Tschabalala Self and Andra Ursuţa to take over Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth in 2026 and 2028. The two sculptors were picked out of a shortlist of seven artists. American artist Self will show once of her signature stylised sculptures of a black woman, while Romanian-born Ursuţa will show a plastic moulding of a statue draped in a shroud.
Damien Hirst in a pickle: three of the artist’s famous formaldehyde animals were listed as 1990s originals, but according to anonymous sources who spoke to The Guardian, the preserved dove, calf and shark were made in 2017 and ‘artificially aged’. Hirst’s company Science Ltd explained that the dates reflected when the works were conceived, not created.
Attention-seeking graffiti artist announces new work: Banksy (who might be Robin Gunningham or Robert Banks) painted a large green splatter on a wall in Finsbury Park last Sunday. When seen from a certain angle, it looks like a tree in full leaf. It’s an unusually bucolic work from the artist best known for painting rats and snogging policemen.
V&A comes under fire for listing Margaret Thatcher as a ‘contemporary villain’. The former PM’s name was included in a description of modern-day Punch and Judy dolls. The Times managed to squeeze a full article out of the object label, and Tory MPs took time out of their busy schedules to condemn the caption writer. Sir Conor Burns MP blamed “woke, luvviedom nonsense” while Ian Duncan Smith linked the “mendacious” text to death threats.
The Groucho Club to open northern venue. The private members club, which was taken over by Manuela and Iwan Wirth’s company Artfarm in 2022, will open a hotel at Bretton Hall, Yorkshire in 2026. That name should be familiar, because it’s also the location of the 300-acre Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Artforum names new editor-in-chief, Dr Tina Rivers Ryan. Four months ago, the firing of David Velasco and the resignation of a number of top editors rocked the magazine, and the wider art world. Ryan is currently a curator at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and has promised to continue “activism and advocacy” at the magazine.
Andy Warhol Museum director resigns. Patrick Moore was promoted to director of the Pittsburgh museum in 2017. Moore says he’s quitting to move to Spain with his husband, however, he recently came under criticism for organising exhibitions in Saudi Arabia, a sprawling $60M plan to build a ‘Pop District’ around the museum, and his management style, which some say led to a number of resignations.
Pass the aüx: Wolfgang Tillmans is well-known for his photograph of Frank Ocean, but did you know that the Teutonic techno-kopf also likes to spin decks at private views and parties? Tillman’s latest album, Build From Here, drops on 26th April.
Rob Rausch’ award rigged? A new documentary dives into the parties, politics and suspicious circumstances surrounding Robert Rauschenberg’s award of the Golden Lion grand prize at the 1964 Venice Biennale. Taking Venice, directed and produced by Amei Wallach, will be released in the US on 17th May at the IFC Center, New York and at Laemmle Theaters, LA on 24th May.
Size matters: The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2024 found that in 2023, following two years of growth, the global art market shrank 4% year-on-year, to $65B. The report puts the shrinking market down to high interest rates, inflation and political instability.
Jeremy Deller and John Costi to curate exhibition of prison art at London’s Southbank Centre. The show, by charity Koestler Arts, will take place this autumn and feature the work of hundreds of individuals in prisons, secure mental health facilities, immigration removal centres, young offender institutions and on community sentences.
Property developer donates $300M art collection to Seattle University. Richard Hedreen is donating his entire art collection, more than 200 works, to the university in honour of his wife Betty, an alumna, who died in 2022. The university trustees announced a new museum will be built to house the collection.
Good luck to all the artists who pivoted to video! The US takes another step towards banning Tiktok. Last Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would either force a sale in six months or ban the app. President Biden said he wouldn’t veto the bill. It’s now down to the Senate to save the world’s favourite brain-rotting, short-form social media app.
