| In the early days of graffiti writing, one prescient artist took it upon himself to document the burgeoning form: the late Martin Wong. Pieces from his collection are currently on view at the Museum of the City of New York, where Hyperallergic Editor-in-Chief Hrag Vartanian led an illuminating discussion last month. You can listen to the full conversation on today’s episode of the Hyperallergic Podcast — and join us as a member to access cool events like this in the future! Elsewhere in Manhattan, Hrag visited a transportive show of works by Aaron Gilbert. The painter, he writes, manages to “convey another type of temporal space, one that floats in timelessness, unmoored from consumerism even if still tethered to it.” Meanwhile in the news, the Trump administration’s gutting of arts and culture reaches a fever pitch. Hundreds of organizations lose grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services overnight, while the National Endowment for the Humanities plans to redirect grant funding for Trump’s bizarre sculpture park honoring “American heroes.” There’s more below, including glimpses into artists’ studios in A View From the Easel and Required Reading featuring a record-breaking Cadbury chocolate egg. We also remember Nonuya ecological artist Abel Rodríguez, who passed away on Wednesday. His lush drawings and paintings are a beacon for dark times, and as Instituto de Visión Artistic Director Beatriz Lopez writes in a poem in his honor, change how we see the world. — Lakshmi Rivera Amin, Associate Editor | | |
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 | | An artist, a gallerist, and a curator come together to discuss the legacy of Martin Wong, the self-taught painter who amassed one of the world's most significant street art collections. |
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IN THE NEWS |  | -
An estimated over 1,000 grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services were terminated as the Trump administration continues to decimate arts and culture funding. -
The National Endowment for the Humanities intends to redirect some of its grant funding to construct Trump’s bizarre “National Garden of American Heroes.” -
Nonuya and Muinane sage and ecological artist Abel Rodríguez died on Wednesday, April 9, as confirmed by his representing gallery.
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EXHIBITION REVIEWS |  | | Aaron Gilbert’s sense of time draws us away from the now to a potential future that we are having trouble envisioning. | Hrag Vartanian |
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SPONSORED |  | | | | Adriana Varejão reframes the historic collection of New York City’s Hispanic Society with new pieces from her acclaimed Plate series and a monumental sculpture of an anaconda wrapped around a 1927 bronze equestrian statue of El Cid, exploring ideas of climate change, colonialism, and the complex interrelationship of humanity and nature.
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 | | Parts I and II of the exhibition demonstrate a vibrant spectrum of aesthetic inquiry — which, like LA’s art scene, resists easy categorization. | Claudia Ross |
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MORE ON HYPERALLERGIC |  | | “I start at 6am when the light is really beautiful.” | Lakshmi Rivera Amin |
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|  | | This week: photographing auras, The Great Gatsby at 100, a dubious de-extinction project, the “cubs” of the Black Panther Party, art historical Drag Race, and much more. | Lakshmi Rivera Amin |
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TRANSITIONS | | Agustín Arteaga was appointed director and CEO of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California.
Heinz Mack is now represented by Almine Rech gallery.
Claudia Schmuckli was appointed chief curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Ryan Hunt was appointed CEO of the Museum of Vancouver. |
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AWARDS & ACCOLADES | | Donna Haraway received the Venice Biennale of Architecture’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Italo Rota received the Special Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
Duwawisioma (Victor Masayesva Jr.) was named a fellow at the Center for Art, Research and Alliances. Pippa Garner was also honored as a fellow in memoriam.
Chulayarnnon Siriphol, Kasamaponn Saengsuratham, Arjin Thongyuukong, and Krongpong Langkhapin are the winners of the 2025 Taoyuan International Art Award. |
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| You’re currently a free subscriber to Hyperallergic. To support our independent arts journalism, please consider joining us as a member. | | Become a Member |
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