The Best of TEFAF Maastricht 2025: from Danielle McKinney to Gustav Klimt

Dr. Jacqueline Nowikovsky is a London-based art advisor who consults international collectors on 20th and 21st century acquisitions and collection management. She is also involved in developing her clients’ institutional support and philanthropic endeavors. The visionary imparted to Whitewall the thrills of attending TEFAF Maastricht as an art advisor, from embarking on contemporary masterpieces to historic treasures.

Immersed in 7000 Years of Art History

Going to TEFAF in Maastricht is always a joy as an art advisor. Whether you go with clients or just by yourself, you get to immerse yourself in 7000 years of art history. From Cycladic Antiquities to Contemporary artists—this is not only one of Europe´s most prestigious art fairs, but also a place to discover new artists and learn about periods and art in regions you might not yet be familiar with, whilst looking at some of the most exquisite examples of artistic production. 

Danielle Mckinney and Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Let´s start with my Contemporary highlight, Danielle Mckinney, a painter whom I’ve loved since first encountering her small and delicate depictions of women in private spaces. Having had the privilege to place some of her works, it fills me with special excitement when a new body of works is presented. Marianne Boesky chose to dedicate her booth to new paintings, that she placed in conversation with mid- century American realist Edward Hopper. While his settings create an eerie feeling of abandon and the figures seem often lonely, separated from the viewer and the world around them, Mckinney’s figures are alone, but relax under the viewer’s gaze. They somehow embrace this solitude, allowing the weight of the world to fall away. 

Jean-Honoré Fragonard—the master of Rococo exuberance. You cannot look at Flora Yukhnovich without thinking about this historic origin. Wildenstein & Co presented three beautifully executed 18^th century jewels: an exquisite and delicate study of a child´s head (presumably the artist’s son), a picture of Venus and Cupid, and the work that stood out mostly for me for its acutely timely relevance—The Charlatan.

Chaim Soutine, Lynn Chadwick, and George Nakashima at Piano Nobile

Chaim Soutine´s Platanes à Céret from 1920 next to a Pair of Sitting Figures by Lynn Chadwick and a George Nakashima Cabinet at Piano Nobile. 

De Jonckheere’s Flemish Painting

De Jonckheere, a gallery specializing in Flemish paintings brought this panel from the first half of the 16^th century painted by a follower of Hieronymus Bosch. While it depicts St. Christoper carrying Christ on his shoulders, what always catches my eye is the degree of surrealist fantasy that was already infused in these works. These compositions are verging on the macabre and absurd, with details that only slowly unfold. To our days some of these nightmarish, monstrous and often hilariously strange visions surpass anything we could imagine, while deeply resonating with us. 

Galerie Lefebvre with Alberto Giacometti and Diego Giacometti; Axel Vervoordt

Galerie Lefebvre’s design heavenly pairing of Alberto Giacometti’s Oiseau from 1937 behind a Diego Giacometti coffee-table (spot the little personage delicately balancing along the table’s legs).

This mesmerizing sandstone head of a deity in the Bayon style (reign of Jayavarman VII) dates from approx. 1182-1215) was juxtaposed with Roman Opalka‘s Carte de Voyage on the elegant booth of Axel Vervoordt, hinting at the eternal questions of the finite and infinite.  

Paul Coulon’s Minimalist Artwork by Dan Flavin

In true Minimalist fashion Paul Coulon dedicated his stand to one single artwork: The Nominal Three (To William of Ockham) by Dan Flavin 1963. The two other versions of this museum-quality installation are indeed owned by the Guggenheim and the Dia Art Foundation. 

Hilla von Rebay and Cy Twombly

Speaking of the Guggenheim: While most people know the institution in New York, fewer might know that the museum´s founder Solomon Guggenheim was advised by a woman called Hilla von Rebay who helped him build one of the world´s most important collections of non-objective art. And even fewer will be familiar with Rebay´s own artistic oeuvre. Raphael Durazzo has set out to change this and  presented solo-booth dedicated to this pioneer of Modern Art. 

Gallery Bastian showed a complete set of photographs by Cy Twombly. The lesser-known photographic works by the giant of the 20^th century were a lovely nod to the Dutch tulip legacy which is always reflected in the abundant floral decoration of the TEFAF halls. 

