New York Gallerist Rain Lu on ‘How to Survive Smartly’ as a Small Art Business
The View From is excerpted from The Asia Pivot, Artnet Pro’s biweekly members-only newsletter providing mission-critical analysis, insights, and exclusive intelligence on developments in Asia’s art markets, with a focus on business opportunities and challenges. Subscribe here to receive it directly to your inbox. Rain Lu is the founder of Rainrain Gallery, an art advisor, and a freelance writer […]
Night at the Museum—Literally: Carsten Höller Invites You to a Sleepover
In the hit 2006 film Night at the Museum, divorced sad sack Larry (played by Ben Stiller) gets a job as a night watchman at New York’s Museum of Natural History, where he finds that, under a spell cast by a magical Egyptian artifact, the exhibits come to life. Well, there may be no magic […]
As Seen On ‘Velvet Buzzsaw’: Lucian Freud’s Death-Defying Self-Portrait
“That’s a Freud?” critic Morf Vandewalt (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) asks Gita (Nitya Vidyasagar), an art cataloguer in Los Angeles. He gazes towards a large canvas in the corner of the room, a piercing portrait of a naked man staring directly at the viewer. “It’s been in a crate since ’92,” Gita answers, “and it’s […]
Art Bites: How the Art World Rediscovered Judith Leyster
Over the past three years, the once-forgotten Dutch master Judith Leyster has appeared in a Google doodle, smashed estimates at auction, and debuted in the Rijksmuseum’s most prestigious chamber. Leyster was most active from in the early 1630s, before she married the inferior artist Jan Miense Moleanaer. Art history didn’t rediscover Leyster until an 1892 […]
The Hunt: What Happened to the Great Sphinx’s Nose?
Much like the desert winds that perhaps helped shape it, conspiracy theories swirl around the Great Sphinx guarding the Giza plateau—especially regarding how the winged lion’s human head lost its nose. One enduring hypothesis blames Napoleon Bonaparte’s troops for blowing the snout off during target practice. While that conspiracy’s long-debunked, it persists in popular culture. […]
Ghanaian Curator Joseph Awuah-Darko Sued for Non-Payment of $266,527
The Accra-based artist Foster Sakyiamah is suing Joseph Awuah-Darko, a prominent figure in Ghana’s art scene. The lawsuit, filed in an Accra court on June 24, claims Awuah-Darko did not pay Sakyiamah for several artworks and seeks compensation of $266,527. In a WhatsApp call, Sakyiamah said Awuah-Darko—an entrepreneur, artist, curator, and collector—discovered his work on […]
The Spirit of Art Nouveau Awakens in Australia’s Biggest Alphonse Mucha Exhibition
Organic, sinuous lines, with vines snaking around stylized letters, ethereal women with flowing tresses, and botanical borders characterize the style of Art Nouveau, the enduringly popular movement that to this day adorns drawings, posters, notebook covers, and even tarot card decks. But where does the style come from and why is it still so enduringly […]
Beloved Art Oasis Elizabeth Street Garden Faces Destruction
The imperiled Elizabeth Street Garden, located on city-owned land in New York’s Nolita neighborhood, is slated for destruction in September. Community members are desperately clinging to the last hopes of preserving the beloved sculpture park, which is set to become an affordable senior housing development. A peaceful oasis hidden in a bustling downtown neighborhood just […]
The Permanent Collection: Johann Liss Painted an Unusually Aged Adam and Eve
Johann Liss, Adam and Eve Mourning Abel (1624-29) Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice Selected by curator Michele Nicolaci Johann Liss was in Germany for the first few years on his life, then he travelled a lot in Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, and Venice. He had a very international career until he died young, in 1631, because of the […]
Behind the Scenes of Art Logistics With Fine Art Shippers Co-Founder Ilya Kushnirskiy
With operations dating back to 1995, the aptly-named New York art logistics company Fine Art Shippers has been working within the industry for nearly three decades and has developed a comprehensive roster of services for every stage of an artwork or antique’s journey—from pickup and transpiration to installation and storage. A family-owned and operated endeavor, […]