palais de tokyo removes martinique flag cameron rowland 1234758546

The Palais de Tokyo in Paris removed Cameron Rowland's artwork "Replacement" (2025) just one day after it went on view in the exhibition "ECHO DELAY REVERB." The piece replaced the French flag above the museum with the flag of Martinique, adopted in 2023, and included a wall text criticizing French colonial rule and quoting the Martinican independence movement. The museum appended a new label stating the work "could be considered illegal" and was no longer included. Neither the Palais de Tokyo nor Rowland's representative commented.

‘You look at it and you just feel better’: this year’s Photoville festival highlights

The 15th annual Photoville festival in New York features over 90 photographic exhibits, ranging from whimsical subjects like cosmic-looking apples in "Old Apples" to hard-hitting reportage on wildfires, water access inequalities, and ICE's impact on communities. Notable exhibits include "Special Girls," showcasing 1990s photos of trans women from the Remsen Wolff archive, and "Point of View," pairing self-portraits by Dutch college students with Rijksmuseum artworks. Other highlights include Lexi Parra's "The Avillas," documenting a family after a matriarch's self-deportation, and "Puppies Behind Bars," a photo series on incarcerated men raising service dogs at Green Haven prison.

DOZIE KANU’S FIRST FORAY INTO MASS-PRODUCTION

Artist Dozie Kanu has debuted his first mass-production collaboration with Knoll, a line of leather-tasseled tables launched in 2026 during Milan's Salone del Mobile, shortly after the opening of his solo exhibition at Fondazione ICA Milano. The Texas-born, Portugal-based artist, who first appeared in PIN–UP magazine in 2018 as an emerging design wunderkind, has since expanded his practice beyond collectible design into art, exhibition-making, film, and music. His recent projects include a documentary short screened at South by Southwest, a two-person exhibition with László Moholy-Nagy at Meyer Voggenreiter's project space piece*unique in Cologne, and a solo show at ICA Milano that dialogues with Marc Camille Chaimowicz and Jean Cocteau, featuring works alongside selections from the Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation collection.

Documenta Taps an All-Women Artistic Team—and More Art Industry News

Documenta has selected an all-women artistic team for its upcoming edition, marking a historic shift for the prestigious quinquennial exhibition. In other art industry news, Sotheby's will open its new global headquarters in the Breuer Building on November 8, Christie's London will auction the collection of Danish businessman Ole Faarup in October, and Bob Ross's market has surged with record auction prices. Several galleries announced new artist representations and relocations, including François Ghebaly adding Brooklin A. Soumahoro and Latitude Gallery moving to Tribeca. The Whitney Museum made three curatorial appointments, the Harvard Art Museums acquired a Heinz Mack sculpture, and Claudia Gould was named executive director of the Shaker Museum. The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation added new board members, and Maëlle Ebelle was appointed inaugural director of the Liu Shiming Art Foundation.

‘A new lease of life’: London’s Annely Juda Fine Art looks to the future with Mayfair move

London’s Annely Juda Fine Art is relocating from its Dering Street premises in Mayfair after 35 years to a new gallery on nearby Hanover Square, set to open at the end of October. The move marks a new phase for the nearly 60-year-old gallery, with co-director Nina Fellmann taking on greater responsibilities as founder David Juda, who turns 80 next year, steps back. The new space occupies three floors of a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse, including a former ballroom with a glass-domed ceiling, and will feature a smaller gallery for emerging artists. David Hockney will inaugurate the venue with his Moon series (2020-23), while the final exhibition at the old space is a site-specific installation by Tadashi Kawamata titled Demolition.

art criticism cameron rowland anne imhof

The article reviews several notable art events and exhibitions from 2025, beginning with Cameron Rowland's controversial work "Replacement" at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, where the French flag was replaced with the flag of Martinique, leading to the artwork being deemed potentially illegal. It also covers Johanna Fateman's review of Rowland's "Properties" at Dia Beacon, Ross Simonini's reflection on Joseph Beuys and the Eaton fire in Los Angeles, John Vincler's critiques of Cady Noland at Gagosian and Nicole Eisenman at 52 Walker, and Fateman's year-end roundup including figures like Anne Imhof, Laura Owens, and Jack Whitten.

