Amid Epstein Blowback, Bard President Leon Botstein Talks About Succession Plan But With No Timeline: Report

Leon Botstein, president of Bard College since 1975, has discussed retiring and transitioning to a faculty role as a historian and musician once a successor is found, following backlash over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. According to a Times Union report, no timeline has been set, and the 79-year-old appears to have no immediate plans to leave. Botstein has held multiple meetings with students and staff since February, when details of his relationship with Epstein—including over 2,800 mentions in Epstein-related files—were revealed. He has characterized his eventual departure as a consequence of age, not the controversy, and stated that a search for a successor will begin after a law firm review of his Epstein interactions concludes by the end of May.

Gallery openings and exhibits in Central Oregon this week

This article provides a comprehensive listing of gallery openings and exhibits currently on display in Central Oregon. It includes details on a wide range of venues, from Amejko Artistry's nomadic woven artwork to the High Desert Museum's multiple exhibitions, covering diverse media such as pottery, fiber art, photography, and historical displays. The listings include locations, dates, and contact information for each venue, highlighting the region's vibrant local art scene.

'Cursed!': Toledo Museum of Art to host exhibit exploring the power of ancient magic in the Mediterranean world

The Toledo Museum of Art will host a major exhibition titled 'Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World' from March 21 to July 5. The show features 75 objects spanning two millennia, including Egyptian artwork, Mesopotamian sculptures, and Greek and Roman relics, exploring themes like protective magic, communication with gods, and magic in daily life.

Studio Ahead’s installation for The Future Perfect recalls the pre-internet days of IRL antique hunting

Studio Ahead, led by curators Homan Rajai and Elena Dendiberia, has created an installation for The Future Perfect titled 'The Houses Are Haunted by White Night-Gowns,' running as a satellite to the 12th edition of FOG Design+Art in San Francisco through January 25, 2026. The show features 13 designers who each produced unique bowls, displayed on a stacked arrangement of vintage furniture sourced from Berkeley-based Mid Century Møbler and San Francisco's C. Mariani Antiques, blending Scandinavian design from the 1940s–1970s with 17th–19th century antiques.

John J. McDonough Museum of Art announces Summer Exhibitions

The John J. McDonough Museum of Art at Youngstown State University will open its summer exhibition schedule on May 30, running through July 19, featuring four shows: Ronald Jason Van Hoose's 'Time, The Earth and The Dream-A Retrospective,' Jeffrey S. Piper's 'col·lo·cate,' Mike Egan's 'Built By Death,' and an exhibition of work from the Inspiring Minds youth program. An opening reception will be held May 30 from 5-7 p.m.

Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles

Eight London Underground stations in the City of Westminster are receiving restroom upgrades designed by Hugh Broughton Architects, featuring illustrated tiles by artist James Lambert. The refurbishments, which began in February 2025, cover locations including Victoria Embankment, Parliament Street, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Carnaby Street, Westminster Pier, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square. The tiles incorporate historical motifs and iconography unique to each site, such as the King's Guards and George John Vulliamy's sphinxes guarding Cleopatra's Needle.

Lucas Museum unveils inaugural exhibitions curated by George Lucas himself

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles will open to the public on September 22, 2026, with about 20 inaugural exhibitions curated by George Lucas himself across more than 30 galleries. The $1-billion, 300,000-square-foot museum in Exposition Park, designed by Ma Yansong of Mad Architects, will display over 1,200 objects from Lucas's collection of more than 40,000 works, including manga, comics, children's illustrations, and narrative art by artists such as Norman Rockwell, Beatrix Potter, and Dorothea Lange, with only one exhibition focused on "Star Wars" memorabilia.

