destroyed bunny museum receives gift rabbit sculpture 1234774729

The Bunny Museum in Altadena, California, which was destroyed during the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Wildfires, has received a major donation in the form of a 14-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture titled "Scanner." Created by Chinese artist Jesse Zhao and donated by local resident Wesley Zucco, the 1,100-pound work was unveiled on February 20 as part of the museum's rebuilding efforts. The institution, which previously held over 45,000 rabbit-related items ranging from Egyptian antiquities to pop culture memorabilia, lost its entire physical collection in the blaze, though its live animals were rescued.

‘My paintings are always really kitchen sink, everything’s thrown into them’: Christina Quarles on her new solo show in Los Angeles

Artist Christina Quarles has launched her first solo exhibition with Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles, titled "The Ground Glows Black." The new body of work features her signature fluid, elastic depictions of bodies, but introduces a more "untethered" and monochromatic aesthetic influenced by recent personal trauma. The paintings and works on paper were created in the aftermath of the Eaton fire, which destroyed the artist's home and community in Altadena.

plautilla bricci painter roman architect 2748566

The nonprofit organization Artemisia Gold has announced a major restoration project for Plautilla Bricci’s 17th-century altarpiece, 'Birth of the Virgin' (ca. 1660), located in Rome’s Church of Santa Maria in Campo Marzio. Bricci, a rare female polymath of the Baroque era, was Italy’s first professional female architect as well as a prolific painter and sculptor. The restoration team, led by Jane Adams, aims to clean the darkened canvas and conduct X-ray analysis to potentially uncover a hidden signature and more details regarding its commission by Abbess Anna Maria Mazzarino.

Commentary | Art is more than its original context

Comment | Art is more than its original context

This commentary explores the tension between historical context and the immediate, physical experience of viewing art in the modern age. While art historians often focus on restoring works to their original origins—such as the rare, unmoved Giovanni Bellini altarpiece in Venice—the author argues that over-emphasizing biographical or political context can reduce a masterpiece to a mere illustration or a token in a power game.

perugino decemvriri altarpiece sothebys morgan 2741619

Sotheby's is launching its inaugural Old Masters Week at its new Breuer building location in New York with a special exhibition of works heading to auction. The centerpiece is the 'cimasa' (top panel) of Pietro Perugino's 'Decemviri Altarpiece' (1495), on an exceptional loan from Italy's National Gallery of Umbria and traveling outside Italy for the first time. After its display at Sotheby's, the panel will be exhibited at the Morgan Library and Museum alongside Giovanni Bellini's newly restored 'Pietà' (c. 1470), which is also making its U.S. debut.

ming wong saint sebastian 2736754

Artist Ming Wong has created a new video installation titled "Dance of the Sun on the Water / Saltatio Solis in Aqua," currently on view at the National Gallery in London. The work reimagines the figure of Saint Sebastian, drawing inspiration from the museum's collection of classical paintings, including a 1475 altarpiece by Antonio and Piero del Pollaiuolo, as well as Derek Jarman's 1976 queer film "Sebastiane." Wong, the fifth artist selected for the National Gallery's Modern and Contemporary program, completed the piece during a one-year residency, exploring how the martyr's image has evolved across centuries and what it means in contemporary times.

Tony Hawk, Banksy, Powell-Peralta, Beastie Boys Items Lead Street Art & Culture Auction

Julien's Auctions has announced a 'STREET ART & CULTURE' auction featuring 70 lots that blend skate culture, street art, and music memorabilia. Highlights include Tony Hawk's personal T-shirt and signed poster from his historic 1999 X Games '900' trick (estimate $6,000-$8,000), a Banksy signed limited-edition 'Sale Ends' screenprint (estimate $20,000-$30,000), and boards from Powell-Peralta such as Steve Caballero's 'Half Cab Dragon'. The sale also includes works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jamie Reid, Shepard Fairey, and memorabilia from Gorillaz, Beastie Boys, and Wu-Tang Clan. The online auction is scheduled for February 4, 2026.

