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The article reports on the Museum of Modern Art's retrospective "Jack Whitten: The Messenger," which runs through August 2 and features 175 works including paintings, sculpture, and archival materials. Curator Michelle Kuo describes Whitten's "endless innovation," noting that art handlers were astonished by his pioneering techniques. Whitten, who died in 2018 at age 78, moved from Alabama to New York in 1960, attended Cooper Union, and was influenced by jazz and figures like Willem de Kooning and Romare Bearden. The article also examines Whitten's art market, highlighting his auction record of $2.66 million for "Special Checking" (1974) at Sotheby's in 2019, and noting that while prices are rising, his work remains undervalued compared to peers like Gerhard Richter.

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Tony Bechara, a Puerto Rican-born artist known for his intricate multicolored grid paintings and his long tenure as board chair of El Museo del Barrio, died on his 83rd birthday. His death was confirmed by the museum, though no cause was given. Bechara spent decades creating labor-intensive canvases built from thousands of hand-painted quarter-inch squares, exploring randomness and controlled chaos. Beyond his studio practice, he served as board chair of El Museo del Barrio for 18 years, was a trustee at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Rail, and championed the work of painter Carmen Herrera, helping to secure her a Whitney Museum survey in 2016.

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The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) will host "KAWS: Family," the first West Coast museum solo exhibition for the artist KAWS (Brian Donnelly). The traveling show, organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario, is currently on view at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, and will bring KAWS's signature cartoon-like characters—including Companion, BFF, and Chum—to the Bay Area.

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The Whitney Museum of American Art is preparing to open its new Meatpacking District museum, designed by Renzo Piano, on May 1. The new building will nearly double the museum's previous exhibition space, with two floors dedicated to its collection, and is expected to benefit from the millions of visitors who use the High Line. Despite past public criticism of expansions by other major New York museums like MoMA and the Frick, insiders including former MoMA curator Robert Storr and former Whitney director David Ross express strong support for the move, viewing it as a necessary and bold step forward.

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The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) has announced that artist KAWS (Brian Donnelly) will take over its 250-acre landscape in 2027 with a large-scale, unnamed exhibition featuring his iconic sculptures such as Companion, BFF, and Chum. The show follows the model of NYBG's 2021 "Cosmic Infinity" exhibition by Yayoi Kusama, which drew around 845,000 visitors. The announcement also coincides with NYBG's current "Van Gogh's Flowers" display and a planned 2026 orchid show by Mr. Flower Fantastic.

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Kelly Xi, an artist and lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), was placed under investigation and administrative leave after using a school photocopier to produce materials for a pro-Palestine student exhibition and sharing an email list for a faculty union petition. The exhibition advocated for divestment from Israel and criticized the school's handling of a protest encampment that led to dozens of arrests in May 2024. The actions were organized by Students for the Liberation of Palestine (SLP), targeting trustee A. Steven Crown, whose family owns a stake in defense contractor General Dynamics and donated to pro-Israel groups.

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Artnet News profiles five ultra-contemporary artists working in China today, highlighting their practices amid shifting cultural narratives, economic pressures, and technological change. Featured artists include Xia Yu, known for tempera paintings of everyday life, and Ye Linghan, who creates monumental "data portraits" from smartphone screenshots. The article details their backgrounds, notable exhibitions, market prices, and upcoming projects, emphasizing their growing appeal to collectors and curators.

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The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York has announced the closure of its MA in Curatorial Practice program, effective upon the retirement of its founding chair, Steven Henry Madoff, in May 2027. The decision to "teach out" the program comes despite recent recruitment efforts and follows a period of financial instability for the institution. The announcement also coincides with the recent abrupt resignation of David A. Ross, chair of SVA’s MFA Art Practice program, following revelations regarding his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

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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.

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David A. Ross, a prominent museum director and chair of the MFA Art Practice program at New York's School of Visual Arts, resigned after ARTnews revealed his numerous appearances in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files. The documents, released by the Justice Department, show correspondence between Ross and Epstein dating back to 1995, including emails where Ross offered support to Epstein after his 2008 arrest and discussed a controversial exhibition concept proposed by Epstein.

‘I told his family he was HIV positive’: Keith Haring’s best friend on life with the artist as unseen works go on show

A collection of unseen Keith Haring works, including a crib he painted for his best friend's unborn child, is going on display at Sotheby's New York before being auctioned in May 2025. The collection belongs to Kermit Oswald, Haring's childhood friend, and features 20 works, with a 1985 self-portrait estimated at $3m-$5m and the crib valued at $250,000-$350,000. Oswald shares intimate stories of their friendship, from childhood pranks in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, to their move to New York to study at the School of Visual Arts, and Haring's later collaboration with William Burroughs.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Presents First Museum Survey of Lorna Simpson’s Paintings

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened "Lorna Simpson: Source Notes," the first museum survey dedicated to Lorna Simpson's painting practice. Running from May 19 to November 2, 2025, at The Met Fifth Avenue, the exhibition features over 30 works spanning a decade, from her first painting to her latest series, alongside related works in other media. Simpson, known for her conceptual photography since the 1990s, explores identity and representation through screen-printed collages that incorporate vintage imagery from Ebony, Jet, and archival sources. The exhibition is supported by the Ford Foundation, Hauser & Wirth, and other donors.

