Art News. Vasari Codex

article news schedule Oct 6, 2025 visibility 20 link 9 artists, 2 galleries

david adjaye museums open without starchitect

René Magritte's surrealist masterpiece *La Magie Noire*, unseen on the market for nearly a century, will be auctioned at Sotheby's Paris later this month with an estimate over $8 million. The painting was originally purchased by the family of WWII resistance heroine Suzanne Spaak, who supported Magritte during a financially difficult period. Separately, three major museums designed by star architect David Adjaye—the Princeton University Art Museum, the Museum of West African Art in Benin City, and the Studio Museum in Harlem—are set to open this fall, but institutions are downplaying Adjaye's involvement following sexual misconduct allegations he denied in 2023. Other news includes Pace Gallery closing its Hong Kong space, Colnaghi opening in Riyadh, and the death of ARTnews owner Milton Esterow.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Mar 31, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 61 link 5 artists, 2 galleries

The Louvre Remains the World’s Most-Visited Museum, with Competition Coming from the Middle East and Asia in 2025

The Louvre maintained its position as the world's most-visited museum in 2025, drawing approximately 9 million visitors according to the Art Newspaper's annual ranking. The Vatican Museums and the National Museum of Korea in Seoul followed closely, rounding out a top ten list that includes major institutions in London, New York, and Shanghai. Overall, about 200 million people visited the top 100 museums globally, a figure still below the pre-pandemic 2019 peak of 230 million.

newspaper ARTnews Also: Artforum open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Mar 31, 2026 visibility 47 link 10 artists, 1 gallery

Exclusive | The world's 100 most visited art museums in 2025: new venues a big hit with visitors

The Art Newspaper's 2025 survey of the world's 100 most visited art museums reveals a strong but uneven recovery from the pandemic, with total visits reaching over 200 million. New museums in the Middle East, East Asia, and major Western cities have been major hits with the public, driving significant attendance.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Sep 28, 2021 visibility 22 link 20 artists, 5 galleries

Openings

The Art Newspaper is promoting its digital newsletter, which offers a daily digest of essential news, views, and analysis from the international art world, delivered directly to subscribers' inboxes. The article serves as a call to action for readers to subscribe to stay informed about the latest developments in the art sector.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 11, 2025 visibility 32 link 16 artists, 1 gallery

From hard borders to soft power: how did the art world fare in 2025?

The article surveys the art world's turbulent 2025, beginning with devastating Los Angeles wildfires that destroyed artworks and the political shockwaves of Donald Trump's re-election. Trump's administration targeted the National Portrait Gallery, whose director Kim Sajet resigned after threats of firing, while immigration crackdowns, tariffs on art imports, and attacks on diversity initiatives chilled the art community. The year also saw Venice residents protest Jeff Bezos's lavish wedding, Trump's gilded Oval Office renovations, and a major Veronese exhibition at the Prado that drew parallels between historical extravagance and decline.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 6, 2026 visibility 15 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

defaults on art loans soar impact of australias social media ban on museums writer takes aim at singapore biennial morning link for january 6 2025

The Financial Times reports that half of non-bank lenders offering loans against artworks experienced defaults in 2024, up from 17% two years earlier, according to the Art and Finance Report 2025 by Deloitte Private and ArtTactic. The art market has shrunk 12% to $57.5 billion since 2022, dragging down collateral values and triggering margin calls. Meanwhile, Australia's social media ban for under-16s raises questions for museums, with the Art Gallery of New South Wales noting minimal impact but the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia more reliant on youth engagement. Other news includes Vanessa Horabuena's speed-painted Jesus sold for $2.75 million at Mar-a-Lago, the cancellation of NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026, and a critical column calling for the end of the Singapore Biennial.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Oct 8, 2025 source 2 sources visibility 13 link 2 artists

ancient egyptian relief disappears saqqara necropolis

A 4,000-year-old limestone relief depicting the three seasons of the ancient Egyptian calendar has been stolen from the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo. The relief, measuring 16 by 24 inches, was cut from the wall of a Fifth Dynasty tomb belonging to high-ranking official Khenti Ka using an electric saw. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported the theft on Sunday, and an archaeological committee has been formed to inventory the tomb's contents while the matter is under investigation by the Public Prosecution.

