Hyperallergic: Pollock's $181M Sale Masks Market Fragility

Marc Straus, a gallerist, contends that the $181.2 million auction of Jackson Pollock's 'Number 7A, 1948' at Christie's spring event is deceptive. Despite impressive headline figures, including a $107.6 million Brancusi, approximately 30% of the $1.1 billion evening auction's lots either sold below their low estimates or remained unsold, such as Agnes Gund's Twombly. The presence of third-party guarantees distorted the outcomes, according to Straus, who cautions that smaller galleries are struggling as trophy sales take precedence. In other developments, Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze unveiled a new mosaic-collage mural at Brooklyn's Borough Hall Station, titled 'May Your Road Be Light and Fun,' showcasing aliens, birds, and leopard-headed figures. Additionally, Patagonia has filed a lawsuit against drag queen Pattie Gonia for trademark infringement. A review highlights Martha Cooper's 'Streetwise' exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center, covering her work from the late 1970s to the 2010s across New York, Baltimore, Tokyo, and Soweto. Nicola Florimbi's debut acrylic series 'Rooms' at Corbett vs. Dempsey received acclaim from John Yau. The community section features Rachelle Mozman Solano in her Brooklyn studio, while a member comment critiques an AI-colorized Ansel Adams photograph. An archival piece spotlights Diné weaver Roy Kady, who primarily identifies as a shepherd.