Ruth Butler, Who Brought Artists’ Muses to Life, Dies at 93
Obits, December 27
After publishing a definitive biography of Rodin, she went on to write about the underappreciated women who modeled for the giants of 19th-century French art.
The Vivid Thread of Memories by the Yard
Culture, December 27
Suchitra Mattai uses vintage saris and vivid found materials to weave exquisite tapestries that challenge fixed histories about art and migration.
8 Art Shows to See Before They Close in January
Weekend, December 26
Sublime paintings from Siena, the birth of Impressionism and more dazzling exhibitions in New York and Washington, D.C., to catch before they’re gone.
36 Hours in Palm Springs, Calif.
Interactive, December 26
With its kitsch, color and joyous queer scene, this oasis in the Coachella Valley is all in on earthly pleasures.
At the Met, an Ancient Balm for the Depths of Winter
Weekend, December 26
A centuries-old Buddhist model of the universe has new meaning for the shortest of days and longest of worries.
Marv, de ‘Mi pobre angelito’, habla de la aventura que lo tiene alejado del cine
En español, December 25
Daniel Stern, el actor que interpretó a uno de los ladrones en la película, ha conseguido seguidores en las redes sociales documentando la vida cotidiana en la granja de su familia.
Marv From ‘Home Alone’ Has a New Calling Card: Tangerines and Sculpture
Culture, December 24
Daniel Stern has built a social media following by documenting daily life on his family’s farm. “What a crazy way to walk through life,” he said, “to be a little part of people’s lives.”
The Mysterious Donor Who Fled Communism and Left Millions to the Art World
Culture, December 24
Aso O. Tavitian grew up poor — but at age 64 he began an ‘‘explosion of buying.” Under the radar, he amassed old masters, leaving 331 to the Clark. How did he do it?
An English City Dressed a Statue as Santa for Years. Then It Vanished.
Express, December 24
The Old General watched over Nottingham, England, for more than a century of profound change before disappearing. This Christmas, he’s finally back.
Steven Englander, Leader of an Outsider Art Outpost, Dies at 63
Obits, December 23
As director of the fiercely independent cultural center ABC No Rio, he led the battle to halt its eviction and later raised money to build a new home for the organization.
The Oldest Children’s Museum Strives to Be of Brooklyn (and Analog)
Culture, December 23
The organization has its eyes on the whole borough, its leader, Atiba T. Edwards, says.
The Waging of an Alleged Smear Campaign Against Blake Lively
Video, December 21
The movie “It Ends With Us” starring Blake Lively was a huge box office hit, even as rumors spread of turmoil behind the scenes. Private messages detail a campaign to tarnish Lively after she accused Justin Baldoni of misconduct on set. Megan Twoh...
For Pedro Almodóvar’s Movies, the Poster Tells Its Own Story
Culture, December 21
The filmmaker has long collaborated with the graphic designer Juan Gatti to make alluring posters for his films, including one for his latest, “The Room Next Door.”
Maurice Berger Held a Mirror to a Racist Art World
Book Review, December 20
A posthumous anthology of photo essays by the curator and art historian reveals the “troubling reality” of prejudice and the power of images to “undermine the very concept of difference.”
Artists We Lost in 2024, in Their Words
Culture, December 20
Shelley Duvall, Quincy Jones, Faith Ringgold and Paul Auster are some of the greats who died this year.
La búsqueda de la obra maestra perdida de Van Gogh
En español, December 20
‘Retrato del doctor Gachet’, vendido en una subasta en 1990, prácticamente ha desaparecido desde entonces y su paradero se ha convertido en uno de los mayores misterios del mundo del arte.
The Timeless Craft of the Courtroom Sketch Artist
Obits, December 19
In courtrooms where cameras are banned, these artists provide a curious public a glimpse behind closed doors. Here’s how they do it.
Rick Kaufmann, Impresario of Art Furniture, Dies at 77
Obits, December 19
Was it art or was it furniture? No one was quite sure what to make of the New York movement that an idiosyncratic gallerist led in the 1970s and ’80s.
