Art Spell

National Gallery of Art closes as US government shutdown continues The Smithsonian’s museums in Washington, DC, and New York City will remain open for now

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'National Gallery of Art closes as US government shutdown continues' by @bhsutton.bsky.social for @theartnewspaper.bsky.social. The seventh-most-visited art institution in the world will remain closed while federal funding hangs in the balance.

Meet Hyperallergic’s New Editor-in-Chief After 16 years in the role, I'm passing the torch to Hakim Bishara as I transition to the role of editor-at-large.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Meet Hyperallergic’s New Editor-in-Chief' by @hrag.bsky.social for @hyperallergic.com. As Hrag Vartanian transitions to Editor-at-Large, Hakim Bishara [@hakimbishara.bsky.social] takes the helm as the new Editor-in-Chief.

Why Art History Must Leave Home | The Brooklyn Rail There may have been a worse time in US history to be in higher education, but I’m not sure when. Working in art history, a field that faces constant skepticism even among those who claim to love learn...

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Why Art History Must Leave Home' by Joan Kee for The Brooklyn Rail. How art history can move beyond academia to help us better understand power, society, and today’s turbulent current events.

How Will the US Government Shutdown Impact Museums? The National Gallery of Art and others will use funding to keep the lights on for a few days while some National Park sites will close as employees are furloughed.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'How Will the US Government Shutdown Impact Museums?' by @isafarfan.bsky.social for @hyperallergic.com. Federally funded institutions may be impacted, especially if the shutdown is extended.

Organizations in 5 Boroughs Get a Boost With City Funds

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Organizations in 5 Boroughs Get a Boost With City Funds' by Michaela Towfighi for @nytimes.com. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs adds five new organizations, marking it’s largest expansion in 50 years.

When Casino Developers Use Museums to Sweeten the Deal Two failed proposals for casinos in NYC tried to entice community leaders with the prospect of building new cultural institutions.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'When Casino Developers Use Museums to Sweeten the Deal' by Aaron Short for @hyperallergic.com. Securing funding through partnerships with casinos may pose reputational risks for museums and cultural institutions.

The secret to great art? Finding someone else to make it Marina Abramović, William Kentridge, Jasleen Kaur and other leading artists reveal the fabricators they entrust with their creations

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'The secret to great art? Finding someone else to make it' by Debika Ray for @financialtimes.com. Artists who collaborate with fabricators to create their work have different perspectives on the creative process.

Man Ray at the Met: A One-Man Art Movement | Artnet News Discover the Man Ray Met Museum exhibition “When Objects Dream,” showcasing iconic Rayographs, surreal objects, and innovative experiments.

This week, Man Ray’s survey at the Met took the art world by storm. Our most-read article was ‘Man Ray at the Met: A One-Man Art Movement’ by @benadavis.bsky.social for @artnet.bsky.social. Give it a read if you missed it:

Emma Shapiro

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'New Reports Expose the Global Toll of Censorship' by @exshaps.bsky.social for @hyperallergic.com. With a global decline in freedom of expression, artists are more important than ever.

Roberta Smith Interviews Larry Gagosian, Who Says He ‘Can’t Micromanage 18 Galleries’ Roberta Smith interviewed Larry Gagosian, who told her he 'can't micromanage eighteen galleries.'

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Roberta Smith Interviews Larry Gagosian, Who Says He ‘Can’t Micromanage 18 Galleries' by @sarahldouglas.bsky.social for @artnews.com.web.brid.gy. The highlights from a must-read interview between two major art world figures.

The Artworld Who Cried Wolf While squabbles over the merits of identity-driven art abound, real world powers in the US are threatening any diversity progress of recent decades

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'The Artworld Who Cried Wolf' by Travis Diehl for @artreview.bsky.social. While the art world debates censorship internally, government actions pose a far greater threat to free expression.

Museums Are in a High-Stakes Battle Over Corporate Sponsorship Museums face growing pressure to reject controversial sponsors—but with public funding in decline, is ethical purity financially viable?

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Why Corporate Sponsorship Is Getting Riskier for Museums' by Vivienne Chow for @artnet.bsky.social. Museums are increasingly depending on corporate sponsorship, but ethical concerns and public opinion are complicating these partnerships.

A Cornstalk Grows in Soho More than an artistic experiment in food production, Emily Janowick’s latest work is a droll and earnest meditation on family alienation.

The three rows of cornstalks currently growing in Kate Werble Gallery convey both heartache and hope, though not for reasons you might expect.

Agnes Gund, Relentless Arts Patron and Supporter of Justice-Impacted Artists, Dies at 87 Her passing leaves a profound void in New York’s art world.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Agnes Gund, Relentless Arts Patron and Supporter of Justice-Impacted Artists, Dies at 87' by Elisa Carollo for Observer. The collector and president emerita of the Museum of Modern Art transformed the art world for the better.

As globalisation retreats, art biennials are booming There are concerns over environmental impact and spreading sameness but they can help build links between nations

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'As globalisation retreats, art biennials are booming' by Maya Jaggi for @financialtimes.com. The benefits and drawbacks of biennials and their influence on cultural relations.

