Vasari Art Codex

article policy schedule Aug 21, 2025 visibility 6 link 7 artists, 1 gallery

trump slavery museums smithsonian comments meaning 1234749760

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing the Smithsonian and museums nationwide, claiming they focus excessively on negative aspects of U.S. history such as slavery. He described these institutions as the last remaining segment of 'WOKE' culture. The article counters his remarks by highlighting the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which presents both the horrors of slavery and themes of survival, liberation, and perseverance through objects like Harriet Tubman's handkerchief and artworks by Jacob Lawrence and Alison Saar. It also references the 2022 exhibition 'Afro-Atlantic Histories' at the National Gallery of Art, which balanced depictions of violence with messages of freedom and resilience.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article culture schedule Dec 29, 2025 visibility 10 link 23 artists, 1 gallery

art pop culture crossover 2025 2729394

Artnet News recapped nine notable art and design crossovers in pop culture from 2025. These include a Renoir painting spotted in a Wes Anderson film, a John Everett Millais reference on a Taylor Swift album cover, and a Dieter Rams chair appearing in the TV show "Severance." The article also highlights painter Ronan Day-Lewis bringing his visual world to film with his debut "Anemone," Spike Lee incorporating his art collection into the film "Highest 2 Lowest," and Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park home being featured on the TV series "The Bear."

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article culture schedule Jun 5, 2025 visibility 1 link 3 artists, 1 gallery

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The article examines the use of two iconic minimalist designs—the Vitsœ 620 chair and a Braun wall-mounted hi-fi system—in the Apple TV+ series *Severance*. Both objects were designed by German industrial designer Dieter Rams in the 1960s and appear in the show's dystopian corporate setting, specifically in the lower levels of Lumon Industries where experimental subject Gemma undergoes tests. The production team intentionally selected these pieces to convey themes of power, control, and commerce.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jul 31, 2025 visibility 7 link 18 artists, 3 galleries

Blum Gallery’s Sudden End Shocked the Art Industry. What Happened?

On July 1, 2025, Tim Blum, the powerhouse Los Angeles dealer behind Blum Gallery, announced the sudden closure of his gallery after a 35-year run. The closure includes his Culver City headquarters, his Tokyo space, and a planned Tribeca location that will no longer open. Blum publicly framed the decision as a voluntary "sunset" due to systemic industry issues like over-expansion and burnout, but interviews with artists and staff reveal a more chaotic reality: the closure blindsided employees and artists, many of whom learned about it from news reports or a last-minute staff meeting that excluded Tokyo staff. Sources cite weak sales at Art Basel and Art Basel Hong Kong, poor business decisions—including buying out partner Jeff Poe and renovating a costly New York space—and a lack of severance or transition time as underlying factors.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 8 link 11 artists, 1 gallery

protests new york new school cuts staffing programs 1234766368

New York's The New School is offering voluntary retirement and severance programs to a large group of faculty and staff as part of a radical restructuring to address a $48 million deficit. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) reported that 40 percent of full-time faculty, about 169 staffers, received the offers, calling it the largest attempted firing of faculty currently taking place in the nation. The school is also eliminating over thirty programs, primarily in social sciences and humanities, and plans to combine several schools into a two-college structure, including Parsons School of Design. The school faces declining enrollment and has been warned by the Department of Education over campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

candle obituary schedule Apr 23, 2026 visibility 9 link 2 artists, 2 galleries

Ides Kihlen, Abstract Painter and Argentine Art Legend, Dies at 108

Ides Kihlen, the beloved Argentine abstract painter, died on April 14 at age 108. Her first solo exhibition came at age 85 in 2002 at the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Buenos Aires, after which her career blossomed with presentations at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo and the Emilio Caraffa Fine Arts Museum. Known for rhythmic compositions blending geometric forms, experimental line work, and collage on varied supports, Kihlen maintained a daily routine of painting from morning and playing piano after sunset, reflecting her lifelong dual commitment to art and music.

newspaper Hyperallergic open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Aug 3, 2025 visibility 3 link 3 artists, 3 galleries

blum staffers speak closure ex art basel boss slams art financialization 1234748683

