“No One Is Safe” (2022) by Anna Delvey. Image courtesy of the Locker Room…
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Scam artist Anna Delvey appears via Zoom at a Miami party debuting her paintings.
“The 31-year-old scam-artist-turned-real-artist is stuck in her New York apartment on house arrest. But new examples of her artwork debuted at a secret party on Saturday in Miami. And Delvey—whose real name is Anna Sorokin—made an appearance via Zoom. Sponsored by the Locker Room, a Brooklyn gallery and “creative house,” the event marks the debut of a new series of works by Delvey, who adopted an art hobby while detained in a correctional facility this year. Back then, the would-be artist was working with colored pencils, pens, and paper—the only supplies allowed by the detention center workers. But since being released in October, Delvey has expanded her chest of tools: The event, dubbed the “House (Arrest) Party,” features four new acrylic paintings on canvas. Each artwork is a self-portrait, with Delvey decked out in chic silhouettes against marbled backdrops.” [H/T Artnet News]
Ashley Bickerton, whose beguiling body of work lampooned consumerism, dies at 63.
“Ashley Bickerton, an artist who became the toast of the New York art world in the 1980s, only to depart the scene during the ’90s, died on Wednesday at 63 in Bali. Last year, he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which impacts the nervous system and can prove debilitating. Gagosian is planning a show of his work for 2023. During the ’80s, Bickerton became known for a beguiling body of work that parodied consumerist impulses. He made mixed-media pieces that he termed self-portraits, yet they were composed of logos for TV channels, car companies, cigarette manufacturers, and more. Yet as his style shifted, he began to elude critics, and in the early ’90s, he left the city altogether, departing for Bali, where he continued to operate a studio up until the end of his career.” [H/T ARTnews]
Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar, designed by Foster + Partners. Photography by Nigel Young…
Despite claims of 6,500 migrant worker deaths, Qatar estimates the number to be 400.
“The secretary-general of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has said that at least 400 migrant workers died building the World Cup. In an interview with presenter Piers Morgan, World Cup Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy secretary-general Hassan al-Thawadi was asked what “realistic total” of migrant workers died as a result of work they’re doing for the World Cup. “The estimate is around 400, between 400 and 500,” Al-Thawadi said. “I don’t have the exact number.” The World Cup has been overshadowed by reports of human rights abuses connected to the large numbers of migrant workers who constructed the eight World Cup stadiums and associated infrastructure. In 2021, the Guardian reported that 6,500 migrant workers had died in the country since 2010.” [H/T Dezeen]
A new lawsuit accuses billionaire investor and MoMA trustee Leon Black of rape.
“A struggling single mom says she was brutally raped by billionaire Leon Black at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York City mansion, alleging the legendary investor’s assault made it difficult to urinate for “several weeks” afterward. Cheri Pierson, who lived in New Jersey at the time, claims she was first introduced to Epstein by his former girlfriend, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, after which she was handed off to Black. Pierson, who now resides in Virginia, came forward for the first time in a lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court against Black and the late Epstein’s estate, accusing the Apollo Global Management founder of overpowering her while she gave him a massage in early 2002.” [H/T The Daily Beast]
A number of white LED streetlights in Vancouver have been turning vaporwave purple.
“For years, Vancouver has been transitioning their streetlights to LED lighting to improve nighttime visibility and reduce energy use. Recently, a growing number of white-colored LEDs have very noticeably taken on a deep purple glow. The transition from the hue of white to purple does not happen overnight, but rather it is gradual. And it turns out this is certainly not intentional, but rather a defect of the LED streetlights. LEDs have a phosphor coating that gives the light emitted the right color. However, when this coating comes off or is damaged, the color of the light changes. Vancouver is among the adopters of LED streetlights, and it is also attributing its purple streetlights to a failure of the coating.” [H/T Daily Hive]
The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned sea. Image courtesy Rolex SA…
Rolex will issue certificates of authenticity to dealers selling pre-owned watches.
“Rolex will begin issuing certificates of authenticity to authorized dealers selling its pre-owned watches in a move that will give the Swiss company more oversight of its products and shake up the $20 billion market for secondhand luxury timepieces. Swiss dealer Bucherer will be the first to begin selling pre-owned Rolex watches that are certified as authentic by the company at stores across Europe, Rolex said on its website.” [H/T Bloomberg]
Oxford unexpectedly yet appropriately picks “Goblin Mode” as the Word of the Year.
“A year ago, the lexicographic grandees at Oxford Languages dutifully stuck out their arms and chose “vax” as the 2021 Word of the Year. But this year, the venerable publisher behind the Oxford English Dictionary has gone full goblin mode. “Goblin mode”—a slang term referring to “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms”—has been named Oxford’s 2022 Word of the Year. Following a landslide online popular vote, an in-joke that surged to prominence thanks to a satirical viral tweet involving an actress, a rapper, and a doctored headline has been named 2022’s One Word to Rule Them All.” [H/T The New York Times]
Image via Center for Urban Malfeasance…
Today’s attractive distractions:
Rolls-Royce and EasyJet are testing a 100 percent hydrogen-fueled jet engine.
Cardi B reveals she was paid $1 million for her 35-minute set during Art Basel.
Nylon commiserates with three women whose partners are obsessed with NFTs.
One of Doha’s World Cup stadiums has been reimagined as a personal sex toy.
