Art News. Vasari Codex

person people schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 15 link 2 artists

jack lang resigns institut de monde arabe jeffrey epstein

Jack Lang, the former French culture minister and president of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, resigned from his position. His resignation came after his name, and that of his daughter Caroline Lang, appeared in newly released court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. French prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into the pair for alleged tax fraud and money laundering, leading to intense political pressure and Lang's decision to step down.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Feb 12, 2026 visibility 12 link 1 artist

pompidou secret camera bathroom

A hidden camera was discovered in a women's restroom within the administrative offices of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. A female staff member found the device on January 14, leading to the immediate suspension of a suspected perpetrator and the filing of a legal complaint by the museum. The museum has stated that exhaustive inspections found no other devices and has offered support to staff.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 12, 2026 visibility 11 link 1 artist

hidden camera found in womens restroom at centre pompidous offices in paris

A hidden camera was discovered in a women's restroom at the Centre Pompidou's administrative offices in Paris in mid-January. The device was found by an employee, leading the museum to file a legal complaint and suspend a staff member accused of installing it.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article museum schedule Feb 10, 2026 visibility 13 link 1 artist

british museum acquires tudor heart pendant

The British Museum has successfully raised £3.5 million ($4.8 million) to acquire a rare 16th-century gold 'Tudor Heart' pendant, discovered by a metal detectorist in 2019. The pendant, linked to King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, will enter the museum's permanent collection and is expected to tour the UK.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 9, 2026 visibility 15 link 6 artists

trump wants his own smithsonian npg display

The White House is pushing for a dedicated display of fan-created portraits of President Donald Trump at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. Administration officials, following a December tour, suggested installing a selection of artwork sent to the president by supporters, a move that would break with the museum's tradition of reserving multiple depictions for former presidents.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 9, 2026 visibility 12 link 1 artist

museum of fine arts boston slashes jobs as financial woes deepen

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has laid off 33 employees and eliminated 23 vacant positions, a 10% overall staff reduction, to address a projected $13 million budget deficit. The cuts affect a range of roles, including three endowed curatorial positions, and have sparked renewed tensions with the museum's unionized workforce, which is seeking to bargain over the decision.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 7, 2026 visibility 16 link 3 artists

white house trump display smithsonian portrait gallery

In mid-December, Abby Jones, acting chief of protocol at the State Department, suggested during a tour of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery that the museum create a dedicated gallery featuring multiple images of President Donald Trump, in addition to his official portrait. The White House later noted it regularly receives artworks depicting Trump from supporters and proposed displaying some at the museum, though no formal request has been made. The discussion follows the gallery’s recent replacement of Trump’s official photograph with a more flattering image and the removal of wall text referencing his two impeachments, which the museum described as part of a broader exhibition update.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Feb 5, 2026 visibility 11 link 1 artist

vatican orders removal meloni fresco

The Vatican ordered the removal of an angel's face resembling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni from a fresco at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome. The fresco, painted by artist Bruno Valentinetti in 2000 and restored in 2023, features two angels praying over Italy's last king, Umberto II. After Italian media noted the likeness, Valentinetti initially denied it but later admitted the angel bore Meloni's features. On Tuesday, he painted over the face, citing Vatican orders. The Diocese of Rome confirmed the original face will be restored, and an investigation has been launched.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Feb 5, 2026 visibility 16 link 1 artist

philadelphia art museum rebranding

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is reversing its controversial rebranding decision, abandoning the name "Philadelphia Art Museum" and the acronym "PhAM" after widespread backlash. The museum will retain its new griffin logo but restore the original name, Philadelphia Museum of Art, across all platforms. The rebrand, developed with Brooklyn design studio Gretel at a cost of $1 million, was rolled out less than four months ago but met with public mockery and internal turmoil. The reversal follows the firing of CEO Sasha Suda, who filed a lawsuit over her ouster, and the appointment of Daniel Weiss, former CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as her successor. Chief marketing officer Paul Dien also resigned amid the fallout. The board voted unanimously to undo the name change after a survey commissioned by an interdisciplinary task force.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Feb 5, 2026 visibility 15 link 2 artists

