Ruins of a ‘Unique‘ Temple Complex Discovered in Northern Sinai

An Egyptian archaeological mission has unearthed a unique temple complex at Tell el-Farama, the site of the ancient city of Pelusium in northern Sinai. The discovery features a massive circular water basin, approximately 100 feet in diameter, surrounded by drainage channels and a central plinth likely intended for a statue. Initially mistaken for a civic building when first excavated in 2019, further study has revealed the site to be a sacred water installation used for religious rituals between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD.

cuban cultural leaders international aid open letter

More than 100 Cuban artists, curators, and cultural workers, including the nation's Culture Minister and prominent intellectuals, have issued an open letter titled "Cuba is Not a Threat" appealing for international intervention. They argue the US economic embargo, particularly restrictions on oil and fuel shipments, has crippled the island's infrastructure and exacerbated a severe humanitarian crisis, making stabilization efforts impossible.

gavin newsom no clue california college of the arts close

California College of the Arts (CCA) announced it will close in 2027, shocking students and the art world. Governor Gavin Newsom reportedly had "no clue" and received "no heads up" about the closure, according to text messages reported by the San Francisco Standard. CCA president David Howse disputed this, stating Newsom was notified the Monday before the announcement. A meeting between CCA leadership and the governor's office is scheduled. The school, founded in 1907, is the last nonprofit standalone art school in San Francisco and plans to sell its campus to Vanderbilt University.

iranian artists killed in anti government protests advocacy groups report

At least four Iranian artists have been killed by police and militias during anti-government protests that began in December, according to Artists at Risk Connection (ARC). The victims include sculptor Mehdi Salahshour, filmmaker Javad Ganji, fashion designer Rubina Aminian, and hip-hop artist Soroush Soleimani. ARC condemned the extrajudicial killings, internet blackouts, and suppression of dissent, while the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) reported over 2,000 civilian deaths and called for international intervention.

ancient egyptian pleasure boat portus magnus

Underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio and his Institut Européen d’Archéologie Sous-Marine (IEASM) team have discovered the remains of a 35-meter-long ancient Egyptian pleasure boat, known as a thalamagos, in the submerged Portus Magnus off Alexandria’s harbor. The 28-meter preserved timbers, found seven meters underwater and buried under sediment, represent the first physical evidence of such vessels, previously known only from ancient texts like Strabo's Geography and the Nile mosaic at Palestrina. The ship, built in Alexandria and propelled by oars, features a central pavilion and Greek graffiti from the 1st century C.E., and may have sunk around 50 C.E. during the destruction of the temple of Isis on Antirhodos Island.

gaza artifacts removed school building

Archaeological treasures from Gaza's five main archaeological sites were evacuated from the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem's storehouse in Gaza City, following an Israeli order to vacate the building before a threatened military strike. The operation, described by school director Olivier Poquillon as a "high-risk" and "last-minute rescue," involved improvised transport and logistics in a context where almost no international actors remain on the ground. The relics include artifacts from a fourth-century monastery designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

egyptian antiquities trafficker jfk airport prison sentence

Egyptian doctor Ashraf Omar Eldarir has been sentenced to six months in prison by U.S. District Judge Rachel P. Kovner for smuggling hundreds of ancient Egyptian artifacts into the United States. Eldarir was arrested in 2019 after importing over 600 artifacts without declaring them on customs forms, including a polychrome relief, Roman limestone pieces, gold amulets, and wooden tomb model figures dating to 1900 BCE. The largest seizure of smuggled antiquities at JFK Airport occurred in January 2020, when customs officers found 590 artifacts wrapped in bubble wrap and foam, with loose sand and dirt indicating recent excavation. Eldarir pleaded guilty to four counts of smuggling and used fake provenances—including forged documents and photoshopped photographs—to sell artifacts at U.S. auction houses.

miriam simun octopus teacher

Artist Miriam Simun is currently presenting an exhibition about her Institute for Transhumanist Cephalopod Evolution at the art space Recess in Brooklyn. The centerpiece is a series of workshops titled “How to Become an Octopus (and sometime squid),” where she guides participants through psycho-physical exercises developed with marine biologists, engineers, dancers, and synchronized swimmers. Artnet News co-host Ben Davis attended the workshop and discusses the experience on this week's Art Angle podcast.

