Global contemporary art events and news observed from New York City. Suggestion? Email us.

Archive for the 'News' Category

Lisson Gallery to Represent Joanna Pousette-Dart

Tuesday, February 4th, 2020

Lisson Gallery now represents the work of Joanna Pousette-Dart, the Art News reports.  Poussette-Dart’s first show with the gallery will open at the end of February.   (more…)

Guardian Writes Piece on Art Conservators Hans Thompson and Maxwell Malden

Monday, February 3rd, 2020

The Guardian has a piece this week on the studio of conservators Hans Thompson and Maxwell Malden, and their practice working with both historical and contemporary art works. “We’d always worked together on freelance jobs,” Malden says. “We knew we’d work together at some point. We just didn’t think it would happen quite as quickly.” (more…)

Gagosian, Steven Tananbaum Settle Lawsuit Over Koons Sculptures

Monday, February 3rd, 2020

Collector Steven Tananbaum and Larry Gagosian have reached a settlement in a suit over Jeff Koons works that the collector claimed he purchased and never received. “Mr. Tananbaum is a passionate collector, and we look forward to our continuing relationship,” Gagosian gallery and Koons said in a joint statement. (more…)

Collector’s Holdings in Dutch and British Art Go to New York State Museum and the Van Wagenen House

Monday, February 3rd, 2020

Collector George Way’s impressive holdings of British and Dutch art will go on view at the New York State Museum and the Van Wagenen House after the collector’s passing last June.  Way was planning a number of exhibition projects during the time of his death. (more…)

Man Jumps to His Death From “Vessel” Sculpture in Hudson Yards

Monday, February 3rd, 2020

A 19-year-old man jumped to his death on Saturday from the Vessel installation in Hudson Yards Park, the New York Times reports. “Our deepest sympathies are with the family of the person who lost their life last evening. We have no further comment at this time,” says Kathleen Corless, a spokeswoman for Hudson Yards. (more…)

Collector Sues Inigo Philbrick Over Nondelivery of Work

Monday, February 3rd, 2020

Collector Andre Sakhai is suing dealer Inigo Philbrick over a Wade Guyton work he had agreed to buy, but which he claims the dealer sold to another party without his knowledge. “Since the time that the fraud was revealed several months ago, we are seeing more victims coming forward to claim what is rightfully theirs,” says Judd Grossman, a lawyer representing Sakhai. (more…)

Jodie Foster to Direct Film on 1911 Mona Lisa Heist

Friday, January 31st, 2020

Jodie Foster will direct a film about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from The Louvre. The thief, an Italian criminal named Vincenzo Perugia, hid inside the Louvre disguised as an employee until nightfall, then walked out of the museum with the work.   (more…)

LACMA Receives $50 Million Gift Towards New Campus

Friday, January 31st, 2020

LACMA has received a $50 million gift towards building its new campus, pledged by the W.M. Keck Foundation.  “It’s thrilling. I am really grateful to the Keck Foundation,” LACMA Director Michael Govan said of the organization“It’s really exciting because it’s about bringing new people into philanthropy for culture.” (more…)

Hong Kong Gallerists Issue Statement in Face of Coronavirus Fears

Friday, January 31st, 2020

The Hong Kong Art Gallery Association has released a statement expressing its support for the region and for whatever decisions the Art Basel Hong Kong fair makes regarding its upcoming edition.  “Let us assure you that the fair representatives have been in constant consultation with many of our gallery members as well as regional art collectors regarding the status of the city as it navigates one of the most tumultuous periods in its history,” it reads. “They have been sensitive and considered in their understanding of Hong Kong and its unique positioning.”  (more…)

Smash and Grab Thieves Steal Dalí Works in Stockhold

Friday, January 31st, 2020

A daring smash and grab theft in Stockholm saw thieves make off with a set of sculptures by Salvador Dali. “They were worth 200,000 to 500,000 crowns (£16,000 to £40,000) each. So it’s quite a lot of money. It’s terrible,” the gallery owner, Peder Enstrom, said. (more…)

Van Gogh Museum Acquires Degas Pastel

Thursday, January 30th, 2020

The Van Gogh Museum has made a major acquisition of a pastel work by Edgar Degas, the first of its kind to enter the Dutch national collection. “The Van Gogh Museum has long cherished the wish to add a top-ranking Degas nude to its collection, preferably one from the period in which Van Gogh discovered the French artist’s work,” reads a museum statement. “For that reason, Woman Bathing will remain on permanent display following its unveiling today.” (more…)

Controversy in London Over Tate’s “Head of Coffee” Job Posting

Thursday, January 30th, 2020

The Tate is stoking controversy in London this week after a job posting on its site for “head of coffee” was noted to have higher pay than its curators. “All Tate’s departments have a variety of roles with different responsibilities and salaries, including curatorial, and a more accurate comparison would be a curatorial team leader,” the museum responded. “We value all our staff and strive to pay them appropriately for their work at Tate.” (more…)

