Uber curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev retires from the Castello di Rivoli + Other Stories

Art Industry News is a daily summary of the most important developments in the art world and the art market. Here’s what you need to know this Friday, May 26.

NEED TO READ

How Yayoi Kusama’s art turned into Instagram tricks – As the artist herself continues to slip away from the public eye, a new show at David Zwirner in New York is the latest savvy move from Japanese media company Yayoi Kusama, Inc, after a high-flying collaboration with Louis Vuitton. How did the avant-garde artist of the 1960s become a world-renowned mega-brand, whose infinity rooms gather lines around the block for a 30-second chance at a selfie? (New Yorker)

Defaced Black History Monument – public sculpture Black British history is British history was vandalized with racist language shortly after moving to Birmingham, England on May 13. Luckily, it only took the creators a few minutes to remove the graffiti with sandpaper. “You can say it’s a disappointment, but this public art piece was created to start this conversation, which is controversial,” said one of the organizers of the Black Heritage Walks Network. (evening standard)

Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev retires from Château de Rivoli – At the end of 2023, the seasoned curator is stepping down from her role as director of the Turin institution which she has directed since 2016. Before joining the Castello di Rivoli, Christov-Bakargiev was chief curator at MoMA PS1 in New York, and is well known for her role as artistic director of documenta 13 in 2012. While director in Turin, she organized exhibitions by artists such as Anne Imhof, Franz Kline and William Kentridge. (The arts journal)

Darren Bader sells his name – It can take decades to make a name for yourself in the art world, but are budding artists looking for a shortcut? New York artist and provocateur Darren Bader has apparently announced his intention to quit the industry and is offering the chance to legally purchase his identity as an artist. The contract provides the right to use his name and ownership of all works he has produced to date. (New York Times)

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Emmanuel Kasarhérou renewed at Quai Branly – The curator and president of the Parisian museum joined him in 2020, and has just had his mandate extended. Kasarhérou arrived at the Tjibaou Cultural Center museum in Noumea, New Caledonia and became the first Kanak to lead a major museum in France. (The Journal of the Arts)

Sale of the first painting by Picasso symbolized – Little girl with a beret (1964) was minted on the blockchain in October 2021 by the condominium the start-up Artemundi in partnership with Sygnum Bank, specialized in digital assets. It has now been acquired by over 60 investors who apparently receive an annualized return on investment of around 15%. (Press release)

Art For Justice Names 2023 Recipients – The Art for Justice Fund announced the final round of grantees for the Spring 2023 cycle, which includes the Center for Art & Advocacy, Cleveland Public Library Foundation, National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform and Worth Rises. Ten individual scholarships will also benefit formerly incarcerated artists, including Beverly Price, Louise Waakaa’igan and Haley Greenfeather English. A4J was started by philanthropist Agnes Gund in 2017 after seeing Ava DuVernay’s film 13e, and over the past six years has awarded more than $125 million and 400 grants. (Press release)

Chief curator of the Sexual Names Museum – Ariel Plotek will be the New York Museum’s first chief curator and lead curatorial affairs for the new Miami outpost, which opens this fall. Plotek was Curator of Fine Arts at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico since 2018. (art forum)

FOR THE ARTS

Ropac displays a 5 meter long piss painting – The late 1970s work was part of a series of experiments by Andy Warhol on the use of bodily fluids to make art, for which he invited visitors to his studio to urinate directly on the cloth. The painting is included in ‘Alchemy’, an exhibition of renowned artists like Anselm Kiefer and Joseph Beuys whose works involved material transformation, at Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery in London until July 29. (Press release)