William J. Hennessy Jr., Sketch Artist of Courtroom Drama, Dies at 67
Obits, December 19
His lively drawings of historic Supreme Court arguments, impeachment trials and murder cases gave the public a peek into venues where cameras were banned.
The 73 Best Illustrations of 2024
Interactive, December 19
The most memorable illustrations of the year, chosen by art directors at The New York Times.
Bodies in Repose? Not at This MoMA Show.
Weekend, December 19
“Vital Signs: Artists and the Body” draws from MoMA’s 20th-century collection to show that identity is broader than physical form. But in skipping social media the show can’t go far enough.
An American Curator Takes the Helm at Crisis-Hit Documenta
Weekend, December 18
Naomi Beckwith, who holds a leadership role at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, said she would make navigating crises a central theme of her exhibition.
How a Forgotten TV Show Forever Changed the Way We Look at Art
T Style, December 18
Weekly from 1956 to ’63, a charismatic painter named Lorser Feitelson filled America’s living rooms with the first televised history of art. We’re still exploring — and trapped in — his world.
The U.S. Has No Special Panel for Nazi-Loot Claims. Could That Change?
Culture, December 18
Several European countries have restitution commissions that decide claims regarding art lost in the Holocaust. Some people think there should be a U.S. panel too.
Buy, Donate, Repeat: At 91, Leonard Lauder Has More to Give
Culture, December 18
Picasso paintings. Jasper Johns ale cans. Irving Penn photos. The cosmetics heir created the model for the headline-grabbing donation that museums dream of today.
The Search for van Gogh’s Lost Masterpiece
Culture, December 17
Cast off by the Nazis, but heralded by curators, the artist’s painting of his doctor, made just before van Gogh’s suicide, has not been seen in 34 years.
We Were All Just Catching Up to Lorraine O’Grady
Culture, December 16
Through her writing and performances, the artist helped new audiences to understand the cultural roots of racism and sexism.
With This MoMA Artist, the Painting Does the Talking
Arts & Leisure, December 16
Marlon Mullen’s show at the Museum of Modern Art, the first by a developmentally disabled artist, speaks volumes.
Lorraine O’Grady, Artist Who Defied Category, Is Dead at 90
Obits, December 15
She worked in collage, photography, performance, video and installation, and she dealt forthrightly with the complexities of race and gender.
Thanks to a Prank, Sculptures Make Googly Eyes at Oregon Residents
Express, December 14
The eyes were attached to eight installations, to the delight of residents. City officials, who lamented the cost of repairs, were less amused.
An Artist Who Has Something in Common With Her Subjects
Styles, December 14
Rachel Handlin is possibly the first person with Down syndrome to receive an M.F.A., and one of just a few to hold a bachelor’s. Her first solo show features her portraits of others like her.
Critics Complain That Italy’s Government Is Interfering in the Arts
Culture, December 13
Italy’s culture ministry dismissed experts preparing an exhibition on Futurism and put in its own appointees, who created a show that seems to glorify the Mussolini years.
36 Things That Stuck With Us in 2024
Arts & Leisure, December 13
The movie scenes, TV episodes, song lyrics and other moments that reporters, critics, editors and visual journalists in Culture couldn’t stop thinking about this year.
Sotheby’s Lays Off More Than 100 Staffers as Auction Sales Slump
Culture, December 13
As the high-flying art market has contracted, the company is looking elsewhere, expanding its luxury brand and real estate in New York, Paris and Hong Kong.
Overlooked No More: Fidelia Bridges, Artist Who Captured the Natural World
Obits, December 12
A prolific artist, she was known for her graceful watercolors of birds, plants and butterflies, and was considered as the equal of Winslow Homer in her day.
The Whitney Is Now Free for Those 25 and Under
Metro, December 12
The painter Julie Mehretu donated $2 million to the art museum to encourage young people to visit.
Best Art Books of 2024
Weekend, December 12
The art critics of The Times select their favorites, from the biography of a “famously unknown” artist to an ode to the Louvre from 100 poets.
36 Hours in Venice
Interactive, December 12
Winter — with its famous fogs and reduced crowds — provides breathing room and deepens the mysteriousness of Venice’s narrow passageways and centuries-old buildings.
