ARTnews is a visual arts magazine, concentrating in New York City. It covers art history from ancient to modern times. It features news dispatches by professional correspondents, artistic reviews of current exhibitions, and personal profiles of various artists and collectors. It carries a variety of arts and crafts information, including new paintings and sculpture by contemporary artists, as well as new works by traditionalists. The magazine also features an annual Abstract Art fair. Other events that are regularly held include a reading series and a music concert.
Many people in the visual arts community are enthusiastic about the growth of art blogs, which have appeared in publications such as Wired and GQ. Art blogs are becoming increasingly popular in many cultures, as they allow for an independent form of artistic expression. Art blogs can be an excellent way to get first-hand information about trends in contemporary art and new art galleries, as well as to discover exciting new works by unknown artists. Many blogs offer commentaries by prominent figures in the art world.
For example, in NYPL’s publication, The New York Times, author David Cowen writes about the changing art world. According to Cowen, the most striking change in the art world in recent years has been the growth of “non-traditional” art forms. These include multimedia art and dance, sound art, as well as non-traditional commercial art.
In magazines including Wired, Matt Slattery discusses the growing trend of museums that exhibit work from artists outside the traditional US art world. He interviews renowned British photographer Susan Lordiwell to discuss her efforts to exhibit non-Western art in London. He speaks to the curators behind two of these museums, the Saachi Museum and the Tate Britain Gallery. He also speaks to critics who view these exhibits as a means of international exchange. According to Slattery, this has led to a new appreciation of art not so much based on aesthetic appreciation but as a means of exchange.
Artwork collectors and enthusiasts are also regularly updated on Twitter using the hash tag #artnews. This popular micro-blogging site allows art enthusiasts to follow the discussions happening within specific genres or art categories. The top 200 collectors are often discussed, as well as the list of the top twenty most famous collectors around. According to the site, which bases its information on the Sales Communication Association of America, these are the most prominent collectors in the visual arts field. It should be noted that this list is constantly updated, meaning it may vary from month to month.
Another important publication focusing on art collecting is American Collector, which is published by the American Institute of Professional Art. The magazine features a series of articles written by prominent collectors and art dealers. According to the publishers, this publication is an “evolving and constantly expanding” professional directory of information on art galleries, museums and dealers.
Finally, the Instagram account of the prestigious New York University School of Art was recently launched. The Instagram account offers users a chance to interact with curators and experts while taking a look at the latest art history finds and photos. The account is currently live and is accessible via a link located on the school’s website. New York University’s website also features a blog discussing art history.
There is no doubt that social media is a fast-paced medium that allows people to share and discover new things on a daily basis. Twitter is particularly useful for finding local events and galleries as well as learning about the most popular artists in one’s area. Facebook, along with various other sites, allow art enthusiasts to communicate more effectively. One of the most interesting factors about social media is that it allows us to connect with others outside of our own circles. This is what makes the New York Times’ art section so valuable; no matter how important academics are, their voice will be heard by someone outside of the art classroom, making the opinions and studies of others much more valuable than ever.
