A week that swung between long-overdue progress and quiet unease. From historic wins and cultural farewells to expanding art-world empires, freer museums, and a colour of the year that sparked far more debate than calm.
Nnena Kalu wins the Turner Prize
A landmark moment for the Turner Prize, as Nnena Kalu takes home the award. Known for her vibrant drawings and sculptures made from found fabric and VHS tape, Kalu was crowned at a ceremony in Bradford, becoming the first artist with a learning disability to ever win the prize.
A month of farewells: Frank Gehry and Martin Parr
The cultural world marked the loss of two towering figures this month. Frank Gehry, the Canadian-American architect behind some of the most recognisable buildings of the past century, from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, passed away aged 96 at his home in Santa Monica. Also lost was British documentary photographer Martin Parr, who died aged 73 following a long illness. Parr’s sharp, often uncomfortable observations of class, leisure and British identity reshaped documentary photography.
Hauser & Wirth to open a Sicily outpost
Hauser & Wirth has announced plans for its first Italian space, set within the 20,000 sq ft Palazzo Forcella De Seta in Sicily. The 19th-century Neo-Gothic palace was purchased in November, with renovation work scheduled to begin in 2026. Another signal that the mega-gallery model is leaning ever further into destination-driven cultural real estate.
MoMA PS1 to become New York’s largest free museum
MoMA PS1 is set to remove its admission fees entirely from 1 January, thanks to a major donation from creative entrepreneur and art patron @sonyayu. The initiative will run for three years, aligning with the museum’s 50th anniversary, and will make PS1 the largest free museum in New York, a rare and welcome move.
Pantone’s “Cloud Dancer” and why it’s not landing
Pantone has announced Pantone 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as its Colour of the Year: a soft, muted white intended to “quiet the mind” and act as a blank canvas for creativity. But in recent days, the choice has been widely questioned online. Against the backdrop of heightened political discourse, some critics argue that selecting white as a cultural touchstone feels tone-deaf.
