The Art World This Week, 17 October 2025

Frieze news from London and Abu Dhabi, India and Italy reveal Venice Biennale pavilions, Sadie Coles and Almine Rech make moves in London, and more. Here’s Ocula’s briefing on the art world news you might have missed.

Art Fairs and Market

Frieze Announces Expansion to Abu Dhabi

Frieze has revealed its latest expansion to the Middle East, with Abu Dhabi Art to become Frieze Abu Dhabi next November, following an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism. This is the eighth fair in Frieze’s portfolio, and follows competitor Art Basel’s announcement of its newest satellite, with Art Basel Qatar launching in February under the artistic direction of Wael Shawky.

U.K.’s Arts Council and Contemporary Art Society Make Frieze London Acquisitions

With six-figure sales already being reported for blue-chip artists, the Arts Council Collection has started announcing their acquisitions, especially of work by early-career artists. The Contemporary Art Society has acquired a painting from Pippy Houldsworth Gallery by Shaqúelle Whyte and a sculpture from Thomas Dane Gallery by YBA Michael Landy, both for the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Meanwhile, the Arts Council Collection has acquired work by Sarah Ball, Alex Margo Arden, Olu Ogunnaike, Vanessa Raw, and Liorah Tchiprout.

Biennials and Institutions

Ibraaz Opens in London, Celebrating Global Majority Artists

The new non-profit arts space platforming ‘Global Majority’ artists opened in London on Wednesday. Originally an online publication focusing on the Middle East and North Africa, Ibraaz has evolved into an exhibition space with public programming and residencies. Its inaugural exhibition Parliament of Ghosts features a new site-specific installation by Ibrahim Mahama.

India Returns to the Venice Biennale with Indigenous Artists

India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism announced on Friday that the nation will return to the Venice Biennale in 2026 with a focus on Indigenous artists, in recognition of these communities’ contribution to Indian cultural heritage. The announcement was made at a New Delhi conference on conservation and art in traditional communities. It will be India’s third official presence at the Biennale, following pavilions in 2011 and 2019.

Chiara Camoni to Represent Italy at the Venice Biennale

The Tuscany-based ceramics and craft artist has been selected as Italy’s representative for the 2026 Venice Biennale. The exhibition, entitled Con te con tutto (With You with Everything), will be curated by Cecilia Canziani.

Australia’s Reinstated Venice Artist Khaled Sabsabi Receives 100K Grant

In what continues to be a roller-coaster year for the Lebanese Australian artist, Sabsabi has received a 100,000 AUD grant from Creative Australia, the federal arts body that dropped and subsequently reinstated Sabsabi as Australia’s representing artist for Venice next year. The grant will fund a new commission for the artist’s 2027 solo show at Adelaide’s Samstag Museum of Art, which will also include Sabsabi’s Venice work.

Galleries

Sadie Coles HQ Grows in Mayfair

The gallery opened its new 6,000-square-foot space on London’s storied Savile Row on Tuesday evening with a solo exhibition by South African painter Lisa Brice. Sadie Coles HQ has operated in London since 1997, and currently has three sites in the city centre.

Marian Goodman Gallery to Host Jenkins Johnson

San Francisco and Brooklyn-based gallery Jenkins Johnson will collaborate with Marian Goodman Gallery at the latter’s Manhattan location for the next year. Jenkins Johnson will kick off the new programme with a Lola Flash photography exhibition, opening on 8 November.

Sherbet Green Gallery in London to Close

The young, experimental gallery has announced that it will close ‘after much reflection’, winding up next June with a group show over London Gallery Weekend. Sherbet Green launched in East London in 2022 and relocated to a former factory in West London early this year.

Almine Rech London to Reopen Next Month

After the gallery made headlines last week with the sudden closure of its Mayfair location, Almine Rech has announced its move to St George Street, just a few blocks away. The new space will be open by appointment from November.

Gallery Representations

Olney Gleason to represent Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock

The New York-based gallery has announced exclusive representation of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock via the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. Olney Gleason is the successor of Kasmin Gallery, who formerly represented the artists’ estates, and will open with its inaugural exhibition on 30 October. —[O]

Main image: Exhibition view: Ibrahim Mahama, Parliament of Ghosts, Ibraaz, London (15 October 2025–15 February 2026). Courtesy the artist and Ibraaz. Photo: © Hugo Glendinning.