empress eugenies damaged crown to be restored after louvre heist

Thieves broke into the Louvre in Paris on October 19, 2024, stealing an estimated $102 million in jewels but dropping and severely damaging the crown of Empress Eugénie during their escape. The diamond- and emerald-encrusted crown, commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III in 1855, was deformed, had one hoop broken off, lost four palmettes and one gold eagle, and is missing 10 of its 1,354 diamonds. Judicial police seized it as evidence before transferring it to the Louvre’s decorative arts department, where directors Olivier Gabet and Anne Dion documented the damage. The museum has opened a public bidding process for an accredited conservator, with an advisory committee chaired by Louvre director Laurence des Cars overseeing the restoration.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 4, 2026 visibility 7 link 1 artist

british museum security pavilions conservationists

The British Museum's proposal to redesign its forecourt with two permanent security pavilions and a Mediterranean-style garden has drawn opposition from conservation groups. The Georgian Group and the Victorian Society argue the additions would disrupt the historic symmetry and formal setting of Robert Smirke's 19th-century Greek Revival building, urging Camden Council to reject the plan.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 3, 2026 visibility 10 link 1 artist

british museum ai generated images controversy

The British Museum faced criticism from archaeologists and online commentators after posting AI-generated images on its Instagram and Facebook accounts. The posts, which featured a young AI-generated woman in various cultural outfits gazing at museum objects, were removed within hours after a wave of negative feedback. The museum stated it does not post AI-created images and removed the content due to its sensitivity.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 2, 2026 visibility 16 link 1 artist

government shutdown does not include smithsonian

A partial U.S. government shutdown occurred after the Senate passed a funding package but temporarily blocked additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Unlike the previous shutdown, this one does not affect major cultural institutions; the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) remain open because their funding was approved on time.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Jan 25, 2026 visibility 12 link 2 artists

minneapolis institute of art closes alex pretti killing ice

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) announced it would remain closed on Sunday for safety reasons after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during an ICE operation in Minneapolis on Saturday. The shooting occurred just blocks from the museum, and MIA had already closed early on Saturday following the news. The closure was part of a broader Day of Truth and Freedom protest against ICE operations in Minnesota, and the NBA also postponed a Timberwolves game in response to the incident.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 23, 2026 visibility 15 link 2 artists

minneapolis museums close ice protest

The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Art closed on January 20, 2026, in protest of escalating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Twin Cities. The closures follow the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, which sparked nationwide outrage. The museums canceled scheduled events, including a performance by Nile Harris, and joined a broader one-day economic blackout called "A Day of Truth and Freedom" organized by Minnesota union leaders and community groups. Other cultural institutions participating include the Bakken Museum, the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the Weisman Art Center, and the Museum of Russian Art.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 22, 2026 visibility 14 link 10 artists, 1 gallery

at londons soho revue artists reframe sensuality in a new group show

Soho Revue in London presents "Behind the Curtains," a group exhibition running from January 14 to February 29, 2026, featuring eight female artists—Lorena Lohr, Lucrezia Abatzoglu, Nettle Grellier, Drea Cofield, Kim Booker, Joline Kwakkenbos, Harriet Gillet, and Abigail McGinley—who reframe feminine sensuality outside the male gaze. The gallery is draped in deep red velvet, creating an intimate, private chamber that echoes Renaissance curtain conventions and the scale of 16th-century portrait miniatures, with each artist working in small formats to slow visual consumption and challenge who controls the frame.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 22, 2026 visibility 18 link 2 artists

uk announces 1 5 b arts funding package to expand access beyond london

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced a £1.5 billion arts funding package on Wednesday, urging London-based national institutions like the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery to extend their reach across the country. The package includes £600 million for national institutions, £425 million for a Creative Foundations Fund supporting capital projects at arts venues nationwide, £160 million for local and regional museums, £230 million for the heritage sector, £27.5 million for public libraries, and an additional £80 million for national portfolio organizations. Nandy praised the Royal Shakespeare Company’s outreach as a model and framed the investment as the largest reset in the arts for a generation, comparable to post-World War Two cultural rebuilding.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 21, 2026 visibility 19 link 1 artist

