Art Movements

Art Movements is a weekly collection of news, developments, and stirrings in the art world.

Guy Wildenstein was cleared of concealing paintings and other property from French tax authorities. The presiding judge acquitted the art dealer, despite stating that there had been a “clear attempt” at concealment, due to shortcomings in both the investigation and with French tax fraud legislation.

Steven Mnuchin‘s financial disclosure revealed that he owns a multimillion-dollar stake in a Willem de Kooning painting. The U.S. Treasury Secretary nominee has an estimated net worth of $620 million.

A proposal to build a local branch of the Beijing-based National Palace Museum in Hong Kong has been met with opposition, with many residents decrying the project as a means to curry favor with the mainland Chinese government.

Artist Zachary Cole Fernandez (aka “Jesus Hands”) was booked on a misdemeanor charge after he voluntarily surrendered himself to the LAPD. Fernandez told VICE that he and his ex-wife/partner, Sarah Fern, were responsible for the “Hollyweed” sign prank on New Year’s Day.

Heritage Auctions filed a second lawsuit against Christie’s after claiming that the auction house poached three of its former employees. Heritage Auctions alleges that the “Collectrium Market Data Beta,” Christie’s searchable database of auction results, includes 2.7 million listings culled from its own auction data.

The exterior of ABC No Rio, New York (2008) (via Flickr/Cory Doctorow)

The construction of ABC No Rio‘s new building has been delayed by a lack of funding. According to the space’s director, Steven Englander, the setback is due to higher than expected project bids. The renowned art and activist space is continuing to accept donations on its website.

The Albany Museum of Art in Georgia was closed to the public after sustaining serious storm damage. Multiple sections of the museum’s roof were torn off by high winds, resulting in “several inches of water on both the second and first floors.”

Philip Johnson‘s Interfaith Peace Chapel in Dallas was vandalized.

The Japanese government recalled its ambassador and one of its consuls to South Korea after protestors installed a sculpture commemorating the thousands of Korean women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese imperial military during World War II.

The Limbach Commission recommended that the Sprengel Museum return Karl Schmidt-Rottluff’s 1922 watercolor, “Marsh Landscape With Red Windmill,” to the grandchildren of Jewish businessman Max Rüdenberg.

The Rialto Bridge, Venice (via Wikipedia)

The restoration of the Ponte di Rialto — the oldest bridge across Venice’s Grand Canal — was completed.

The British Library returned a book to the heirs of a Jewish art collector after a member of staff found his name inscribed on a book plate. The book, a copy of a German play, was stolen from Karl Maylander’s collection after he was deported and murdered by the Nazis.

The High Line unveiled a selection of proposals for its new plinth project.

The City of Austin launched its own artist-in-residence program.

Transactions

Archibald J. Motley, Jr., “Hot Rhythm” (1961), oil on canvas, 39 7/8 x 48 1/4 x 7/8 in, collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, gift of Mara Motley, M.D., and Valerie Gerrard Browne in honor of Professor Richard J. Powell and C.T. Woods-Powell and in memory of Archie Motley (courtesy the Chicago History Museum, Chicago, Illinois; © Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University)

Two of Archibald Motley’s heirs, Dr. Mara Motley and Valerie Gerrard Browne, donated the artist’s 1961 painting, “Hot Rhythm,” to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.

The Wikimedia Foundation received a $3-million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The Worcester Art Museum received a $825,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.

The Hyde Collection received a $100,000 grant from the Charles R. Wood Foundation toward the development of a new gallery dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

Artnet acquired the intellectual property of defunct startup Artlist. The company also hired two of Artlist’s co-founders, Astrid de Maismont and Kenneth Schlenker.

The National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago acquired 31 screen prints by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

John Singleton Copley’s “The Fountaine Family” (1776) was allocated to the Tate after it was acquired for the UK through the Arts Council England’s Cultural Gift Scheme.

John Singleton Copley, “The Fountaine Family” (1776) (courtesy Tate)

Transitions

According to the Guardian, the Tate’s trustees have chosen Maria Balshaw to succeed Nicholas Serota as director of the Tate.

Bryan Suereth, the founder and executive director of the Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, was dismissed by the nonprofit’s board of directors.

Jonathan Laib left Christie’s to become a director at the David Zwirner Gallery.

Eran Neuman was appointed director of the Israel Museum.

Alison Gass was appointed director of the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art.

Michael P. Mansfield was appointed executive director of the Ogunquit Museum of American Art.

Sarah McCrory was appointed director of 1,000m2 gallery, Goldsmiths University’s new contemporary gallery.

Kim Nguyen succeeded Jamie Stevens as curator and head of programs for the CCA Wattis Institute of Contemporary Arts in San Francisco.

Hilary Lewis was appointed chief curator and creative director of the Glass House.

Makeda Best was appointed curator of photography at the Harvard Art Museums.

(courtesy Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)

George Lucas settled on Los Angeles as the site of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The film director and art collector has committed to financing the $1 billion project himself.

According to ARTnews, Artspace laid off the bulk of its staffers, including its editor-in-chief, Andrew M. Goldstein.

The estate of sculptor Ruth Asawa is now represented by David Zwirner Gallery.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art pushed back its plans for a new, $600-million wing dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

The And/Or Gallery reopened in Pasadena, California.

New York’s Joseph Gross Gallery announced that it will close its space in Chelsea [via email announcement].

Detroit’s Susanne Hilberry Gallery will close after 40 years in business.

Accolades

Installation view of Sondra Perry’s Resident Evil (2016) at The Kitchen, New York (photo by Jason Mandella)

Sondra Perry was awarded the 2017 Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence Prize.

The Duchess of Cambridge accepted an honorary, lifetime membership of the Royal Photographic Society.

The College Art Association announced the recipients and finalists for its 2017 Awards for Distinction.

Laurie Anderson and Lawrence Weiner will receive the 2017 Wolf Prize later this year.

Isa Genzken was awarded the 2017 Goslarer Kaiserring (“Emperor’s Ring”) Prize.

The International Center of Photography announced the recipients of its 2017 Infinity Awards.

The Maria Lassnig Foundation awarded its inaugural art prize to Cathy Wilkes.

Elizabeth Bick was awarded the Norton Museum of Art’s 2016 Rudin Prize for Emerging Photographers.

Elizabeth Bick, “Every God IV” (2015), chromogenic development print (courtesy the artist)

John Walter was announced the winner of Hayward Touring’s 2017 Curatorial Open.

Abbas Akhavan, Rochelle Goldberg, and Eva Kot’átková were each selected for a residency at Alexander Calder’s former home studio in Saché, in France’s Loire Valley.

Artpace announced its 2017 artist residencies.