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Good Morning!
The Headlines
WARNING, WARNING! Sydney artist Osvaldo Budet has clashed with Maitland City Council over his artwork examining a century-old statue of an African American boy, ABC News reported. Budet’s work argues that the statue reflects racist stereotypes and the legacy of slavery, while the council considers it a valued part of Maitland’s heritage. Mayor Philip Penfold ordered a warning sign to be placed beside the artwork without consulting gallery staff, saying the exhibition did not represent community views. Budet responded by installing his own warning sign beside the statue as a piece of performance art. The dispute has raised broader questions about artistic freedom, council interference, and whether elected officials should influence how public cultural institutions present controversial histories.
FAKING IT IN ASIA. South Asia’s modern art market has boomed, surpassing $100 million in auction sales in 2025, but a surge in forgeries threatens its growth, the FT wrote. Experts say weak scholarship, poor documentation, and the rise of online buying have made fakes increasingly difficult to detect, with even established artists such as SH Raza, MF Husain, and Sadequain targeted. Dealers and collectors report seeing large numbers of suspected forgeries, while fears of legal repercussions discourage experts from publicly challenging dubious works. Auction houses are strengthening authentication through specialist research and archives, but online sales remain a particular risk.
The Digest
GIVING UP? Lulu Macdonald reflected on why she nearly gave up on becoming an artist, confronting the daunting odds of turning a creative ambition into a successful career. Frieze
TURN IT UP. The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is hoping to make some noise with “Turn the Volume Up!,” a new exhibition exploring how artists and ordinary people have challenged injustice. The Guardian
UNEXPECTED ART. Why does Nicolai Tangen, head of Norway’s $1.8 trillion sovereign wealth fund and known as the country’s “Trillion Dollar Man,” like to buy “unexpected art”? Artsy
URGENT APPEAL. Picha Art and Research Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo has issued an urgent funding appeal, backed by leading artists and curators including Elvira Dyangani Ose and Francis Alÿs. The Art Newspaper
The Kicker
A BRUSH WITH THE PAST. Gen Z and millennials are increasingly embracing traditional art forms such as plein air painting and figure drawing, partly as a response to the rise of AI, Smithsonian Magazine wrote. Painting outdoors offers a slower, more immersive experience that encourages observation, patience, and connection with nature. Art schools are seeing increased demand, while informal painting and drawing groups are appearing in parks and galleries. The trend echoes the 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement, which reacted against industrialization and mass production. Artists and psychologists suggest that making art by hand provides something AI cannot: tangible experience, creative decision-making, and a sense of personal agency and presence.
