Paris gallery cancels show of artist accused of plagiarising Basquiat

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Paris gallery cancels show of artist accused of plagiarising Basquiat | After online accusations that artist Guillaume Verda had plagiarised the style of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sakura Gallery in Paris has cancelled a solo show of the former’s work. Citing concern for ‘public safety’ after Guillaume received ‘a lot of hatred and threats’ online, the director of the gallery, Jean-Baptiste Simon, told France 24: ‘He’s not trying to hide, because he stands by his work. But he doesn’t want all the pressure of social media.’

Emma Son appointed senior director of Lehmann Maupin Seoul | Art News reports that Emma Son has been named senior director of Lehmann Maupin, the Korean branch of the gallery also located in New York and Hong Kong. Before starting at the gallery in 2017, Son worked at Kukje Gallery in Seoul and founded Gallery EM.

German man forgets Picasso ceramic on train | A German man left a Picasso jug on a train travelling from Kassel to Dusseldorf on 15 February, according to DW. Valued at €10,000, the original ceramic from the artist’s ‘Owl’ series dates to 1953, and was made at Picasso’s Madoura workshop in Vallauris, France. German police continue to search for the missing object.

‘Burn after purchase’ sculpture of Spanish king goes on sale at ARCO Madrid | The artists of a hyperreal statue of King Felipe VI have demanded that the work’s buyer must set fire to the piece within a year of purchase, reports El Pais. The sculpture by Santiago Sierra and Eugenio Merino is on sale for €200,000 with the Milan-based gallery Prometeo at ARCO art fair, which opens today in Madrid and runs until 3 March.