Our most-talked-about stories in Art, Design & Style, and Performing Arts, January 30 - February 3, 2012:

ART

‑ ARTINFO was sad to report that legendary artist Mike Kelley died, an apparent suicide. We told the story behind Kelley’s upcoming project in the 2012 Whitney Biennial, while Anthony Papa described how the inclusion of his painting in one of Kelley’s projects helped free him from a 15-to-life prison sentence.

‑ In a lengthy feature, Julia Halperin explored how the pro-copyright ruling of the Richard Prince v. Patrick Cariou lawsuit is impacting artists and the possibilities of making appropriation-based work.

‑ Japanese art star Takashi Murakami spoke about his plans to make a monster movie for kids.

‑ Star curator Massimiliano Gioni, associate director of the New Museum and director of the critically acclaimed 2010 Gwangju Biennale, will curate the 2013 Venice Biennale.

‑ ARTINFO market reporter Shane Ferro reported on Andy Warhol’s upcoming BNY Mellon-sponsored trip to Asia, a career-spanning retrospective that will travel for two years.

FASHION & DESIGN

‑ Style editor Ann Binlot showed us the art spaces that New York City’s Fashion Week will be taking over in the coming days, from the Pace gallery to the Rubin museum.

‑ Janelle Zara picked six fun objects from the MoMA Design Store’s Spring/Summer season, including a USB laptop pal and a modernist alarm clock.

‑ We analyzed the best and worst of Paris Couture Week, calling out the good, the bad, and the dress that looks most like a swamp monster.

‑ A pier in St. Petersburg, Florida is getting a space-age facelift from architect Michael Maltzan.

‑ The big trend at this week's New York International Gift Fair was design items that riffed off of children's toys.

PERFORMING ARTS

‑ Performing arts editor Nick Catucci called out indie pop band OK Go for their “rote mediocrity” and attention-seeking stunts, also pointing out that the group will be featured during the Super Bowl this Sunday.

‑ Comedian Louis C.K. talked about his new sitcom pilot for CBS, and why it’s directed at  “the crappiest generation of spoiled idiots.”

‑ ARTINFO film correspondent Graham Fuller told us about “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” a magical-realist feature that he calls “the most evocative movie yet” to depict the wrath of Hurricane Katrina.

‑ We analyzed the trailer for “Game Change,” a forthcoming HBO movie about the 2008 presidential race featuring Julianne Moore's vivid turn as Sarah Palin.

‑ The list of art-related features at the 19th South by Southwest festival include movie portraits of photographer Gregory Crewdson and artist Wayne White, as well as a protest in favor of the art of making glass pipes — commonly viewed as just drug paraphernalia.