The art world is descending on Venice for the 61st Biennale—officially a non-commercial exhibition, but increasingly colored by market forces behind the scenes. In this episode, host Margaret Carrigan highlights how the auction houses are getting involved in the opening week.
Lucian Freud, Woman in a Grey Sweater (1987-88), from the Lewis Family Collection. Courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Plus, Sotheby’s will stage one of London’s most valuable single-owner sales this June, with works from billionaire Joe Lewis’s collection expected to exceed $200 million. And, as museums grapple with ongoing financial strain, Whitechapel Gallery has created a new economist-in-residence position.
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