newspaper ARTnews Also: Google News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Apr 30, 2026 visibility 22 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

Museum diplomacy in action at ICOM UK 2026: museums in a changing world

ICOM UK hosted its 2026 annual conference in Oxford, bringing together delegates from over 20 countries to explore the theme of 'Museum Diplomacy.' Keynote speaker Dr. Sascha Priewe of the Aga Khan Museum and ICOM Canada framed the current geopolitical moment as a 'GZERO World,' where no country is willing or able to lead globally, and discussed how sanctions, export controls, and shifting alliances are straining international museum collaborations. Sessions featured case studies from the Science Museum Group and International Arts & Artists, emphasizing that trust and networks, not grand gestures, are essential for enduring partnerships.

newspaper Blooloop open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Mar 9, 2026 visibility 17 link 1 artist

ancient egyptians correction fluid book of the dead

Researchers at the Fitzwilliam Museum have discovered that ancient Egyptian scribes used a primitive form of correction fluid to amend errors on papyrus scrolls. While preparing a 3,300-year-old copy of the Book of the Dead for the tomb of the scribe Ramose, conservators noticed white lines of huntite and calcite mixed with yellow orpiment used to slim down a painted jackal. This 'ancient Wite-Out' was specifically blended to match the cream-colored tone of fresh papyrus, concealing revisions made during the artistic process.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Oct 6, 2025 visibility 12 link 2 artists

egyptian tomb reopens two decade renovation

The tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, one of the largest in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, has reopened to the public after a 20-year renovation led by a team from Waseda University in Tokyo. Discovered in 1799 by French engineers and looted in antiquity, the tomb features newly restored wall paintings depicting the pharaoh with ancient Egyptian gods, the structural frame of his sarcophagus, and burial chambers for his two wives. The reopening took place on October 4, 2025.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Sep 18, 2025 visibility 12

cairo officials launch hunt for a pharaonic bracelet missing from egyptian museum

Cultural authorities in Cairo have launched a nationwide search for a 3,000-year-old solid gold bracelet that disappeared from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square. The artifact, once owned by King Amenemope of the 21st Dynasty, features blue lapis lazuli beads and was last seen in the museum's restoration laboratory. It was being prepared for the upcoming "Treasures of the Pharaohs" exhibition in Rome. Authorities have distributed images of the bracelet to all Egyptian airports, seaports, and land border crossings to prevent smuggling, and a specialist committee will inventory all artifacts in the laboratory.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jun 30, 2025 visibility 14 link 4 artists

inside grand egyptian museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo has delayed its official opening again, now expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, due to regional conflicts including the Israel-Iran war. Originally proposed in 1992 and under construction since 2002, the $1 billion museum has faced repeated setbacks from the Arab Spring, the pandemic, and wars in Gaza and Sudan. When it opens, it will showcase over 100,000 artifacts, making it the largest archaeological museum in the world, with the Tutankhamun galleries as its centerpiece featuring over 5,398 objects from the pharaoh's tomb.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jun 24, 2025 visibility 12 link 2 artists

king tuts iconic death mask was intended for someone else researchers say

Researchers from the University of York have proposed that King Tutankhamun's iconic death mask, discovered in 1925 by Egyptologist Howard Carter, was not originally made for the young pharaoh. The theory, based on the mask's pierced ears—a feature typically found on female rulers and children—suggests it was intended for a regal female burial, possibly Queen Nefertiti. Analysis of the gold used on the face versus the rest of the mask indicates the face was added later, effectively grafted onto a pre-existing mask. This idea, first raised by British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves in 2015, is supported by evidence that Tutankhamun's death at around age 19 was sudden, leading to a hurried burial with repurposed funerary objects.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule May 13, 2025 visibility 14 link 3 artists

grand egyptian museum king tut treasures

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza has received another 163 artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, transferred from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square. This delivery includes the pharaoh's ceremonial chair, gilded footstool, canopic shrine, and jewelry, bringing the museum closer to staging the first-ever complete display of the boy king's treasures. The artifacts were transported with care and underwent condition reports at GEM's conservation labs. The final piece to arrive will be Tutankhamun's funerary mask, ahead of the museum's long-awaited grand opening on July 3.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Apr 22, 2025 visibility 13 link 1 artist

cultural projects worth 6 13 billion were finished in 2024 a big drop from 2023 report

