elvira dyangani ose departs macba abu dhabi biennial

Elvira Dyangani Ose is stepping down as the director of the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) in April, months before her contract was set to expire. Her resignation follows a conflict with the MACBA Consortium, which ruled that her new appointment as director of the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial was incompatible with her leadership role in Barcelona. Dyangani Ose, who became the first woman and first person of color to lead the institution in 2021, had requested to balance both positions, but the governing body denied the proposal.

walters art museum chief collections curatorial affairs officer

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore has appointed Katherine Larson as its chief collections and curatorial affairs officer, a newly created senior role. Larson will also serve as senior curator of Ancient Art, overseeing curatorial operations, collections, conservation, research, the exhibition calendar, and fundraising, beginning March 30.

judge rules philadelphia museum director suit arbitration

A judge has ruled that the legal dispute between the Philadelphia Art Museum and its former director and CEO, Sasha Suda, must be resolved through private arbitration, not a public jury trial. Suda was dismissed in November, with the museum citing "for cause" but not providing specifics, and she subsequently sued, alleging the museum conducted a sham investigation and falsely accused her of misusing funds and theft.

yokohama triennale 2027 curators

Japan’s Yokohama Triennale has appointed Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero as co-artistic directors for its 9th edition, opening at the Yokohama Museum of Art on April 23, 2027. Costinaș, a Romanian writer and critic currently senior curator at Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin, will become a curatorial adviser there at year’s end. Guerrero, from Bogotá, is a professor at City University in Hong Kong. The duo previously co-directed the 2024 Biennale of Sydney and the 2018 Dak’Art Biennale, and have collaborated on several other projects. They were selected from 22 candidates by a six-person international committee.

newly established uc irvine langson orange county museum of art names kathryn kanjo as first director

The newly formed UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art has appointed Kathryn Kanjo as its first director. Kanjo, who currently leads the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), will assume the role in February 2026, also overseeing the UC Irvine Jack & Shanaz Langson Institute of California Art. The appointment follows the amicable merger of the University of California, Irvine, and the Orange County Museum of Art, finalized this fall, which created a new entity uniting three major California art collections—the Irvine, Buck, and OCMA collections—totaling some 9,000 works housed in a 53,000-square-foot facility at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

jacques schuhmacher art institute of chicago provenance research

Jacques Schuhmacher has been appointed as the head of the provenance research team at the Art Institute of Chicago, a dedicated in-house team established in 2020. Previously the senior provenance research curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Schuhmacher now leads one of the largest provenance research teams in the United States, which includes four full-time researchers and is supported by a senior leadership task force and a dedicated research budget.

Syrian Artist Sara Shamma To Present An Ode To Palmyra At The 61st Edition Of La Biennale Di Venezia

Syrian artist Sara Shamma will present a large-scale immersive installation titled 'The Tower Tomb of Palmyra' at the 61st edition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. This marks Syria's first participation in the Biennale since the fall of the Assad regime and the appointment of President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa. Shamma's project, inspired by the ancient funerary towers of Palmyra destroyed during the Syrian Civil War, aims to restore the heritage site to life through a multisensory journey combining architecture, painting, and other elements. It will be the first solo presentation by a single Syrian artist at the Biennale, departing from previous group exhibitions with European collaborators.

Denver Art Museum Announces Royce K. Young Wolf, Ph.D., as Associate Curator of Native Arts

The Denver Art Museum (DAM) has appointed Royce K. Young Wolf, Ph.D., as its new Associate Curator of Native Arts. A member of the Eastern Shoshone, Hidatsa, and Mandan nations, Young Wolf brings a multidisciplinary background as a language activist, photographer, and scholar. She previously held prestigious fellowships at Yale University and worked on major exhibitions for the MHA Nation Interpretive Center. In her new role, she will oversee strategic initiatives, acquisitions, and community-based curatorial projects for one of the nation's most significant Indigenous art collections.

A Conversation with Milwaukee Art Museum’s New Director

Kim Sajet has been appointed as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, bringing an international perspective shaped by her birth in Nigeria, upbringing in Australia, and Dutch citizenship. In an introductory interview, Sajet discusses her extensive leadership background—having previously run two museums in Australia—and how her personal history, including her relationship with her disabled brother, influenced her path toward art history and museum studies.

‘It doesn’t put walls around everything’: behind the plans for Manila’s new contemporary art centre

The Ayala Foundation has announced the development of the Kontempo Center for Contemporary Art in Manila, appointing Reuben Keehan as its inaugural artistic director. Designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture in collaboration with Lor Calma & Partners, the center will be located on the site of a former racetrack in Circuit Makati. The facility will prioritize exhibitions, commissions, and public programming over a permanent collection, featuring three large galleries and extensive green space for public art installations.

Louvre Abu Dhabi director Manuel Rabaté leaves to head India’s largest private art museum

Manuel Rabaté, the inaugural director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi since 2016, has been appointed as the first chief executive and director of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in New Delhi. He will step down from his current role on March 7 and join the Indian museum in the first half of this year.

