Thyssen-Bornemisza museum gains 360 works in major Madrid expansion.
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (MNTB) will expand into a second venue to house more than 360 works of contemporary art donated or loaned from the TBA21 Collection, founded by philanthropist Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza in 2002. The collection includes, among others, artists Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramović, John Akomfrah, and Candice Breitz. Under the agreement, Thyssen-Bornemisza will donate roughly 180 works permanently into public ownership, adding more than $18 million in assets to Spain’s public art holdings, while offering nearly 180 additional works on long-term loan. The new venue will occupy Madrid’s Palacio del Hielo y del Automóvil, a historic 1922 building formerly used by the Spanish government. MNTB plans to launch an international architectural competition in early 2027, with construction expected to conclude around 2031, adding dedicated spaces for education, research, conservation, and public programming.
Faye Toogood adorns Mutina tiles with faces for her debut collection.
British designer Faye Toogood has unveiled her debut tile collection with Italian manufacturer Mutina, titled “Faces & Figures,” at the company’s headquarters in Fiorano Modenese. The collection marks Toogood’s first foray into tile design after years of declining offers from other manufacturers. Developed from hand-modeled prototypes in clay, cardboard, and canvas at her London studio, the collection includes three sizes of geometric tiles in four earthy tones—chalk, sand, clay, and mud—available in glossy and matte finishes, alongside organic forms and extruded bricks. Sculptural details like eyes, ears, and noses emerge from select tiles, introducing an anthropomorphic warmth to an otherwise industrial material. The designer, who began her career as a magazine editor, credits her lack of formal design training with allowing her to approach the project without preconceived boundaries.
Christie’s debuts first-ever Abu Dhabi Fine Art Auction with “MAWASIM.”
Christie’s will present “MAWASIM: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art,” a live auction at The Abu Dhabi EDITION on November 1, marking two decades since the house’s landmark 2006 UAE debut and its first-ever fine art auction in Abu Dhabi. The sale brings together more than 70 works spanning six decades, drawn from prestigious collections including the Dalloul Collection and the Barjeel Art Foundation, tracing artistic developments across Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Syria, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Highlights include Paul Guiragossian’s Noces (Wedding) (1958–59), estimated at $300,000–500,000, and Samia Halaby’s Yesterday (1978), estimated at $200,000–300,000. The auction precedes major regional milestones, including the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi (November 19–22) and the opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi on December 11.
Bienal de Yucatán launches as Mexico’s first international contemporary art biennial.
The Bienal de Yucatán, Mexico’s first international contemporary art biennial, will run November 26, 2026, through February 28, 2027, bringing together 76 national and international artists across four exhibitions and 16 venues in Mérida’s historic center and the municipality of Maní.The biennial is planned as a long-term project, with further editions scheduled for 2028 and 2030. The inaugural edition, titled VOCAL, is curated by artist Abraham Cruzvillegas and explores language, communication, and translation, featuring 38 new commissions from 42 Mexican artists, 18 from the Yucatán region, alongside 34 international artists from 20 countries. The central exhibition is housed at Casa de la Cultura del Mayab, a 16th-century former convent, and draws on the region’s living Maya linguistic heritage. “This international exhibition will focus primarily on tongue, languages, idioms, the written, the spoken, and what needs to be said,” said Cruzvillegas, describing the show as one of “inclusion and diversity, of languages and idioms that engage in dialogue and contradict one another.”
Apple Music Hall debuts inside London’s Battersea Power Station.
Apple has opened Apple Music Hall, a state-of-the-art 600-capacity venue inside Battersea Power Station in south London, blending live performance with studio-grade recording capabilities. The space features multitrack recording and mixing via Spatial Audio, live video production through 16 cameras and a purpose-built broadcast control room, and an on-site Apple Radio studio, allowing artists to perform and leave with ready-made, professional audio and video content. Housed within the newly regenerated former coal-fired power station, the venue preserves historic architectural details including fluted arches, a bronze balcony, and red brick, while its 38-foot-wide stage enables arena-scale production within an intimate setting. The venue launches in partnership with independent UK promoter Communion ONE, which will program the space.
Attractive Distractions:
Inside the Met Opera’s star-studded opening night of “Macbeth.”
A party historian on what we lose when we stay home.
São Paulo’s Museum of Modern Art reopens with its signature panorama of Brazilian art.
McLaren’s rebrand trades its speedmark for a minimalist wordmark.
