Solange’s next act is a teaching residency at USC’s Thornton School of Music.
Solange Knowles has been named the first all-school scholar in residence at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where she will help shape a new curriculum in music curation. Over the next three years, she will teach a course, lead workshops with her Saint Heron team, and collaborate with faculty to build long-term programs exploring how artists construct musical worlds. The residency marks a natural extension of her multidisciplinary career, which has spanned music, design, and visual art under the Saint Heron platform. For Solange, who has long viewed her creative practice as a form of education, the role offers a chance to formalize that exchange for the next generation of artists.
Vivienne Westwood’s granddaughter has spoken out against the brand’s Riyadh presentation.
Cora Corré, granddaughter of Vivienne Westwood and co-founder of the Vivienne Foundation, has criticized the brand’s decision to present its collection at Riyadh Fashion Week, saying it conflicts with her grandmother’s values. The label defended its participation, framing it as an opportunity for cultural dialogue rather than an endorsement of Saudi Arabia’s government. The show coincides with the Vivienne Foundation’s release of charity T-shirts benefiting LGBTQ+ and humanitarian causes. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have continued to condemn Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, particularly its treatment of LGBTQ+ people.
San Francisco may demolish Armand Vaillancourt’s Brutalist fountain at Embarcadero Plaza.
San Francisco is weighing the future of Armand Vaillancourt’s 710-ton Brutalist fountain at Embarcadero Plaza as part of a proposed $35 million renovation of the site. The fountain has been fenced off since June due to structural concerns and has not run since 2024, while the city debates whether restoration costs, reportedly nearly $29 million, outweigh its preservation. Disputes over maintenance responsibilities between the city and property management firm BXP have complicated the conversation, with officials emphasizing that public input and safety remain priorities. The San Francisco Arts Commission will soon vote on whether to deaccession the fountain, a decision that could reshape the display of public art at the plaza.
Amid the U.S. government shutdown, the Smithsonian has closed its museums and zoo.
The Smithsonian Institution has closed all 21 of its museums, the National Zoo, and several research centers in response to the federal government shutdown that began on October 1. The closures come after Congress failed to pass a funding bill, cutting off the Smithsonian’s primary source of federal support, which accounts for more than half its budget. Nearly 17 million annual visitors and hundreds of staff have been affected, echoing financial losses from the 2019 shutdown. The move also unfolds amid renewed criticism from President Trump, who has targeted the institution as part of his campaign against what he calls “woke” cultural entities.
Gagosian sold out of all its art by the opening day of Frieze London.
Gagosian sold out its entire booth on the opening day of Frieze London, marking an early highlight of the fair. The gallery’s solo presentation featured Lauren Halsey’s 2025 untitled series, large-scale polymer-modified gypsum and wood works that explore Afro-diasporic mythologies, funk, and community memory. Central to the installation was her six-foot-tall plaza sign sculpture, LODA PLAZA, which underscores the cultural and economic importance of Black institutions. Despite undisclosed official pricing, some pieces reportedly carried a $250,000 valuation, with the gallery securing several institutional and collector placements.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Once a lofty Kickstarter initiative, New York’s floating pool is entering construction.
In honor of Playstation’s 30th anniversary, a monograph reveals archival prototype designs.
Nan Goldin’s first major European retrospective is underway in Milan.
Josh O’Connor’s character in The Mastermind is based on a real art thief.
