A vibrant masterpiece by Pablo Picasso, painted as an elegy to his friend and rival Henri Matisse, is predicted to set a world record for an artwork sold at auction.

Organisers fear for the future of some of the country's literary events as the commercial sponsorship dollar gets smaller for traditional books.

Writers protest Hebdo prize Criticism of the PEN American Centre's decision to honour the French magazine Charlie Hebdo continues.

Kiwi author Nalini Singh has sold more than six million books in 20 languages, making the New York Times bestseller list 25 times. She talks to Jennifer Dann.

A portrait of Sam Smith by a Kiwi artist has gone viral on social media after the music superstar shared it with his 3.6 million followers on Instagram.

Stephie Key reveals the inspiration behind her risque creations - "strong, beautiful, sensual and powerful women".

An art exhibition with an Anzac twist is paying tribute to the Cook Islands soldiers who served in World War I.

Tourettes, real name Dominic Hoey, is a local poet, rapper and spoken word performer. He talks drugs, politics, Grey Lynn and more with Jennifer Dann.

German writer Gunter Grass passed away in Lubeck, near the farmhouse where he lived with his second wife, Ute. He was 87.

Budding Kiwi artists will next week have the chance to wow a top Weta Workshop designer.

Bridget van der Zijpp’s new novel explores the fleeting, dangerous side of fame.

The most popular biographies are those that embrace the subject’s life while assuming little prior historical knowledge on the part of the reader.

Is the unhappiness of beautiful people more significant than that of real people?

On the eve of the release of Woman in Gold, an expert at Christie's has spoken of a force that is changing the shape of the international art market: the scale of wartime art thefts.

The Auckland Writers Festival announced this year's line-up of authors last week. Michele Hewitson talks to the festival's director, Anne O'Brien.

A tormented shriek, a sudden drop into darkness and a tall figure in robes emerges from the shadows, ranting.

The school bus lurches to a halt outside a Bekaa Valley primary school in the east of Lebanon.

As Adesola Osakalumi speaks, the native of The Bronx, New York, slips between his own accent and that of Nigerian activist and musical legend Fela Kuti.

An auction of Kiwi artists' work has raised $22,000 for a project that uses art to help Syrian kids cope with the trauma of civil war.

Entertaining a discerning audience of 2- to 4-year-olds is a never-ending challenge for British theatre artist Andy Manley.

Two British actors who have forged successful parallel writing careers will headline the Auckland Writers Festival in May.

More than 50 years ago an artist from Auckland changed his name to Billy Apple and became a living brand. On the eve of a major retrospective of his life’s work, he talked to Greg Dixon about his past, his present and his future.

75: It was late in the day before New Zealand appointed war artists to document the conflict.

Auckland's Art Festival is filling the streets, parks and theatres for the next two weeks with light, colour and music. Find out what's on this week and our don't miss pics.

NZ On Screen Content Director Irene Gardiner selects five great New Zealand arts documentaries, to mark the start of the 2015 Auckland Arts Festival.

A gallery has grown in the heart of Coromandel Town. In a purpose-built space designed by Ron Sang, Barry Brickell's Driving Creek Art Gallery is hosting its sixth exhibition Using Paint and Clay Expressively.