Art Spell

Comment | Fine balance: fairs up the exclusivity while appealing to younger clients The idea of making luxury more democratic seems both noble and impossible

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Fine balance: fairs up the exclusivity while appealing to younger clients' by Melanie Gerlis for @theartnewspaper.bsky.social. Art fairs aim to be more inclusive as they pursue a new generation of buyers and collectors.

The 2025 Power 100: A User’s Guide What does the annual list actually mean? ArtReview reveals all...

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'The 2025 Power 100: A User’s Guide' by the editors of @artreview.bsky.social. With ArtReview’s annual list of powerful art-world figures just released, the editors share the reasoning that shaped it.

The 25 Defining Art Events of 2025 Trump's tariff-mania, a summer of gallery closures, and pressure campaigns on many top US museums, were just a few of the events that defined 2025.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'The 25 Defining Art Events of 2025' by the editors of @artnews.com.web.brid.gy. Reflecting on the most significant moments for the art world this year, for better and for worse.

Three Art World Heavyweights Join Forces to Form New Gallery

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Three Art World Heavyweights Join Forces to Form New Gallery' by Robin Pogrebin for @nytimes.com. Pace Di Donna Schrader Galleries will aim to distribute itself over a pre-existing network.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/a...

Museums are no longer afraid of ‘selling out’. But have they forgotten about the art? From huge digital billboards to advising tech billionaires, US arts institutions are embracing a range of moneymaking initiatives

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Museums are no longer afraid of ‘selling out’. But have they forgotten about the art?' by @juliahalperin.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com. With the lack of federal funding, institutions are opting for more profitable operations.

How Can NYC Artists Push Back Against Censorship? A City Council hearing featured testimony from artists and cultural leaders on funding and free speech, particularly under threats from the Trump administration.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'How Can NYC Artists Push Back Against Censorship?' by @isafarfan.bsky.social for @hyperallergic.com. How one city is confronting federal censorship under the Trump administration.

Alma Allen’s Pick as America’s Venice Biennale Representative Is Deeply Dispiriting In picking Alma Allen to do its 2026 Venice Biennale pavilion, the US has found its sought-after 'non-political' artist.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Alma Allen’s Pick as America’s Venice Biennale Representative Is Deeply Dispiriting' by Alex Greenberger for @artnews.com.web.brid.gy. One journalist’s opinion on the issue with a Venice Biennale representative that doesn’t confront politics.

Art Market Reporters Are Getting It All Wrong The worst of the current market decline is not the closure of major galleries. It is the dozens of younger galleries that have gone under in the past three and a half years.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Art Market Reporters Are Getting It All Wrong' by Marc J. Straus for @hyperallergic.com. In a pointed opinion piece, Straus fills in the gaps left by art-market reporters about the market’s downturns and rebounds.

Artists Across the U.S. Are Staging Hundreds of Events to Protest Authoritarianism Fall of Freedom, a program of events across the U.S., aims to activate the country’s creative community against authoritarian threats.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Artists Across the U.S. Are Staging Hundreds of Events to Protest Authoritarianism' by Helen Stoilas for @artnet.bsky.social. A look into the artist-led movement, “Fall of Freedom.”

Told to Avoid D.E.I., Arts Groups Are Declining Grants Instead

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Told to Avoid D.E.I., Arts Groups Are Declining Grants Instead' by Michaela Towfighi for @nytimes.com. Arts organizations prioritize freedom of expression over their federal funding.

After the Death of Two Titans, Where Are the Next Giant Art Patrons?

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'After the Death of Two Titans, Where Are the Next Giant Art Patrons?' by Robin Pogrebin for @nytimes.com. Considering the uncertain future of cultural philanthropy and the next generation of major art patrons.

Climate report from Getty’s PST Art programme urges cultural organisations to confront exhibitions’ impacts The report is a significant step toward addressing the environmental sustainability of art world activities

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Climate report from Getty’s PST Art programme urges cultural organisations to confront exhibitions’ impacts' by Annabel Keenan for @theartnewspaper.bsky.social. Through a new initiative, the Getty has encouraged museums to adopt more sustainable exhibition practices.

‘They Want to Kill Art’: The French Art World Is Up In Arms Over a Proposal to Impose New Taxes on Art Two French politicians are proposing new taxes on the possession of art in the country's 2026 budget. A broad coalition opposes the new tax scheme.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is '‘They Want to Kill Art’: The French Art World Is Up In Arms Over a Proposal to Impose New Taxes on Art' by @brianboucher.bsky.social for @artnews.com.web.brid.gy. Two French parliamentarians aim to impose a wealth tax on the possession of artworks.

Race in the Museum | The Brooklyn Rail In the fall of 2023, I went to the American Museum of Natural History to sit shiva for a man who died nearly 1,500 years ago. The dry conditions and fluctuating temperatures of the high desert in what...

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Race in the Museum' by @artcrimeprof.bsky.social for The Brooklyn Rail. Examining the ways in which our museums were built upon, and continue to reflect, the construct of race.

One-Third of US Museums Feel the Pain of Trump’s Grant Cuts Two-thirds of affected institutions have not been able to find alternative sources of funding, says a survey by the American Alliance of Museums.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'One-Third of US Museums Feel the Pain of Trump’s Grant Cuts' by @isafarfan.bsky.social for @hyperallergic.com. A new survey by the American Alliance of Museums shows the direct consequences from the loss of government funding.

