As this year gently draws to a close, the holiday season offers a moment to pause and reflect on the rhythms of endings and beginnings. Time, always moving quietly yet relentlessly, reminds us that change is not only inevitable but also a force that shapes the stories we tell. In the art world and beyond, some chapters close while others unfold, and creativity finds ever-new ways to flourish.
This time of transition carries more than farewells. It holds the seeds of renewal. It is a chance to celebrate the milestones that have left their mark, honor legacies that resonate, and look toward the horizons yet to be explored. Change may be constant, but it is how it is embraced that breathes life into what comes next.
In this final edition of “Hellos and Goodbyes” for the year, the spotlight turns to those who have defined 2024’s final moments, the farewells that linger, and the beginnings that inspire fresh hope. As December sets the stage for 2025, the art world and its many dimensions continue to evolve, weaving stories of transformation and endless possibilities. Stay tuned for a roundup of December’s unmissable happenings and pivotal moments shaping the year’s grand finale.
1. Naomi Beckwith Named Artistic Director for Documenta 16
Breaking from Kassel: Naomi Beckwith has been named Artistic Director of Documenta 16, one of the art world’s most closely watched exhibitions. With her impressive track record at the Guggenheim Museum and MCA Chicago, Beckwith is set to steer the storied event into its next chapter. Known for her thoughtful approach to contemporary art and culture, Beckwith’s appointment comes after a rocky 2022 edition, making her leadership all the more significant. While her plans remain under wraps, the buzz around Kassel is undeniable. Mark your calendars for 2027, this is one to watch!
2. Julian Klausner Named Creative Director at Dries Van Noten
It’s official: Julian Klausner steps into the spotlight as the new Creative Director of Dries Van Noten, taking charge of both women’s and men’s collections. With a stellar background from La Cambre in Brussels and years spent honing his craft under the legendary Dries himself, Klausner is the natural pick to lead the house into its next chapter.
His first showcase? The Menswear Winter 2025 lookbook, dropping this January, followed by his debut women’s runway collection on March 5, 2025. Talk about a power start!
Klausner calls his new role “an ambitious challenge,” while Dries describes him as “the clear choice” to carry the brand’s vision forward as announced on their IG page. With a legacy this iconic and a future this exciting, it’s all eyes on Julian.
3. Koyo Kouoh to Curate Biennale Arte 2026 – We’re All Eyes and Ears
Big news dropped this month: Koyo Kouoh has been named curator of the 61st International Art Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. Known for her fearless curatorial chops, Kouoh’s CV reads like a world tour: head of Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, founder of RAW Material Company in Dakar, and curator of jaw-dropping shows from Brussels to Berlin.
So, what’s her take? Kouoh calls the Biennale “the center of gravity for art,” a pulse-check on the world through artists’ eyes. Her goal? To curate an exhibition that doesn’t just capture where we are, but where we’re headed. Ambitious much?
Biennale boss Pietrangelo Buttafuoco dubbed her appointment a “broad horizon of vision” (poetic flair, check) and hinted at big things ahead. For now, we’ll just be over here, eyes and ears wide open, waiting for what Kouoh brings to Venice in 2026.
4. Ana Ballesteros Joins CA2M in Madrid as Deputy Director
CA2M Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo in Madrid recently named Ana Ballesteros as its new Deputy Director, and the art world has taken note. With experience from powerhouses like Tate Modern and Museo Reina Sofía, alongside degrees in Art History from the University of Salamanca and Cultural Management from Universidad Carlos III, Ballesteros is stepping confidently into the role.
Her goal is to take CA2M into uncharted territory, blending its bold identity with her global perspective. Madrid’s art scene just got a serious injection of energy, and let’s face it, we are all eager to see what is next.
5. Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir to Represent Iceland at the 2026 Venice Biennale
Reykjavík’s own Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir has been tapped to bring her magic to the 2026 Venice Biennale, the Icelandic Art Center revealed. Known for turning heads with her multidisciplinary brilliance, she combines drawing, sound, text, and performance into captivating works that have been shown everywhere from Tokyo to Stockholm. Oh, and did we mention she’s also an award-winning poet with five books to her name? Icelandic overachiever energy at its finest.
“I’m sky-alive!” Sigurðardóttir declared, which, in Icelandic, means “over the moon” but somehow sounds cooler. With a résumé that includes co-founding the Kunstschlager gallery and creating the Suttungur poetry festival, she is a true Renaissance woman with a contemporary twist.
With Sigurðardóttir on board and other exciting national selections starting to roll in, the 2026 Venice Biennale is already shaping up to be one for the books. Stay tuned, this is going to be fun.
