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 this Thursday, July 20.

NEED-TO-READ

Keanu Reeves Launches Independent Art Press – The Hollywood actor has co-founded X Artists’ Books alongside artist Alexandra Grant and designer Jessica Fleischmann. The first two publications, “High Winds” and “The Artists’ Prison,” are already out. (Los Angeles Times)

Lawsuit Against Richard Prince and Gagosian to Proceed – The motion to dismiss Donald Graham’s copyright infringement lawsuit has been denied by a Manhattan federal court judge. Graham claims Prince improperly used his photograph Rastafarian Smoking a Joint (1996) for a work in his “New Portraits” show at Gagosian in 2014. (The Art Newspaper)

Spanish Police Recover Three Stolen Francis Bacon Paintings – The recovered works are among five paintings estimated to be worth a combined £22 million ($29 million) stolen in 2015 from the Madrid home of José Capelo, a Spanish friend of the artist. It was considered the biggest art heist in Spanish history. (BBC News)

Sacramento Launches Pilot Program to Fund Art – The city’s new $500,000 “creative economy” grant program will fund art projects that can also demonstrate a public benefit. Local photographer Tara Lenehan hopes to win money to fund her idea for an art hub on wheels. (The Sacramento Bee)

ART MARKET

Lyles & King Now Represents Erica Mahinay – The L.A.-based painter and sculptor known for her patchwork creations using dyed fabrics has scored New York representation with the Lower East Side contemporary art gallery. (ARTnews)

Tim Bavington Joins David Richard Gallery – The abstract painter will stage his debut exhibition, a survey of new and earlier works titled “Sunshine Maker,” at the gallery August 5–September 2. (Press release)

COMINGS & GOINGS

Here’s the Artist List for the 2018 Sydney Biennale – Curator Mami Kataoka has announced the theme (the superposition in quantum mechanics as a metaphor—yes, really) and full list of participating artists, which includes Ai Weiwei, Hague Yang, and Samson Young. (Artforum)

Evan Roth Wins Artangel Open Call – The Paris-based artist won the Artangel Everywhere award to produce a work that will materialize around the world next year. This marks a departure from the organization’s otherwise site-specific commissioning approach. (Press release)

Magnum and LensCulture Announce Award Winners – Some 12 photographers from around the world have won the second round of this award created to support new talent in the field. The award is divided into two sections, series and single image. (Artdaily)

Art Expert Joins New York Law Firm – Cahill Partners LLP, the firm that represented several plaintiffs in the Knoedler case, has added three new partners including Christopher Robinson. Robinson was an Old Master dealer for around 20 years before going to law school. The firm’s new name is Cahill Cossu Noh & Robinson LLP. (Press release)

FOR ART’S SAKE 

Gates of Paradise Come to Kansas City – A bronze cast of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s famous 15th-century Gates of Paradise is being installed in the entrance hall of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. (TAN)

The Tang Museum Receives $160,000 in Grants – Two grants awarded by the Terra Foundation for American Art ($100,000) and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts ($60,000) will fund an upcoming exhibition on Chicago Imagism. (Press release)

De Villalpando Paintings Arrive at the Met – The Met will showcase 11 works by the Mexican baroque painter, many of which have never been shown in the US before. The show opens July 25. (The New York Times)

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