BEST?

Swizz Beatz’s Vision for the Future – artnet News’s Andrew Goldstein spoke to the music impresario, who has turned his attention to the art world in recent years, supporting emerging artists and making moves to shake up the gallery system.

Rebuilding an International Icon – French president Macron vowed to rebuild Notre Dame in a mere five years, thanks to the generous donations pouring in from various art and fashion empires. Experts are more wary, but solutions might well be found through a combination of new technologies, including video games, and more traditional methods.

The Treasures That Survived the Fire – After the inferno erupted in Notre Dame’s cathedral, artnet News looked at the relics that were spared, including the Holy Crown of Thorns and the iconic stained glass windows.

TIME Magazine Honors Artists – The magazine’s annual list of the 100 Most Influential People featured famous names from the art world, including artists David Hockney and Luchita Hurtado.

Beyoncé’s Savvy Use of Art History – Art advisor Maria Brito delves into the many art-historical references that Beyonce blends into her complex videos and personal style.

Gagosian Grows Again – The mega-gallery unveiled plans for a new art advisory service led by veterans from the auction and gallery world.

How Hilma af Klint Conquered the Guggenheim – The museum’s blockbuster show “Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future” has surpassed every other attendance record exhibition in its exhibition history, drawing a record 600,000 visitors.

WORST?

Paris Was Burning – Social media captured horrific live images of the 850-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral as it caught on fire on Monday, eventually toppling the spire and leaving a gaping hole in the building’s construction.

Cuba’s Crackdown on Creativity – Just as the Havana Biennial opened in Cuba’s capital, government officials are ramping up efforts to arrest and detain artists and other visitors in town, drawing ire from the international art world.

Trump Skewers Obama’s Portrait – As part of his reelection fund-raising push, President Trump debuted a mean-spirited riff on Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of Barack Obama.

The Socialite Scammer Trial Continues – The glitzy grifter Anna Delvey (aka Anna Sorokin) faced her former friend at trial, where details about a lavish vacation gone wrong painted a damning picture.

Climate-Change Denier Ousted from Museum – The American Museum of Natural History has cancelled its plans to host a private gala honoring far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in the wake of a backlash by museum employees and the public last week.