Coinciding with the re-opening of the National Portrait Gallery in London on 22 June, and forming part of their Portrait Mode program, this summer Sotheby’s will host a celebration of portraiture with a season of exhibitions and events, complementing the traditional marquee auctions of fine art.

There is a perception paradox that sometimes exists within real estate: the idea that an empty minimalist home offers a blank slate for potential buyers to imagine their perfect home. While a small slice of the general population may have the unique vision to picture a space with cascading light features, warm and inviting furniture arrangements, or eye-catching objets d’art, the majority of buyers look to experts in interior design for help. The truth is, the benefits of staging your home are extensive. Properly staged homes spend substantially less time on the market, routinely sell for more money, and frequently end up on must-see lists.

Countless art lovers are captivated by the visionary artists Diego Rivera, Augusta Savage, and Camille Pissarro. To cut through the mystery and gain an appreciation and understanding of these masters, one must visit the cities that facilitated their talents. Each is a joy to visit in its own right; add in these stops and you’ll come away with a newfound artistic education covering some of the art world’s biggest names.

An extraordinary work executed in 1982, when the artist was just 22 years old, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Versus Medici will star in the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York on 12 May, where it will be offered with an estimate of $35–50 million.

When it comes to décor, paintings and photography will always enhance a home. But if you’re looking for an even bigger impact, consider a mural or fresco. These are by no means contemporary art choices—murals have been found in caves as far back as 30,000 BC, and frescoes are credited to ancient Roman, Egyptian, and Minoan civilizations—but they are currently enjoying a renaissance.

A piece of art. A colour palette. A potted succulent. For Valerie Stafford, Partner and a Lead Designer at Rumor Designs, the smallest detail can be the thread that weaves together her whole vision and concept for a room. Her practice is focused on the quality of the materials in a space, from surface finishes and wall colours to lighting and fabrics.

Pattern is more than just a point of interest or an aspect of style: it’s one of the fundamental elements of design. As humans, our eyes are naturally drawn to order and repetition—in a tumultuous world, patterns provide the pleasure of orderliness.

Floral paintings are making a contemporary comeback, farmhouses are getting modern face-lifts, and rooms are offering design “experiences.” Here are the latest trends in art, architecture, and design.

Art lovers around the world have long been entranced by the icons Paul Cézanne, Salvadore Dalí, and Jackson Pollock. To fully understand and appreciate these masters, it helps to visit the places that nurtured and continue to display their talents. Each locale is a thrill to visit in its own right; add in these stops and you’ll come away with a newfound artistic education covering some of the art world’s biggest names.

Billionaire real estate developer and philanthropist Jorge M Pérez has erected gleaming towers in cities throughout the world, and his name is attached to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), the flagship contemporary art museum in his adopted hometown. But at the moment, his pride and joy is a squat two-storey warehouse building called El Espacio 23, in a little-known industrial area of the city.

An experimental arts center inaugurated in December, it is the culmination of a great American success story – one which began overseas.

The complex origin story of DC Comics, Inc., one of the oldest and most prominent comic book publishers in the U.S., begins in 1934. That year, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson founded the company as National Allied Publications; in February of 1935 its first comic, entitled New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine #1, hit the stands. The company’s second title, New Comics #1, was published in December of that year, appearing in a size close to what would become industry standard during the period now called the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Neon is reinventing itself as a 21st-century art form; residential layouts are flexing their nontraditional muscles; and furnishings are flaunting their curves. Here are the latest trends in art, architecture, and design.

While staying at home and practicing safe social distancing are the best courses of action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, it doesn’t mean we have to miss out on cultural landmarks around the world. Thanks to the Google Arts & Culture Project, from New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, to Rijks Museum in Amsterdam, here are 6 museums you can tour right now from home.

Artists are using their eyes to read books in a different way, architects are building residences that mirror their environments, and interior designers are rediscovering the finer points of magnificent details. Here are the latest trends in art, architecture, and design.

Nestled in Toronto’s ritzy Yorkville neighbourhood, home to Chanel, Versace, Hermès and other luxury retailers, At Your Service, Fashion Insider Shares the Go-To Spots Gathered From Their Travels | Cabine is an anomaly. It’s housed in an unassuming brownstone identified only by its bright pink door, and gaining entrance is by invitation or appointment only. The intimate Cabine retail experience was founded by fashion veteran Nicholas Mellamphy and officially opened for business in 2018. Mellamphy brings one-of-a-kind pieces from the runways each season right to his clients — a small group of women from around the world who just happen to include celebrities and royalty (he doesn’t divulge names).

What’s new in Art, Architecture, and Design | Beautiful, bold, and beneficial are the catchwords this season in the worlds of art, architecture, and design. We’re decorating our bodies, building healthy environments, and brightening our rooms with rainbows of color. Here’s what’s happening.

Sotheby's | Analyzing the May New York Auctions - The recent wave of New York auctions was a steady sweep, with more than $2.1bn spent on Impressionist, Modern and contemporary art at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips in one week. The results were roughly in line with the past several sales seasons, suggesting that this is neither a frothy up-market or a messy down-one but a steady settling in.

Reality Checks | In every major market across the country the prime communities share similar attributes — easy access to downtown, proximity to green space and prestigious schools. With so many of these factors tied to geography and static city planning, the best areas can appear set in stone. Luckily, new construction projects and the ever-changing real estate market means that there is hope for buyers to get into the neighbourhood of their choice in these Canadian cities.

Wall Power | If your world appears a lot more colourful of late, thank the muralists. Over the past several years, murals have emerged as an attention-getting art form with a lot of cachet, taking over entire walls inside and out at galleries, restaurants, hotels and public spaces across the country. What’s even better is that it’s a genre where female artists are leading the charge — a visual manifestation of the current cultural zeitgeist.

What’s New in Art, Architecture, and Design | Whether we’re talking trends in art, architecture, or design, it’s all about seeing the beauty of traditional materials used in new ways. It’s looking at ordinary objects in a different light. It’s rethinking the purpose of conventional spaces. But most of all, it’s about being open to possibilities.