How to Resurrect a Radical Artist
Weekend, December 12
Forty years after his death, the Californian activist Peter Carr gets a revival of his acerbic paintings and drawings. To make it happen, his protégé spent both labor and love.
Best Art of 2024
Arts & Leisure, December 12
This was a year whose high points included Joan Jonas’s luminous survey, the extravaganza “PST ART,” and the 24-karat beauty of a show “Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350.”
A Black Art Dealer Lent Paintings to a Museum. His Heirs Want Them Back.
Culture, December 12
Dozens of artworks owned by Marshall Marcell have spent the past century with the Louisiana State Museum.
The Torlonia Marbles Are Coming to Museums in Chicago, Texas and Montreal
Culture, December 11
For the first time, the ancient marbles are traveling out of Europe to the United States and Canada, for a prolonged stint.
Don’t Worry About Whether Art Basel Is Cool
Styles, December 10
The annual global art fair in Miami featured a heady mélange of artists, gallerists, A-list celebrities, luxury brands and Mad Libs-esque collaborations among many of them.
Met Museum Unveils Design for New Modern Wing
Culture, December 10
The architect Frida Escobedo has drawn on her Mexican heritage in reimagining the galleries for Modern and contemporary art.
Storm King to Begin 2025 With Nora Lawrence as Executive Director
Culture, December 10
The family-run Hudson Valley sculpture park inaugurates its 65th anniversary year with fresh leadership, a $53-million upgrade and new acquisitions.
The Most Memorable Things We Saw at Miami Art Week
T Style, December 9
And what the last art fairs of 2024 say about where the art world is going.
Arts Patron Aims to Help Underrepresented Museum Professionals
Culture, December 9
Allison Berg has established a foundation to elevate the careers of six emerging visual arts curators, educators and administrators each year.
Art and A.I.: Parallel Worlds, Bound Together
Special Sections, December 8
Artificial intelligence, though shrouded in risk, promises a revolution in how we see the world.
A Mural, and the Heroic Efforts to Save It
Real Estate, December 8
When Pfizer moved to a new building in Manhattan last year, it left behind artwork that had hung in its lobby for 63 years. Not everyone was pleased.
TeamLab, Art’s Greatest Sugar Rush, Is Building an Empire
Arts & Leisure, December 7
The art collective behind teamLab, which started in Japan, has expanded across the world, developing partnerships to pay for its immersive technology.
Mantener viva una danza, incluso después de que termine el espectáculo
En español, December 7
En Art Basel Miami Beach, el coreógrafo mexicano Diego Vega Solorza explora la masculinidad en una nueva obra y su galería vende objetos procedentes de performances.
An Art Movement’s Lasting Impression
Special Sections, December 6
Lessons from the past continue to influence and inspire today’s globalized art world.
What to See in N.Y.C. Galleries in December
Weekend, December 5
This week in Newly Reviewed, Max Lakin covers Liza Lacroix’s psychic landscapes, Il Lee’s ballpoint wonders and Mel Bochner’s conceptual prank.
For the Once-Sinful Luna Luna, It’s Safety at the Shed
Weekend, December 5
The New York version of an art carnival has lost the anarchic charge it was born with almost four decades ago (though a new act may thrill the kids).
A Jaw-Dropping Show Gives Martha Diamond Her Due
Weekend, December 5
In her cityscapes, a visionary Manhattan painter created delicate registers of light and shadow, and bravura expressions of abstraction and figuration.
Oh, to Own the Lost Portrait of Arthur Rimbaud!
Styles, December 5
The discovery of a rare picture of the tragic, handsome poet, made by his lover Paul Verlaine, set off a bidding war in Paris.
Coming for Selfies, Staying for Art: Dakar’s Biennale Draws Young Crowd
Foreign, December 5
Encouraged by Senegal’s new president, teenagers and young adults, with social media tools in hand, have thronged an art exhibition that is usually the exclusive realm of the wealthy and elite.
David and Sybil Yurman on Art and Amagansett
Interactive, December 4
Step into the Hamptons house that the artists and jewelers have renovated through the years.