diana thater media art preservation cmacc 1234769025

When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena in January 2025, artist Diana Thater lost decades of raw footage, master tapes, installation manuals, and ephemera stored in her garage. Her husband, artist T. Kelly Mason, managed to save a server and several hard drives, but much of her earlier archive—never digitized—was destroyed. In the aftermath, Thater began working with the Canyon Media Art Conservation Center (CMACC), a nonprofit conservation lab opening in 2026 that specializes in time-based media art. Led by conservator Cass Fino-Radin, CMACC is helping Thater locate surviving versions of her works in museums and private collections to rebuild and preserve her archive.

alma allen american pavilion 2026 venice biennale 1234759545

Alma Allen, a Utah-born, Mexico-based sculptor, has been selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, according to ARTnews sources. The pavilion's commissioning curator is Jeffrey Uslip, who previously curated the Malta Pavilion in 2022. The official announcement is pending the end of the government shutdown. Allen, known for large-scale stone, wood, and bronze sculptures, is in talks with Perrotin gallery for representation after his previous gallery, Kasmin, closed and rebranded as Olney Gleason.

‘Colourful Dialogues’: An art exhibition by Gwarniċ

Gwarniċ presents 'Colourful Dialogues', a collective exhibition opening on 7 January 2026 at Bizzilla Art Space in Floriana, Malta, running through 27 January. The show brings together local and international artists—including Kevin Sciberras, Antje Flauss, Chris Saliba, Teo Burki, Rosette Bonello, Irakli Chikovani, and Sopho Simonishvili—to explore colour as a universal visual language that connects cultures and artistic approaches. The exhibition marks Gwarniċ's transition from digital and site-specific curation to a fully realized physical exhibition.

2025 sigg prize winners 2729598

Wong Ping and Heidi Lau have been named joint winners of the third edition of the Sigg Prize, a biennial award stewarded by Hong Kong's M+ museum since 2018. This marks the first time the prize has recognized two artists simultaneously. Wong, based in Hong Kong, won for his animated narrative *Debts in the Wind* (2025), a lo-fi, darkly humorous commentary on a local land dispute over a golf course. Lau, born in Macau and now based in New York, won for *Pavilion Procession* (2025), an altar-like ceramic installation with a robotic spider inspired by the ancient Chinese text *Shanhaijing*. Both artists were selected from a shortlist of six, all born after the 1980s and '90s.

Rare opening of Patrick Dalli’s private gallery

Maltese artist Patrick Dalli is opening his private gallery in Marsascala to the public for three days in December 2024. The event, titled 'Midweek Art Fix – Patrick Dalli’s Private Gallery,' runs on December 17 from 7 to 11pm and December 18–19 from 2 to 8pm, offering a rare glimpse into the space where much of his work is created. The exhibition features his iconic large-scale nudes, expressive watercolours, and a newer series of stylised landscapes that merge human form with natural topography.

'What's possible for art in this city': Striking exhibition brings diverse artists to Allentown studio

Rigo Peralta Art Studio in Allentown, Pennsylvania, opened the "Hyperrealism & Realism" exhibition on a Friday night, featuring a diverse group of artists from the United States, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Curated by Peralta and Ruddy Tavera, the show juxtaposes hyperrealistic and academic realist works, including pieces by Ismael Checo, Francisco Collado, Juanairis Collado, and others. The exhibition runs through February and aims to present a fresh artistic experience for the local community.

architecture houses lost los angeles fires 2598556

A week after wildfires erupted across Los Angeles, the city remains under critical threat as the Pacific Palisades, Eaton, Hollywood Hills, and San Fernando Valley fires have forced the evacuation of roughly 200,000 residents, destroyed about 12,000 buildings, and claimed at least 24 lives. Among the losses are culturally and architecturally significant structures, including the Bunny Museum in Altadena, the historic Will Rogers ranch, the Altadena Community Church (designed by Harry L. Pierce), the Andrew McNally House (a Queen Anne-style mansion by Frederick Roehrig), Richard Neutra's Benedict and Nancy Freedman House, and Gregory Ain's Park Planned Homes in Altadena. Adrian Scott Fine of the Los Angeles Conservancy described the destruction as "a mass erasure of heritage."

