Hey art girl! How’re you doing? September is here and we’re back to the gallery. As the art world tries to find some sense of normal and you get back into your working routine, we’ll forgive you for not staying on top of art news. Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered with a recap of all the gossip you missed. Because hey, what are friends for?!
ART
Marina Abramovic Opens Opera In Munich
Now here’s the art news you didn’t know you need. Art world legend Marina Abramović has just staged an opera at the Bavarian State Opera House in Munich. Titled 7 Deaths of Maria Callas, it is also available to stream online from September 5. A love story – or a heartbreak story – the opera follows the turbulent relationship between singer Maria Callas and shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis – and is also said to be a work of female empowerment. We can’t wait to catch a glimpse!
Nina Chanel Abney Embraces AR
The art world is going digital, and so are some of our favourite 2-D artists! Nina Chanel Abney has just unveiled a new work called Imaginary Friend through the acute art app. The work debuted at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC and was inspired by fairy tale characters. You can download your own imaginary friend to interact with at home through the app.
Banksy Funds Refugee Rescue Boat
Like many people who have made it in the art world, Banksy just bought a yacht. However, unlike most of those people, Banksy’s yacht is specifically a rescue boat aimed to save refugees travelling from North Africa to Europe. The pink boat is covered in the word rescue and also features his balloon girl artwork.
MTV Employees Stage Underground NYC Art Show To Celebrate The VMAs
The MTV Video Music Awards are always cause for celebration but for obvious reasons, the show was a little different this year. So, MTV employees Antonia Baker and Rich Tu put on a pop-up art show at Barclays Center subway station to celebrate BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists. The installation continues through September 6.
FASHION
Burberry Designs Costumes For Marina Abramović Opera
Following on from Marina Abramović opera news, we have more Marina Abramović opera news! The artist enlisted Burberry’s Riccardo Tisci to design her wardrobe and the results are stunning!
Uniqlo Drops Jean Michel-Basquiat x Warner Bros Collection
Now here’s something we didn’t expect, Uniqlo has just dropped a collab with Warner Bros and Jean Michel-Basquiat to celebrate the release of the latest Batman film. Basquiat made several works (rarely seen) illustrating superheroes he admired as a child. The line of t-shirts and hoodies are slated to drop on September 7.
MARKET
Sotheby’s To Auction Keith Haring’s Personal Collection
We all know Keith Haring as a huge artist, but did you know he was a huge collector of art too? A new auction called Dear Keith at Sotheby’s will sell 140 pieces from the artist’s collection including works by Jean-Michel Basquiat at George Condo. The auction will run online between September 24 and October 1 with all proceeds going to The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York.
Text Lizzy Vartanian