From Gerhard Richter’s Last Major Work to Banksy’s Legal Blues: The Best and Worst of the Art World This Week

Catch up on this week's news, fast.

Gerhard Richter's new stained glass windows were unveiled in Tholey Abbey. Courtesy Tholey Abbey.

BEST?

How Art Impacts Health – On this week’s episode of the Art Angle Podcast, the leader of “arts and health” at the World Health Organization shares insight from his personal experiences using theatre to overcome trauma.

Richter’s Swan Song – Artist Gerhard Richter designed colorful stained glass windows for Germany’s oldest monastery as what is billed as his last large-scale work.

Introducing the 2020 Intelligence Report – In case you missed it, Artnet News’s latest Intel Report is out, and it’s chockablock with data points, industry insights, juicy gossip, and our list of 51 innovative art worlders.

Auction-Saurus – The most talked about lot at the upcoming fall auction is a 40-foot-long T-Rex skeleton, which could fetch up to $8 million.

Selling to Stay Afloat – The Brooklyn Museum is taking advantage of emergency deaccessioning guidelines, selling 12 works at Christie’s to make up for lost revenue during the pandemic.

B.I.G. Sales at Sotheby’s – Brooklyn-born rapper Notorious BIG’s plastic crown sold for $600,000, and more memorabilia brought in big bucks at the auction house’s first ever Hip-Hop Sale.

A Times Square Thank You – Artist Mierle Lakerman Ukeles’s new work, thanking New York’s essential workers, is on view in Times Square, on subway advertisements, and at the Queens Museum.

Endless Summer – Galleries and collectors are planning to hole up in the Hamptons for the long haul, even as the weather turns and Manhattan begins to reopen its businesses.

Protestors Take on Musee D’Orsay – A group of feminist activists staged a topless demonstration at the Paris-based museum, protesting their refusal to allow a woman entry based on her dress.

WORST?

Banksy Loses Legal Battle – A judge ruled against the anonymous street artist’s copyright claim because his true identity is a mystery.

Marlborough Madness – The gallery and its former president Max Levai are engaged in rival lawsuits, Levai claiming that he’s owed $10 million and alleging he was forced out, while Marlborough says his poor performance is the reason he was ousted.

Remembering an Artist’s Muse – Filmmaker Nancy Dine passed away at age 83; she was married to artist Jim Dine for 40 years, inspired his work, and earned an Academy Award nomination for her film.

FIAC Gets Canceled – The Paris-based fair has axed its 2020 edition, set for October at the Grand Palais, citing legitimate concerns about large group gatherings.

Art World Faces a Brain Drain – As museums continue to slash staff numbers and art history students have few employment prospects, a wealth of knowledge is being lost. Institutions will suffer for it.

Melania’s Anti-Monument – A bronze replica of First Lady Melania Trump has been installed in her hometown in Slovenia, replacing an earlier wood version that was torched.

Chasing Fires – Photographer Jeff Frost has chronicled the blazing California wildfires for years. He says this season is unlike anything he’s ever encountered.


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.
Article topics