July 17, 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 The End of the Mega Gallery by Adam Lindemann for Artnet. Adam Lindemann argues that mega galleries remain resilient, while smaller galleries face the real challenges.
Art in America
Emily Watlington, How the Surrealists Psyopped the Gestapo and Otherwise Fought Fascism
The Art Newspaper
Allison C. Meier, ‘A poem to the prairie’: new life for architecture as sculpture
James Imam, Italy returns 27 historical objects to Mexico after investigations by art hit squad
Helen Stoilas, US congress introduces bill to protect public art in federal buildings targeted by Trump administration
John-Paul Stonard, How Constable country is becoming a hub of artistic innovation once again
Elena Goukassian, Legionella detected in cooling towers at the Metropolitan Museum, Cooper Hewitt and Jewish Museum
Louisa Buck, ‘The Climate Clock is ticking’: new art trail in Finland shines a light on rapid Arctic warming
J.S. Marcus, Detroit Institute of Arts director finds missing Velázquez painting
Martin Bailey, The ten most expensive Van Gogh paintings
Artforum
Nobutaka Aozaki, Nobu’s Flight From Basel
Paris J.B. Reid, Too Hot The Eye of Heaven Shines: PARIS J.B REID TAKES LONDON HEATWAVE
From the Editors, “Iran War Participation Trophy” Mocking Trump Provokes The White House’s Ire
From the Editors, Renowned German Photobook Publisher Steidl Faces Bankruptcy
From the Editors, Jacolby Satterwhite Receives $25k Artists Living with Cancer Grant
From the Editors, Clark Art Institute Reveals Plans for Its New Wing by Selldorf Architects
Artnet
EDITOR’S PICK - Adam Lindemann, The End of the Mega Gallery: ‘OK, Pace had too many artists on their roster, so they cleaned house. Better late than never, I suppose.’
Andrew Russeth, A New Culture Crackdown in Hong Kong—and Other Art Matters
Sonia Manalili and Ben Davis, Welcome to the Society of the Psyop
Jo Lawson-Tancred, Luke Skywalker’s $3.75 Million Lightsaber Sets New ‘Star Wars’ Record
Jo Lawson-Tancred, Finally, a London Fair Based on Merit—and Other Art World Matters
ARTnews
Shantay Robinson, In His Beaded Portraits of Black Luminaries, Felandus Thames Wants to Spark Curiosity
Maximilíano Durón, LEGO Partners with Vienna’s Belvedere Museum on 4,000-Piece Set of Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’
Andy Battaglia, Manhattan District Attorney Repatriates Three Antiquities to Mexico
Tessa Solomon, UK Politicians Call For Investigation of British Museum’s Removal of ‘Palestine’ from Display
Chris Gardner, Mark Hamill’s ‘Star Wars’ Lightsaber Breaks Auction Record with $3.7M. Sale
Brian Boucher, Bavaria Revamps Procedures for Evaluating Restitution Claims for Nazi-Looted Art
Maximilíano Durón, New Lawsuit Alleges Stolen Pierre Soulages Painting Sold at Christie’s as Part of Weis Collection
Alex Greenberger, Steidl, the Art World’s Go-To Photobook Publisher, Faces Insolvency Proceedings in Germany
Maximilíano Durón, LA’s Murmurs Gallery, Known for Its Eye for Rising Talent, to Close After Seven Years
Alex Greenberger, Pat Oleszko Wins Whitney Biennial’s $100,000 Bucksbaum Award
ArtReview
Lewis Gordon, How Videogames Feed the War Machine
From the Editors, Ferran Barenblit to curate 16th Shanghai Biennale
From the Editors, Jacolby Satterwhite wins inaugural Artists Living With Cancer Grant
From the Editors, Photobook publisher Steidl faces insolvency proceedings
Frieze
From the Editors, Work in Progress: Chase Hall
Zoë Hopkins, The Political Heat of Pope.L’s Works on Paper
The Guardian
Jonathan Jones, Hockney’s Pop pals, Warhol’s American republic and Linder punks Blackpool – the week in art
Jonathan Jones, Madelon Vriesendorp review – sex-crazed visions of skyscrapers copulating
Hyperallergic
Valentina Di Liscia, Pat Oleszko Wins $100K Whitney Biennial Prize
Rhea Nayyar, Artist’s Planned Monument to Charlie Kirk Gets Trolled Online
Anna Lee, Manhattan DA’s Office Returns Three Antiquities to Mexico
Lakshmi Rivera Amin, Required Reading
Isa Farfan, Trump Shrinks Utah National Monuments by 90%
Claudia Ross, The Artists Working in Velvet, Amethyst, and Relics
Anthony Majanlahti, Four Centuries Later, We Still Don’t Get Caravaggio
The New York Times
Emily LaBarge, The Burning, Bleeding, Breathing Art of Ana Mendieta
Jason Farago, My 5 Favorite Places for Art in Venice
The New Yorker
Hilton Als, Peter Hujar’s Search for Secrets
From the Editors, Paul Thek’s Eclectic Art
Observer
Yana Talke, Collector Carl Thoma Has No Holy Grails and No Regrets
Urgent Matter
Adam Schrader, Affordable Art Fair’s fellowship gives emerging galleries a subsidized start
Adam Schrader, Affordable Art Fair names Camp Z its newest fellowship gallery
Adam Schrader, Palestine art coalition plans Venice protest against U.S. ambassador’s yacht visit
Vogue
Grace Edquist, The Perfectly Peculiar Art of Gladys Nilsson
Wallpaper
Jonathan Bell, One of the world’s most famous paintings gets the Lego treatment: Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss
Sophie Axon, In Aarhus, the history of punk is told through the body
Art Spell is a free daily roundup of art news and reviews to help you stay current with what’s being reported on in the visual arts community. Help us grow the Art Spell community by subscribing and sharing the newsletter with friends and colleagues who want to stay connected to the art world.