NewsMuseums
MoMA acquires historic Gordon Parks series The Atmosphere of Crime
The photographs will go on view in the New York museum's permanent collection galleries in May, along with a selection of works by other artists and a clip from the classic 1971 film Shaft
NewsObituaries
Contemporary Greek artist Kornelios Grammenos has died, aged 62
The sculptor and painter was known for his disarming Alien and Knight sculptures, installed in Greece and abroad
NewsAttendance
While US museum attendance nosedived in 2020 amid pandemic, disparities in reopenings yielded a few surprises
Huntington Library in California and Crystal Bridges in Arkansas ascended to the top of the visitor figures list
NewsPublic art
Miami’s art world allergic to plan for cat and dog sculpture park
A nearly $1m project to be permanently installed next to the Pérez Art Museum Miami has raised opposition from the local art scene
NewsNFTs
Virtual museum to be built to house Beeple’s record-breaking digital work
Metapurse, the company owned by the buyer of the $69.3m NFT, plans to create an online “monument this piece deserves"
NewsNFTs
Revealed: Metakovan, pseudonymous founder of ‘crypto-exclusive fund’ Metapurse, is the buyer of Beeple’s $69.3m NFT
Everydays: The First 5,000 Days sold at Christie’s yesterday—and the buyer says it is worth $1bn
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Ancient Egyptian pet cemetery contained much loved cats and dogs pampered in their old age
Research by archaeologists at the Roman port city Berenice shows that humans cared for their animals as much as current day people do
NewsScience
Dr Fauci’s 3-D printed coronavirus model given to Smithsonian
The educational aide will be part of a forthcoming exhibition at the National Museum of American History
PreviewExhibitions
Cézanne’s drawings, watercolours and sketchbooks to get star treatment at MoMA
A major exhibition focuses on works on paper by one of the core artists in the museum’s Modern art collection
NewsAppointments & departures
Charles Venable, president of Indianapolis museum, resigns after controversial job post
The board has issued an apology and pledged to improve its representation of the local community
NewsArt theft
Local man charged in attempted robbery from Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery
George Haag, who has pleaded not guilty, says he thought the portrait of Andy Warhol “would look better somewhere else” and “just wanted to make people laugh”
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Photo collector and ophthalmologist William Tsiaras gives 500 works to Colby College Museum of Art in Maine
The Greek-American started acquiring photography for museums through his personal friendships with artists such as Lucas Samaras, Aaron Siskind and Harry Callahan
NewsLiterature
With powerful poem, Amanda Gorman sets the tone for Biden’s presidency
The 22-year-old Los Angeles poet was the youngest ever to deliver a recitation on Inauguration Day. Listen to and read her words here
NewsPublic art
Biden inauguration is largely virtual—but some live art is planned
A public art installation of 200,000 flags opens on the National Mall, as coronavirus and heightened security forces most events online
NewsArt market
Holy hammer! Near mint copy of Batman #1 sells for record $2.2m at Heritage Auctions
The rare 1940 issue, which marks the first appearance of the Joker and Catwoman, is the second most expensive comic book ever sold
NewsLaw
Art lawyer Frank Lord opens private practice in New York
As well as working on high profile restitution cases, the former Herrick Feinstein partner has a PhD in art history
NewsDesign
Heatherwick’s Vessel closed to the public after third suicide in less than a year
The community board has asked the developer to raise the height of platform barriers to prevent further deaths
BlogThe Insiders
Visit Mañanaland today: Pedro Reyes's utopian vision plays out through an AR scavenger hunt
The artist Pedro Reyes offers a peek at a future where threats such as health crises, climate disasters, social division and nuclear destruction are far behind us
News US politics
What will Joe Biden's culture policy look like?
The art world cheered at Joe Biden’s victory in the US presidential election. But, with a formidable to-do list—not least dealing with the coronavirus pandemic—where will the arts feature on his agenda?