Dame Barbara Hepworth and First Nations Artists

Aforementioned flower arrangements peeking through at the booth of Richard Green who showed a gorgeous string-work by Dame Barbara Hepworth. 

One thrill of traveling to TEFAF are the discoveries from around the world—such as the pieces by Australia´s leading First Nations artists presented by D´Lan Contemporary. This piece by Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri was among the first contemporary paintings made by an Australian desert artist.

Galerie Wienerroither & Kohlbacher Offers a Lost and Rediscovered Portrait

A  little sensation in the Gustav Klimt research: The long lost and rediscovered portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona (1897). The painter known for his lavish and symbolist paintings, covered in gold and ornaments met the Osu prince after an ethnographic exhibition in Austria. Aside from the painterly quality of the painting, it might invite reflection on the circumstances of bringing sitter and painter together, as well as raising questions about the fate of its owners. Originally owned by Ernestine Klein, who fled the Nazis in 1937, a restitution settlement was agreed with the heirs before enabling Galerie Wienerroither & Kohlbacher from Vienna to offer this work for a reported price of 15m euros. 

Speaking of Vienna—name a more elegant way of presenting your apples, I’ll wait. This Wiener Werkstätte fruit tray by Josef Hoffmann was designed in 1910 and I couldn’t think of a more enticing way to remember your five a day. The workshop’s activities at turn of the century Secessionist period in Vienna were pioneering modern design. 

Galleri K with Franz West and Franz Gertsch

One last Austrian fellow, with a Franz West papier-maché sculpture in front of three exceptional woodcuts by Franz Gertsch. The way these works handle light and colour gives them an almost-there yet disappearing presence and stillness, which combined with the incredible detail of Gertsch’s technique is hard to sense without standing in front of them. Which I did extensively at Galleri K from Oslo. (sorry we’re done now,… you can take the girl out of Austria…)

Sicilian Tapestry Circa 1750 from Perrin

Sometimes it’s just the level of craftsmanship that stops you in your step. This Sicilian tapestry from circa 1750 was embroidered with pearls of coral and silver wire on silk damask (Perrin). 

A more contemporary example of textile craftsmanship by Etel Adnan titled Désert Ensoleillé at White Cube. 

Jorge Welsh Works of Art from Portugal

An extraordinary Qing Dynasty Lacquer Screen from the Kanxi Period (1662-1722) presented by Jorge Welsh Works of Art from Portugal. This screen portrays 394 human figures—163 Europeans on the Dutch Tribute side and 231 Chinese on the West Lake side, with 48 inscriptions identifying temples, bridges and other landmarks. The ‘twin’ screen is housed in the collection of the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen.

Max Ernst and Tom Wesselmann

Max Ernst‘s Paysage aux coquillages at Galerie Berès. 

Van de Weghe showed Tom Wesselmann‘s Smoker #10 (1973 ) following the artist´s big retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton last year.

 Alberto Giacometti and Joan Miró

Always a moment for Giacometti. This sculpture of the artist´s brother Diego by Alberto Giacometti from 1964/65 (cast in 1982) was presented by Skarstedt.

Art in unexpected places—this pyro engraved wood log has a charming personal story. Joan Miró first inscribed it on the side in 1941 at his friend’s house. When he returned in 1974 he found the piece too sad and added the colours reminiscent of the triptych at the Pompidou. 

Galerie Mitterrand’s Dialogue Between Steven Parrino and Robert Morris

Galerie Mitterrand created an interesting dialogue between Steven Parrino and a felt installation by Robert Morris, in which both push the boundaries of pictorial possibilities and explore the forces and shapes of materiality. 

Two works from Gerhard Richter from different periods of his oeuvre in dialogue with a beautiful and unrestored small Alexander Calder stabile at Ben Brown Gallery. 

Monagut Gallery Presents Works by the Ashanti People of Ghana

Works by the Ashanti people, Ghana—19^th century presented at Monagut Gallery.

And with Alessandro Twombly and Francesco Cima at Amanita from New York it´s time to say bye and Thank You TEFAF! See you next year!