Tim Blum, founder of Blum Gallery, announced the closure of his gallery in early July, citing systemic problems and burnout. However, former employees and artists have since spoken out, claiming they were blindsided by the decision and criticizing the lack of notice, severance, and transparency. Some sources allege that poor business decisions, including a buyout of partner Jeff Poe and costly renovations in a shaky economy, contributed to the closure, while others dispute Blum's claims of strong sales at Art Basel. Separately, a bipartisan Senate bill seeks to extend a 2016 law aiding Holocaust victims in reclaiming Nazi-looted art, but major museums are pushing back, arguing the law unfairly hinders their ability to defend claims.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Feb 12, 2026 visibility 4 link 1 artist

joe frazier statue philadelphia museum of art steps 1234773236

The Philadelphia Art Commission has approved a plan to relocate a statue of real-life boxer Joe Frazier to the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's steps. This move is intended to replace the iconic statue of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, which is being moved to the top of the same steps.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

rate_review review schedule Mar 25, 2026 visibility 9 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

Angela de la Cruz review – wonky chairs and busted pianos are monuments to resilience

Angela de la Cruz's solo exhibition "Upright" at Birmingham's Ikon gallery presents a collection of broken and mended artworks. Her canvases are crumpled, folded, and snapped, while sculptures are assembled from precarious junk like a three-legged chair on a stool and a piano stacked atop another. The works, though appearing on the verge of collapse, are all repaired and propped back up, reflecting a state of post-collapse resilience.

newspaper The Guardian open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 25, 2026 visibility 11 link 6 artists, 3 galleries

Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibit featuring Rocky Balboa statue gets underway

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has opened a new exhibition titled "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments," centered on the iconic bronze statue of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa that sits at the bottom of the museum's steps. Guest-curated by Paul Farber, the show explores the statue's transformation from a movie prop into a real-world symbol of perseverance and public devotion, tracing over 2,000 years of boxing imagery through works by artists such as Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol. The museum, which once fought to have the statue removed, now embraces it as part of Philadelphia's identity.

newspaper CBS News open_in_new Read original

candle obituary schedule Jun 10, 2025 visibility 2 link 13 artists, 1 gallery

margaret keane obituary 2139184

Margaret Keane, the American painter known for her iconic "Big Eyed Waif" portraits, died on June 26 at age 94 in her Napa Valley home due to heart failure. For years, her second husband Walter Keane fraudulently claimed credit for her work, a deception that unraveled in the 1970s when she challenged him to a public paint-off and later won a courtroom showdown in 1986. Her story gained renewed attention with Tim Burton's 2014 film *Big Eyes*, starring Amy Adams.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 26, 2026 visibility 4 link 3 artists, 1 gallery

Grand Van Gogh Exhibition | Ueno Royal Museum | Art in Tokyo

From May to August 2026, the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo will host a major exhibition of Vincent van Gogh's early works, drawn entirely from the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands. The show traces van Gogh's development from his early Dutch period through his time in Paris and culminates in his Arles period, featuring the celebrated painting *Night Café Terrace (Place du Forum)*. This is the first chapter of a two-part exhibition series, with the second scheduled for 2027–2028.

newspaper Time Out Worldwide open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 12, 2025 visibility 5 link 9 artists, 1 gallery

Date announced to celebrate landmark reopening of Newcastle Art Gallery

Newcastle Art Gallery will celebrate its landmark reopening on February 27, 2026, with a street party and temporary sculpture park on Laman Street, followed by a three-day opening weekend. The event launches the major exhibition "Iconic Loved Unexpected" on February 28. The expansion, the largest capital works project in City of Newcastle's history, adds 1,600 square meters of exhibition space and 13 galleries, making it the largest public art institution in New South Wales outside Sydney. The project was funded through 16 years of fundraising and perseverance.

newspaper City of Newcastle open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Nov 24, 2025 visibility 5 link 4 artists

sasha suda philadelphia art museum 2711154

Sasha Suda, the former director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, has filed a lawsuit against the institution less than a week after her abrupt firing. The legal complaint alleges breaches of contract, bad faith, unfair treatment, and abuse. Suda, who served for three years, is seeking two years' severance and damages, represented by high-profile art world attorney Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel. Her ouster came shortly after the museum unveiled a controversial rebranding, changing its name from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the acronym PhAM and introducing an unpopular griffin logo. The museum has stated the lawsuit is without merit. Louis Marchesano, deputy director of curatorial affairs and conservation, is currently serving as interim leader.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Mar 19, 2026 visibility 10 link 3 artists

