ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

VISUAL

The Unpleasant Art Museum Tour That’s Wildly Popular

Joseph Langelinck’s “highly unpleasant” tours cost around $8 USD, and they’ve reportedly sold out every session since they launched in May, with bookings well into 2026. - The New York Post

The Mona Lisa Problem

One solution might be to put it in a separate structure — climate-controlled, transparent — in the neighboring Tuileries Garden. Time-controlled tickets could be sold at a premium, while the general public could view it for free at a distance, through the glass walls. - Washington Post

Bizarre Attack By Teen Tourist On Met Museum Artworks

On Monday, a 19-year-old hurled water at a 19th-century portrait and a 16th-century altarpiece, then ripped two tapestries. His mother turned him over to police, who said he seemed to be to be under the influence of an “unknown substance” and took him to a hospital before having him arraigned for criminal mischief. - ARTnews

LACMA Management Won’t Recognize Employee’s Union Formed Last Week

“This means LACMA United cannot move forward with collective bargaining efforts until it is formalized by a National Labor Relations Board election. Complicating matters further, NLRB activities — including elections — are on hold amid the federal government shutdown.” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)

The Old Whitney Museum Is About To Reopen As Sotheby’s. Here’s What’s Been Done To It

The renovation is thoughtful and deeply respectful, with a stress on materiality and crisp detail that is typical of Herzog & de Meuron. - The New York Times

“India’s Picasso,” The Country’s Most Admired And Reviled Artist

In March, a painting by M.F. Husain became the highest-priced modern Indian artwork ever; in June, an auction of his work in Mumbai was nearly cancelled after Hindu extremists threatened it. Last January, an Indian court ordered impoundment of two “offensive” Husain paintings; in October, Qatar announced an entire museum for his work. - CNN

Man Returns Piece Of The Acropolis Hist Father Took In 1930

Back in 1930, Gaetano visited Athens with the Italian Navy. And at the Acropolis—the Greek capital’s hilltop covered in ancient architecture—he picked up a small piece of carved marble near the base of the Parthenon, a temple built for the goddess Athena in the fifth century B.C.E. - Smithsonian

Staffers At Detroit Institute Of Arts Prepare To Unionize

“DIA staff are seeking to unionize with AFSCME Cultural Workers United (AFSCME Michigan), a division of the national AFSCME union that represents workers at cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, and Philadelphia Museum of Art (sic).” - ARTnews

No Master Thieves Here: Louvre Bandits Were Petty Criminals, Police Say

“This is not quite everyday delinquency … but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organized crime,” Laure Beccuau told France Info Radio. - ARTnews

Trump’s Skill With Imperial Images

Trump’s aggressive moves to accumulate political power — deploying National Guard troops, invoking massive tariffs —have prompted protests and lawsuits as well as plaudits. But he is also asserting his power through what might be called an imperial aesthetic: surrounding his presidency with visual cues designed to project personal command and grandeur. - Washington Post

Art Institute Of Chicago Is Building $50 Million Conservation Center

“The 25,000-square-foot facility, to be known as the Grainger Center for Conservation and Science, will contain conservation laboratories, offices and a study center as well as a gallery offering conservation-related exhibitions and opportunities to watch conservators at work.” Construction will begin early next year. - WBEZ (Chicago)

It’s Official: The Big, Weird, Brutalist Fountain In San Francisco Will Be Removed

“A divided San Francisco Arts Commission on Monday approved a plan to at least temporarily remove the Vaillancourt Fountain from Embarcadero Plaza, a final sign-off that means the massive artwork could be dismantled as soon as early next year.” - San Francisco Chronicle (Yahoo!)

Medieval Tower In Rome Collapses, Kills Worker

During renovations on the 13th-century Torre dei Conti, the structure started to collapse, trapping two workers. During the 11-hour rescue operations, passersby watched as more of the tower crumbled. Both of the trapped men were rescued alive, though one died of his injuries shortly afterward. - AP

Some Folks Are Not Happy About Philadelphia Art Museum’s Rebrand, And That Includes Some Board Members

“Critics say the new logo and its angular griffin look severe — more like a soccer team, a clothing brand, or a beer label than an art museum.” What’s more, some board members say they weren't shown the final design for approval and only learned about the rollout from the press. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

Sasha Suda Fired As Director Of Philadelphia Art Museum

Suda, who has been leading a change campaign at the museum since she arrived in 2022, reportedly has both supporters and detractors on the board. - Philadelphia Magazine

Our Free Newsletter

Join our 30,000 subscribers

Latest

Don't Miss

function my_excerpt_length($length){ return 200; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');