VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
THE LOS ANGELES SCENE
With Douglas Christmas, the owner of Ace Gallery, having filed for bankruptcy, the artists he represents are asking for back payments. Credited with making the Light and Space artists famous, and introducing Los Angeles audiences to artists like Sol LeWitt and Dennis Oppenheimer, Christmas now faces potential legal action from De Wain Valentine and Mary Corse, who are among the people fighting to get their work back. [The New York Times]
YAYOI KUSAMA
Yayoi Kusama has made Time’s 2016 list of the 100 Most Influential People. Marc Jacobs says of Kusama, “When people look back at her work decades from now, they’ll see that her idea of creation and infinity has an eternal endurance.” [Time]
It almost sounds like the beginning of a strange joke: what do Rémy Martin CEO Eric Vallat, Japan, a Kusama pumpkin sculpture, a James Turrell environment, and cognac have in common? The answer: the island of Naoshima. [Wall Street Journal]
REMEMBERING ZAHA HADID
Following the architect’s death earlier this month, Zaha Hadid’s firm continues on with existing projects and tries to rebrand its identity. [The New York Times]
READYMADES, POISONOUS AND LESS SO
Scientists have discovered that the formaldehyde fumes that came from Damien Hirst works when they were shown at Tate Modern in 2012 may actually have been harmful. Hirst’s company Science Ltd. insists otherwise. [The Art Newspaper]
A brooch by Paul Gauguin being called one of the first readymades in art history is currently on view at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Denmark. [The Art Newspaper]
HERE AND ELSEWHERE
Three institutions in Sydney—the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Carriageworks, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia—have united for a biennial of Australian art. The first edition is planned for next year. [The Guardian]
Vincenzo de Bellis, the artistic director of the Milanese art fair MiArt, discusses Italy’s art scene. “Americans believe in building the future, whereas Italians believe in protecting the past,” he says. [Forbes]
Andrea Büttner at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. [Contemporary Art Daily]
EXTRAS
Google has launched a series of VR art how-to videos. It’s called “Virtual Art Sessions,” and it’s totally weird. [Mashable]