MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Opening: “Takashi Murakami: In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow” at Gagosian Gallery
The Japanese art star who brought us “Superflat” has a show of brand new sculptures and paintings opening at Gagosian’s West 24th Street location in Chelsea. Exploring the destruction caused by the Tōhoku Earthquake of 2011 that was also central to his feature film Jellyfish Eyes (2013), “In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow,” pays homage to 19th century Japanese painters also affected by disaster, and merges traditional painting with modern tech. — Alanna Martinez
Gagosian Gallery, 555 West 24th Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: “Thomas Houseago: Moun Room” at Hauser & Wirth
Best known for his large scale sculptures of bulky bodies, Moun Room is a departure for Mr. Houseago into a more architectural realm by constructing three chambers made of TUF-CAL plaster panels and rebar that viewers can explore. In the gallery’s press release the artist describes the work as “a visual maze with a spiritual dimension.” — A.M.
511 West 18th Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Auction: “Property from the Collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon: Masterworks” at Sotheby’s
The wealth of treasures belonging to the collection of the late Rachel Lambert Mellon, aka “Bunny,” wasn’t known until her recent death last March. It turns out that it contained thousands of objects and artworks, from Rothkos to Picassos, all of which are expected to bring more than $100 million at Sotheby’s tonight. This sale will be one of many this week. Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips will all hold their highly anticipated Post-War and Contemporary Art sales and we’ll be updating you on all the action. Stay tuned. — A.M.
Sotheby’s, 1334 York Avenue, New York, 7 p.m.
Party: Ballroom Marfa Benefit Gala
The innovative West Texas-based non-profit holds its annual fundraiser, complete with cocktails, speeches and a charity auction, where you can buy a stool designed by Marfa’s own Donald Judd. — Nate Freeman
The Prince George Ballroom, 15 East 27th Street, New York, 6:30 p.m., ticketed
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Opening: “Marianne Vitale: Nine Worthies” at Zach Feuer
The acclaimed artist—and fellow habitue of my favorite French bistro, Lucien—has her first show since “Diamond Crossing,” which laid Pennsylvania train tracks through the gallery. — N.F.
Zach Feuer, 548 West 22nd Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: Steven Pippen at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise, Lower East Side
It’s the grand opening of the second location of Gavin Brown’s Enterprise, and the space will be inaugurated with a new show by the YBA and great fanfare. Welcome to the neighborhood, Gavin! — N.F.
GBE LES, 291 Grand Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Book Launch: “Ways of Curating,” by Hans Ulrich Obrist
The title of the new book by the Serpentine Gallery’s director Hans Ulrich Obrist seeks to rescue that oft-misused word from further abuse. “Hans Ulrich Obrist has rescued the word ‘curate’ from wine stores and playlists,” says the press release. Whether or not he’ll succeed, who knows, but he’s certainly excited about it. I saw him at an event last night and the first thing he said to me was “FSG is putting out my book this week!” We’re all very excited, Hans Ulrich. — N.F.
Swiss Institute, 18 Wooster Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: Ahmed Alsoudani at Gladstone Gallery
This will be the Iraq-born, New York-based artist’s first show with the gallery, and is set to feature all new paintings exploring the roots of violence. The large-scale works contain chaotic, fragmented imagery and figures; part of a table here, the suggestion of a body there, and vivid color and traces of the artist’s underlying drawings throughout. — A.M.
Gladstone Gallery, 515 West 24th Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: “Sean Landers: North American Mammals” at Petzel
For his third show with Petzel, Mr. Landers will present three series of paintings all related, and yet widely varied, in form. Nine paintings of library bookshelves with books, their spine texts all string together to complete a chapter of prose by the artist. Next, tartan animals. Yes, tartan animals! A bear, jaguar, coyote, and more. Finally, a twenty-eight-foot long sperm whale, also painted in tartan. — A.M.
Petzel Gallery, 456 West 18th Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Performance: Creamcheese at the Guggenheim, with a performance Oneida and the Joshua Light Show’s Brock Monroe
On the occasion of the museum’s exhibition “ZERO: Countdown to Tomorrow, 1950s-60s,” ZERO scholar Tiziana Caianiello will introduce audiences to the Düsseldorf discotheque that was the dreamchild of artist Günther Uecker and subsequently a playground for other ZERO members like Adolf Luther, Heinz Mack, Gerhard Richter, among others. To celebrate the historic alternative music and performance space, Brooklyn psychedelic rock group Oneida will perform with some trippy visuals courtesy of Brock Monroe of the Joshua Light Show. — A.M.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Avenue, New York, 7:30 p.m., ticketed event
