Yayoi Kusama's major retrospective at Fondation Beyeler (through 25 Jan) enters its final weeks, expecting over 500,000 visitors. As the first Swiss exhibition devoted to the artist, it spans from delicate watercolors to immersive installations. The extraordinary visitor engagement signals sustained global market interest in immersive experiential works.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales hosts Ron Mueck: Encounter (through 12 April), a major retrospective validating the artist's hyperrealist sculptural practice. The museum-scale presentation of oversized and miniaturized figures reinforces the market position of high-end hyperrealism.

The global art market closed 2025 with its strongest performance since 2022, anchored by Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer selling for $236.6 million at Sotheby's New York. This result, the second-highest auction price ever, confirms the extreme "quality premium" driving the market's top tier.

Market Outlook: Auction houses finished up 17-26% year-on-year, driven by white-glove private collections (45% of sales) and a massive 68.7% resurgence in the Old Masters category.

Museums remained aggressive buyers in late 2025. Malba (Buenos Aires) acquired the 1,233-work Daros Latinamerica Collection, signaling massive institutional consolidation in the region. Meanwhile, the Louvre acquired Marlene Dumas' Liaisons series, marking a historic breakthrough for contemporary female artists in the museum's permanent collection.

Latin American art is experiencing a verified market boom. Frida Kahlo's new auction record of $54.6M has re-rated the entire sector. Combined with Olga de Amaral's record $3.125M sale and Malba's institutional expansion, collectors are rapidly focusing on regional blue-chip assets.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale (India) and Thailand Biennale (Phuket) are currently driving visibility for artists like Nancy Lupo and Tala Madani. Participation in these major Asian platforms serves as a key indicator for future Western institutional adoption.

The global fair calendar launches with ART SG in Singapore (VIP Preview 22 Jan). As Southeast Asia's leading international fair, it offers critical access to the regional collector base and emerging Asian markets before the Western calendar begins.

Travel Circuit: Collectors are advised to combine ART SG with visits to the ongoing Asian biennials for a comprehensive overview of the regional market.