AO Art Observed™

Thomas Krens at Guggenheim Bilbao via The New York Times
After 20 years as director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the foundation’s board announced yesterday that Thomas Krens will step down from his postion after a new director has been hired. Krens will remain senior adviser for international affairs and oversee the creation of a Frank Gehry-designed museum in the United Arab Emirates.

Guggenheim’s Director steps down from his position [New York Times]
Searching a new director for Guggenheim’s Museum [ArtInfo]
Thomas Krens Steps Down as Guggenheim Director [New York Observer]
The Depart of Thomas Krens from the Guggenheim [New York Sun]
Guggenheim’s ideal new director [Arts Journal]
Goodbye from the Guggenheim to its director, Thomas Krens [Bloomberg]

“Dog Test” by Robert Longo via Forbes

Longo Quoted on “Dog Test” Drawing Sold Recently in London [Forbes]
Forged Monet discovered last week in German Museum [Herald Tribune]
Chinese art market takes France’s third place standing [Art Newspaper]
Update: Cai Guo-Qiang at the Guggenheim Museum [NYTimes]
Update: More Cai Guo-Qiang at the Guggenheim [Wall Street Journal]
Update, Video: Guo-Qiang’s Gun-Powder Works [NYTimes via C-Monster]
Orginally £300, Banksy piece up for £150,000 [Guardian]
Two W. 25th St. gallery buildings sold for $48.75 million [The Real Deal]

“Electric Fountain” at the Rockefeller Center via NYTimes

3,390 bulbs light the electric fountain at NY’s Rockefeller Center [NYTimes]
On what it means to “bring in” a Work at Auction [NYSun]
Major Highway threatens artists’ haven in Marfa [Time via C-Monster]
Danish collector puts her Hirsts on view in Copenhagen [Art Newspaper]
A critical look at Cai Guo-Qaing’s Guggenheim exhibition [NYSun]

Scaffolding was built under the boat via The Guggenheim Museum

The Cai Guo-Qiang retrospective, “I Want to Believe,” opens February 22 at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The exhibit represents the first solo show by a Chinese-born artist at the Museum.

Scaling New Heights at the Guggenheim [The New York Sun]
Cai Guo-Qiang, I Want to Believe [Guggenheim Museum]
Cai Guo-Qiang [Art Observed]

(more…)

Cai Guo-Qiang: 1st Chinese born artist with Guggenheim retrospective [New York Times]
New five-year contract for Lowry at MOMA (Not the MET) [The New York Times]
Ordway Prize, America’s Turner, announced; Driskell Prize also announced [ArtInfo]
Co-Head of I-Banking at Morgan Stanley named to Tate Board [Bloomberg]
Economist: German Expressionism is back [Economist via C-Monster]
Waning art sales spells cancellation for fledgling Duesseldorf art fair [Bloomberg]
Madrid’s famed “art triangle” adds a new cultural center to it’s roster [The Canadian Press]

Warhol Self-Portrait via Bloomberg

Three Warhol Self-Portraits Priced to Sell at Close to $29 Million [Bloomberg]
Guggenheim Accepts Creative Donation from Deutsche Bank [NY Times]
Serpentine Gallery’s Next Pavilion: A Frank Gehry Design [Bloomberg]
Vik Muniz’s Clinton Hill Loft [Media Bistro]
London Galleries to Watch [This is London]

China’s Contemporary Art Museum via Art Newspaper

China’s first contemporary art museum backed by Belgian, Guy Ullens - [Art Newspaper]
Best Upcoming Art Shows of 2008 - [Times Online UK]
Mamontova Gallery in Russin debuts - [Bloomberg]
Jeff Wall Show opens simultaneously in White Cube London, Guggenheim in Berlin - [Financial Times]
UBS to display corporate Stash in Tokyo in ‘08 - [Bloomberg]
Picasso Stolen from Sao Paulo Art Museum - [ArtDaily]