hong kong fire bamboo culture

A deadly fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, which killed at least 159 people and left 31 missing, has sparked an online battle over the role of bamboo scaffolding in the blaze. Photographer Elaine Li and other artists, architects, and cultural historians are defending the centuries-old craft against early news reports that implicated it, fearing it may be unfairly blamed and regulated out of existence. Officials have ordered all scaffolding mesh removed and arrested 21 people on suspicion of manslaughter, but the conversation has grown into a broader fight to protect a cultural symbol of Hong Kong's identity.

emerging artists art basel miami beach

Art Basel Miami Beach is set to open this week, and Artnet News highlights four emerging artists to watch. Among them are Nour Malas, a Syrian painter whose four-panel work for Dubai's Carbon 12 gallery reflects on her childhood and the fall of the regime, blending abstraction with political memory. Zé Tepedino, a Brazilian artist from Rio de Janeiro, creates eco-minded sculptures from beach detritus like flip-flops and umbrellas, riffing on Brazil's social history and consumer culture. Other featured artists include those working with ethereal staged worlds, memory-soaked abstraction, and sculptural experiments in Lycra, offering a vivid snapshot of new voices at the fair.

andrea fraser lexicon banned words trump art basel

At Art Basel Miami Beach 2025, Los Angeles–based gallery Commonwealth and Council is distributing a stack of posters featuring Andrea Fraser's latest project, *Lexicon* (2025). The work reproduces a list of approximately 200 words that have been banned or censored under the Trump administration, originally published in the *New York Times* in March 2025. The list includes terms related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), such as “racial diversity,” “activism,” “women,” and “they/them.” Fraser, known for her institutional critique works like *Museum Highlights: A Gallery Talk* (1989), created *Lexicon* as a direct response to executive orders terminating DEI programs and the subsequent preemptive censorship by federal agencies. She describes the project as an affirmation of art's role in fighting censorship, and it is linked to her ongoing research on museum boards and political donations.

jack shainman gallery responds odili donald odita lawsuit

Jack Shainman Gallery has formally responded to a lawsuit filed by artist Odili Donald Odita, who accused the New York gallery of refusing to return his artworks. Odita, whose work has been shown at the Venice Biennale and who recently painted the atrium of the Museum of Modern Art, claimed the artworks were worth $1.12 million. In a late November filing, the gallery countered that it holds far less inventory than Odita alleges and that the artist still owes money for production costs. The gallery disclosed that it had paid Odita a monthly stipend starting in 2016—$14,000 per month at its peak—which stopped in 2024, and that Odita had received $586,000 in loans. The gallery claims it has the right to retain five works valued at $650,000, which were consigned to David Kordansky Gallery, and that Odita must repay over $292,000 in outstanding loans.

high art paris gallery closing

High Art, a Parisian gallery known for launching the careers of artists like Lucy Bull and Julien Creuzet, is closing its physical space after 12 years. The gallery announced on Instagram that its last exhibition closed in July and that it will transition toward collaborations, offsite exhibitions, and individual artworks. Founded in 2013 by Romain Chenais, Jason Hwang, and Philippe Joppin, High Art became a tastemaker in Paris's gallery scene, known for its challenging and often unconventional program. Many artists who showed there early, including Rachel Rose, Matt Copson, and Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, later achieved international recognition.

Who is Alma Allen, US Pavilion Artist for the 2026 Venice Biennale?

who is alma allen us pavilion artist 2026 venice biennale

The US Department of State has confirmed that sculptor Alma Allen will represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Allen, a Utah-born, Mexico-based artist known for abstract biomorphic sculptures, was selected after a fraught selection cycle that included updated guidelines requiring proposals to promote American values. He was approached directly by curator Jeffrey Uslip, who will organize the US pavilion, and accepted the offer despite reportedly being advised against it by his former galleries Mendes Wood DM and Olney Gleason, which subsequently cut ties with him.

hot lots top flops november day sales 2025

Artnet News reports on the November 2025 day sales in New York, following the evening sales that signaled a market comeback. Hot lots included Gertrude Abercrombie's "Message for Mercy" (1950), which sold for $1.2 million at Sotheby's, setting a new auction record for the artist. Other strong performers were Julia Jo's "Rhyme or Reason" (2022) at Christie's for $203,200 and Mary Abbott's "Forest of Dak" (1965) at Phillips for $167,700. Top flops included Jacques Lipschitz's "Tete" (conceived 1915), which sold for $152,400 against a $300,000–$400,000 estimate at Sotheby's, and Sterling Ruby's "SP44" (2008), which underperformed at Christie's.