NewsArt fairs
Salon fair releases glossy, digitally enhanced publication instead of another online viewing platform
The New York art and design event has issued a 152-page magazine with interviews, features and QR codes that link to multi-media content
NewsAcquisitions
John Waters, the ‘Pope of Trash’, gives his treasures to Baltimore Museum of Art
The director and film-maker has donated around 375 works to his hometown institution—and will have a pair of restrooms named after him
Newselection 2020
Art world rejoices in Biden’s win of US presidency
Artists, collectors, policy makers and gallery owners share their reactions after the tightly fought election
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Post-election mental health and wellness events at US museums and galleries
A guide to in-person and online programmes that offer some mental and emotional relief this week
Analysis US politics
The 2020 US election: what it means for the arts
With US polls closing on Tuesday night, The Art Newspaper looks at the cultural issues at stake in this election
NewsNew York
Artist designs Dias de los Muertos altar in Brooklyn for those who died during the pandemic
New Yorkers are invited to leave a remembrance of loved ones at Scherezade Garcia’s ofrenda at Green-Wood Cemetery
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Ten most wanted antiquities: have you seen these missing artefacts?
The Antiquities Coalition releases a list of “infamous cases of cultural racketeering”
NewsLaw
Sackler family to pay $225m in civil settlement with US government
The deal with the Department of Justice, which also includes guilty pleas and a $8bn fine against Purdue Pharma, does not prevent future claims against family members or company executives
NewsMail art
Mark Mothersbaugh and Beatie Wolfe want your postcards for democracy
The artists have launched a mail art project to support USPS and mail-in voting efforts
NewsPublic art
#MeToo Medusa sculpture to be installed across from New York courthouse where Harvey Weinstein stood trial
But some have questioned whether the statue truly embodies the feminist movement
NewsLaw
In victory for street artists, US Supreme Court declines to hear 5Pointz developer’s appeal
A New York judge previously awarded $6.75m in damages to the artists, whose graffiti was whitewashed from a Queens warehouse
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Nancy Spector steps down as chief curator of the Guggenheim Museum, after months of controversy
At the same time, museum’s board announced that an independent investigation found she did not mistreat a guest curator based on her race
NewsLaw
Robert Indiana’s Star of Hope reaches deal with Morgan Art Foundation to end ongoing legal battles
The two organisations will work together to settle the artist’s estate and get his charitable foundation up and running in Maine
NewsMonuments
Ruth Bader Ginsburg to be memorialised with statue in Brooklyn
Governor Andrew Cuomo has suggested a site for the monument of the Supreme Court justice, overlooking the Statue of Liberty
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to open with Hayao Miyazaki retrospective in 2021
The new Los Angeles institution will honour the influential Japanese film-maker with an immersive show that draws visitors into his animated worlds
NewsFakes and forgeries
History's greatest forgers
The ability to mimic a famous artist’s work, fool knowledgeable experts and swindle deep-pocketed collectors are skills that can elevate the ordinary conman to legendary status
NewsCanada
Museums halt Jon Rafman shows after allegations are made online
Several women have accused the artist of misconduct, but Rafman disagrees with how their interactions have been represented
NewsArt law
New York developer who whitewashed 5Pointz graffiti—and owes artists $6.75m in damages—appeals to Supreme Court
Petition focuses on the phrasing of the Visual Artists Rights Act, which protects works of “recognized stature” without defining what that means
NewsArt market
David Castillo is moving his gallery to Miami Design District
The dealer plans to open his new space in the Melin Building in September
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Some of Hagia Sophia’s mosaics will be covered during Muslim prayers
A spokesman for Turkish President Ergodan said curtains would hide depictions of the Virgin Mary and the archangel Gabriel when the site opens for worshippers on Friday
NewsLaw
New York grand jury indicts Inigo Philbrick on federal fraud charges
The dealer was arrested by the FBI on the Pacific island Vanuatu last month and transferred into federal custody
NewsPhotography
An adventure with photography: MoMA receives 300-work Gayle Greenhill Collection
