Art News. Vasari Codex

article news schedule Jul 4, 2025 visibility 18 link 22 artists, 2 galleries

glenstone divorce mitch emily rales

Mitch and Emily Rales, the billionaire founders of the Glenstone Foundation and its private museum in Potomac, Maryland, are divorcing. The foundation, established in 2006, holds net assets of $4.6 billion and an endowment rivaling that of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The article revisits longstanding criticisms of private art museums, including Glenstone, arguing they function as tax shelters, social climbing tools, and competitors to public institutions. It notes Glenstone's restrictive policies—appointment-only access, a ban on visitors under 12, and a prohibition on gum chewing—and references past unionization efforts by its workers.

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article news schedule Apr 13, 2026 visibility 64 link 18 artists, 5 galleries

Two Growing London Galleries Launch Second Spaces—and More Art Industry News

The art world is seeing a wave of institutional shifts and physical expansions, headlined by the appointment of Melissa Chiu as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York. In London, galleries Edel Assanti and Emalin are both expanding their footprints with new locations, while the National Gallery has selected Kengo Kuma for a massive £350 million extension project. Meanwhile, the European Commission has threatened to pull €2 million in funding from the Venice Biennale unless it reverses its stance on Russian participation.

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article news schedule Apr 15, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 69 link 19 artists

Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries reframe 6,000 years of history

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is preparing to open its new $720m David Geffen Galleries, a massive undulating concrete structure designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor. Spanning Wilshire Boulevard, the new building adds 110,000 square feet of gallery space and 3.5 acres of public parkland, marking the completion of a two-decade capital project led by Director Michael Govan. The facility will house the museum’s permanent collection, which has been largely out of public view for seven years, and features innovative exhibition strategies such as hanging artworks directly onto concrete walls.

newspaper The Art Newspaper Also: Google News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Feb 5, 2026 visibility 15 link 4 artists, 1 gallery

open letter demanding more curatorial independence at ago after non acquisition of nan godin work collects 500 signatures

An open letter demanding curatorial independence at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) has gathered over 500 signatures after trustee Judy Schulich reportedly blocked the acquisition of Nan Goldin's moving-image work *Stendhal Syndrome* (2024), calling the Jewish American photographer “antisemitic.” The AGO had planned to acquire the work jointly with the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Walker Art Center, but the vote was 11–9 against acquisition. In response, curator John Zeppetelli resigned, two volunteer committee members stepped down, and Goldin herself criticized the decision as censorship driven by donor influence. The AGO has since announced a restructuring of its modern and contemporary curatorial committee, splitting it into two groups for 20th- and 21st-century art, effective in 2026.

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article news schedule Apr 8, 2026 visibility 35 link 11 artists

LACMA spent nearly $724 million on the David Geffen Galleries — here's how it was all used

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has finalized the construction of the David Geffen Galleries, a $723.8-million project designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. As the museum prepares for its April 16 gala, officials have released a detailed breakdown of the spending, which supported over 8,600 jobs and generated an estimated $1.2 billion in regional economic activity. Despite the massive investment, the project remains a lightning rod for controversy due to its unconventional modernist design and the fact that it offers less gallery space than the four buildings it replaced.

newspaper Los Angeles Times open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Nov 26, 2025 visibility 11 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

artists former staffers accuse london gallery nonpayment

Artist Brittany Fanning has publicly accused London-based Pictorum Art Group of failing to pay her for works sold in a group show three years ago. She and other artists, including Finn Johnson who obtained a court judgment, claim they are owed money. Former staffers also report unpaid wages. The gallery, which operated on Portman Square, was dissolved in July, and attempts to reach its directors, brothers Jackson Navin and Matthew Navin, were unsuccessful. Fanning, who has shown at galleries like Mindy Solomon and Steve Turner, says she is owed around $9,140 total, including for the painting *Shark Lover*.

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article news schedule May 20, 2025 visibility 9 link 1 artist

ilucas museum layoffs 14 percent full time staff

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles has laid off 15 full-time employees (14% of its full-time staff) and seven part-time workers, primarily affecting its Learning & Engagement and Museum Services teams. The cuts also include Regan Pro, deputy director of public programs and social impact, and Bernardo Rondeau, curator of film programs. The museum, founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, has faced multiple delays due to supply-chain issues, pushing its opening from 2023 to 2026, and recently underwent a leadership transition with director Sandra Jackson-Dumont stepping down.

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article news schedule Sep 17, 2025 visibility 13 link 4 artists

david lynch daughter la compound

Jennifer Lynch, daughter of the late artist and filmmaker David Lynch, revealed on Reddit that her father's will stipulates his Los Angeles compound must be sold immediately as a single property, with proceeds split evenly among his four children. The 2.3-acre Hollywood Hills property, listed at $15 million, includes a 10-bedroom home, pool, editing suite, and lime-green kitchen countertops. Jennifer expressed that the family would prefer to keep the property but must follow David's instructions to avoid any sibling feeling less loved.

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article news schedule Nov 19, 2025 visibility 13

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.

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