who is alma allen venice biennale

Alma Allen, a self-taught Utah-born sculptor based in Mexico, has been confirmed as the U.S. representative for the 61st Venice Biennale, opening in May. His pavilion exhibition, titled “Alma Allen: Call Me the Breeze,” will be curated by Jeffrey Uslip and commissioned by Jenni Parido of the American Arts Conservancy. Allen’s selection is notably unconventional: he has no major museum solo exhibitions and was dropped by his galleries, Mendes Wood and Olney Gleason, after accepting the commission. The U.S. State Department’s brief release frames the presentation as highlighting “alchemical transformation of matter” and “elevation,” aligning with the Trump Administration’s focus on “American excellence.”

antica terra maggie harrison wine box set

Maggie Harrison, head winemaker at Antica Terra in Oregon's Willamette Valley, has collaborated with artists Julie Mehretu, Paul Pfeiffer, and Jessica Rankin to create a limited-edition box set of wines. Each set includes wines blended collaboratively and individual artworks packaged with the bottles, described as a “Museum in a Box.” Proceeds from the 150 sets benefit Denniston Hill, the artist residency founded by Mehretu and Pfeiffer. Harrison also opened an Art Meadow at Antica Terra this past summer, featuring a site-specific installation by Lily Clark, with plans for another exhibition next year.

martin wong painting unseen art basel miami beach ppow

A long-unseen 12-foot-wide painting by Martin Wong, titled *Tai Ping Tien Kuo (Tai Ping Kuo)* (1982), will be exhibited at Art Basel Miami Beach next month courtesy of New York gallery P.P.O.W. The work, which features a rare nude portrait of the artist’s mother and stepfather, was last shown publicly in 1987 at the Asian Arts Institute in New York. It was kept in storage for decades because Wong’s mother, Florence Wong Fie, objected to its display out of modesty. The painting adopts a classical three-panel altarpiece format, blending Chinese American history with references to Western art, the Taiping Rebellion, and Wong’s own Lower East Side influences.

page nyc machteld rullens

Machteld Rullens, a Dutch artist based in The Hague, is presenting her second solo exhibition with Page (NYC) titled “Beacon Road,” jointly staged at Andrew Kreps Gallery in New York. The show features works created during a residency at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation in Connecticut, using discarded cardboard boxes that Rullens collects from recycling bins and other sources. Her sculptures, which initially appear ceramic or metallic, are actually intricate assemblages of cardboard, exploring form, commodity, and waste. The exhibition marks a departure from her earlier work, with crushed and folded forms and exposed bolts conveying a sense of restrained energy.

ethel stein puppeteer weaver

The article profiles 20th-century textile artist Ethel Stein, who remained largely unrecognized during her lifetime despite creating technically rigorous weavings. A new exhibition titled "Master of the Loom" at New York's Sapar Contemporary (on view through November 17) showcases her geometric, rhythmic works. Stein, who studied under Josef Albers at the Bauhaus and designed a unique loom now held by the Art Institute of Chicago, also had a playful side: she began her career as a puppeteer and created the puppet that became Lamb Chop, the beloved character performed by Shari Lewis on PBS. The exhibition highlights works such as "Rust Abstract," "Indigo 25," and "Black and White," which demonstrate her mastery of complex weaving structures and geometric abstraction.

5 latinx artists transforming everyday materials from cobijas to pinatas into statements on identity

Ballroom Marfa in Marfa, Texas, presents the exhibition “Los Encuentros,” on view through March 29, 2026, featuring five Latinx artists—Ozzie Juarez, Justin Favela, Antonio Lechuga, Narsiso Martinez, and Yvette Mayorga—who transform everyday materials like blankets (cobijas) and piñatas into works exploring Latinx identity. Curated by Maggie Adler, the show prioritizes local community engagement over the international art world, with works such as Juarez's "Coatzomaki" (2025) synthesizing LA street art and Aztec culture. The exhibition grew from Adler's existing relationships with the artists and her belief in working beyond institutional walls.

paris photo women photographers

The 28th edition of Paris Photo, which closed November 16, saw a surge in representation of women photographers, rising to 39 percent of artists on view from 20 percent in 2018. This shift is driven by the fair's Elles program, launched with France's ministry of culture, and a broader market appetite for rediscovered women artists. Notable sales included works by Ming Smith, whose vintage prints sold for up to €60,000 at M77 gallery, and offerings from Les Filles du Calvaire featuring Helena Almeida and Katalin Ladik. Richard Saltoun gallery returned after six years with a booth focused on women photographers.

art basel miami beach bridget finn interview

Bridget Finn, who became director of Art Basel Miami Beach in July 2023, has organized the 22nd edition of the fair from start to finish for the first time. In an interview days before the VIP opening at the Miami Beach Convention Center, she discussed welcoming 286 galleries, the importance of hospitality, and the fair's role in Miami's art scene. She highlighted 34 new galleries joining this year, notable works by Augusto Machado and Roberto Huarcaya, and the fair's efforts to engage diverse audiences including VIPs, institutions, and the general public.

