BEST?
BTS Goes Big – K-Pop sensation BTS unveiled an ambitious project for which they will commission 22 international artists to make new works around the world. And it’s all with the help of Hans Ulrich Obrist, naturally.
X Marks the Spot – Millennial art collector Michael Xufu Huang is opening a new institution in Beijing called the X Museum, and he’s kicking things off with a star-studded triennial featuring rising stars.
Snow Rider – A former engineer is literally trekking through mounds of snow to create mind-boggling precise artworks that disappear with even the smallest change in the weather.
Mark Your Calendars – It’s another fair-filled year in the art world, so check out our master list of all the international fairs taking place over the first six months of 2020.
Hypebeasts, Meet Old Masters – Sotheby’s is getting an edge on the millennial market by teaming up with Highsnobiety to create a line of Old Masters-emblazoned apparel for the hip art lover.
What Makes a Jeopardy Champion? – At Jeopardy’s Greatest of All Time competition, Ken Jennings managed to clinch the title with some fun facts about the arts—and the questions are harder than you think.
Hockney Makes a Splash – Another California-cool painting by David Hockney is hitting the auction block, and it could fetch up to $40 million.
WORST?
Hesitant about Hong Kong – Dealers are dropping out of Art Basel Hong Kong as pro-democracy protests continue to roil the city.
Erie Art Museum Ousts Director – After a rash of sexual-assault accusations emerged against Joshua Helmer, he was fired from his position as director of the Pennsylvania museum.
Oops, She’s Not Getting a Gallery Show – It’s Britney… glitch? A Paris art gallery claimed to be showing works by pop star Britney Spears, but it was all just a big publicity stunt.
Billionaire Busted – Spanish billionaire Jaime Botin was slapped with an 18-month prison sentence and a $58 million fine for smuggling a Picasso painting out of the country.
Jewels for Sale – An Israeli security firm alleges that jewels stolen from Dresden’s Green Vault are being hocked on the dark web, though German authorities aren’t so sure.
Machu Picchu Peril – A group of tourists are in serious trouble for sneaking into the Peruvian world heritage site and staying over night; one young person is accused of toppling parts of the historic ruins, though he claims it was an accident.