Art Movements, released every Thursday afternoon, provides a concise summary of essential news, appointments, awards, and other significant events in today’s dynamic art world. This week’s headline is the departure of Tina Rivers Ryan from her role as editor-in-chief of Artforum. Appointed in 2024 following the magazine’s controversial handling of an open letter supporting Gaza, Ryan’s exit sees Daniel Wenger and Rachel Wetzler taking over as co-editors, eliminating the editor-in-chief title. The situation has been widely viewed as a result of an ethically compromised foundation within Artforum, exacerbated by past controversies.
Reflecting on Artforum’s troubled history, the magazine faced significant backlash in 2017 when former publisher Knight Landesman was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Although he eventually resigned, Landesman remained a part-owner until Artforum resolved the lawsuit in 2021. The following year, Penske Media Corporation, led by Jay Penske, acquired Artforum. This acquisition followed Penske’s acceptance of a substantial investment from a Saudi state-backed entity, and led to the closure of Bookforum, which was later revived by The Nation.
The Studio Museum in Harlem has named Simonette Quamina, Taylor Simmons, and Derriann Pharr as its 2026 artists-in-residence. These artists will work at the museum’s new J. Bruce Llewellyn Artist in Residence Center from March to October. Adding to the week’s news, Louis Fratino has joined David Zwirner Gallery, and Debra Wimpfheimer has become the executive director of the Queens Museum. Meanwhile, various other appointments and departures have been announced across the art world.
Frieze New York has unveiled its list of 65 galleries for the 2026 event at The Shed. In awards news, Ali Eyal has been granted the $100,000 Mohn Award by the Hammer Museum and Made in LA 2025. Other notable honors include Carl Cheng’s Career Achievement Award and Greg Breda’s Public Recognition Award. Furthermore, South Arts has allocated Arts in Community grants to multiple organizations, including the University of Tennessee and La Factoria, Inc.
In a curious development, Stella McCartney’s collaboration with Jeff Koons, who was recently linked to Jeffrey Epstein, has raised eyebrows. The collection, featuring Koons’ art and controversial phrases, is priced between $395 and $1,690. The partnership has sparked questions about the intersection of art and ethics in fashion.
