From the Whitney Biennial Opening to an Alleged Ice Cream-Themed NFT Scam: The Best & Worst of the Art World This Week

Art World From the Whitney Biennial Opening to an Alleged Ice Cream-Themed NFT Scam: The Best & Worst of the Art World This Week

Catch up on this week's news, fast.

Artnet News, April 1, 2022

Charles Ray, Burger (2021) on the roof terrace of the Whitney. Photo by Ben Davis.

BEST

Gagosian Now Accepts Bitcoin- Mega-gallery Gagosian is finally getting in on the crypto game after lagging behind other outfits, and will accept crypto money as payment.<

Robot Dog Takes Pompeii - Boston Dynamics's four-legged robot Spot was dispatched to patrol the ancient ruins and seek out structural and security issues.

Moon Dust Heads to Auction - The first-ever sample of moon dust collected by astronauts on Apollo 11 is hitting the auction block years after NASA tried to block the sale.

Anonymous Was a Woman Expands Grants - The organization is expanding its grant-giving with $250,000 earmarked for environmental projects.

Koons Looks to the Moon - The world's most expensive living artist has his sights set on outer space for his first NFT drop.

Mr. Darcy's Shirt Memorialized - The famous puffy white shirt donned by the beloved Pride and Prejudice character is going on view at the Jane Austen House in England.

British Museum Banishes Sackler Name - The British Museum has dropped the disgraced philanthropic family's name from its galleries.

Qatar Announces Three New Museums - The country is beefing up its already beefy culture sphere with museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art, Orientalist art, and automobiles.

Burning Man Artist Builds COVID Memorial Temple -David Best is constructing a massive temple in England that will be ceremonially burned.

Christie's Lands Coveted Trove - The auction house will sell the late philanthropist Anne Bass's collection this May.

The WhiBi at a Glance - We've broken down the roster of exhibitors at the 2022 biennial into three easily digestible charts, and you can preview the sprawling, soon-to-open exhibition in pictures.

Warhol Case Heads to Supreme Court - The country's highest court will decide if Andy Warhol violated a photographer's copyright by using her image of rock star Prince for an artwork.

WORST

Authorities Nab NFT-Peddling Collectors - Police arrested two 20-year-olds who allegedly bilked collectors out of $1 million by hawking ice cream-themed NFTs.

Christie's Pulls Antiquities Ahead of Sale - The auction house hurriedly withdrew two lots from an antiquities sale after an archaeologist tied them to an individual with links to illicit looting.

Whitney Staff Protest Party - At the glitzy opening of the Whitney Biennial, unionized staff members staged a demonstration calling for a new contract with living wages.

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