Every week, Artnet News brings you Wet Paint, a gossip column from original scoops. If you have any advice, email Annie Armstrong at [email protected].
YOU’RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER BOAT
It’s a scary time in the world of architecture. In just a few weeks, we have witnessed David Adjayedespicable fall from grace, and the revelation that the macabre Gilgo Beach Murders were at least partially contracted by the architect Rex Heuermannwhose work in New York has included buildings for Target, Nike, Foot lockerand even our beloved Cipriani (gasp!).
Now, in a twist, it looks like something horrible has happened to an innocent architect. Fresh paint hear that Martino Stierlichief curator of architecture and design at the modern Art Museumwas the victim of a shark attack last weekend.
While I can’t get in touch with Stierli directly, sources close to him confirmed he was fine and noted that it looked more like “a bite” than an actual attack.
During this summer lull, I have a little too much free time, so I was able to find an appearance by the curator in a local report by News television on the increasing presence of sharks on Long Island beaches (photo above). In the videoStierli is briefly seen walking normally in an ambulance which takes him to hospital in Fire Island, does not seem to be in pain and seems to have only a small cast on his hand. Phew!
LARRY GETS LASIK
Larry Gagosyan. (Photo by Andrew Toth/WireImage)
Speaking of sharks… let’s get to larry. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what if the beholder selling the beauty has an eye condition that has worsened over the past few years? If you are the most famous art dealer in the world, the answer is to undergo Lasik eye surgery earlier this year, Fresh paint has learned.
The Gagosian Gallery did not respond to my request for confirmation that this is true, but as Larry turned 78 this year, it seems like a good time for a tune-up given that vision usually starts to deteriorate in his 40s and Larry has been using his peepers quite eagerly over the years.
If this sounds like a slow news cycle wet paint item to you, well, yes, you’re partially right. But also! Let’s look at this in the larger context of what’s going on with the LG big dog these days. Less than a year after Gagosian announced that his Consultative Committee would double its succession plan, Wet Paint understands that vanity lounge journalist and Bugsy Siegel scribe Michael Shnayerson is typing an “unauthorized” biography of the world’s most famous art dealer – although, as I revealed last week it seems empire of pain journalist Patrick Radden Keefe will probably beat it to the fist with its own detailed press-averse dealer profile for the New Yorker. It all has the makings of a retrospective moment for the legendary art slinger, though we know in our hearts that Larry is preparing for a late-glory period equivalent to Picasso’s “Mosqueteros.”
Baby sharks beware.
WE HEAR
After the dissolution of his former gallery strange thoughts, miserly diamond found a new representation with Greene Naftali… Sargent’s Daughters has broughtChristine Nyce as associate director, and Sophie Love as Digital Director…. THE Cube Place Astor (Or Alamowhich is his name in the art world) is back and spinning again, prompting many to joke about their concern for the man who lives inside… Libbie Mugrabi been slapped with a lawsuitalleging that she snatched the pay of her staff and even physically assaulted one of her maids…
spotted
Whoever that guy is, it’s definitely not KAWS.
Elizabeth Dee certainly seems enthusiastic about KAWSthe support of the Independent Art Fairbut don’t seem to really know what he looks like liwhat? *** Lil Uzi Vert, Kennedy Yanko, Mickalene Thomas, Josh SafdiAnd DJ Khalid were among the guests of the Brooklyn Public Libraryopens for Jay Z ephemera, “The Book of Hov”, and I wonder if this incredibly random bunch of celebrities will ever be in the same room again*** Troye Sivan dine alone outside Bacaro *** Jay McInerney inexplicably joined Son ***
CASTING CALL
Lisa Schiff, 2021.
It’s time to get ahead of the inevitable crash-and-burn story of Lisa Schiff, the adviser who is due to go next week for the Ponzi tip scheme she set up. My request is simple: WHO could play Schiff in a Tar-esque biopic of the Disgraced Counselor? Email your response to [email protected]and as always, the winner gets their very own Wet Paint pink hat.
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