Art News: A Preview Of The Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art and A Roberta Flack Auction at Julien’s

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a 300,000-square-foot institution designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec, will open in Los Angeles' Exposition Park on September 22. The 11-acre campus includes a park by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA and will feature over 1,200 objects across 30 galleries, showcasing narrative art from ancient sculptures to modern cinema, drawn from the museum's founding collection. Separately, Julien's Auctions will host "Roberta Flack: Style, Art & Music," a no-reserve auction celebrating the singer's life and cultural impact, including her Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand Piano.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Adds ‘Star Wars in Motion’ Exhibit to Opening Lineup

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has announced a new exhibition titled "Star Wars in Motion" as part of its inaugural lineup, set to open on September 22, 2026, in Los Angeles's Exposition Park. The showcase will feature vehicle designs, props, costumes, and illustrations from the first six Star Wars films, including iconic items like Luke's Landspeeder and General Grievous's Wheel Bike. The museum, co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, will open with over 30 exhibitions and more than 1,200 objects spanning visual storytelling from ancient sculptures to modern cinema.

Meet the Canadian artists heading to Venice Biennale

Five Canadian artists have been selected for the main exhibition of the Venice Biennale, titled *In Minor Keys*, which opens to the public next Saturday. The participants are Abbas Akhavan (featured in the Canada Pavilion), Manuel Mathieu, Rajni Perera, Marigold Santos, and one additional artist. The exhibition is the first Biennale curated by a Black woman, Cameroonian-Swiss curator Koyo Kouoh, who died suddenly in May last year after a cancer diagnosis, just six months after her appointment. Despite her death, the Biennale proceeded with her plans, with her team completing the work.

Arts Center donates works for library sale

The Davis Arts Center (DAC) has donated approximately 100 artworks from its permanent collection to the Friends of the Davis Public Library for a sale starting this weekend. The works, mostly from the 1960s-1980s, include pieces by notable Davis-area artists such as Richard Nelson, Robert Arneson, Margery Mann, and Roland Petersen, and are priced under $100. The donation follows DAC's 2019 transformation from an exhibition space to a studio-focused nonprofit offering classes and camps, which led to most of its collection being placed in storage. DAC executive director Sam King enlisted Davis High School art teacher Luke Turner—a former museum professional—to help curate and place select pieces with institutions like the Mills College Art Museum and the Manetti Shrem Museum, while the remaining works are now being offered to the community at bargain prices.

Grammys get the Pop Art treatment at this buzzy new downtown L.A. gallery

Pop artist Kii Arens has opened a new downtown Los Angeles gallery called FAB LA inside the historic Fine Arts Building. His latest exhibition, "And the Winner Is," curated by Arens and featuring poster art of Grammy winners, opens Friday, two days before the 2026 Grammys. The show continues Arens' tradition of blending art with celebrity-studded party scenes, following earlier exhibitions at FAB LA such as "XO, LA: A Love Letter to Los Angeles" and "Mick Rock's Rocky Horror Art Show." Arens previously ran LA-LA Land gallery in Hollywood for two decades before its lease ended last year.

What happens at a tattoo auction?

JOOPITER, the platform founded by Pharrell Williams, has launched a new auction titled "INKED: Tattoos by Contemporary Artists," curated by Sharon Coplan. The auction features sixteen international artists—including Sarah Andelman, Derrick Adams, Thom Browne, Jeffrey Gibson, Titus Kaphar, Marilyn Minter, Mickalene Thomas, and tattoo artist Dr. Woo—who each created a unique, signed drawing intended to be tattooed on skin or displayed as standalone artwork on paper. Each piece comes with a certificate of authenticity, and the buyer may choose to have the design tattooed or keep it as a collectible print.

Basquiat masterpiece expected to fetch $15m at Sotheby’s auction

A rare, untitled 1981 Jean-Michel Basquiat painting, unseen for over three decades, will headline Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Auction in New York this May, with an estimate of $10–15 million. The work, created when Basquiat was 20, captures his transition from street art to international fame and has been held in the same private collection since 1989. The auction also features pieces from Barbara Gladstone’s collection, the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, and works by Lucio Fontana, Robert Rauschenberg, and Pablo Picasso.

