Microsoft magnate Paul Allen’s Visionary collection sold for $1.6 billion (156 works) at Christie’s last November. Seven more works are scheduled for auction in May – these are mostly by Georgia O’Keeffe and David Hockney, one of which Allen bought for $7 million in 2016 and its estimate is – the same. Not all art makes a mountain. A Gerhard Richter (Mathis, 1983) was withdrawn from a 2nd March Phillips sale after it failed to reach its £10 million estimate – Girlahead remembers the strong-force greens and dark grey Richter from the Pritzker private collection that was hung first in the lobby of PARK HYATT CHICAGO and then sent across the Atlantic for the opening of PARK HYATT Milano. Some collectors today, by the way, are betting on lesser-known artists, being covered by a new London gallery, Saatchi Yates, founded 2020 by Arthur Yates and his wife Phoebe Saatchi, daughter of Charles, of advertising fame.
CAPELLA SYDNEY opens this week, with art chosen by Singapore-based Talenia Gajardo: sadly the two pieces illustrated in last weekend’s Financial Times full-page article on the property are depressing, not indicative at all of the elevating brightness that is Super-Sydney. What does sound exciting are the McRae Bar’s striking neon pieces by a surfing champion called Otis Hope Carey. The hotel is bound to be a success, partly because of its brand and also to some considerable extent to the magnetism of its GM, long-time Sydneysider Marc von Arnim (who, like the hotel’s historic buildings, has a considerable genealogical pedigree).
In The Maldives, KANDIMA believes that supporting art is crucial – its KULA Art initiative, a way to support local artists and communities, was an essential part of the resort’s opening in 2017. Today, KULA Art Studio on the edge of an inland lake invites everyone to enjoy either group or bespoke art classes. Coming up, to celebrate World Art Day on 15th April, Kandima is bringing in Angelo Milano and Momo, see above. Milano is a pioneer of Italy’s Street Art movement and Momo works with such clients as NFL and Pepsi: they first came together, at Kandima last month, working in full view at the Breeze Pool Bar.Everyone staying at the resort contributes a dollar, US, to the KULA Art Fund.
