sculptor henrike naumann dies at 41 museo de arte moderno de bogota fires director morning links for february 16 2026 1234773508

The Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogota (MAMBO) has fired its artistic director, Italian curator Eugenio Viola, who held the position since 2019. Viola stated his dismissal followed his decision to raise concerns with the board about deteriorating working conditions, while the museum called the move part of a "comprehensive review." Separately, German sculptor Henrike Naumann, who was set to represent Germany at the upcoming Venice Biennale, has died at age 41 after a short, serious illness.

praise shadows boston downtown move 2745268

Praise Shadows Art Gallery, a respected contemporary art gallery, is relocating from Brookline to a 2,000-square-foot downtown Boston storefront in the Leather District. The move was facilitated by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the city's Space for Creative Enterprise Downtown initiative, which helped founder Yng-Ru Chen secure a 10-year lease. The gallery opens on March 13 with a group show titled "Summoning" and has a slate of solo shows planned for Boston-based artists in 2026.

praise shadows boston downtown move 2745268

Praise Shadows Art Gallery, Boston's leading contemporary art gallery, is relocating from Brookline to a 2,000-square-foot downtown Boston storefront in the Leather District. The move was facilitated by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's office and the Downtown Boston Alliance through their 'Space for Creative Enterprise Downtown' initiative, which helped dealer Yng-Ru Chen secure a 10-year lease. The gallery opens on March 13 with a group show titled "Summoning" featuring artists like Oliver Jeffers and Jean Shin, followed by solo shows for Boston-based artists Crystalle Lacouture, Juan José Barboza-Gubo, and Brooke Stewart later in 2026.

Henrike Naumann—selected for this year's Germany pavilion at the Venice Biennale—has died

Artist Henrike Naumann, who was selected alongside Sung Tieu to represent Germany at the 2024 Venice Biennale, has died at age 39. She passed away on February 14 in Berlin after a short, serious illness, which her website specified was a late cancer diagnosis. The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Ifa), which oversees the German Pavilion, confirmed her death and stated that her planned work for the Biennale will be realized posthumously according to her completed vision.

Michael Joo: Sweat Models 1991–2026

Space ZeroOne in New York will present "Michael Joo: Sweat Models 1991–2026," a solo exhibition of early and newly realized works by Korean American multimedia artist Michael Joo, organized by guest curator Christopher Y. Lew. The show focuses on Joo's 1990s works, which engaged with issues like the AIDS crisis and information technology, and will feature a newly realized large-scale installation, *Concatenations*, first conceived in 1990.

White House presses Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery for new Trump portrait and display

The White House has suggested that the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery create a dedicated section to display multiple images of President Donald Trump, including a new painted portrait, during his current term. This proposal came during a December visit by State Department and White House officials, who noted the president receives much artwork from supporters that could be curated for display.

David Hockney to create ten metre-long window installation for Turner Contemporary

Artist David Hockney will create a monumental, ten-meter-long window installation for the Sunley Gallery at Turner Contemporary in Margate, UK. The work, based on a 2020 iPad painting of a Normandy sunrise, will be illuminated at night and installed from April to November as part of the gallery's 15th anniversary celebrations.

White House presses Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery for new Trump portrait and display

The White House has suggested that the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery create a dedicated section to display multiple images of President Donald Trump, including a new painted portrait, during his current term. This proposal came from a December visit by State Department and White House officials, who argued that art gifted to the president by supporters should be showcased. The initiative would break from the gallery's long-standing tradition of displaying only a single photographic likeness during a president's tenure and unveiling a commissioned painted portrait only after they leave office.

Michael Joo: Sweat Models 1991–2026

Space ZeroOne in New York will present "Michael Joo: Sweat Models 1991–2026," a solo exhibition of the Korean American multimedia artist's early works, from February 20 to April 18, 2026. The show, organized by guest curator Christopher Y. Lew, will feature rarely seen pieces from the 1990s and the first realization of a large-scale installation, "Concatenations," conceived in 1990.

