Art Market Monitor

The Face’s Gallery Opening Gets A Lot of Coverage

Dasha Zukhova is The Face of the art market these days but she’s also a pretty face. And though WWD has a nice little blurb on the opening of the Moscow Garage Center for Contemporary Art, it would seem like we’re just running this as an excuse to post a pretty picture of the woman. (OK, we are.) But while we’re at it, here’s the Independent‘s take on the opening; an interview with Bloomberg; and the Moscow Times.

BusinessWeek runs a story with some interesting facts worth noting:

Philip Hoffmann, chief executive of The Fine Art Fund, told the Business Standard in August that only 20 individuals account for $2 billion to $4 billion worth of art sold worldwide each year out of a total art market as much as $50 billion.

Meanwhile, many see Zuhkova’s Garage Center as major step forward in the re-establishment of art as an important part of Russian culture:

Los Angeles-based art critic Alexander Panov said that, while the gallery may have started life as a billionaire’s vanity project, it has the potential for anchoring modern art in Russia.

“Are those in attendance mostly snobs and ‘wannabes’ who were there simply to show their Gucci bags and Armanis?” he said in an email. “Yes. Is art collecting simply a new expensive toy leading to greater social-cultural status in the hands of Abramovich? Yes again. Finally, is there a chance for good, thought provoking exhibitions to start and support a culture of open-minded, stimulating intellectual discourse? Yes as well.”

Also of Interest:

• Defending the Face
  The Times of London Profiles Dasha Zhukova and Dispels Some Myths About Her As Vogue covers the opening of her...
  
• The Face Gets a Close Up
  Daria Zhukova re-emerges as the face of the art market after a brief hiatus. Her recent show of works from...
  
• The Tate and The Face
  Dasha Zhukova gets Nicholas Serota in Hot Water Dasha Zhukova has quickly become the Face of the art market because...
  
• The Face Gets Her Close-Up
  Dara Zhukova profiled in the New York Times Carol Vogel’s examination of Dara Zhukova (left, in a photo by Jonathan...
  
• To Russia, With Hope
  Bloomberg’s John Varoli reports on the opening night of Art Moscow the fair that was postponed to coincide with the...