Vasari Art Codex

article news schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 1

louvre counterfeit ticket scheme fraud inevitable 1234773996

French authorities have dismantled a massive decade-long ticket fraud scheme involving the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles, resulting in the arrest of nine individuals, including two museum employees. The scam, which allegedly involved Chinese tour guides bribing staff to reuse tickets for multiple groups, is estimated to have cost the institutions millions of euros. Investigators have already seized nearly €1.5 million in various currencies and bank accounts as part of an ongoing judicial probe into organized fraud and money laundering.

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gavel restitution schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 4 link 3 artists, 1 gallery

the met agrees to repatriate artifacts to cambodia as douglas latchford fallout continues 2409554

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has agreed to repatriate 14 artifacts to Cambodia and two to Thailand following an investigation into the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. Latchford, who was indicted in 2019 for trafficking looted Khmer Empire relics, died in 2020 before trial, but federal authorities have continued to track works sold through his network. The returned items include significant sandstone statues and bronze deities dating back as far as the 7th century.

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article news schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 3 link 8 artists, 2 galleries

art basel exhibitors revealed for its swiss fair hungarian artist dora maurer dies at 89 morning links for february 19 2026 1234773921

Art Basel has announced the lineup for its 2026 flagship fair in Switzerland, featuring 290 exhibitors from 42 countries. The upcoming edition, scheduled for June, includes 21 first-time participants and an expanded Premiere sector, with Ruba Katrib curating the Unlimited section for large-scale works. Simultaneously, the art world mourns the passing of Dóra Maurer, a central figure of the Hungarian neo-avant-garde known for her multidisciplinary approach to seriality and movement.

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rate_review review schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 4 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

New biography offers well-crafted story of Louise Bourgeois’s rich life

Marie-Laure Bernadac’s new biography, 'Knife-Woman: The Life of Louise Bourgeois', provides a comprehensive look at the French-American artist’s prolific career and traumatic upbringing. The book explores how Bourgeois transformed childhood wounds—specifically her father’s infidelity and psychological cruelty—into a radical body of work spanning sculpture, installation, and textiles. From her early encouragement by Fernand Léger to her late-career fame with the 'Maman' spider sculptures, the biography traces her evolution from a painter to a boundary-defying sculptor who utilized materials ranging from latex to marble.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 2 link 2 galleries

Rocky Mount art venue celebrates exhibit with opening reception

The Tar River Art Gallery at North Carolina Wesleyan University is hosting a major exhibition opening and reception on February 22. The showcase features work from over 40 regional artists across a diverse range of mediums, including painting, ceramic sculpture, fused glass, and handcrafted jewelry. The event aims to introduce several new artists to the community while celebrating established local creators.

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museum exhibitions schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

Art Exhibition, “By Any Means Necessary”, opens to the public

The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts in Winston-Salem is set to debut "By Any Means Necessary," a collaborative exhibition featuring local artists Owens Daniels, Leo Rucker, and Affee Vickers. Opening February 27, 2026, the show integrates digital photography, traditional portraiture, and mixed-media sculpture to explore themes of activism, personal identity, and community history. Each artist utilizes a distinct medium—from Daniels’ layered digital canvases to Rucker’s historical murals and Vickers’ engineered material studies—to address the central question of what causes individuals are willing to pursue at any cost.

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gavel restitution schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 2 link 3 artists

More than 600 works by Afro-Brazilian artists returned to Brazil

A collection of 666 artworks by 135 Afro-Brazilian artists has been voluntarily repatriated to Brazil from Detroit, Michigan, marking the largest return of its kind in the nation's history. The works, which include sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects, were returned to the National Museum of Afro-Brazilian Culture (Muncab) in Salvador after being held in the United States for three decades.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Feb 19, 2026 visibility 5 link 3 artists

New exhibition opens at the Silo Hotel

The Silo Hotel in Cape Town has launched "The Salon," a new year-long exhibition located in its subterranean gallery space, The Vault. Curated in collaboration with Brundyn Arts & Culture, the show utilizes a traditional floor-to-ceiling salon hang to present works by emerging contemporary artists alongside South African masters such as William Kentridge, Zanele Muholi, and Dumile Feni. Access to the exhibition is restricted to private, guided walkthroughs led by the hotel’s dedicated art concierge, Michael Jacobs.

