Art News. Vasari Codex

gavel restitution schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 17

national museum of asian art returns sculptures to cambodia

On December 11, the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA), part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., announced it is returning three Khmer period sculptures to Cambodia. The works—a 10th-century Uma, a 10th-century Harihara, and a circa-1200 Prajnaparamita—were determined to have been likely looted during Cambodia’s civil war (1967–1975), based on research with Cambodian authorities, lack of export documentation, and links to dealers known for trafficking looted antiquities.

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person people schedule Dec 10, 2025 visibility 18

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.

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gavel restitution schedule Dec 9, 2025 visibility 19

looted nude emperor statue marble head returned to turkey

A California antiquities dealer, Aaron Mendelsohn, surrendered a 2,000-year-old bronze statue of a Roman emperor, known as the Nude Emperor, to New York prosecutors. The statue, valued at $1.33 million, was purchased in 2007 from a defunct New York gallery but is believed to have been looted in the late 1960s from a Roman shrine in Bubon, Turkey. In a deal filed in New York Criminal Court, Mendelsohn relinquished claims to the statue without admitting wrongdoing, and prosecutors withdrew an arrest warrant. The statue was repatriated to Turkey in a restitution ceremony on Monday, alongside dozens of other objects, including an $800,000 marble head of Demosthenes seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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article policy schedule Nov 24, 2025 visibility 13

egypt grand museum ticketing issues political backlash

Egyptian Member of Parliament Freddy Elbaiady publicly criticized the Grand Egyptian Museum's ticketing system, which imposes separate quotas for foreign tourists and Egyptian nationals. The controversy erupted after overcrowding on a single day saw over 27,000 tickets sold—exceeding the daily limit of 20,000—leading to thousands of frustrated visitors being denied entry. Elbaiady submitted a formal request to remove the quota, calling it discriminatory, and demanded a briefing from the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism. In response, the museum announced a shift to a pre-booking system with designated entry times, implemented last week, and starting December 1, online booking will be the only method for purchasing tickets.

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article policy schedule Nov 20, 2025 visibility 12

us artists struggle with food and healthcare insecurity study

A national survey commissioned by the Mellon Foundation and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago has produced a 102-page report on the livelihoods of 2,618 US artists across five disciplines—performing arts, visual arts, writing, craft arts, and other arts—broken into 37 subdisciplines. Key findings reveal that 34% of artists are fully self-employed, 50% are self-employed in their primary job, and 11% hold three or more jobs. More than 57% of artists report being worried about financial vulnerabilities, including food (22%), housing, medical costs (32%), or utilities, while 28% provide unpaid care for a loved one and 8% have served in the military.

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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.

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article news schedule Nov 13, 2025 visibility 16

national gallery of art smithsonian reopen shutdown

After a 43-day government shutdown, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., will reopen to the public on Friday, returning to normal business hours. The Smithsonian Institution will also begin reopening several of its museums and the zoo on a rolling basis, starting with the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on the same day. The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, ended after President Donald Trump signed a spending package following a House vote.

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article policy schedule Oct 7, 2025 visibility 17

musems worried trump will end major tax deduction funding

French museums are alarmed that the Trump administration may eliminate a key tax deduction mechanism known as the “equivalency determination,” which allows foreign organizations to receive tax-deductible donations from American patrons. The status is critical for museum-affiliated “American Friends” groups, such as the American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay and the American Friends of the Louvre, the latter of which raised $10 million last year. Lionel Sauvage, president of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, noted that about one-third of his museum’s annual donations—over $2 million—come from American donors. While no concrete action has been taken, Bloomberg reported in April that the administration was considering the move as part of a broader crackdown on tax-exempt nonprofits. Jewish philanthropic organizations have also expressed concern, with the Jewish Funders Network advising compliance amid uncertainty.

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article policy schedule Oct 5, 2025 visibility 17

national gallery of art closes government shutdown

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., announced it will close starting October 5 due to the ongoing government shutdown, becoming the first major museum in the capital to do so. The Smithsonian Institution, which operates several other museums, is using its own funds to remain open at least through Monday. The closure threatens upcoming programming, including a major exhibition of Australian Indigenous art scheduled to open October 18, which is currently still listed as planned.

