Richard Meier takes leave of absence after sexual harassment allegations

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Richard Meier takes leave of absence after allegations of sexual harassment | Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier has announced that he is to take a six-month-long leave of absence from his firm, reports ArtNet. Meier’s decision follows a New York Times report in which five women accused the architect of several instances of sexual misconduct. Four associate partners in the firm will oversee its day-to-day operations, and Michael Palladino, a partner and head of the Los Angeles office, will oversee all of the firm’s projects. ArtNews reports Sotheby’s has decided to close the exhibition of the Meier’s collages that has been showing in its S2 Gallery in New York.

Helen Molesworth fired as the chief curator at LA MOCA | The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles has dismissed its chief curator, Helen Molesworth. According to the LA Times, an email sent to museum trustees on Monday stated that Molesworth was stepping down from her position with immediate effect, but the artist Catherine Opie, a member of the museum’s board of trustees, claimed that she had been fired for ‘undermining the museum’.

Michelangelo Pistoletto receives Roswitha Haftmann Prize | The artist Michelangelo Pistoletto has been awarded the 2018 Roswitha Haftmann Prize in recognition of his groundbreaking work over the past five decades. The CHF 150,000 prize is intended to recognise artists seen as having created ‘an oeuvre of outstanding quality’, and has been awarded annually since 2001. Pistoletto will receive the prize in an official ceremony at the Kunsthaus Zürich.

Waddington Custot to represent Jedd Novatt | London gallery Waddington Custot has announced that it is now representing the American artist Jedd Novatt. The artist, who is best known for his monumental sculptures, will present a series of new works at the gallery in November 2018.