british museum explains removal palestinian wall texts 1234773551

The British Museum has disputed a Telegraph report claiming it removed the word 'Palestinian' from wall texts in its Middle Eastern galleries due to pressure from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). Museum director Nicholas Cullinan stated the changes to two panels, which altered 'Palestinian descent' to 'Canaanite descent' in one instance, were made last year and were unrelated to the UKLFI letter, which he claimed not to have seen until after the controversy erupted.

british museum explains removal palestinian wall texts 1234773551

The British Museum has disputed a Telegraph report claiming it removed the word 'Palestinian' from wall texts under pressure from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). The museum stated that while some text was changed last year, using 'Canaanite descent' for a specific historical period, it continues to use 'Palestinian' as a cultural identifier where appropriate and that the changes predated the UKLFI letter. Museum director Nicholas Cullinan denied the changes were a response to the group's complaint, expressing frustration over the situation.

judge orders return of slavery exhibit at presidents house barbican director devyani saltzman departs morning links for february 17 2026 1234773548

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily reinstall an exhibition about slavery at the President's House monument in Philadelphia, which the Interior Department and National Park Service had removed last month. The judge's ruling, which invoked George Orwell's '1984', granted a preliminary injunction against the government's actions while a lawsuit from the City of Philadelphia proceeds.

Judge Orders Return of Slavery Exhibit at President's House; Barbican Director Devyani Saltzman Departs | Morning Links for February 17, 2026

judge orders return of slavery exhibit at presidents house barbican director devyani saltzman departs morning links for february 17 2026 1234773548

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily rehang an exhibition about slavery at the President's House monument in Philadelphia, blocking its removal by the Interior Department and National Park Service. The judge compared the government's attempt to alter historical facts to the "Ministry of Truth" from George Orwell's '1984'.

work of the week corneille de lyon mystery 2746196

A 16th-century portrait, attributed only to the "French or Flemish School," sold for $2.3 million at a Sotheby's New York auction, soaring past its estimate and sparking a 10-minute bidding war. The work, from the collection of Dutch electronics magnate Anton Philips, was once attributed to Corneille de Lyon and later to Lucas de Heere, but its ultimate authorship remains uncertain.

work of the week corneille de lyon mystery 2746196

A 16th-century portrait, attributed only to the "French or Flemish School," sold for $2.3 million at a Sotheby's New York auction, dramatically exceeding its estimate. The work, from the collection of Dutch magnate Anton Philips, sparked a 10-minute bidding war among four participants, likely driven by speculation it could be by the Dutch-born French painter Corneille de Lyon.

U of North Texas Cancels Exhibit With Anti-ICE Art

The University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design canceled the exhibition 'Ni De Aquí Ni De Allá' by artist Victor Quiñonez just before its scheduled opening. The show, which includes works critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was removed after the university terminated its loan agreement with Boston University Art Galleries, offering no public explanation for the decision.

UK artist resale right at 20: how successful has the pioneering scheme been?

The UK's Artist Resale Right (ARR), a law entitling visual artists to royalties from secondary market sales of their work, marks its 20th anniversary. Initially met with fierce opposition from auction houses and dealers who feared it would drive high-value sales offshore, the scheme is now largely accepted by the UK art trade, though concerns about administrative burdens compared to markets like New York and Hong Kong remain.

The annual Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Thesis Exhibitions return with “In No Particular order” in April 2026

The Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Thesis Exhibitions, titled "In No Particular Order: Senior Show 2026," will open on April 10, 2026, at Vanderbilt University's Space 204 galleries. The showcase features the thesis work of ten graduating senior art majors: Caitlin Nitschke, Kira Tannenbaum, Lin Morales, Dorothy Chen, Paige Restel, Megan Grosse, Remi Marcus, Isaac Bevin Boakye, Izabella Burghardt, and Rubric Barredo. The opening coincides with a department-wide open house at the E. Bronson Ingram Studio Arts Center, displaying work from students across all art classes.

The annual Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Thesis Exhibitions return with “In No Particular order” in April 2026

The Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Thesis Exhibitions, titled "In No Particular Order: Senior Show 2026," will open on April 10, 2026, at Space 204 galleries within Vanderbilt University's E. Bronson Ingram Studio Arts Center. The showcase features the thesis work of ten graduating senior art majors: Caitlin Nitschke, Kira Tannenbaum, Lin Morales, Dorothy Chen, Paige Restel, Megan Grosse, Remi Marcus, Isaac Bevin Boakye, Izabella Burghardt, and Rubric Barredo. The opening coincides with a department-wide open house displaying work from all art classes.

U of North Texas Cancels Exhibit With Anti-ICE Art

The University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design canceled the exhibition 'Ni De Aquí Ni De Allá' by artist Victor Quiñonez just before its scheduled opening. The show, which includes works critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was removed after the university terminated its loan agreement with Boston University Art Galleries, providing no public explanation for the decision.

UNT art students protest exhibit’s removal with a funeral for freedom of speech

Students at the University of North Texas staged a protest in the form of a funeral for freedom of speech at their College of Visual Arts and Design gallery. They were responding to the unexplained removal of the exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá" by street artist Victor Quiñonez (Marka27). The students, dressed in black, laid flowers on a Mexican flag and wrote messages to administrators, delivering eulogies for the silenced artwork and expression.

