I'm guessing it's Rachel Whiteread with Golden Lion (Venice Biennale). But there're 6 letters in lion.

I've to check for the rest of the clue.

Probably Trafalgars Square in London.

Never mind. It's Trafalgar Square, so that's 9 letters rather than 10. I'm checking the rest of the clue.

Never mind.

It's Louise Bourgeois with her signature spider.

A little right, mostly wrong. :)

Guess we posted the same time. Now you're on the right track.

Maman at Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

She did win the Golden Lion, I think. Is this the prize you're looking for, yk?

Trying to be tricky. Yes, it's the Golden Lion, or Leone d'Oro.

Clue: This relic/monument (2 words: 3, 5) and, at times, its surrounding building span a very long history.

Finally basically a new building was recently built and the old one built under (person: 9 letters) was demolished. The inauguration took place recently on a special day.

5th letter of person = "l"

That's lowercase "l" (i.e. "L") from Louise.

Hint: The building was inaugurated on what has traditionally been regarded as the city's birthday. The city takes its name after its founder. The relic is about 2000 years old.

Actually, it's unclear to me whether the relic is original or a reproduction. Probably mostly the latter, built within the last century.

Did you miscount again? (The person - shouldn't it be 10 letters?)

Ara Pacis (in Rome)
New bldg by Richard Meier, old bldg built during Mussolini's reign.

[I thought of Mussolini last night, but discarded that after seeing the count was wrong! X(]

What? Doesn't Mussolini have 9 letters? And I said 9 letters.

Oh, sorry -- it's the 6th letter that's ell. Sorry about that.

The Richard Meier building should be interesting to see. I'll have to remember for the next visit to Rome.

I guess I can't count either! But you did have the "L" in the wrong spot.

Does that mean I have to come up witha new clue? Where's starrsville?

I don't know where starrsville is. You might as well give a clue to keep this thread going. Is anyone else even playing?

I sent you an e-mail with some links to NYT articles, by the way. I think you'll be interested in reading them if you haven't already.

Inspired by 111op's previous clue:

This city (7, "s" is 4th letter) is celebrating a major birthday this year.

One of the city's most famous building/skyline (12), destroyed in WWII, has been rebuilt and reopened last year.

Before its destruction, the building was home to a (musical instrument: 5) which was once played by (composer: 4).

Dresden
Frauenkirche
Organ
Bach

too easy, I guess?