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Elisa Carollo

Elisa Carollo

Observer

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Shara Hughes’s Luminous Landscapes Open Portals into Life, Death and the Sublime

Shara Hughes’s Luminous Landscapes Open Portals into Life, Death and the Sublime

Hughes's semi-abstract paintings are shaped by Romantic visions of nature that provoke awe and unease in equal measure.

friday 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Christie’s Secures Another Major Consignment in Max Berry’s Encyclopedic Art Collection

Christie’s Secures Another Major Consignment in Max Berry’s Encyclopedic Art Collection

“It’s time for me to use what I know to start bringing to market the things I love,” Berry told Observer in an exclusive interview ahead of the...

friday 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

In This Cryptic Interview, Lee Bul Illuminates Her ‘Grand Narrative’ and Speaks to Humanity’s Future

In This Cryptic Interview, Lee Bul Illuminates Her ‘Grand Narrative’ and Speaks to Humanity’s Future

Where the gleaming 17-meter-long silver airship at the entrance of Bul's major survey in Seoul is taking us will ultimately depend on how we choose to...

02.10.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Hamburger Bahnhof’s Sam Bardaouil On Co-Leading a Museum in Flux

Hamburger Bahnhof’s Sam Bardaouil On Co-Leading a Museum in Flux

"When people see two directors working in dialogue, it sets a precedent for non-hierarchical collaboration."

01.10.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Ludovic Nkoth Probes What It Means to Be Part of History at MASSIMODECARLO

Ludovic Nkoth Probes What It Means to Be Part of History at MASSIMODECARLO

"You can’t escape your own personal history, that’s true, but I’m using my story to speak to something larger, and I’m hoping now the work...

01.10.2025 1

Observer

Elisa Carollo

‘Prism of the Real’ at the National Art Center Tokyo Considers an Overlooked Fertile Period of Art in Japan

‘Prism of the Real’ at the National Art Center Tokyo Considers an Overlooked Fertile Period of Art in Japan

The exhibition is a crucial survey of an often overlooked chapter of Japanese contemporary art—one with a message for today’s increasingly divided...

30.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Alessandra Di Castro On Antique Dealers as Cultural Stewards

Alessandra Di Castro On Antique Dealers as Cultural Stewards

“Before anything else, the role of the antiquarian is to create culture,” she tells Observer.

30.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Picasso’s ‘Buste de femme’ Leads the Hong Kong Auctions at HK$196.7 With Robust Results Across Houses

Picasso’s ‘Buste de femme’ Leads the Hong Kong Auctions at HK$196.7 With Robust Results Across Houses

Last week's most notable results reveal quite a bit about the current state of the market in Asia and beyond ahead of the October and November sales...

29.09.2025 6

Observer

Elisa Carollo

MoMA PS1’s ‘The Gatherers’ Rejects Climate Catastrophism in Favor of Resilient Resourcefulness

MoMA PS1’s ‘The Gatherers’ Rejects Climate Catastrophism in Favor of Resilient Resourcefulness

Across sculpture, video and installation, the works in this soon-to-close show interrogate the systems that define value, utility and survival in the...

29.09.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Can Cross-Industry Partnerships Offer the Art World a Lifeline?

Can Cross-Industry Partnerships Offer the Art World a Lifeline?

As the art industry searches for new sources of support, dismissing brand collaborations looks less like prudence and more like shortsightedness.

26.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Hoor Al Qasimi’s Aichi Triennale Confronts Generative and Destructive Extremes

Hoor Al Qasimi’s Aichi Triennale Confronts Generative and Destructive Extremes

Here, it is abundantly clear that creativity in the face of devastation carries an infinite capacity for quiet resilience.

25.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Sotheby’s Bets Big On Abu Dhabi With a $150 Million Preview and Luxury Collectors’ Week

Sotheby’s Bets Big On Abu Dhabi With a $150 Million Preview and Luxury Collectors’ Week

The auction house's strategy in the Gulf dovetails with a broader push to expand beyond traditional auctions, positioning the brand as a full-scale...

25.09.2025 5

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Cai Guo-Qiang’s Himalayan Fireworks Performance Ignites Ecological and Cultural Backlash

Cai Guo-Qiang’s Himalayan Fireworks Performance Ignites Ecological and Cultural Backlash

The brand quickly deleted all videos of the performance from its channels; the artist has issued no apologies and has declined to comment.

24.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

In Edward Burtynsky and Alkan Avcıoğlu’s ‘Hypertopographics,’ Photography Meets A.I.

In Edward Burtynsky and Alkan Avcıoğlu’s ‘Hypertopographics,’ Photography Meets A.I.

Their collaboration at the intersection of technique and technology marks a significant moment in contemporary art history.

