The Art World’s ‘Joe Rogan’, ONX Expansion and More: Industry Changes for November 13, 2025
Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in On Balance, art news Newsletter about the art market and beyond. Register here Receive it every Wednesday.
Happy Thursday! Here’s a roundup of the moves and shakers in the art trade this week.
Industry trends
Wadsworth Atheneum names new president and CEO: Allison Blais, the longtime leader of New York’s 9/11 Memorial and Museum, will reportedly take over the role in January 2026, succeeding Jeffrey N. Brown art newsAndy Battaglia.
Onassis ONX expands new Tribeca space: The Onassis Foundation’s Art and Technology Center has doubled in size and the new space will open in January 2026. The Tribeca venue will debut the multimedia exhibition “TECHNE: Homecoming.”
Withers expands U.S. arts and consulting team with Frank Lord: The veteran attorney and art historian joins New York as senior counsel.
Anthony Meier and von Bartha jointly represent the estate of Barbara Stauffacher Solomon: The late Supergraphics pioneer’s first solo exhibition with Meier will open in January.
Freeman appoints Matthew Stavro as senior specialist for prints and multiple works: Stavro joins from Bonhams, bringing over a decade of experience and market expertise in modern and contemporary releases.
The Spector Craft Awards are presented in partnership with Crystal Bridges: Crystal Bridges will sponsor the inaugural edition of the award, which will change annually. The institution will also receive a piece of the winner’s work. The concurrent Emerging Artist Award will provide $10,000 to five artists.
Morgan appoints Madeleine Connell as sales director: The former Winston Wächter director brings deep expertise in contemporary and secondary market placement.
Jessica Silverman now represents Lava Thomas: Best known for his monumental graphite portraits, Thomas explores historical and cultural memory through large-scale memorial portraits.
Kendall Koppe now represents Michael Bühler-Rose: The artist, who lives between New York and Mysore, will debut at the gallery’s Glasgow space in 2026.
David Kordansky Gallery Challenges Tristan Unrau: The Canadian artist’s debut with the gallery will be at Art Basel Miami Beach.
big numbers: $25 million.
This is the price paid for art collector Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon’s blue diamond pendant (called Mellon Blue). The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue, internally perfect, pear-shaped diamond was sold at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction at the Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva on Tuesday. While this result seems impressive, it is actually 22% lower than what the pendant sold for 11 years ago. Adjusted for inflation, its value fell by nearly 60%.
Read this article
in the latest issue of new york times In search of the left’s “Joe Rogan” since the 2024 election, art critic Travis Diehl boldly asks: What about Joshua Citarella? The artist-turned-social researcher-turned-podcaster has quietly developed a loyal following through his YouTube interview series doomsday scrollhis digital magazine Do not researchwhich explores the intersection of politics and technology, and for the truly sick, there’s also a Discord server. Diehl treats these companies holistically and is perhaps the best person to shed light on what the Citarella project is all about. His career deviated sharply from the usual art world trajectory. Rather, as Diehl suggests, Citarella’s art was likely his carefully crafted public image. A show where the artist pretends to be an influencer, or the other way around? Who can determine where the line is drawn at this point? —Harrison Jacobs, executive digital editor
