Ai Weiwei has begun his three-year tenure as a visiting professor at Berlin’s University of the Arts this month, and introduced himself to the student body with some unique musings on the nature and definition of art.  “It’s a bit like with sex,” Ai told the gathered audience this week. “One can have a lot of experience, and nevertheless find it extremely difficult to define.” (more…)

Doris Salcedo is the recipient of the Nasher Sculpture Center’s first $100,000 Nasher Prize.  “Through her use of meaningful, everyday materials, often in unexpected and socially-charged public spaces in her native Colombia and elsewhere around the world, Doris Salcedo has created a body of work that is both aesthetically striking and politically resonant,” says Nasher Sculpture Center director Jeremy Strick. (more…)

The Rodin Museum is spearheading the sales of newly cast bronze sculptures from the artist’s original molds, in an effort to finance a $17.7 million restoration of the Left Bank exhibition space.  “They don’t have many more big pieces, because most editions are sold out,” says Gilles Perrault, an art expert for France’s high court. “They may have a few more examples left. But today, what the Rodin museum makes are mostly little pieces and variations.” (more…)

An article in Vanity Fair traces the controversies of the Taubman family in recent years as patriarch Alfred Taubman’s estate goes to auction at Sotheby’s this week, including a note on the estate’s inflated guarantee.  “Bobby [Taubman] is a board member; he’s supposed to increase shareholder value,” says one anonymous insider.  “It’s going to be very hard for Sotheby’s to earn out that guarantee.” (more…)

The Wall Street Journal notes an increasing number of collectors donating works to smaller non-profits and institutions like hospitals, in an effort to have these works kept in public view rather than sitting in museum storage, and points to the increased benefits these works have on patients and visitors.  “Studies have shown that artwork helps to reduce stress and boredom, reduces blood pressure and increases white-blood-cell count, all of which are factors in the healing process,” says Jessica R. Finch, art program manager at Boston Children’s Hospital (more…)

The WSJ investigates the occasionally opaque practice of art gallery waiting lists, which it points out are often used to sort buyers and build relationships, or to help sell works which are still held in inventory.  “They may make you buy works by other artists they represent, pieces they haven’t been able to sell and which you may not like,” says Pace Gallery President Marc Glimcher. “They may say, ‘We’ll let you buy a work you want, but you’ll also have to buy one to donate to a museum, and we’ll tell you which museum.’” (more…)

The Financial Times profiles Ed Ruscha this week, as the artist opens a new show at Sprüth Magers in Berlin.  “Things that catch my attention are things that are usually negligible or forgotten, or overlooked or denigrated in some way or another,” he says. (more…)

The EU has stepped down on its proposed ban of cadmium paint pigments, after studies showed that the type of cadmium used in the paints were not as harmful as previously reported.  “While we discussed the technical case for cadmium pigments, many artists were passionately able to stress the economic and artistic importance of cadmiums as they uniquely bring warmth, light, strength and color to paintings to stand the test of time,” says Rachel Volpé of Spectrum Paints. (more…)

A new drama produced by Sony Television for its Crackle streaming-unit will focus on the competitive nature of the contemporary auction house. the New York Times reports.  The Art of More premieres on November 19th, and will star Dennis Quaid, Kate Bosworth and Cary Elwes.  “Because of these high prices, it’s seen as a very glamorous place — the drama of auctions, the high spectacle of it,” says Christie’s Brett Gorvy. “We’ve got $100 million paintings, celebrities in the auction room — a DiCaprio — a cattle call of names, the sense that the art market is a very sexy place, a lot of conniving and innuendo that might be part of this. I’m not surprised it makes for a TV program.” (more…)

The Bruce High Quality Foundation University has announced a joint fundraiser and art exhibition for next week, titled Arcadia, and featuring an impressive lineup of performers including Francis and the Lights, and LE1F, and a body of work inspired by painter Nicholas Poussin, as well as a new entry in the Absolut Art Bar series, designed by Bruce High Quality Foundation.  The party and opening takes place on Nov. 5th. (more…)

CNBC notes increased trends towards online art auctions among the larger auction houses, with Sotheby’s and other houses looking increasingly to online sales.  “(Online auctions) take place simultaneously with a live stream that connects the bidder to the auction floor, as if they were attending in person,” Natalie Townsend, a spokesperson for Invaluable. “The tech behind it is very precise, as you can imagine there can be no time lapses when it comes to bidding on high ticket items, and features a comprehensive bidding dashboard to give the auctioneer instant visibility on bid updates from mobile bidders.” (more…)