Cecilie Hollberg Returns to Galleria dell’Accademia

Thursday, January 30th, 2020

Cecilie Hollberg will return to her post as director of the Galleria dell’Accademia.  The move comes after Alberto Bonisoli, the right-wing Italian culture minister who tried to take control of the museum and merge it with the Uffizi was replaced by Dario Franceschini.  “[Bonisoli] did not explain to me the reason for wanting to remove autonomy from the Academy by merging it with the Uffizi,” Hollberg said in an interview last year. “And nobody in the ministry was able to give me an explanation on this counter-reform.” She claimed that her German nationality may have led to the change in her contract, and she added, “I am convinced that culture cannot be exploited by politics.” (more…)

W Magazine Tours Home of Bettina Korek

Thursday, January 30th, 2020

W Magazine takes a tour of the home of soon-to-be Serpentine head Bettina Korek, as she prepares for the upcoming fair and shows off her art collection. “She brings worlds together, and has connected the art scene to music, film, architecture, and literature,” Hans Ulrich Obrist says of her work. “That’s very Serpentine.” (more…)

Beijing Triennial Called Off Over Coronavirus Threats

Thursday, January 30th, 2020

The Beijing Triennial has been postponed over fears of the coronavirus, Art News reports.  “To reduce mass gathering amid the outbreak of the coronavirus, CAFA Art Museum (CAFAM) will postpone the CAFAM Techne Triennial 2020 and has suspended its preparations for the exhibition,” says CAFA director Zhang Zikang. “We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this change, and hope that you understand the unexpected and complex situation we are facing.” (more…)

China and Hong Kong Shutter Arts Institutions Indefinitely

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Following the outbreaks of corona, Hong Kong has shuttered its public art institutions indefinitely, a move that creates even more challenges for Art Basel’s upcoming fair in the city. “We are closely monitoring the developments and recommendations issued by the World Health Organization and national governments, as well as consulting directly with relevant experts. We will provide updates on the implications for our Hong Kong show as soon as possible,” a spokesperson for the fair said. (more…)

Alexander Calder Banners Rediscovered in Philadelphia

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

A set of banners designed by Alexander Calder and thought destroyed  have been discovered in Philadelphia.  “We are honored to be a part of the ongoing story of these beautiful works by Alexander Calder, which were created as public art and which will continue their life as such at Parkway Central,” says Siobhan A. Reardon, president and director of the Free Library, where the works will go on view.

(more…)

Gagosian’s Digital Strategy Profiled in Fast Company

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

A piece in Fast Company looks at Gagosian’s new online strategy with its “Viewing Room” project, and the high-profile sales the gallery has brought in through it. “We have proven that collectors are now willing to buy and sell art online in the $100,000 to $2 million range with meaningful frequency,” says Gagosian director Alison McDonald. (more…)

Seth Cameron of Bruce High-Quality Foundation to Take Over as Head of New York’s Children’s Museum of Art

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Seth Cameron, founder of the Bruce High Quality Foundation, will take on a new role as executive director of the Children’s Museum of Art. “Seth’s broad experience as an artist, educator, and administrator makes him the perfect choice to lead this institution,” says William S. Floyd. (more…)

Roberto Cicutto Tapped as New President of Venice Biennale

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

Italian film producer Roberto Cicutto will take over as  president of the Biennale di Venezia.  He succeeds Paolo Baratta, who headed the famed exhibition for twelve years. (more…)

René Morales Named Director of Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator at PAMM

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

The Pérez Art Museum Miami has promoted curator René Morales to director of curatorial affairs and chief curator.  “Each member of PAMM’s staff plays a vital role in the museum’s success,”says director Franklin Sirmans. “As Miami’s flagship art museum, we are always diversifying our programming to meet our audiences’ needs and growing the collection at an astounding pace.” (more…)

Opening of Munch Museum Delayed Until Fall

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

The opening of the Munchmuseet in Oslo has been postponed until the autumn due to delays in its building process. “The building is such a massive project, it’s simply delayed. We are just working out the logistics,” says Tracey Emin, who is preparing a show of her own works alongside those of Edvard Munch to open the space. “The upside for me is, the longer the delay, the longer I have to enjoy the Munch archive!” (more…)

Christian Boltanski Profiled in Forbes

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

Christian Boltanski gets a profile in Forbes this week, as his show at the Centre Pompidou prepares to close.  “Maybe I’m happier now than I was some years ago,” he says as the conversation turns to mortality and the prospect of death in his own work. “Maybe when you ask yourself a lot of questions, something eventually happens that makes you better able to accept things.” (more…)

Getty Downgrades Work Purchased as Paul Gauguin Sculpture

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

A carving of a horned devil bought by the J. Paul Getty Museum as a Paul Gauguin work has been disproven as a work by the artist.  The decision was made after an extended research process. “In December 2019 the museum changed the attribution of the sculpture Head with Horns to ‘unknown,’” a spokesperson said. “This decision was based on scholarly research over recent years by Getty professionals and other experts in the field, including significant new evidence that was not available at the time of its acquisition.” (more…)