the art angle alison gingeras the woman question

Alison M. Gingeras, an American curator and writer, has organized a major new exhibition titled “The Woman Question: 1550–2025” at the recently opened Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. The show brings together over 200 artworks spanning nearly 500 years of women’s creative production, from Renaissance figures like Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana to Baroque artists such as Elisabetta Sirani and Artemisia Gentileschi, and contemporary names like Betty Tompkins and Lisa Brice. The exhibition explores how women artists have depicted themselves, power, resistance, desire, and violence, drawing on the historical concept of the "querelle des femmes" and Linda Nochlin’s famous 1971 essay. Gingeras discusses the project on the podcast The Art Angle.

how venices legendary hotel cipriani is rethinking luxury with art

The article describes a weekend stay at the Hotel Cipriani, a Belmond hotel in Venice, highlighting its role as a luxurious oasis amid the city's cultural offerings. It details visits to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, including the exhibition "Manu-Facture: The Ceramics of Lucio Fontana," and the Gallerie dell'Accademia, while focusing on the hotel's upcoming redesign by architect Peter Marino, set to debut in 2025 with new suites and a lobby. The hotel's art program, including past collaborations like Daniel Buren's pavilion and future activations tied to the 2026 Venice Biennale, is also emphasized.

mel leipzig painter dead

Mel Leipzig, a painter known for his intensely detailed, realistic portraits of everyday people and places, died on November 1 at age 90. Over a career spanning more than five decades, the Brooklyn-born artist taught at Mercer County Community College from 1968 to 2013, founded the Trenton Artist Workshop Association (TAWA) in 1979, and never painted from photographs, instead practicing what he called 'designing with reality.' His work is held by major institutions including the Whitney Museum, the National Academy Museum, and the New Jersey State Museum.

gladstone gallery robert colescott estate representation

The estate of Robert Colescott, the influential American painter who died in 2009, has signed with Gladstone Gallery for representation. Gladstone will debut Colescott's work at Art Basel Miami Beach next month and mount its first solo exhibition for the artist in 2025. Colescott is best known for satirical, large-scale paintings like "George Washington Carver Crossing the Delaware: Page from an American History Textbook" (1975), which critiques the exclusion and caricaturing of Black figures in American history and art. The estate sought new representation after its longtime gallery, Blum, closed this summer. Gladstone senior partner Max Falkenstein said the gallery had long admired Colescott and that the partnership felt like a natural fit given the gallery's focus on identity and politics.

us pavilion venice biennale robert lazzarini proposal

The United States Pavilion at the upcoming Venice Biennale faces an uncertain future after a proposal by artist Robert Lazzarini and independent curator John Ravenal collapsed. The proposal, selected by the US State Department in early September, fell through when the University of South Florida’s Contemporary Art Museum declined to sign the contract, citing a shortened timeline and financial obligations. Ravenal attributed the breakdown to bureaucratic misalignment rather than ideological disagreement, while the State Department declined to comment. The selection process also shifted this year, with the National Endowment for the Arts excluding itself due to staffing transitions, leaving the State Department to handle it alone.

raquelin mendieta ana mendieta estate administrator dead

Raquelín Mendieta, the longtime administrator of the estate of her sister, artist Ana Mendieta, died on October 24 in Miami at age 79 due to a long illness. Raquelín took charge of Ana's legacy after the artist's death in 1985, organizing a retrospective at the New Museum in 1987 and partnering with Galerie Lelong in 1991 to establish a market for Ana's work. Under her stewardship, Ana's art was acquired by major museums like the Whitney Museum and included in over 600 group shows and 55 solo exhibitions, including 16 museum retrospectives.

alex katz paul taylor dance gala lincoln center 2025

On November 11, the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation will honor painter Alex Katz at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, celebrating a decades-long creative partnership between Katz and the late choreographer Paul Taylor. The collaboration began in 1960 when poet Edwin Denby introduced them for a commission at the Spoleto Festival, leading to 16 works together including "Meridian," "Scudorama," "Private Domain," "Diggity," and "Sunset." At the gala, the company will perform "Sunset," which Katz conceived after observing soldiers in Madrid’s Retiro Park. Katz is also showing new paintings at Gladstone Gallery in New York, while the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego hosts "Alex Katz: Theater and Dance," the first major survey of his stage work.

alison knowles dead make a salad fluxus

Alison Knowles, a pioneering artist of the Fluxus movement, died at age 92 in New York on October 29. Her gallery, James Fuentes, announced her passing but did not specify a cause. Knowles was best known for works like *Make a Salad* (1962) and *The Identical Lunch*, which used everyday materials and simple text-based instructions to create participatory art. Her most famous piece, *Make a Salad*, consists only of its title as a directive, allowing performers to interpret it freely; it has been staged at venues from Art Basel to Tate Modern. Knowles was a key figure in Fluxus, a movement formalized in 1963 by George Maciunas that rejected traditional art in favor of performance and accessible materials.

