COURTESY THE ARTIST AND SIMON LEE
Public Policy
If the Republican tax plan winding its way through Congress at the moment is adopted, it could result in “fewer gifts to museums and less art on the market,” Martha Lufkin reports in the Art Newspaper. [The Art Newspaper]
Speaking in Burkina Faso, French President Emmanuel Macron said that African art housed in European collections should be returned to Africa, Bloomberg reported. [Bloomberg]
Ian Volner visited the prototypes for the proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall that have been installed in San Diego, writing in Curbed that “the most powerful government on earth is currently staging the most extraordinary architecture exhibition in human history.” [Curbed]
The Talent
Cultured offers up a list of “30 Artists to Watch in 2018,” who include Maggie Lee, Aria Dean, Sable Elyse Smith, and Zak Kitnick. They’re featured in a handsome portfolio by Jason Schmidt, who captures Calvin Marcus sporting the classic Birkenstock-with-socks look. [Cultured]
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. announced that Sandra H. Hoffen and John Wilkerson have joined its board. [Press Release]
And the Art Students League of New York announced that it has hired attorney and collector Michael Rips as its executive director. (Fun and impressive fact: Rips clerked for Supreme Court Justice William Brennan.) [Press Release]
The Critics
Holland Cotter visited the Louvre Abu Dhabi for the New York Times and admired its building, which was designed by Jean Nouvel, and some of its intercultural displays, but noted that its curators dodge tough issues like slavery and warrior culture. He wrote, “. . . the manifold beauty of galleries filled with charismatic objects nearly persuades you not to remember that art is a record of crimes as well as of benign achievements.” [The New York Times]
Job Opportunities
Konbini noted that Chance the Rapper posted on Twitter that he is looking to commission an artist for a special project. “I want a big ass painting with all the people from the 27 Club, in their 60s, at an expensive ass resort,” he said, referring to the many storied figures, like Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse, who died at the age of 27. Reach out to him if interested! [Konbini]
Bonuses
Billionaire took a look at the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai. “It is not a collector-driven, showing-off museum,” artist Asad Raza said. “It’s a beautiful Art Deco building that shows cutting-edge work.” [Billionaire]
Right-wing commentator Sean Hannity discussed his process in various broadcast mediums with the New York Times. “My thoughts are the same: I’m mad,” he said. “But with television, I’ve got the images to help me out. With radio, it’s on me to paint the picture.” [The New York Times]