philadelphia art museum board firing director daniel weiss

Daniel H. Weiss, the new director of the Philadelphia Art Museum, gave his first extensive interview to the Philadelphia Inquirer, defending the museum's board after the controversial firing of his predecessor, Sasha Suda. Suda was terminated in November for alleged misappropriation of funds, including a $39,000 salary increase over two years, which she claims was authorized and is now the subject of a lawsuit. Weiss, formerly president and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, stated the board does not need radical restructuring but acknowledged the museum faces a financial deficit and needs to address its widely ridiculed rebrand from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Philadelphia Art Museum (acronym PhAM). He has begun a listening tour with staff to assess problems, and the marketing chief who led the rebrand has since resigned.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 21, 2026 visibility 7 link 1 artist

record archeological finds metal detecting british public

The British Museum announced that 2024 was a record year for archaeological discoveries made by the public in the UK, with 79,616 finds recorded. Of these, 1,540 were classified as "treasure" under the 1996 Treasure Act, the highest number ever in a single year and the third consecutive record-breaking year. Ninety-four percent of the discoveries were made by metal detectorists. The figures come from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), a project jointly managed by the British Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru–Museums Wales. Notable finds include a hoard of silver pennies from Harold II's reign, a Roman vehicle fitting with a panther and severed human head, and early medieval gold and silver objects.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 20, 2026 visibility 13 link 1 artist

louvre robbery footage french television

French broadcaster France Télévisions aired previously unseen footage of the October 2025 robbery at the Louvre Museum, in which thieves stole crown jewels worth approximately €88 million ($102 million). The four-minute video, shown on the investigative program Complément d'enquête, captures the thieves smashing display cases with their fists and an angle grinder while security guards remain largely motionless nearby. One guard briefly confronts the thieves with a rope stanchion before backing down, and another makes a phone call. The footage corroborates findings from a security audit that deemed the museum's system "outdated and inadequate," with a severe lack of functioning cameras. Louvre director Laurence des Cars had previously stated that the sole camera covering the gallery was facing the wrong direction, and it took guards eight minutes to access the correct feed during the break-in.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 15, 2026 visibility 14 link 3 artists

stolen louvre robbery jewels investigation update parking lot

Paris investigators have traced the last known location of $102 million in jewels stolen from the Louvre in October 2025 to an underground parking lot in Aubervilliers, a suburb of Paris. The Anti-Gang Brigade (BRB) used CCTV footage to follow two scooters used in the escape to the garage, where suspects Abdoulaye N., Slimane K., and Rachid H. are believed to have hidden the loot and getaway vehicles. Despite eight arrests, the jewels remain missing, and the vehicles have not been recovered.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 15, 2026 visibility 13 link 3 artists

stolen louvre jewels parking garage

Police have identified a parking garage in Aubervilliers, a Paris suburb, as the last known location of the jewels stolen from the Louvre in a $102 million heist on October 19. Surveillance footage shows two suspects handling some of the stolen pieces less than an hour after the robbery. Four men have been arrested—including a former YouTube stunt rider known as “Doudou Cross Bitume”—and a fifth suspect, a woman, remains at large. The jewels themselves have not been recovered.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 15, 2026 visibility 11 link 3 artists

london bomb factory show vandalized

An exhibition titled “Window Wonderland 2025,” mounted by the Bomb Factory Art Foundation in London, was shut down early after three consecutive nights of vandal attacks at its Marylebone and Holborn locations. Vandals used hammers and an ice axe to smash windows, defaced displays with stickers of the Union Jack and St. George’s cross, and scrawled “Free U.K.” in lipstick, causing an estimated £15,000 ($20,000) in damage. The show, which explored themes of anti-war activism, immigration, and queer and trans identity, closed on January 9, 2025, instead of its scheduled January 18 closing date. Police are investigating the attacks, which organizers say were intended to silence the exhibition’s message of inclusivity.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 14, 2026 visibility 17 link 9 artists

trump epstein drawing

The House Oversight Committee has released a crude drawing that President Donald Trump reportedly gave to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003. The sketch, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, features a marker outline of a naked woman with Trump's apparent signature placed where her pubic hair would be. Trump has denied creating the drawing, claiming he has never drawn, and has filed a $10 billion libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch. The New York Times compared Trump's signature on the drawing with his correspondence from 1987 to 2001 and found they "closely matched."

