October 29, 2014: Chris Ofili Opens at New Museum, Directors at Atlanta’s High Museum and Gavin Brown’s Enterprise Step Down, and Pharrell Collaborates with Ryan McGinley

In New York…“Chris Ofili: Night and Day” opens at the New Museum.

In London…“Alberto Biasi: Optical/Dynamic 1959-2012” opens at The Mayor Gallery.

Closing

In New York…“Philippe Decrauzat: pour tout diviser.” closes at Elizabeth Dee Gallery. “Meesok Lee: Rebirth” and “Mally Khorasantchi: Recent Paintings” both close at Walter Wickiser Gallery.  

In London…“Mohammed Qasim Ashfaq: Clear Black Smoke” closes at Hannah Barry Gallery. “Jon Thompson: The Lyotard Suite” closes at Anthony Reynolds Gallery.

Today’s Notable News

Atlanta’s High Museum of Art will lose its director, Michael E. Shapiro, this summer as he steps down after 14 years at the helm of the museum. Under Shapiro’s leadership, the High Museum grew its collection and programming significantly, and increased its endowment by nearly 30 percent. No replacement has yet been announced. (via The New York Times)

Justin Peck is giving audiences a sneak peek of his upcoming ballet for the Miami City Ballet (slated to premiere in March 2015) today and tomorrow, with excerpted performances at his studio. Titled “Heatscape,” Peck’s dance piece will feature backdrops by Shepard Fairey. (via The Wall Street Journal)

Gavin Brown’s Enterprise’s director Bridget Donahue is parting ways to open her own gallery space on the Bowery, opening this February with a solo show by Lynn Hershman Leeson. (via ARTnews)

Superstar du jour Pharrell (who, in the last year, has dabbled as a curator, with shows at Perrotin and Canada’s Design Exchange) enlisted photographer Ryan McGinley to shoot his ad campaign for Adidas, capturing images promoting gender and racial equality, emblazoned with slogans such as “Equality is Acceptance.” (via artnet News) 

Best of Instagram

Via @mfahouston: “Happy #NationalCatDay! A pick from our collection for Halloween week #MFAH #Japaneseart #mewseum #blackcat Shoda Koho, “Black Cat” (detail), 1920s, color woodblock print on paper, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, gift of Stephen Hamilton”

Good Reads

“Confrontation at Harvard Art Museums” (via ARTnews)

“The X-Chromosome Factor: Haden-Guest on the Art Season of (Too Few) Powerful Women” (via The New York Observer) 

Artist of the Day

Niki de Saint-Phalle was born on this day in 1930. De Saint-Phalle’s work considered feminist themes, taking form in a range of media, from paintings created by shooting bags of paint suspended above canvases to colorful, dancing statues depicting full-figured women.

Want to catch up with the rest of this week’s news? Review past Daily Digests here.