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The Headlines
UPROAR FOLLOWING AUSTRALIA』S VENICE ARTIST CANCELATION. After Australia abruptly dropped its 2026 Venice Biennale artist, Khaled Sabsabi, due to controversy related to his older artwork featuring a top Hezbollah leader, as Alex Greenberger reported for ARTnews, the head of the pavilion』s organizer has now resigned in protest. Mikala Tai, director of visual arts at Creative Australia, the government』s main arts investment and advisory body that announced the decision to cancel Sabsabi』s participation in the Venice exhibition, told The Guardian she had tendered her resignation to Creative Australia』s chief executive Adrien Collette on Friday, 「in support of the artist」 and his curator, Michael Dagostino. Former Venice Biennale commissioner Simon Mordant also resigned today as international ambassador for the 2026 event, because 「I support Khaled Sabsabi,」 he said. He suggested the Australian pavilion should be left empty in solidarity with the artist. The Guardian also reported other resignations were expected, as some Creative Australia staff walked out of their Sidney office in protest. In their announcement about dropping Sabsabi, Creative Australia said their reasons had to do with avoiding 「a prolonged and divisive debate about the 2026 selection outcome,」 which 「poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia』s artistic community and could undermine our goal of bringing Australians together through art and creativity.」 Unfortunately, that goal seems as imperiled now as ever.
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TRANS ERASURE AT STONEWALL. Yesterday, the National Park Service removed references to transgender individuals from the official website of the Stonewall National Monument in Greenwich Village. They also erased the 「T」 and the 「Q+」 from references to L.G.B.T.Q.+,」 reports The New York Times. The act of censorship comes as Trump administration』s calls for only male and female genders to be recognized, and the cancelation of all national diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (DEI). The historic Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street is a monument to the gay rights movement, which was galvanized by a 1969 rebellion there, sparked by a police raid of the tavern, largely led by trans people. The erasure of references to trans people was 「factually inaccurate」 and 「an affront to our entire community,」 said Dr. Carla Smith, the chief executive of the L.G.B.T. Community Center.
The Digest
Former employees at the Brooklyn art and tech non-profit Eyebeam claim they were fired for publicly supporting an artists』 call for the endorsement of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (Pacbi). Several artist fellows in the program had called on Eyebeam to support the cultural boycott of Israel in a statement, and to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. [The Art Newspaper]
Upscale streetwear brand Kith is facing an ongoing legal battle in New York』s Supreme Court over claims it used a print of a Black artist』s likeness without his consent, as part of a Black History Month clothing collection. Artist Darryl McPherson alleges the brand is 「commercially profiting from, and failing to remedy, its unauthorized, nonconsensual exploitation of [his] likeness as part of a commercial brand activism campaign purporting to support the Black community.」 A 2018 photograph of McPherson is the subject of the painting at the heart of the legal proceedings, titled Slum Flower Titus, by Samuel Olayombo. It has been featured on Kith apparel and other promotional materials, following a licensing agreement between the brand and Olayombo. Kith aims to dismiss the allegation, saying the work is protected under the First Amendment, and that Olayombo said he had full rights to the artwork. [The Fashion Law]
French President Emmanuel Macron has filed a legal complaint following the exhibition of an artwork in Guadeloupe, depicting a man holding Macron』s decapitated head in the air. Police have questioned the organizer of the exhibit at an art center run by the artist group, Kolèktif Awtis Rézistans. [Le Figaro]
The Textile Museum of Canada is closing for several months due to financial troubles related to Covid and falling attendance. It plans to open late this fall, in time for its 50th anniversary. [Toronto Star]
The personal collection of the late Barry Humphries, a.k.a Dame Edna, sold at Christie』s for a total of £4,627,224 (nearly $5,824,125). The auction launched with Dame Edna』s signature phrase, 「hello possums,」 including her iconic glasses, which sold for £37,800, well over their estimates. [Press release and BBC]
The Kicker
THE ART OF LOVE. Several art publications are picking up on today』s Valentine』s theme, so in the spirit of all-inclusive love, here are a few worth reading. The Guardian』s Katy Hessel writes about art』s unique ability to express love and 「do it justice,」 because she argues our written and spoken language simply cannot grasp such a vast and deep emotion. She looks to Frida Kahlo, Felix Gonzalez Torres, and others to illustrate her point. Cultured Magazine features a short, image-filled piece on photographer Del LaGrace Volcano』s 「most playful-and potent series」 titled 「Queer Dyke Cruising,」 which is being published by Climax bookstore and press. The article includes a handful of Volcano』s photographs from the book, featuring lesbians embracing during a 「romp in the park.」 Lastly, Artnet News shares 15th-century love letters on view at the current exhibition, 「Medieval Women: In Their Own Worlds,」 at the British Library in London.
Correction: Yesterday』s newsletter reported that Qatar』s new pavilion in Venice』s Giardini della Biennale will open by the 2026 Venice Biennale, according to media reports. However, the opening date for the new pavilion has not yet been announced.