The Aspen Art Fair will return to Hotel Jerome for its third edition.
The Aspen Art Fair will return to Hotel Jerome from July 29 through August 1, for its third edition, now under the direction of Kelly Cornell, who will concurrently lead the Dallas Art Fair (though both fairs remain independently owned and operated). Cornell emphasized shared values between the two events—strong collector communities, quality-driven programming, and thoughtful growth—while cofounder Bob Chase underscored the importance of the hotel’s intimate setting, calling its spatial limits the fair’s “secret sauce” and confirming a long-term commitment to the venue. Confirmed 2026 exhibitors include Albertz Benda, Anat Ebgi, Friedman Benda, Hexton, Perrotin, Ryan Lee, Secci, and Southern Guild.
Pratt Institute is exhibiting more than 200 architectural sketches.
Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture has opened “Levers Long Enough to Move the World: Sketches in Contemporary Architecture,” an exhibition of more than 200 architectural sketches by over 60 contemporary practices. Curated by Andrew Holder, the show explores what constitutes a sketch in today’s design practice and presents sketches—from informal pencil drawings to digitally layered works—as conceptual “levers” that assert the physical and material dimensions of architecture in a digital era.
Domingo Zapata is painting the world’s largest mural.
Spanish artist Domingo Zapata has been commissioned by Saudi Arabia to paint what is expected to be the world’s largest mural, covering about 540,000 square fee in the Diriyah cultural zone of Riyadh—and potentially visible from space. The project, supported by Diriyah Gate Development Authority CEO Jerry Inzerillo and backed by the country’s Vision 2030 cultural investment strategy, will involve a team of roughly 100 artists, engineers, and architects and is expected to take five to six years to complete.
Pat McGrath Labs secures new investment.
Pat McGrath Labs, the beauty brand founded in 2015 by its legendary namesake makeup artist, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 22. Since, it has secured about $30 million in new financing from investor GDA Luma, including $10 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) funding and at least $20 million in post-emergence working capital, as part of its court-approved restructuring plan. Under the deal, GDA Luma will hold a controlling equity stake in the reorganized company while McGrath remains a significant equity owner and will transition to Chief Creative Officer.
Ireland announces long-term income support for artists.
Ireland’s government has announced that its Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) program will become permanent, following a pilot that ran from 2022 to 2025 and provided 2,000 artists with weekly stipends of €325. €18.27 million has been allocated in the nation’s 2026 budget, with applications opening in May. Despite the continuation, many artists who participated in the pilot are currently in limbo, as payments from the trial have ceased and new eligibility criteria has yet to be released.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Nordic Knots and Studio Mellone looked to Brazilian modernism for their new rug collaboration.
Cortina’s curling stadium is a Winter Olympics star.
For J. Press SS26, Jack Carlson invoked classic Ivy League codes.
Stainless steel drinkware brand Stanley is moving into accessories.
