BEST?

A New York Monument Celebrates Women – A monument to suffragists Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth was unveiled in Central Park, marking the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

Art Stars Paint the September Issue – Artists Kerry James Marshall and Jordan Casteel were tapped to paint covers for the esteemed September issue of Vogue celebrating Black creatives.

Remembering Breonna Taylor – The upcoming issue of Vanity Fair features a serene portrait of Breonna Taylor by Amy Sherald and a series of photographs documenting Taylor’s family and fiancé by LaToya Ruby Frazier.

Banksy’s Bankrolls—and Decorates—a Ship to Help Migrants in the Mediterranean – The anonymous British street artist financed a rescue operation to bring refugees from North Africa safely to Europe aboard a ship he’s decorated with a hot-pink riff on his famous Balloon Girl.

From Frustrated Painter to Breakout Author – Raven Leilani’s smash debut Luster tells the story of an editorial assistant striving to succeed as a painter. Leilani shares how her own passion for painting helped give voice to her character’s anxieties.

Teens Strike Gold Treasure Trove – Two teens volunteering on an archaeological dig in Israel made an unexpected discovery: a treasure trove of solid-gold coins buried more than 1,000 years ago.

For Those In Need, Imaginary Friend – Nina Chanel Abney debuted her first AR artwork, Imaginary Friend, to mark the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington. She hopes the work, viewable on the Acute Art app on smartphones, will bring humor to those in pain.

A Bob Ross-Themed Monopoly Is On the Way – The Bob Ross edition of Monopoly will be released in stores next month. Each of 28 title-deed cards will feature a work of art from Ross’s PBS show “The Joy of Painting.”

How to Buy Black Art Ethically – Collector Bernard Lumpkin shares his guiding principles for supporting and collecting black artists.

WORST?

Another Controversy at the Whitney – A planned exhibition of activist art created during lockdown as part of artist-led Mutual Aid initiatives has been abruptly canceled after several artists whose work was to be included in the show voiced outrage that they had not been consulted or properly compensated.

Turkey’s Chora Museum Turns Into a Mosque – The structure, which was originally built as a Byzantine church, has been open to the public since 1945.

Battle Over Bowling – The artist Frank Bowling is warring with London-based gallery Hales over allegations that he is owed huge sums of money; now, the gallery is countersuing.

Picasso Gets Punched – A 20-year-old vandal was sentenced to more than a year in prison for his so-called “performance” piece in which he punched a Picasso work at Tate Modern in 2019.

Dealers Demand Dallas Art Refund – In an open letter, dozens of galleries are demanding their money back after the now-canceled Dallas Art Fair made clear it had no intention of paying back deposits or booth fees.

Third Time’s the Charm? – The festive Frans Hals Two Laughing Boys With a Mug of Beer was nabbed from a small museum near Utrecht. The merry-making painting is a favorite among criminals: it had been stolen twice before.

Ancient Kush Settlement is Sudan Destroyed – Archaeologists found the excavation site, Jabal Maragha, unrecognizable after illegal gold miners ravaged the area.