Inside a Black Panther Family Album

Scholar Leigh Raiford examines the personal family archives of Black Panther Party leaders Kathleen and Eldridge Cleaver, specifically focusing on photographs taken during their period of exile in the 1970s. The analysis centers on how domestic objects, such as a zebra-print carver chair and various African artifacts, transitioned from private household items to iconic symbols of Black Power and cultural nationalism in the public sphere.

We had to make difficult decisions

"Wir mussten schwierige Entscheidungen treffen"

Investor Andrew E. Wolff has stepped down as CEO of Artnet after orchestrating a merger of the company's US operations with Artsy, another major art market platform he recently acquired. Jeffrey Yin, previously the interim head of Artsy, has been appointed as the permanent CEO of the combined entity. The restructuring involves significant layoffs, the closure of Artnet's Berlin office, and a consolidation of management teams, though both brands will continue to operate with distinct editorial voices.

The Rapprochement Between Artnet and Artsy Takes Shape

Le rapprochement entre Artnet et Artsy prend corps

Artnet and Artsy, two major online art market platforms, have announced a strategic merger under the common ownership of British investment fund Beowolff Capital. The companies will retain their distinct brands and websites but will be led by a unified management team, with Artsy's CEO Jeffrey Yin taking the helm. The consolidation has already resulted in dozens of job cuts, particularly at Artnet News, and follows a period of economic strain for Artnet, which reported a 12% revenue drop in the first half of 2025.

Gallery openings and exhibits in Central Oregon this week

This article lists numerous gallery openings and ongoing exhibits in Central Oregon for the current week. Venues include Amejko Artistry, Art Adventure Gallery, Artists’ Gallery Sunriver, ArtHouse LTA, Belknap Exhibit Center, Canyon Creek Pottery, Deschutes Historical Museum, Dry Canyon Community Arts Center, High Desert Museum, Hood Avenue Art, Jeffrey Murray Fine Art Photography, John Paul Designs, Kreitzer Art Gallery and Studio, Lubbesmeyer Fiber Studio, Makin’ It Local, Nancy McGrath Green Gallery, and Nashwood Gallery, featuring works by artists such as Anna Amejko Peterson, Jana Charl, Kenneth Merrill, Jesica Carleton, Jeffrey Murray, Lori and Lisa Lubbesmeyer, Kara Frampton, and Will Nash.

A reading room for the Epstein files opens in New York

A pop-up exhibition in Tribeca, New York, has transformed Mriya Gallery into the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Reading Room, displaying over 3,000 bound volumes of printed Epstein files. Organized by the Washington, DC-based Institute for Primary Facts, the room holds 3,437 volumes encompassing 3.5 million pages of released documents, printed over about a month. The free exhibition runs until 21 May and requires advance booking.

Gallery openings and exhibits in Central Oregon this week

This article lists numerous gallery openings and ongoing exhibits across Central Oregon, including venues such as Amejko Artistry, Art Adventure Gallery, Artists’ Gallery Sunriver, and the High Desert Museum. Featured shows include nomadic woven artwork by Anna Amejko Peterson, a 40th anniversary exhibition of Jefferson County artists, “A Man Named York” at the Belknap Exhibit Center, and “Drawn West — A History of Promoting Place” at the High Desert Museum, among many others spanning pottery, photography, fiber art, and historical displays.

Atelier Joliet Art Gallery to host opening for internationally-recognized artists

Atelier Joliet Art Gallery in downtown Joliet is set to host a dual artist opening on April 25 featuring the works of Jeffrey Equality Brooks and Joseph Mayernik. The exhibition showcases the distinct styles of these two nationally and internationally recognized artists, who will both be in attendance for the public event. The collection is currently installed and available for viewing during the gallery's standard weekend hours.

artists trump epstein statue washington d c titanic

An anonymous artist collective known as The Secret Handshake has installed a provocative 12-foot-tall guerrilla statue in Washington, D.C., titled 'KING OF THE WORLD.' Located near the U.S. Capitol, the monument depicts Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein recreating the iconic 'Titanic' film pose, accompanied by ten banners and a plaque satirizing their historical friendship.

