Art News: Picasso at the Tate Modern, Maurizio Cattelan Joins Instagram, David Shepherd RIP
The art world is full of fascinating exhibitions, intriguing discoveries, and moments that shape history. Here are some of the latest art news items making headlines from this past week.
Trio of Portraits by Picasso To Be Reunited At London’s Tate Modern
The exterior of London’s Tate Modern (Photo courtesy of Scott Wylie)
In 2018, London’s Tate Modern will be reuniting three works by Pablo Picasso that haven’t been exhibited together since 1932.
The exhibit, “Picasso 1932: Love, Fame, Tragedy,” will feature three famous portraits Picasso painted of his mistress and muse, Marie-Thérèse Walter, over a period of five days in March 1932. The works—“Nude, Green Leaves and Bust”; “Nude in a Black Armchair”; and “The Mirror”—all currently reside in private collections.
When speaking with “The Art Newspaper,” the director of exhibitions at Tate Modern, Achim Borchardt-Hume, said that the reunion of the three Picasso portraits has been all “about negotiations and the generosity [of lenders], involving two years of diplomacy.” The exhibit will run from March 2018 through September 2018.
Maurizio Cattelan Launches A Predictably Unique Instagram Account
Photo from Maurizio Cattelan’s “Single Post” Instagram account (Photo courtesy of Instagram)
Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan is best known for his caustic, satirical art installations—such as placing a fully functional 18-karat gold toilet in the Guggenheim—but he’s attracting attention this week for something that teenagers do almost every day… he joined Instagram.
ARTNews has confirmed that @mauriziocattelan is the artist’s actual Instagram account, but, not surprisingly, the artist refuses to use the social media platform in the traditional way. Instead, his Instagram feed will only feature one image at a time. Past images will not be archived on the account, so, when he posts a new picture, the previous image will be deleted.
Cattelan’s Instagram doesn’t follow any other account on the social platform either, but icons like fashion designer Marc Jacobs have already commented on past pictures from Cattelan’s feed.
Wildlife Artist And Conservationist David Shepherd Dies At Age 86
David Shepherd (Photo courtesy of YouTube)
The art world is mourning the passing of David Shepherd, the noted British painter who won widespread acclaim for his wildlife artwork, particularly his iconic painting “Wise Old Elephant.”
According to his obituary in “The Guardian,” Shepherd’s breakout moment as an artist came when the UK pharmacy Boots made a print of “Wise Old Elephant” in 1962. The print was hugely popular, inspiring national interest in Shepherd’s wildlife paintings.
While Shepherd was often overlooked by art critics, the public loved his meticulous paintings of animals and steam engines—two of his favorite subjects. The 1970 BBC documentary, “The Man Who Loved Giants,” offers an insightful look at Shepherd’s life and career. (He went on to use the same title for his autobiography, which was published five years later.)
Upon hearing of Shepherd’s death, Park West artist and acclaimed wildlife conservationist Andrew Bone commented on Facebook, “A magnificent wildlife artist and tireless conservationist in a league of his own. An inspiration to all who follow in your footsteps. The world is a poorer place for your passing.”
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