art stan douglas hessel museum

Stan Douglas's survey exhibition "Ghostlight" at the Hessel Museum of Art features his commanding 2024 photograph of the same name, depicting a ghost light illuminating the empty Los Angeles Theater. The show spans works from the 1990s to 2025, including the North American premiere of his multi-channel video "Birth of a Nation" (2025), which reexamines D.W. Griffith's racist 1915 film. Organized by Lauren Cornell, the exhibition assembles staged historical scenes and imagined scenarios that explore how past eras have been pictured through images, written history, and mass media.

upper east side new york resurgence

A wave of new creative energy is reshaping Manhattan's Upper East Side, as artists, gallerists, and tastemakers migrate uptown. Notable newcomers include White Cube's gallery outpost (opened 2023), fashion brands like Khaite and Toteme, and fresh eateries such as Chez Fifi and Maxime's. Artist Margaret Lee, who co-founded a downtown gallery, notes the special feeling of crossing Park Avenue. Playwright Matthew Gasda observes an influx of young people while the neighborhood retains its multigenerational character. The article features nine local residents—including designer Leandra Medine Cohen and Instagram documentarian Joshua Kamei—sharing their perspectives on the area's evolution.

As Her Venice Biennale Opens, Koyo Kouoh Foundation Launches in Memory of Late Curator

The Koyo Kouoh Foundation has launched in Basel, Switzerland, coinciding with the opening of the 2026 Venice Biennale, which features the late curator Koyo Kouoh's main exhibition "In Minor Keys." The foundation aims to continue Kouoh's work supporting contemporary African cultural production globally, including plans for the Koyo Kouoh Prize and a permanent home for the Koyo Kouoh Collection. It is led by her partner, saxophonist Philippe Mall, and includes board members such as artist Alfredo Jaar, curator Adrienne Edwards, and former Kunstmuseum Basel director Josef Helfenstein.

Here’s Why the Venice Biennale Main Show Lost One Artist During the Planning Stages

The Venice Biennale's main exhibition, curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, originally included 111 artists when announced in February, but now lists only 110. ARTnews reveals that the removed artist is Bodys Isek Kingelez, a Congolese sculptor known for his colorful cardboard "extreme maquettes" of fantastical cities. A Biennale spokesperson stated that works initially considered for Kingelez were ultimately unavailable. Kingelez, who died in 2015, was to be one of the few deceased artists in the show, alongside figures like Marcel Duchamp and Issa Samb.

Derrick Adams Offers Monumental Tribute to Koyo Kouoh in Venice

American artist Derrick Adams has installed a monumental portrait of the late curator Koyo Kouoh on a building façade near the Arsenale in Venice, ahead of the 2026 Venice Biennale that Kouoh was to curate. The painting, titled "Heavy is the head that wears the crown (2026)," depicts Kouoh with a crown that transforms into the word "JOY" emitting golden light. The project was spearheaded by curator Francesco Bonami, who invited Kouoh to serve on the jury of the 50th Venice Biennale, and is intended as an accessible public homage rather than an exclusive art-world event.

Timm Ulrichs, Pioneering Conceptual Artist, is Dead at 86

German conceptual artist Timm Ulrichs has died at age 86. His death on April 29 in Berlin was announced by the Kunstverein Hannover, where he was the oldest member. Ulrichs studied architecture before declaring himself a “total artist” in 1961, inspired by Kurt Schwitters. His provocative works included displaying himself as a living artwork in a glass case, running naked with a lightning rod, and spending hours inside a hollowed boulder. He also created concrete poetry, computer art, and copy art, and taught sculpture at the Kunstakademie Münster from 1972 to 2005. His work appeared in Documenta 6 and solo exhibitions at the Sprengel Museum Hannover and Kunstverein Hannover.

Book uncovers the life of Barnett Newman, an artist who ran for New York mayor

A new biography titled "Barnett Newman: Here" by Amy Newman (no relation) explores the life of Abstract Expressionist painter Barnett Newman, revealing his little-known 1933 run for mayor of New York City at age 28 under a platform of cultural and environmental reforms. The book details his upbringing as the son of Jewish immigrants in the Bronx, his philosophical studies, and his eventual reinvention as a painter who pioneered the 'zip' painting style with works like Onement I, while also chronicling his combative personality and lifelong battles against political machines and critics.