‘The male ego is even more fragile than it ever was’: Kim Gordon on shyness, AI and Zohran Mamdani’s cool

Musician and artist Kim Gordon answered questions from Guardian readers, reflecting on her career with Sonic Youth, her solo work, and her approach to creativity. She discussed the band's initial aim to create something new, her intuitive process, and her recent acting role in Kristen Stewart's film adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir.

newspaper The Guardian open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jul 22, 2025 visibility 2 link 2 artists, 2 galleries

Exhibition represents lifetime of work by acclaimed artist

Carol LaChiusa, a 95-year-old artist from Grosse Pointe Farms, is the subject of a new exhibition titled "Carol LaChiusa: A Journey in Art" at the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church Arts Ministry Gallery. The show features approximately 28 works spanning her career from age 15 to just months ago, including her 1947 painting "Down by the Tracks," which earned her a scholarship to the Cleveland School of Art. A public reception with the artist will be held on August 7, featuring jazz by the Matthew Daher Trio, and the exhibition runs through September 7.

newspaper C&G Newspapers open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 25, 2026 visibility 10 link 5 artists

Iconic 'Rocky' statue outside Philadelphia Museum of Art will now get its own exhibit -- and be moved indoors

The iconic Rocky Balboa statue, long stationed outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA), is being moved indoors for a new exhibition titled "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments." Opening this weekend, the show examines how the fictional boxer and his statue became a symbol of Philadelphia's identity, tracing over two millennia of artists' engagement with boxing and celebrity. The exhibition includes works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol alongside the bronze statue, which attracts roughly 4 million visitors annually. After the exhibit ends in August, the city's statue will be permanently relocated to the top of the museum steps, replacing a temporary loan from Sylvester Stallone's private collection. A new statue honoring legendary Philadelphia boxer "Smokin'" Joe Frazier is being built at the statue's original location.

newspaper New York Post open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 3

telfair museums lays off 15 percent of staff 1234769530

Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, laid off approximately 15 percent of its staff on January 9, 2025. The layoffs were announced abruptly during an afternoon Zoom call without prior warning, according to former employees, though the museum offered severance packages. Museum representatives attributed the cuts to reduced funding and stated the decision was approved by the board’s executive committee.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Oct 15, 2025 visibility 3 link 11 artists

‘Grit’ exhibition highlights artists’ perseverance at Echo Contemporary

A new group exhibition titled 'Grit' opened at Echo Contemporary Art in Atlanta's Echo Street West, featuring works by local artists in painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, tech-driven pieces, and a quilt by Evereman. Co-curated by Alfonso Alday Vergara of Alday Hunken Gallery, Melanie Shaw of ArtShare, and Kyle McNeill (BignPasty), the show explores the theme of perseverance in art-making. The opening night reception drew a crowd, and the week-long exhibition includes artist talks, live music, and a panel discussion with Hayley Smith of SCOPE Art Show and Plushette Ellis of Artistic Logistics.

newspaper ARTS ATL open_in_new Read original

candle obituary schedule Apr 11, 2026 visibility 11

Pearl Fryar, a Picasso of Plants, Dies at 86

Pearl Fryar, the visionary self-taught topiary artist who transformed his yard in Bishopville, South Carolina, into a world-renowned botanical masterpiece, has died at age 86. Starting in the 1980s with no formal training, Fryar used a gas-powered hedge trimmer to sculpt salvaged plants into gravity-defying, abstract geometric forms that drew thousands of international visitors to his three-acre property.

newspaper New York Times Art open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Apr 13, 2026 visibility 6 link 1 artist

Park City Photographer Selected for Spring Salon Third Year in a Row

Park City photographer David Winegar has been selected for the Springville Museum of Art’s 102nd annual Spring Salon for the third consecutive year. His winning entry, 'Balancing Act,' is a large-format, hand-processed black and white photograph depicting an ancient pine tree at sunrise in Canyonlands National Park. The piece explores themes of resilience and perseverance through the lens of the Utah landscape.

newspaper National Today open_in_new Read original