Henrike Naumann—selected for this year's Germany pavilion at the Venice Biennale—has died

Artist Henrike Naumann, who was selected alongside Sung Tieu to represent Germany at the 2024 Venice Biennale, has died at age 39. She passed away on February 14 in Berlin after a short, serious illness, which her website identified as a late cancer diagnosis. The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Ifa), which oversees the German Pavilion, confirmed her death and stated that her planned work for the Biennale will be realized posthumously according to her completed vision.

british museum removed palestinian uk lawyers for israel 1234773499

The British Museum in London removed the word 'Palestinian' from certain display texts concerning the ancient Middle East, replacing it with terms like 'Canaanite.' This action followed a letter from the pro-Israel advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) to the museum's director, Nicholas Cullinan, which argued that using 'Palestine' to describe the ancient region was historically inaccurate and erased the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea.

British Museum Removed 'Palestinian' From Displays After Pressure From Pro-Israel Group

british museum removed palestinian uk lawyers for israel 1234773499

The British Museum in London removed the word 'Palestinian' from certain display texts related to the ancient Middle East, replacing it with terms like 'Canaanite.' This action followed a letter from the pro-Israel advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) to the museum's director, Nicholas Cullinan, arguing that using 'Palestine' to describe the ancient region was historically inaccurate and erased the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea. The museum stated the changes were made last year, prior to receiving the letter, and that it uses UN terminology for modern maps and 'Palestinian' as a cultural identifier where appropriate.

the asia pivot state of play 2026 02 12 2744976

A flurry of art fair activity across Asia marked the early weeks of 2026. Art Basel's inaugural Qatar edition broke format with single-artist presentations, focusing on MENASA artists and discreet institutional buying. The India Art Fair in New Delhi reported strong sales for local and international galleries, while new fairs launched in Jakarta, Manila, and Hong Kong. Tokyo Gendai announced its return, and Art Basel's digital platform Zero 10 expanded to Hong Kong.

the asia pivot state of play 2026 02 12 2744976

A flurry of art fair activity across Asia marked the early weeks of 2026. Art Basel's inaugural Qatar edition broke format with single-artist presentations, focusing on MENASA artists and discreet institutional buying. The India Art Fair in New Delhi saw strong sales for local galleries like Vadehra Art Gallery and DAG, while international fairs also took place in Indonesia and the Philippines. New events like Pavilion Hong Kong were announced, and Tokyo Gendai confirmed its return.

Masterworks Cofounders Face Legal Threats and Complaints

cofounders startup masterworks legal threats complaints 1234773296

Masterworks, a company that sells fractional shares of high-value artworks, is embroiled in a legal dispute with former executive Hai Min Tran. The company has filed a complaint in New York state court, alleging Tran resigned from his role as chief product officer before taking paternity leave and is now attempting to extract a financial settlement. Masterworks calls his subsequent claim of illegal termination "wholly meritless."

masterworks employment dispute 2745518

Masterworks, an art investment platform, has filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court against its former chief product officer, Hai Min Tran. The company alleges Tran threatened to sue for wrongful termination after his paternity leave, while Masterworks contends he voluntarily resigned before taking leave and that no part-time contract work was available for him upon his return.

agnes gund christies 2745488

Three major artworks from the collection of the late arts patron Agnes Gund will be auctioned at Christie's in New York this May, with a combined minimum estimate of $123 million. The works include Mark Rothko's 'No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe)' (est. ~$80 million), a Cy Twombly untitled painting from 1961 (est. $40-60 million), and Joseph Cornell's 'Untitled (Medici Princess)' from 1948 (est. $3-5 million).

trump wants national portrait gallery new portrait 1234773409

Former President Donald Trump has requested a new official portrait to replace the one painted by artist Ronald Sherr, which was completed in 2022 and ready for acceptance by the National Portrait Gallery. The White House stated Trump wants a portrait that reflects the full scope of his time in office, including both his 45th and potential 47th terms, as he is currently running for president again.

louvre ticket fraud 2745436

Two Louvre employees and several tour guides have been arrested in connection with a decade-long, large-scale ticket fraud scheme targeting Chinese tour groups. French prosecutors allege the operation involved counterfeit tickets and overbooking, costing the museum an estimated €10 million in lost revenue, with proceeds allegedly invested in real estate in France and Dubai.

