Art Market Updates

Alphonse Mucha retrospective
A stunning exhibition examining the graphic art of Alphonse Mucha is currently on view at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line features nearly 150 works showcasing the evolution of Mucha’s art nouveau style and how it was rediscovered by later artists. Organized by the Mucha Foundation, which is run by the artist’s descendants, the show features not only their extensive holdings of Mucha’s posters, drawings, and paintings, but a wide selection of album covers, manga illustrations, comic book covers and other artworks inspired by him. The exhibition runs through August 30.

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Bill Traylor (1853-1949), Untitled, 1939-1942. Poster paint and graphite on cardboard, 10¾ x 15 in. American Folk Art Museum, New York, Gift from the Estate of Lanford Wilson. Photo courtesy Ricco/Maresca.

Self-Taught Artists
The American Folk Art Museum is currently holding the exhibition Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists, which takes a critical look at the historical definition of the “self-taught artist” in the United States from the early 20th century to today. Self-Made examines how artists without academic training have depicted, conceptualized and identified themselves on their own terms. “[The show] also reaffirms our longstanding commitment to expand the story of art in America and around the world by leading projects centered on artists’ intentions and authorship beyond academic tradition,” says Jason T. Busch, director and CEO of the American Folk Art Museum. Visitors can explore the exhibition through September 13.

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Important MCNY gift
The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) announced a transformative multi-million dollar gift, the second largest in its history, from the Puffin Foundation to establish the Puffin Foundation Center for Social Activism. Opening in fall 2026 in a newly renovated wing, the center will serve as a hub for exhibitions, public programs, fellowships, collections and scholarship exploring the history, tactics and enduring impact of social activism in New York City and beyond. This initiative continues a partnership dating back to the 2009 establishment of the Puffin Gallery. The center’s anchor will be a reimagined permanent exhibition opening this fall, focusing on the strategies of activism, including grassroots organizing, artistic expression and various digital initiatives. It will also feature rotating temporary exhibitions, as well as a 12-year annual fellowship program beginning in 2027 to support original research and public engagement.

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Daniel Chester French (1850-1931), The Minute Man, 1875. Bronze, 29 x 12 x 14 in. Chesterwood, Bequest of Simon Soron, NT 2006.5 Photo by Bruce Schwarz.

Iconic Daniel Chester French sculpture
American Renaissance sculptor Daniel Chester French’s iconic Minute Man statue will be the focal point of the annual Outdoor Sculpture Show and Performing Arts Series at Chesterwood in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the former summer home and studio of Daniel Chester French. The exhibition takes place in the Residence Galleries alongside works by French and his colleagues, as well as contemporary artists. The Minute Man: Examining Patriotism, Victory and Loss will run through the end of October.

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NGA receives $116M gift
The National Gallery of Art recently received a $116 million gift from the Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation endowing the “Across the Nation” national lending program. This is the largest gift to endow programming in the National Gallery’s history. Made to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary this year, the landmark gift will fund Across the Nation in perpetuity. Launched in 2025 and now a foundational element of the museum’s national service, Across the Nation will continue to advance the National Gallery’s ability to reach all Americans by bringing key works from the nation’s collection on long-term loan to regional museums across the country. The next cycle of Across the Nation will launch in fall 2027 and run until 2029. —