BEST?
Posh Spice Helps Sell a Masterpiece – Sotheby’s set a world auction record for a female artist born before 1900 at their “Female Triumphant” sale, which was championed by Victoria Beckham.
King Tut’s Tomb Gets a Makeover – A decade-long restoration project on King Tut’s tomb in Egypt has finally ended, and artnet News spoke to the conservators about their mission to preserve the boy king’s final resting place.
The Armory Show Awards a Free Booth – For its 25th anniversary this year, the Armory Show has launched a new prize that will pick up the tab for a newly participating gallery at the fair.
A Spot-On Satire – artnet News’s Ben Davis reviews the new Netflix joint Velvet Buzzsaw, set in a fictional art world where Jake Gyllenhaal plays a pretty convincing critic—and where paintings are literally killer.
The Darkest Paint Ever – British artist Stuart Semple has created a new light-obliterating black paint that will be available to anyone to purchase—except his arch rival Anish Kapoor—thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Take a Vacation with Google Maps – Some of the most impressive works of Land Art are located in remote corners of the world—but it turns out you can get a pretty spectacular view right from your computer.
Eyes on Taipei – artnet News’s Andrew Goldstein made the trek to Taipei’s inaugural Dangdei Art Fair, where he learned that the Asian city is ready for a cultural takeover.
Attention, Middle-Earth Dwellers – A new exhibition highlighting the wondrous, weird, and endlessly inventive worlds conjured by author J.R.R. Tolkein is now open at the Morgan Library & Museum.
WORST?
Saudi Arabia Still Wants Western Culture – Even after the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, after which a wave of Westerners withdrew their support from Saudi Arabia, a slew of powerful cultural figures are still involved in plans to help bolster a major heritage project.
Ai Weiwei Slams Western Powers – The politically active artist wrote a scathing indictment of the United States and Canada’s “complicity” in China’s rise as a global power.
Galleries Face Lawsuits Over Their Websites – Scores of New York art galleries are among the many businesses being slammed with lawsuits for violating the Americans With Disabilities guidelines for website accessibility.
Banksy Mural Boosted in Paris – A mural painted by Banksy to commemorate the 2015 terrorist attack in Paris has been stolen from of the city’s Bataclan theater, where 90 people were killed.
Christie’s Pads the Premiums – The auction house has raised buyer’s premiums once again, exceeding fees set by Sotheby’s and Phillips in almost every category.
Faux-Hitler Artworks Confiscated – An auction house in Berlin was raided by authorities, who seized three watercolors purported to be by Adolf Hitler.