part of.”
we listen
artist/activist Nan Goldin officially joined X (FKA twitter) With a unique and discreet handle @crazynangoldin…The anonymous mastermind behind Instagram’s copycat call @who is who cancel your account, plaster Magazine got the scoop on his identity: Chicago Collector ryan courtman…while the internet mourns Deputywriter and artist Tao Lin announced that he is sell illustrations He created it for a now-defunct print magazine to be cool. $1,600… Singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and casper joplingmy nephew who deals in art. white cube Founder Jay Jopling, clearly divided…On a lighter note, loic gauser tied a knot with Daniela Perez Lopez; The two co-founded a dedicated auction app fair warning…exiled art forum chief David Belasco is on the talent list of drippingmid-June rave-in Sparta, New Jerseywhere does he go read at Julianna Huxtable…
this week’s party
Despite the previous item, this week’s party hasn’t actually happened yet.That’s what I’m holding together cultural advisor in Mars Tonight in Hollywood. let’s meet?
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