Author: Iris

In 1952, Niki de Saint Phalle moved to France from the United States with her husband Harry Mathews and their young daughter. Dark childhood memories, including those involving her incestuous father, began to resurface, prompting her to commit herself to a mental hospital, where she underwent electroshock therapy. Her brief stay there inspired significant changes in her life. She is no longer a model and actress. Now, she will be a full-time artist. Saint-Phalle, as most people know her, was the tortured, ill-tempered, busty female sculptor known as “Nana.” But with her movies NikkiDirector Céline Sallette complicates this perception, showing…

Crumbling amber, a nonbinary deity, a horned woman, a disco ball formed from synthetic hair: all these things and more appeared in the year’s most memorable artworks. Produced during a time that was a chaotic as any other in recent history, these works made powerful pleas for liberation (particularly in Gaza, where Israel’s war continues on), pushed at the limits of traditional mediums such as painting and sculpture, and contended with the knotty histories that span centuries. A bias toward contemporary art has pervaded museums across the globe for decades now, but as this year proved, work from past eras…

Yesterday, the NYPD released photos of Luigi Mangione’s extradition to New York City. The accused murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson wore an orange prison jumpsuit and was surrounded by a group of stern-faced police officers in gray suits brandishing semiautomatic weapons. Behind him, no doubt excited about the photo, was indicted Mayor Eric Adams. The intent behind the photo seemed clear: Any act of violence against the corporate state would be met with overwhelming force, and Mangione — a man with no history of violence and without a single criminal conviction — was So dangerous that he needed a…

On December 16, British street artist Banksy posted a mysterious work on Instagram that referenced the Virgin and Child, sparking speculation. The painting, located on a metal plate in an unknown location, shows the woman’s breast with a rusty hole at the nipple and the baby looking desperately into its mother’s eyes.The Instagram post, which had no caption, was posted at around 2pm UK time. There is no information about the location or meaning of the artwork.As expected, the image sparked a flurry of comments, with social media users offering their two cents on its potential significance. Some comments suggested…

As the year 2024 winds down, it’s a great time to reflect on artists who have created interesting works. Based in Canberra, Kirandeep Grewal channels her passion for storytelling into her multidisciplinary works, which range from silk art to textiles and pen-and-ink drawings. Her creations are vivid, flowing, and full of life, often inspired by the landscapes of Australia and her adventures across the globe. In her studio, Grewal hand-dyes silk, blending age-old methods she’s picked up from artisans around the world with her fresh perspective. Her commitment to eco-conscious practices, like minimizing water and dye waste, reflects her respect…

The National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) faces a Herculean challenge. Established in late 2020, nearly 30 years after it was first proposed, the Smithsonian component must represent the art, history, and culture of a diverse population of 64 million Latinx Americans, with roots in      more than 30 countries across North and Latin America and the Caribbean. Each of those communities, from Tejanos of Texas to Cubans in Miami and Puerto Ricans in New York, comes with vastly different histories, identities, and political orientations. That challenge isn’t lost on Jorge Zamanillo, named founding director of the museum in May…

Newly discovered murals and human remains on Pompeii’s surface Image source: Courtesy of Pompeii Archaeological Park Archaeologists continue to excavate the ancient Roman city, which was preserved in volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, and this year they have made a number of noteworthy discoveries, mainly murals and human remains. The first occurred in March, when a mural depicting siblings Prixus and Helle from Greek mythology was unearthed. The brother and sister are refugees forced to flee by their stepmother. The mural depicts the moments before Helle was overwhelmed by the waves and drowned, her…

Hauser & Wirth will reinterpret iconic works by David Hammons as part of upcoming Frieze Los Angeles program Concerto in Black and Blue (2002) for the first time since its debut over 20 years ago. the only time Concerto in Black and Blue Realized in 2002 at Ace Gallery in New York. (At the time, it was the artist’s first New York show in a decade.) Upon arrival, visitors were given blue-light flashlights to navigate the 20,000-square-foot space. The space, with 25-foot ceilings, was completely dark. Related articles As artist Glenn Ligon recalled in a 2004 article art forum Regarding…

MRC will independently finance galleristthe new film from Cathy Yan, starring the previously announced Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega. The company also officially confirmed the film’s remaining cast today, which includes Academy Award winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (something to keep), Emmy Award winner Sterling K. Brown (American novel), Emmy nominee Zach Galifianakis (Only murders in the building), Golden Globe nominee Daniel Brühl (franchise), Grammy nominee Charli xcx (i want your sex), and Oscar and Tony Award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (Wednesday). Related articles Author: Yan (raptor) and James Pederson (high fever), the film tells the story of a desperate gallerist who…

Robert Smithson’s Spiral PierThe famous 54-year-old land art installation on Utah’s Great Salt Lake has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The list, overseen by the National Park Service, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, recognizes sites of national importance. added Spiral Pier Listing will make long-term preservation of the work easier. Smithson created this installation in 1970, just three years before his death. At the time, he used the concept of entropy as the basis for his work—the study of the way natural elements and man-made spaces interact and ultimately decay. Related…