Connect and BADA Week comeback
Connect Art Fair is set to return this year for its first in-person event since 2020. The fair, which is run by dealers, takes place from March 23-27 at the Mall Galleries in St James’s, London.
Already nearly sold out, the fair hosts 30 exhibitors. Many are specialists in Modern British and Contemporary art, though a range of specialities is represented.
Returning dealers so far include John Iddon, Emma Mason, Mark Goodman, Elizabeth Harvey Lee, Kittoe Contemporary and Blondes Fine Art. New to the event are Long & Ryle, Kynance Fine Art and The Nonesuch Gallery.
Country-wide event
Another dealer event returning this year is BADA Week, which debuted last year. The programme of country-wide events, talks, tours and exhibitions is scheduled for October 3-9.
Last year more than 30 dealers took part in the festival of art and antiques. It included the inaugural BADA Art Prize for emerging Contemporary artists.
Armed robbers seize coins at fair
A group of coins was stolen from the London & Midland Coin Fairs taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum earlier this month.
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: “We’re investigating after a large quantity of antique and collectable coins was stolen during an armed robbery in Coventry Road, Solihull, at around 2.45pm on January 9. Two masked offenders – understood to be armed with a machete – assaulted two men as they grabbed items and made off in a vehicle. Fortunately the men were not seriously injured.”
Photos or details of the coins have not yet been released. Anyone with information can contact West Midlands Police via the west-midlands.police.uk website or call 101 quoting crime reference number 20/1974308/21.
Bonhams targets European boost
André Bodson has joined Bonhams.
Bonhams has made senior appointments as part of its ongoing strategy to expand in Europe and beyond.
André Bodson has joined as chief transformation officer in London and Patrick Masson is promoted as director of Bonhams’ European operation.
Bodson will be responsible for the integration of the company’s acquisitions, starting with Swedish auction house Bukowskis (see News, ATG No 2526).
He joins Bonhams from his 18-month role as adviser to Élisabeth Moreno, the French government’s minister for gender equality, diversity and equal opportunity. Prior to this he spent nearly 10 years in senior roles at technology firm Hewlett Packard.
Bonhams was bought by private equity firm Epiris in 2018 and last year bought The Market, a digital auction platform for classic and collectable car and motorcycle auctions, and opened a saleroom in Paris in Rue de la Paix.
Patrick Masson of Bonhams.
Masson will work from Paris to “spearhead the company’s expansion in Europe”.
He joined Bonhams in March 2020 as managing director of Bonhams UK. He has previously worked at both Christie’s and Sotheby’s including as business manager for Christie’s France from 1996-2006.
India Phillips of Bonhams.
Replacing Masson, Bonhams has promoted India Phillips to managing director for Bonhams UK. She was previously Bonhams’ global head of Impressionist and Modern art, since 2018. She joined the firm in 2014.
Five Monet works come to auction
The five Monet works coming to auction at Sotheby’s on March 2.
Sotheby’s is to offer five works by Claude Monet (1840-1926) all painted during a 15-year period as the great Impressionist experimented with the effects of light and colour. The sale will be called Monet x Monet | A Distinguished American Collection and will take place on March 2 as part of Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary evening auction.
The five pictures comprise one featuring flowers, one depicting grainstacks, two landscapes painted under different weather conditions at opposing ends of the seasons and a still life of prunes and apricots. All the pictures pre-date 1900 and have a combined estimate in the region of $50m (£35m).
Most read
The most viewed stories for week January 13-19 on antiquestradegazette.com
1 The death penny ‘issued in error’ to a deserter
2 Plea to help track down stolen coins after machetewielding thieves strike at Solihull fair
3 Previews: our latest selection of 12 upcoming lots
4 Government undertakes Ivory Act survey for ‘awareness campaign’
5 Bonhams aims for a European and online boost with Bukowskis purchase
In Numbers
70
The number of Dutch museums and other venues that protested against Covid closure by turning into temporary hair salons, nail bars and gyms – establishments which are allowed to be open in the Netherlands while cultural premises are not.
