filter_list Showing 46 results for "Covid-19" close Clear
dashboard All 46 museum exhibitions 16article news 10article local 8person people 3rate_review review 3article policy 2trending_up market 2article culture 2
date_range Range Today This Week This Month All
Subscribe

what defined 2025 curators pick the years best art 2717370

Several international curators and museum directors, including Connie Butler of MoMA PS1, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Julieta Gonzalez of the Wexner Center for the Arts, and Madeleine Grynsztejn of MCA Chicago, selected artworks that they believe define 2025. Highlights include Ayoung Kim's video installation 'Delivery Dancer’s Arc: 0º Receiver' (2024), Beeple's 'Regular Animals' premiered at Art Basel Miami Beach, and Kerry James Marshall's painting 'Haul' (2025) from his retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts. Julieta Gonzalez also pointed to a broader constellation of practices emphasizing collectivity, ecological thinking, and Indigenous cosmologies rather than a single emblematic work.

art shipping problems investigation 2737673

The article investigates the rising cost of art shipping, which has become a major issue for the art industry since the Covid-19 pandemic. Industry figures including Fritz Dietl of Dietl logistics, Belgian collector Alain Servais, art advisor Michaela Neumeister de Pury, New York collector Jonathan Travis, dealer Jack Shainman, and OCS Art Services owner Nicole Scuderi describe shipping as a 'necessary evil' and a 'major stumbling block' that affects galleries, collectors, fairs, auction houses, and museums. Costs surged during Covid due to inflation in labor, materials, and insurance, and have not come down, while complications from Brexit, U.S. trade policies, and New York State tax laws have added further layers of expense and confusion.

joan weinstein vice president getty wide program planning 1234756895

The Getty has appointed Joan Weinstein, current director of the Getty Foundation, to the newly created role of vice president for Getty-wide program planning. Weinstein will continue as foundation director until a successor is named, and in her new position she will develop strategy across the institution’s four divisions: the Museum, Research Institute, Conservation Institute, and Foundation, focusing on art historical scholarship and community partnerships. She is best known for co-directing PST ART, a major Southern California cultural collaboration, and has overseen significant relief funds for artists affected by wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elucidating the Esoteric with Hilma's Ghost

The feminist art collective Hilma’s Ghost, founded by artists Dannielle Tegeder and Sharmistha Ray, is reclaiming the role of alternative spiritualities and the occult within art history. Sparked by the 2018 Hilma af Klint retrospective at the Guggenheim, the collective emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic as a research-based project that bridges artmaking with esoteric practices like tarot, witchcraft, and neo-tantric cosmologies. Through workshops and collaborative paintings, the duo explores how women and queer artists have historically been erased from the canon due to their unconventional, mystical methods.

ayoung kim interview moma ps1 performa 1234759738

Ayoung Kim's video "Delivery Dancer's Sphere" (2022) captures the experience of delivery workers during the Covid-19 pandemic in Seoul, following two female riders navigating the city via app-based systems. Kim shadowed real delivery workers to create the work, which blends documentary footage, anime-style animation, and AI-generated imagery. The video is part of a series that will be featured in Kim's first US solo exhibition at MoMA PS1 in New York, opening this week, and she will also debut a new motion-capture piece at the Performa festival later this month. Kim recently won a $100,000 award from the Guggenheim Museum and LG.

35 rembrandt etchings discovered family home netherlands 1234774586

Charlotte Meyer discovered a folder containing 35 original Rembrandt etchings while organizing her family home in Zutphen, Netherlands, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inherited from her grandfather, who purchased them for a nominal sum in the early 20th century, the works were authenticated by the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam after being stored in a drawer for decades.

mfa boston denies targeting dei staff in cutbacks former french culture minister jack lang stepping down morning links for february 9 2026 1234772770

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) has denied targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) staff after laying off 33 employees, including its only Muslim, Native American, and Black curators. The layoffs, effective January 30, 2026, prompted a petition with nearly 2,000 signatures and a demand from 130 staff at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design for the curators' reinstatement. MFA Director Pierre Terjanian attributed the cuts to financial deficits from the COVID-19 pandemic, stating the proportion of staff of color remained unchanged.