A Brazilian Artist Movement That Uses Paintings to Save Indigenous Culture
Culture, December 4
After the Venice Biennale, the members of MAHKU are taking their social mission to Miami Art Basel.
Turner Prize Goes to Jasleen Kaur Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests
Culture, December 3
The artist, who has supported the protests against the Tate group of museums, won the prestigious British award for an installation that includes a car covered by a giant doily.
The Electric Dreams of a More Analog Age
Culture, December 3
An ambitious show at Tate Modern looks at how artists used technology from the postwar tech boom until the dawn of the internet age.
A West Palm Beach Show Spotlights the Beauty and Tragedy of Boxing
Special Sections, December 3
Through paintings, photographs, sculptures, and even bejeweled boxing gloves, the show examines prizefighting as a metaphor for human struggle.
A Los Angeles Gallery Brings Bold Art, and Vision, to Miami Beach
Special Sections, December 3
In 2012, Esther Kim Varet founded the gallery Various Small Fires out of her home. It has since gone multinational, and Kim Varet is still pushing the envelope.
Frieze Fair Further Cements Los Angeles as an International Art Capital
Special Sections, December 3
The sixth edition of the fair in February will have considerably more attendees from Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Koyo Kouoh Is Named 1st African Woman to Curate Venice Biennale
Culture, December 3
Kouoh, who was born in Cameroon and currently leads one of Africa’s most important art museums, will organize the 61st edition, in 2026.
Beyond the Art Basel Miami Beach Fair
Special Sections, December 3
Although the fair is a huge attraction, there are many other exhibitions to visit nearby.
Keeping a Dance Alive, Even After the Show Ends
Special Sections, December 3
At Art Basel Miami Beach, the Mexican choreographer Diego Vega Solorza explores masculinity in a new work and his gallery sells objects from performances.
5 Art Fairs to See in 2025
Special Sections, December 3
From San Francisco to Tokyo and beyond, these art fairs offer something for everyone.
A Wave of Galleries Will Debut at Art Basel Miami Beach This Year
Special Sections, December 3
Thirty-four galleries are joining the fray, bringing glass tongues, giant paintings and deceptively pink assemblages.
Brooklyn Museum Shows Off All the Glitter, Glam and Greed
Culture, December 3
The new “Solid Gold” exhibition is a celebration of bling through the ages and around the world. But is eye candy enough?
With Million-Dollar Paintings at Stake, What Does the Art Doctor Say?
Special Sections, December 3
The conservator Suzanne Siano analyzes the health of artworks. She frequents art fairs from Paris to Miami Beach providing advice to both buyers and sellers.
What Are the Freakiest Works of Art?
T Style, December 3
The creative people featured in T’s “Freak City” project share their favorite outlandish artworks.
How Did New York Become the Freakiest Place on Earth?
T Style, December 3
The city has always been a haven for iconoclasts, but contemporary talents in virtually every field are making the metropolis more unique than ever before.
What to Know at Art Basel Miami Beach
Special Sections, December 2
The fair this year has the largest number of new exhibitors in a decade.
The Statue of an Emperor That Lost Its Head Is Getting It Back
Culture, December 2
A Danish museum is returning the bronze head of Septimius Severus to Turkey after agreeing that it was probably looted from a shrine honoring Roman leaders.
Jewish Museum Acquires Never-Shown Entry to Venice Biennale
Culture, December 2
Ruth Patir refused to display her video installation at the Israel pavilion until a cease-fire and hostage agreement was reached. “(M)otherland” will debut in Tel Aviv.
Follow the Lights to Miami’s Hot New Neighborhoods
Travel, December 2
Little River and MiMo, both once off travelers’ radar, capture the creative flavor of the city.
When A.I. and Doctors Make the Diagnosis
Letters, December 1
Readers discuss artificial intelligence in medicine. Also: Toxins in water; breasts on billboards; the $6.2 million banana; a deportation question.
Chinatown Vendor Tallies Neighborhood’s Decline in $1 Plastic Bracelets
Metro, November 24
A longtime vendor in Manhattan’s Chinatown is finding it harder to make a living as people shun his intricate crafts, haggle over cheap knickknacks and shift their spending online.
