guaridian art critic adrian searle steps down 1234773458
Chief art critic Adrian Searle is leaving his full-time role at the Guardian after nearly 30 years, with his final article scheduled for April 1. He will continue to contribute occasional pieces to the publication.
This week's In Memoriam column from Hyperallergic honors seven figures from the art world who recently passed away, including Swiss collector and dealer Bruno Bischofberger (1940–2026), Pulitzer-winning arts critic Manuela Hoelterhoff (1949–2026), and artist-editor Steven Durland (1951–2026). Other notable losses include British painter Ray Burgoyne, iconographer Christina Dochwat, German gallerist Jenny Falckenberg, realist painter Ward Nichols, and MoMA preparator Pamela A. Popeson. Each entry provides a brief biography and highlights their contributions to visual art, criticism, and cultural organizing.
The article reflects on the responsibility of critical art writing in the Southeast, sparked by the announcement that Art Papers, an international art magazine based in Atlanta, will sunset in 2026 after 50 years. The author recounts a debate among local art workers about reviewing the forthcoming Minnie Evans retrospective organized by the High Museum of Art and traveling to the Whitney Museum, which he initially declined due to a conflict of interest with curator Katherine Jentleson. He ultimately agrees to write, emphasizing the need for Black scholars to engage with self-taught Black artists. The piece examines how Evans's narrative has been mediated through the lens of white photographer and art historian Nina Howell Starr, questioning the power dynamics and what remains unknown about Evans's own agency.
Berkeleyside has published a guide to 17 museums and galleries in Berkeley, California, highlighting free and affordable arts and culture destinations. The list includes major institutions like the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), the Kala Art Institute, the Berkeley Art Center, the Magnes Collection of Jewish Life and Art, and the Lawrence Hall of Science, as well as smaller venues such as the Arts and Crafts Cooperative (ACCI), Shoh Gallery, 120710, and the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles. Each entry includes hours, admission details, and notable features, with an emphasis on free access and local artists.
Artnet News senior reporter and columnist Katya Kazakina has won the Newswomen’s Club of New York’s 2025 Front Page Award for specialized reporting in arts and entertainment for the second consecutive year. The award recognizes her July story “Keeping Up With the Clients: The Art World Lifestyle Can Be Dangerously Alluring,” which investigated how dealers and advisors overextend themselves financially and legally to maintain social ties with wealthy patrons. The piece grew out of her earlier scoop on dueling lawsuits between ultra-high-end art advisors Barbara Guggenheim and Abigail Asher.
The Washington Post laid off approximately 30% of its newsroom staff, including Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Sebastian Smee, as part of broader cuts to sports, local news, and international coverage. Smee, who joined the Post in 2018 after working at the Boston Globe and The Australian, confirmed his departure in a statement to ARTnews, expressing gratitude to former editor Marty Baron and solidarity with affected colleagues. Another Pulitzer-winning critic, Philip Kennicott, reportedly remains on staff. The layoffs come shortly after the release of a documentary produced by Amazon MGM Studios, owned by Post owner Jeff Bezos.
Wo bitte geht's zum nächsten Skandal?
The article reports on the 2024 Venice Biennale preview days, where the atmosphere is dominated by political protests, media stunts, and social-media pressure rather than the art itself. Incidents include a solidarity drone choir for Gaza, a Pussy Riot and FEMEN protest at the Russian Pavilion, and a planned demonstration near the Israeli Pavilion, all amplified by PR agencies and WhatsApp alerts. A journalist describes being pressured by editors to cover scandals and political controversies instead of art reviews, which they say no longer attract clicks.
The Dorothea & Leo Rabkin Foundation in Portland, Maine, has named eight recipients of its 2025 Rabkin Prize for visual arts journalists. Each winner receives an unrestricted $50,000 grant. This year's honorees are Tempestt Hazel, Jessica Lynne, Nicole Martinez, Brandy McDonnell, America Meredith, Eva Recinos, Paul Chaat Smith, and J Wortham. The foundation also commissioned portraits by photographer Kevin J. Miyazaki and will publish a series of interviews with the winners starting September 10.
Christopher Knight, the Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic for the Los Angeles Times, is retiring after more than 40 years in the field, with his final day set for November 28. Knight spent 36 of those years at the Los Angeles Times, becoming one of the last full-time art critics at a major U.S. daily newspaper. He won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2020 for his incisive coverage of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's proposed overhaul, and received a $50,000 Lifetime Achievement Award for Art Journalism from the Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation the same year. Knight also authored two books and appeared on programs like 60 Minutes and PBS NewsHour.
Milton Esterow, the award-winning journalist who owned and edited ARTnews for 42 years, died on Friday at age 97. His death was confirmed by his daughter Judith Esterow, a former associate publisher of the magazine. Esterow purchased ARTnews in 1972 from Newsweek and transformed it into a news-focused powerhouse, winning a National Magazine Award and two George Polk Awards. He introduced the influential ARTnews Top 200 Collectors list in 1990 and was known for his relentless investigative journalism, particularly on Holocaust art restitution. He continued writing into his 90s, using his 1950 Royal typewriter.
This article is a promotional piece for the DW English program 'Arts Unveiled,' highlighting several upcoming segments. It announces the start of the 61st Venice Biennale, the world's largest art exhibition, and poses questions about its standout features and art's role in times of crisis. Other segments explore the American Dream as a nightmare on the 250th anniversary of US independence, and feature Indigenous artist Britta Marakatt-Labba, who creates embroidered polar landscapes reflecting Sámi culture.
Four members of the Ventnor Artists Collective—Melanie Ayres, Robert Carter, Mary King, and Marilyn Mittelheuser—will exhibit their work at Peer Studios in Ventnor as part of the Isle of Wight Open Studios. The exhibition runs daily from 11am to 4pm between Friday 16th and Monday 26th May, offering visitors the chance to meet the artists, learn about their creative processes, and purchase original artworks. Each artist brings a distinct style: Ayres focuses on nature-inspired printmaking, Carter paints traditional oils, King explores emotion through mixed media, and Mittelheuser creates colorful textured works on canvas.
During the Milwaukee Art Museum’s annual Art in Bloom event, the Journal Sentinel gathered feedback from hundreds of attendees and digital survey respondents about what they want from arts coverage. The new arts and culture reporter, who wrote the article, outlines the key requests: more advance event coverage (especially free, family-friendly, and hands-on activities), support for smaller and underground art scenes, profiles of local artists including youth, coverage of overlooked art forms like graffiti and fabric arts, and diverse representation of Latino, women, LGBTQ+, and immigrant artists.
Chris Erik Thomas has been appointed as the new editor of The Art Newspaper, taking over the role from previous editor Ben Luke. Thomas brings extensive experience in arts journalism, having previously served as an editor at Artsy and as a contributor to publications including The New York Times and Artforum. His appointment marks a leadership change at one of the art world's most influential trade publications.
St. Louis Magazine has published a curated list of ten art exhibitions currently on view or opening in the St. Louis area this month. The article serves as a guide for local residents and visitors seeking cultural activities.
The Robbins Hunter Museum in Granville, Ohio, will host the inaugural art exhibition of local artist Terry Applegate from January 28-30, 2026. Titled "Where Stillness Speaks," the show features 14 original oil paintings by Applegate, a retired elementary school teacher who began painting after a winter class with Paul Hamilton. Works include serene landscapes, vibrant florals, and scenes of quiet reflection, with key pieces such as “Winter Gift,” “Summer Field,” and “Sunday Morning.” A preview reception will be held on January 28, and the exhibition is free and open to the public, with all works available for purchase.