The gift from the late patron’s husband will also help create a photography endowment fund through the sale of some works
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Hagia Sophia will be mosque again, Turkish president Erdogan says
The controversial decision is likely to set off a storm among cultural heritage officials
NewsPublic art
Murals that ‘whitewash’ American history come under fire
Monuments are not the only problematic depictions of the past
NewsPersonal stories of coronavirus
‘It's the end of civilisation’: Alexis Rockman on his new watercolour series created during lockdown
The paintings depict animals shipwrecked by the networks of capitalism grinding ecosystems to a nub, the artist says
NewsObituaries
Milton Glaser, the man behind ‘I ♥ NY’ logo, has died, aged 91
The influential designer helped define the visual culture of the 1960s and 70s in America
NewsPublic art
Suspected arson damages Andy Goldsworthy’s Spire in San Francisco’s Presidio park
The 100ft-tall sculpture is still standing after a major blaze, but crews will determine if it can remain in place
Personal stories of coronavirus
See how artists have been handling the pandemic in Hirshhorn Artist Diaries series
Howardena Pindell, Arlene Shechet, Eric Gottesman, and Marina Abramovic reflect on what it is like to work in isolation as part of a “living archive” of videos commissioned by the museum, and shared exclusively with The Art Newspaper
NewsInterview
The mechanics of sponsorship in 2020: an interview with Rena De Sisto, the head of Bank of America’s arts and culture programme
‘We help museums do what they do best’ says the executive who oversees the company’s support of international institutions
NewsBlack Lives Matter
From artists and art organisations, reading lists to confront racism and injustice
We gather some creative educational resources for readers
NewsObituaries
Christo, who wrapped the Reichstag and installed The Gates in Central Park, has died, aged 84
With his late wife and partner Jeanne-Claude, the artist created monumental interventions on architecture and landscape
NewsSecond World War
The cultural consequences of the Second World War carry into today
From art restitutions to how museum adapted to wartime constraints, we continue to feel the fallout 75 years after the conflict’s end
FeatureVideo games
Game on: artists turn to the virtual world of video games during the pandemic
As lockdown continues, video games are proving to be ripe territory for artists and budding curators to experiment (and play)
NewsArchives
Market forces still at work: why we need to look to our past to understand our future
Our first collection of archival stories looks at the major financial shifts and trends that have impacted collectors and those in the trade since 1990—and continue to be relevant today
FeatureArt's Most Popular 2020
Legoland vs the Louvre: how do museums stack up against other popular visitor attractions and public events?
They might not always draw the crowds that flock to malls and amusement parks, but museums are seen as valuable additions to communities—even by people who have never stepped foot in one
Featurecoronavirus
Here's how to apply for financial aid during the coronavirus pandemic if you're self-employed or a small business in the arts
We have gathered information about grants and loans around the world to help you get through the Covid-19 crisis
Featurecoronavirus
‘It’s almost like science fiction’: artists share their experiences with the coronavirus
We spoke with artists in the US and Europe about how Covid-19 has so far affected them and their work, from cancelled exhibitions to concerns about the future
News US politics
More than 2,000 artists and cultural figures sign letter endorsing Elizabeth Warren for US President
The Artists for Warren campaign launched on Super Tuesday, as many US voters head to the polls to choose the Democratic candidate
PreviewExhibitions
Neri Oxman harnesses the powers of 17,000 silkworms for New York show
The designer has employed natural processes and used materials from plants and shellfish for her exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art
NewsMuseum of Modern Art New York
'Universally admired' arts patron Agnes Gund stars in new documentary at MoMA
The film, directed by her daughter Catherine, shows the roots of the collector's social activism
NewsLaw
San Francisco artist sues Disney for copying her ‘tremendously cool’ painted van in Pixar film
Sweet Cecily Daniher rented her unicorn decorated vehicle to the studio for a party, only to find out its doppelganger will appear in the animated movie Onward
NewsHeritage
Trump retracts threats against Iranian culture sites saying: ‘I like to obey the law’
