key louvre security password at time of heist

A French court report reveals that the Louvre museum's security system was severely compromised at the time of a major jewel heist, with the password for its key surveillance server set to "Louvre" and another system protected by the password "THALES." The report from France's Court of Auditors, leaked to the press, details how the museum repeatedly postponed security upgrades while prioritizing high-profile acquisitions and renovations, despite an annual operating budget of €323 million. The heist saw roughly $102 million in French crown jewels stolen, and only 432 CCTV cameras monitored 465 galleries in 2024, leaving 61% of galleries without surveillance.

spain acknowledgement injustice pain colonization mexico

Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares inaugurated an exhibition titled “Half the World: Women in Indigenous Mexico” at the Cervantes Institute in Madrid, featuring over 400 works on loan from the Mexican government. At the press conference, Albares acknowledged that Spain's colonization of Mexico caused “pain and injustice” toward indigenous peoples, but stopped short of issuing a full apology. This follows a 2019 letter from former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador demanding an apology from Spain and the Catholic Church for the conquest, which Spain rejected. Current Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has reiterated the demand, calling the original letter “very diplomatic” and criticizing Spain's response as “undiplomatic.”

harlesden high street mayfair

Jonny Tanna, founder of the London gallery Harlesden High Street, has launched a pop-up project in Mayfair during Frieze Week, in collaboration with Düsseldorf- and Berlin-based gallery Setareh. The inaugural exhibition, “Forces of Nature,” features London-based artists Abbas Zahedi and Jamiu Agboke, presenting conceptual installation and atmospheric painting. Tanna emphasizes that this is not a permanent relocation but an itinerant extension of his gallery, which exclusively shows artists of color and is known for its community-focused, unvarnished approach.

matthew christopher pietras death by suicide

Matthew Christopher Pietras, an arts patron who pledged millions to the Metropolitan Opera and the Frick Collection, died by suicide on May 30 in his Manhattan apartment, as ruled by the New York City medical examiner. His death was attributed to acute intoxication from a combination of prescription drugs. Pietras had made a $15 million pledge to the Met Opera, but when he attempted to transfer $10 million, the transaction was flagged as fraudulent, and it was later revealed that the funds belonged to the Soros family, not to Pietras himself. He worked as a financial manager—or, more accurately, a personal assistant and property manager—for Gregory Soros, the youngest son of billionaire George Soros.

sarah cunningham death accidental inquest

A new inquest has determined that the death of British abstract painter Sarah Cunningham at age 31 last year was accidental. Cunningham, represented by Lisson Gallery, went missing after a night out in London on November 2, 2023, and was later found dead on the tracks at Chalk Farm Underground Station. The Poplar Coroner's Court concluded on April 9 that although she jumped onto the track, she did not intend to take her own life, noting she was intoxicated at the time. Her body was discovered after a train struck her 18 minutes later.

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The J. Paul Getty Trust awarded its annual Getty Prize to Ann Philbin, who served as director of the Hammer Museum at UCLA for 25 years. A celebratory dinner was held at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, attended by artists, philanthropists, and museum directors. Philbin used the prize's $500,000 grant to support NPR, KCRW, and LAist, emphasizing the importance of free speech and public broadcasting.

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Art critic David Rimanelli reviews Willem de Kooning's exhibition "Endless Painting" at Gagosian's 555 West 24th Street location, curated by Cecilia Alemani, running through June 24, 2025. The show spans de Kooning's career from 1944 to his final phase, though notably omits his black-and-white oil-and-enamel paintings from the late 1940s. Rimanelli expresses ambivalence, finding the show dreary and pointless despite the high caliber of individual works, and critiques the press release's focus on fragmented body parts. Separately, Johanna Fateman reviews Cosey Fanni Tutti's exhibition at Maxwell Graham, highlighting her controversial 1970s series "Magazine Actions" (1972–80), on view through June 28, 2025.