The US struggles with history, Stephen Friedman Gallery closes, Tudor Heart pendant acquired by the British Museum—podcast

The United States is experiencing significant cultural and political disputes as it approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in July 2026. A recent flashpoint involved the Trump administration removing the rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall Monument in New York, highlighting deep societal divisions over history and representation. Concurrently, various cultural initiatives are being planned to mark the semiquincentennial.

UNT Faculty Denounce Closure of Victor Quiñonez Show in Open Letter to University President

Faculty at the University of North Texas College of Visual Art & Design have issued an open letter to university leadership, protesting the sudden and unexplained closure of artist Victor "MARKA27" Quiñonez's solo exhibition, 'Ni de Aqui, Ni de Allá,' just nine days after it opened. The letter demands an explanation for the cancellation, which occurred before a scheduled public reception, and cites university policies protecting artistic expression and academic freedom.

Tracey Emin: ‘I’ve done more in my last five years than in the whole rest of my life’

Tracey Emin is the subject of a major retrospective at Tate Modern titled 'A Second Life,' which spans her career from her first solo show in 1993 to recent works. The exhibition is structured thematically around pivotal life events and includes a documentary addressing her 2020 bladder cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery.

pride flag removal stonewall elected officials reinstate 1234773286

The Trump administration removed the Pride flag from the flagpole at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, a site commemorating the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The action, reportedly carried out by the National Park Service, followed a memo restricting "non-agency" flags at federal sites.

pompidou secret camera bathroom 2745084

A hidden camera was discovered in a women's restroom within the administrative offices of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. A female staff member found the device on January 14, leading to the immediate suspension of a suspected perpetrator and the filing of a legal complaint by the museum. The museum has stated that exhaustive inspections found no other devices and has offered support to staff.

carnegie international 2026 artist list 1234773093

The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh has announced the artist list for its 2026 Carnegie International exhibition. The largest edition to date features 61 artists from around the world, including the Indigenous Argentinian collective Silät, Indian artist Sanchayan Ghosh, and Peruvian painter Arturo Kameya. The show, titled "If the word we," will open on May 2 and includes 36 new commissions, organized by curators Ryan Inouye, Liz Park, and Danielle A. Jackson.

gardner museum rembrandt not epstein files viral video 1234773155

A viral Instagram video by Emily Kaplan claims that two artworks stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 appear in tax estate documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files. Kaplan suggests the Rembrandt etching and a painting attributed to Govaert Flinck were listed, potentially linking the infamous art heist to Epstein's financial network for money laundering.

intuit art museum in chicago gifted trove of artworks hidden camera found in womens restroom at centre pompidous offices morning links for february 12 2026 1234773209

The Intuit Art Museum in Chicago has received a major gift of 61 artworks through two donations, one from the estate of founding supporter Jan Petry and another from scholar and collector Gordon W. Bailey. The works, by artists like Emery Blagdon and Mose Tolliver, will help the museum expand its presentation of works by women artists of color.

N. Korea holds events to gather momentum ahead of key party congress

North Korea has organized a series of events, including a large book and art exhibition at the Korean Art Museum in Pyongyang, to generate public enthusiasm ahead of a key Workers' Party congress scheduled for late February. The exhibition featured approximately 10,000 books on party ideology alongside paintings, sculptures, and artifacts depicting the daily lives of North Korean citizens.

Two New Student-Curated Exhibits Open at USU Museum of Anthropology

Two new student-curated exhibitions have opened at the Utah State University Museum of Anthropology. "Japanese Fine Arts and Fashion," curated by Morgan Meyers, explores the connection between artistic expression and clothing traditions, particularly during Japan's Edo period. "Global Games: The Cross-Cultural Creation of Competition," curated by Benji Fowler-Merrell, examines the universal human desire for play and competition through interactive displays of historical games.

New TOOLSONG Gallery opens in renovated MadJax space

A new art exhibition space, TOOLSONG Gallery, has opened in downtown Muncie, Indiana, within the MadJax Maker Force creative hub. The gallery, located in a renovated former transformer shaft of a historic industrial building, launched with an inaugural exhibition titled "Untied: On Process, Drift, and Letting Go" by artist Kevin R. Klinger.