Sotheby’s is stuck in the middle of conflicting claims over a Buddha statue reportedly stolen from a San Francisco gallery in 1983, and which recently appeared on the block during the auction house’s Indian and Southeast Asian Art sale this September.  Even though gallerist Gary Crawford was able to halt the sale, he is suing for the return of the statue, which Sotheby’s is still holding due to claims of ownership by its consigner, Weider Health and Fitness. (more…)

A report on the state of the Chinese art market by the National Law Review has found drastic contractions in the market’s auction turnaround rate, dropping by 30%, a drop that the publication attributes to the government’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.  “Although it remains to see whether the anti-corruption campaign could make the ultimate success, the impact on the art world is visible,” the artice concludes.  “Like the investors concern about political risks, China art market stakeholders also need to learn to predict and manage the unexpected impact the changing of political landscape may have on the market.” (more…)

ArtLifting, a new online platform for homeless and disadvantaged artists to sell their work has raised $1.1 million in seed funding from Toms Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, angel investor Joanne Wilson, author and entrepreneur Eric Ries, social impact accelerator Tumml, among others, TechCrunch reports.  “It’s exciting to see entrepreneurs focusing on strengths in our communities to create change,” Mycoskie said in a statement.  (more…)

Morgan Library Director of Collections Peggy Fogelman has been announced as the new director at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. “Peggy is the perfect fit for the Gardner with her impressive background ranging from work in large prestigious institutions to small, intimate museums,” says Steve Kidder, the Gardner Museum’s Board President. “She brings us the best intersection of creativity, vision, and successful execution. We look forward to seeing what she dreams up for this very special Museum.” (more…)

The exhibitor list for the 2016 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong has been announced, running from Thursday, March 24 to Saturday, March 26, and hosting 239 galleries from 35 countries, including 28 first-time galleries at the event.  Notable attendees include Marianne Boesky, which returns after a brief hiatus from the fair, and Selma Feriani Gallery, the first African gallery outside South Africa to attend. (more…)

Ranking online auctioneer Auctionata has acquired the London-based valuation company ValueMyStuff, part of the company’s international expansion plans. “Having access to the best experts worldwide is an essential aspect of Auctionata’s business model,” says Alexander Zacke, founder and CEO of Auctionata.  “Through the acquisition of VMS we are able to expand the expertise from which we provide our customers with fast and reliable valuations. As the market leader and inventor of the livestream auction, we are thus not only shaping the user experience for our bidders, but also for our consignors.” (more…)

Following a number of comparisons to the work of James Turrell, rapper Drake’s “Hotline Bling” video has finally been addressed by the artist, who seems to have taken the homage of his pale, colored light installations with something of a sense of humor.  “I wish to make clear that neither I nor any of my woes was involved in any way in the making of the Hotline Bling video,” he said through a blog post from his lawyer. (more…)

Artist Melik Ohanian has won this year’s Marcel Duchamp prize, presented by the ADIAF (Association pour la Diffusion Internationale de l’Art Français) in partnership with the Centre Pompidou, National Museum of Modern Art, and FIAC, where the award was presented this past week. (more…)

WWD profiles Lucas Zwirner, son of mega-dealer David Zwirner, and editor of the gallery’s young publishing imprint, David Zwirner books.  “I remember reading Wallace Stevens poems and feeling like I could not be doing anything more important,” he says. “At least for the first two or three years, I wanted nothing to do with the sphere of influence that generates from [the gallery].”  (more…)

As Gerhard Richter opens a historical exhibition of his “Color Chart” works from the 1960’s at Dominique Lévy in London, Art Info notes the significance of the works on the artist’s career, and his initial inspiration while passing through a Düsseldorf hardware store, where he saw a selection of paint sample cards.  “I preferred the unartistic, tasteful and secular illustration of the different tones to the paintings of Albers, Bill, Calderara, Lohse, etc.,” Richter says. (more…)

Beirut’s Aishti Foundation Museum, the project of Beirut luxury retail magnate and collector Tony Salamé, has opened this week, featuring an exhibition curated by Massimiliano Gioni, despite ongoing instability in the country.  “I think the best thing with a project, you forget about the uncertainty in the place, you keep on going,” Salamé says. (more…)

Artist Hank Willis Thomas has been commissioned to install a 12-foot tall sculpture at the base of the Brooklyn.  The work will consist of an arm and hand with a single finger raised, and will greet those entering the borough.  The final look for the work has yet to be decided. (more…)

A £35m Rembrandt may stay in the UK, as its buyer considers withdrawing the work’s export license and donating it to a British Museum.  “The prospective buyer is considering a loan to a UK institution so that the painting can be further enjoyed by the British public,” says a Sotheby’s spokeswoman.  (more…)