ARTFIXdaily News Feed - Breaking News from the Art World

ARTFIXdaily Closed Week of June 7, Returning Next Week

ArtfixDaily / June 7th, 2020

“It’s the portrayal of a saying by Diego Rivera. An open hand with its fingers spread is very weak, but a closed fist where all the fingers are together is very strong,” said artist Elizabeth Catlett, noting that her inspiration to sculpt a monumental fist came in part from US athletes Tommie ...

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Is First Major US Art Institution to Reopen

ArtfixDaily / May 24th, 2020

Over the weekend, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, was among the first major art museums in the U.S. to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. New protocols for visitors are in place, from the required wearing of masks and temperature testing, to timed tickets for entry and social distancing of ...

Blanton Museum of Art's 'Bake-Off' Art Challenge Delivers Delicious Results

ArtfixDaily / May 21st, 2020

As part of a suite of #MuseumFromHome offerings, Austin's Blanton Museum of Art posited a bake-off challenge online, with a call for locals and global citizens to make edible renditions of the museum's collection artworks. Professional and amateur entrants were judged separately and the winning ...

U.S. Art Galleries Project 73% Loss in Q2 Revenue Due to COVID-19 Developments

ArtfixDaily / May 19th, 2020

The Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) reports that art galleries across the U.S. project an overall gross revenue loss of 73% in the second quarter of 2020 and have already seen an overall 31% loss in revenue for quarter one, as a result of developments from COVID-19. While 85% of ...

Webby Awards Go to National Museum of Women in the Arts, London Art Studies, and Harvard Film Archive

ArtfixDaily / May 19th, 2020

The Webby Awards, the Internet's top honors for websites, video, advertising, media & PR, apps, mobile, and voice, social, podcasts, and games, has recognized a number of international arts initiatives. Established in 1996, this year’s Webby Awards received nearly 13,000 entries from all 50 ...

Penguins Prefer Caravaggio to Monet in Museum's Viral Video

ArtfixDaily / May 14th, 2020

Humboldt penguins from Kansas City Zoo toured the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which is temporarily closed to the public, in a special visit last week. "Quarantine has caused everyone to go a little stir-crazy, even the residents of the Kansas City Zoo. So several of the penguins decided to go ...

Searching for Face Masks, Hand Sanitizer, Sweatpants...Fine Chocolate? Museum Shops Have Got You Covered

ArtfixDaily / April 27th, 2020

{{image}} For many, life in pandemic times has boiled down to basics like eating and working or hustling to figure out next steps, while clad in leisure wear and paired with a mask when venturing out. You can shop for these essential needs online with art-centric results while supporting ...

Museum Week Kicks Off With Even More Reasons to Get Virtual Culture

ArtfixDaily / May 11th, 2020

Museum Week is live from May 11 to 17 with “7 days, 7 themes, 7 hashtags,” on the most popular social platforms around the world: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Weibo, WeChat, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, and YouTube. The digital initiative #MuseumWeek first launched in Europe way back in ...

Listen In as U.S. Museum Leaders Discuss Pandemic Repercussions

ArtfixDaily / May 6th, 2020

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was swift and confusing, with breaking news and information about the virus changing by the hour. Around the world, art museums had to make difficult decisions. In a two-part series, six US museum directors discuss with J. Paul Getty Trust President and CEO ...

1stdibs Founder Michael Bruno Launches Tastemakers Guide Showcasing Upstate NY Arts Destinations and Small Businesses

ArtfixDaily / May 6th, 2020

Art and design world veteran and 1stdibs founder, Michael Bruno has launched a new online platform, Tastemakers Guide, aimed at supporting small businesses in Upstate New York. The site features a curated selection of 300 businesses in the art, design, antiques, cultural and natural worlds that ...

Antiques Dealers' Association Online Show a Success Driven By New Client Sales

ArtfixDaily / May 1st, 2020

The eighth edition of the Antiques Dealers' Association (ADA) online show was a resounding success. Before opening on April 24th, 200 visitors were already in the website's 'waiting room,' and another 200 visitors arrived within the first two minutes of being live. All were eager to shop more ...

AAMD Relaxes Rules for Museums to Sell Art

Washington Post / April 30th, 2020

In mid-April, the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) relaxed guidelines for museums in response to financial hardships brought on by closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AAMD stated that for two years, the association "will refrain from censuring or sanctioning any museum—or ...

Pets Rule in People's Epic Artwork Recreations During Lockdown

ArtfixDaily / April 26th, 2020

Quarantined people are enlisting their pets in the still-trending social media challenge to recreate art masterpeices with everyday objects (and household members) at home. As the weeks are drawing into months of stay-at-home orders, people are finding plenty of ways to stage their animal ...

What’s Old is New: The Antique Dealers’ Association of America Revives Online Show

ArtfixDaily / April 10th, 2020

The Antique Dealers' Association of America (ADA) is reviving their popular online show platform amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it was announced by ADA President, Steven S. Powers. ADA is the largest member-based antiques trade organization in the United States, founded in 1984. The health crisis ...

(UPDATE) Christie's Fined $16.7 Million by Manhattan DA

ArtfixDaily / April 9th, 2020

(Updated 4/10/20 with Christie's statement below) Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. announced Thursday "the resolution of an investigation into Christie's auction house for failing to register to collect and to collect New York and local sales tax between 2013 to 2017," according to a ...

Go On a Virtual Tour of Thomas Jayne's Soho Loft on House Beautiful's Live Instagram, Tuesday, April 14

ArtfixDaily / April 8th, 2020

House Beautiful has been developing a creative mix of live events for its Instagram feed focused around conversations, tips and tours with top designers across the country. Thomas Jayne is on the schedule for Tuesday April 14th (time to be set) when he will take over ...

U.S. Arts Organizations Have Already Lost $4.5 Billion During Coronavirus Crisis, Per Study

Americans for the Arts / April 8th, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has cost U.S. arts and cultural organizations an estimated total of $4.5 billion since a survey began 3 weeks ago, according to data collected by Americans for the Arts. Some 11,500 organizations have responded to the study so far and reported losses of a median $38,000 ...

Museum Survey Details Impact of Closures and Results of Digital Initiatives

NEMO survey / April 7th, 2020

A new survey released by the Network of European Museum Organizations (NEMO) looks at data from museums in Europe and worldwide detailing current impacts of the coronavirus crisis. With most museums now closed, the survey aims to assess issues being faced and paths forward for arts ...

3 Kid-Friendly Projects from Museums To Do During School Closures

ArtfixDaily / April 4th, 2020

Sudden homeschooling takes a lot of juggling and tech support from parents who are trying to work from home, or are scrambling to keep their families afloat, during coronavirus lockdown orders. Museums have some answers for this scenario in the form of free activities online that will take kids ...

Sotheby's, Christie's Furlough Staff; and the Shift to Digital and Private Sales Accelerates

Observer / April 2nd, 2020

Due to the sudden loss of sales from live auctions and logistical challenges during the evolving coronavirus crisis, Sotheby’s will be furloughing 12 percent of its staff, about 200 people, first reported the Wall Street Journal. Christie’s will be furloughing some staff in Europe, laying off ...