Art

Art Industry News: Mount Holyoke Art Professor Arrested for Attempted Murder of Her Colleague + Other Stories – artnet News

Published

5 years ago

January 7, 2020

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 on this Tuesday, January 7.

NEED-TO-READ

How a Nazi-Looted Painting Entered an Israeli Museum – The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is returning a 19th-century painting to the heirs of the German-Jewish publisher and art collector Rudolf Mosse. But first, it will mount a presentation about the history of the Dutch painter Jozef Israëls’s From Darkness to Light (1871) and how it came to be donated to the museum. The painting, which was sold under duress in the Nazi era, resurfaced on the market in 1993, when it was bought in good faith by the Tel Aviv-based art dealer Meir Stern, who was himself an Auschwitz survivor. He sold the work to a private collector who donated it to the museum, which has now pledged to step up its provenance research to identify any other looted art in its holdings. (TAN)

More Join the Chorus Speaking Out Against Trump’s Threat – More museum leaders and heritage professionals are speaking out after US President Trump threatened to attack Iran’s cultural sites. Jim Cuno, the CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, wrote that “it is tragic that today there would be any contemplation or rhetorical threat of further destruction of cultural heritage, particularly when what precious little remains in the world is already suffering from wanton destruction, looting, neglect, reckless overdevelopment, and climate change.” The director of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, Matthew Teitelbaum, went further on Twitter, writing: “The preservation of antiquities and cultural sites should not be endangered by any US administration.” (Twitter, Getty)

The German Museum Director Who Talked to Her Far-Right Haters – The remarkable director of Dresden’s Albertinum, Hilke Wagner, has received hate mail from supporters of Germany’s far-right AfD party. Instead of throwing them away, she called her attackers. “We didn’t necessarily reach a point of agreement, but we cleared up misconceptions,” she says. “I understood some of the grievances better.” She didn’t stop there. Next, she organized a town hall-style meeting for the museum’s constituents, including AfD supporters, called “We Need to Talk.” Curators have responded to demands to show more art about the city’s wartime destruction, but have chosen to show the material alongside antiwar works by artists such as Maria Lassnig, Marlene Dumas, and Wolfgang Tillmans. They have also highlighted the work of East Germany’s overlooked female artists. (Guardian)

Performance Artist and Professor Arrested – In a story that seems fit for a Netflix true-crime documentary, the performance artist and Mount Holyoke art professor Rie Hachiyanagi has been arraigned for an alleged attack on a professor in her 60s to whom she confessed her love. When the fellow professor revealed she did not share her feelings, Hachiyanagi is accused of attacking her, stopping only when the woman pretended to have a change of heart, at which point they called for medical help. Hachiyanagi, who has taught at the college since 2004, is known for her installations of handmade paper. (Daily Beast)

ART MARKET

A.I.R. Gallery Plans Feminist Book Fair – The nonprofit A.I.R. Gallery is launching a feminist and queer art book fair, which will take place in its Brooklyn space on January 18. The event, organized by one of the first women-led, artist-run nonprofit galleries in the US, will host publishers including Belladonna, GenderFail, Visual AIDS, and more. (Hyperallergic)

Bonhams Launches Designer Handbags Division – The auction house is launching a new designer handbag and fashion department—a niche but growing and fiercely competitive sector. It will hold its first sale in April at Bonhams Knightsbridge. The division will be led by Meg Randall and Winnie Gee, specialists lured from Chiswick Auctions. (Press release)

COMINGS & GOINGS

British Museum Fights to Keep an Indian Miniature in the UK – The British Museum has raised the necessary funds to acquire an 18th-century miniature by the Indian painter Nainsukh of Guler that had been at risk of leaving the country. The UK government placed an export bar on the painting, which depicts a set of trumpeters, in order to allow time for a UK institution to raise £440,000 ($580,000) to halt its sale overseas. (Guardian)

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Launches Painting Award – The New York-based foundation is launching a new annual grant: the Helen Frankenthaler Award for Painting. The inaugural edition of the $40,000 grant, established to honor the legacy of the pioneering Abstract Expressionist who was also an early advocate for the foundation, has been awarded to the New York-based painter Kerstin Brätsch. (Artforum)

Legal Challenge to Moving Confederate Monuments Fails – The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the relocation of Confederate monuments from the University of Texas campus at Austin and a park in San Antonio. The court found that the objecting parties—an organization called the Sons of Confederate Veterans and two descendants of Confederate soldiers—failed to claim a “particularized injury,” or damage that affects them directly in a personal and individual way. (Courthouse News)

FOR ART’S SAKE

How This Stunning Artist Almost Disappeared From History – As part of an ongoing series in which critics celebrate artists who remain underappreciated, Jerry Saltz sings the praises of Beauford Delaney, the 20th-century painter whose portraits, street scenes, and still lifes offered a graphic, strong, and thoroughly contemporary answer to Cubism and Surrealism in the late 1920s. Delaney, a close friend of James Baldwin, rose to prominence in New York for his portraits of dancers and society figures, but he died a lonely alcoholic in 1979 and has been largely overlooked since, in large part because he was black and gay in an art world that made little room for either identity. (Vulture)

Hikers Find Skeleton of Japanese-American Artist – A pair of hikers in California stumbled upon a skeleton last fall, which has now been identified as that of Giichi Matsumura, a Japanese-American artist who, in the final days of World War II, left an internment camp to paint in the mountains. His remains were buried in the mountains after Matsumura died in a freak summer snowstorm. (NBC)

Hirshhorn Plans Another Kusama Show – From April 4 through September 20, the Hirshhorn—which found extreme success with Kusama in 2017—is mounting yet another exhibition dedicated to the Japanese artist. “One With Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection” will include three new acquisitions displayed alongside a number of early paintings, sculptures, and photographs of the artist. Two of her “Infinity Mirror Rooms” will be on view. (Press release)

Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirror Room—Phalli’s Field (1965) at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore; Victoria Miro, London; David Zwirner, New York. © Yayoi Kusama. Photo by Cathy Carver.

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Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

6 days ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2024

Harry Miller

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com

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Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2024

Harry Miller

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

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