Old Master Grandeur and Modern Patronage Converge at the 2026 Norton Museum of Art Gala

The Norton Museum of Art's 2026 annual gala attracted nearly 700 guests and raised nearly $5 million to support the museum's programs. The event featured a live auction hosted by Sotheby's Oliver Barker, selling works by contemporary artists, and honored museum trustee Ronnie Heyman and artist Loie Hollowell. The evening's design was inspired by the concurrent exhibition "Art and Life in Rembrandt's Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection."

Old Master Grandeur and Modern Patronage Converge at the 2026 Norton Museum of Art Gala

The Norton Museum of Art's 2026 annual gala drew nearly 700 guests and raised nearly $5 million for the museum's programs. The event featured a live auction hosted by Sotheby's Oliver Barker, selling works by contemporary artists like Julie Curtiss, Jeffrey Gibson, Jessie Henson, and Marilyn Minter, and honored trustee Ronnie Heyman and artist Loie Hollowell. The evening's design was inspired by the concurrent exhibition "Art and Life in Rembrandt's Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection."

UNT art students protest exhibit’s removal with a funeral for freedom of speech

Students at the University of North Texas (UNT) staged a protest in the form of a funeral for freedom of speech at their College of Visual Arts and Design gallery. They were responding to the unexplained removal of the exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá" by street artist Victor Quiñonez (Marka27). The students, dressed in black, laid flowers on a Mexican flag and wrote messages to administrators, delivering eulogies for the silenced artwork and expression.

UK artist resale right at 20: how successful has the pioneering scheme been?

The UK's Artist Resale Right (ARR), which entitles visual artists to royalties from secondary market sales of their work, marks its 20th anniversary. Initially met with fierce opposition from auction houses and dealers who feared it would drive high-value sales offshore, the scheme is now broadly accepted by the trade, with collecting society Dacs having distributed over £144 million to nearly 7,000 artists and heirs.

museo reina sofia israeli flags tourists incident 1234773529

The Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid is seeking an investigation after security officers removed three visitors displaying Stars of David and an Israeli flag from the museum. Video of the incident, published by a conservative Spanish outlet, went viral and drew condemnation from Israeli officials and Jewish organizations who labeled the removal discriminatory.

museo reina sofia israeli flags tourists incident 1234773529

The Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid is seeking an investigation after security officers removed three visitors displaying Stars of David and an Israeli flag from the museum. Video of the incident, published by a conservative Spanish outlet, went viral, showing officers stating other visitors were "bothered" by the symbols. The museum has stated it is investigating the actions of its security team.

british museum palestine backlash 2746017

The British Museum has revised labels for ancient Middle Eastern artifacts in its Levant and Egypt galleries, removing the term 'Palestine' from descriptions of ancient civilizations. The institution states the changes are part of an ongoing review, driven by audience feedback and a recognition that the term is no longer historically neutral due to contemporary political sensitivities.

british museum palestine backlash 2746017

The British Museum has revised labels for ancient Middle Eastern artifacts in its Levant and Egypt galleries, removing the term "Palestine." The institution states the changes, part of a review underway for over a year, reflect that the term is no longer historically neutral due to contemporary political sensitivities, particularly following the Israel-Palestine conflict since October 2023. It now uses terms like "Canaan" for ancient regions and United Nations terminology for modern maps.

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.

The Sticky Politics of Wall Texts

The 36th Bienal de São Paulo, curated by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, has drawn criticism for its unconventional and problematic approach to exhibition didactics. The show featured floor-mounted placards with QR codes, labels placed far from the corresponding artworks, and extremely lengthy, omnibus section texts for its six chapters, creating a confusing and frustrating viewing experience.

The Sticky Politics of Wall Texts

A critic's visit to the 36th Bienal de São Paulo led to a pointed critique of the exhibition's didactic strategy. The show, curated by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, featured floor-mounted placards with QR codes, poorly placed basic labels, and extremely lengthy omnibus section texts, creating a frustrating experience that oscillated between providing too little and too much information.

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.

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 Great Indian Art Mafia

The Indian art market has undergone a dramatic transformation, shifting from a selective market with works priced between Rs 5-25 crore to a high-stakes arena where record-breaking sales are now common. Between 2023 and 2025, multiple works crossed the Rs 50-100 crore threshold, with M.F. Husain's 'Gram Yatra' (1954) achieving the highest price to date at approximately Rs 118 crore, acquired by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The market has expanded to over Rs 3,000 crore, with projections of Rs 10,000 crore by 2030.

Tremendous turnout for new gallery opening

A new gallery, The Vanguard, opened in Canberra's city center with a significant public turnout. The inaugural exhibition, "Emergent Canberra," features works by local artists, including a large-scale installation by Mia Chen.

university of north texas victor quinonez exhibition censorship 1234773453

The University of North Texas (UNT) abruptly canceled and removed artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez's traveling solo exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Alla" from its CVAD Gallery, locking the gallery doors and drawing blinds over the windows. The university terminated the loan agreement with Boston University Art Galleries, which originated the show, and scrubbed all mentions of the exhibition from its website and social media without providing a reason to the artist.

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.