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article news schedule Sep 9, 2025 visibility 13

israeli airstrike doha qatar risk of planning art basel fair

On Tuesday, Israel carried out a missile strike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas leaders, with explosions reported in the Leqtaifiya neighborhood and smoke visible over the Katara cultural district. The strike comes as a shock to Qatar, which has built a reputation for stability and is home to major art institutions operated by Qatar Museums, including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, and the Museum of Islamic Art. Art Basel, which announced in May a partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+ to launch Art Basel Doha in February 2026, said it is closely monitoring developments and remains committed to the fair's inaugural edition.

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article news schedule Sep 9, 2025 visibility 16

leon black leslie wexner jeffrey epstein birthday letters

Documents from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, including a birthday book compiled for his 50th birthday by Ghislaine Maxwell, were released in full by the US House Oversight Committee. The book contains contributions from art collectors Leon Black and Leslie Wexner, as well as a lewd drawing by President Donald Trump. The release also includes Epstein's last will, his 2007 non-prosecution deal, and entries from his contact book. Black contributed a handwritten poem calling Epstein a "Dear Friend," while Wexner included a note with a drawing of breasts.

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article news schedule Aug 19, 2025 visibility 13

leon black jeffrey epstein senator irs investigation

Leon Black, a billionaire investor and prominent art collector, is facing renewed scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has called on the Internal Revenue Service to investigate what he describes as suspicious tax planning work performed by Epstein for Black, involving tens of millions of dollars paid to Epstein to help Black evade billions in taxes. Wyden submitted a letter to the IRS on July 31, demanding more information by September 1. Black has previously been investigated for his Epstein connections; a 2021 probe found he had no involvement in Epstein's criminal activities but confirmed he paid $158 million to Epstein between 2012 and 2017.

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article policy schedule Jul 9, 2025 visibility 16

supreme court ruling advances trumps plan for mass layoffs of federal workers

The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that had temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to lay off thousands of federal workers. The initial lawsuit was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), 11 nonprofits, and local governments from states including California, Texas, and Illinois, challenging Executive Order 14210. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissenter, while liberal justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor sided with the conservative majority. The ruling allows mass firings and reorganizations at 19 federal agencies, including the State Department and Social Security Administration, to proceed, though a separate injunction protecting sub-agencies of Health and Human Services remains in place.

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article news schedule Jun 26, 2025 visibility 7

rijksmuseum condom christian backlash

The Rijksmuseum has acquired a nearly 200-year-old condom made from sheep intestine, which features an erotic illustration of a nun and clergymen and is now on display as part of a small exhibition on 19th-century sex work. The object, likely a brothel souvenir, has sparked outrage from the conservative Christian group Stichting Civitas Christiana and its youth wing TFP Student Action Europe, who organized a protest outside the museum and circulated flyers calling it an insult to God, the Catholic Church, and the Dutch nation.

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article policy schedule Jun 10, 2025 visibility 11

france hikes museum fees non europeans

Beginning January 1, 2026, major French museums including the Louvre and the Château de Versailles will charge non-European Union visitors €30 (about $35), up from €22 ($25). The new "differential tariff" is driven by cultural budget cuts, waning corporate sponsorships, and rising restoration costs. Versailles, where 42 percent of 8 million annual visitors come from outside Europe, sees the funds as a lifeline for repairs, while the Louvre faces €400 million in renovation needs over 15 years. The policy is expected to spread to other sites like the Arc de Triomphe and Château de Chambord, and more institutions may adopt it in 2027.

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article policy schedule Jun 5, 2025 visibility 18

national portrait gallery director report work trump firing

Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., continued coming to work despite Donald Trump claiming on Truth Social that he had fired her for being a 'strong supporter of DEI.' The White House provided the Washington Post with a 17-point list of grievances against Sajet, including her exhibition of a Trump portrait caption referencing his impeachments and January 6 insurrection, her donations to Democratic causes, and her comments about diversifying the museum. The Smithsonian Institution has not yet responded, and legal experts note Trump lacks authority to fire Sajet, as he does not sit on the Smithsonian board, though Vice President J.D. Vance and the Chief Justice hold ex officio positions.