Tim Blum will phase out traditional gallery model, close Los Angeles and Tokyo locations

Tim Blum, co-founder of the influential Los Angeles gallery Blum (formerly Blum & Poe), announced he will phase out the traditional gallery model, closing the gallery's permanent public spaces in Los Angeles and Tokyo. Blum cited burnout from the relentless demands of art fairs and gallery openings, emphasizing the decision is about the system, not the market. The gallery, which introduced American audiences to Japanese artists like Yoshitomo Nara and Takashi Murakami and gave early shows to Mark Grotjahn and Anna Weyant, will shift to a more flexible model involving collaborations and special projects. A previous New York space closed in 2023, and a Tribeca space's future remains undetermined.

The Tabloids Are Fouling Mayor Mamdani Over His Knicks Art. Here’s the Story

Artist Tom Sanford loaned his hand-painted wooden "Knicks Cutout" portraits of legendary New York Knicks players to New York City Hall at the invitation of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, intended to celebrate the team's playoff run. Tabloid media, including the New York Post and New York Times, framed the gesture as a "curse" on the team, suggesting fans blamed the mayor for the Knicks' losses. Sanford defends the artwork as a sincere, community-driven tribute rooted in New York street-corner cutout traditions, not a cheap stunt.

‘Arms and legs are very expressive, especially with bruises’: the absurdist photography of Yorgos Lanthimos

Director Yorgos Lanthimos has opened a photography exhibition at the Onassis Stegi in Athens, showcasing personal images taken in Greece over recent years. The show includes a central, temple-like installation housing his newer, non-film-related work, alongside earlier photographic series connected to his movies 'Poor Things' and 'Kinds of Kindness'.

hard choices marina abramovic longevity method

Art-world consultants Chen & Lampert have published a satirical quiz in Art in America that lampoons Marina Abramović's wellness line, the Longevity Method. The quiz presents ten multiple-choice questions mocking the artist's foray into selling tinctures and elixirs, such as Energy Drops and Immune Drops, which she claims contain ancient secrets for living well. The questions parody Abramović's performance art history and the commercialization of her brand, with options referencing her past works and the high cost of her products.

Thailand Biennale 2025 Review: Beyond the Tropical Paradise

The fourth Thailand Biennale, titled 'Eternal [Kalpa]', has launched across 19 venues in Phuket, aiming to challenge the island's reputation as a mere tropical leisure destination. Curated by a team including Hera Chan, the exhibition utilizes diverse locations—from municipal gymnasiums to mangrove forests—to explore themes of subjective time and local history. Despite logistical delays that saw some artists still installing works during the press preview, the biennial presents a series of site-specific commissions that engage with Phuket’s ecological and social complexities.

Churchill Landscape Gets First U.K. Showing in Exhibition Tracing His Artistic Life

The National Trust has unveiled a new exhibition titled "Churchill the Artist" at Chartwell, the former home of Winston Churchill. The show features personal artifacts including his paint-spattered Savile Row overalls and spectacles, alongside the painting "Quiet Waters" (c. 1920s), which is being exhibited in the U.K. for the first time. The work, an impressionistic river scene, was originally a gift from Churchill to the press baron Lord Beaverbrook.

Al Park’s picks of 2025 - local and international artists all make the cut

Al Park, a longtime music impresario in Lyttelton and Christchurch, shares his personal cultural highlights of 2025 in an end-of-year feature for The Press. His picks span books, films, music, poetry, and visual art, including the exhibition "Whāia te Taniwha" at Christchurch Art Gallery, which features works like Piri Cowie's bronze sculpture "Te Wheke – Aro Hā Series 2024." Park also looks ahead to 2026, noting his weekly event 'Al P and his P.A.Ls' and the upcoming "The Art of Banksy" exhibition at Christchurch Convention Centre Te Pae.

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Cultured magazine invited seven MFA students from CalArts, Columbia, RISD, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Yale to share recent works and discuss their artistic concerns. The students—Sascha Huth, Martha Estrella, Wenqing Zhai, Yehwan Song, Ricky Vasan, Virginia Hanusik, and Khidr Joseph—work in painting, photography, and sculpture, addressing themes such as commodity culture, Mexican American identity, China's one-child policy, digital inequality, personal yearning, ecological collapse, and grief.

