Trump Challenges Smithsonian, Moca Shuts Down Geffen Branch Due to Protests, Rumors Swirl About Putin's Daughter's Art Deals: Daily Links for June 10, 2025
The Smithsonian Institution has recently affirmed its independence following a perceived attempt by former President Donald Trump to exert control over the institution. This comes after the resignation of Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery, on June 13, 2025.
Contrary to Trump's claim that he "fired" Sajet, the Smithsonian clarified that all personnel decisions, including Sajet's resignation, are made by its Secretary and overseen by the Board of Regents, not the president. A statement emphasized that the Board supports the Secretary's authority and is committed to ensuring the Smithsonian operates free from political or partisan influence.
This affirmation of independence comes amidst a series of political pressures faced by the Smithsonian. Trump's administration attempted to remove what he described as "improper ideology" from Smithsonian museums, leading to reviews and changes such as the removal of references to Trump's impeachments from exhibits and disputes over exhibition content.
However, the Smithsonian leadership asserts that its work will continue to be driven by scholarship free of partisanship. The institution remains dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, promoting scholarship, research, and public understanding of the arts and sciences.
Meanwhile, in the world of art, several notable developments are taking place. An 11-inch Auguste Rodin sculpture titled Despair (1892), long-thought to be a copy, recently sold for about $1 million. However, the Comite Rodin, the leading authority on Auguste Rodin, has confirmed that the sculpture went missing after it was sold at auction in 1906.
In other news, Kenyan-American artist Wangechi Mutu's solo show at the Galleria Borghese in Rome will feature works suspended from the ceiling, leaving "negative space" for visitors to float through. Mutu's artmaking approach, informed by growing up under a dictatorship, is aimed at being rebellious without being noticed, and lifting the lid on dangerous fictions about Europe and Africa.
Elizaveta Krivonogikh, a young artist interning at Alexandre Vichnevsky's two spaces, L Galerie and Studio Albatros, following studies at Icart, a private art school in Paris, is also making waves in the art world. Despite recent speculations, President Putin has denied that Krivonogikh is his daughter from an alleged extramarital affair with Svetlana Krivonogikh.
In Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) established the Ramsay Art Prize biennial acquisition award in 2017, considered the country's most illustrious honor for an artist under 40. This year, Sydney-based artist Jack Ball has won the prize worth AUD$100,000 for his large, multimedia installation, Heavy Grit (2024).
Sydney Contemporary is debuting a new photography section called Photo Sydney in response to collector demand. Photo Sydney, part of Sydney Contemporary, will offer a dedicated platform for established and emerging voices in contemporary photography.
Lastly, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has launched a new artist residency in collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin. The focus of the residency is on artists whose practice incorporates craft or artisanal materials and methods. The three artists selected for the inaugural edition are Aspen Golann, Ibrahim Said, and Joy Harvey.
In a separate incident, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles closed its Geffen branch due to the presence of National Guard soldiers and law enforcement clashes with anti-ICE protesters.
These developments serve as a testament to the vibrant and ever-evolving world of art and culture, even amidst political pressures and challenges.
- The Smithsonian Institution, following Sajet's resignation, affirmed its independence despite Trump's attempts to exert control.
- Trump's administration attempted to remove perceived improper ideology from Smithsonian museums, leading to disagreements over exhibition content.
- The Smithsonian remains dedicated to promoting scholarship uninfluenced by politics, fostering diversity, and increasing public understanding of the arts and sciences.
- An 11-inch Rodin sculpture, believed to be a copy, recently sold for $1 million but was later confirmed missing from an auction in 1906.
- In Rome, Wangechi Mutu's contemporary art exhibition at the Galleria Borghese will feature works suspended from the ceiling, focusing on rebelling against dangerous fictions about Europe and Africa.
- Emerging artist Elizaveta Krivonogikh, interning at Alexandre Vichnevsky's spaces, is gaining attention in the art world without confirmation of her connection to Russian President Putin.
- The Art Gallery of South Australia awarded the Ramsay Art Prize, the country's most prestigious honor for young artists, to Sydney-based artist Jack Ball for his multimedia installation, Heavy Grit, in 2024.