8 Must-See Solo Gallery Shows in May

Galerie magazine has curated a list of eight must-see solo gallery shows across the United States for May, spanning from New York to Miami and Los Angeles. Featured artists include Takako Yamaguchi at Ortuzar in New York, Enzo Cucchi at Vito Schnabel Gallery, Iván Argote at Perrotin, and Kang Seung Lee, among others, with exhibitions showcasing a range of styles from hybrid transnational paintings to Neo-expressionist works and conceptual installations.

New York Dealer Hal Bromm Can’t Remember His Last Art Fair. He Couldn’t Be Happier

Hal Bromm, a New York art dealer who opened his gallery in Tribeca decades before it became a gallery hub, is celebrating 50 years in the neighborhood. He opened in 1974, predating the wave of galleries that moved to Tribeca around 2013, and has remained at 90 West Broadway since 1977. To mark the milestone, he will present the exhibition “50: The View from Tribeca” on September 19 and publish a book, *New Art, Old Buildings: Stories from Hal Bromm’s Tribeca*. Bromm reflects on his early career, including introducing artists like Donald Judd, Alighiero Boetti, and Mario Merz to New York audiences, and his instinct-driven approach to selecting artists.

Rare Keith Haring Self-Portrait and Other Intimate Works Go on View in NYC

A collection of intimate works by Keith Haring, including a rare self-portrait, a painted crib, and personal letters, has gone on view at Sotheby's Breuer building in New York City. The works were gifted by Haring to his childhood best friend and fellow artist, Kermit Oswald, over the course of their friendship from 1977 to 1989. The free public exhibition precedes a series of three auctions beginning May 14, with highlights including the self-portrait estimated at $3–5 million and a crib-and-dresser set expected to fetch $250,000–350,000.

Texas-born Artist to be Featured in Solo Exhibition at Frieze London

Portrait painter Amy Sherald has selected Kingsville-born artist René Treviño to present a solo exhibition at Frieze London this October. Treviño's presentation, titled "Moscas en la Pared (Flies on the Wall)," will debut in the fair's Artist-to-Artist section, a curated program launched in 2023 that invites renowned artists to nominate emerging talents. Treviño, who is represented by Erin Cluley Gallery in Dallas, adapts Mayan and Mexíca symbology in his multimedia work, which often incorporates vibrant colors, queer sensibilities, and restorative storytelling. His exhibition record includes shows at the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, and a 2024 career survey at The Wellin Museum of Art.

David A. Ross resigns from New York's School of Visual Arts over friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

David A. Ross, chair of the Master of Fine Arts in art practice department at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA), resigned from his position following the release of documents revealing his long-standing friendly correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The emails, dating from 2009 to 2016, show Ross praising Epstein's ideas for controversial exhibitions and offering him personal sympathy, even after Epstein's 2008 criminal conviction.

Three artists, three questions: Immersed in colors

Three Israeli artists—Vera Kunis, Avraham Kan, and Tal Tenne Czaczkes—are featured in a column exploring their use of color amid the ongoing war with Iran. Kunis, a data engineer and artist, opened her first solo exhibition, "Imagination Algorithm," at the Global Art Gallery in Tel Aviv on March 10, 2026, during the conflict. The interview was conducted remotely due to war conditions, with a siren interrupting the conversation. The artists discuss their inspirations, definitions of art, and what makes their work unique, emphasizing resilience and optimism through color.

December 2025 Exhibitions and Events at SVA

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York is hosting a series of exhibitions and events throughout December 2025 and into January 2026. Highlights include "Wavelengths," a juried alumni survey at SVA Chelsea Gallery; "Act 1: Geraldine Scott III," a solo exhibition by alumnus Lillian Ansell at SVA Gramercy Gallery; "The Book Show" featuring first-year MFA students; "Migrant Housing: Water as a Medium for Healing" at SVA Flatiron Gallery; and "fables for introverts, chapter iii: limbo" by Gerald Euhon Sheffield II at SVA Flatiron Project Space. Events include open studios, a lecture on the anti-Nazi "Red Orchestra" group, and an artists' roundtable with Samson Young.

What’s on now at San Francisco museums, November 2025

San Francisco museums are presenting a wide array of exhibitions in November 2025, with several closing soon and others opening in the coming months. At SFMOMA, major shows include "Alejandro Cartagena: Ground Rules" (through April 19), "KAWS: Family" (through May 3, 2026), the photography exhibition "(Re)Constructing History" featuring Carrie Mae Weems, Nona Faustine, Carla Williams, and Dawoud Bey, and "Suzanne Jackson: What is Love," the artist's first retrospective. The Institute for Contemporary Art hosts "Midnight March" by Masako Miki and "stay, take your time, my love" by David Antonio Cruz, both closing Dec. 7. The Asian Art Museum presents "Rave into the Future: Art in Motion" closing Jan. 12, and the Legion of Honor will open "Drawn to Venice" from Jan. 24 to Aug. 2, 2026. The Murphy and Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards Exhibition, a collaboration with the San Francisco Foundation and SOMarts, closes Dec. 7.

