BEST

Inigo Philbrick Nabbed in the South Pacific –
 Companions dished on the
disgraced dealer’s life on
the lam on the remote isle of Port Vila, Vanuatu, from his
tennis lessons and pet adoptions to its abrupt
conclusion. 

Artists Rejoice as Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben Products Are
Being Retired —  A long history of artistic critiques
presaged this week’s decision by conglomerates Quaker Oats and Mars to do away with
branding rooted in racist caricatures. 

New York Galleries Can Officially Begin To Reopen
— For the first time since mid-March, galleries in the
metro-area can—under strict social distancing orders—begin to reopen to the
public. But expect masks and curbside delivery for now!

Holy Mackerel! – A
granite Virgin Mary statue pulled from a river
might be a 700-year-old religious icon 

An Auction-House Pro Connects Museums with Corporations
— Long-time Sotheby’s executive Joe Dunning is launching a
firm to help match museums with
financial need with corporations seeking to provide
sponsorship.

An Activist’s Words of Advice — Artist and
Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors recently unveiled a
new performance in honor of Ahmaud Arbery. She also shared some advice for
art-world activists.

A New York Gallery Offers Relief to Protestors
— HOUSING gallery just opened in the Lower East Side, but
the new space has already put its uniquely activist approach
into action.

Art Basel Online Edition Sparks Brisk Sales
— At the virtual stand-in for the famed Swiss fair,
galleries
made five- and six-digit sales. A few break-out sales
surprised too, including a day-glo Keith Haring that reached $4.75
million at Gladstone.

WORST

Museums’ Ties Police Departments Emerge — Though the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute
of Art quickly cut ties
with the Minneapolis Police Department after the death of George Floyd, other museums
including the MCA and the Met are more tight-lipped about ending
their relationships with
police forces.

A Letter Detailing Van Gogh and Gauguin’s Brothel Trip
Fetches a Lofty Sum — The
Van Gogh Museum shelled out $236,000 for a
letter about the friends’ visit to a local brothel
addressed to Van Gogh’s brother. 

UK Creative Industry Braces for £74 Million Loss
— A startling new report
predicts one in five creative jobs in the nation will be lost
following months of lockdown. 

Did A Theme Park Rip Off
Chris Burden? — The late artist’s estate has filed
suit against an Indonesian
park for an installation that a perhaps little too inspired by
the artist’s famed Urban Light 

Germany Stands by
Religious Symbolism — Typically progressive Germany
is sticking with a huge new
Christian cross atop its new Humboldt Forum, a museum that
claims it aims to project the spirit of pluralism. 

A Stolen Van Gogh Ransom-Style Photoshoot
— A hostage-style photograph of
a Van Gogh painting that was snatched from a Dutch Museum
in March has been circulating in the criminal underworld.

Swindling Art Heiress Arrested In Lisbon —
Alleged
fraudster Angela Gulbenkian has been taken into custody in
the Portuguese capital after failing to appear for UK court dates
relating to her history of shady art dealing. Accusations against
her include bilking a collector out of a $1.4 million Yayoi
Kusama.

The post From the Island Life of a Fugitive Art Scammer to a
Van Gogh Ransom Picture: The Best and Worst of the Art World This
Week appeared first on artnet News.