Horowitz had served as The Armory Show’s govt director since 2011, having launched the online-only VIP Art Fair earlier than that. He is credited with putting The Armory Show back on the art-world map by dramatically lowering the number of galleries taking part and upping the standard of the fair’s programming. As Iceland’s consultant on the Venice Biennale, artist Christoph Büchel remodeled the city’s Santa Maria della Misericordia, a former church, into a mosque. The challenging project raised questions about European xenophobia, the historical Art News remedy of Muslims in Italy and Iceland, and whether or not “art” can lengthen to a fully functioning place of worship. Authorities shuttered the project towards the top of May, citing numerous points corresponding to incorrect permits and overcapacity occupancy. The transfer was shocking considering that Smith had no expertise within the auction business before taking the helm of the 270-year-old auction house.
Prime …