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gavel restitution schedule Feb 18, 2026 visibility 2

portugal returns looted mexican antiquities 1234773823

Portugal has repatriated three pre-Columbian artifacts to Mexico, marking the first time the country has returned unlawfully acquired antiquities to the Mexican government. The returned items include a Shaft Tomb Culture female figure, a Maya painted vessel, and a Zapotec funerary urn representing the deity Cocijo. The objects were recovered through the cooperation of Portuguese judicial authorities and the Mexican embassy after being flagged at auctions and in various cities including Lisbon, Guimarães, and Évora.

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article news schedule Feb 18, 2026 visibility 3 link 2 artists

van eyck ai authenticity 2744090

A Swiss artificial intelligence firm, Art Recognition, has claimed with high certainty that two versions of the painting 'Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata' (ca. 1428-32), held by the Royal Museums of Turin and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, are not by the hand of Northern Renaissance master Jan van Eyck. The company's CEO, Carina Popovici, stated the A.I. model determined the works were not authentic with 91% and 86% certainty, respectively, though the museums involved have not officially commented.

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article policy schedule Feb 18, 2026 visibility 3 link 1 artist

UNT cancels Dallas artist's exhibit without explanation, sparking campus backlash

The University of North Texas abruptly canceled artist Victor Quiñonez's (Marka27) exhibition 'Ni de Aquí Ni de Allá' at its College of Visual Arts and Design shortly after its opening. The show, which explores dual identity and cultural heritage, was taken down and covered with paper, with the university providing no explanation for its removal, leading to confusion and frustration for the artist.

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article policy schedule Feb 18, 2026 visibility 3 link 1 artist

Artist whose art was pulled by UNT credits students with alerting him about his exhibit's removal

Street artist Victor Quiñonez (Marka27) spoke at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas, addressing the sudden closure of his exhibition at the University of North Texas (UNT). The university covered the gallery windows with paper and terminated its loan agreement with Boston University without explanation, removing art that confronted U.S. immigration policy and criticized ICE. Quiñonez credited UNT students for alerting him to the removal, stating he was "ghosted" by the institution and received only a vague justification after their intervention.

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article local schedule Feb 18, 2026 visibility 3 link 2 artists

Local Artists: Submit entries for the Art of Trees

The Tullahoma Fine Arts Center in Moore County, Tennessee, is calling for local and regional artists to submit entries for a juried exhibition titled 'The Art of Trees,' scheduled for April 24, 2026, to coincide with Arbor Day. The exhibition seeks tree-related artwork in various mediums, including visual art, photography, sculpture, and wood carving, with submissions due by March 16.

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article policy schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 3 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

cvad unt canceled exhibition criticizing ice 2745556

The College of Visual Arts and Design Galleries at the University of North Texas abruptly canceled the solo exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There)" by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez after it had been fully installed. The show, which includes works from his "I.C.E. Scream" series critically rebranding Immigration and Customs Enforcement as "Inhumane and Cruelty Enforcement," was removed without explanation, and gallery staff ceased communication with the artist.

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museum exhibitions schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 4 artists, 2 galleries

gaza biennial new york review 1234751749

The Gaza Biennial, a major exhibition featuring 25 artists from Gaza, concluded its full run at the Brooklyn nonprofit space Recess, with an abbreviated version remaining on view until December 20. The show presents painting, video, drawing, and testimony created under siege, offering a powerful artistic response to the ongoing conflict and displacement.

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article policy schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

unt faculty open letter victor quinonez exhibition cancelation 1234773559

Faculty at the University of North Texas's College of Visual Arts and Design have issued an open letter protesting the abrupt and unexplained cancellation of a solo exhibition by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez. The letter, addressed to university leadership, argues the removal violates UNT's own policies on academic freedom and non-discrimination based on content, and demands an explanation for the decision.