A Bike Path Now Runs Through the Portland Art Museum

The Portland Art Museum (PAM) is opening a new 24,000-square-foot glass structure called the Mark Rothko Pavilion on November 20, 2025. The $111 million expansion, funded almost entirely by private donations, connects the museum's two existing buildings—the original travertine building designed by Pietro Belluschi and a former Masonic temple—above ground for the first time. The pavilion is named after the artist Mark Rothko, who had his first museum exhibition at PAM in 1932 under his birth name Marcus Rothkowitz. The project was designed by Chicago firm Vinci Hamp Architects and Portland's Hennebery Eddy.

metropolitan museum of art workers move to unionize 1234762081

On Monday, Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers (UAW) filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize roughly 1,000 salaried and hourly workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The union cites long-term pay inequities, lack of job protection, and increasing workloads as motivations. The Met currently has two smaller unions for security guards and projectionists, and a museum spokesperson expressed respect for the right to seek representation. Employees reportedly first reached out to Local 2110 in 2022, and the drive has gained momentum in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

tate strike 1902476

More than 100 staff members at the Tate galleries in England began an indefinite strike on August 18, 2020, protesting the institution's plan to cut over 300 jobs from its commercial arm, Tate Enterprises. The PCS union voted overwhelmingly in favor of striking after Tate confirmed 313 redundancies, citing anticipated revenue loss from a long-term drop in visitor numbers due to the pandemic. Workers are demanding that 10% of government bailout funds be invested in Tate commerce, that no redundancies occur while senior staff earn six-figure salaries, and that Tate push for more government aid. The strike has closed several Tate gift shops, with picketing scheduled through August 22 and an indefinite strike from August 24.

New York City Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Exhibition Now on View at The Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers have opened the seventh annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: New York City Regional Exhibition at The Met’s Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education. Running through May 21, 2021, the free exhibition features over 200 works of art and writing by New York City-based Gold Key recipients in grades 7–12, selected from more than 10,000 submissions across 28 categories. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the works are displayed as framed prints to ensure equitable access.

zohran mamdani signs open letter met museum union 1234767978

New York City Mayoral-Elect Zohran Mamdani has signed an open letter supporting roughly 1,000 workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art who filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to form a bargaining unit. The vote is scheduled for January 13 and 15, 2026, and if approved, the Met would become the largest unionized museum in the country. The letter, released December 18 by the United Auto Workers (UAW), was also signed by Comptroller Elect Mark Levine and Manhattan Borough President Elect Brad Hoylman-Sigal, among other officials. The proposed union would cover curators, conservators, educators, and retail staff, citing long-term pay inequities, lack of job protection, and increasing workloads.

layoffs metropolitan museum art 1900013

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has laid off 79 employees and furloughed 181 additional workers, citing a $150 million deficit exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. An additional 93 staff members accepted early retirement offers. The cuts, which follow 81 layoffs in April, reduce the museum's workforce from about 2,000 to roughly 1,600—a 20 percent reduction. Director Max Hollein and CEO Daniel H. Weiss announced the measures in an email, noting that staff salaries account for 65 percent of the annual budget. The museum has also implemented hiring freezes, pay cuts for top executives, and drawn on its $3.6 billion endowment. The Met remains closed pending state approval, aiming for an August 29 reopening with reduced hours.

layoffs metropolitan museum art 1900013

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has laid off 79 employees and furloughed 181 workers, with 93 staff members taking early retirement, citing a $150 million deficit exacerbated by the pandemic. The museum's director Max Hollein and CEO Daniel H. Weiss announced the cuts in an email, noting that salaries comprise 65% of the annual budget. This is the second round of layoffs since April, when 81 employees lost their jobs, and the museum has also implemented pay reductions for top executives and frozen hiring. The workforce has shrunk by about 20%, from 2,000 to 1,600 staff, with 48% of those laid off being people of color. The Met aims to reopen on August 29 with reduced hours, pending government approval.

Chobi Mela XI Review: Can We Start Over?