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article news schedule May 20, 2025 visibility 8

great baddow iron age coin hoard chelmsford museum

The Great Baddow Hoard, the largest recorded collection of ancient gold coins in the U.K., has been acquired by the Museum of Chelmsford five years after its discovery. Unearthed by metal detectorist Shane Wood on private land in Great Baddow, Essex, the hoard comprises 933 gold coins and fragments dating to 60–20 B.C.E. The museum secured the £300,050 ($400,590) trove with major funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and smaller contributions from other organizations. Wood was convicted in 2021 for failing to declare the treasure under the Treasure Act 1996, and the reward was paid to the landowner instead.

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article policy schedule May 13, 2025 visibility 6

the authors guild sues neh doge

A class action lawsuit was filed Monday by the Authors Guild, independent scholars, and writers against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and officials within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for terminating millions in committed grants from Congressional funds. The lawsuit argues these actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the separation of powers, and freedom of expression, exceeding agencies' congressionally granted authority. It seeks to stop mass grant terminations, restore funds, and require the NEH to operate according to Congress's intent to preserve multicultural artistic heritage and support new ideas. The grants were canceled following extreme cuts by DOGE under the Trump administration, affecting recipients under programs like the Public Scholar and Fellowship initiatives.

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article policy schedule May 2, 2025 visibility 10

neh dismantling lawsuit acls mla aha

Three humanities-focused organizations—the American Historical Association, the Modern Language Association, and the American Council of Learned Societies—have filed a lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over the dismantling of the NEH. Filed on May 1 in the Southern District of New York, the suit seeks to reverse cuts made in April by the Trump administration, which slashed $65 million from the NEH's $210 million budget and fired approximately 65 percent of its staff. The plaintiffs argue the NEH has been reduced to a shell of its former self, and they name as defendants NEH acting chairman Michael McDonald, DOGE acting administrator Amy Gleason, and DOGE employees Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox, who allegedly demanded lists of open grants and terminated most of them without legal authority.

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person people schedule Apr 28, 2025 visibility 14

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.

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article policy schedule Apr 21, 2025 visibility 15

national gallery of art doge meeting

The director and secretary of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., met with representatives from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to discuss the museum’s legal status, as reported by Kriston Capps in Bloomberg CityLab. The meeting signals potential pressure on the institution under the Trump administration, which had previously targeted the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order accusing it of rewriting history. The National Gallery, a public-private partnership that receives congressional funding, had already begun winding down its DEI initiatives in response to an earlier executive order.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 22, 2026 visibility 6 link 7 artists

Plains Art Museum marks Smithsonian relationship with new Indigenous exhibit

The Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota, has been awarded a Smithsonian Affiliation, becoming the only institution in the state with such a designation. The partnership grants the museum access to Smithsonian programs, including artwork loans, touring exhibitions, educational resources, and professional development. The first public display of this collaboration is the new exhibit "Know Your Treaty: Wiwahokichiyapi," which opened in late April. The touring Smithsonian show, developed by the National Museum of the American Indian, examines the history of treaties between Indigenous nations and the U.S. government through photographs and text, while the museum has supplemented it with works by Indigenous artists from its permanent collection and loans.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 19, 2026 visibility 6 link 6 artists

2026 Sondheim Art Prize semifinalists to exhibit work at Reginald F. Lewis Museum

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture will host an exhibition of works by 16 semifinalists for the 2026 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize, on view from May 21 through June 21. The show features a range of mediums including oil paintings, archival prints, video narratives, 3D sculptures, and multimedia installations. An opening reception on May 21 is free and open to the public. The five finalists—Thea Canlas, Leigh Davis, Brandon Donahue-Shipp, Curran Hatleberg, and Danni O’Brien—will exhibit separately at the Walters Art Museum from June 25 to September 13, with the $30,000 prize winner announced in August.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 19, 2026 visibility 21 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