Trustees of Renowned West Coast Artist Residency Visited Epstein’s Island

Two trustees of the prestigious Djerassi Resident Artists Program, Alexander Maxwell Djerassi and Michael Molesky, were identified in recently released Department of Justice files as visitors to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2011. The pair attended the "Mindshift Conference," a gathering of academics and professionals held two years after Epstein’s first conviction. The residency program, located in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, clarified that the visit occurred years before either individual joined the board and emphasized that neither Epstein nor Ghislaine Maxwell ever had any formal ties or donor history with the institution.

Epstein Emails and the Art Market

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A massive release of over three million documents by the U.S. Department of Justice has exposed the deep ties between the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and prominent figures in the global art world. The files reveal how Epstein utilized sophisticated financial structures to manage and enhance the value of blue-chip art collections, most notably for billionaire Leon Black. The fallout from these disclosures has already led to high-profile resignations, including Jack Lang from the Arab World Institute and David A. Ross from the School of Visual Arts, while others like collector Steve Tisch face renewed scrutiny.

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NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) in Halifax has reported a dramatic surge in applications and acceptances from US-based students for fall 2025, driven by tightening US immigration policies under the Trump administration. Undergraduate applications from the US spiked 220%, acceptances rose 186%, and student responses increased 66%, with interest coming from 23 different states. NSCAD president Jana Macalik noted that student feedback cited concerns over trans rights, disability, same-sex marriage, and women's freedoms as motivating factors. Similar trends are being seen at other Canadian institutions like the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, and Alberta University of the Arts.

Long-Hidden Keith Haring Artworks Come to Auction

A collection of rare Keith Haring artworks, gifted to his childhood friend Kermit Oswald over nearly three decades, is coming to auction at Sotheby’s Breuer Building in May 2025. The trove includes a self-portrait from 1985 (estimated at $3–5 million), a painted crib and dresser ($250,000–350,000), a carved wood sculpture from 1983 (up to $800,000), and other early works on wood, fabric, and paper. These pieces trace Haring’s artistic evolution before his subway drawings and international fame, and were kept by Oswald, who was Haring’s best friend since kindergarten and later installed his shows.

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The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York has transferred ownership from the Rhodes family, which owned it for nearly 80 years, to the SVA Alumni Society, a nonprofit that has funded student scholarships since 1972. The transfer took effect on September 1, with longtime president David Rhodes stating that day-to-day operations would not change. The move comes amid financial difficulties, a recent faculty unionization effort by SVA Faculty United (affiliated with United Auto Workers), and reported layoffs of around 30 workers.

'Blame Game' X , 2014

The silkscreen print 'Blame Game X' (2014) by KAWS is currently being highlighted as a significant individual work from the artist's rare portfolio of ten. This brightly colored screenprint, limited to an edition of 100, features the artist's signature aesthetic of subverted cartoon imagery and 'X' motifs. The work exemplifies KAWS's transition from street art and commercial animation into the high-end contemporary art market.

What’s on now at San Francisco museums, February 2026

Several San Francisco museums are experiencing a period of transition and challenge in February 2026. Key exhibitions are closing soon, including "Manet and Morisot" at the Legion of Honor and Suzanne Jackson's first career retrospective at SFMOMA, both ending March 1. New shows are opening, such as "Video Craft" at the Museum of Craft & Design and "Echoes in the Small Mountain: Park Dae-sung and the West Coast" at the Asian Art Museum. Meanwhile, the city's cultural landscape faces strain, with the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts suspending operations, representing a significant loss of community programming.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Present First Museum Survey of Lorna Simpson’s Paintings

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present "Lorna Simpson: Source Notes" from May 19 to November 2, 2025, the first museum survey dedicated entirely to the New York-based artist's painting practice. Featuring over 30 works, the exhibition traces Simpson's shift from conceptual photography to paintings that explore gender, race, identity, and history, including pieces from her 2015 Venice Biennale debut and her "Special Characters" series, alongside recent sculptures and collages. The show is funded by the Ford Foundation and supported by Jim and Irene Karp and John and Amy Griffin.

Epic Palmer Museum exhibition explores 30 years of ecology and art

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is opening "Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld" on August 30, the first survey of the two artists' work spanning three decades. The exhibition features sculptures, paintings, works on paper, and a new collaborative diorama, exploring themes of ecology, environmental collapse, invasive species, and climate change through scientific and artistic lenses. Both artists, who met in New York in the 1980s, combine intensive research, dark humor, and museum display methods to subvert traditional narratives about nature and humanity.

Three artists, three questions: Contemporary art

Three Israeli artists—Ronit Porat, an evacuated photographer working with archival materials; an emerging artist using shrapnel from rocket shells as art material while serving as an IDF reservist; and a young artist opening a new exhibition after a break—are profiled in this column by Basia Monkaj. Each answers three questions about inspiration, the definition of art, and what makes their work unique, set against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Israel and the centenary of Surrealism.