bard college to launch independent review of presidents ties to jeffrey epstein

Bard College has initiated an independent review of President Leon Botstein’s relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the release of Department of Justice emails. While Botstein previously characterized the connection as purely philanthropic, the new correspondence suggests a more personal friendship, including frequent visits to Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and a 2012 trip to Epstein’s private island. The college's board of trustees has hired the law firm WilmerHale to investigate the extent of these communications and any financial contributions.

bard president leon botstein jeffrey epstein

Leon Botstein, the longtime president of Bard College, is facing scrutiny following the release of emails with Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence, reported by the New York Times, includes a 2012 note from Botstein thanking Epstein for a Caribbean trip and expressing admiration, suggesting a more personal relationship than Botstein's previous claims of purely transactional fundraising communications.

french culture minister jack lang caroline epstein files

Former French culture minister Jack Lang and his daughter, film producer Caroline Lang, have been named in newly released U.S. Department of Justice documents as having had ties with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence reveals Caroline Lang co-founded a company, Prytanee LLC, with Epstein in 2016, and that Jack Lang requested personal favors like the use of Epstein's car or plane.

‘Grit’ exhibition highlights artists’ perseverance at Echo Contemporary

A new group exhibition titled 'Grit' opened at Echo Contemporary Art in Atlanta's Echo Street West, featuring works by local artists in painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, tech-driven pieces, and a quilt by Evereman. Co-curated by Alfonso Alday Vergara of Alday Hunken Gallery, Melanie Shaw of ArtShare, and Kyle McNeill (BignPasty), the show explores the theme of perseverance in art-making. The opening night reception drew a crowd, and the week-long exhibition includes artist talks, live music, and a panel discussion with Hayley Smith of SCOPE Art Show and Plushette Ellis of Artistic Logistics.

“Jeffrey Epstein Walk of Shame” Appears in Washington, DC Public Park

A guerrilla art installation called the "Jeffrey Epstein Walk of Shame" appeared in Washington, DC's Farragut Square. It consists of sidewalk stickers resembling Hollywood stars, bearing the names and images of twenty public figures linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including Prince Andrew, Ghislaine Maxwell, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Gates, and Bill Clinton. Each sticker features a QR code linking to Department of Justice evidence or the Epstein Files.

Art exhibition shines light on Romani persecution during Holocaust

An exhibition titled "Ceija Stojka: Making Visible" at The Drawing Center in New York City highlights the persecution of Roma and Sinti people during the Holocaust, a lesser-known chapter of Nazi atrocities. The show features paintings and drawings by Ceija Stojka, a Romani artist, writer, and activist who survived the genocide and died in 2013 at age 79. Her works, described as acts of memory and imagination rather than documentary, depict her experiences and stories passed down to her, with the exhibition also including documentary films by Karin Berger and Stojka's writings, such as her 1988 memoir "We Live in Secrecy."

Local artist ‘Tall Greg’ selected for inaugural residency at The Wyre

Local Asheville painter Greg "Tall Greg" Carr has been selected as the inaugural artist-in-residence for The Wyre, a new housing complex in the city's River Arts District. The year-long Brian Schick River Arts District Residency provides Carr with a rent-free apartment in exchange for hosting monthly art classes, creating a signature mural, and offering residents a behind-the-scenes look at his artistic process via social media.

Luckiest Light grand opening | PHOTOS

The Luckiest Light, a non-profit organization in Havre de Grace, Maryland, held its grand opening on Monday. The space features an art gallery with works by local artists, including Joe Harter, JP Henry, and Anthony Allerton, and includes artist stations for painting, string art, and other creative activities. The event was documented in a series of photos by Jeffrey F. Bill, showing visitors, artists, and the owners Kim and Justin Waszkiewicz with their children.