International gallery powerhouse Hauser & Wirth is making a bold move into Italy, but not where many would expect. Instead of establishing their first Italian location in art capitals like Milan, Rome, or Venice, the prestigious gallery has chosen Palermo, Sicily, purchasing a significant portion of the historic Palazzo Forcella De Seta in November. Meanwhile, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art continues to face staffing challenges as chief curator Pilar Tompkins departed this week, less than a month after the museum announced its opening date.
The Sicilian venture represents a significant investment for Hauser & Wirth, which acquired approximately 20,000 square feet of the neo-gothic palace according to Italian daily La Repubblica. The purchase includes the main floor designated for exhibition space, two wings, and a separate building for gallery offices. However, the deal isn't finalized yet, as local government authorities and Italy's Ministry of Culture retain the right of public pre-emption, allowing them to purchase the building within 60 days due to its historic monument status.
The Palazzo Forcella De Seta carries considerable cultural significance in Palermo's art scene. The building served as a venue for Manifesta 12, the prestigious European art biennial held in Palermo in 2018. From 1937 to 1940, it housed Galleria Mediterranea, which holds the distinction of being the city's first private art gallery. The property was placed on the market in 2020, and Hauser & Wirth began investigating the site in 2023 before moving forward with the purchase.
Assuming the government doesn't exercise its pre-emption rights, Hauser & Wirth plans to begin renovation work in 2026, with the gallery expected to open by 2030. This timeline reflects the complexity of converting a historic monument into a contemporary gallery space while preserving its architectural integrity.
Meanwhile, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art faces continued organizational upheaval with the departure of chief curator and deputy director of curatorial collections Pilar Tompkins Rivas. The Los Angeles Times reported late Thursday that Tompkins left the institution this week, marking another significant departure for the museum founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Interim Chief Executive Jim Gianopulos informed staff via email that there are no immediate plans to replace Tompkins' role, stating that George Lucas will continue to lead curatorial content and direction. The museum expressed gratitude in an official statement, saying, "We thank Pilar Tompkins Rivas for her hard work over the last five years, which has been instrumental in preparing the museum for its opening. We wish her well in her future endeavors."
This departure follows a pattern of high-level exits at the Lucas Museum. Less than a year ago, Sandra Jackson-Dumont left her position as director and CEO. Earlier this year, the museum implemented layoffs that eliminated 14 percent of its full-time staff, raising questions about organizational stability as the opening approaches.
Despite these challenges, museum officials maintain they remain on track for the September 2026 opening. The museum, currently under construction in Los Angeles, will focus on narrative art including illustrations, comics, and digital media, reflecting Lucas's passion for storytelling across various mediums.
In other art market news, luxury goods continue to command extraordinary prices at auction. A Hermès Birkin Voyageur bag once owned by Jane Birkin herself sold for $2.3 million at Sotheby's during Abu Dhabi Collectors Week on Friday, dramatically exceeding its $240,000-$440,000 estimate. The sale demonstrates the continued strength of the luxury collectibles market.
Additionally, a 16th-century portrait of Thomas Howard, the 4th Duke of Norfolk, set a new record for Elizabethan portraits when it sold for £3.2 million ($4.2 million) at Sotheby's Old Masters sale in London. The record-breaking sale highlights sustained collector interest in historic portraiture.
In an unusual crime story from New Zealand, police arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly stealing a diamond-studded Fabergé locket by swallowing it. The piece, worth $19,000 and called the "Octopussy egg" after the 1983 James Bond film, contains 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires. It opens to reveal an 18-carat gold miniature octopus. Authorities recovered the locket "without medical intervention" after keeping the suspect under close surveillance. He faces theft charges and is due back in court on December 8, with the locket set to be returned to the renowned Russian-founded jewelry house Fabergé.