California Light and Space (The 21st Century Version) (OPENING RECEPTION)

David Zwirner gallery in Los Angeles is presenting "California Light and Space (The 21st Century Version)," a group exhibition organized by curator Helen Molesworth. Running through August 1 at the gallery's 606 N Western Avenue location, the show features contemporary artists from LA's diverse arts scene, exploring how the city's unique geography—its light, space, and basin topography—shapes their work. The exhibition draws a parallel to the Light and Space movement of the 1960s and 1970s, but focuses on a younger generation working across various media.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 18, 2026 visibility 8 link 5 artists

Museum exhibitions to coffeehouse chats: How to celebrate America 250 this summer

The article outlines various events and exhibitions in Washington, D.C., celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States this summer. Highlights include the "In Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness" exhibit at the National Museum of American History, featuring 250 objects from 1776 to the present; a Gen-Z-focused coffeehouse chat at Tudor Place; exhibitions at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, including "Ms. Americana" and "Burnished: Pueblo Pottery"; and the Spirit of America Festival at the National Archives, showcasing rare documents.

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article local schedule May 15, 2026 visibility 7 link 1 artist

Rollstone Bank commits $100K to Fitchburg Art Museum

Rollstone Bank & Trust has committed $100,000 to sponsor free admission at the Fitchburg Art Museum (FAM) through 2029, the final year of the museum's Centennial celebration. The gift eliminates all admission fees, replacing previous categorical free programs with universal access, and is expected to significantly increase the museum's annual attendance of 14,000 visitors.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 12, 2026 visibility 12 link 3 artists

Sacramental Value: “The Holy Sepulcher” at the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth is hosting "The Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem," a rare exhibition of sacred objects from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Curated by Xavier F. Salomon, the show features ornate metalwork, textiles, and vestments dating from the 16th to 18th centuries, drawn from the Terra Sancta Museum's collection and traveling to only two U.S. venues. The exhibition includes pieces such as a gilt silver reliquary from 1628-29 and a gold crucifix from 1756, displayed in low lighting to evoke a candlelit church atmosphere.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 12, 2026 visibility 15 link 4 artists

Sex, desire and intimacy explored in Singapore art exhibition for over-18s

National Gallery Singapore (NGS) is presenting "Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art," an exhibition for over-18s that explores eroticism and desire through more than 70 works spanning 800 years. The show is structured into three chapters—"Asian Mythos and Rituals," "Conventions of the Erotic," and "Public Arenas/Private Interiors"—and includes pieces such as a 14th-15th century Tantric Buddhist sculpture and Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook's video work "I’m Living" (2002). Senior curator Adele Tan, a co-curator, says she wanted to use the lens of eroticism to uncover overlooked narratives in the museum's collection.

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article local schedule May 10, 2026 visibility 14 link 2 artists

FYI Calendar: Arkansas Living Treasure Longhua Xu’s exhibit at Fort Smith RAM continues through June 21

The article is a calendar of arts and community events in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area, compiled by features writer Dustin Staggs. It lists dance and theater performances, plant swaps, life drawing classes, historical society events, and multiple art exhibitions. Among the visual art highlights are "Soul Taking Shape," an exhibition by Arkansas Living Treasure Longhua Xu at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM) running through June 21, along with other shows at RAM and Arts On Main featuring works by local artists and student artists.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 7, 2026 visibility 19 link 8 artists

Met Inaugurates ‘Costume Art’ for the Spring 2026 Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will open 'Costume Art' in spring 2026, a major exhibition that positions fashion as a lens for examining the human body across cultures and history. Housed in a new 12,000-square-foot gallery adjacent to the Great Hall, the show pairs garments from The Costume Institute with ancient statues, artworks, and paintings, organized around thematic body types such as idealized, distorted, exposed, and reclaimed. The exhibition design by Peterson Rich Office uses sheer scrims and varied ceiling heights to create an immersive, interconnected experience.

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