24.09.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Don’t Miss: Hannah Woo’s Hybrid Bodies Confronting Adaptation Beyond the Human

Don’t Miss: Hannah Woo’s Hybrid Bodies Confronting Adaptation Beyond the Human

Woo’s sculptures are arenas in which the fundamental tensions of contemporary existence are materially negotiated.

23.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Chloë Bass Turns the City Subway into a Monument to the Power of Human Storytelling

Chloë Bass Turns the City Subway into a Monument to the Power of Human Storytelling

Her first sound-based public artwork transforms ordinary safety announcements into poetic, multilingual encounters.

23.09.2025 10

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Mapping Asia Society Texas’ Place in Houston’s Global Art Identity

Mapping Asia Society Texas’ Place in Houston’s Global Art Identity

The institution’s multidisciplinary programming highlights the rich diversity of Asia while fostering exchange across the city's sprawling...

21.09.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Agnes Gund, Relentless Arts Patron and Supporter of Justice-Impacted Artists, Dies at 87

Agnes Gund, Relentless Arts Patron and Supporter of Justice-Impacted Artists, Dies at 87

Her passing leaves a profound void in New York’s art world.

20.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Kim Tschang-yeul’s Water Dropletss Flow Through Eternity at MMCA Seoul

Kim Tschang-yeul’s Water Dropletss Flow Through Eternity at MMCA Seoul

A major career survey of the artist's work reveals a life spent transforming the traumas of war, displacement and memory into something equal parts...

19.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Karpidas’s Sotheby’s Sale Marks a New Peak for Surrealism and Design

Karpidas’s Sotheby’s Sale Marks a New Peak for Surrealism and Design

Works by women Surrealists, including Leonora Carrington and Dorothea Tanning, shattered expectations—part of a broader market surge for Latin...

19.09.2025 20

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Five Museum Shows to See During Houston Art Week

Five Museum Shows to See During Houston Art Week

From A.A. Murakami’s immersive U.S. debut to a Tomashi Jackson survey, the city's first-ever Art Week has inspired a series of must-see exhibitions...

19.09.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Antony Gormley Reflects on Sculpture as an Inquiry into Being and Space

Antony Gormley Reflects on Sculpture as an Inquiry into Being and Space

“The potential of sculpture to reinforce first-hand physical experience excites me,” the artist told Observer. “My test for good sculpture is...

18.09.2025 9

Observer

Elisa Carollo

How CAMH Is Helping Houston Overcome the Art World’s ‘Southern Blind Spot’

How CAMH Is Helping Houston Overcome the Art World’s ‘Southern Blind Spot’

“Museums today are expected to be more than just places to look at art—they’re destinations where people spend time,” director Melissa...

18.09.2025 5

Observer

Elisa Carollo

How Demet and Alphan Eşeli’s INSTANBUL’74 Reimagines Turkey’s Role in the Global Arts Scene

How Demet and Alphan Eşeli’s INSTANBUL’74 Reimagines Turkey’s Role in the Global Arts Scene

"It’s about creating spaces where people can come together, share ideas and build something meaningful,” Demet told Observer.

18.09.2025 20

Observer

Elisa Carollo

In the Latest Genesis Facade Commission, Jeffrey Gibson Calls for Awareness Beyond the Human

In the Latest Genesis Facade Commission, Jeffrey Gibson Calls for Awareness Beyond the Human

“I find that other animal species are rarely acknowledged as having their own independent intellect and autonomous relationship with the larger...

17.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Will Trophy Estates Jolt an Auction Market on the Rocks This November?

Will Trophy Estates Jolt an Auction Market on the Rocks This November?

The question is whether these high-profile, single-owner collections can inject hope and revive excitement after a sluggish season, particularly on...

16.09.2025 8

Observer

Elisa Carollo

LATITUDE Gallery Finds a New Space for Its Community-Driven Model

LATITUDE Gallery Finds a New Space for Its Community-Driven Model

"I want to keep this ecosystem thriving, which is why I’m open to collaborating with other galleries, sharing resources and connecting people,"...

16.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

The New Futures Production Fund Links the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation and NYC’s New Museum

The New Futures Production Fund Links the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation and NYC’s New Museum

The goal of the collaboration is straightforward: to support ambitious works that experiment with new languages and techniques, offering artists the...

16.09.2025 10

Observer

Elisa Carollo

At Tokyo Gendai, Global Galleries (and Collectors) Test Japan’s Rising Market Strength

The fair's 2025 offerings reflect the growing dynamism of the Japanese market.

12.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Cultural Diplomacy in Times of War: Is the Gulf’s Role as an Arts Destination Under Threat?

Escalating geopolitical volatility in the region has cast doubt on the fate of the highly anticipated inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar.