Lina Ghotmeh: ‘Museums should go beyond conservation to foster exchange, reflection and critical thinking’

In February 2025, Beirut-born, Paris-based architect Lina Ghotmeh won the competition to oversee the remodelling of the Western Range of the British Museum, a series of galleries comprising one-third of the historic London institution. Her project team includes conservation specialists Purcell and engineers Arup. Ghotmeh, known for her human-centred, sustainable approach and her 'archaeology of the future' methodology, has previously designed the Stone Garden tower in Beirut and the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion in London. She also holds commissions for a contemporary art museum in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, a Venice Biennale pavilion for Qatar, and the Bahrain Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka.

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.

Liz Munsell Named Vice President of Brooklyn’s Powerhouse Arts

Liz Munsell has been appointed Vice President of Curatorial Arts and Programs at Brooklyn's Powerhouse Arts, a creative nonprofit in Gowanus. She will develop public programming, exhibitions, and community engagement, while overseeing artist residencies and art fairs, including the upcoming Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair. She succeeds Diya Vij, who left to become New York City's cultural affairs commissioner.

India Phillips Appointed Managing Director, Modern & Contemporary Art, Europe at Phillips

Phillips has appointed India Phillips as Managing Director, Modern & Contemporary Art, Europe, effective February 2026. Based in London and reporting directly to the CEO, she will focus on expanding the auction house's presence across Europe. Phillips joins after a decade at Bonhams, where she most recently served as Managing Director, EMEA. The announcement also includes promotions for Marianne Hoet to Chairman, Modern and Contemporary Art Europe, Olivia Thornton to Deputy Chairwoman, and Matt Langton to Deputy Chairman, Modern and Contemporary Art, Europe.

Christie’s names new global president

Christie’s has appointed Alex Rotter as its new global president, marking another leadership change at the auction house. Rotter, who previously led the 20th- and 21st-century art department, will retain those responsibilities while developing strategies for auction and private sales. He joined Christie’s in 2017 and oversaw record-breaking sales including Jeff Koons’s *Rabbit* ($91.1m), Andy Warhol’s *Shot Sage Blue Marilyn* ($195m), and the *Salvator Mundi* attributed to Leonardo da Vinci ($450.3m). The appointment was made by CEO Bonnie Brennan, who succeeded Guillaume Cerutti earlier this year.

WHO ARE THE CURATORS THAT WILL LEAD THE NEXT BIENAL DE SAO PAULO

The Fundação Bienal de São Paulo has appointed Amanda Carneiro and Raphael Fonseca as chief curators for the 37th Bienal de São Paulo, scheduled for 2027 at the Pavilhão Ciccillo Matarazzo in Ibirapuera Park. Carneiro, a curator at MASP since 2018 and an artistic organizer for the 2024 Venice Biennale, and Fonseca, a visual arts curator at Culturgest and curator-at-large at the Denver Art Museum, will lead the largest visual arts event in Latin America.

Directors Chosen by Internal Call Rather Than Competition: The Great Restoration of State Museums

Direttori scelti per interpello e non per concorso. La grande restaurazione dei musei statali

The Italian state museum system is undergoing a significant reversal of the landmark 2015 Franceschini reforms, which originally opened director positions to international competition and private-sector expertise. Recent appointments at major institutions like the Reggia di Caserta and the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice indicate a shift away from global searches toward internal ministerial assignments, effectively turning museum leadership back into a closed bureaucratic career path.

New National Galleries of Scotland chair to lead opening of Edinburgh’s The Art Works

The National Galleries of Scotland has appointed Catherine Muirden as the new Chair of the Board, effective 1 November 2025, for a four-year term. Muirden brings extensive experience from corporate roles at Barclays, Marks & Spencer, the John Lewis Partnership, and The Co-operative Group, alongside two decades of arts board service in Scotland, including as Vice Chair of Scottish Ballet and Chair of the Fruitmarket Gallery. She succeeds Benny Higgins, who led the board through a period of significant challenges. Director-General Anne Lyden expressed enthusiasm for working with Muirden to advance The Art Works, a new state-of-the-art facility in North Edinburgh that will serve as a community space, conservation center, and art storage hub, enabling broader public access to Scotland's national collection.

The Claire Fontaine collective and Ugo La Pietra open the new season of the Fondazione La Rocca in Pescara

Il collettivo Claire Fontaine e Ugo la Pietra aprono la nuova stagione della Fondazione La Rocca di Pescara

The Fondazione La Rocca in Pescara has announced its upcoming exhibition program for 2026-2027, including a solo show by Ugo La Pietra (June–October 2026) and a solo exhibition by the feminist conceptual collective Claire Fontaine (December 2026–March 2027). The foundation has also appointed Simone Ciglia as its new Chief Curator, who will work alongside the presidency to shape future artistic research. The season opens with La Pietra's 'Alla finestra,' curated by Giacinto Di Pietrantonio, featuring around seventy works exploring the window as a threshold. Claire Fontaine's 'Manuale d’uso,' curated by Ciglia, is conceived as an exhibition-essay based on Anita Chari's monograph. Additionally, the foundation launches 'FLR Incontra,' a public program of interdisciplinary talks and performances.

