Although neither the seller nor the buyer, both private and tight-lipped, want to comment on the sale, the $140 million price tag that was attached to a Jackson Pollock paining last week makes it the most expensive piece of artwork in history. The painting, which was done on fiberboard, is titled "No. 5, 1948" and measures 4-feet 8-inches in height. David Geffen reportedly it sold to the "obsessively private" Mexican financier David Martinez through Sotheby's. The NY Times speculates that, as Geffen just sold off two other very expensive paintings in the last few weeks, he may be trying to raise money for a bid to purchase the LA Times.

[Thanks, Lana]

This striking painting is instantly recognizable as a Frida Kahlo. Roots, a self-portrait done in 1943 will be sold at Sotheby's New York on May 24 as part of their sale of Latin American art. It is oil on metal and has never before appeared on the public market. The painting was done after Kahlo remarried her Diego Rivera and is one of her few full-length self-portraits. The painting is expected to sell for $5 to $7 million.  The painting will most likely set a record for Kahlo's work and could set a record for work by a female artist.  I wonder if Madonna, a noted Kahlo collector, will be bidding on this one.

Last week in Milan, Dutch designer/artist Maarten Baas debuted an unusual furniture collection made of clay. Not only is it made of clay, but it is hand-sculpted by the designer himself. While the furniture is much more appealing than I would have expected clay furniture to look, there is still the question over whether such a design could appeal to a wide audience, beyond the walls of the exhibition room. Is it comfortable or must it be resigned to the same status as a sculpture and preserved as art for the sake of art?

Artist Stella Vine has a bit of a thing for Kate Moss. No fewer than three of her paintings feature the famous model and she actually describes it as an "obsession" on her blog. She's done paintings of celebrities like Princess Di, the Rolling Stones and even Frieda Kahlo, as well as many others, in addition to Moss and Pete Doherty. Her style represents a sort of post-pop nouveau British that some people really dislike. Quite a few of her pieces are available on ArtNet. This Kate Moss painting, titled "I only make love to Jesus" is acrylic on canvas and available via ArtNet, though you'll have to call for the price.

Wow, the auction of that J.M.W. Turner painting at Christie's this week turned out to be even more exciting than imagined. The painting, "Giudecca, La Donna della Salute and San Giorgio" sold for $38.5 million to a private collector bidding over the phone. It set a new record for an Old Master painting in the U.S. and is the most expensive British painting ever sold. The painting was sold by the St. Francis of Assisi Foundation and as we mentioned before, is tax exempt.

The pop artist Christina Aguilera has just dropped £25,000 - that's about $43,500 - on a painting by the British graffiti artist Banksy.  The painting shows the late Queen Victoria, who passed anti-homosexual laws and "famously believed women were incapable of being gay", depicted as a lesbian. Victoria, clad in stockings and garter belt, is painted in a compromising position with another woman. Aguilera plans to display the controversial painting in her home.

The painting is after the jump and is possibly not safe for work.

Artexpo New York, the place to find both fine popular art will hold its 28th annual exposition, March 2-6, 2006 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.  This year the  theme is “Big Apple. Big Art.”  The show is a chance to see all styles of work and art that fits budgets ranging from $500 to $50,000.  Events include the unveiling of the art of the US Olympic team on Saturday, March 4, the launch of the Art of Sir Winston Churchill with his grand daughter present and famed photographer Annie Leibovitz’s curated exhibition for ICP at The Point to benefit the school children of the South Bronx. The Pavilion is a new part of the Artexpo, it is a high-end retail gallery experience and will feature the artist Eric Waugh painting live on Saturday, March 4 to create a $50,000 piece to be auctioned off for the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation. Tickets are $15 per day.

I love this idea. A reader directed us to a BetterWall, website that sells the street pole banners advertising museum exhibits. You may not be able to afford the artwork itself but getting the massive poster is quite reasonable. The one shown here, which at 99" long needs a big wall, sells for $745. The program helps keep the vinyl banners out of landfills and the museums get a portion of the profits. Some of the banners have wind-slits to withstand high wind but don't have large rips, tears, or fading.

[Thanks, Eric]