The NEA to shut down
Despite having been awarded a $2 million budget boost earlier this month for the rest of the 2017 fiscal year, the NEA and NEH have announced they are preparing to close in 2018 after the release of Donald Trump’s official 2018 budget. According to artnet news, “The total amount of money requested to fund the wind-down of these agencies—$71 million—is nearly 25% of their total budget last year.” (just under $300 million)
The first Anna Morettini prize goes to....
Created with the support of the Etrillard Foundation, the Anna Morettini prize has announced its first laureate: artist Stéphane Thidet. (b. 1974) Thidet won with his installation Solitaire at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris. An exhibition of his work will take place in Florence in 2018.
The first edition of the prize, endowed with €20,000, celebrated the theme of “Savonarola’s Universe.” Other finalists included were artist collective Gli Impresari and artist Luigi Presicce. The Anna Morettini Prize awards artists who engage with the Florentine tradition in contemporary art. The theme of the next edition of the prize will be announced on June 15.
Stéphane Thidet, Solitaire. 2016. Production Rubis Mécénat Cultural Fund, courtesy Galerie Aline Vidal, Galerie Laurence Bernard, 2016. Photo : Diane Auckland / Fotohaus Ltd. Moral Rights Asserted. All rights reserved.
Perry Rubenstein sentenced to jail
Having pleaded no contest last April to two felony counts of grand theft, art dealer perry Rubenstein has been sentenced to 180 days in a private jail facility, and three years of formal probation. He also paid $1,142,500 to his two victims Michael Ovitz and Michael Salke. Read more on The Art Newspaper.
Artists space gets a new venue
Following the appointment of new director Jay Sanders, New York nonprofit gallery Artists Space has found a new home.
The new venue, located at 80 White Street, in TriBeCa, boasts a 8,000-square-meter space over two levels, and is set to open in 2018. According to Sanders, the new venue will allow Artists Space to “hybridize” the space and hold several events at once. Read more at The New York Times.
New artist representations
New York gallery P.P.O.W has announced that they now represent artist Chris ‘Daze’ Ellis. Having started his career in the 70s as a graffiti artist, Ellis was a contemporary of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and one of the few artists who were successful in their move from the streets to the studio. Ellis’ inaugural exhibition at the gallery is set to take place next year. More on ARTnews.
Chris “Daze” Ellis, Queensboro Plaza, 2010, Oil, spray paint, and acrylic on canvas, Courtesy of the Artist.
Elsewhere, gallery Lyles & King has announced that they are now representing Polish artist Aneta Grzeszykowska. The news comes after years of collaboration between the artist and the gallery. ARTnews has more information.
Aneta Grzeszykowska , Headache, 2008. Video, HD DVD, 11 min 37.
Art Berlin announces inaugural edition
The first edition of the new fair Art Berlin is set to take place between September 14 and 17. Born from the merger of Art Cologne and abc, Art Berlin looks set to become the leading art fair in Germany’s contemporary art scene. The duo Maike Cruise and Daniel Hug — directors of Gallery Weekend Berlin and Art Cologne, respectively — will direct the new fair, organized by Koelnmesse GmbH.