6. Maria Berrio is Now Represented by Hauser & Wirth
Hauser & Wirth has welcomed Colombian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Maria Berrio to its impressive roster, in collaboration with Victoria Miro. Known for her intricate collages crafted from torn Japanese paper, Berrio creates dreamlike worlds where South American folklore meets contemporary struggles and the mundane transforms into the magical. Think of it as visual poetry with a side of myth and memory.
Her first solo exhibition with Hauser & Wirth is set for New York in September 2025. This partnership feels like a match made in art heaven, promising a mix of beauty, depth, and perhaps a few surprises along the way.
7. Car Covered in Giant Doily Wins Turner Prize 2024
Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur has won the Turner Prize 2024 for her work “Car with Giant Doily,” a playful yet profound installation featuring a vintage Ford Escort draped in lace. Part of her exhibition “Alter Altar,” the piece explores resilience and identity using personal and cultural symbols. Critics praised its humor and complexity, with The Guardian calling it the “totemic image” of this year’s prize.
The ceremony at Tate Britain included a pro-Palestinian protest, with Kaur voicing her solidarity in her acceptance speech, ending with a call for “Free Palestine.” The Turner Prize exhibition runs until February 16, 2025, and meme culture’s influence on the art world shows no signs of slowing down.
8. Kathleen Ryan Joins Gagosian—Bad Fruit, Big Moves
Kathleen Ryan, the artist who makes decaying fruit look like jewels and muscle cars seem poetic, has joined Gagosian’s illustrious roster. Known for her ability to take the mundane, like watermelons and bowling balls, and transform them into sculptures full of humor, beauty, and a touch of existential commentary, Ryan is as much philosopher as sculptor.
Her “Bad Fruit” series, where rotting fruit gets a glamorous makeover with beads and stones, has already made waves. Her first solo exhibition with Gagosian is set for 2026. With Ryan’s knack for turning everyday objects into conversation pieces, this collaboration promises to keep us laughing, thinking, and maybe craving a giant bejeweled watermelon.
9. Roberto Chavez, Chicanx Art Legend, Dies at 92
Big loss for the art world: Roberto Chavez, a towering figure in Latinx art, passed away at 92 in Arizona. Chavez was a pioneer before it was cool, chronicling Mexican American life long before the Chicano Art Movement hit its stride.
Best known for murals like “The Path to Knowledge and the False University,” a 200-foot masterpiece packed with surrealism, social critique, and some not-so-subtle shade, it was whitewashed by East LA College in 1981, sparking outrage that still resonates. His iconic painting “El Tamalito del Hoyo” is an ode to the overlooked corners of LA life, immortalized on the cover of the Smithsonian’s groundbreaking “Our America” exhibition.
Chavez’s mix of guts and heart leaves a legacy that can’t be erased, no matter how much white paint you throw at it.
10. Eungie Joo Out at SFMOMA After Misconduct Allegations
Shake-up at SFMOMA: Eungie Joo, head curator of contemporary art, has been dismissed following workplace misconduct claims. The museum, tight-lipped on details, confirmed her exit “in accordance with policy.” No juicy quotes from Joo yet, but stay tuned.
Joo joined SFMOMA in 2017 with a résumé that screams prestige. She ran Sharjah Biennial 12, curated the 2009 Korean Pavilion at Venice, and turned heads with her incisive takes on race, power, and justice. Her recent Kara Walker installation “Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine)” is still on display and her abrupt departure has left many wondering what comes next.
With SFMOMA juggling one leadership shuffle after another, the spotlight is now on how they move forward.
11. Zilia Sánchez, Cuban Artist Behind Iconic Canvases, Dies at 98
Sad news from San Juan: Zilia Sánchez, the Cuban-born artist known for her striking sculptural canvases, has passed away at 98. Think muted grays and blues, stretched fabric, and shapes that whisper “sensual” but scream “do not mess with me.”
Sánchez hit her stride in the 1960s, defying Minimalism’s coldness with works that radiated body and soul. The “Troyanas” series, with nipple-like protrusions doubling as Greek warrior shields, is both alluring and ready for battle. Though she kept a low profile for years, Sánchez roared back in the 2010s, gracing the Venice Biennale and earning a MoMA acquisition. Her work was hit hard by Hurricane Maria, but Sánchez stayed resilient, proving art can weather any storm. She leaves behind a legacy as bold and tender as her canvases.
12. Ed Dolman and Amanda Lo Iacono Step Away from Phillips
Phillips is undergoing a leadership shake-up as Ed Dolman, the CEO and Executive Chairman who steered the auction house’s growth over the last decade, steps down. Known for elevating Phillips’ profile in contemporary art and expanding its presence in Asia, Dolman leaves behind a legacy of strategic ambition. He will transition to a consultancy role in mid-2025.
