BEST?
Banksy’s Bin Brings in Millions – The anonymous artist’s self-shredding print sold for a whopping $25 million at Sotheby’s in London.
Holy Sphinx! – Two patio ornaments shaped as sphinxes brought in more than $260,000 after they were priced at just $700 at an auction house.
Market Mavens Join Forces – A new dynasty is born as Amy Cappellazzo, Yuki Terase, and Adam Chinn form a new advisory firm with a focus on Asia.
Frieze Is Back, Baby – The art fair made its triumphant return in London with international VIPs back in full force.
Trade Groups Shore Up to Prevent Trafficking – A group of 12 art trade associations joined forces to prevent cultural heritage looting and trafficking from Afghanistan.
Columbus Is Coming Down – Mexico City is replacing its Christopher Columbus monument with one of a pre-Hispanic indigenous female figure.
Biden Expands Natural Landmarks – Reversing the Trump administration’s move, Biden has reinstated protection for the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante in Utah.
The Treasure in the Attic – A 17th-century Tiepolo drawing was unearthed in bubble wrap in a historic manor’s attic in the U.K.
Where To, Next? – From Austin, Texas, to Accra, Ghana, these cities are poised to become the next art-world hubs.
What to Make of Jasper Johns – Ben Davis on the unexpected lessons of the big Jasper Johns retrospective at the Whitney and the Philadelphia Museum.
WORST?
Museum Workers Laid Off – A new report analyzes why so many employees lost their jobs when museums got so much financial aid during the pandemic.
FBI Bust Former Art Star – A one-time emerging artist Christian Rosa was busted for selling fake paintings by Raymond Pettibon, who was once his mentor.
London Opts to Keep Statues on View – In a reversal, the city decided to keep statues of slave owners and other controversial figures on view, but will add explanatory plaques.
Is Inigo in Settlement Talks? – The besmirched art dealer Inigo Philbrick may be in talks to cut a deal with prosecutors, according to new court papers.
Alarm Over Hitler NFTs – Online critics have been calling out the large quantity of jokey Hitler-themed NFTs on OpenSea.