Alison Knowles, a foundational figure of the Fluxus movement and creator of iconic participatory works such as Make a Salad and The Identical Lunch, has died at 92 in New York. Known for transforming everyday gestures into radical performance art, Knowles helped redefine the boundaries of art and audience participation.
Maurizio Cattelan’s provocative artwork America—an 18-karat solid gold toilet—will be auctioned at Sotheby’s on November 18, with bidding starting near $10 million based on its gold weight. Previously stolen from Blenheim Palace and never recovered, the toilet returns to the spotlight as Sotheby’s invites visitors to view it ahead of the sale.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen says Unilever prevented the ice cream brand from launching a flavour showing solidarity with Palestine. Cohen now plans to release the flavour independently as part of his personal activism series.
British Columbia is urging Ottawa to take stronger action to protect its struggling softwood lumber industry, including launching anti-tariff ads targeting U.S. residents and lawmakers.
Abu Dhabi Art returns from November 19–23 with its largest edition yet, featuring 140 galleries from 37 countries. Under Dyala Nusseibeh’s direction, the fair expands its global reach with new sections like “Collectors Salon” and “Emerge,” while preparing for a major transformation in 2026 as Frieze Abu Dhabi.
Andrea Gyorody has resigned as director of Pepperdine University’s Weisman Museum of Art after the university removed artworks it deemed “political,” including pieces by Elana Mann and the AMBOS collective. The move has drawn widespread criticism, protests, and faculty pushback over censorship and artistic freedom.
Sotheby’s Paris set a new record during Art Basel week, achieving €89.7 million ($104 million) across its Surrealist and Modern art sales—the highest-ever totals in France. Modigliani’s Elvire en buste led with €27 million, while Magritte’s La Magie Noire sold for €10.7 million, underscoring Paris’s rising influence in the global art market.
Fifty-seven museum directors and curators worldwide—including leaders from MoMA, LACMA, and the British Museum—have signed an open letter supporting Louvre director Laurence des Cars after the high-profile theft of the museum’s crown jewels. The letter, published in Le Monde, urges solidarity and highlights the delicate balance museums must maintain between security and public accessibility.
New York has declared a state of emergency to protect vulnerable residents as SNAP food benefits face interruption amid the federal government shutdown. Governor Kathy Hochul announced $65 million in emergency funding to provide 40 million meals while multiple states rush to support low-income households.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time on Friday as Xi arrived in Gyeongju for the APEC summit. The meeting marks a significant diplomatic moment, with Xi visiting South Korea after 11 years and a formal bilateral summit scheduled on Saturday.
