Dear All,

A time of celebration and of mourning. Legendary photographer Martin Parr, the visionary architect Frank Gehry, and the venerated conceptual artist Ceal Floyer, have recently passed – each an auteur in their own respective fields, leaving a legacy of groundbreaking work and a shared love of humanity.

Art Basel unveiled its first class of Gold Awardees at the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center in Miami this week, honouring practitioners shaping the future of contemporary culture. The ceremony honoured 11 individuals and organisations selected through a peer-driven voting process: the winners are Cecilia Vicuña (Icon); Nairy Baghramian and Ibrahim Mahama (Established); Mohammad Alfaraj and Saodat Ismailova (Emerging); Formafantasma (Cross-Disciplinary); Joel Wachs (Patron); RAW Material Company (Institution); Candice Hopkins (Curator); Gasworks / Triangle Network (Allies); and Negar Azimi (Media & Storytelling). Each picked up a blown-glass trophy designed by Swiss architect Jacques Herzog of Herzog & de Meuron. The night also marked the debut of the BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement, which went to Meriem Bennani.

Meanwhile, in the U.K., hurray to Nnena Kalu, winner of the 2025 Turner Prize and £25,000. Kalu was chosen from a shortlist including Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Xa. Born in Glasgow, Kalu creates large-scale abstract drawings, potent sculptures and installations using repurposed fabric, rope, parcel tape and reels of VHS tapes. Kalu is the first artist with a learning disability to receive the Turner Prize. All the nominees will be on view at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford, until 22 February.

In other public art news, Maria Balshaw, the indomitable Tate Director has just announced standing down after nearly a decade in the role. During her tenure – since 2017 – she oversaw a wide ranging programme including a Yoko Ono retrospective and ’Sargent and Fashion’ both staged last year. Next year her final project will be the largest ever survey of Tracey Emin at the Tate Modern.

While we head into the last sprint before the holidays, we wish you fruitful Christmas shopping and delicious libations from the KTW x The Wick family.