New York Magazine has published a thorough analysis of the inspirations behind Edward Hopper’s iconic painting, Nighthawks.  Scouring the artist’s former midtown haunts, the article traces influences from the Flatiron Building’s curved window display to the storefronts of Greenwich avenue.  “People want to find the real diner, but Hopper was a synthesizer,” says Carter Foster, the Whitney Museum curator who is preparing to open “Hopper Drawing,” a new show examining the artist’s creative practice. (more…)

The Vatican City will be sponsoring pavilion at the Venice Biennale this year, and has just announced its list of exhibited artists, featuring photographer Josef Koudelka, multimedia group Studio Azzurro and the artist Lawrence Carroll.  The pavilion, organized by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, will explore themes of “Creation, De-Creation and Re-Creation.”  “We want to create an atmosphere of dialogue between art and faith,” Cardinal Ravasi said. (more…)

The Guardian reports on Damien Hirst’s recent appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, where the artist admitted to getting so drunk after winning the Turner Prize’s £20,000 grand prize that he woke up in the morning forgetting where he had left the check.  Measuring his creative successes against the dangerous lives of Romantic-era legends like Egon Schiele and Joseph Turner, the newspaper uses Hirst to question the nature of the artist in an increasingly stabile, safe society. (more…)

Elizabeth Peyton, Jonas Kaufmann, March 2013, NYC (2013), via Gavin Brown’s Enterprise

Gavin Brown’s west-side gallery is currently playing home to a new set of works by artist Elizabeth Peyton, continuing the artist’s ongoing series of portraiture through a series of works taken from the New York Metropolitan Opera, as well as Peyton’s well-documented self-portraits and depictions of celebrities.   (more…)

The Art Newspaper has published an article by Whatever Press on the increasing clout of art fairs worldwide, noting the diverse contemporary art offerings for visitors, bringing galleries from around the world to a single location.  The downside, it notes, is the distracting, overwhelming environment not conducive to experiencing works past a superficial sampling.  “Fairs are great for a scan of the pulse of the moment. One thing they are not is ideal for looking at art.”  Says Maxwell Anderson, the director of the Dallas Museum of Art.

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Artist Eric Fischl spoke with the Wall Street Journal this week about his upcoming book, Bad Boy: My Life On and Off the Canvas, as well as his career and work.  “I thought I was opening up a pretty wide door. I thought that I was offering something I wish had taken a greater hold than it did. Which is that you turn to art to connect to other people, and you connect through common experience and emotional experience and life experience. It’s something that gives form to all the more difficult aspects of our lives.”  He says. (more…)

The Museum of Modern Art has announced that it will partner with architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro to reevaluate the expansion plan that threatens to destroy the former home of the American Folk Art Museum.  In a statement, released yesterday, MoMA said: “The principals of Diller Scofidio + Renfro have asked that they be given the time and latitude to carefully consider the entirety of the site, including the former American Folk Art Museum building, in devising an architectural solution to the inherent challenges of the project. We readily agreed to consider a range of options, and look forward to seeing their results.” (more…)

Tracey Emin’s Roman Standard, a single bronze bird mounted atop a 13 foot pole, has been unveiled in New York’s Petrosino Square.  A collaboration between the Art Production Fund, White Cube and Lehmann Maupin, the piece is intended as a point of contemplation.  “Most public sculptures are a symbol of power which I find oppressive and dark,” said Emin. “I wanted something that had a magic and an alchemy, something which would appear and disappear and not dominate.”  (more…)

Donald Judd’s five-story residence in downtown New York is nearing its scheduled opening date this June, restored through the efforts of the Judd Foundation.  With the opening date approaching, the Financial Times has published a spotlight on the artist and his practice, noting his challenging take on the art market.  Says his daughter, Rainer Judd: “He was in utter disbelief that you could make money from art. When he began his art practice, he had no concept of it being a moneymaking endeavor. He would try to make as much money as possible to buy Swedish furniture and buy Scotch and make great meals.” (more…)

One of the most anticipated art events of the year, Creative Time’s annual gala took place Tuesday night at the Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg, honoring painter, artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel.  Celebrating the artist’s career and creative output, the event lived up to expectations, hosting nearly 600 guests inside the Sugar Factory’s remarkably maintained space.  Featuring a menu prepared by renowned chef Mario Batali, as well as a performance by Laurie Anderson and a tribute to Schnabel by Dick Cavett, the event once again showcased Creative Time’s reputation as a driver in the New York art world.

May Andersen, Julian Schnabel and Anne Pasternak

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Local Planning Committee the Thorney Island Society has raised objections over the proposed installation of artist Katharina Fritsch’s bright blue cockerel sculpture on London’s Fourth Plinth.  Taking umbrage with the work’s apparent “innappropriate” placement in Trafalgar Square, the group is taking action to prevent its installation. “We cannot see any logical reason for the proposed sculpture to be placed on the fourth plinth. It is unrelated to the context of Trafalgar Square and adds nothing to it but a feeble distraction.”  The group said in a statement. (more…)

A week after Richard Prince’s court case on fair use was decided in his favor, the artist has announced the release of a new print series, featuring a composite rendering of Jerry Seinfeld’s 57 girlfriends from his hit television show Seinfeld.  Titled Jerry’s Girl, the prints are available from Two Palms Press in a fitting edition of 57. (more…)

Gutai: Splendid Playground (Installation View), Courtesy Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

The main hall of the Guggenheim Museum’s signature, spiraling exhibition space is currently dominated by an enormous hanging sculpture.  Long plastic envelopes swim over the atrium, filled with brightly-dyed water that casts faint, glimmering shadows on the floor below.  This is Work (Water), by Motonaga Sadamasa, a foundational member of the Gutai art collective. Hailing from the Japanese town of Osaka, the Gutai helped to define the vibrant Japanese contemporary and conceptual art scene of post-war Japan.  Blending an open exploration of the raw materials of creation with a playfully subversive worldview, the Gutai made enormous contributions to the contemporary art practice worldwide.