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 7, 2026 visibility 10 link 4 artists

zohran mamdani quran nypl

A late 18th- or early 19th-century Quran from Ottoman Syria, held by the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, was used to swear in Zohran Mamdani as New York City's first mayor to take the oath on the Muslim holy book. The ceremony took place just after midnight on New Year's Day 2026 at the decommissioned City Hall station, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The Quran is now on display at the library's main branch in an exhibition titled "The People's Quran: Making History at City Hall."

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 5, 2026 visibility 13 link 2 artists

british museum treasure hunter stolen antiquities recovery

The British Museum is hiring a dedicated treasure hunter to recover hundreds of stolen antiquities, including gold jewelry and semi-precious stones allegedly taken by former curator Peter Higgs. Since the theft of some 1,500 objects was revealed in 2023, over a third have been recovered, but the museum is racing to find the remaining pieces before they are destroyed or melted down. The new role will focus on liaising with an international network of dealers, auction houses, and collectors, while also using open-source investigation and AI tools to track down items scattered globally.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 5, 2026 visibility 15 link 3 artists

british museum specialist find missing gold

The British Museum is hiring a specialist to track down hundreds of stolen artifacts, primarily from its Greek and Roman collections, after thousands of items went missing in 2023. Tom Harrison, recently promoted to lead the department, is spearheading the recovery of treasures including gold jewelry, semiprecious stones, and glass dating back to the 15th century BCE. The museum has so far recovered 654 of an estimated 1,500 missing items, with efforts focused on private sales, catalogs, and historical archives, aided by open-source investigations and AI-assisted image matching. The scandal erupted when former curator Peter Higgs was sacked amid allegations of stealing, selling, and melting down artifacts over more than a decade; he denies the charges in an ongoing civil case.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Jan 1, 2026 visibility 12 link 3 artists

sothebys abu dhabi luxury auctions collectors week

Sotheby's will launch its first luxury marquee auction series in Abu Dhabi this December, called Abu Dhabi Collectors' Week. Running from December 3 to 5 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, the sales will feature cars, watches, jewelry, and real estate, alongside a museum-quality art exhibition spanning Old Masters to contemporary works. The auctions are organized in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and coincide with major regional events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Finance Week. Headline lots include The Desert Rose diamond (estimated $5–7 million), a rare Rolex Daytona watch ($500,000–$1 million), and a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera ($9.5–10.5 million).

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Dec 29, 2025 visibility 16 link 1 artist

imperial war museum criticized for lgbtq tour

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London has permanently closed its long-running Victoria Cross gallery, which housed over 200 medals loaned by Lord Ashcroft since 2010. The closure, which occurred in June 2025, coincided with the launch of a new virtual tour titled "Refracted Histories: Exploring LGBTQ+ Stories in Times of Conflict." Lord Ashcroft, a Conservative peer and donor who contributed £5 million to establish the original gallery, criticized the museum for sidelining military gallantry in favor of contemporary themes, claiming he was not informed in advance of the decision.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

gavel restitution schedule Dec 26, 2025 visibility 19 link 1 artist

nefertiti bust egypt zahi hawass demands return

Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass has renewed his demand for the return of the ancient bust of Nefertiti from Berlin's State Museums, citing the recent full opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near Giza as proof that Egypt can properly safeguard its artifacts. The bust, dating to ca. 1351–1334 BCE and discovered in 1912 by German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt, has been on display at the Neues Museum since 2009. Hawass, who has shifted his position over time—calling the bust not looted in 2010 but “brazenly stolen” in 2024—argues that Western museums can no longer claim Egyptian institutions lack adequate climate control and display standards.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original