The week in art news: Trump’s tantrum over portrait, Art Basel Hong Kong kicks off, Fred Eversley dies aged 83, and more…

Art Basel Hong Kong kicks off with cautious optimism. The great and good of the art world has flocked to Hong Kong and are dusting off their jet lag for the latest edition of Art Basel (28th-30th March). Despite China’s slowing economy, lethargic auction sales, and new US tariffs on Chinese goods, there remains a sense of hope that sales will be strong and the region’s art scene will be bolstered by a large offering of museum and gallery shows, as reported by Artnews.

Donald Trump throws tantrum over portrait. The affronted POTUS took to Truth Social to criticise a 2019 portrait which hung in the Colorado State Capitol building until it was removed on Monday. Trump claimed that the painting, had been “purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before”. He also threw shade at Sarah Boardman – the artist behind the portrait – directly, claiming she lost talent “as she aged”. Luckily, Vladimir Putin was on hand to comfort, offering Trump a brand new, much better one, probably the greatest. No one’s seen it yet, but chances are it’s a perfect likeness to Trump’s 30-year-old self. 

Sculptor Fred Eversley dies at 83. The Light and Space pioneer who merged art and science to create mesmerising resin sculptures passed away on 14th March. Emerging in the 1960s Southern California art scene, he was associated with the Light and Space Movement, but distinguished himself with his scientific approach. Originally an engineer for NASA, he turned to art after a car accident, crafting works that explored perception, reflection and refraction. Eversley’s work is housed in over 40 museum collections, and in recent years saw a renewed interest in his legacy, including major public commissions and a retrospective at the Orange County Museum of Art.

Schiff-ty business: disgraced art adviser Lisa Schiff sentenced for fraud. Once prominent in the New York art scene and advisor to celebrities and wealthy clients, Schiff has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for defrauding clients of her art advisory business. She must also forfeit $6.4M and pay $9M in restitution. Schiff admitted guilt to wire fraud, involving transactions with around 55 artworks, where she deceived clients by selling their art without informing them or misusing funds meant for art purchases to cover personal expenses. Her legal troubles escalated in 2023, leading to public confession and ongoing disputes over financial restitution with her victims.

Small but mighty: Francis Alÿs’ tiny painting punches above weight at auction. The Belgian artist’s untitled painting, measuring just 5 x 7 in surpassed expectations at Sotheby’s London contemporary art day sale, selling for over £120k. Originally estimated at £15k, the painting’s final price was more than six times its low estimate, reflecting a growing trend favoring small-scale works. Part of a series inspired by Alÿs’ travels to Afghanistan, the piece originated from the collection of John Kaldor and was previously exhibited at documenta 13 in Germany.

David Zwirner opens new New York space. The gallery is set to unveil its new Chelsea space on 8th May, featuring a solo exhibition for Michael Armitage titled ‘Crucible’. Located at 533 West 19th Street, adjacent to Zwirner’s existing spaces, the new building designed by Selldorf Architects replaces a previous structure demolished last year. With 18-foot-tall ceilings on the ground floor and a total of 6,000 square feet across three 19th Street locations, the gallery’s upper floor will house offices. The exhibition marks Armitage’s debut since Zwirner began co-representing him with White Cube in 2022.

Tate announces its 2026 exhibition programme featuring all-star female lineup. The UK museum network has unveiled its exhibitions for next year, across Tate Modern, Tate Britain, and Tate St. Ives (Tate Liverpool being closed for renovations). The programme includes retrospectives for prominent YBA Tracey Emin, the late Cuban-US artist Ana Mendieta, and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern. Former Vogue editor Edward Enninful is set to curate a major exhibition on the 1990s in the autumn.

Frieze Masters appoints new director. Emanuela Tarizzo has been selected as the director for the London based art fair that specialises in works made before the 21st century. Tarizzo is an art advisor and former director of Tomasso gallery and takes over from Nathan Clements-Gillespie.