The world of contemporary art has lost its brightest, most eccentric, and unyielding star. Yayoi Kusama, the trailblazing Japanese avant-garde artist whose signature polka dots, kaleidoscopic “Infinity Mirror Rooms,” and vibrant pumpkins captivated millions across continents, passed away peacefully in a Tokyo hospital on August 14, 2026. She was 97 years old. Announced officially on...
A Record-Breaking Auction Redefines the Value of Indian Historical Documents. The antiquities and historical manuscript market in Asia reached a watershed moment this August when an unprecedented archive of handwritten reflections by Mahatma Gandhi shattered expectations in Mumbai. Selling for a staggering Rs 16.20 crore (approximately $1.7 million), the manuscript set a world auction record...
For nearly two decades, the story of the art market in the East was written in a single city.If you were looking for marquee evening auctions, high-stakes primary market debuts, or six-figure gallery transactions, all roads led to Hong Kong. That era has evolved. While Hong Kong remains the heavyweight clearinghouse for mega-tier liquidity, the...
There are exhibitions that simply open. And then there are exhibitions that quietly shift the axis of cultural memory. On June 4, 2026, one such moment will unfold in St. Petersburg, Russia, as the State Hermitage Museum hosts “Sediments of Becoming: Fossilised Present, Summoned Pasts” its first dedicated exhibition of contemporary Indian art in the...
Amin Jaffer with four of India’s five artists — Alwar Balasubramaniam, Asim Waqif, Skarma Sonam Tashi and Ranjani Shettar | Photo Credit: Joe Habben
Every once in a while, the art world pauses.Not for a trend. Not for a fair. Not for another predictable headline. But for a moment that feels… larger. This week, that moment came from a quiet, intimate painting, Raja Ravi Varma’s Yashoda and Krishna,which just sold for a staggering ₹167 crore. Why this feels bigger...
As the global art world converges once again on Hong Kong, Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 is not just another edition of the world’s most prestigious art fair—it is a statement. A statement about Asia’s resilience.A statement about evolving collectors.And most importantly, a statement about the future of art itself. The Epicenter of Asia’s Art...
In just a few years, Doha — the capital of Qatar — has transformed from a Gulf capital known mainly for diplomacy and sports into one of the most exciting epicenters of global contemporary art. This cultural evolution offers a blueprint for how strategic vision, institutional boldness, and artistic ambition can reshape regional art ecosystems...
The Asia Momentum: Fresh Energy & New Horizons in 2026 Asia’s art world is stirring with renewed vibrancy as 2026 unfolds, marked by expanding cultural infrastructure, flourishing fairs, strong local markets, and growing global visibility for Asian creators and institutions. Here’s the latest pulse from across the region. New Cultural Landmarks Take Shape One of...
An exterior view of the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, with Tony Smith’s Smoke (1967) in the foreground. | Photo Credit: © Iwan Baan