Detail of KAWS, THE KAWS ALBUM, which sold for $14.8 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong, setting a new record for the artist. Courtesy of Sotheby's.
Detail of KAWS, THE KAWS ALBUM, which sold for $14.8 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong, setting a new record for the artist. Courtesy of Sotheby's.

BEST?

Gagosian Grows (Again) – Once more, Larry Gagosian is increasing the footprint of his mega-gallery, this time partnering up with a celebrated Italian restaurant to co-habitate the Los Angeles space.

Christo Plans a Paris Wrap – The artist revealed new plans to wrap the Arc de Triomphe in silvery blue fabric, a proposal he concieved of with his late wife and collaborator, Jeanne Claude, more than 50 years ago.

Cash for KAWS – The street artist’s artwork broke multiple records at Sotheby’s Hong Kong-based sale, with his Simpsons parody fetching 14 times its high estimate, as his celebrity continues to skyrocket.

Night at the Museum – Thanks to Airbnb and the Louvre, a lucky couple will get the chance to spend the night with The Mona Lisa and sleep under the glass pyramid outside under the stars.

Jimmie Durham Gets Top Honors – The multi-media artist has been named as the 2019 recipient of the coveted Golden Lion lifetime achievement award by the Venice Biennale, where he has shown work five times over the course of his career.

WORST?

Jim Carrey’s Art Sparks a Twitter Tirade – Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of the late dictator Benito caught a glimpse of Jim Carrey’s satirical painting of Il Duce hanging upside down, tarred and feathered, and went on a very angry Twitter rant.

The Perils of Public Art – Mere hours after installation of street artist JR’s massive trompe l’oeil artwork outside the Louvre, it was destroyed by a dangerous combination of severe weather and sticky-fingered visitors.

The EU Wants to Axe Freeports – Parliament has proposed cutting the freeport system that serves as a tax shelter for billionaire art collectors, in an effort to combat rampant money laundering in the EU.

Controversy Dogs the Whitney – An open letter calling for the removal of Warren Kanders from the Whitney Museum’s board was signed by more than 120 art world intellectuals who object to his company Safariland, a manufacturer of tear gas and other weapons.

 

???

The Met Gets a Makeover – artnet News proposed a radical solution to the Met’s overcrowded inventory—have Marie Kondo apply her “lifesaving magic of tidying up.” Editors note: this was published on April 1.