artists homes los angeles fires 2597327

On January 7, 2025, the Palisades and Eaton Fires erupted in Los Angeles, fueled by drought and Santa Ana winds exceeding 90 mph, destroying over 12,000 structures. The fires devastated Pacific Palisades and Altadena, including the homes and studios of numerous artists, collectors, and art professionals. The Getty Center and Getty Villa were under evacuation but remained safe. Artist Paul McCarthy lost three family homes and his son's editing studio, while many others like Christina Quarles, Analia Saban, and Ruby Neri also suffered losses.

Artists protest Alligator Alcatraz at Scope Art Show

At the Scope Art Show in Miami, Amnesty International has presented an installation titled "Cruelty Is Their Point—But Another World is Possible" featuring works by artists Agua Dulce Gloriosa and Clarence James. The project protests the notorious migrant-detention facility in the Everglades nicknamed Alligator Alcatraz, which opened in July 2025 and is operated by Florida’s Division of Emergency Management in partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security. The installation includes an altar-like piece by Dulce Gloriosa and a collage by James, and invites fairgoers to sign a petition demanding the facility's closure.

art bites zuccaro drawing banished from rome 2710007

Federico Zuccaro, a 16th-century Italian Mannerist painter, was banished from Rome in 1581 after presenting a satirical drawing at a feast in the church of Saint Luke. The 13-foot work, 'Porta Virtutis (The Gate of Virtue),' depicted King Midas with donkey ears as a thinly veiled attack on papal steward Paolo Ghiselli, who had rejected Zuccaro's altarpiece. Zuccaro explicitly identified Ghiselli as the foolish Midas and labeled Bologna the 'Reign of Ignorance,' leading Pope Gregory XIII to sentence him for 'excesses' and banish him from the city. He avoided prison by paying a 400 scudi bail.

Michelle Cassar Cavarra Hosts First Charity Art Exhibition To Support Neighbour In Need

Maltese abstract artist and poet Michelle Cassar Cavarra is hosting her first charity art exhibition to raise funds for her neighbor Kate, who has been diagnosed with Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome, a rare condition affecting only about 400 people worldwide. The exhibition, sponsored by Marsovin, takes place at Ic-Civil Valletta and features Cassar Cavarra's unique abstract works, with proceeds going toward Kate's specialized equipment, therapies, and a home pool to aid her mobility.

palace of westminster dig 6000 years history 2720582

Archaeological excavations at the Palace of Westminster in London have uncovered Neolithic flint tools and flakes dating back over 6,000 years, predating the earliest mounds at Stonehenge. The digs, led by the Museum of London Archaeology and overseen by the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority (R&R), also revealed the remains of Lesser Hall, a 12th-century royal dining space, along with Roman altar fragments, medieval tiles, and 19th-century artifacts. The excavations, running through 2026, are part of a £13 billion restoration project addressing the Palace's deteriorating condition.

The Big Review | Fra Angelico at Palazzo Strozzi and Museo di San Marco, Florence ★★★★★

A major two-venue exhibition dedicated to early Renaissance master Fra Angelico (c. 1395-1455) has opened at Palazzo Strozzi and Museo di San Marco in Florence. The show, four years in the making, features unprecedented loans from over 70 museums and 28 newly conserved works, including the Fiesole Altarpiece (c. 1420-23) and the San Marco Altarpiece (1438-43). It reunites dispersed predella panels and decorative components looted during the Napoleonic era, presenting the most complete picture of Fra Angelico to date while challenging the notion that his work was archaic.

