Oprah Donates $12 M. to Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture – it was recently reported that Oprah Winfrey donated $12M to the soon-to-be-finished museum.   In return, the museum’s theater will be named after her.  Nice gift!  

Spacey’s Patron Bank of America Helps Restore Picasso, Courbet – it is nice to see that the banks are giving some of those profits back.  While they are at it: how about a little more interest on the money we keep … More…

Importance of being abstract – more on Art Basel, 2013.  Seems as thought many artist have jumped on the abstract bandwagon.  

DiCaprio Browses as $12 Million Calder Sells at Art Basel – it did not take long … a short article on some of the early sales at Art Basel.  Included are works by Calder, Mitchell, Fontana, Ryman, Stingel, Miro and others. … More…

Munger Donates $34 Million in Stock to Art Gallery, School – The vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Charles Munger, has donated 189 shares to the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.  189 shares does not sound like much; but … More…

Picasso, Magritte to Tempt VIPs at $2 Billion Art Basel  – now it is time for some of the dealers to strut their stuff.  Art Basel opened yesterday … I am sure the sales reports will start flowing in any minute. … More…

Painting seized by Nazis fetches more than $3.3 million at auction – Gerrit van Honthorst’s  painting “The Duet,” which was stolen by the Nazis from Jewish art collector Bruno Spiro, just sold for $3.37M.