An exhibition centered on Bartholdi's Champollion, deposited in Nogent-sur-Seine

Une exposition autour du Champollion de Bartholdi, déposé à Nogent-sur-Seine

The Musée Camille Claudel in Nogent-sur-Seine is hosting a new exhibition centered around Auguste Bartholdi’s monument to Jean-François Champollion. The statue, recently transferred from the courtyard of the Collège de France by the Fonds national d’art contemporain, serves as the focal point for a display that explores the history and significance of the work. The exhibition provides a scholarly counter-narrative to recent ideological criticisms surrounding the monument's iconography.

BETWEEN EARTH AND CONCRETE DELCY MORELOS EXHIBITS IN LONDON

Colombian artist Delcy Morelos has unveiled her first UK public commission, titled "Origo," at London’s Barbican Centre. Located in the Sculpture Court—a space reactivated for the first time in ten years—the monumental oval installation is constructed from earth, clay, hay, and seeds, infused with aromatic spices like cinnamon and cloves. The work invites visitors to walk through earthen tunnels, creating a sensory experience that contrasts the organic, porous nature of soil with the Barbican’s rigid Brutalist concrete architecture.

Barcelona museum refuses to return Sijena murals to monastery

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona is refusing to comply with a Spanish Supreme Court order to return the 12th-century Sijena murals to their original monastery in Aragón. Tensions escalated after the museum hosted a listening party for pop star Rosalía in the same hall where the Romanesque masterpieces are housed, leading to accusations from the municipality of Villanueva de Sijena that the museum is endangering the fragile works. MNAC director Pepe Serra has dismissed these concerns as scientifically unfounded, sparking threats of a defamation lawsuit from local officials.

Outsourcing a service is not prohibited, but managing the provider's employees is

Externaliser un service n’est pas interdit, diriger les salariés du prestataire l’est

A wave of legal complaints has been filed against several major French cultural institutions, including the Louvre, the Pinault Collection, and the MuCEM, alleging illegal labor practices. Labor unions Sud-Culture, SUD-PTT, and Solidaires claim these museums are engaging in "illicit lending of labor" and "bargaining" by exercising direct authority over outsourced staff from third-party agencies like Marianne International and Pénélope. While outsourcing services like ticketing and reception is legal in France, the lawsuits argue that museums are illegally managing these external employees' daily schedules, rotations, and disciplinary actions as if they were their own staff.

Construction of White House ballroom must stop, federal judge orders

A federal judge has ordered an immediate halt to the construction of a new ballroom at the White House's East Wing, a project initiated by former President Donald Trump. Judge Richard J. Leon's injunction stops all work except for safety and security measures, ruling that the president lacks the authority to undertake such a construction on federal property without explicit approval from Congress.

US-based dissident artist put on trial in China over satirical Mao sculptures, says rights group

Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, based in the US, has been tried in a closed-door court in China on charges of "defaming national heroes and martyrs" related to his satirical sculptures of former leader Mao Zedong. The one-day trial concluded without a verdict, and the artist faces up to three years in prison. His wife and young son, both US citizens, are under exit bans and unable to leave China.

Court Decision Ends Dispute Over Who Actually Bought Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days for $69.3 M.

A federal judge in New York has approved a final settlement in a lawsuit between the two pseudonymous figures behind the record-breaking $69.3 million purchase of Beeple's NFT "Everydays: The First 5000 Days." The agreement legally prohibits Anand Venkateswaran (Twobadour) from claiming any involvement in the 2021 Christie's purchase, confirming that Vignesh Sundaresan (Metakovan) was the sole buyer. Venkateswaran must also pay an undisclosed sum, dissociate from related online profiles, and correct third-party biographical information.

Richmond Acquires an 18th-Century Terracotta

Richmond s'enrichit d'une terre cuite du XVIIIe siècle

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond has acquired a rare 18th-century terracotta sculpture by the French artist Jean-Baptiste Boudard. A winner of the Grand Prix de Sculpture in 1732, Boudard spent much of his career in Italy serving the court of Philip of Bourbon in Parma, which contributed to his relative obscurity in his native France despite his significant contributions to Roman and Parmese landmarks.

Why Aguirre's works remained out of the public eye

Two Madrid galleries, Malvin Gallery and Espacio Jovellanos, have launched a dual exhibition titled 'Mi perro tiene memoria' to showcase the long-overlooked work of Spanish artist Luis Fernando Aguirre. Following his death in 2021, Aguirre’s family worked to bring his extensive archive out of his studio and into the public eye, featuring both his courtroom illustrations for El País and his evolution through expressionism and figurative painting.

Toledo Juvenile Court art exhibit showcases teen creativity

Six teenagers currently involved with the Lucas County Juvenile Court system are debuting a new art exhibition at JUST Toledo. The showcase features 25 original works, including photography and custom-built frames, all created and installed by the young artists under the guidance of lead artist Christopher Pickett.