Greta Thunberg, Hugh Bonneville sign letter defending Southbank Centre chair Misan Harriman

A petition signed by Greta Thunberg, Hugh Bonneville, and other prominent figures defends Misan Harriman, the photographer and chair of London's Southbank Centre, against what the letter calls a "dishonest smear campaign." The controversy stems from two incidents: Harriman shared a social media post about a stabbing attack in Golders Green, noting that a Muslim victim received less press coverage than two Jewish victims, and later posted a video reflecting on the rise of the right-wing Reform party, citing a conversation about the Holocaust. Right-wing outlets like The Daily Telegraph accused him of equating Reform's electoral success to the Holocaust, leading to widespread backlash. Harriman denies making such equivalences, and nearly 70,000 people have filed complaints with the press regulator IPSO—the largest campaign in its history.

Monumental Portrait of Late Biennale Curator Koyo Kouoh Unveiled in Venice

A monumental portrait of late Venice Biennale curator Koyo Kouoh, created by American artist Derrick Adams, has been unveiled in Venice ahead of the Biennale's public opening. The collage, titled *Heavy is the head that wears the crown* (2026), is displayed near the Arsenale until September 24. Kouoh, who died unexpectedly in May 2025 at age 57, was the first African woman to curate the Biennale. Adams' work uses golden hues and flattened forms to celebrate Kouoh's legacy, referencing the pressures of leadership and the joy she brought to the art world.

Do you hate art museums? Why (and how) to take a 2nd look

Do you hate art museums? Why (and how) to take a 2nd look

The traditional art museum experience often leads to exhaustion and a sense of alienation due to the overwhelming abundance of artworks and the pressure to see everything quickly. This phenomenon, which affects even visitors to world-class institutions like the Vatican or the Uffizi, stems from a 'problem of abundance' rather than a lack of appreciation for the art itself. The author suggests that smaller, more intimate spaces and a slower approach to viewing would make art more accessible and less intimidating for the general public.

Tracey Emin: 'Racist behaviour is dividing our country'

Tracey Emin has unveiled her major new exhibition, "Second Life," at Tate Modern, marking a significant departure from the tradition of living British artists showing at Tate Britain. The exhibition, curated by Harry Weller alongside Tate’s Maria Balshaw, Alvin Li, and Jessica Baxter, eschews a traditional retrospective format in favor of a thematic exploration of Emin's personal history. During the press preview, Emin addressed her multicultural heritage—including Turkish Cypriot, Sudanese, and Romanichal roots—and criticized the rise of jingoism and divisive politics in the UK.

THE VENICE BIENNALE IN AN EDITION MARKED BY POLITICAL GAMES

The Venice Biennale's 2024 edition is embroiled in political controversy surrounding its national pavilions, particularly those of Russia, South Africa, and Israel. The Russian pavilion's readmission amid the war in Ukraine drew sharp criticism from the artistic community and led the European Union to withdraw approximately two million euros in funding. The Israeli pavilion, which remained empty in 2024 to protest hostage situations, now features a proposal by sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, prompting protests from the Art Not Genocide Alliance and over 200 artists demanding its exclusion. The curatorial team, appointed by the late curator Koyo Kouoh, resigned collectively nine days before the opening, and the Biennale's directorship canceled the opening ceremony, postponing awards to November. Demonstrations led by Art Not Genocide Alliance, Pussy Riot, and FEMEN surrounded the Russian pavilion during the press opening, and a strike by cultural workers is planned for May 8th.

Major Corporate Sponsor Withdraws from Sydney Biennale, Citing Alleged Hate Speech

A major corporate sponsor, PwC, has withdrawn from the 25th Sydney Biennale following a police complaint alleging antisemitic hate speech by a participating DJ. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies filed the complaint against US electronic music producer Zubeyda Muzeyyen (DJ Haram) over comments made during the opening night party, which the Board claims incited hatred against Jewish Australians.

