Francisco Toledo (1940–2019)

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Francisco Toledo (1940–2019) | Francisco Toledo, the Mexican artist, activist and philanthropist, has died at the age of 79. Raised in Juchitán, Oaxaca, Toledo studied during his teenage years under the painter Rufino Tamayo, before enrolling at the Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City. He rose to international prominence in the 1960s, drawing on the culture of the pre-Columbian Zapotec civilisation for his vivid paintings, sculptures, drawing, ceramics and tapestries. In addition to many exhibitions worldwide and an appearance at the Venice Biennale in 1997, Toledo was also known for his philanthropic dedication to the visual arts, founding the Institute for Graphic Arts in Oaxaca (Institute for Graphic Arts) in 1988 and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (MACO) in 1992.

Dario Franceschini reappointed as Italian culture minister | Dario Franceschini has been reappointed as culture minister in Italy’s new coalition government, which was sworn in last Thursday (5 September). Franceschini, of the centre-left Democratic Party, had previously held the role from 2014–18, during which time he introduced sweeping reforms to the museum system in Italy. In June 2018, he was replaced in the role by Alberto Bonisolo of the far-right League party, putting the Franceschini reforms – in particular the appointment of a number of non-Italian nationals as directors of national museums – in jeopardy.

Whitechapel Gallery announces winners of Art Book Awards | The winners of the Richard Schlagman Art Book Awards 2019 have been announced by the Whitechapel Gallery, London, in association with the Authors’ Club. Acknowledging excellence in publishing on art, architecture and design over the past year, the eight accolades were awarded to Hauser & Wirth, MACK, Museum of Modern Art New York, Phaidon Press, Serpentine Galleries and Vitra Design Museum.

Majority stake in BADA fair sold to Masterpiece founders | BADA (the British Antique Dealers’ Association) has sold a majority stake in its annual London art fair to Thomas Woodham-Smith and Harry van der Hoorn, the founders of the Masterpiece London Art Fair. Rebranded The Open Art Fair, the event will run next March at its usual location at Duke of York Square, King’s Road.