The 25 Biggest Art Moments of 2012 

Theft, vandalism, films, and everything in between.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The art world encompasses a higher high and a lower low than it ever has before, which makes it difficult to put together a list like the biggest art moments of the year. Once we started thinking about it, we realized that the past twelve months have been controversial, exciting, and groundbreaking for a number of reasons, whether through the re-opening of museums and museum wings or events that crossed over into politics or pop culture. In any case, there's something for everyone in this list of The 25 Biggest Art Moments of 2012, which may or may not have to be altered before the official year's end.

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25. GIF Named Word of the Year

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24. David Hockney Says Tobacco Is Delicious

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23. Philadelphia's Barnes Museum Re-Opens

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22. Hurricane Sandy Delivers Devastating Blow to NYC Art Galleries

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21. Legendary Art Collector Herb Vogel Dies

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20. Damien Hirst's Spot Challenge

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19. Glenn Beck Dunks An Obama Figuring Into a Jar of Pee

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18. Tate Modern's Chief Curator Sheena Wagstaff Joins the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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17. The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Re-Opens

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16. David Choe Reveals His $200 Million Facebook Stock Options

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15. The Rotterdam Art Heist

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14. SABER Does an Aerial Graffiti Campaign in NYC

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13. Sprinter Usain Bolt Steals Camera and Takes Photos After Winning Olympic Race

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12. Ai Weiwei "Never Sorry" Documentary Released

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11. Artsy Launches to the Public

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10. Obama's Campaign Secretary Brilliantly Name-Drops Salvador Dalí

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9. Louvre Opens Satellite Museum in Lens, France

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8. Artists Resign From Board at Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles

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7. Street Art Goes Mainstream

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6. Mitt Romney vs. Big Bird

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5. Christie's Has Record-Breaking Contemporary Art Auction

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4. Rothko Vandalism at the Tate Modern

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3. ArtReview Releases Power 100 List for 2012

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2. Islamic Art Wing Opens at the Louvre

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1. Ai Weiwei Parodies Psy's "Gangnam Style"

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