Comment
Is investing in the past the way of the future?
A new report by Historic England claims that investing in heritage will boost the economies of struggling English towns – but how reliable are the means of measurement?
In praise of the cat ladies of contemporary art
Hettie Judah considers how artists such as Tracey Emin and Kiki Smith have represented the sacred bond between women and their cats
Are commercial galleries getting tired of visitors?
Some of the major galleries are cutting public-facing jobs, but making their physical and virtual sites less approachable could have unintended consequences
What are art fairs really for?
Piling into an exhibition hall to see as much art as possible in a short space of time is few people’s idea of a good time, but the most resourceful fairs provide some worthwhile surprises
It’s time for the government of London to return to its rightful home
Norman Foster’s City Hall has been denied listed status a second time. But the more important question is: when will the capital be run from County Hall again?
Notre-Dame shows that there is nothing permanent about stained glass
The controversial proposal to put contemporary stained glass into the cathedral is part of a centuries-long debate about a surprisingly mutable material
Lust for life – the art of Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland
Pleasure is a point of principle at Studio Voltaire’s exhibition of works by the two artists
The dealers who are turning art fairs into more domestic affairs
Jeffrey Deitch’s pleasingly homely booth at Art Basel this year reflects the tastes of a new generation of buyers – but is the loss of connoisseurship a price worth paying?
Do any political parties have a vision for the arts?
Power is set to change hands next month in Downing Street, but whether that will be enough to fix Britain’s funding of the arts is another matter
Should UK museums start charging entry fees again?
Keeping the national museums free to enter comes with significant hidden costs, but admission fees are not the answer
Why London’s auction houses are feeling so flat
With cancelled sales and market uncertainty, Christie’s and Sotheby’s have been taking hammer blows in recent months – but it’s not just a London problem
Should permanent collections tell up-to-the-minute stories?
Museums often have a responsibility to reflect major events, but should be careful not to disregard seemingly smaller stories
The women who channelled violence into art
Chantal Akerman and Valie Export have both deployed aggression as a means of artistic expression
‘This is to art what constitutional monarchy is to kingship’ – Jonathan Yeo’s portrait of Charles III, reviewed
The painting perfectly captures the essence of royalty today – it’s undeniably attention-grabbing, but hollow to the core
‘I am every conservator’s nightmare – that person who wants to touch the art’
Seeing art is often a purely visual experience, but we shouldn’t be afraid of exploring our other senses in the gallery
What Frank Stella saw – and what he made us see
The painter who began as a master of modernist abstraction kept reinventing himself right until the end
Has arts punditry become a perk for politicos?
It seems as if arts criticism is becoming a treat for political journalists – but perhaps the job should be treated a little more seriously
Has the Fitzwilliam still got the hang of things?
Though some regard it as provocative, it’s fairer to say that the museum’s sprucing-up of its paintings galleries is thought-provoking
Why are fathers so absent from art history?
Artists over the centuries have often depicted women as mothers, but where are all the deadbeat dads?
Museums should do more to cater for autistic people
Immersive and interactive exhibitions can be uncomfortable for neurodivergent visitors, but if galleries made more of an effort, everyone would benefit
Richard Serra, man of steel (1938–2024)
The sculptor saw possibilities in steel that no one else had before, creating works that altered viewers’ perception of space
Don’t fear the gatekeeper
Artists may distrust intermediaries but it would be more difficult for anyone to get noticed in the art world without them
‘Truly the end of an era’ – a tribute to Jacob Rothschild (1936–2024)
The financier and philanthropist’s greatest achievement may have been his service to the arts, at Waddesdon Manor and as chair of the National Gallery
Podcast
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Master of art – the towering legacy of David Sylvester
Born 100 years ago this month, the critic exerted an outsize influence on artists and tastemakers alike – and he still has much to teach us