Pioneering Kinetic Artist Julio Le Parc Dies Aged 97—and More Art Industry News

Argentine kinetic and optical art pioneer Julio Le Parc has died at age 97. In other art industry news, François-Henri Pinault has been appointed board chairman of Christie's; Art Basel Paris returns to the Grand Palais for its fifth edition under new director Karim Crippa; Tiwani Contemporary has permanently closed its London gallery; Gehry Partners will design a major renovation of the Getty Center; and the estate of Ansel Adams has spoken out against an unauthorized AI-colorized version of his photograph. The weekly roundup also covers auction highlights, including a T. rex fossil expected to fetch up to $30 million at Sotheby's, and the launch of new art fairs and residency programs.

Someone Stole Maurizio Cattelan’s Banana, and the Centre Pompidou-Metz Is Pressing Charges

On Saturday, the Centre Pompidou-Metz announced that Maurizio Cattelan's iconic artwork *Comedian*—a banana duct-taped to a wall—was stolen from the museum. Staff quickly replaced the fruit with a fresh banana and tape, as is routine every three days. The museum filed a legal complaint against unknown persons, marking the second such incident at the venue after a previous theft in 2024. The artwork's value resides in its certificate of authenticity and presentation protocol, not the perishable banana itself.

Smithsonian Women’s Museum chaos, Oliver Beer and Rufus Wainwright, Jasper Johns in Bilbao—podcast

This episode of The Art Newspaper's podcast 'The Week in Art' covers three main stories. Host Ben Luke discusses the US House of Representatives striking down a bill to build the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall, a setback amid broader government interference at the Smithsonian under President Trump. He also interviews artist Oliver Beer and musician Rufus Wainwright about their collaboration for Beer's exhibition 'The Sky in the Cave' at Thaddaeus Ropac during London Gallery Weekend, and examines Jasper Johns's painting 'Painting with Two Balls' (1960), featured in the retrospective 'Night Driver' at the Guggenheim Bilbao.

Gala Season! Shaggy and Jewel Hit the Whitney, Henry Taylor and Pharrell Toast Gordon Parks, and More Juicy Art-World Gossip

Artnet News' gossip column "Wet Paint" reports on the Whitney Museum's 2026 annual gala, a major fundraising event. The author describes the scene: donors and celebrities like Jewel, Neil Patrick Harris, and Nigel Barker mingled with artists Julie Mehretu (the honoree) and Glenn Ligon. Notably, the 56 artists in the current Whitney Biennial were not invited due to limited seating, a policy confirmed by the museum. The evening raised $6.3 million, with individual seats costing $7,500.

The True Crime Story of a Notorious Looter

Hyperallergic reports on a new book, Matthew Campbell's 'The Man Who Stole the Gods' (2026), which centers on British dealer Douglas Latchford, who trafficked looted Cambodian antiquities on a massive scale before his death in 2020. Latchford sold objects to institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the book examines the criminal network that supplied and transported these works, as well as the museum professionals and scholars who enabled it. The article also covers Frank Stella's collection of Diné (Navajo) textiles, now on view for the first time at Arader Galleries in New York, alongside an obituary for abstract painter Jay Milder, who died at age 92.

Art Movements: Wolfgang Tillmans Wins Europe's Richest Art Prize

Wolfgang Tillmans has been awarded the Roswitha Haftmann Prize, Europe's largest monetary award for living visual artists, worth CHF 150,000 (~$191,361). The prize, established in 2001 in honor of Swiss art dealer Roswitha Haftmann and administered by Kunsthaus Zürich, recognizes Tillmans for his artistic oeuvre and social commitment. In other news, Cheryl Finley was named the 2026 recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize from the High Museum of Art, and El Museo del Barrio will honor Isabel and Agustín Coppel, J Balvin, and Estrellita Brodsky with its Tony Bechara Legacy Award. Additionally, Art Basel announced over 200 exhibitors for its Paris fair, and Jack White's first public exhibition of his visual artwork will open at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery on May 29.

Husband of Gallerist Brent Sikkema Found Guilty of Ordering His Killing

A federal jury in Manhattan found Daniel Sikkema guilty of hiring a hit man to murder his estranged husband, esteemed New York gallerist Brent Sikkema. The killing occurred in January 2024, when Brent Sikkema was stabbed to death in his Rio de Janeiro vacation home. The hit man, Alejandro Triana Trevez, a former security guard for the couple, testified that Daniel paid him over $10,000 for the murder. Daniel Sikkema, who denied the charges, now faces a mandatory life sentence and has said he will appeal.

