March 3, 2022 • View in browser
Good morning. ⛅ Today, the origins of the Venus of Willendorf, the “Karen” meme and US exceptionalism, and reviews of Jenny Dubnau, Ai Weiwei, and Hana Yilma Godine.
— Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief
Researchers Trace the Origin of Venus of Willendorf to Northern Italy
But they are also open to the possibility that it may have originated from eastern Ukraine. | Jasmine Liu
SPONSORED
International Center of Photography Announces Part-Time Certificates
Designed to fit your schedule and budget, ICP’s new Part-Time Certificates include Photography Foundations, Lighting Foundations, Visual Storytelling, and Personal Vision & Portfolio. Hone your skills, build a portfolio, or begin a new path at your own pace. Learn more at icp.org/part-time.
Photograph by Tom Griggs
ALSO IN THE NEWS
Kehinde Wiley, "Rumors of War" (2019) (courtesy Sean Kelly Gallery)
Kehinde Wiley’s "Rumors of War" will be installed at the new campus of St. Louis’s Doorways, a nonprofit that helps individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Mexican activists swap in alternative audio guides into the Weltmuseum in Vienna, demanding the repatriation of an ancient Aztec headdress.
Researchers decipher a 1,300-year-old frieze that constitutes one of the largest examples of Zapotec writing found in the Oaxaca Valley.
SPONSORED
Stream Without a Whisper – Konnon:Kwe Presented by the National Museum of the American Indian
After watching this film about Indigenous women’s influence on the early US women’s rights movement, viewers can check out a panel with the director and subjects. Learn more.
LATETS IN ART
Hana Yilma Godine’s Paintings Depict Ethiopian Traditions with Modern Style and Flair
Her work transports viewers into a timeless space where beauty, community, and the natural world are valued above all. | Taylor Michael
In the Work of Ai Weiwei, Biography Supersedes Art
Perhaps Ai is untouchable. If that is the case, where were we left when judging his new art? | Michael Glover
Jenny Dubnau Captures a Momentary Encounter
With her portraits, the artist seems to be drawn to that psychologically charged instant of the momentary encounter. | John Yau
SPONSORED
Yashua Klos: OUR LABOUR Is Now Open at the Wellin Museum of Art
In his first solo museum show, Klos continues exploring the intersections between the human form, the natural world, and the built environment. Learn more.
ALSO ON HYPERALLERGIC
What the ‘Karen’ Meme Shows About Declining US Exceptionalism
While there's room for debate about who is and is not a Karen, one critical component is the stench of entitlement and a pressing need to appeal to authority. | Justine Smith
How the Ivory Tower Always Comes Crashing Down on Artist Parents
The true problems relate to the invisible architecture of these institutions that cannot or will not respond to the needs of parents. | Arielle Fields
Become a member today to support our independent journalism.
Your support helps keep our reporting and criticism free and accessible to all.
IN MEMORIAM
Dan Graham (1943–2022)
American conceptual artist | Guardian
Barry Bauman (1949–2022)
Prominent American art conservator | New York Times
Michele McNally (1956–2022)
Former director of photography at the New York Times | New York Time
MOST POPULAR
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Burning Down a Museum
Your Concise New York Art Guide for March 2022
Thousands of Russian Artists Denounce Invasion in Open Letter
When You Could Get a Three-Course Meal and Coffee for 25 Cents in New York
Mies van der Rohe’s Forgotten Frat House Design Is Resurrected and Repurposed
