Greetings on the new our Sunday Art Brunch series! Every week, be prepared for the freshest and most intriguing updates in the art world. We'll keep you informed on new exhibitions, artist chats, market analysis, and industry know-how. Take a break, get comfortable and join us for a refined choice of art news to make your Sundays complete.
French artist Xavier Veilhan has been commissioned by Chanel to create whimsical sculptures for the brand's latest couture line
French artist Xavier Veilhan was commissioned by Chanel to create a set design for its spring 2023 haute couture collection in Paris. The sculptures, which include a lion, elephant, buffalo, and others, evoke a "parade of animals" in a village festival. As Artnet telling, this is the last in a three-part collaboration between Chanel and Veilhan, who was approached by the company's creative director, Virginie Viard, following the death of Karl Lagerfeld. Veilhan is known for his sculptures in a jagged or angular style and has created public works around the world, including at the Palace of Versailles and in Miami's Design District. He represented France in the 2017 Venice Biennale, where he transformed the French pavilion into a recording studio.
After years of anticipation, Kapoor's miniature version of the Bean has finally become a reality
Only a few days have passed since the news of the completion of Anish Kapoor's highly anticipated sculpture in New York spread, and already, a crowd has gathered at a previously unnoticed corner in Tribeca's Leonard Street to see it. The 19-foot tall sculpture, resembling a crushed legume beneath a luxury building, with its steel form seemingly stretching under the weight of the sleek overhang, has drawn numerous influencers and curious onlookers. The work, yet to be titled, has been referred to as "the mini-Bean" by The New Yorker, in reference to Kapoor's "Cloud Gate" in Chicago, which the new sculpture is loosely based on. "Cloud Gate" has garnered a lot of love and appreciation from both locals and tourists since its debut in 2006, which could explain the quick attraction to Kapoor's latest creation. Read more on Artnews.
Ukrainian Art Dealer Convicted of Stealing £1.3 Million Paul Signac Painting from French Museum
A Ukrainian art dealer, Vadym Huzhva, has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing a Paul Signac painting worth £1.3m, four other works and a rare book from French museums and auction houses. The Art Newspaper add that he was also ordered to pay nearly €300,000 in damages. The painting went missing from the Musée de Beaux-Arts in Nancy, France, in 2018 but was later found in Kyiv. Huzhva was linked to the theft by a suspect who had the painting hidden in his home. The Ukrainian murder suspect was given a three-year sentence in absentia. Huzhva pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was the victim of a conspiracy. He was also found guilty of stealing other artworks and a rare book from auction houses in France between 2017 and 2018, although the works are still missing. Another accomplice was sentenced to three years in absentia and a fourth female suspect remains unidentified.
Uncovering Women's Contributions to Art: A French Podcast Brings Recognition to Forgotten Female Artists
A French podcast is aimed at reconstructing the history of women artists from the 19th and 20th centuries in order to bring recognition to the works of lesser-known artists. The podcast, created by the eponymous association, which is dedicated to spreading knowledge about the work of women in the art world, does not only offer podcasts and critical essays but also keeps an eye on current exhibitions, creates animated videos for children, and organizes training days. Enjoy it on Aware!
Alison Jaques presents Linder and Hannah Wilke
The Alison Jacques Gallery is presenting a two-person exhibition featuring internationally renowned artists Linder and Hannah Wilke, who are known for their works in photography, performance, photomontage, sculpture, and drawing. Both artists are recognized as pioneers who challenge conventional female roles and representation through their individual practices, which focus on language and raise questions around gender, the portrayal of women's sexuality, and the commodification of the body. The exhibition is concurrent with Linder's solo exhibition and follows Wilke's major survey and highlights the shared use of language and humor in their works to critique societal norms.
Both Linder and Hannah Wilke use language, specifically the malleability of words, as a central aspect of their artistic practices. Linder's early work, the large-scale photographic installation SheShe (1981), pairs her own lyrics with portraits and leaves the accompanying magazine captions visible, creating a mix of humor and irony. Wilke's work also uses word play in the titling, such as the filmed performance and photographic series "So Help Me Hannah". As her career progressed, Wilke's use of language became more confrontational, similar to advertising slogans, while retaining humor as a cornerstone. This desire to represent every woman is emphasized in the exhibition when presented alongside the women depicted in Linder's works. Get more info about the show on GalleriesNow.