Mythical French ‘Excalibur’ Sword Goes Missing
The French Excalibur, a mythical sword known as Durandal, has gone missing. Legend has it that some 1,300 years ago, Roland, a knight of Charlemagne, hurled the blade so hard that it flew for over 100 miles before piercing a rock 32 feet above the ground. There, in the medieval village of Rocamadour in southwestern […]
In Artist Rose Salane’s Photographs, Discarded Wedding Confetti Is Given New Life
Based in New York City, artist Rose Salane (b. 1992) traces cultural and social value systems in her practice, mining themes such as loss, trauma, interpersonal relationships, and processes of exchange. Framing her work through the lens of city life and lived realities, Salane’s work has a distinctive conceptual aspect, wherein the objects and vignettes […]
6 Must-See Shows to Catch at Museums in Europe This Summer
Who said the art world goes on vacation all summer? Not us! There are many fantastic shows to see if you are passing through the major hubs in Europe this season, from Berlin to Luxembourg to Vienna. Here are our picks and why our writers and editors think they are worth a look. 1. Hannah […]
The Hunt: An English King’s Jewels, Washed Away by a Rogue Tide
A roaring tide dragged away Bad King John’s army, money, and treasures, including the crown jewels of England. The search for the long-lost jewels has tantalized treasure seekers for centuries. History remembers King John as one of England’s most disastrous monarchs. His reputation and reign were so dismal that no king has taken on the […]
‘Bringing People to Art Is Important’: Star Architect Annabelle Selldorf on Her Vital Mission
Annabelle Selldorf is one of the art world’s preeminent architects. Since she founded Selldorf Architects in 1988 at only 28 years old, she’s grown it into one of the world’s most sought after firms, consistently demonstrating a deep sensitivity to context, materiality, and the needs of both art and the people who engage with it. […]
Artcore: Meet the ‘Wild Beasts’ of Early 20th-Century French Art
The Salon d’Automne in Paris may have been launched in 1903 as a liberal alternative to the staid Paris Salon, but even it was unprepared for what Henri Matisse unveiled in 1905. That year, the painter installed a portrait of his wife Amélie, her steady gaze anchoring a riot of colors. Amélie’s dress is depicted […]
Art Lovers, Here Are 7 New Non-Fiction Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List
Summer holidays and sunny weekends are the perfect moments to catch up on that part of the Venn diagram where the literary world and the art world intersect; in other words, the time is now to dive into great books about art. Our staff has been collating recent publications of note, and we picked out […]
The U.K.’s Arts Sector Is Facing a Major Wealth Drain. Can the Labour Party Stop It?
It was a big photo-op moment when the U.K.’s new prime minister Keir Starmer delivered his victory speech at Tate Modern last Friday after leading the Labour party to a historic landslide win in the general election. Standing against the red-lit backdrop of the Turbine Hall, illuminated to match the signature color of the winning […]
With a Trio of International Shows, Artist-Dealer Joel Mesler Finally Knows What Love Is
The beach ball embodies a sense of carefree exuberance, signaling that fun and games are afoot in a classic holiday setting. This object, emblazoned with words like “joy,” “us,” or “sunrise,” is dotted across three new exhibitions by the California-born, New York-based artist Joel Mesler: his “Pool Party” at Rockefeller Plaza, a solo show at […]
Spire of Famed French Cathedral Beloved by Monet Catches Fire
The covering around the spire of a French cathedral once painted by Claude Monet caught fire Thursday, prompting fears of a repeat of Paris’s Notre Dame, which was devastated by fire in 2019. The fire on the spire of the cathedral, Notre-Dame de Rouen in the village of Rouen, broke out at around noon local […]