Art Basel has postponed its June edition, rescheduling it for September. “Art Basel will continue to invest in and enhance its new digital platform – the Online Viewing Rooms – as a way to support galleries and strengthen the art community in these challenging times,” the organization said in a statement.  (more…)

Billionaire Jeffrey Gundlach claims that he has received “panic offers” for works by artists including Monet and Renoir this week at majorly discounted prices.  “This is a difficult time,” he says. “It makes sense for people who want liquidity” to turn to their art collections. (more…)

The unveiling of the next Fourth Plinth sculpture in London has been postponed over coronavirus fears. “We will support all the individuals and businesses involved in the commissioning, planning and operation of this installation during these challenging times,” says London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons. (more…)

Students in the Yale MFA program are demanding a partial refund of their tuition over the class cancellations due to coronavirus. “We are deeply troubled by the far-reaching repercussions of this event, which has tangible and unfathomable implications for our physical and mental health, financial security, professional careers, housing, and immigration status,” the students wrote in an open letter. “Moreover, it has severely curtailed the viability of the unrivaled visual arts education that SoA claims to provide. In light of these circumstances, we believe that financial reimbursement must play a part in the university’s forthcoming actions.” (more…)

With renovations at Notre Dame halted over coronavirus, thieves have broken into the cathedral, Art News reports.  Two men were taken into custody after being spotted by guards. (more…)

Another string of closures has marked a bleak few days for the art world, as Frieze New York cancels its 2020 edition in the city, and François Pinault’s ambitious new museum inside Paris’s Bourse de Commerce postponed its opening until September.   (more…)

A piece in the NYT charts the galleries experimenting with digital sales rooms and online viewing platforms as Coronavirus continues to threaten social gatherings. “If galleries are closed, how can we sell art?” asks David Zwirner. “The online platform is something we have envisioned as an important part of what we do.” (more…)

Closures continue this week over the coronavirus, as the National Gallery in London and the Tate announced full shutdowns for the coming weeks.  “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to the galleries when we reopen” a statement by the Tate reads. (more…)

The string of coronavirus-related closures continues as Christie’s shutters 10 of its salesrooms around the globe, with Phillips following suit soon after. “In the days ahead, we will be communicating a number of necessary changes to our usual course of business, including further changes to our sale calendar,” says Guillaume Cerutti, chief executive officer of Christie’s.
“These decisions are undertaken with a great degree of care and in close consultation with our clients.” (more…)

As coronavirus-related closures continue around the globe, Art Basel is mulling over postponing its flagship fair this June, Art News reports. “We have been closely monitoring the spread of the virus since its early stages and continue to take the evolving situation extremely seriously,” reads an open letter from the fair. “The health and safety of everyone concerned is our highest priority and all necessary measures will be taken to prevent their safety.” (more…)

A number of blue-chip galleries have revealed plans to close in the face of coronavirus. “While we firmly believe that communal engagement with art is crucial in these challenging times, our first priority is to take every possible measure to ensure the safety of our visitors, artists, and staff,” a Pace spokesperson says. (more…)

A piece in Art News this week notes the fears and concerns of chronically ill artists threatened by the specter of coronavirus. “It’s a recipe for disaster,” says artist Ezra Benus. “What will happen to me if the medical system gets overwhelmed and I lose access to medications and doctors?” (more…)

Museum closures have begun in the United States, as The Whitney, The National Gallery of Art, and The Met announced plans to close. “Our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers, and visitors during this time,” a statement from The Whitney reads. “We look forward to reopening to our staff and community as soon as possible.” (more…)

Frieze profiles Palais de Lomé, the first major contemporary art museum in Togo, and the only state-funded arts institution in all of Africa. (more…)

A piece in the New York Times this week follows the recent controversies surrounding dealer Inigo Philbrick.  The piece details Philbrick’s free-wheeling lifestyle and risky deals, which ultimately landed him in his current legal predicaments. (more…)

After weeks trying to mitigate the impact of coronavirus, The Louvre has closed indefinitely.  The Museum had made several efforts to avoid closing but ultimately was forced to shutter its doors today. (more…)

A piece in Barron’s this week notes the changing atmosphere and culture of Arts Philanthropy. “Part of that is generational driven,” says Anders Petterson, founder of ArtTactic and author of the report. “There is a younger generation coming after us who are seeing art not only in terms of an object, or commodity, or something you need to own, but [who] also realize art has a broader impact on the society we live in.” (more…)

Museums have begun to reopen in China and Japan, following a string a coronavirus-related closures. “We do the disinfection everyday according to the [official] sterilizing protocols, and all the working staff has been trained beforehand,” says a spokesperson for the Power Station of Art in Shanghai. “We have also prepared a temporary quarantine area on every floor in case of any emergencies. All visitors must have their temperature taken, as well as present their ID card and registered health code, before entering.” (more…)

Anicka Yi will be the Tate Modern’s next Turbine Hall commission. “Anicka Yi has developed a reputation for highly innovative work,” Frances Morris, director of Tate, said in a statement. “Her installations are unforgettable, using the latest scientific ideas and experimental materials in unexpected ways. The results not only engage the senses, but also tackle some of the big questions we face today about humanity’s relationship to nature and technology.” (more…)

Vienna’s Albertina Museum will get a Modern branch, the NYT reports. “I want to exhibit the Austrian canon alongside the larger canon,” says Klaus Albrecht Schröder, the general director of the Albertina. “In later exhibitions we will include artists like Georg Baselitz, Cindy Sherman, Alex Katz and Mike Kelley. But Austrian artists will always be present, at least 50 percent.” (more…)

Art Basel Hong Kong’s online viewing room program has been announced, a consolation for exhibitors left unable to attend the fair due to coronavirus.  (more…)

Germany has promised financial assistance to arts institutions affected by coronavirus. “It’s clear to me that the situation is a massive burden for the cultural and creative sectors and that small institutions and freelance artists could face considerable distress,” says culture minister Monika Grütters. “I won’t leave you in the lurch!” (more…)

Maya Lin has been tapped for the next Madison Square Park Conservancy installation, where she will erect a series of desiccated trees as a response to climate change. “Climate change has been a significant aspect of Lin’s practice through sculpture and installations, and also through her projects documenting mass extinction due to the loss of species and habitat degradation,” says Brooke Kamin Rapaport, the deputy director and Martin Friedman chief curator of the Madison Square Park Conservancy. “She is working on solutions for this global dilemma. This will be her legacy.” (more…)

A few hours after the WHO has declared a coronavirus a global pandemic, The L.A. Art Book Fair, has been cancelled. “Our annual L.A. Art Book Fair is both a celebration and a critical platform for artists’ books and publishing activity from across the globe,” a statement reads. “We are grateful for the understanding of our participating artists and publishers, and want to acknowledge the time and effort they have dedicated to developing creative publishing projects for the fair. We encourage everyone to continue to support their work.” (more…)