Venice Biennale’s 2026 Golden Lion Jury to Be Led by Videobrasil Founder

The Venice Biennale has announced the five-member jury for its 2026 edition, which will award the prestigious Golden Lion prizes. The jury president is Solange Oliveira Farkas, founder of the Videobrasil Biennial, and she will be joined by curators and academics Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi.

A Brush With... Lorna Simpson—podcast

Artist Lorna Simpson joins the 'A Brush With...' podcast to discuss the vast array of cultural influences that have shaped her conceptual practice. From her early photo-text works to her recent large-scale paintings, Simpson details how she subverts conventional framing of identity and navigates the boundaries between reality, fiction, and historical archives. She highlights the specific impact of figures such as David Hammons, Francisco de Zurbarán, and filmmaker Chantal Akerman on her evolving visual language.

A brush with… Karen Archey, head of curatorial at Düsseldorf's K20 and K21 museums

Karen Archey, the head of curatorial at Düsseldorf's K20 and K21 museums, shares personal insights in an interview format. She reveals her obsession with painter Alice Neel, discusses a formative 2007 summer touring major European art events, and lists the poetry and audio currently occupying her attention.

rauschenberg centennial award senga nengudi david thomson 1234777484

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation has announced the recipients of its Rauschenberg Centennial Awards, granting $100,000 in unrestricted funds to five creators across four disciplines. The winners include Senga Nengudi for art, David Thomson for performance, Chandra McCormick and Keith Calhoun for photography, and Patricia Spears Jones for writing. Established to commemorate the late artist’s 100th birthday in 2025, the awards recognize alumni of the foundation’s Captiva Residency program who demonstrate artistic excellence and community impact.

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A high-profile fundraising campaign led by the Art Fund is underway to save Prospect Cottage, the former home of artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman. Supported by figures like Tilda Swinton and Jeremy Deller, the initiative seeks to raise £3.5 million to preserve the site and its archive for public tours and artist residencies. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Museum of Art's CEO, Timothy Rub, has issued an apology regarding the institution's handling of sexual harassment allegations against former manager Joshua Helmer.

marilyn minter wins anderson ranch international artist award 1234773675

Marilyn Minter has been named the 28th recipient of the International Artist Award by the Anderson Ranch Arts Center. The artist, celebrated for her feminist works that merge painting and photography, will be honored during the center's annual Ranch Week in July. The selection highlights Minter's meticulous technical process and her long-standing commitment to art education as a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts.

sothebys hikes buyers fees restitution battle franz marc painting 1234773693

Sotheby's has increased its buyer's premiums globally, with the new fee structure taking effect on February 13. The changes mean buyers of lower-value lots will pay higher rates, with the premium for works sold in New York for up to $2 million rising from 27% to 28%. This move follows similar adjustments by rivals Christie's and Phillips, as auction houses seek to bolster revenue during a prolonged art market downturn. Sotheby's also recently raised $900 million through art-backed loans via securitization.

carnegie international 2026 artist list 1234773093

The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh has announced the artist list for its 2026 Carnegie International exhibition. The largest edition to date features 61 artists from around the world, including the Indigenous Argentinian collective Silät, Indian artist Sanchayan Ghosh, and Peruvian painter Arturo Kameya. The show, titled "If the word we," will open on May 2 and includes 36 new commissions, organized by curators Ryan Inouye, Liz Park, and Danielle A. Jackson.

christo jeanne claude foundation donation artworks two paris museums 1234771870

The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation has donated 14 artworks to two Parisian museums, the Musée Carnavalet and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris. The donation includes preparatory collages, silkscreens, lithographs, and a scale model related to both realized and unrealized projects by the artist duo, such as the wrapped Arc de Triomphe and Pont-Neuf, as well as early sculptures.