Observer’s 2025 Art Power Index: The Art Market’s Most Influential People Their acquisitions, affinities and approbations move the needle on valuation and redefine how art is made, shown and sold.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Observer’s 2025 Art Power Index: The Art Market’s Most Influential People' by the editors of Observer. The art world’s most powerful people, including dealers, fair directors, journalists, and artists.

Hard Truths: How Can a Curator at a Big Museum Evade Invisibility? A curator wriggles under constraints, and a designer rues obsolescence.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Hard Truths: How Can a Curator at a Big Museum Evade Invisibility?' by @andybattaglia.bsky.social for Art in America. Art world consultants answer tough career questions posed by readers.

Why Zohran Mamdani’s Victory Is Good for the Art World (But Some Are Still Panicking) If his vision threatens the art world, then the art world in question was never about the art. It was an investment strategy with wall labels.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Why Zohran Mamdani’s Victory Is Good for the Art World (But Some Are Still Panicking)' by The Art Daddy for Observer. A sharp opinion piece on why wealthy art world patrons are panicking about Zohran Mamdani.

Did the U.S. Finally Select an Artist for the Venice Biennale? Alma Allen has reportedly been chosen to represent the U.S., just as reports emerged that another artist was dropped from consideration.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Did the U.S. Finally Select an Artist for the Venice Biennale?' by Jo Lawson-Tancred for @artnet.bsky.social. The latest updates on the status of U.S. participation in the Venice Biennale.

The Art World Reacts to Zohran Mamdani’s Win as Mayor of New York City: ‘A Remarkable Moment’ The art world reacted to Zohran Mamdani's win as Mayor of New York City, with many artists expressing hope and joy.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'The Art World Reacts to Zohran Mamdani’s Win as Mayor of New York City: ‘A Remarkable Moment’' by Alex Greenberger for @artnews.com.web.brid.gy. Artists, curators, and critics weigh in on the victory.

When Algorithms Curate Culture, What Do We Lose? Michele Y. Smith, CEO of Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), examines how A.I.-driven curation is reshaping what we watch, listen to and value, and what’s being lost in the process. Smith argu…

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'When Algorithms Curate Culture, What Do We Lose?' by Michele Y. Smith for Observer. Why A.I. can’t replace human curators, and what a partnership between the two could achieve.

Is It Ever Okay to Work for Free? Getting work paid is only one part of the problem: getting innovative work paid is another

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Is It Ever Okay to Work for Free?' by Joanna Walsh for @artreview.bsky.social. Highlighting the barriers to accessibility for artists and calling for the establishment of living wage standards.

Trump May Be the Most Consequential Arts President. How to Respond? Donald Trump has put into effect a broad and sweeping arts policy. How can the sector mount a unified response?

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Trump May Be the Most Consequential Arts President. It’s Time for a Unified Response' by Brett Egan for @artnet.bsky.social. Making the case for a nonpartisan national arts policy as a unified response to President Trump’s sweeping interventions into the arts.

Frieze Editors Discuss the Best Works of the 21st Century The how, why and woes of distilling a quarter century of groundbreaking art into a single list

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Frieze Editors Discuss the Best Works of the 21st Century' by @sfburns.bsky.social, @andrew-durbin.bsky.social, @seepackard.bsky.social and Terence Trouillot for Frieze Magazine. Four editors take on the challenge of selecting the 25 greatest artworks created since 2000.

Qatar to Launch New Quadrennial in 2026 Qatar with launch a major new quadriennial in 2026 with a show curated by Tom Eccles, Ruba Katrib, and more.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Qatar to Launch New Quadrennial in 2026' by @sarahldouglas.bsky.social and Alex Greenberger for @artnews.com.web.brid.gy. Qatar works to establish itself as a leading art center with the launch of Rubaiya Qatar, a new quadrennial debuting in November 2026.

Is It Getting Better to Work in Museums?

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Is It Getting Better to Work in Museums?' by @zacharyhsmall.bsky.social for @nytimes.com. A study found that while museum workers report higher job satisfaction, there is still room for improvement.

Fascinating!

Picture of health: going to art galleries can improve wellbeing, study reveals Viewing original works of art can relieve stress, cut heart disease risk and boost immune system, first study of its kind finds

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Picture of health: going to art galleries can improve wellbeing, study reveals' by @andrewgregory.com for @theguardian.com. A study found that viewing original works by artists like Manet, Van Gogh, and Gauguin in a gallery elicited positive physiological responses.

A.I. Is Coming for Museums. What Are the Potentials—and Pitfalls? Thomas P. Campbell and András Szántó reflect on what A.I. will mean for museums, after the Museums of Tomorrow roundtable.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'A.I. Is Coming for Museums. The Opportunities Are Vast—So Are the Pitfalls' by András Szántó and Thomas P. Campbell for @artnet.bsky.social. A museum director and cultural strategist share insights on AI from the biannual Museums of Tomorrow Roundtable.

The Myth of the Digital Threat: How Technology Expands Art’s Reach Arline Mann, artist and former Goldman Sachs managing director, examines the anxiety surrounding digital art’s rise and what it reveals about how audiences engage with creativity today. Mann explor…

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'The Myth of the Digital Threat: How Technology Expands Art’s Reach' by Arline Mann for Observer. Digital art presents new artistic opportunities, complementing rather than replacing physical art.