Cutting to the chase for those of you have had experience with the Apple Studio Display can it effectively be used in a color critical environment such as proofing artwork, paintings etc.
While I haven't used an Apple Studio Display, I've looked at its calibration capability and compatibility. I do have a good deal of professional experience in the field of art reproduction (flat art, textiles, sculpture) and other color critical environments (primarily commercial advertising photography). Given the current limitations of the Apple Studio Display for hardware calibration, I cannot imagine any experienced user choosing this model for editing or "proofing" in a repro environment. Frankly, I wouldn't use any display that isn't easily calibrated as my capture monitor in that environment either. When it comes to color critical, art reproduction is especially critical.
I think its a fine choice for consumers looking for a monitor with great aesthetic appeal in its design, accurate color, wide color gamut, good sound, and ease of use. So, if it has good color accuracy and a reasonably wide gamut, why would I not consider it appropriate for the kind of art repro use you describe? Because faith doesn't cut it in a color critical environment.
The color accuracy, neutrality, brightness, and contrast of the display's actual output need to be
verified thru calibration measurements. In a professional color critical environment, there will likely be a schedule for calibration and validation as well as record keeping that accompany those calibrations. Software that can produce display calibration which is validated to set standards and which will record and maintain a calibration history make those tasks easier.
As I've said before, if you're working in a closed loop environment of your own — capturing, editing, and printing your own work — you can do as you like in whatever way works for you. You can choose to operate on faith in receiving a display with good factory calibration that's accurate for the life of the display. If that works to your satisfaction then it's all good.
Where others are involved with your work like: artists, or pre-press and press operators, art directors, producers, editors, etc. then you will most likely want and need regular verification thru calibration measurements of the display's actual output. Apple marketing and claims made in online forums notwithstanding, that's been my experience as to how it works in real life. In my personal opinion, its a great display for a great many people and uses; but, it has limitations which make it less desirable for other applications like the ones that I've described.