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 Wednesday, November 17.
NEED-TO-READ
What’s Going on With Fearless Girl? – The plucky sculpture that appeared on Wall Street in 2017 is now facing eviction (not to mention an ongoing legal battle). Fearless Girl‘s three-year permit will expire on November 29. Her fate will be decided at a hearing of New York City’s Public Design Commission in December. Until then, the sculpture’s creator Kristen Visbal said she has been left “in limbo.” (New York Times)
The Future of Nancy Holt and Robert Smithson’s Island – Here’s a bit of lesser-known art history for your Wednesday: Land-art power couple Nancy Holt and Robert Smithson bought a teeny island off the coast of Maine in the 1970s for $3,000. Smithson originally intended to make an earthwork on Little Fort Island but later changed his mind. Now, in an effort to carry on their legacies, the Holt/Smithson Foundation has approached five artists to spend two years learning and thinking about the island and propose a work to be realized or imagined there. (T Magazine)
Miramax Sues Quentin Tarantino Over NFT Project – The film studio Miramax has filed suit against Pulp Fiction director Quentin Tarantino over his plans to release NFTs based on the 1994 film. (The series would include scenes that didn’t make the final cut as well as original art and commentary.) The studio claims it is in talks to create its own NFTs from its film library and that Tarantino’s deal “devalues” their efforts. (The Hollywood Reporter)
London Museum Votes to Relocate Statue – The statue of slave trader Robert Geffrye, which long stood at the entrance of the Museum of the Home in East London, will be moved to a different space where it can be better contextualized. The decision comes after a back-and-forth between the museum’s board, which originally sought to remove the sculpture entirely, and the former U.K. culture secretary, who advocated for it to be retained. (The Art Newspaper)
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Pharrell and Daniel Arsham Join NFT Coalition – Musician Pharrell and artists Jen Stark and Daniel Arsham have joined the advisory council for a new coalition of NFT creators called CXIP DAO. CXIP, which provides secure NFT minting technology, has invited every creator who has ever minted an NFT with ETH to join the coalition and have a say in managing the community treasury. (Twitter)
Gray Gallery to Represent Torkwase Dyson – Chicago- and New York-based Gray gallery has announced that it will now represent the artist, best known for sculpture, installation, and performance, alongside Pace. Her first exhibition with Gray will be at the gallery’s Chicago space in 2023. (ARTnews)
Nora Lawrence to Lead Storm King Art Center – Curator Nora Lawrence has been tapped as artistic director and chief curator at Storm King, and will begin in her new role in January 2022. Lawrence has been a curator at the institution since 2011 and will take over from longtime director and chief curator David Collens. (Press release)
Olivia Walton Takes the Lead on Crystal Bridges’ Board – Philanthropist Olivia Walton has been named the new chair of the board at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She will take over from the museum’s founder Alice Walton, who will transition to a regular board role. (The museum remains a family affair: Olivia is married to Alice’s nephew.) (Press release)
FOR ART’S SAKE
See David Yarrow’s Stunning Image of a Lion on a Catwalk – The artist has revealed his latest photograph, called Catwalk, which will be the centerpiece of his exhibition opening at London’s Maddox Gallery on November 19. Yarrow captured the image at a big cat sanctuary in South Africa—and employed a bit of trompe l’oeil to make it look like the animal is posed alongside 100 Zulu tribe members in traditional dress (they were photographed on a separate day and the printed image was placed behind the lion). Both the artist and Maddox Gallery have pledged a percentage of sales of the image to the Kevin Richardson Foundation to support the conservation of the lion population. (Evening Standard)