Maurizio Cattelan’s Infamous Banana Vanishes. Again

Maurizio Cattelan's banana sculpture *Comedian* (2019) was stolen again from the Centre Pompidou-Metz in France, where it is on view in the exhibition "Dimanche Sans Fin." The thief remains at large, and the museum quickly replaced the banana per the artist's protocol. This marks the second incident at the same venue; a previous visitor ate the fruit in 2025. The work has a history of being consumed, starting with performance artist David Daturna at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, followed by a Seoul art student, and later by crypto billionaire Justin Sun after he bought the piece for $6.2 million at Sotheby's in 2024.

Gone bananas: Cattelan's Comedian stolen from Centre Pompidou-Metz exhibition

Maurizio Cattelan's iconic artwork *Comedian* (2019)—a banana duct-taped to a wall—was stolen from the Centre Pompidou-Metz in northern France on May 30. The museum reported the theft, filed a complaint, and quickly replaced the banana, restoring the work to its original presentation. The perpetrators remain unknown, and the museum emphasized that the work's value lies in its certificate of authenticity and display protocol, not the perishable fruit.

Maurizio Cattelan’s Banana Stolen from Centre Pompidou-Metz

The banana from Maurizio Cattelan's artwork *Comedian* (2019) was stolen from the Centre Pompidou-Metz in Metz, France, where it was on display as part of the exhibition “Endless Sunday: A Living Exhibition in Perpetual Motion.” A photograph dated May 30 shows only a mangled strip of duct tape on the wall. The museum stated that the work's value lies in its certificate of authenticity and presentation protocol, not the perishable banana, which is replaced every three days per the artist's instructions. The institution condemned the act as undermining respect for works on display.

It's Art-World Summer in NYC

Hyperallergic's New York newsletter celebrates the unofficial start of summer in the art world, highlighting key exhibitions and events. These include Betye Saar's personal collection of Black dolls on view at the New York Historical, a promised gift for her 100th birthday; Roberto Lugo's hand-painted portraits in Madison Square Park; and Pioneer Works's annual 3D-printed boat regatta. The newsletter also features performance artist Linda Mary Montano's home-shrine tour, an MFA show confronting Columbia University over Gaza, and critical reviews of Ceija Stojka at the Drawing Center and Karla Knight at Andrew Edlin Gallery.

Haegue Yang’s Meditations on Exile

Haegue Yang's exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, uses Venetian blinds to explore themes of exile, division, and asymmetry, as reviewed by Alex Paik. The article also covers a separate exhibition at The Huntington Library juxtaposing the personal effects of Charlotte Brontë and Octavia E. Butler, a controversy over AI-colorized Ansel Adams photos sold by gallerist James Danziger, a statue of a Revolutionary War officer who enslaved people installed at Freedom Plaza, and the death of Miami graffiti legend Eric Alan Hirt (Eson).

Artists Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian to Launch New Residency Program in Menorca

Artists Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian are launching a new residency program called The Residency at Casa Gràcia on the island of Menorca, set to begin next spring. The self-directed residencies, open to three artists and two writers per cohort, require no public presentation or outcome. Applications are open until July 31, with an advisory board including Hank Willis Thomas, Colson Whitehead, and representatives from Hauser & Wirth. The historic Casa Gràcia, built in 1860 and recently renovated by Laplace and Maimó&Brosa, features a studio, study, and walled garden in Mahon.

Brazilian Police Believe They Have Identified Architect of Matisse Theft at Biblioteca Mário de Andrade

Brazilian police have identified Laéssio Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva as the alleged mastermind behind the December 2025 theft of eight Henri Matisse prints and five Cândido Portinari illustrations from the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade in São Paulo, Brazil's second-largest library. The heist occurred on the final day of the exhibition “From Book to Museum,” organized with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art; two armed men held a guard and an elderly couple at gunpoint before fleeing with the works. Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva, already in custody for a separate attempted theft, is described by investigators as a longtime rare-book thief who allegedly coordinated the operation through intermediaries. Two other suspects have been arrested, but one gunman remains at large and the artworks have not been recovered.

This ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ Miffy Toy Is Officially an Internet Celebrity

A Miffy plush toy styled after Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" has gone viral on X after appearing at a press conference held by the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka. The toy, dubbed "Miffy with a Pearl Earring," was introduced as the official ambassador for the painting's upcoming loan to Japan, marking its first trip beyond the Netherlands in over a decade. The press conference in Tokyo featured a giant version of the toy alongside museum officials, drawing widespread social media attention and praise from figures like journalist Heidi N. Moore.

Getty Center reveals details of upcoming campus renovations

The Getty Center in Los Angeles has announced preliminary details of a major campus renovation project expected to cost between $600 million and $800 million. Key changes include parking upgrades, a new tram designed by Austrian manufacturer Doppelmayr, a green space and sheltered stairway by Gehry Partners, and a welcome hall by Why Architecture featuring an expanded bookstore and café. The museum will close to the public from March 15, 2027, for a year, reopening in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

French Artists Call for Boycott of Pompidou’s Seoul Outpost over Partner Foundation’s Ties to Israel

A group of prominent French artists, including Ali Cherri and Lili Reynaud-Dewar, signed an open letter published by Libération calling for a boycott of the Centre Pompidou Hanhwa, the Pompidou's new Seoul satellite museum set to open June 4. The protest targets the museum's partner, the Hanwha Foundation of Culture, due to its parent conglomerate Hanwha Group's business ties with Israeli defense contractors Elbit Systems and Elta Systems, which the artists allege constitutes 'art-washing' of profits from armed conflicts.

Whitney Museum workers rallied outside fundraising gala amid contract negotiations

On May 19, unionized workers at the Whitney Museum of American Art rallied outside the museum's annual fundraising gala, which honored artist Julie Mehretu, philanthropist Fern Kaye Tessler, and former director Adam D. Weinberg. Members of UAW Local 2110 distributed flyers, buttons, and signs to guests, advocating for a new labor contract as their current agreement, ratified in March 2023, is set to expire next month. The union, representing around 185 staff across curatorial, education, visitor services, conservation, and administrative departments, reported that police barricades were placed along the museum's front, which they described as antagonistic, though they still engaged with patrons and supporters.

Banana from Cattelan artwork stolen

Banane aus Cattelan-Kunstwerk gestohlen

A banana from Maurizio Cattelan's artwork "Comedian" was stolen from the Centre Pompidou-Metz over the weekend. A security guard noticed the fruit was missing, and the museum has filed a police report against unknown persons. The banana has since been replaced. The work is part of the exhibition "Dimanche sans fin," running until June 27. This is not the first time the banana has been interfered with: it has been eaten multiple times since its debut in 2019, including by artist David Datuna at Art Basel Miami Beach, a Korean student at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, and entrepreneur Justin Sun after he purchased the work for $5.2 million.

La banane de Cattelan a disparu

The Centre Pompidou-Metz has reported the disappearance of Maurizio Cattelan's "Comedian" banana from its exhibition. The museum notes that the banana is replaced every three days as part of the artwork's maintenance.

La banane de Cattelan volée au Centre Pompidou-Metz, le musée porte plainte

On Saturday, May 30, around 2 p.m., Maurizio Cattelan's *Comedian*—a banana duct-taped to a wall—was stolen from the Centre Pompidou-Metz, where it was on view in the exhibition "Dimanche sans fin. Maurizio Cattelan et la collection du Centre Pompidou." A security guard noticed the fruit had been removed from its piece of tape, leaving an empty peel behind. The museum filed a police complaint, condemning the act as a violation of respect for artworks. The banana, a perishable item regularly replaced, was swapped out hours later at minimal cost; the institution noted that the work's value lies in its certificate of authenticity and presentation protocol, not the fruit itself.

HISTORICAL ARCHIVE | Emisferi / Hemispheres is the title of no. 2/26 of the magazine published by La Biennale

Cattelan's banana has been stolen again. Stolen (or eaten?) by a visitor at the Pompidou in Metz

La banana di Cattelan è stata rubata di nuovo. Trafugata (o mangiata?) da un visitatore al Pompidou di Metz

Maurizio Cattelan's banana artwork, "Comedian" (2019), was stolen—or possibly eaten—again on May 30, 2025, at the Centre Pompidou in Metz, France. The museum filed a police report against an unidentified visitor who removed the fruit from the wall during the exhibition "Dimanche sans fin," which marks the institution's 15th anniversary and features Cattelan as both artist and curator. The banana was promptly replaced, as per the work's display protocol.