Joseph Grigely's 'Otherhow' Primary Information on Disability Arts and Being Deaf

joseph grigely primary information otherhow disability arts deaf 1234771332

Artist and writer Joseph Grigely has published a new essay collection, 'Otherhow: Essays and Documents on Art and Disability 1985–2024.' The book compiles decades of his work, blending art, autobiography, and advocacy through ephemera like postcards, emails, and legal documents to chronicle his experiences navigating the art world as a deaf man.

martin parr dead photographer magnum 1234765602

Martin Parr, the acclaimed British photographer known for his wry, colorful images of tourists and leisure culture, died on December 6 at his home in Bristol, England, at age 73. His death was announced by the Martin Parr Foundation, which noted he had been diagnosed with myeloma in 2021. Parr was a longtime member of Magnum Photos and published countless photobooks, shot fashion campaigns for Vogue and Gucci, and created iconic series such as "The Last Resort" (1983–85) and "Small World" (1987–94). A retrospective themed around climate change and overtourism is planned for 2025 at the Jeu de Paume in Paris.

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A new BBC documentary, *L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes*, will mark the 50th anniversary of the artist's death in 1976. The film features never-before-heard recordings of conversations between Lowry and a young fan, Angela Barratt, recorded in his living room—the last and longest interview he ever gave. These tapes will be brought to life through dramatic reenactments, with Ian McKellen lip-syncing Lowry's words and Annabel Smith portraying Barratt. The documentary is produced by Wall to Wall Media and aims to reveal intimate insights into Lowry's thoughts, ambitions, regrets, and humor.

ian mckellan documentary ls lowry bbc 1234770000

Ian McKellen has signed on to star in a new BBC documentary about cult British painter L.S. Lowry, titled "L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes." The film will focus on previously unheard audio recordings Lowry made in the final four years of his life, which contain what is described as the longest interview the artist ever gave. McKellen will lip-sync to Lowry's own words, bringing the artist back to life through his distinctive Lancastrian voice. The documentary is being produced by the BBC and has the support of Lowry's estate.

top ukrainian art historian believes italian museum holds 14 fake russian and ukrainian modernist works 1234767043

Konstantin Akinsha, a prominent curator and art historian of Russian and Ukrainian art, has identified 14 artworks in the collection of the Palazzo de Nordis museum in Cividale del Friuli, Italy, as likely forgeries. In a Substack post and interview with ARTnews, Akinsha scrutinized the De Martiis Collection, donated in 2015 by the late collector Giancarlo De Martiis, which includes works attributed to Russian and Ukrainian modernist painters. He points to suspicious provenances involving Jean Chauvelin, a disgraced French art dealer, and Boris Gribanov, a convicted forger. A specific still life attributed to Olga Rozanova (1915-17) is nearly identical to a 1999 painting by contemporary Russian artist Andrei Saratov, who confirmed he did not paint the museum's version. Elisabetta Gottardo, the municipal head of culture, acknowledged Akinsha's authority and pledged further investigation.

whitney biennial 2026 artist list 1234766723

The Whitney Biennial has announced the 56 artists selected for its 82nd edition, opening March 8, 2026. Curated by Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer, the exhibition explores themes of relationality, kinship, infrastructure, and the US role in global affairs. The curators visited over 300 studios worldwide, and the list includes many emerging and lesser-known artists, with most participants under 45 and a significant number identifying as queer.

roni horn mca denver 2692530

The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver has organized the first exhibition dedicated to conceptual artist Roni Horn's long-standing engagement with water. Titled "Roni Horn: Water, Water on the Wall, You're the Fairest of Them All," the show spans sculpture, photography, drawing, and bookmaking, exploring water's mutability, ecological resonance, and paradoxical purity. Horn, who has received a Ford Foundation grant, Guggenheim Fellowship, and three NEA fellowships, has shown at major institutions including the Menil Collection, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum, and Tate Modern, and is represented by Hauser and Wirth.

dorothy vogel collector dead 1234763028

Dorothy Vogel, who with her husband Herbert built one of the most celebrated art collections of the 20th century while working as a librarian and a postal clerk, died on November 10 at age 90. The couple amassed thousands of Minimalist and conceptual works by artists such as Donald Judd, Roy Lichtenstein, and Sol LeWitt, housing them in their rent-controlled Manhattan apartment. They never sold any artwork and ultimately donated their entire collection to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.