12.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

At Sean Kelly, Anthony Akinbola’s Bold Exploration of Medium and Metaphor

"With this show, I wanted to explore how camouflage functions both politically and naturally," the artist told Observer ahead of the opening of his...

12.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Ten Shows Not to Miss During Tokyo Gendai

Having shifted to September for 2025, Tokyo Gendai is launching the city’s art calendar with programming that spans institutional surveys,...

10.09.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

In Elizabeth Glaessner’s “Running Water,” Bodies Become Myths in Flux

“It’s like the rational pause that makes the emotional surge possible,” she tells Observer. “The frozen reflection and the flowing distortion...

09.09.2025 6

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Art Basel Paris’ Clément Delépine Reflects On How the Fair Tightened Its French Roots and Global Reach

Fair fatigue may be the art world’s mantra, but Paris endures as the exception that still demands the trip.

09.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Yuan Fang’s Visceral Paintings at Skarstedt Confront the Body’s Fragility and Its Strength

"For me, painting is almost like an accident—you discover what it should be as you work on it. The process is about finding the piece along the way....

08.09.2025 5

Observer

Elisa Carollo

A Brisk Start to the Armory Show Suggests Optimism as the Market Adapts to New Rhythms

“People are excited to be ‘back to school'—both dealers and collectors,” David Nolan told Observer after reporting strong opening day sales.

06.09.2025 10

Observer

Elisa Carollo

When Smooth Stops Selling: The Decline of ‘Non-Frictional Art’

What once appeared to be the perfect alignment of aesthetics and market logic—smooth, neutral, digestible, collector-friendly—is now struggling to...

05.09.2025 6

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Frieze and Kiaf SEOUL Scale Back in Spectacle While Still Securing Sales

The chaotic entrance lines at Kiaf and overcrowded aisles of last year’s Frieze are gone, replaced by smaller crowds of cautious buyers.

04.09.2025 6

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Inside ‘A Boy That Don’t Bleed,’ Caleb Hahne Quintana’s Poetic Unveiling of Masculine Vulnerability

“I’ve always felt attuned to the spiritual world, which is why these paintings carry a spiritual undertone. I’m treating all this as a...

04.09.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

This Fall’s Must-See Gallery Shows in New York

From Ambera Wellmann’s visceral debut at Hauser & Wirth to Sasha Gordon’s first Zwirner solo, September delivers a high-energy lineup of...

03.09.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

What the Art World Can Learn From Burning Man

The festival's gift economy and participatory ethos drive home just how unsustainable the art world’s capital-driven fair model has become.

03.09.2025 5

Observer

Elisa Carollo

14 Exhibitions Not to Miss During Seoul Art Week 2025

From Lee Bul’s sweeping “Grand Narrative” to Bae Yoon Hwan’s biting dystopian allegories, the city offers a wealth of must-see shows beyond the fairs.

02.09.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

As the Aichi Triennale Considers Humanity’s Fragile Bond with Nature, Hoor Al Qasimi Reflects on Its Role

This year's Triennale invites viewers to confront environmental trauma as something geologically embedded, not merely socially constructed.

29.08.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Raving in the Museum: Institutions Explore New Ways to Develop Audiences and Raise Funds

MoMA PS1’s "Warm Up," Hamburger Bahnhof’s "Berlin Beats," Tate’s "Late at Tate" and Palais de Tokyo's DJ-fueled openings transform the museums...

29.08.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Sky High Farm’s Biennial Blends Art, Agriculture and Ecological Urgency

With this biennial, the organization explores alternative relationships between culture, ecology, historical legacy and regional industry.

29.08.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Sara Flores and the Shipibo Community’s Journey from the Amazon to the Venice Biennale

The story of Flores’ rise illustrates how Indigenous knowledge and creativity are influencing the global conversation around what constitutes...

28.08.2025 7

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Where Ink Breathes With the Universe: Hung Hsien’s Cosmic Abstractions at Asia Society Texas

Working between micro and macro scales, she uses ink abstraction to express her heightened ability to attune to qi.

27.08.2025 3

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Inside the Vision for Abu Dhabi’s New Zayed National Museum

The museum's director, Dr. Peter Magee, says the institution will trace hundreds of thousands of years of human history through a uniquely Emirati...

27.08.2025 5

Observer

Elisa Carollo

How Museum Tinguely Is Keeping Jean Tinguely’s Legacy Alive 100 Years Later

The centenary of the artist's birth is likely to prompt renewed interest in his multifaceted practice.

26.08.2025 2

Observer

Elisa Carollo

Come Back Alive’s Vitaliy Deynega Reckons With the Destruction of Ukraine’s ‘Black Cloud’ at Burning Man

“I think that Burning Man gives people a chance to experience what it feels like to go through a catastrophe. And the most important thing in any...

26.08.2025 4

Observer

Elisa Carollo