The Shift launches its annual art exhibition

The Shift, a Maltese investigative journalism platform, has launched its eighth annual art exhibition featuring works donated by over 20 Maltese artists, both established and emerging. The artworks are displayed at Mixa’s Gallery in St Paul’s Bay and online, with prices set by the artists themselves. Proceeds are split 30% to the artists and 70% to fund The Shift’s investigative journalism and press freedom advocacy.

dorset museum sherborne almshouse triptych 1234763609

The Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in England has launched a fundraising campaign to acquire a rare 15th-century Netherlandish altarpiece, known as *The Master of the Sherborne Almshouse Triptych*, valued at up to £3.5 million ($4.6 million). The work is set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in an Old Master evening sale next month, and the museum aims to prevent it from entering a private collection or being exported. The triptych, which depicts five healings of Jesus Christ, was hidden during periods of iconoclastic destruction and rediscovered in St. John’s Almshouse in Sherborne in the 19th century; it has only left the site twice, for exhibitions at the Royal Academy in 1923 and the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2003.

are there enough collectors for all the art fairs chanel opens chinas first public contemporary art library us style cultural giving on the rise in the uk morning links for november 25 20 1234763587

Frieze will launch an Abu Dhabi edition in November 2026, shortly after Art Basel opens in Qatar in February 2026, joining Art Dubai and Art Week Riyadh in an increasingly crowded Middle Eastern art fair landscape. Meanwhile, Chanel has opened mainland China's first public contemporary art library, Espace Gabrielle Chanel, at Shanghai's Power Station of Art, housing over 50,000 books and audiobooks. In other news, New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani named an arts transition committee including Elizabeth Alexander and Ruba Katrib, and London's major museums have seen a surge in large philanthropic donations, including a £10.3 million pledge to the British Museum and two £150 million gifts to the National Gallery.

martin wong painting unseen art basel miami beach ppow 1234762898

A long-unseen 12-foot-wide painting by Martin Wong, titled *Tai Ping Tien Kuo (Tai Ping Kuo)* (1982), will be exhibited at Art Basel Miami Beach next month courtesy of New York gallery P.P.O.W. The work, which features a rare nude portrait of the artist’s mother and stepfather, was last shown publicly in 1987 at the Asian Arts Institute in New York. It was kept in storage for decades because Wong’s mother, Florence Wong Fie, objected to its display out of modesty. The painting adopts a classical three-panel altarpiece format, blending Chinese American history with references to Western art, the Taiping Rebellion, and Wong’s own Lower East Side influences.

Artist Helina Metaferia infuses solo exhibit 'Syntropy' with research and activism

Artist Helina Metaferia presents her solo exhibition 'Syntropy' at Praise Shadows Art Gallery in Brookline, Massachusetts, on view through December 20. The show features her mixed media collages, including a self-portrait titled 'Enthroned (I am an institution; I am an altar; I am an artwork in/of/for progress),' which marks her first self-portrait in years. The exhibition is part of her ongoing socially engaged project 'By Way of Revolution,' which explores the history of activism and civil rights through workshops, performance, and archival research. Metaferia, an Ethiopian American interdisciplinary artist, teaches at Brown University and previously exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Community-Driven Exhibition Transforms Cars Into Unconventional Vehicles for Site-Specific Art

Over a crisp weekend in October, a Harlem parking lot hosted Stay Frosty, a community-driven exhibition organized by BravinLee Programs. The show transformed cars into unconventional vehicles for site-specific art, with works installed in trunks, truck beds, and on rearview mirrors. Highlights included Baloney's "Piggies Undo the World," featuring pigs attacking a red pickup; Ellie Murphy's tapestries draped over the fence; and Amy Rose Khoshbin's interactive "Altars to Agency." Artists, independent curators, galleries, and non-profits participated, turning the lot into an enclosed, vibrant environment for visual art.

dolce and gabbana exhibition ica miami february 1234761299

Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana announced that its exhibition “From the Heart to the Hands” will travel to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, opening February 6, 2026, and running through June 14. Curated by fashion historian Florence Müller, the show features over 300 pieces from the brand’s archival and recent collections, including its Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria lines, displayed in immersive rooms inspired by art, architecture, folklore, and the dolce vita. The exhibition also includes collaborations with visual artists such as Quayola, Alberto Maria Colombo, Obvious, Vittorio Bonapace, and Felice Limosani.