The museum, part of the Smithsonian, is centered on the 12,000-odd works assembled by Latvian-American industrialist Joseph Hirshhorn, who was persuaded to donate all that art by then-First Lady Lady Bird Johnson. The Hirshhorn's current exhibition unites 200 of his masterpieces which have never before been displayed together. - El País USA
After a tribunal ruled that Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) may not restrict the conceptual art installation "Ladies Lounge" to "persons who identify as ladies," artist Kirsha Kaechele decided that "a few of the bathrooms in the museum could do with an update. Some Cubism in the cubicles." - CNN
Govan’s vision for the new LACMA — a nonhierarchical, decentralized “21st century museum” that is flexible and accessible to everyone — is an honorable one. Some art world insiders have called him “visionary” and “ahead of his time.” But others fear the new building will be the downfall of the largest art museum in the West. - LA Times
British artists are suffering: “Nearly one in three artists doubted that they would be able to continue working professionally in five years’ time, and 40% said they could not afford to have savings or contribute to a pension.” - The Guardian (UK)
"Previously a curator at the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco, where she led the European paintings department, Brilliant claims that Voena and di Robilant subjected her to sexual harassment and repeated verbal abuse in the form of racist, sexist, antisemitic, and homophobic comments." - Hyperallergic
"From 1882 to 1892 she was Rodin’s assistant, lover, muse, and, most importantly, co-creator. However, aside from assertions in pop culture, such as Bruno Nuytten’s impressive 1988 film Camille Claudel, their collaboration has yet to be widely acknowledged by the art world.” - Hyperallergic
Minerva, whose feet students had kissed for luck for 150 years, was decapitated by a backhoe. For many, “the accident felt like a final blow. ‘It’s kind of unfolding out before you, just how awful this is, on top of everything else,’ said.” - The New York Times
“As a young artist, you’re wondering: Are you a craft person? Are you a conceptual artist? Are you Mexicano? Are you Americano? A Chicano? … At some point, we understood that the least we worried about it, the better.” - The New York Times
His tenure at the MFA was marked by both successes and challenges, from the overhaul of many galleries, conservation facilities and education programmes, to a racial incident involving a visiting school group and contract negotiations with (and a brief strike by) unionised workers. - The Art Newspaper
"A bunch of developers have been allowed to knock down a happy, eclectic row of buildings ... and (have) replaced it with such nothingness, such banality that their only option is to cover it with a screen. Upon which, they have drawn portraits of those same old demolished buildings." - The Fence
"Matthew Teitelbaum, … who stewarded the institution through a tumultuous era of social upheaval and change, announced his retirement Thursday evening at a meeting of the museum’s board of directors. Teitelbaum, 68, became director in August 2015. He will leave his post ... in August 2025." - The Boston Globe (MSN)
In the third year of this epochal war — which has destroyed some 210,000 buildings, according to a recent New York Times investigation — Russian forces continue to target civilian habitations in contravention of international law. When the city is a battleground, architecture becomes an act of defense and defiance. - The New York Times
Two members of Just Stop Oil sprayed orange paint (which they say is made of cornstarch and will rinse off) on the ancient monument just a day before summer solstice crowds arrive. Their reason is that the Labour Party's promise to stop new oil and gas exploration licenses is not enough. - AP
In the rest of the country, they’re arguing about statues of Confederate generals. In Palm Springs, they’re arguing about Marilyn Monroe’s underpants. This is fitting, perhaps, for a make-believe city, an oasis in the desert created by unsustainable water policies and the Hollywood studio system. - Slate (MSN)
‘I definitely think that over the COVID-19 lockdown period people discovered a new talent or passion for art. And I think now, we are seeing some of those people trying to break through into the industry more and potentially look for ways to have exhibitions, and art prizes are a good first step.’ - ArtHub
