Trump Idolatry in Miami
Also, how much does a booth at Frieze NY cost?
At first glance, “Don Colossus” seems fairly unremarkable — another day, another crappy sculpture deifying Donald Trump! This time, though, it was unveiled at the president’s Miami golf club by several evangelical Christian leaders who believe he was “divinely appointed” to office (sound familiar?). Only critic Ed Simon could turn this gaudy, gilded statue into a lesson in art, religion, and idolatry.
Meanwhile in New York, art fair week is up and running. As collectors flood the city for preview events, Senior Editor Valentina Di Liscia turns to a question on all our minds: How much could a booth the size of a shoebox possibly cost? Hint: It makes my rent look like a steal.
—Lakshmi Rivera Amin, associate editor
Genuflecting Before “Don Colossus”
Trump’s new golden statue in Miami has been compared to the Golden Calf, but it’s more akin to a Moloch idol. | Ed Simon
Art Busan Is Building a More Sustainable Art Market
Held from May 21 to 24, this year’s edition brings together over 110 galleries from 18 countries and proposes a more balanced and resilient collecting ecosystem.
What Does a Booth Cost at a New York Art Fair?
We asked 13 fairs to open up about booth pricing, and what they shared (and didn’t) revealed much about transparency and affordability in the art world. | Valentina Di Liscia
At Brooklyn Creative Reuse, Art Supplies Get a Second Life
The sustainable second-hand market for art materials in Industry City might give Blick a run for its money while helping you save some of yours. | Rhea Nayyar
Parallax(e): Perspectives on the Canada–US Border
Works by five Indigenous artists respond to the legacy of the Northwest Boundary Survey (1857–62) in this exhibition at The Reach. On view through May 30.
The Ukrainian Pavilion’s Deer Seen Around the World
Before arriving in Venice, Zhanna Kadyrova’s “The Origami Deer” undertook an epic journey mirroring those of displaced Ukrainians. | Gregory Volk
IDF Soldiers Hide From Our Gaze
Official portraits show Israeli soldiers turning their backs on the camera, ostensibly to protect them from prosecution for war crimes. The gesture is a tacit admission of guilt. | Ido Nahari
Community
Remembering Bruno Bischofberger, Manuela Hoelterhoff, and Steven Durland
This week, we honor a Swiss collector, a discerning art critic, and a champion of performance art.
Memorable Moment
From the Archive
My Small Gallery Lost Money at an Art Fair. It Hurt.
When sales are robust, it confirms that producing and selling art is actually a viable activity. When sales falter, our world begins to feel untenable. | Debra Brehmer
The Bennett Prize – 2026/2027 Award Cycle
For women figurative realist painters. The grand prize winner receives $75,000 and a solo exhibition. The first runner-up receives $10,000. A five-person jury will select 10 finalists to be featured in a group exhibition that will travel the US. The application fee is $50. Read more on Hyperallergic.
Deadline: September 19, 2026 | thebennettprize.org
See more in this month's list of opportunities for artists, writers, and art workers!
