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 Wednesday, November 1.
NEED TO READ
Art Collector Tony Podesta Resigns From Lobbying Firm – The collector and Democratic lobbyist—whose friendship with Marina Abramovic played a bizarre role in the Pizzagate conspiracy theory—has stepped down from his position at the Podesta Group after it emerged he was being investigated by Robert Mueller over his work for a Ukrainian non-profit tied to Paul Manafort. Podesta has not been charged with a crime. (Guardian)
German Women in the Arts Are Underpaid – A government-commissioned study finds women are less likely to hold managerial positions in the arts in Germany and are earning less money for equal work. Women’s “access to advancement opportunities declines as the qualification level increases,” the study found, and the main barrier to advancement is the unequal share of childcare. (The Art Newspaper)
Jerry Saltz on Linda Nochlin – The critic explores the long-lasting legacy of “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” Nochlin’s most famous essay. “She looked at the institution of art history and demonstrated how it was intellectually, semiotically, and psychoanalytically corrupt,” Saltz writes of the art historian, who died this weekend. (Vulture)
Photographs Stolen From MoMA PS1 – Two photographs worth an estimated $100,000 were found missing from the Long Island City museum on Monday morning, according to the NYPD. There was no sign of forced entry, none of the alarms went off, and it is not yet confirmed which works were taken. (DNAinfo)
ART MARKET
Asian Art Market Vets Join David Zwirner Gallery – As Zwirner preps for the opening of his 10,000-square-foot space in Hong Kong this January, he has taken on Leo Xu and Jennifer Yum to help run the operation. Xu is founder of Leo Xu Projects, a contemporary art gallery in Shanghai that he will be closing to join Zwirner’s ranks. Yum is moving over from Christie’s postwar and contemporary art department in New York. (South China Morning Post)
Phillips Nabs Picasso’s Nude Muse – Picasso’s Sleeping Nude (1932), a portrait of his muse Marie-Thérèse Walter, is going on show at Phillips New York ahead of its sale in London in March 2018. Inherited by Picasso’s widow, Jacqueline Roque, the painting was sold by her daughter to a European collector. (Press release)
Mellon Family’s Art Heads to Sotheby’s – Works by Monet, Pissarro, Delacroix, and de Staël, among others, will hit the block at Sotheby’s New York starting November 14. Many were bought by the late billionaire Paul Mellon and inherited by his wife Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. (Press release)
MoMA Acquires Work by Barbara Chase-Riboud – The New York museum has acquired a large-scale, bronze-and-fiber sculpture by Barbara Chase-Riboud, The Albino (aka All That Rises Must Converge/Black) (1972). The African-American artist-writer has a solo show now on view at Michael Rosenfeld Gallery in New York. (Press release)
COMINGS & GOINGS
K11 Foundation Beefs Up Staff – The Hong Kong foundation is adding May Xue Mei, Venus Lau Sau Yee, Jeannie Wu, and Jilly Ding to its ranks, an expansion it says will usher in a new era for the nonprofit, which is planning four exhibitions for next year’s Shanghai Art Week. (ARTnews)
Simone Leigh Wins Alexander Wein Prize – The Studio Museum in Harlem has awarded Leigh this year’s Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize. The $50,000 prize recognizes an African American artist annually. Previous winners include Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Lorna Simpson. (Press release)
Museo del Barrio to Close for Renovations – The oldest museum in New York dedicated to Latino art will be shutting its doors for major renovations amid financial difficulties and a revolving door of directors. The galleries will close next Monday and reopen in mid-2018. (NYT)
FOR ART’S SAKE
Music Video Director’s Art Comes to the New Museum – Emmy-nominated director Kahlil Joseph, who has directed music videos for Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé, is coming to the New Museum with a film called “Fly Paper” inspired by the imagery of Harlem. Joseph first showed his work in a gallery three years ago. (NYT)
Better-Late-Than-Never White House Potraits Revealed – The White House has finally revealed the official (photographic) portraits of President Trump and his VP Mike Pence—nine months after they took office. Notably, both are smiling. (CNN)
Björk Releases Cover Art for Ninth Album – The Icelandic star teamed up with surrealist photographer Jesse Kanda to make an arresting new portrait for her highly anticipated album Utopia, scheduled to debut November 24. (Dazed Digital)