Art Industry News: Unreleased Michael Jackson Album Hits the Auction Block + More Must-Read Stories

Plus, Theaster Gates unveils DJ-booth artwork in Chicago and Frank Lloyd Wright's glass panels come home to New York.

Michael Jackson performs in Brunei on July 16, 1996. Photo: Francis Sylvain/AFP/Getty Images.

Art Industry News is a daily digest of the most consequential developments coming out of the art world and art market. Here’s what you need to know this Thursday, July 13.

NEED-TO-READ

Freedom of Movement for Artists Must Be Protected After Brexit – At a conference in London, Nicholas Serota and V&A director Tristram Hunt argued that the free movement of artists, exhibitions, and creative work must be protected after the referendum result. Hunt promises the V&A will adopt an even more global focus, and Serrota announced an Arts Council England fund for artists to work abroad. (The Guardian)

Four Arrested for Stealing Giant Gold Coin From Berlin Museum – A museum security guard was among those arrested for what is thought to have been an inside job. The thieves made off with the 221-pound coin in a wheelbarrow. Estimated to be worth as much as $4.5 million, the coin is likely to have been melted down or smashed by now. (The New York Times)

Will Africa Take the Spotlight on the International Art Scene? – Margo Mottaz argues that Africa’s emerging art scene might soon overtake Asia on the international stage, citing a wave of high-profile exhibitions, commissions, and sales, as well as the increased visibility offered by social media, art fairs, and public installations. (South China Morning Post)

Beyond Alberto Giacometti’s Bronzes – Olivia McEwan reviews the 250-work Tate Modern retrospective of the Swiss sculptor, highlighting many of his experiments with materials other than his signature bronze, including plaster, wood, terracotta, and oil paint. (Hyperallergic)

ART MARKET

Smaller German Galleries Try Out New Survival Models – Following the successful example of the gallery-swap program, Condo, in London and New York, some nine Cologne and Düsseldorf dealers will host 17 galleries from elsewhere in a program called Okey Dokey, from September 9–30. The opening weekend takes place ahead of Berlin Art Week. (Press release)

Unreleased Michael Jackson Album Goes up for Auction – A CD containing nine unreleased songs found in MJ’s possession will go to the highest bidder at New York auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll, with bids expected to go as high as $1 million. The purchase will be something of a private luxury, however, as the winner will not own the rights to the music and won’t be able to release the unheard songs. (Rolling Stone

COMINGS & GOINGS

Katharina Sieverding Nabs Käthe Kollwitz Prize – The Düsseldorf-born artist, a student of Joseph Beuys, is best known for her large-scale photography and multimedia works, which have been central to her politically charged practice since the ’60s. The prize has been awarded annually by Berlin’s Akademie der Künste since 1960. (Press release)

Elizabeth Chodos Appointed Director of Carnegie Mellon’s Miller Gallery – Chodos takes up the post after working at Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency in Saugatuck, Michigan since 2010. (Artforum)

Culture Lab Detroit Announces 2017 Panel Discussion Series Speakers – Hilton Als, Edgar Arcenaux, Mel Chin, Coco Fusco, Leong Leong, and Martine Syms have signed on for Culture Lab Detroit’s panel discussion series, in its fifth year, which will tackle the theme “post-truth.” (Press release)

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis Receives $25,000 Grant – The funds will be used to launch two diversity fellowships, which will be awarded to one graduate student and undergraduate student. The fellowships aim to draw those with “cultural backgrounds underrepresented in the museum professions.” (ARTnews)

FOR ART’S SAKE 

Theaster Gates to Unveil DJ Booth and Fire-Hose Artwork – The artist has planned the work for the 95th Street Red Line Station in Chicago. “We wanted a place where black people’s stories could be told alongside music,” Gates said. (DNAinfo)

Over 8.4 Million Visitors Visited the Tate in the Past Year – The four Tate Galleries in the UK have received a record number of attendees between 2016 and 2017, the museum announced yesterday, prompting the Secretary of State MP Karen Bradley to visit the Tate Britain and congratulate the staff. (Press release)

Art Fuels Conspiracy Theories at the Denver Airport – The Denver Airport (DIA) is considering deaccessioning Michael Singer’s “Interior Garden,” and the proposal is inflaming conspiracy theorists over its weird and wacky art installations. (Hyperallergic.com)

South Korea to Honor “Comfort Women” With New Museum – A museum in honor of the “comfort women” who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers during WWII is in the works in South Korea. The plans are reviving tensions between the neighboring countries. (Artdaily.com)

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Glass Panels Will Be Returned to the US – Seven original panels designed by the world-famous architect are coming home to New York state, nearly half a century after the University of Victoria purchased them in a public sale. They will be returned in October. (Buffalonews.com)

Frank Lloyd Wright, Pair of Pier Cluster Casement Light Screens (1904-05). Photo: Mary Matheson, courtesy University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries / Martin House Restoration Corporation.

Frank Lloyd Wright, Unit Room Cabinet Door Window (1904-05) Photo: Rob Destrubé, courtesy University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries / Martin House Restoration Corporation.

Frank Lloyd Wright, Conservatory Narrow Single-Stem Light Screen (1904-05). Photo: Rob Destrubé, courtesy University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries / Martin House Restoration Corporation

Frank Lloyd Wright Stair Landing Laylight, East (1904-5). Photo: Rob Destrubé, courtesy University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries / Martin House Restoration Corporation.

Frank Lloyd Wright, Unit Room Wisteria Light Screen (1904-05). Photo: Rob Destrubé, courtesy University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries / Martin House Restoration Corporation.


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