From Eurovision to the Venice Biennale, culture contests are being overshadowed by politics

The Venice Biennale and Eurovision Song Contest are being overshadowed by political controversies rather than artistic merit. At the Venice Biennale, the Russian pavilion opened for press previews for the first time since the Ukraine invasion, a decision that may cost the festival €2m in EU funds. The Israeli pavilion will open despite protests from 200 artists and curators, while the South African pavilion will remain empty after its government blocked an artist's tribute to a Palestinian poet. The Iranian pavilion is also shut, and the awarding jury has resigned en masse, meaning no Golden or Silver Lion awards will be given for the first time in 40 years. Similarly, Eurovision's 70th anniversary is dominated by five countries boycotting over Israel's participation, with little focus on the music.

Perna, Cruz-Diez, Otero, Barboza: Venezuelan Focus at ISLAA

PERNA, CRUZ-DIEZ, OTERO, BARBOZA: ENFOQUE VENEZOLANO EN ISLAA

The Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA) in New York has launched its 2026 exhibition program with a major focus on Venezuelan modern and contemporary art. The season features a significant solo exhibition of Claudio Perna—his first in New York—alongside a showcase of Carlos Cruz-Diez and digital 'Spotlight' presentations on Diego Barboza and Alejandro Otero. The Perna retrospective, titled 'Idea como arte,' gathers over forty works including photography, photocopies, and conceptual cartography created between the 1960s and 1990s.

ELENA DAMIANI, XIMENA GARRIDO-LECCA AND ISHMAEL RANDALL-WEEKS: SIGNAL AND STRATA

ELENA DAMIANI, XIMENA GARRIDO-LECCA E ISHMAEL RANDALL-WEEKS: SIGNAL AND STRATA

An exhibition titled 'Signal and Strata' featuring Peruvian artists Elena Damiani, Ximena Garrido-Lecca, and Ishmael Randall-Weeks was presented at the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts from February 5 to April 5, 2026. The show, examined in an accompanying essay by curator Madeline Murphy Turner, focuses on how the artists use materials like travertine, copper, and concrete to interrogate narratives of modernity, resource extraction, and the climate crisis.

art chicago mca queer artists

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago has organized a summer exhibition titled 'To Share a Garden,' bringing together over 30 artists in a decade-spanning review of queer art and activism. The show draws its theme from Chicago's historic motto 'urbs in horto' (city in a garden) and features works from the 1980s to the present, including pieces by Brendan Fernandes, Nick Cave, Mary Patten, and Doug Ischar. The exhibition acts as a visual archive of queer artistic expression, spanning from the AIDS crisis protests to contemporary movements.

Buried lines and bold beginnings

Timothy Akis, born around 1944 in Tsembaga village, Madang, is recognized as a pioneer of contemporary art in Papua New Guinea. His 1969 solo exhibition at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) is considered the country's first Western-style show by a Papua New Guinean artist, catalyzing a modern art movement. Akis developed a distinctive drawing style using ballpoint, felt pen, and ink, depicting highlands creatures like cassowaries and flying foxes. His work inspired younger artists, notably Mathias Kauage, who became PNG's most internationally visible contemporary painter after seeing Akis's exhibition. Akis's career included exhibitions in Australia, Europe, and the United States, and his works are held by institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia and the Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art.

This is fucking Disneyland

"Das ist fucking Disneyland"

The article surveys recent German cultural commentary, highlighting three main stories: art historian Bénédicte Savoy's warning in the FAZ about the physical decay of German universities, particularly the Technical University of Berlin, as a threat to democratic culture; Berlin artist Charlie Stein's essay on anxiety as a pervasive contemporary condition and art's role in making it visible; and critic Rachel Wetzler's harsh review of the Venice Biennale in Artforum, calling it an overwhelming 'theme park' version of the art world. Additionally, Nikolaus Bernau defends expert juries in the Tagesspiegel, using the Biennale's jury crisis as a case study.

In Venice, the Passion of Life and the Ghost of Art

The 2026 Venice Biennale, the world’s oldest art exhibition, has opened with a theme centered on vitality and the celebration of life. The edition is described as both a passionate embrace of energy and a reminder of art’s lingering ghosts, offering a mixed but compelling experience for visitors.