Shiraga Kazuo, Work II (1958),  Oil on paper, mounted on canvas  183 x 243 cm  Hyōgo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe

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The Two Zodiac Heads to be Returned to China, via China Radio International

French president François Hollande has embarked on his first visit to China, accompanied by a number of high-profile French business heads.  Among them is François-Henri Pinault, the Kering CEO and Christie’s head who has brought a gift of two bronze statues looted from the Beijing Summer Palace in 1860.   (more…)

Over the past 50 years, the descendants of renowned Paris art dealer Paul Rosenberg have fought to reclaim their father’s vast art collection, looted from the family’s home during World War II.  Tracing paper trails and historical records, the family is remarkable for their ability to reclaim over 340 of Paul Rosenberg’s 400 works still missing, including works by Picasso, Cézanne and Braque. “They are part of the 5 percent of those who have been successful,” said Marc Masurovsky, Holocaust Art Restitution Project founder. “They set an example of how restitution should take place.” (more…)

Tony Smith with Daughters, (1969), via Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein

In its current exhibition, Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein remembers the work of sculptor Tony Smith (1912-1980), placing it alongside work from his daughters Kiki Smith (1954) and Seton Smith. The exhibition traces multiple generations of work by the smith family, beginning with Tony’s pioneering work in the 1960’s and 70’s, and will includes sculptural work, paintings, architecture, photography, and tapestries.

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The Shortlist for the 2013 Turner Prize was announced today, including artists Laure Prouvost, Tino Sehgal, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and David Shrigley.  The winner of the award will be announced on December 2nd, and the presentation of the award this year will occur in Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland as part of its year as UK City of Culture.  “The Turner prize is on everyone’s lips. There is a level of real excitement. Having the Turner prize in Derry will create the biggest impact the Turner prize will have had on anywhere in its history.”  says executive producer for the City of Culture Graeme Farrow. (more…)

Art F City is reporting on the fallout from the announcement of Cooper Union’s announced decision to begin charging tuition for its students. Following a tense Q and A yesterday afternoon between students and trustees, a walk-out and large-scale protest ensued, which culminated in staff sealing off school windows to prevent the hanging of banners and and protest signs.  During the meeting, trustees avoided questions about potential future tuition hikes, calling Cooper Union’s public accessibility into further question.  “You could all donate to the school.”  Chairman Mark Epstein said in response to a question about curbing inflation. (more…)

This Sunday, Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson will present A Lot of Sorrow, a performative sound piece that will present the band The National, playing its song “Sorrow” for six consecutive hours at MoMA PS1.  Embracing duration and endurance as fundamental to the piece, the work explores the line between pop music and sonic sculpture.  As stated in the press release: “the idea behind A Lot of Sorrow is devoid of irony, yet full of humor and emotion. It constitutes another quest to find the comic in the tragic and vice versa.” (more…)

Artist Kenny Scharf spent 20 hours behind bars last weekend, after being arrested for drawing a graffiti snake on the wall of a private property in Brooklyn.  The artist took to his Facebook to recount his arrest by two officers who were already fans of the artist’s work.  “The cops who arrested me were fans and wanted to talk about ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ and even liked the tag,” Scharf said. “At the first holding cell in Williamsburg (there were only 5 people in the cell) the police were googling me and asking about things like the Tunnel nightclub.” (more…)

One by one, the indicted suspects in a case involving money laundering and illegal gambling, among them art dealer Helly Nahmad, plead not guilty in court on Friday.  Underlining the size and complexity of the case, over 30 were indicted as part of two separate but connected gambling and money laundering rings.  Mr. Nahmad is charged with helping to bankroll the operation.  “We do not believe that Mr. Nahmad has knowingly violated the law.” Said Nahmad’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman. “We anticipate that he will be fully exonerated.” (more…)

Glenstone, a private museum established by industrialist Mitchell P. Rales and his wife Emily in Potomac, Maryland, is planning a major expansion to its exhibition spaces.  Costing $125 Million, the new galleries will offer more public access to what National Gallery director Earl A. Powell III calls “one of the most important collections of postwar art.” (more…)

Recognized contemporary artists Ryan Gander and Cory Arcangel have both announced the launch of their own lines of clothing.  Gander’s line is a collaboration with Japanese clothing line A.Four Labs, while Arcangel’s, titled “Arcangel Surfwear” is “all designed for comfortably surfing…. the web of course,” says a project manager. (more…)

New York’s Park Avenue Armory has released its list of Artists-in-Residence for 2013, including singer-songwriter Somi, choreographer Faye Driscoll, the Trusty Sidekick Theater Company and artists Ralph Lemon, Okwui Okpokwasili and Alex Dolan.  The artists will present works during the Armory’s 2013 calendar year, including an immersive mystery theatre piece, and a curated night of Nigerian music created during Somi’s 15-month residency in Lagos. (more…)