BEST?
“White at the Museum” – In the latest episode of Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, twin comedians the Lucas Brothers visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to find out what is driving the alt-right’s fascination with classical sculpture—and what they don’t understand about art history.
Seeing the Unseeable – Einstein didn’t think it was possible, but astrophysicists this week captured the first ever photograph of a black hole thanks to cutting-edge technology and the work of more than 200 researchers.
Munch Ado About Edvard? – In his new novel, Karl Ove Knausgaard reveals how he came to be the owner of an Edvard Munch print and the affinities he feels with the Oslo-born artist. In other Munch news, St. Olaf College in Minnesota believes they’ve unearthed a long-lost work by The Scream painter.
Trading Graces – artnet News spoke to 15 artists about the underground trading network that allows artists to build fabulous art collections without spending a dime—and which works they’ve given or received that are the most memorable.
A Century of the Bauhaus – Around the world, former locations of the Bauhaus campuses are opening museums dedicated to its legacy, with the first debuting in Wiemar this week. Stateside, even Google Doodle is getting in on the action with an animated design inspired by the movement’s aesthetic.
Mark Bradford Heads East – The artist’s massive sculpture Mithra is making its first international foray, heading to the Long Museum in Shanghai, where his largest show in China to date will open this summer.
Bieber Catches KAWS Fever? – artnet News makes a case for pop-star Justin Bieber as the anonymous buyer of a $14 million Simpsons-inspired painting by KAWS.
WORST?
Backlash at the Natural History Museum – The Natural History Museum’s decision to allow the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce to honor climate skeptic Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right Brazilian president, at a gala in its grand hall is drawing ire from New York’s art world.
Erasing the Sacklers – As part of her new exhibition at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London, artist Hito Steyerl created an app to erase the controversial family’s name from the museum’s facade.
Serrano’s Presidential Pop-Up – Artist Andres Serrano has spent thousands of dollars on Trump-related memorabilia in service of a new immersive exhibition that explores the roots of his notoriety.
Funding Cuts for Art in Embassies – A new bill proposed by Republican Tim Burchett wants to completely cut out the “Art for Embassies” program, which was a hot-button issue during the government shutdown earlier this year.
Goodbye to the Garden – New York City officials voted to demolish the beloved Elizabeth Street Garden to make way for affordable housing, drawing ire from preservationists.
Despite Protests, LACMA Persists – Thanks to the star power of Brad Pitt and Diane Keaton, LACMA’s renovated building plans were given the green light by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, despite a wave of public backlash against the newly reduced architectural plan.
Angela Merkel Banishes Emil Nolde – The German Chancellor removed paintings by Nolde from her office ahead of the opening of an exhibition highlighting Nolde’s ties to the Nazi party in Berlin.