The 11th edition of the Chobi Mela photography festival has opened in Dhaka, Bangladesh, under the curatorial direction of artists Munem Wasif and Sarker Protick. With the theme 'Re,' the festival presents work from 58 artists across nine exhibitions, aiming to explore renewal and tenacity in lens-based storytelling following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the July 2024 uprising.

‘Transcription’ by Ben Lerner Review: No Phones

Ben Lerner’s latest novel, Transcription, marks a departure from his previous sprawling autofiction like The Topeka School, opting instead for a spare, three-part structure set during the COVID-19 pandemic. The narrative unfolds through three pivotal conversations involving the protagonist, his aging mentor Thomas, a curator, and Thomas’s son Max. Central to the plot is the protagonist’s failure to record a final interview with Thomas due to a broken phone, forcing a reliance on fallible memory and reconstruction.

New NYC exhibit highlights art of self-made artists

The American Folk Art Museum has launched "Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists," a new exhibition exploring how self-taught creators define their own identities. Spanning from the early 20th century to the present, the show features a diverse array of mediums including painting, photography, and sculpture. Key works include John Kane’s 1928 self-portrait, which reflects his immigrant experience, and Joe Coleman’s contemporary reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workers at the Metropolitan Museum vote to form union

Workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art voted overwhelmingly to unionize with the United Auto Workers (UAW), with 542 in favor and 172 against, following nearly four years of organizing efforts. The election, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, will see 100 challenged votes resolved through arbitration. The new union, part of UAW Local 2110, represents over 50 departments including conservators, curators, librarians, and digital staff, driven by concerns over job security, pay, and policy transparency.

Two more mega museums open in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has opened two new mega museums on Saadiyat Island: the Zayed National Museum (ZNM) and the Natural History Museum, coinciding with the country's 54th National Day. The ZNM, one of five original institutions planned for the Saadiyat Cultural District in 2007, tells the story of the UAE from ancient civilizations to the present, featuring a reconstructed Bronze Age sailing ship and over 1,500 archaeological objects. The openings follow news that Frieze Abu Dhabi will launch next year and that Sotheby's will hold its first auctions in the emirate, with Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ now holding a minority stake in the auction house.

How China’s private museums are navigating a post-boom era

China's private museum sector, which boomed in the 2010s with hundreds of new institutions often tied to property developments or vanity projects, is now contracting. Notable closures include Guangzhou's Times Museum (shuttered in 2022, later relaunched as a project space), OCAT Shanghai (closed indefinitely in 2021), and Qingdao's TAG Museum (suspended operations in 2024). Other prominent museums like Sifang Art Museum, Yinchuan MoCA, and Shanghai MoCA have scaled back, while Long Museum's future appeared uncertain after its owners auctioned part of their collection. The downturn follows the collapse of China's property sector, Covid-19 restrictions, and a broader economic slump.

paintings bob ross bonhams auction public broadcasting cuts 1234756146

Bonhams has been consigned to sell 30 original paintings by beloved American artist and TV host Bob Ross, with an estimated total value of $850,000 to $1.4 million. The works are being sold on behalf of American Public Television (APT), which will direct all net proceeds to support APT and PBS public television stations affected by federal funding cuts. Three paintings—Winter’s Peace (1993), Home in the Valley (1993), and Cliffside (1990)—will be offered on November 11 in Los Angeles, with the remaining 27 offered in auctions next year in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.

Five Women Artists Bring 'Psychedelic' Sense of Play to Pioneer Square Exhibit

The Beauty Shop collective, a group of five female artists based in the Puget Sound region, has launched a new group exhibition titled "The Party Mix" at Gallery 110 in Seattle's Pioneer Square. Featuring works by Arni Adler, Lynette Charters, Saundra Fleming, Kate Harkins, and Ingrid Sojit, the show presents a diverse array of media unified by a "psychedelic" sense of play, intuitive creative processes, and a focus on the female figure. The exhibition, which runs through March 28, was born out of a collaborative support network that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ecuador's Bienal de Cuenca marks 40th anniversary with a playful theme but a serious tone

The 17th Bienal de Cuenca, titled "The Game," opened on 24 October in Cuenca, Ecuador, marking its 40th anniversary. The biennial features 51 artists selected by 17 international curators, with works displayed across multiple venues including museums, gardens, and the airport. The event highlights artists and curators from the Global South, focusing on social and political concerns rather than market priorities. It opened just two days after political protests ended, with a ceremony featuring an Andean ritual led by artist Carmen Vicente, whose installation "Infinite Steps" won the acquisition prize.

