Alison Gingeras on the Art World in 2007

Every year, as the last few weeks of December creep up on us, there's always the inclination to look back on the past 300-and-some-odd days and pick out high points and low ones. In honor of this, a tradition that seems to have become as hallowed as champagne on New Year, Figure Painting has solicited the art world to submit their personal reflections on 2007. The first in this series of posts, which will run through next week, features selections from Alison Gingeras, the curator of billionaire luxury goods tycoon François Pinault's collection of contemporary art . Keep coming back for more.

Favorite Museum Exhibitions

Paul McCarthy, Head Shop/Shop Head, S.M.A.K., Gent, Belgium and Air Borne, Middelheim Sculpture Museum, Antwerp, Belgium

Favorite Gallery Show

Kai Althoff & Nick Z., We Are Better Friends For It, Barbara Gladstone Gallery

Best New Artist to Emerge in 2007

Rob Pruitt is not a "new artist," but I think his Flea Market at this year's Frieze Art Fair booth proved his status as one of the most underappreciated artists of his generation and created a generous forum to showcase a group of his artistic peers who have been an important part of the downtown New York art scene that has also been forgotten or passed over of late.

Defining Moment

The most significant moment was the Massachusetts court decision to side with MASS MoCA against Christoph Büchel in their nasty legal dispute over the completion of his Training Day for Democracy exhibition. This moment set a legal precedent that seriously endangers the authorial autonomy of the artist in this country — something that will have a major impact on artists for years to come.

Holiday Wish List

Charles Ray's Chicken

Charles Ray, Chicken, 2007, Photo Credit: Matthew Marks Gallery