From the iPhone-Wielding Turner Prize Winner to Art Basel’s Biggest Hits: The Best and Worst of the Art World This Week

Catch up on this week's news—fast.

Installation view of This Is No Fantasy Gallery, work by Vincent Namatjira. © Art Basel.

BEST?

Charlotte Prodger Takes Turner Prize – The Scottish artist nabbed the coveted British art prize with her iPhone-filmed pieces focusing on queer identity and the natural landscape.

Ann Pasternak on Politics, Sexism, and Funding – The director of the Brooklyn Museum spoke to artnet News’s Andrew Goldstein about how the institution is reckoning with the past and preparing for a more inclusive future.

Swift Sales Kick off Art Basel in Miami – Despite the drastic stock market shifts, dealers at the VIP opening of Art Basel were reporting six, seven, and eight-figure sales. Editor Andrew Goldstein picked some favorites as well.

Batsheva Loves Cindy Sherman – The designer who has rehabilitated the Laura Ashley prairie dress was inspired by Cindy Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills. Also, four other emerging designers tell us what contemporary artists they follow.

Anish Kapoor Outguns the NRA – The artist reached a settlement with the National Rifle Association, who must remove Kapoor’s Chicago “bean” sculpture Cloud Gate from its promotional advertisements.

Satellite Stars – There are so very many satellite fairs during Miami’s art week, and in case you were plagued by fair fatigue, we’ve combed through the booths to find the rising stars at NADA, UNTITLED, Art Miami, and more.

Pussy Riot Members Prevail in Russia – Members of the art activist group Pussy Riot claimed a legal victory at the European Court of Human Rights.

Judy Chicago’s Seat at the Table – The pioneering feminist artist proves that she’s more than just the creator of The Dinner Party, with a new retrospective at the ICA in Los Angeles, and a market that’s heating up, too.

Another Instagram-Bait Installation Is Coming to NYC – “Snark Park” is the latest ‘Grammable experience, and it has pedigree: It is conceived of by the architectural firm Snarkitechture and set to open in New York’s Hudson Yards… and yes, it will have a giant ball-pit.

 

WORST?

China’s Missing Photojournalist – The award-winning photojournalist Lu Guang hasn’t been seen or heard from for over a month.

The Whitney Is Hit by Staff Protest – Members of the Whitney Museum staff wrote a letter condemning a board member whose company manufactures tear gas, which prompting director Adam Weinberg to write a missive addressing the complaints.

Protests Plague Museums in Paris – The “Yellow Vest” riots in France are affecting museum, forcing tourist attractions and major art institutions to close their doors to visitors.

The Getty Won’t Give Back Italy’s Bronze – Although the Italian Supreme Court ruled that a 2,000-year-old bronze statue belongs to Italy, the Getty museum in California refuses to return the sculpture.

Is documenta Really Doing Better? – The quinquennial’s financial situation is even more dire than officials thought, according to the final audit from the 2017 event.


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