Will Gompertz Arts editor

01:45 UK time, Sunday, 9 June 2013

Will added analysis to:

Majestic finale for Colmcille return

Back in 2010 when Derry/ Londonderry won the UK City of Culture 2013 competition I admit to being a little sceptical. I thought there wasn't enough time and money available for this beautiful city built on the banks of the River Foyle to succeed.

I was wrong, my reservations misjudged. The people of Derry have responded to the challenge-cum-opportunity with flair, imagination and optimism. This weekend's events - shaped by the writer Frank Cottrell Boyce - were reminiscent of the opening ceremony of last year's Olympic Games (in which FCB had a hand), capturing the same spirit of participation, cultural celebration and storytelling; together with a similar off-beat sense of humour.

Read full article

09:20 UK time, Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Introducing the new Children's Laureate

The new Children's Laureate is Malorie Blackman - the bestselling author of the Noughts & Crosses series for teenage readers.

Blackman, 51, who takes over from Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson, is the eighth writer to become laureate.

Read full article

22:45 UK time, Sunday, 2 June 2013

Selling a Banksy

For nearly a year, the haunting image of a boy hunched over a sewing machine adorned the wall of a Poundland in north London.

It was attributed to the elusive street artist Banksy, supposedly his critique of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

16:54 UK time, Thursday, 30 May 2013

Outsider art is in

The big trend emerging from this year's Venice Biennale is that outsider art has become the latest art world fashion and passion.

Work that has been produced by unknown artists operating outside the established market and institutions with little or no formal training is being lauded by collector's dealers and curators here, as art that has a refreshing honesty and directness.

Read full article

18:02 UK time, Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Venice Biennale

It's been called The Olympics of Contemporary Art - the Venice Biennale launches this weekend, with exhibitions from 88 countries taking over the floating city.

Britain's controversial entry comes from the former Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller.

16:58 UK time, Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Will added analysis to:

Deller unveils Venice exhibition

Jeremy Deller is a 21st Century version of The Renaissance Man. His 15th Century counterpart was the master of many crafts. Deller - by his own admission - is not that great at any. Instead he comes up with the ideas and commissions, collaborates and curates the work of others into themed (normally socio-political) exhibitions or artworks.

It's an approach that is unlikely to go down well with the purist, or for that matter, the Queen. Her Majesty is the patron of the British Council - the commissioners of the Deller installation - and might be a little taken aback by the tone of some of the pieces, one of which obliquely alludes to Prince Harry.

Read full article

09:38 UK time, Thursday, 23 May 2013

Will added analysis to:

Constable masterpiece bought by Tate

£23.1m might be a record for a Constable but it's worth every penny: a bargain compared to what's being paid for some second rate modern art.

It is arguably the most accomplished work by one of the finest, most exciting painters of the Romantic period.

Read full article