Government Documents Show Donald Trump Made $1M Selling NFTs + Other Stories
The art world
Plus, former Chicago Art Institute employee pleads guilty to theft, and billionaire collector Mitchell Rales steps in to buy the Washington Commanders.
Art Industry News is a daily summary of the most consistent developments coming out of the art world and the art market. Here’s what you need to know this Monday, April 17.
MUST READ
EmRata on art in her life – Growing up surrounded by the art created by her father, painter and sculptor John David Ratajkowski, Emily Ratajkowski, now a mother herself, sits down with him to talk about her own art practice, and how art becomes key to her parenting philosophy. “Fortunately, you were and are so good at encouraging and nurturing creative impulses,” she tells her father. “So much of making art or having opinions about art—even having taste—requires risk. You have to put yourself out there.” (Culturally)
Former employees of the Art Institute of Chicago plead guilty to theft – Michael Maurello, a former payroll manager at the Chicago-based institution, pleaded guilty to misappropriating about $2 million in museum funds. Maurello will be sentenced on Sept. 14, where he faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. (Chicago Tribune)
Trump made $1 million in NFT sales – The former US president has made as much as $1 million selling the 45,000 digital collectibles featuring his likeness, according to authorities. The NFTs were released in December and sold out within a day. (CoinDesk)
Conservationists warn about over-restoration schemes – Buyers of antiques have been warned about possible tricks by unethical dealers, who can make over-restored furniture with modern additions look older than they are and fetch a much higher price tag. (Observer)
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Mitchell Rales wants to buy Washington Commanders – The billionaire art collector is reportedly part of a group led by billionaire private equity investor Josh Harris to buy the Washington Commanders NFL franchise from owner Dan Snyder for a record $6 billion. Former NBA star Magic Johnson is also part of this group. (ART news)
Kunsthalle Wien gets a new director – British curator Michelle Cotton, currently program director at MUDAM in Luxembourg, has been appointed as the new director of the Austrian institution, taking over in the summer of 2024. Croatia-based curatorial collective What, How & for Whom, who have led the Kunsthalle Wien as board members since 2019 , was deposed in 2022. (ArtReview)
MOCA Appoints José Luis Blondet as Senior Curator – José Luis Blondet will join the Museum of Contemporary Art as senior curator from 1 May. Lacet previously served as curator of special initiatives at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art beginning in 2015. (press release)
FOR ART’S SAKE
Jerry Saltz teaches comedian to do art criticism – Gianmarco Soresi showed off his art critic potential with the help of the Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic. “You don’t have to tell us whether you like it or not. That’s the key. What I’m interested in is what you see and how you see it, Saltz told the comedian. Soresi was then handed a picture of Katherine Bernhardt Swimming with sharks (2015) and began his art criticism debut. Soresi’s statements definitely impressed the renowned art critic. “It’s one of the most beautiful reviews of Katherine Bernhardt I’ve heard,” noted Saltz. (YouTube)
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Do you want to be at the forefront of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news, eye-opening interviews and sharp critiques that drive the conversation forward.
