And the verdict is in. After much tongue wagging via the art press this weekend (including some Twitter chatter by the likes of artist/instigator William Powhida and Saltz-archrival Tyler Green), MOCA Los Angeles has confirmed the selection of New York gallerist Jeffrey Deitch as the museum’s new director. Way to start 2010 with a boom, LA — never before has a major US museum hired a leader from the commercial side of the market. One has to wonder: Can Deitch man up for such a significant role at a nonprofit? And what will become of his baby, Deitch Projects? (UPDATE: definitely closing shop.) After the jump we take a walk down memory lane.

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Earlier this week Paul Laster told you about the latest from Gilbert & George — the tweed-loving odd couple of British contemporary art — and their new Jack Freak Pictures series. The Guardian just posted a new video interview with the “living sculptures” wherein they discuss how their art is both “capable of bringing out the bigot inside the liberal” and getting them through airport security without a hitch. Read More »

What works did international art dealers, curators and collectors consider the most impressive at the 53rd Venice Biennale? It was surprising how consistently the same names came up. The US Pavilion (images here) ranked high, even before it was voted best pavilion of this year. And Elmgreen & Dragset’s “The Collectors” (images here) was another favorite. And everyone was impressed with Francois Pinault’s Punta della Dogana (images here).  Read More »

Neo Rauch, Ettape. David Zwirner, New York and Galerie Eigen + Art, Berlin/Leipzig

As Venice settles down to a calmer flow of visitors to the Biennale throughout the summer, the art-world caravan has journeyed to Switzerland for the 40th edition of the world’s most prestigious fair, Art Basel. Collectors stormed the booths of their favorite galleries at the preview, making quick acquisitions of high quality modern and contemporary art.

More than 300 international galleries are showing work in a variety of media by more than 2,500 artists. With the exception of the sections of the fair offering emerging art and experimental projects, most dealers have been cautious to bring the best work by known artists — a strategy that is already paying off. Read More »

When asked what most impressed him at the Venice Biennale last week, mega-art-collector and Interview publisher Peter Brant quickly replied, “From Hand to Mouth,” while pointing to the US Pavilion. The shorthand reference to Bruce Nauman’s Biennale exhibition, Topological Gardens, was taken from the title of one of Nauman’s earliest work on view in the show — a 1967 sculpture of a fragmented hand, arm, shoulder, and mouth. The seminal piece, made from wax and cloth, references the simple act of eating and serves as the perfect introduction to Nauman’s lifelong engagement of interpersonal communication, rituals, and mundane situations. Read More »

The artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset originated one of the most winning ideas of the Venice Biennale: The Collectors. The talk of the town among critics and curators, the project has contributions by 24 international artists and artists groups, along with some classic pieces of Scandinavian modern furniture, and earned Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset a special mention from the Biennale jury of the 53rd International Art Exhibition. Presented in the Danish and Nordic pavilions, which represents a first-time collaboration between Denmark and Norway and the first joint venture of two national pavilions in the Biennale, the exhibition transforms the neighboring, Modernist-style buildings into domestic settings, where the spectator becomes a voyeur to the private lives of the inhabitants. Read More »

The centerpiece of his exhibition Paraxena in the Greek Pavilion in Venice, Lucas Samaras’ video installation Ecdysiast and Viewers is a curious work of art. Continuing his fascination with narcissism and voyeurism, the 5½-minute presents 24 iMovie films of individuals recorded as they respond to the iMovie film Ecdysiast (a term supposedly coined by H.L. Mencken to describe Gypsy Rose Lee) that shows a distorted view of Samaras stripping. Read More »

The knowledge that François Pinault — owner of Christie’s, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Puma, Chateau-Latour, and other major brands — is one of the richest men in the world doesn’t make his art collection any better than the next guy with deep pockets; but the fact that he has impeccable taste in art and design certainly makes his collection, and the buildings that house it, stand out. Read More »

Two weeks ago we found ourselves with more to do than time to do it in, but we did our best in five consecutive days. The New York Photo Festival was back in Brooklyn for the third year; Asian Contemporary Art Week was taking place from uptown to downtown; and Design Week was packing visitors into stylish shops in SoHo and the Meatpacking District. We looked at art and design, made new friends at parties, ate and drank way too much, and took photos everywhere we went. We caught British book publisher Chris Boot at his Gay Men Play show in Dumbo, actress Lucy Liu at the Paper! Paper! show at Chambers Fine Art in Chelsea, and designer Philippe Starck at Material Connexion’s super-cool showroom in Murray Hill.

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Recently in Amsterdam to teach DIY art workshops at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and the Sandberg Institute, we were able to periodically get away to check out the contemporary art and design scene. Although it’s smaller than over-abundant New York and London creative arts scenes, there are quality spaces showing interesting work and the walk to find them around the city’s cobblestone streets and canals, lined with old houseboats, is enchanting. A majority of the galleries are situated between Keisersgracht and Lijnbaansgrachts, in the western and southern sections of the city center. It’s all within walking distance, of sorts, but jumping on an occasional tram in between neighborhoods helps conserve energy. After the jump we offer a selection of the best and a list of the rest. Read More »