August 18, 2026
Your morning brew of art world media
Welcome to Art Spell, a daily, comprehensive roundup of art news and reviews for the visual arts community. Today’s Editor’s Pick is Bryan Joseph Lee Named Deputy Commissioner of New York City Cultural Affairs by Maximilíano Durón for ARTnews. New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs has appointed Bryan Joseph Lee as deputy commissioner to advance the administration’s cultural affordability agenda.
Apollo Magazine
Edwin Heathcote, The Czechs who brought cubism to architecture
Lisa Cohen, The intimate art of Jennifer Packer
Art Asia Pacific
Lily Kwak, “Vaguely Asian”: Interview with CFGNY
Michele Chan, Unfinished Skies: “Prayers to Fornax” at Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing
Ruby Lee, Ryan Presley Wins 2026 Telstra Art Award
The Art Newspaper
Gareth Harris, Competition invites children across the UK to reimagine Bayeux Tapestry’s lost panel
Hadani Ditmars, How has a famous group of 2,000 year-old Chinese rock paintings remained so vibrant? Because it was made with blood, new research says
Daniel Szehin Ho, ‘You can’t be burdened by a legacy’: James Taylor-Foster on his vision for Hong Kong’s Para Site as it turns 30
Lee Cheshire, Frieze Seoul to move to new venue from 2027
Lee Cheshire, Sun, sea, sand—and art: luxury hotel in Crete commissions works in response to the island
Louisa Buck, The wild world of Cathy de Monchaux revealed in exhibition at Paris’s Palais de Tokyo
Artforum
Theo Belci, David Rimanelli on Instagram’s Infancy
From the Editors, Brett Littman to Lead Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
From the Editors, Two Pace Gallery Executives Resign In The Aftermath Of Major Layoffs
From the Editors, Renaissance Works Stolen From Sicilian Museum During Town Feast
From the Editors, Contemporary Art Platform ART KL Debuting in Kuala Lumpur in October
Artnet
Min Chen, Yusaku Maezawa’s Latest Acquisition? A $350M Superyacht Fit for a Trophy Hunter
Min Chen, There’s a Sexy Herman Melville Statue Out There—and Other Art World Matters
Andrew Russeth, Pavilion Seoul Puts ‘Art First’ Amid Fair Fatigue
Vittoria Benzine, Ex-Noguchi Museum Chief Brett Littman Heads to San Diego Museum
Margaret Carrigan, Renaissance Masterpieces Stolen in Sicilian Museum Heist—and Other Art World Matters
ARTnews
Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, In ‘Strange Rules,’ an Epic Show with a Bold Vision For What Counts as Art
Leigh Anne Miller, Sinai Desert Excavations Reveal New Information About Site’s Strategic Importance in Ancient Egypt
Maximilíano Durón, Brett Littman Named Next Director of MCA San Diego
Andy Battaglia, 2,500-Year-Old Etruscan Bronze Relics Excavated from Ancient Well in Italy
Brian Boucher, Alison Jacques Gallery Hit with Lawsuit After Artist’s Estate Cancels Sale to First-Time Collectors
Tessa Solomon, Renaissance Masterpieces Stolen from Sicilian Museum During National Holiday
EDITOR’S PICK - Maximilíano Durón, Bryan Joseph Lee Named Deputy Commissioner of New York City Cultural Affairs: Ryan Max, the longtime director of external affairs, will be chief of staff.
ArtReview
From the Editors, Mary Heilmann, whose paintings took a laidback approach to minimalism, 1940–2026
BOMB
Erin Evans, Matthias Winkler by Erin Evans
The Guardian
Eliza Goodpasture, Vans, ghosts, sofas and a kiss from Katy Perry: artist France-Lise McGurn and her paint-everything ethos
Hyperallergic
Aaron Short, Mary Heilmann, Painter of Irreverent Abstractions, Dies at 86
Rhea Nayyar, NYC Names Bryan Joseph Lee as New Deputy Culture Commissioner
Bryan Martin, Dean Millien’s Aluminum-Foil Animal World
Julie Schneider, RISD MFA Students Paint Through the Heartbreak
Anna Lee, Priceless Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Italian Museum
John Yau, The Architect Shaping a New Chinese Vernacular
The Los Angeles Times
Anthony Solorzano, Hidden details of 250-year-old masterpiece get closer look ahead of Getty debut
Observer
Sarah Moroz, Grażyna Kulczyk Has Spent 50 Years Collecting Artists Who Were Difficult to Place
Jelena Sofronijevic, In Gherdëina, Curating a Biennale Around the Politics of the Garden
Dani Lamorte, The Case for the Campus Art Museum in an Age of Cuts
Elisa Carollo, Anne and Arthur Goldstein Reflect On the Responsibility of the Collector
Elisa Carollo, A Daring Antonello da Messina Heist Raises New Questions About Museum Security
Daniel Grant, Why Collectors Gift Significant Artworks to University Art Museums
Puck
Glenn Adamson, Hot Hand: Katrien van der Schueren
Urgent Matter
Adam Schrader, A website for a fictional painter is using Jordan Casteel’s paintings, she says
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