Roundup: James Franco talks art; Mark Bradford to head to Venice; the art world’s golden toilet

An L.A. artist will represent the U.S. in Venice. The Panama Papers continue to expose art world shenanigans. And George Lucas’ Chicago museum is no sure thing — despite a possible new location. Plus, the Guggenheim suspends labor talks over construction of its Abu Dhabi show palace, an artist makes a golden toilet, and James Franco wishes his celebrity would stop overshadowing his art. Here’s the Roundup:

— L.A. painter Mark Bradford to represent the United States at the next Venice Biennale.

— LACMA’s Collectors Committee went shopping this past weekend and picked up a pretty thrilling array of works, from a colonial Mexican painting to late ‘60s pop (by a woman!). William Poundstone parses the haul.

— The Panama Papers leaks continue to be felt across the art world: As a result of the leaks, a Modigliani canvas has been seized by Swiss authorities since it may have been looted by the Nazis. There are also fresh reports that Louise Blouin, who owns art media outlets such as Modern Painters and Blouin Artinfo, reportedly keeps a number of offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands. Hyperallergic rounds up other arty figures implicated in the scandal.

— “I am terribly sorry for anybody who [says they have been] hurt or damaged.… But let me be clear, this is [about] works of art. I didn’t slay anybody’s first-born. We have to have some perspective on suffering.” — Ann Freedman, former director of the Knoedler Gallery, the now defunct Manhattan gallery that faced (and still faces) a number of legal cases over the sale of forged Abstract Expressionist paintings.

— George Lucas’ Chicago museum isn’t dead yet. His first choice for a lakefront site may be tied up in legal wrangling, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel has come up with a plan to build it on the site of the city’s old convention center. The move, however, may require more money and political will than the city has.

— The Guggenheim Museum has broken off talks with the Gulf Labor Coalition about setting standards for worker conditions on the museum’s upcoming outpost in in the Middle East.

— All of this is going down as the Gugg installs a gold toilet designed by artist Maurizio Cattelan (which is funded by private donors). It’s like the art world is an episode of Dynasty mixed with an issue of the Robb Report and gently seasoned with Sprockets.

— Sort of related: The company belonging to super agent Ari Emanuel has invested in the Frieze Art Fair. Who says Hollywood doesn’t care about art? Certainly not if there is money to be made from it.

The funeral for internationally renowned Malian photographer Malick Sidibe was held in Bamako on Saturday.

(Habibou Kouyate / AFP/Getty Images)

— Pop, color field painter Richard Smith and beloved Malian photographer Malick Sidibé have died.

— “You choose from what you have and you choose from what you find within a reality that is forced upon you.” John Outterbridge speaks with writer and critic Shana Nys Dambrot about his work in a rare interview.

— Critic Jerry Saltz has an interview (a.k.a. a rambling broment) with actor James Franco about art and fame and fame and art and some other footnoted stuff about art that isn’t really about art.

— A sculpture that crosses the border.

— A terrific tale of a naughty French noble who transformed into a recognized artist. This story about sculptor Niki de Sainte Phalle is long but worth it.

— Anaheim now has its very own alien museum. I do believe this qualifies as art.

— Pennsylvania neighbors rally to save a home designed by architect Louis Kahn.

People stand on top of one of the sails that make up Jørn Utzon’s Sydney Opera House in February.

(William West / AFP/Getty Images)

— A tapestry by Le Corbusier goes to the Sydney Opera House — 58 years after it was first commissioned.

— Boring architecture may take a toll on our psyche.

— Sort of related: A highly intriguing photo essay and interview in Roads & Kingdoms features the work of photographer Laurent Kronental, who has spent time documenting the “Grands Ensembles” of France, supersized Modern and brutalist housing projects.

— Plus, KCRW’s Frances Anderton has a fascinating look at the woman who helped sell Hitler to the world through the design of his homes.

— Last but not least: Jerry Saltz gives Artforum an informal yellow notepad critique.

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