reginald madison uffner liu john sandroni industry moves

Reginald Madison, a self-taught painter and sculptor from the Black Arts Movement in Chicago, has joined Uffner & Liu gallery for representation. Paul Soto Gallery now represents John Sandroni, whose work is currently on view in New York. KSS Architects completed a new Learning and Engagement Center at the Newark Museum of Art. Meanwhile, at least eight blue-chip galleries have dropped out of Art Basel Miami Beach, and Karim Crippa has been appointed director of Art Basel Paris. Christie’s four auctions held concurrently with Art Basel Paris totaled $107.4 million, with Yves Klein’s "California (1KB 71)" selling for $21.3 million, a record for the artist in France.

ica san francisco to adopt citywide model

The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) will leave its current home at The Cube in December 2025 to adopt a fully nomadic, citywide model, presenting exhibitions and programs at various sites across the Bay Area starting in early 2026. Its final shows at The Cube are solo exhibitions for Masako Miki and David Antonio Cruz, on view through December 7. The museum has already secured support from the Office of the Mayor of San Francisco and lined up programs for the next year, including exhibitions at the Transamerica Pyramid Center featuring Tara Donovan and Lily Kwong, and a two-person show for Dominique Fung and Heidi Lau at Pier 24 in 2026, with a partnership planned for 2027.

taipei art week taiwan market review

The second edition of Taipei Art Week has drawn a large crowd, anchored by Art Taipei—Asia's longest-running art fair—and the 14th Taipei Biennale. Galleries have raised their ambitions, with pop-up shows, talks, and collectors' parties filling the city. However, Taiwan's art market faces significant headwinds: art imports fell 15.2% in 2024, Ravenel's spring auction sales plummeted from $14.6 million in 2020 to $3.6 million in 2025, and Taipei Dangdai announced it would cease operations after its sixth edition. Geopolitical tensions with China have reduced Chinese collector participation and visitor numbers at the National Palace Museum.

racquel chevremont mickalene thomas lawsuit new allegations

Racquel Chevremont, a model, curator, and reality TV star, has filed a 31-page lawsuit against her former romantic partner, artist Mickalene Thomas, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The suit expands on earlier harassment allegations from August, detailing claims of an abusive work environment and financial exploitation. Chevremont alleges that Thomas denied her promised compensation from sales of artworks featuring Chevremont, including a painting that sold for $1.83 million, and that Thomas paid herself significant sums while Chevremont received nothing from their joint company, MT Special Projects (also known as Deux Femmes Noires). Thomas has denied the allegations through a spokesperson, calling them false and a desperate attempt to profit from her reputation.

naotaka hiro paintings bortolami

Naotaka Hiro's latest paintings, on view at Bortolami gallery in New York through November 1, were inspired by a harrowing experience seven years ago when he discovered a stranger living in the crawlspace beneath his Los Angeles home. Hiro now creates his works by lying supine with his canvas suspended just 13 inches above his body—the exact height of that crawlspace—often cutting holes through the canvas and wrapping it around himself with ropes to paint from all angles. The resulting abstractions, filled with forms resembling plants, fish gills, and veins, function as a 360-degree body scanner and a form of self-exploration.

tom sachs thaddaeus ropac interview nike

Tom Sachs has opened a new exhibition titled “A Good Shelf” at Thaddaeus Ropac’s London gallery during Frieze Week, featuring NASA-emblazoned ceramics inspired by Japanese tea bowls and space travel. The show runs through December 20 and includes hand-formed ceramics displayed on shelves made from rough materials like cinderblock and plywood. This marks Sachs’s return to the spotlight after a 2023 scandal in which former studio staff accused him of creating a toxic workplace, leading Nike to pause its sneaker partnership with the artist; the partnership resumed in September 2024.

art always too late after avant garde

This article argues that the traditional view of art as a vanguard force predicting cultural change is outdated in the early 21st century. It contends that the rapid acceleration of mainstream culture, driven by social media and news cycles, makes it nearly impossible for traditional fine art media like painting and sculpture to stay ahead of the curve. The author suggests that forward-looking art now emerges from para-artistic digital practices such as AI experiments, Red Chip art, NFTs, memes, and TikTok lore, which often challenge conventional aesthetic and ethical standards. Citing Claire Bishop's 2024 book *Disordered Attention*, the piece notes that contemporary artworks tend to be symptomatic of larger conditions rather than anticipatory, and that artists like Artie Vierkant, Joshua Citarella, and Brad Troemel have pivoted from art-making to art-adjacent content creation.