The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum has named architect-designer Mira Nakashima and sculptor Kan Yasuda as the recipients of its 12th annual award, to be presented at the museum's 40th anniversary benefit on November 17. In other industry moves, the Whitney Museum of American Art acquired digital artworks by Gretchen Andrew and Michael Mandiberg; Hesse Flatow gallery added San Francisco-based artist Emily Harter to its roster; Alexander Gray Associates now represents Brooklyn-based Iranian artist Kamrooz Aram; Alisan Fine Arts signed 90-year-old Chinese abstractionist Fong Chung-Ray; and Hakim Bishara was named editor-in-chief of Hyperallergic. The roundup also notes that Ari Emanuel raised $2 billion in equity for his new holding company Mari, which owns Frieze and other assets.
This roundup matters because it captures a snapshot of the art world's institutional and commercial dynamics in early October 2025, from museum acquisitions and gallery expansions to leadership changes at a major art publication. The Noguchi Museum's award highlights the ongoing recognition of design and sculpture, while the Whitney's digital art acquisitions signal continued institutional commitment to new media. The gallery signings reflect a broadening of geographic and cultural representation, and the Hyperallergic appointment underscores shifts in editorial leadership within art journalism.