Kobel's Art Weekly Archive

Maze Art Gstaad 2026; photo Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 9 2026

I was the only member of the international press trip to Maze Art Gstaad. Since the format is quite exciting, here is a little more than the usual link to Artmagazine: "The timing couldn't be better. Nor could it be worse. The Rosey Long Weekend brings the alumni of what is probably the most prestigious (and most expensive) boarding school ... read more

Kobel's Art Weekly 8 2026

While Art Basel Qatar seems to be demanding a media break from most outlets, the fair itself is having a lasting impact. In a long essay for Republik.ch (free registration required) that is well worth reading, Jörg Heiser places Art Basel Qatar in a global political context: "It is a classic case of co-branding: the Art Basel brand has now ... read more

Qatar's image ambassador David Beckham and artmarket reporter Margaret Carrigan at Art Basel Qatar 2026; photo by Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 7 2026

Daniel Cassady describes the launch of Art Basel Qatar in Artnews as an attempt to establish an art market in a region using a top-down approach: "The main question is whether Art Basel and the Qataris can ‘reverse engineer’ an art market by introducing a major international fair before a dense commercial gallery infrastructure exists locally. Whether that strategy succeeds ... read more

Doha; photo Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 6 2026

Nifty Gateway is closing down. The well-known NFT platform is being pulled by its parent company Gemini, a crypto service provider owned by the Winklevoss brothers and based in Malta. Artists, collectors and ‘investors’ have until 23 April to transfer their assets to other platforms. Valentina di Liscia comments on ... read more

Brafa Brussels 2026; photo Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 5 2026

Andreas Platthaus finds a gauntlet thrown down to TEFAF at Brafa in Brussels for the FAZ on 24 January: "The expansion has a clear goal: to outdo Maastricht's competition (not only in the Benelux, but on a global scale). TEFAF will be held there in March, and the two universal art fairs are competing for the reputation of offering the most exclusive selection. TEFAF is ... read more

Good bye Viennacontemporary; image Stefan Kobel

Kobel's Art Weekly 4 2026

The art market in Austria has suffered two heavy blows. The leading art fair Viennacontemporary will no longer take place, as I report in Artmagazine. Michael Huber reports in detail for the Kurier (paywall): "In an interview with the KURIER, the managing director of the organising company, Markus Huber (no relation to the author), has ... read more