When Artists Are Too Old to Be “Emerging” If the art world is serious about equity, it has to stop equating emergence with youth and start building structures that reflect the multiplicity of artistic timelines.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'When Artists Are Too Old to Be “Emerging” by Damien Davis for @hyperallergic.com. How the practice of categorizing artists by age expose wider systemic barriers in the art world.

These 15 Artists Are the Biggest at U.S. Museums Right Now | Artnet News From hundreds of museum exhibitions, these artists are having the best September 2025, from Jeffrey Gibson to Teresa Baker.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'These 15 Artists Are the Biggest at U.S. Museums Right Now' by @benadavis.bsky.social for @artnet.bsky.social. Critic Ben Davis’s quarterly report spotlights the most prominent artists recently on view and the trends reflected in their work.

Who Can Stop Artwashing? Artists and unethical money have been implicitly linked to centuries. Whose role should it be to police it?

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Who Can Stop Artwashing?' by Joanna Walsh for @artreview.bsky.social. The problem with artwashing and how the widespread defunding of the arts has made it more pervasive.

Two Artists Withdraw From Smithsonian Symposium Nicholas Galanin and Margarita Cabrera said the decision to make the event private is a form of silencing participants amid Trump’s attacks on the institution.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Two Artists Withdraw From Smithsonian Symposium' by @isafarfan.bsky.social for @hyperallergic.com. Nicholas Galanin and Margarita Cabrera back out of a symposium following the Smithsonian’s decision to make the event private and unrecorded.

The Storm Hits the Art Market | Artnet News In the cover story for the biannual Intelligence Report, Katya Kazakina documents the burnout within the art market.

With the start of a new art season, all eyes are on an ever-changing art market. This week’s most-read article was top market reporter Katya Kazakina’s ‘The Storm Hits the Art Market,’ published this week in @artnet.bsky.social. In case you missed it:

In Jeffrey Gibson’s Sculptures, Child’s Play and Indigenous Truths

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'The Met Facade Gets an Indigenous Makeover' by Martha Schwendener for @nytimes.com. Indigenous artist Jeffrey Gibson unveils four sculptures in the alcoves of the Met.

Cassady examines the state of art market reporting, and whether recent headlines reflect an alarming reality or exaggerate a typical fluctuating market.

Art Market Armageddon: Is the Reporting on the Market Fair, or Is It All Hyperbole? As headlines trumpet the art market’s supposed demise, insiders say the problem isn’t collapse but the way the press covers it.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Art Market Armageddon: Is the Reporting on the Market Fair, or Is It All Hyperbole?' by Daniel Cassady for @artnews.com.web.brid.gy.

Introducing the Intelligence Report: The Mid-Year Report 2025 | Artnet News In Artnet's latest biannual report, we examine the data underpinning an art market in flux, and ask industry leaders about the road ahead.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Introducing the Intelligence Report: The Mid-Year Report 2025' by the editors of @artnet.bsky.social. Artnet has released its biannual intelligence report, and the numbers reflect a turbulent art market.

Pennsylvania Museum Scores a Win in Lawsuit Against IMLS Philadelphia art museum Woodmere successfully sued the Trump administration to restore a $750,000 IMLS grant.

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Pennsylvania Museum Wins Lawsuit Against Federal Museums Agency' by @brianboucher.bsky.social for Artnet. The previously revoked $750,000 grant has been restored to Woodmere Art Museum.

Sotheby’s Strikes Alliance With Ascendant Art Fair

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Sotheby’s Strikes Alliance With Ascendant Art Fair' by @thegraymarket.bsky.social for @nytimes.com. The partnership will bring Independent 20th Century art fair to the Breuer Building starting in 2026.

Smithsonian Secretary Responds to Trump’s Museum Crackdown In a letter to staff, Lonnie Bunch reportedly defended the institution’s independence and vowed to ensure that the museums are “nonpartisan.”

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Smithsonian Secretary Responds to Trump’s Museum Crackdown' by @isafarfan.bsky.social for @hyperallergic.com. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch promises that the institution will remain independent.

How—and why—do art fairs work with non-profit organisations? Teasing apart the alliances between for-profit trade events and charitable organisations

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'How—and why—do art fairs work with non-profit organisations?' by @thegraymarket.bsky.social for @theartnewspaper.bsky.social. A look behind the scenes at how nonprofits participate in art fairs, and the artist-first mentality they provide.

Amid layoffs and defunding threats, here's how US arts funding is adapting to life under Trump The largest federal funders of culture—and the organisations that depend on them—are beginning to resume activities under the country's new regime

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'Amid layoffs and defunding threats, here's how US arts funding is adapting to life under Trump' by Helen Stoilas for @theartnewspaper.bsky.social. How the art world continues to endure and adapt amid the Trump administration’s cultural offensive.

What Is Our Representational Duty?

Today’s Editor’s Pick is 'What Is Our Representational Duty?' by Hanya Yanagihara for T Magazine. A letter from the editor delves into identity and the role of representation in art.