The French mega-gallery Perrotin has added sculptor Alma Allen to its roster. Allen previously caused controversy by accepting a nomination to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale under the Trump administration's State Department, a decision that led his former galleries to drop him. The article also notes other industry news, including Keisha Scarville winning the Brooklyn Museum's UOVO Prize and Marina Abramović creating an inflatable installation for New York's Balloon Museum.
Allen's move to Perrotin highlights the ongoing tension between commercial success and political ethics in the art world. His selection for the 2024 Venice Biennale, overseen by a government accused of censorship, raised questions about the political neutrality—or complicity—of his work. This representation shift underscores how market forces and mega-galleries can absorb and potentially neutralize an artist's controversial past, while other items in the roundup show the broader ecosystem of appointments, prizes, and unexpected artistic ventures.