Anthea Hartig to direct Smithsonian Museum of American History

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Anthea M. Hartig appointed director of Smithsonian Museum of American History | The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., has announced the appointment of Anthea M. Hartig as its new director. Hartig, who will be the museum’s first female director, currently serves as head of the California Historical Society. She will begin her role in February, succeeding John Gray, who retired in May.

Strasbourg Biennale postponed after Christmas market shooting | The inaugural edition of the Strasbourg Biennale was scheduled to open this weekend but has been postponed until 21 December, due to the fatal shooting that took place at the city’s Christmas market on Tuesday night. The incident took place a short walk from the biennale’s main venue of Hôtel des Postes. The suspect in the attack was shot dead by police yesterday evening following a manhunt. 

Subodh Gupta steps down as curator of Goa arts festival over sexual misconduct claims | The artist Subodh Gupta was accused of being a ‘serial sexual harasser’ in an online post written by an anonymous former co-worker. The allegations of ‘multiple inappropriate advances and unwanted touching’ directed at several young women he had worked with appeared on Scene and Herd, an Instagram account dedicated to exposing instances of sexual misconduct in the Indian art world. Gupta has denied the allegations ‘in their entirety’, according to The Hindu. He has stepped down from his role as curator of the 2018 Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, which opens tomorrow.

Recommended reading | Art historian T.J. Clark responds to the ‘once-in-a-lifetime feast’ of ‘Mantegna and Bellini’ at the National Gallery in the London Review of Books. In the Guardian, an obituary by Christine Judith Nicholls pays tribute to the Indigenous Australian artist Kwementyaye (Kathleen) Petyarre, who fought to preserve her legacy after her non-Indigenous partner took credit for her work. And in 4Columns the artist Amy Sillman reflects on the paintings, drawings and poisonous words of Eugène Delacroix.