July 29, 2015: The Islamic State Floods the Online Antiquities Market & a Pope Portrait Made from Condoms Sparks Controversy in Milwaukee

Opening

In New York …

“Space and Matter,” featuring works by Kadar Brock, Daniel Lefcourt, Richard Long, Heinz Mack, Sam Moyer, Anthony Pearson, Otto Piene, Tom Sachs, and Richard Tuttle, among others, opens at Sperone Westwater.

In London …

“Word by Word,” curated by Francesco Bonami and featuring works by Carl Andre, Nanni Balestrini, Joseph Beuys, Alighiero Boetti, Will Boone, Mark Flood, Joseph Kosuth, Barbara Kruger, Richard Prince, Tim Rollins & K.O.S., Ed Ruscha, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Betty Tompkins, Lawrence Weiner, Christopher Wool, and others, opens at Luxembourg & Dayan; “Anne Hardy: 26/50” opens at fig-2 ICA.

Today’s Notable News

The Islamic State has emerged as a competitor in the global antiquities market in the past few months, after creating a governmental branch dedicated to selling looted artifacts via Whatsapp, eBay, and Facebook. According to archaeologists, some $300 million in antiquities entering the market through Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan are likely originating from the Islamic State. (via Bloomberg)

The Milwaukee Art Museum has acquired Eggs Benedict, an artwork Niki Johnson created by arranging 17,000 colored condoms into a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI. The controversial acquisition, which is displayed prominently in the museum, has sparked protests and over 200 complaints thus far. (via the Journal Sentinel) 

Animal rights activists visited Gavin Brown’s last show in his current location as protestors, objecting to the use of 12 horses in the show, which is a recreation of the Jannis Kounellis’s 1969 exhibition 12 Horses. (via Hyperallergic)

For one of its most ambitious exhibitions to date, The Royal Academy is scouring art galleries in Europe in an attempt to bring works from Charles I’s collection under the same roof for the first time in 400 years. Slated for 2018, the exhibition will be one of the first on display following the completion of major renovations of the Academy’s buildings. (via The Telegraph)

The Art Gallery of South Australia has released a preview of its inaugural TARNANTHI Festival, which is devoted to contemporary aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. (via ArtInfo)

The Whitney’s board of trustees have elected Richard M. DeMartini as president and Neil G. Bluhm and Laurie M. Tisch as co-chairs, effective July 1st. DeMartini was formerly the board’s treasurer. (via Artforum)

After six years of meetings and negotiations with 47 developers, Toronto’s Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art will move into the Tower Automotive Building. The museum will take over a renovated two-and-a-half floors, and in doing so will triple its current size. The expansion, to be completed in early 2017, will cost the museum $6 million. (via Artforum)

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