In ‘Reverence,’ Three Decades of Paul Nicklen’s Remarkable Photographs Exalt Nature

Paul Nicklen, a renowned wildlife photographer and co-founder of the conservation organization SeaLegacy, is releasing a comprehensive book titled *Reverence* through publisher Hemeria. The volume collects 160 photographs spanning his three-decade career, including iconic images and previously unpublished works that capture the beauty and fragility of ecosystems from the Colorado River delta to the Arctic Bay.

Dispatch: Beijing

The article reports on a series of significant shifts in Beijing's art world since 2024. UCCA Center for Contemporary Art faced financial troubles; its director and CEO Philip Tinari ended his 14-year tenure to lead Hong Kong's Tai Kwun. Taikang Art Museum also disclosed leadership changes. Smaller venues like DRC NO. 12 and fRUITYSPACE closed due to lease issues. Independent publishing faces sharp restrictions, and art book fairs are being replaced by cultural-lifestyle merchandise events. Official figures show Beijing lost over a million young residents since 2020 due to soaring living costs and tightening regulations.

Mongolia Pavilion Announces Artistic Team for 2026 Venice Biennale

Mongolia has selected artists Nomin Bold, Dorjderem Davaa, Gerelkhuu Ganbold, and Tuguldur Yondonjamts to represent the country at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. The pavilion, titled 'Entanglements: Connectivities Across Borders,' will be curated by Uranchimeg Tsultem and Thomas Eller and will explore interspecies relations, spirituality, and historical trade links, specifically the Mongol Empire's 13th-century connections to Venice.

What Did the Golden Lion Die Of? On Judgment and Disavowal at the Venice Biennale

The international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale announced it would exclude from prize consideration countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, specifically targeting Russia and Israel. This prompted the Italian culture minister to send inspectors to the Biennale's offices, leading the jury to resign. The Biennale then replaced the Golden Lion with "Visitors' Lions" prizes voted by ticket-holders, immediately making Russia and Israel eligible again. The article traces this crisis to the Biennale's historical structure under Mussolini's 1930 Royal Decree, which established the national pavilion system as a diplomatic concession system designed to serve state power, and notes the recent acceptance of a €50 million donation from Qatar for a new permanent pavilion in the Giardini.

On the Background in the Cinema

Film Notes has published a new essay by scholar Tiago de Luca, drawn from his research on environment and cinema. The essay focuses on the conceptual and aesthetic role of the background in film, tracing its technical history and examining its relation to power, marginalization, and environmental crisis.

Running from one image to another, from one time to another, from one hope to another: at Circolo, in Milan, an exhibition on the contemporary Lebanese scene

The article reviews "Shifting Crossroads. Beirut Contemporary," an exhibition at Circolo in Milan that surveys the contemporary Lebanese art scene. It features internationally recognized artists like Mona Hatoum and Simone Fattal alongside emerging talents, including works from the Saikalis Bay Foundation, founded in 2024 by Nicole Saikalis and Matteo Bay. The show spans historical-archival investigation, photography, installation, painting, and sculpture, with pieces such as Stéphanie Saadé's "Stage of Life" (2021), Catherine Cattaruzza's "I am Folding the Land" (2022), and Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige's "Waiting for the Barbarians" (2013) exploring themes of memory, fragility, and geopolitical instability.

SCH exhibit celebrates Black artistic legacy in Philadelphia

Megan Monaghan, director of arts at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), organized an exhibition at the school's Barbara Crawford Gallery titled "Echoes of Our Future: 250 Years of Black Artistic Legacy in Philadelphia" to honor the city's Black artistic heritage ahead of America's semiquincentennial. Collaborating with Claudia Volpe, director and curator of the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art, Monaghan selected over 30 works by 27 artists—including Barbara Bullock, Eustace Mamba, Tim McFarlane, Dox Thrash, and Henry Ossawa Tanner—organized into three themes: faces and community, music and movement, and environment. The exhibition runs from Jan. 15 to March 12 and is accompanied by The Next 250, an educational project connecting students through workshops, mentorship, and visual storytelling.

What Future for Art Centers?

Quel avenir pour les centres d’art ?