Twiggy, Bella Freud and more: Steven Meisel’s masterful London portraits – in pictures

Steven Meisel, the legendary fashion photographer, has been named Master of Photography at Photo London 2026. A rare exhibition of his work, titled "Steven Meisel: Master of Photography," will be held at Olympia, London from 13 to 17 May, showcasing his iconic London portraits from the 1990s, particularly his "Anglo-Saxon Attitude" series for British Vogue. The images feature models and muses such as Twiggy, Stella Tennant, Isabella Blow, Honor Fraser, Bella Freud, and Marlon Richards, captured in locations across London and New York.

Sahar Khoury, RJ Messineo at The Green Gallery

The Green Gallery in Milwaukee is presenting a two-person exhibition featuring works by artists Sahar Khoury and RJ Messineo, running from April 10 to May 16, 2026. The show includes 31 images documenting the exhibition, with no videos or text descriptions provided in the press release.

Foundation, a Prominent NFT Platform of the 2021 Boom, Shuts Down After Failed Sale

Foundation, a prominent Ethereum-based NFT marketplace that launched during the 2021 digital art boom, has announced it will shut down following a failed acquisition by the digital art company Blackdove. CEO Kayvon Tehranian confirmed that the platform has entered a one-year wind-down phase, urging users to migrate their assets as no other viable buyers exist in the current market. The closure follows the collapse of a deal that was intended to provide long-term stewardship for the platform, which had facilitated over $230 million in sales since its inception.

Louvre Faces €10M Loss After Decades-Long Ticket Fraud Busted

louvre faces e10m loss after decades long ticket fraud busted

A major fraud scheme involving counterfeit tickets and overbooked guided tours at the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles has been uncovered, leading to nine arrests and the seizure of over €1 million in cash and assets. The scheme, which reportedly operated for a decade, allowed guides to reuse tickets and conspire with museum employees to pocket sales, costing the Louvre an estimated €10 million in lost revenue.

St. Mary’s College Professor Of Art Sue Johnson Reveals D.C. Gallery Exhibition

Sue Johnson, professor of art at St. Mary's College, is presenting her second solo exhibition at gallery neptune & brown in Washington, D.C., titled “Blueprint for Happiness.” The show runs from May 16 through June 20, with an opening reception on May 16. Johnson debuts a new series, “My Teenage Years,” which builds on her earlier “Symmetrical Bodies” work and examines the pressures on women to conform to ideals of happiness and perfection in body image and domestic spaces, drawing on 1960s-70s material and commercial culture.

Where It Doesn’t Reach at Lo Brutto Stahl

Lo Brutto Stahl presents "Where It Doesn’t Reach," a group exhibition featuring works by Bas Jan Ader, Hélène Janicot, and Park McArthur, running from March 27 to May 2, 2026, at both its Basel and Paris locations. The show brings together three artists whose practices explore absence, gesture, and the limits of perception, with the press release and floor plan available on the gallery's website.

Influential New York gallery Venus Over Manhattan will close after 13 years

Prominent collector and dealer Adam Lindemann is closing Venus Over Manhattan, the New York gallery he founded in 2012, after 13 years. The gallery's final exhibition, Susumu Kamijo's 'Fish & Flowers,' opened in June and will close on July 17. Lindemann announced the closure in an open letter published on Artnet, citing a desire to return to building his personal art collection and describing the difficulties of navigating the art world as both a dealer and collector.

Russia's Venice Pavilion to Close to the Public in Compliance With Sanctions

Russia will return to the 61st Venice Biennale with its national pavilion, but the exhibition will only be physically open to the press and select guests during the vernissage dates of May 5–8. From May 9 onward, the pavilion will remain closed to the public, with multimedia documentation of performances displayed on screens at the windows. The arrangement follows leaked emails among Biennale Foundation President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, General Director Andrea Del Mercato, and Russian Pavilion Commissioner Anastasia Karneeva, revealing efforts to comply with EU sanctions while still allowing Russia's participation after two consecutive absences since its invasion of Ukraine.

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.