Art Industry News: New York Artists Can Now Apply for a No-Strings-Attached Monthly Stipend of $1,000 + Other Stories

Plus, the Portland Museum plans an $85 million expansion, and U.K. tax authorities make their first NFT seizure.

Martine Gutierrez, ANTI-ICON, Judith (2021) in New York City as part of “Martine Gutierrez: Anti-Icon,” an exhibition on 300 JCDecaux bus shelters across New York City, Chicago, and Boston (August 25–November 21, 2021). Photo by Nicholas Knight, courtesy of Public Art Fund, New York. Artwork courtesy the artist and Ryan Lee Gallery, New York.

Art Industry News is a daily digest of the most consequential developments coming out of the art world and art market. Here’s what you need to know on this Tuesday, February 15.

NEED TO READ

Portland Museum Plans Ambitious Expansion – The museum is launching a $85 million campaign to build a six- or seven-story complex that will house a rooftop sculpture garden, art galleries, classrooms, and a photography center. A total of $15 million has already been raised; the museum is accepting donations for as little as $5. “We don’t view this as an elitist project,” said director Mark Bessire. (Portland Press Herald)

U.K. Makes First Ever NFT Seizure – U.K. tax authorities seized three non-fungible tokens as part of suspected case of $1.9 million value-added tax fraud, marking the country’s first enforcement against crypto assets. Three people were arrested on suspicion of attempting to defraud the authority. Another $6,774 worth of crypto assets were seized during the operation. (Bloomberg)

New York Artists Can Apply for $1,000 a Month – Applications are now live for a novel new program in New York, which offers 2,400 artists a no-strings-attached stipend of $1,000 a month for 18 months. Another 300 will be offered a $65,000-a-year job with a local organization or municipality. Both measures are part of a $125 million initiative, Creatives Rebuild New York, that seeks to support the city’s creative economy and double as a pilot for broader guaranteed income programs. (New York Times)

Did This Super Bowl Ad Rip Off an Arthouse Film? – Cinephiles have spotted that the latest Super Bowl poster from the Los Angeles Rams looks almost identical to that of award-winning South Korean drama The Woman Who Ran. The feature, which revolves around a woman running away from her husband, won its director Hong Sang-soo a Silver Bear for best director at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2020. But fans were puzzled as to why the Rams took inspiration from the drama because its offense strategy does not involve much running. (Indie Wire)

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Italy Reveals Plans for Venice Biennale Pavilion – The host country will present the work of artist Gian Maria Tosatti, making the first time Italy has dedicated its pavilion to a solo presentation. The show, curated by Eugenio Viola, will explicitly reference the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was signed by 193 member countries in 2015. (Press release)

Croatian Official Busted for Art-Related Corruption – Nadan Vidošević, the former head of Croatia’s chamber of commerce, has been sentenced to eight years in prison on corruption charges, which included using public money to buy art for himself. Authorities pursued a lengthy investigation of his 26 properties and 400-work art collection. (TAN)

Taiwan Opens Biennial on Former Military Island – The Matsu Islands, a former military threshold during the civil war between Kuomintang and the Chinese Communists, is hosting an art show. Taking place across the five major islands, the inaugural Matsu Biennial investigates the site’s cultural background and history through a series of site-specific installations. The biennial runs until April 10. (ARTouch)

African Art Galleries Association Preps Art Prize – The third edition of the Emerging Painting Invitational has shortlisted 16 finalists from eight African countries. The pan-African art prize, which aims to support emerging contemporary painters under 30, was founded in 2019. The three winners will each receive a cash prize; results will be announced on February 16 at Strauss & Co in Cape Town. (Art Times)

FOR ART’S SAKE

Kendall Jenner’s Boyfriend Also Collects James Turrell – NBA star Devin Booker has installed a Turrell light sculpture in his Arizona mansion after paying a visit to the artist’s Roden Crater, which is not open to public until 2024. The work, which is up in the dining room, is Booker’s favorite piece in the house. “You stare at it long enough, it starts looking like a floating box,” he said. (Bonus: in contrast to Jenner, he definitely doesn’t have it upside down.) (Architectural Digest)

Glenstone Acquires Hilma af Klint Work – The Maryland museum has become the first American institution to buy a work by the beloved Swedish artist. Glenstone purchased Tree of Knowledge (1913–15), a suite of eight drawings, from David Zwirner. The series belongs to af Klint’s signature “Paintings for the Temple” series. Before it goes to Glenstone, it will be on view from March 2 to April 2 at David Zwirner in London. (Press release)

Installation view, Hilma af Klint: Tree of Knowledge, David Zwirner, New York, November 4, 2021–January 29, 2022. Courtesy David Zwirner Hilma af Klint, Tree of Knowledge, No. 1, 1913–1915. Courtesy David Zwirner

Installation view, “Hilma af Klint: Tree of Knowledge,” David Zwirner, New York. Hilma af Klint, Tree of Knowledge, No. 1 (1913–15). Courtesy of David Zwirner


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