The article examines the uncertain future of contemporary art centers in France, a category that encompasses vastly different institutions from major venues like the Palais de Tokyo to smaller regional spaces. These non-collecting institutions, dedicated to exhibiting emerging artists and experimentation, face fragility due to heavy reliance on local government funding and difficulty proving their utility to elected officials. Their core mission is further challenged by more robust regional contemporary art funds (Fracs), which have greater resources for similar goals of exhibiting ultra-contemporary art and cultural democratization.

Endless’s Street Art Calls Attention to London’s Homeless Crisis

British street artist Endless has installed a new public artwork on the corner wall of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London. The piece depicts a rough sleeper in a sleeping bag with the text "210,000 Homeless today," creating a stark visual juxtaposition against the affluent backdrop of the nearby Oxford Street shopping district.

San Francisco artist Ana Teresa Fernandez's Chicago exhibit, 'Under Pressure,' is a call to climate action

San Francisco-based artist Ana Teresa Fernández has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Under Pressure' at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. The four-year project features a range of works, including detailed oil paintings and a sculptural piece, all centered on the theme of water and climate change. A key performance element involved Fernández leading hundreds of participants on Chicago's lakefront to form a giant S.O.S. signal using mirrors, a 'social monument' she previously staged in California.

‘Unrealistic’ €600m Louvre redevelopment plans must be scrapped, say striking workers

Staff at the Musée du Louvre staged another walkout on Monday, forcing the Paris museum to close temporarily before partially reopening at noon. The striking workers, representing 350 staff members including curators, unanimously voted for the action, citing concerns over working conditions and infrastructure. They are demanding that director Laurence des Cars scrap her "unrealistic" €666m plan for a new entrance, subterranean complex around the Mona Lisa, and an exhibition hall, arguing that funds should instead be directed toward urgent technical maintenance to preserve the collections. The strike follows a three-day walkout before Christmas and an October theft of crown jewels, which have not been recovered despite arrests.

Louvre staff vote to strike, citing failures of management and building maintenance

Staff at the Louvre Museum in Paris voted unanimously to strike, with rolling walkouts set to begin on December 15. The unions, representing around 200 employees, filed a strike notice with the French culture ministry, citing insufficient staff, technical failures, and the building's aging condition. They also criticized the museum's director, Laurence des Cars, for a top-down management system that ignores staff alerts. The strike follows a series of incidents, including the theft of the French crown jewels in October, a forced closure of the Campana Gallery due to structural issues, and a water leak that damaged hundreds of books in the Egyptian antiquities library.

Art Basel Miami Beach, Louvre crisis deepens, Helene Schjerfbeck—podcast

This episode of The Art Newspaper's 'The Week in Art' podcast covers three major stories. Ben Sutton and Kabir Jhala report from Art Basel Miami Beach, discussing top sales and the overall mood at the fair. Ben Luke speaks with Paris correspondent Vincent Noce about the deepening crisis at the Musée du Louvre following a staff strike and a recent robbery, as the museum plans to raise ticket prices for non-EU visitors by 45%. The episode also features a 'Work of the Week' segment on Helene Schjerfbeck's painting 'The Tapestry' (1914-16), with curator Dita Amory discussing the work ahead of a new exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

New El Camino art exhibit offers hope and insight into depression and anxiety

El Camino College Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition titled "Kieva Campbell: The Sister I Never Met," featuring paintings by artist Kieva Campbell that tell the story of her sister April Savino, a teen runaway who struggled with depression and died by suicide in 1987. The show, on view through spring 2026, includes workshops and interactive stations led by participant Carrie Lockwood, who presents a coloring book called "A Book About Me" to help visitors explore emotions. The exhibition aims to address youth mental health through art.

Climate report from Getty’s PST Art programme urges cultural organisations to confront exhibitions’ impacts

The Getty has released a comprehensive climate impact assessment of its PST Art initiative, titled Art & Science Collide (2024-25), based on its inaugural Climate Impact Program (CIP). Developed with climate adviser Laura Lupton and artist Debra Scacco, the program provided webinars, guidance, and networking to participating institutions, with over two-thirds completing a climate impact report. Key findings show that air travel and air freight of art are the most carbon-intensive activities, and shifting to sea freight could reduce total emissions by 18%. Many institutions reduced waste through simple, low-cost changes, with some committing to permanent sustainability practices.