Nov 17, 2020 • View in browser

Good morning. ⛅ Today, Philip Guston’s only surviving mural in California, Alina Szapocznikow’s bodily sculptures, films to stream for gender awareness week, and an art school that focuses on the Black painting tradition.

– Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief

A New School Dedicated to Black Art History

A painting by Azikiwe Mohammed, “Places I’ve Been With Helicopters #3 / A Modern Zong Massacre” (2020), acrylic and gouache on board, 40 x 24 inches (courtesy of the artist and Mindy Solomon Gallery)

The Black Painters Academy, conceived by artist Azikiwe Mohammed, hopes to shift the trend of painting classes focused largely on white, Western artists.

Muhammed says of his project:

“It’s always this overarching white history starting point that everybody’s coming from. The object is disseminated throughout the entire room, and everybody paints the same thing, further spreading that history.”

In Other News

An ancient bust of the Greek god Hermes was just found in an Athens sewer. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
After suddenly disappearing in November 2017, Los Angeles’s iconic lamppost artwork “Vermonica” will shine again.
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in DC hosts Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald’s Barack Obama portraits, but lately the museum has also been hosting the man himself.

Latest Reviews

Artists in Nasty Women Show Embrace the Bold, Confident, and Unapologetic

Reclaiming the infamous insult hurled at Hillary Clinton by Donald Trump, this show celebrates women’s contributions to art.

Jennifer Remenchik

Lorraine O’Grady, in All of Her Literary Brilliance

The first book to offer a comprehensive overview of O’Grady’s writings, Writing in Space 1973 — 2019 affirms both the range and reach of the artist’s impact upon an art world that has only belatedly recognized her.

Alexandra M. Thomas

More from Hyperallergic

Using Black Anarchitecture to Construct a New South

This undertaking is playing out today in New Orleans, amid calls to remove the city’s 17 confederate monuments.

Lauren Stroh

Inspired by Nam June Paik, Performa is Bringing Back the Telethon

The 8-hour online program will debut new works, reimaginings, and collaborations by artists such as Yvonne Rainer, Glenn Kaino, Barbara Kruger, and the WideAwakes.

Danilo Machado

Films to Stream for Transgender Awareness Week

From a look at the contemporary NYC ballroom scene to a portrait of an undocumented caretaker, here are some lesser-known movies about trans characters and subjects.

Dan Schindel

From the Store

It's OK Socks

We sure could use this message from David Shrigley right now. The world can be a troubling place and as we continue to fight for what’s right, it’s important to remember to take a break sometimes in order to rest and regain energy.

For more good vibes, shop the rest of our Shrigley stuff!