Comment | Bristol's Spike Island has become an environmental beacon—here's why it makes financial sense for others to follow suit

Spike Island, a creative hub in Bristol housed in a historic tea packing factory, has become a model for environmental sustainability in the art world. Its director Nicole Yip commissioned an energy report during the Covid-19 pandemic, which revealed that 85% of the organization's emissions and a large portion of its running costs were due to heat loss through the roof. In response, Spike Island replaced the roof and installed solar panels, which have already saved 6,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions since March. The upgrades are now part of a larger capital masterplan developed with Max Fordham and 6a Architects, aiming to reduce heat loss by 50% over the next decade.

glenn lowry leon black trustee jeffrey epstein 1234777261

Former Museum of Modern Art director Glenn Lowry has publicly defended billionaire collector Leon Black regarding his continued presence on the museum's board despite his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Lowry emphasized Black's financial commitment to the institution, specifically citing his role in preventing staff layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic and his decision to step down as board chair in 2021 to protect the museum from further controversy.

metropolitan museum art workers largest museum unions 1234770080

Nearly 1,000 salaried and hourly workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art voted on Friday to join Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers (UAW), creating one of the largest museum unions in the United States. The vote passed 542-172, covering staff across 50 departments including curators, conservators, librarians, and archivists. Roughly 100 ballots remain sealed due to a management challenge, to be resolved through arbitration after certification by the National Labor Relations Board. The union drive had been brewing for over four years, driven by concerns over job security, pay equity, and transparency.

Meriem Bennani, the artist who went viral during the pandemic

Meriem Bennani, a New York-based artist known for her shape-shifting practice of videos, installations, and immersive environments, gained viral fame during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. She co-created the animated series '2 Lizards' with fellow artist Orian Barki, which depicted surreal, humorous conversations between anthropomorphic reptiles navigating the first weeks of the pandemic in New York City. The series, posted on Instagram, resonated widely and led to eight episodes. Bennani's broader work, including 'Life on the CAPS' (2018–2022) and 'Mission Teens' (2019), blends digital animation, live-action footage, and cultural critique, often exploring themes of diaspora, post-colonialism, and migration through dystopian, supernatural narratives.

Paul Kroner showcased in first solo exhibit, 'What Have I Done?'

Paul Kroner, an award-winning contemporary visual artist and gallerist, is presenting his first solo exhibition, "What Have I Done?," at his artist-run gallery, Studio Kroner. The show marks his 25th exhibition at the space and coincides with the gallery's fifth anniversary. Featuring nearly 50 works, some begun as early as 2020, the exhibition reflects on themes of creation, responsibility, and inner life. Kroner purchased the studio in 2021 after it was previously owned by Dick Waller, and the exhibition represents a full-circle moment following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 protests in Over-the-Rhine.

Glimpsing the future: William Kentridge opera has its New York premiere in Brooklyn

William Kentridge's award-winning chamber opera *Waiting for the Sibyl* (2019) makes its New York premiere in Brooklyn as part of the inaugural Powerhouse: International arts festival at Powerhouse Arts. The opera, inspired by the Cumaean Sibyl myth, features an original score by Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Kyle Shepherd, and blends Kentridge's animated drawings, collages, and sculptures with live performance. The production won an Olivier Award in 2023.

Inverclyde amateur artists wow crowds with exhibition at Greenock art gallery

The InverArty collective, a group of ten local amateur artists from Inverclyde, has launched its debut exhibition at the Wyllieum art gallery in Greenock. Formed four years ago as a self-supporting community following the COVID-19 lockdowns, the group showcased a diverse range of works including landscapes, self-portraits, and mixed-media illustrations. The exhibition represents the culmination of years of weekly self-led classes and collaborative workshops.