In Minor Keys, Khaled Sabsabi, Louvre Heist Film

This week's Hyperallergic newsletter covers a range of art news, headlined by a feature interview with Khaled Sabsabi, the Lebanese-born, Sydney-based artist who was controversially removed as the Australian pavilion representative for the 2026 Venice Biennale and later reinstated after public backlash and an independent review. Critic Aruna D'Souza discusses Sabsabi's two installations in Venice—"khalil" in curator Koyo Kouoh's main exhibition "In Minor Keys" and "conference of one's self" in the Australia pavilion—which explore migration, identity, and Sufi teachings. Other highlights include a visit to Betye Saar's doll exhibition at the New-York Historical Society, a review of Larissa Borteh's paintings, and news that a New York gallerist used AI to colorize Ansel Adams's photographs, drawing condemnation from the Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

Engaging With Art Can Slow Aging, Study Claims

A study published in the journal *Innovation in Aging* by researchers at University College London, led by psychobiologist Daisy Fancourt, claims that engaging with arts and culture—including visiting museums, taking photographs, and attending performances—can slow biological aging. Analyzing data from 3,556 UK adults, the study found that monthly cultural engagement was associated with being 1.02 biological years younger than those who participated only once or twice a year, based on seven epigenetic clock markers from blood samples. The research, supported by UK Research and Innovation and the University of Florida’s EpiArts Lab, also compared the anti-aging effects of arts engagement to physical exercise.

French Artists Call for Boycott of Centre Pompidou Hanwha

More than 100 French artists, researchers, and art professionals have signed an open letter calling for a boycott of Centre Pompidou Hanwha in Seoul, a joint initiative between Centre Pompidou and the Hanwha Foundation of Culture set to open June 4. The protest targets Hanwha Group's ties to Israeli defense contractors Elbit Systems and Elta Systems, which supply arms to the Israel Defense Forces, with signatories denouncing the project as "art-washing" and demanding an end to the collaboration.

La Bevilacqua La Masa di Venezia replica: “Noi una fondazione decaduta? Tutt’altro”

The Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa in Venice has issued a rebuttal to an article by Angela Vettese published in Artribune, which portrayed the foundation as in decline between 2016 and 2026. The foundation's current leadership disputes Vettese's account, detailing achievements such as restoring and expanding artist studios from 12 to over 20, hosting international exhibitions with curators like Milovan Farronato, and reconstructing the foundation's collection, which was exhibited for the first time outside Venice at the Museo Ettore Fico in Turin. They also cite financial figures showing exhibitions generated over one million euros in the last four and a half years, funding artist residencies and international exchanges.

Bad moon rising: AI debate erupts over ‘colourised’ version of a classic Ansel Adams photo

The New York gallery Danziger displayed an AI-generated colorized version of Ansel Adams's iconic photograph *Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico* (1941) at the Aipad Photography Show in April, offering prints for $6,000 to $10,000. The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust publicly condemned the work, stating it exploited Adams's name and reputation without permission, and accused gallery owner James Danziger of leveraging the image to promote a commercial AI colorization venture. Danziger defended the piece as a transformative work in the public domain, citing legal advice and his admiration for the original.

The Louvre Heist Is Coming to a Cinema Near You

French publishing house Flammarion has sold the film rights for a feature adaptation of the 2025 Louvre jewel heist, in which thieves stole France's crown jewels worth over $100 million from the Apollo Gallery in broad daylight. French director Romain Gavras will direct the film, inspired by the investigative book "Main basse sur le Louvre" (2026) co-written by journalists from Le Parisien, Le Monde, and Paris Match. Documentary rights have also been sold to a British producer, even as the five suspects await trial and the stolen jewels remain missing.

Print Quarterly Volume XLIII - Number 2 - June 2026

This issue of Print Quarterly, Volume XLIII Number 2 for June 2026, features a range of scholarly articles on historical prints and printmaking. Contents include Catherine Jenkins' new catalogue of Francesco Parmigianino's etchings, Victoria Fernandez Masaguer's report on conserving the Edmond de Rothschild Collection at the Louvre, and studies on artists such as Goltzius, Rubens, Hokusai, William Blake, and Ian Hamilton Finlay. The issue also includes shorter notices, notes, and numerous catalogue and book reviews covering topics from Parisian almanacs to Diane Victor's prints.