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 Thursday, September 30.

NEED-TO-READ

Françoise Gilot on Loving and Leaving Picasso – Picasso tried to get his onetime lover Françoise Gilot canceled when they broke up, allegedly telling her that she was “headed for the desert” and urging dealers not to work with her. Gilot, who is now 100 years old, recently sold the one work by the artist that she owned. Despite the traps Picasso set, Gilot rose to acclaim anyway. An exhibition of her work is now on view at the Estrine Museum, in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence; France and Christie’s will hold an auction of her work in Hong Kong in November. (Air Mail)

Frida Kahlo Trademark Battle Dismissed in Court – A Florida court has dismissed a complaint filed by the Frida Kahlo Corporation against the artist’s niece, Isolda Pinedo Kahlo, for illegally using the artist’s image and “undermining” the company. The company responsible for commercializing the Frida Kahlo brand took issue with Pinedo setting up a competing website to sell Kahlo merchandise. Pinedo and her daughter, Maria Cristina Romeo, won the argument that the trademark infringement case should not be fought in the U.S. (they are both Mexican citizens and the Frida Kahlo Corporation is registered in Panama). (The Art Newspaper)

Anish Kapoor Opens Up About His Gruesome New Work – New works that will soon go on display at Modern Art Oxford feature some brutal imagery of bloodletting, decapitation, and disemboweling, as well as a female-like mythical figure with many breasts—of which even Kapoor commented: “yikes.” Freud would have a “field day” with his newest artistic turn, Kapoor said, but many of the subjects he deals with are informed by long histories around human sacrifice and questions about afterlife. The show, simply titled “Painting,” is on view from October 2 to February 13. (Guardian)

Pussy Riot to Release NFT – The Russian art activist collective Pussy Riot is releasing an NFT based on the court documents sentencing their members to prison following their controversial performance in Moscow’s Russian Orthodox cathedral nearly a decade ago. The NFT, titled Virgin Mary, Please Become a Feminist, will be sold on the SuperRare marketplace with a reserve of 13.12 ETH (around $38,000). Proceeds from the sale will go to help domestic violence victims in Russia, political prisoners, and future Pussy Riot projects. (TAN)

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Documenta Tickets Go on Sale – Tickets have gone on sale for Documenta 15, which will take place in the summer of 2022 in Kassel, Germany. Tickets are priced at €27 ($31) for day tickets or €125 ($144) for season tickets, and there is an option to buy a “solidarity” ticket to subsidize someone who cannot afford to go. (Monopol)

David Kordansky Will Expand to New York – The Los Angeles-based gallerist David Kordanksy is expanding to New York with the opening of a ground-floor gallery on West 20th Street in Chelsea in April 2022. The gallery will be headed up by former Victoria Miro head of sales Anna Fisher. (Financial Times)

12 Cultural Relics Returned to Tibet – The Manhattan district attorney’s office has returned cultural relics that were illegally smuggled from China and were found in the U.S. in March. The items, some of which date back to the Ming Dynasty, will enter the collection of the Tibet Museum, the region’s largest comprehensive museum. (CGTN)

FOR ART’S SAKE

German Gallery Delmes and Zander to Close – The beloved Cologne gallery Delmes and Zander has announced on Instagram that it will close by the end of October, after 30 years in business. “While societal progress is always fragile, times have changed, and we are delighted that the works of our artists have now found their place within the contemporary art context,” gallery owners Nicole Delmes and Susanne Zander wrote of their decision. (ARTnews)

 

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