The 2024 Cultural Infrastructure Index (CII) reports a 17% drop in completed cultural projects (from 192 to 159) and a 29% decline in total cost, from $8.58 billion to $6.13 billion. However, the value of future projects announced in 2024 rose 47% to $8.32 billion, though the number of announced projects fell from 198 to 175, indicating fewer but more expensive buildings. The report, developed by AEA Consulting, tracks 334 large-scale cultural infrastructure projects worldwide, with museums and galleries remaining the most common building type. The U.S. led with 62 new facilities, while the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza was the most expensive completed project at $1 billion, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's new modern wing topped announced projects at $500 million.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Feb 23, 2026 visibility 13

qubbet al hawa egypt tombs pottery discovered

A research team from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities has unearthed a significant cache of artifacts at the Qubbet Al-Hawa necropolis near Aswan. The discovery includes two chambers containing 160 well-preserved pottery vessels, many inscribed with text, alongside a courtyard filled with Middle Kingdom jewelry, bronze mirrors, and kohl containers. These finds were located within rock-cut burial shafts that served as resting places for ancient Egyptian elite.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Nov 19, 2025 visibility 14

grand egyptian museum ticketing policy

The Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened on November 4 after two decades of planning, faced immediate crowd control issues after overselling tickets. More than 27,000 tickets were sold against a daily limit of 20,000, leading to thousands of frustrated visitors being denied entry. Museum CEO Ahmed Ghoneim announced a shift to an online-only booking system and pledged to reassess policies. Controversy also erupted over claims of a ticketing quota favoring foreigners over Egyptians, which Ghoneim denied, stating the museum would ensure no group exceeds a 60-40 split seasonally.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Sep 19, 2025 visibility 10

egyptian bracelet missing melted down

A 3,000-year-old gold bracelet belonging to King Amenemope was stolen from a conservation lab in Egypt, sold for 194,000 Egyptian pounds (about $4,000), and melted down by a gold smelter. The theft was carried out by a restoration specialist who took the artifact from a safe, and four suspects have since been arrested with proceeds recovered. The bracelet was being prepared for an upcoming exhibition titled “Treasures of the Pharaohs” at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jun 16, 2025 visibility 12

grand egyptian museum delays grand opening again egypt

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has postponed its official grand opening, originally scheduled for July 3, until the final quarter of this year. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly cited "current regional developments" in a press conference, referencing recent conflict between Israel and Iran. The museum issued a statement explaining the delay stems from a sense of national responsibility, aiming to hold the event at a more auspicious time. This is not the first delay for the project, which has faced setbacks since its announcement in 1992 due to political unrest, the Covid-19 pandemic, and economic struggles. The GEM has partially opened, with 12 main galleries accessible since late October 2024.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Oct 8, 2025 visibility 14 link 3 artists

Limestone relief disappears from Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis

A rare limestone relief depicting the vizier Khentika painting the three seasons of the ancient Egyptian calendar has vanished from his tomb in the Saqqara necropolis. The tomb, discovered in the 1950s and used for storage until 2019, was found to be missing the relief by a British mission in May. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced the theft and referred the matter to the public prosecutor for investigation.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jun 16, 2025 visibility 19

Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed again due to 'current regional developments'

The official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), originally scheduled for July 3, has been postponed again due to the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the delay on Saturday, with the tourism and antiquities ministry citing "current regional developments" and stating the full launch will now occur in the last quarter of this year. The museum is already partially open, including its conservation studios (operating since 2010), contemporary program (since 2023), and most Egyptian galleries with the grand staircase, but the Tutankhamen galleries are being held back for the formal opening.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule May 14, 2025 visibility 15

More than 160 Tutankhamun treasures have arrived at the Grand Egyptian Museum

More than 160 treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun have been transferred from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, ahead of its long-awaited opening on 3 July. The items include a ceremonial chair inlaid with ivory and gold and an accompanying footstool decorated with gilded motifs. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities states the move is part of a plan to display the entire Tutankhamun collection together for the first time. The famous golden mask and golden coffins remain at the Cairo museum for now and will be the last items moved.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original