Michaelina Wautier: a ‘compelling’ and revealing exhibition

The exhibition of Michaelina Wautier’s work introduces audiences to a long-overlooked master of the 17th-century Baroque period. Born in Mons around 1614, Wautier operated within the elite circles of the Spanish Netherlands, sharing a studio with her brother Charles and securing patronage from the court of the Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. Despite her technical brilliance and ability to navigate complex historical and religious subjects, her name remained largely absent from the art historical canon until this recent reappraisal.

German Provocateur Artist Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison in Russia After Mocking Putin

German carnival float artist Jacques Tilly has been sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in a Russian prison. A Moscow court convicted him on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military and insulting religious feelings due to his satirical floats depicting President Vladimir Putin, including one showing Putin in a blood-filled bathtub painted like the Ukrainian flag.

‘The shadows, the figures playing basketball … I waited for the magic to appear – then it did’: José Luis Morales Martín’s best phone picture

Architect José Luis Morales Martín captured a photograph of two teenagers playing basketball in his Madrid apartment complex's courtyard from his living room window. He was struck by the interplay of light, shadow, and geometry, using his phone to seize the moment when the scene's 'magic' became apparent.

Australia’s best photos of the month – March 2026

The article presents a collection of notable Australian cultural events and announcements from March 2026. It highlights the addition of the viral 'Succulent Chinese Meal' speech to the National Film and Sound Archive, a profile of 'Squid Game' composer Jung Jae-il, pianist Jayson Gillham's announced tour with a Palestinian-Jordanian musician ahead of a court case, and Kylie Minogue's scheduled performance at the AFL Grand Final.

An Artist Renounced His Family. They Sued to Acquire His Life’s Work.

The heirs of the late artist Robert S. Neuman sued his longtime gallerist, June Kelly, to gain control of his artistic estate. The lawsuit, filed in New York, claims Kelly exploited her relationship with the elderly artist to secure ownership of hundreds of his works, while the family argues Neuman's renunciation of them was based on false information she provided. The family's victory in court, resulting in the transfer of the entire collection to them, sets a significant precedent for estate disputes involving artists and their dealers. It highlights the complex power dynamics and potential for exploitation in artist-gallerist relationships, especially as artists age, and may influence how galleries structure agreements to protect both their interests and those of an artist's heirs.

US Supreme Court Declines Appeal Hearing For Case On Copyrighting AI Artwork

The US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from computer scientist Stephen Thaler, who sought to copyright an artwork generated by his AI system, the Creativity Machine. This decision upholds a lower court ruling that affirmed the US Copyright Office's rejection, which was based on the requirement that a human being must be the author of a creative work for it to be eligible for copyright protection.

Dallas Museum of Art Showcases Samurai Art Collection

The Dallas Museum of Art has launched "The Samurai Collection, Dallas, Samurai to the Imperial Court," a comprehensive exhibition featuring over 90 works of art. The showcase includes a diverse array of traditional weaponry, armor, paintings, and decorative objects, drawing from the museum's permanent collection as well as international loans. Running through September 6, 2026, the display tracks the evolution of samurai culture from its military roots to its role within the Imperial Court.

Munson celebrates student accomplishments with exhibits

Munson is hosting two juried exhibitions at the Pratt Munson College of Art and Design to showcase the work of its first-year and sophomore students. The First-Year Exhibition, running from April 10 to May 6, highlights foundational skills and interdisciplinary research, while the Sophomore Exhibition, held from April 17 to May 16, features more specialized work across various media. A public reception for both shows is scheduled for April 25 in the Museum’s Root Court.

Austin Bell Chronicles Every Single One of Hong Kong’s 2,549 Basketball Courts

Photographer Austin Bell documented all 2,549 outdoor basketball courts in Hong Kong, creating the series SHOOTING HOOPS. Using a drone and Google Maps, he captured the courts' vivid colors and geometric designs from an aerial perspective over 140 days of shooting, sometimes photographing hundreds in a single day.

Catherine Pégard calls on an expert for the general secretariat

Catherine Pégard fait appel à un expert pour le secrétariat général

Catherine Pégard, the president of the Palace of Versailles, has appointed Jérôme Rivoisy as the new Secretary General of the institution, effective April 7. Rivoisy, a 58-year-old high-ranking civil servant, replaces Luc Allaire and brings extensive experience from senior roles in the French government, including as director general of services at the Élysée Palace and as a master advisor at the Court of Auditors.

Emmanuel Étienne Takes the Helm of the Compiègne-Blérancourt Museums

Emmanuel Étienne prend les rênes des musées de Compiègne-Blérancourt

Emmanuel Étienne has been appointed as the director of the national museums and estates of Compiègne and Blérancourt. The 48-year-old architect and urban planner, a heritage architect trained at the École de Chaillot, succeeds Rodolphe Rapetti, who has retired. He will oversee the complex, which includes the Château and national estate of Compiègne with its three museums, as well as the estate and the Franco-American Museum of Blérancourt.