Hyperallergic Daily Newsletter: Joan Semmel at 93, Hungarian Art After Orbán, Giacometti at The Met
Joan Semmel, 93, continues her portrait painting practice from her Manhattan studio, with demand for her work rising. A profile by Aaron Short with photos by Hrag Vartanian captures her defiant spirit. Following the Tisza party's electoral victory over Viktor Orbán, ending 16 years of authoritarian rule in Hungary, curator Veronika Molnár examines the period of silence and censorship in Hungarian art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present Alberto Giacometti's sculptures inside its Temple of Dendur this summer. A long-lost Harry Bertoia sculpture has resurfaced in Detroit. Lebanese artist Tania El Khoury, living in Beirut under bombardment, discusses her multisensory practice with Hadley Suter. British painter Celia Paul shares thoughts on her studio in a 'View From the Easel' feature. A sponsored section highlights 'Maria Britton: Second Sleep' at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and 'Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds' at the Jewish Museum through July 26, 2026. Claudia Gibson-Hunter comments on the value of art fairs for artists. An archive piece focuses on Celia Paul's new monograph.
Key facts
- Joan Semmel is 93 years old and works from her Manhattan studio.
- The Tisza opposition party defeated Viktor Orbán in a Hungarian election, ending 16 years of rule.
- Veronika Molnár is a Hungarian curator based in New York.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present Alberto Giacometti sculptures in the Temple of Dendur this summer.
- A previously lost Harry Bertoia sculpture has been found in Detroit.
- Tania El Khoury is a Lebanese artist and Bard College professor living in Beirut.
- Celia Paul is a British painter featured in 'A View From the Easel'.
- The Jewish Museum's Paul Klee exhibition runs through July 26, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Joan Semmel
- Aaron Short
- Hrag Vartanian
- Viktor Orbán
- Veronika Molnár
- Hadley Suter
- Tania El Khoury
- Celia Paul
- Alberto Giacometti
- Harry Bertoia
- Maria Britton
- Paul Klee
- Zsuzsi Simon
- Claudia Gibson-Hunter
- Paddy Johnson
- Eliza Goodpasture
- Valentina Di Liscia
- Gisele Freund
Institutions
- Hyperallergic
- Tisza
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Bard College
- Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art
- College of Charleston
- Jewish Museum
- Victoria Miro
- MACK
Locations
- Manhattan
- Spring Street
- Hungary
- New York
- United States
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Detroit
- Switzerland
- Egypt
- Charleston