Art Industry News: Brazil’s Decolonial Pavilion Takes the Golden Lion at the Venice Architecture Biennale + Other Stories

NEED-TO-READ

SCOTUS’s Landmark Warhol Ruling – The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling against Andy Warhol’s series that used Lynn Goldsmith’s image of Prince could have a chilling effect on artists who make “appropriation art,” writes critic Blake Gopnik. Although the ruling appears to narrow the decision to a licensing issue—the Warhol Foundation’s failure to pay a licensing fee for the image in 2016—it may still have a major impact on those who create art in this manner as did not acknowledge the importance of transformative copying. ()

Impact of Greek Election on Parthenon Marbles – The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been actively pressing for the return of the Parthenon Marbles and negotiating with the British Museum for months on various possible solutions. But if his New Democracy party fails to win Sunday’s election, it may impact the progress of the discussion with the U.K. institution as the party’s rivals prefer different approaches to the ongoing issue. ()

Golden Lion for Brazil’s Pavilion – Brazil’s pavilion “Terra” (Earth), curated by Gabriela de Matos and Paulo Tavares, received the top honor of the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale, which dives into decolonization and decarbonization. The Golden Lion for best participant went to architectural studio DAAR, led by artists Alessandro Petti and Sandi Hilal, for its exhibition, “The Laboratory of the Future.” ()

The Art Market Correction – Several signs observed during the New York auctions and fairs season point to a market that is experiencing a correction if not a full-on slowdown. Industry insiders said the hiking of interest rates and lower demand for housing are among the factors contributing to a “diminished appetite” to buy art. Galleries are facing calls from clients to adjust their pricing amid a fall in auction prices. ()

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Italy Denies Entry to Ghanian Curators – Lesley Lokko, the first individual of African descent to curate the 18th Venice Biennale of Architecture, said the entry denial of the three Ghanian curators who are part of her curatorial team was the “ugly rear” of Italian immigration policy. The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Daniela d’Orlandi, who refused to issue visas to the three curators, said that Lokko was attempting to bring “non-essential young men” to Europe. ()

Shortlist for Museum of the Year – The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, London’s Leighton House and Natural History Museum, the MAC in Belfast, and Scapa Flow Museum in Orkney have been shortlisted as the Art Fund Museum of the Year. ()

Two New Museums for Saudi Arabia – A contemporary art institution and a museum dedicated to the Incense Road are among the “15 cultural assets” to be featured as part of a 15-year development plan of AlUla heritage region in northwestern Saudi Arabia. ()

Major De Kooning Show to Be Held in Venice – Gallerie dell’Accademia will stage a major exhibition of Willem de Kooning next year coinciding with the launch of the 60th Venice Biennale. The show, curated by Gary Garrels and Mario Codognato, will open April 16, 2024. ()

FOR ART’S SAKE

Nicholas Galanin Unveils New Public Sculpture — The Tlingit and Unangax artist’s new public sculpture (2023), made from the steel used in the building of the wall along the border between the U.S. and Mexico, is a Public Art Fund project in Brooklyn Bridge Park.