Politics London Boards Up Its Monuments as Tensions Run High Over the Fight to Topple Controversial Historical Statues Groups opposing Black Lives Matter have threatened to defend monuments from protesters, and a bust of a Black poet was attacked in Bristol. By Naomi Rea, Jun 12, 2020
Politics With Monuments Falling All Over Europe, We Asked Historians and Artists to Weigh in on How They Should Be Replaced Experts say there are no easy answers. By Naomi Rea, Jun 11, 2020
Art World Protests Targeting Colonial Statues in the UK and Belgium Have Ignited a Long-Brewing Reckoning Over Racist Monuments in Europe One historian suggests a Museum of Colonization to reckon with the past and provide the true context for the reviled monuments. By Naomi Rea, Jun 10, 2020
Exhibitions With a ‘Car Crash’ of Biennials Now Planned for 2021, Curators Are Being Forced to Rethink Mass Art Shows for the Social-Distancing Era Faced with an uncertain future, biennials are having an existential crisis. By Naomi Rea, Jun 9, 2020
Art World Some London Galleries Prepare to Reopen by Appointment Next Week as the City Lifts Its Ban on Non-Essential Retail Businesses David Zwirner, Thaddaeus Ropac, and Pace are among the galleries reopening. By Naomi Rea, Jun 8, 2020
Art World Protesters Topple Colonialist Monuments in England and Belgium as Black Lives Matter Demonstrations Spread Across Europe A statue of Edward Colston was tossed into Bristol harbor and monuments to King Leopold II were defaced in Belgium. By Naomi Rea, Jun 8, 2020
On View We Asked ‘Hope’ Artist Shepard Fairey to Break Down 6 Public-Health Posters to Explain What Works—and What Doesn’t We spoke to the artist about campaigns from around the world. By Naomi Rea, Jun 5, 2020
Art World As Art Basel Goes Online-Only, European Dealers Are Testing Out Hybrid Virtual/Physical Displays—and Johann König Is Even Launching a Fair of His Own Galleries in Berlin and London are bringing their digital booths to life. By Naomi Rea, Jun 4, 2020
Politics Arts Officials Urge the European Commission to Rethink the ‘Deeply Disappointing’ Provisions for Culture in Its New €750 Billion Recovery Plan Culture representatives argue that the ambitious bailout does not adequately provide for their struggling sector. By Naomi Rea, May 28, 2020
Art World ‘It’s An Artist’s Job to Bear Witness’: Why Marc Quinn Is Turning Screenshots of Coronavirus News Coverage Into Gigantic Works of Art The YBA artist has been keeping a visual diary by painting over critical news stories during lockdown. By Naomi Rea, May 27, 2020
Art World This Year’s Turner Prize Has Been Called Off, With UK’s Top Art Award Instead to Be Split Between Several Artists (Again) Citing global disruption, the 2020 exhibition has been canceled and replaced by individual bursaries. By Naomi Rea, May 26, 2020
Art World A Thief in a Hazmat Suit Tried to Steal Banksy’s $6 Million Painting From a UK Hospital Just Days After the Generous Gift Was Installed The near-burglary occurred two days after the world-famous street artist donated the artwork to boost morale at the hospital. By Naomi Rea, May 26, 2020
People ‘I’m Always in a Recession’: A Day in the Life of Collector-Provocateur Stefan Simchowitz, Who Feels Just Fine Doing Business During Lockdown Simco takes Artnet News along for the ride as he wheels and deals from home in LA. By Naomi Rea, May 21, 2020
Art and Law A Psychic Has Been Ordered to Pay the Costs of Exhuming Salvador Dalí’s Corpse for a Failed Paternity Test The uncanny story of Pilar Abel, who had claimed to be the artist's secret daughter, has taken another turn. By Naomi Rea, May 20, 2020
Market Antiques Traders Angry at the UK’s Ivory Ban, One of the World’s Toughest, Have Lost Their Fight to Overturn It in Court Dealers argue that the ban’s strict prohibitions will decimate the UK’s antiques market. By Naomi Rea, May 19, 2020