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article policy schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

unt faculty open letter victor quinonez exhibition cancelation 1234773559

Faculty at the University of North Texas's College of Visual Arts and Design have issued an open letter strongly objecting to the abrupt and unexplained cancellation of a solo exhibition by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez. The letter, addressed to university leadership, argues the removal contradicts UNT's own policies on academic freedom, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination based on content.

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article local schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 1 link 1 gallery

‘Pride in Full Colour’ at Scarriff Art Exhibition

An exhibition titled 'Pride in Full Colour' is being held at the gallery in the Edna O'Brien Library in Scarriff, County Clare, Ireland. It runs from February 21 to March 20, 2026, and features portraits of local LGBTQIA+ community members alongside vibrant banners created by young people from the Clare Youth Service.

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article local schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 gallery

‘Pride in Full Colour’ at Scarriff Art Exhibition

An exhibition titled 'Pride in Full Colour' is being held at the gallery in the Edna O'Brien Library in Scarriff, County Clare, Ireland. It runs from February 21 to March 20, 2026, and features portraits of local LGBTQIA+ community members alongside vibrant banners created by young people from the Clare Youth Service.

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article policy schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

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.

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article local schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist

See local art pop-up at Newbridge shopping centre

A community art exhibition titled 'Spring into PopUpArt Newbridge' is being held at the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. The show, organized by the voluntary group PopUpArt Newbridge, features works by local Kildare-connected artists and runs on weekends from February 6 to March 8. Admission is free, and visitors can meet artists and purchase artwork.

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article local schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist

See local art pop-up at Newbridge shopping centre

A community art exhibition called 'Spring into PopUpArt Newbridge' is being held at the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, County Kildare, throughout February and into March. The show features works by local Kildare artists of various levels and genres, is free to enter, and operates on weekends only, allowing visitors to meet artists and purchase artwork.

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article policy schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

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.

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article policy schedule Feb 17, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

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.

newspaper KERA News open_in_new Read original

article event schedule Feb 16, 2026 visibility 6 link 6 artists, 4 galleries

miart 2026 exhibitors 2745233

Miart, Milan's international modern and contemporary art fair, is marking its 30th anniversary with significant changes for its 2026 edition. The fair is moving to a new venue, the South Wing at Allianz MiCo designed by Mario Bellini Architects, and adopting a more compact, three-floor layout designed to foster cross-presentation and dialogue. It has also announced a new theme, "New Directions," inspired by the jazz legacies of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, and a fresh graphic identity from design studio Leftloft.

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article event schedule Feb 16, 2026 visibility 5 link 6 artists, 4 galleries

miart 2026 exhibitors 2745233

The Milan art fair Miart is marking its 30th anniversary with significant changes for its 2026 edition. The fair is moving to a new venue, the South Wing at Allianz MiCo, designed by Mario Bellini Architects, and will feature a more compact, three-floor layout designed to foster cross-presentation. It has also announced a new theme, "New Directions," inspired by the jazz legacies of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, and will include 160 galleries from 24 countries.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Feb 16, 2026 visibility 1 link 1 artist

Story by Lee Lewis - Latest Exhibtion at Swan Hill Studios

Shrewsbury-based artist Lee Lewis has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Story' at Swan Hill Studio, featuring a collection of paintings and personal objects that explore themes of memory and personal narrative. The exhibition, which has been extended until February 28, 2026, focuses on her recent concentration on painting and draws heavily on her Welsh roots and observations of everyday life.

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museum exhibitions schedule Feb 16, 2026 visibility 1 link 1 artist

Story by Lee Lewis - Latest Exhibtion at Swan Hill Studios

Shrewsbury-based artist Lee Lewis has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Story' at Swan Hill Studio, featuring a collection of paintings and personal objects that explore themes of memory and personal narrative. The exhibition, which has been extended until February 28, 2026, focuses on Lewis's paintings inspired by childhood memories, observed scenes, and her Welsh heritage, and includes items like her late brother's telephone and her grandfather's handmade cricket bat.

newspaper My Shrewsbury open_in_new Read original

rate_review review schedule Feb 16, 2026 visibility 2 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

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.

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rate_review review schedule Feb 16, 2026 visibility 3 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

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.

newspaper Hyperallergic open_in_new Read original