Monet, Taylor Swift, ‘Moana’: What Got Readers Through Their Grief
Arts & Leisure, August 10
After our series on how artists have been affected by loss, we asked readers what helped them when they experienced it. These are 15 of their answers.
The Met Museum Is Rebounding, but Not With International Visitors
Weekend, July 24
The museum said it attracted more local visitors during the past year than it did before the pandemic, but only half the international visitors.
A Steadying Force for the Africa Center Is Stepping Down
Culture, April 11
Uzodinma Iweala, chief executive of the Harlem institution, will leave at the end of 2024 after guiding it through pandemic years and securing funds.
Audience Snapshot: Four Years After Shutdown, a Mixed Recovery
Culture, March 12
Covid brought live performance to a halt. Now the audience for pop concerts and sporting events has roared back, while attendance on Broadway and at some major museums is still down.
The Global Art Business Is Better, but Not Booming
Special Sections, December 5
After struggling with the Covid pandemic, the industry is now dealing with inflation, high interest rates and international conflicts.
Looking to the Art Fair World of 2024
Special Sections, December 5
Art fairs managed to survive the downturn brought about by the Covid pandemic and are on the rise again — a trend expected to continue in the coming year.
A Kinetic Cloud of Humanity for Moynihan Train Hall
Culture, September 24
Joshua Frankel, an artist whose grandfather worked at the James Farley Post Office, has deep roots at the site of his new video project for Art at Amtrak.
The Days Were Long and the Years Were Longer
Book Review, July 3
In her new memoir, “The Light Room,” Kate Zambreno looks back on the unending togetherness of family life during the pandemic.
Radical Rethinking at Biennale: Africa and the Future Share Pride of Place
Culture, May 22
Don’t be fooled by its generic title. Lesley Lokko’s “Laboratory of the Future” is the most ambitious and pointedly political Venice Architecture Biennale in years.
Through Catastrophe, and in Community, the Art of Daniel Lind-Ramos
Weekend, May 4
A storm, a pandemic, and Black Puerto Rican history pervade his work at MoMA PS 1, with materials sourced from daily life.
Your Monday Briefing: China Reopens
Dining, January 8
Also, Brazilians storm government offices and the Times investigates a 2021 Kabul airstrike.
Looking for Elbow Room, Louvre Limits Daily Visitors to 30,000
Culture, January 6
With attendance surging back, the museum wants to offer “a moment of pleasure” — and relieve that Mona Lisa problem.
Your Thursday Briefing: China’s Snarled Covid Data
N Y T Now, December 14
Plus France just beat Morocco to advance to the World Cup finals.
After a Covid Contraction, Museums Are Expanding Again
Special Sections, October 20
Projects all over the country include renovations and new wings as institutions continue to bet on bricks and mortar.
San Francisco’s Art Market Struggles in the Shadow of Los Angeles
Culture, August 29
Though some small galleries are opening or expanding, the mega dealers have closed shop, a blow to an area with a vibrant artistic history.
Dmitri Vrubel, Who Planted a Kiss on the Berlin Wall, Dies at 62
Obits, August 19
A Russian-born painter, he created a mural of the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev smooching the East German leader Erich Honecker — and with it a tourist attraction.
Covid. A Coma. A Stroke. José Parlá Returns From the Edge.
Culture, July 31
After a lengthy recovery, the artist comes back with the most vigorous work he’s made: “It took me a really long time to understand what had happened to me.”
London Modern and Contemporary Auctions: A Market Minus the Froth
Culture, July 1
The prices — $36.9 million for Monet paintings, and $52.8 million for a Francis Bacon — show that even as Britain’s share of the global art market has decreased, it’s an important player.
Covid Memorials Offer a Place to Put Our Grief
Culture, May 5
From “anti-monuments” to ephemeral sand portraits, four art exhibitions encourage viewers to slow down and take stock of our pandemic losses.
Manhattan Springs Back to Life
Travel, May 5
Broadway enthusiasts, art aficionados and food lovers will find new offerings in and around Times Square and in neighborhoods below 42nd Street, heralding the promise of a vibrant recovery.