The US president’s reversal comes after widespread condemnation and defense officials’ assurances that military would abide by international law
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Cultural heritage officials condemn Trump’s threats against Iranian sites
Meanwhile, an impromptu tribute to the country’s cultural heritage broke out on Twitter, as users posted images of their favourite places
NewsArt crime
Federal charges could lead to deeper scrutiny of Cambodian art in the US
Major museums hold works linked to prolific collector accused of smuggling and fraud
AnalysisThe Year in Review 2019
King Tut’s golden year, Koons’s worst: the highs and lows of the art world in 2019
As Notre Dame burned, protestors called the shots and a gold toilet vanished, it was certainly a year to remember
NewsMuseums & Heritage
KAWS joins board of American Folk Art Museum
The contemporary artist is among four new trustees elected
NewsArt Basel in Miami Beach 2019
Pérez to host Basquiat show during next Art Basel
Exhibition focuses on wider graffiti and hip-hop culture and includes video, music and fashion
NewsArt Basel in Miami Beach 2019
From Miami to Margate: Ellen Harvey’s mural depicting a slice of South Florida travels abroad
The hand-painted designs for her permanent installation will be included in the artist’s solo show at Turner Contemporary next year
NewsArt Basel in Miami Beach 2019
Major Jon Rafman show planned for Hirshhorn Museum
And Mickalene Thomas goes Pop in NYC
Podcast
Turner Prize shocker: what next? Plus, Teresita Fernández in Miami
We talk to Louisa Buck about the decision to award the Turner Prize to all of the nominees. Plus, Miami-born artist Teresita Fernández tells us about her homecoming show at Pérez Art Museum Miami. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793
InterviewArt Basel in Miami Beach 2019
Teresita Fernández, an artist of place, brings her art home to Miami
The MacArthur award-winner revisits her early works with a large-scale survey in the city of her birth
PreviewExhibitions
In Miami for Art Basel? Eight shows to see outside the fair
From a travelling Stonewall survey to Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña's first major museum retrospective
PreviewExhibitions
Queen Nefertari’s tomb brought back from the dead in Kansas City
Although the “Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt” is more than 3,000 years old, a new show aims to enliven it with sculptures, sarcophagi and a little help from a video game
NewsPublic art
New York will soon get its own shiny Anish Kapoor sculpture
The artist’s first permanent work of public art in the city will be installed at a Herzog & de Meuron-designed high-rise in Tribeca
NewsObituaries
Modern art historian, US museum director and clergyman EA Carmean, Jr has died, age 74
He was the National Gallery of Art’s founding curator of 20th-century art and led the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
NewsObituaries
Deborah Marrow, the Getty’s longest-serving leader, has died, aged 70
Starting in 1983 as publications coordinator, she spent most of her three decades at the Getty overseeing its grant-making programme
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Rubin Museum restructures, reducing staff, hours and programmes, for ‘long-term sustainability’
The changes also include plans for immersive installations and artist residencies
NewsConservation
Josef Albers's Manhattan returns to its rightful place in the MetLife building
The colossal mural, recently recreated, has returned to its home near Grand Central Station
PreviewArt & Design 2019
The year ahead in design: all the key dates you need
The biggest biennials, fairs and exhibitions over the next 12 months
NewsThree to see
Three exhibitions to see in New York this weekend
From the Rubin Museum's meditation on “power” to the Costume Institute's celebration of camp
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Survivors and victims’ families oppose plans for a $40m museum at site of Pulse shooting
The group says fundraising efforts to turn the Orlando nightclub into a tourist destination would be better spent on survivors’ care
NewsObituaries
Nancy Reddin Kienholz, artist and partner of Ed Kienholz, dies age 75
The pair created provocative installations about American society, race and sex
NewsLaw
Street artist sues Ellen DeGeneres and Walmart for copyright infringement
Julian Rivera says his heart-shaped “love” design was copied on a popular line of clothing without his permission
NewsPublic art
David Hammons’s public sculpture on the Hudson River will now be beachfront property
Gansevoort Peninsula, the site of Day’s End, will also include a 5.65-acre park, wetlands and kayak launch