James Cohan Gallery Rebrands, T.Rex Fossil Fetches $50M, Christie's and Sotheby's Post Record First-Half Sales
David Norr has assumed full ownership of the James Cohan Gallery in New York, renaming it Norr Cohan. The British Art Fair is set to return to the Saatchi Gallery in London from September 24–27, featuring 70 exhibitors. From October 15–18, Frieze Week will showcase Fair Play, an artist-led fair at One Marylebone. The Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze will take place at Palazzo Corsini from September 26–October 4, hosting 80 galleries. On July 14, Sotheby's New York sold the T.Rex fossil 'Gus' for $50 million. Christie's reported $4.5 billion in sales for H1 2026, while Sotheby's reached $4.4 billion. Murmurs Gallery in L.A. is closing, and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum reopened on July 18. Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg's office returned three antiquities valued at $160,000 to Mexico. A lawsuit claims a painting by Pierre Soulages was stolen. Pat Oleszko received the Whitney Museum's 2026 Bucksbaum Award.
Key facts
- David Norr assumes sole ownership of James Cohan Gallery, rebranded as Norr Cohan.
- British Art Fair returns to Saatchi Gallery London Sept 24-27 with 70 exhibitors.
- Fair Play, an artist-led fair, runs Oct 15-18 at One Marylebone during Frieze Week.
- Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze 34th edition at Palazzo Corsini Sept 26-Oct 4.
- T.Rex fossil 'Gus' sold for $50 million at Sotheby's New York on July 14, auction record.
- Christie's first-half 2026 sales total $4.5 billion, up 71% year-over-year.
- Sotheby's first-half 2026 sales total $4.4 billion, up 58% year-over-year.
- Murmurs Gallery in Los Angeles closes after seven years due to economic squeeze.
- Madmax gallery opens in Marseille on August 29, timed to Art-o-Rama.
- Cian Dayrit joins Copperfield London; Ehrlich Steinberg L.A. reps Louis Blue Newby.
- Calouste Gulbenkian Museum Lisbon reopens July 18 after restoration to 1969 appearance.
- Minneapolis Institute of Art appoints Kevin Tervala as chief of curatorial affairs.
- Ian Wardropper and Cari B. Sacks join Driehaus Museum board.
- Ina Sarikhani Weston elected chair of National Portrait Gallery board.
- Museum of Old and New Art Tasmania to open Bangkok branch in 2029 with Asset World Corp.
- Manhattan D.A. repatriates three antiquities worth $160,000 to Mexico.
- Lawsuit claims Pierre Soulages painting sold at Christie's was stolen from Zeckendorf family.
- Pat Oleszko wins Whitney Museum's 2026 Bucksbaum Award with $100,000.
Entities
Artists
- David Norr
- Cian Dayrit
- Louis Blue Newby
- Pierre Soulages
- Pat Oleszko
- Eugene Alexander
- William Lie Zeckendorf
- Arthur W. Zeckendorf
- James Nicholson
- Leslie Nicholson
Institutions
- James Cohan Gallery
- Norr Cohan
- British Art Fair
- Saatchi Gallery
- Richard Saltoun
- Osborne Samuel
- Jenna Burlingham Gallery
- Fair Play
- One Marylebone
- Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze
- Palazzo Corsini
- Galleria Continua
- Tornabuoni Arte
- Sotheby's
- Christie's
- Murmurs Gallery
- Madmax gallery
- Art-o-Rama
- Copperfield
- Ehrlich Steinberg
- Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Frick Collection
- Driehaus Museum
- National Portrait Gallery
- Museum of Old and New Art
- Asset World Corp Public Company Limited
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Merrin Gallery
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Artnet News
- Artnews
- The Real Deal
Locations
- New York
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Florence
- Italy
- Los Angeles
- Marseille
- France
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Minneapolis
- Chicago
- Tasmania
- Australia
- Bangkok
- Thailand
- Mexico