Artist appointed, axed then reinstated from Venice Biennale triumphs

Khaled Sabsabi, a Lebanese Australian artist, presents his installation 'conference of one's self' at the Australia Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, alongside a second work 'khalil' in the main exhibition 'In Minor Keys' curated by Koyo Kouoh. His participation follows a tumultuous period in February 2025 when he was initially appointed to represent Australia, then controversially sacked by Creative Australia's board after a political dispute triggered by Senator Claire Chandler's comments, and later reinstated. Sabsabi is now one of only three artists in the Biennale's 131-year history to show in both a national pavilion and the main exhibition.

Louvre: Emmanuel Macron's Obstinacy

Louvre : l'obstination d'Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron, less than a year before leaving office, continues to push controversial projects that harm French historical monuments and museums, including the Louvre's Colonnade project. The article criticizes these initiatives as detrimental to cultural heritage, while noting that his only promising project, the Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame, has been shelved. The piece also highlights the appointment of Christophe Leribault as director of the Louvre as a positive step, but argues that Macron's overall record on cultural heritage is damaging.

Cinematic Painting Series

Cary Kwok's exhibition at Sessions Arts Club in London presents four new paintings created with support from Herald St, Cabin Studio, Jonny Gent, and David Southard. The works, rendered in acrylic and ink on paper, explore still lifes, silhouettes, and staged interiors inspired by 1980s visual culture, including interior design, cinematography, fashion editorials, and advertising. Featured pieces include *Eclipse* (2026) and *Anticipation* (2026), with the artist's signature subtly embedded in objects like jewelry and glassware. The show opens May 18 and is viewable by appointment or during dining hours, alongside a related wine label collaboration for the Sessions Arts Club Lost Wines Project.

french police search institut du monde arabe as part of epstein probe

French police conducted a raid on the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris as part of an investigation into its former president, Jack Lang, and his daughter, Caroline Lang. The probe, led by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office, focuses on suspicions of aggravated tax fraud and money laundering linked to their names appearing in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files. Lang, a former culture minister, resigned from the institute to protect its reputation, denying all allegations.

jonathon sturgeon appointed deputy editor of artnet news

Jonathon Sturgeon has been appointed deputy editor of Artnet News. Sturgeon brings nearly a decade of experience editing arts and culture coverage, having written for publications including Flavorwire, American Reader, n+1 Magazine, e-flux, the Guardian, the Paris Review, Frieze, and the Baffler. He will work closely with editor-in-chief Rozalia Jovanovic to guide the editorial process, handling both news stories and long-form features.

lindsey halligan trump smithsonian executive order

President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Smithsonian Institution to be purged of "divisive, race-centered ideology." The order tasks Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum with overseeing the review of the Smithsonian's 21 museums, the National Zoo, and other sites. However, the article focuses on Lindsey Halligan, a former property lawyer from Fort Lauderdale, who is named twice in the order as the only individual specifically charged with co-piloting the initiative alongside Vance. Halligan, a former Trump legal team member involved in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and a defamation lawsuit against CNN, has a background in property law and little public record on cultural or historical matters.

ford foundation heather gerken next president

The Ford Foundation has appointed Heather Gerken, dean of Yale Law School, as its next president. She will succeed Darren Walker and become the 11th president of the foundation, as well as the second woman to lead the organization in its nearly 90-year history. Gerken will officially assume the role on November 1, following a national search launched after Walker announced his departure after 12 years.

art market minute may 5

The article reports that at the 100-day mark of Trump's second presidency, his economic policies—particularly tariffs—are disrupting the art world. While artworks remain exempt, antiques and design objects are not, causing concern for dealers, including those preparing for Tefaf New York. Changes to de minimis rules have lowered the customs processing threshold from $2,500 to $800, triggering widespread shipping delays. Additionally, Frieze has been sold to Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel, and auction veteran Alex Rotter has been tapped as Christie's new global president.

trump fires biden appointees from holocaust museum board

President Donald Trump fired Biden-appointed members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, which oversees the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Those removed include former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, former labor secretary Tom Perez, former national security adviser Susan Rice, and Jill Biden’s senior adviser Anthony Bernal. The appointments had been announced in January 2025. Emhoff, who is Jewish, condemned the move as politicizing Holocaust remembrance, while the White House stated Trump will appoint new members who honor the Holocaust and support Israel. The museum issued a statement expressing commitment to its mission without directly addressing the firings.

fashion mary katrantzou bvlgari jewelry

Mary Katrantzou has been appointed as the first-ever creative director of leather goods and accessories at Bvlgari, a role created for her after multiple successful collaborations. She designed the new Icons Minaudière Collection, a series of 10 bags reimagining Bvlgari's iconic symbols such as Serpenti, Divas' Dream, and Monete, using jewelry-making techniques like hand-enameled scales and semiprecious stones.