Joining him in departure is Deputy CEO Amanda Lo Iacono, who wraps up an eight-year tenure at the house, including a brief stint in her current role. Lo Iacono exits at the end of 2024, leaving her mark on a transformative chapter for Phillips. The moves come amid a challenging period for auction houses, with Phillips navigating a 25% drop in sales this year. Martin Wilson, the incoming CEO, now takes on the task of guiding the house through a competitive and evolving market.
13. Jack Hanley Gallery Closes After 37 Years
End of an era: Jack Hanley Gallery is shutting its doors after nearly four decades of championing trailblazing artists. From early solo shows with names like Zoe Leonard and Christian Marclay to Beeple’s first gallery exhibition in 2022, the gallery consistently pushed boundaries. Having moved from Texas to California to New York over the years, Hanley’s final location in Tribeca is hosting its last exhibition this month. As the gallery joins a growing list of recent closures, Hanley’s legacy of risk-taking and discovery remains unmatched.
14. Lorraine O’Grady, Conceptual Art Icon, Dies at 90
The art world mourns the loss of Lorraine O’Grady, the pioneering artist and critic who used her work to challenge racism, misogyny, and privilege. Known for her bold performances like “Mlle Bourgeoise Noire,” O’Grady reshaped the conversation around Black identity in the art world.
O’Grady’s work spanned photography, collage, and performance, always centering on complex intersections of class, race, and gender. Her influence continues to resonate, inspiring younger generations to see art as both a mirror and a call to action.
15. Zoé Whitley to Step Down from Chisenhale Gallery in 2025
Zoé Whitley, the dynamic director of London’s Chisenhale Gallery, has announced she will be stepping down in March 2025. Known for her sharp curatorial eye, Whitley helped transform the gallery into a vital platform for rising stars like Nikita Gale and Rindon Johnson, whose works have since made waves at the Whitney Biennial and Venice Biennale.
Under Whitley’s leadership, Chisenhale cemented its reputation as the go-to space for daring new voices in contemporary art. While she has yet to reveal her next chapter, the search for her successor begins early next year. One thing is certain: Whitley’s impact on the gallery and its artists will not be easily forgotten.
16. Pace African & Oceanic Art to Close After 50 Years
After half a century in New York City, Pace African & Oceanic Art is closing its doors. But this is not the end. Director Carlo Bella has revealed plans to relaunch the gallery under his own name, ensuring the legacy lives on. Founded in 1971 and most recently located in Chelsea, Manhattan, the gallery has been a rare champion of historic works from central and west Africa and the Pacific islands. Bella’s upcoming venture seeks to preserve its influence at a time when African art’s visibility in the U.S. is at risk of further decline.
17. India Art Fair Cancels First Mumbai Edition
It is off before it even got on. Plans for the India Art Fair’s much-hyped Mumbai debut have been scrapped just months after being announced. Scheduled for November 2025, the event was set to feature 60 galleries but ran into opposition from regional players who raised eyebrows over its timing and overlap with Art Mumbai.
According to the fair’s director, the decision was made to prioritize the needs of local galleries and artists. Instead, the focus will shift to year-round programming. The pivot may disappoint some, but it could also offer a more sustainable way to boost India’s emerging art scene. Sometimes, less is more, or at least that is the hope.
18. Candida Gertler Resigns from Outset Amid Protests
Candida Gertler has stepped down from her roles at the Outset Contemporary Art Fund and other UK arts organizations following mounting pressure from the art world. Over 1,100 artists signed an open letter accusing Outset of “artwashing” Israeli policies, sparking a firestorm of controversy.
In her resignation statement, Gertler cited growing antisemitism and what she described as a “normalization of hate” within the art world. Framing her decision as a matter of principle, her departure leaves lingering questions about the uneasy overlap of philanthropy, politics, and ethics in contemporary art.
19. Berlin Says Goodbye to €130 Million in Culture Funding, but Hope Emerges
With €130 million slashed from Berlin’s culture budget, museums, diversity programs, and artist residencies face uncertain futures. The cuts threaten the city’s standing as a cultural capital, leaving many institutions scrambling.
Still, hope shines through. Private initiatives like Flix’s partnership with Museum Island for its 200th anniversary bring a boost, offering free tickets, custom buses, and exclusive events to keep culture alive.
Here’s hoping Flix inspires others to invest in Berlin’s cultural legacy when it’s needed most.
Text by Maria Nitulescu
