From the Artists Helping the CDC Encourage Vaccinations to the Threat of Cultural Destruction in Afghanistan: The Best and Worst of the Art World This Week

Catch up on this week's news, fast.

Two women pass by the National Museum of Afghanistan. Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images.

BEST?

Where the Cool Kids Are – Artist Jamian Juliano-Villani is opening her own gallery in the East Village to show artists she admires, and throw parties.

Vax Required to Visit Museums in NYC – New York is the latest city to require visitors to show proof of vaccination before visiting city museums and galleries.

The Shows Will Go On – Art Basel and Frieze London are laying out some new guidelines for this year’s fairs, which will take place despite the threat of the Delta variant.

CDC Conscripts Artists to Encourage Vaccinations – The agency has launched a new platform to share work by artists encouraging the public to roll up their sleeves and get the shot.

Fire Sale at the Law Firm – Lawyer Tom Giardi, who gained infamy alongisde his wife, one of Bravo’s Real Housewives, is selling art and objects from his law firm to pay off debts.

WORST?

Artist Kaari Upson Has Died – Upson died at age 51 after a protracted battle with cancer, and is remembered for her unconventional, surreal, and biting analysis of American culture.

Afghani Museums Worry Over Future – As the Taliban resumes control over Afghanistan, museum officials, artists, and other creatives fear for the safety of the hard-won cultural inroads of recent decades.

Chuck Close Is Dead at 81 – The American artist pioneered an inventive technique for creating his monumental portraits after being confined to a wheelchair, and was dogged in recent years by allegations of harassment.

Shots at Site of Botched Robbery – Two thieves attempted to steal a Monet painting from a Dutch museum but dropped the work when shots rang out.

Brouhaha Over Bellotto – The MFA Houston is under fire for refusing to return a Bellotto painting to its Jewish heirs, claiming that the work was not sold under duress.

Foundation Linked to Convicted Dealer – The Rubin-Ladd Foundation may have gifted or loaned artworks bought from jailed art dealer Subhash Kapoor to a slew of US institutions.

Experts Decry Poland’s ‘Shameful’ Restitution Law – A new Polish law slashes the timeline for statue of limitations when it comes to pursuing restitution claims for looted artworks.


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