Japanese artist Yasuo Sumi, a former member of the seminal Gutai art group, died of pneumonia on October 12. He was 90 years old.

Tokyo-based architectural firm SANAA has been selected by Sydney’s leading public art institution—the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW)—to build its AUD 450 million (USD 350 million) extension called the Sydney Modern Project.

On Sep 9, the Honolulu Biennial Foundation (HBF) announced the appointment of Fumio Nanjo as the curatorial director for the first Honolulu Biennial, slated to open fall 2016.

On July 10, the passing of On Kawara, a Japanese-born painter and conceptual artist, was confirmed by David Zwirner, the gallery which represented the artist since 1999, with an announcement posted on its website. He was 81 years old.

On March 24, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban was announced as the 2014 laureate for the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. The self-proclaimed “paper-architect” is recognized for his humanitarian practice, and innovative use of low-cost recyclable materials such as bamboo, fabric, fiber and paper tubes.

Ruth Aiko Asawa, a modernist sculptor and arts education advocate, known for weaving wire into intricate, abstract sculptures, died on August 6 at the age of 87.

Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Indian artist Nalini Malani have been named the 2013 laureates for the Fukuoka Arts and Culture Prize, awarded annually to promote exchange between the diverse regions of Asia.