Can Tefaf Maastricht keep up with the experience economy?
The 39th Tefaf Maastricht fair opened, showcasing high-quality pre-20th century art and antiques, from Monet paintings to a 1st-century Egyptian vase. However, the fair faces an existential question about the relevance of older art in a market where Old Masters specialists are declining and contemporary art sales are volatile.
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a case brought by computer scientist Stephen Thaler, who sought federal copyright protection for artwork created by his AI system, DABUS. This decision upholds lower court rulings that maintain human authorship as a "bedrock requirement" for copyright, effectively ending Thaler's multi-year legal battle to have his AI recognized as an independent creator of the work "A Recent Entrance to Paradise."
New Zealand police recovered a diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg pendant from a 32-year-old thief who allegedly swallowed it after stealing it from Partridge Jewellers in Auckland. The suspect was detained within minutes of the theft, and officers monitored him for six days until the pendant was naturally passed. The special-edition locket, valued at $33,585, is a tribute to the Fabergé egg featured in the James Bond film Octopussy, featuring a green guilloché enamel shell and an 18-karat yellow gold octopus set with diamonds and sapphires.
A controversy erupted on the Reddit forum r/Art after Brooklyn-based digital artist Hayden Clay Williams posted his work *Clear Boundaries* (2025) and mentioned in a comment that prints were available. This violated the subreddit's strict anti-self-promotion rules, leading a moderator to permanently ban Williams and delete all his past posts. Williams shared the exchange on X, where it gained 11 million views, sparking widespread backlash. Users spammed the forum with the word "print" and pressured the moderators, who eventually resigned en masse, leaving the subreddit frozen and without new posts for a week.
Archaeologists working on the controversial Maya Train project in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula have discovered a 2,000-year-old limestone face carving. The 18-inch-tall sculpture, featuring deep-set eye sockets, a flat nose, and a cleft lip, was found in Sierra Papacal near Mérida during construction of the Mérida-Progreso Railway Bypass. The carving was attached to the foundation of an ovoid building with a west-facing entrance, suggesting it served as a ceremonial marker. Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is overseeing the excavation of 15 other nearby structures, and the artifact will be transported to a laboratory for conservation.
The University of Leicester has updated its guidance on trans-inclusivity for museums and galleries, despite facing litigation threats from the campaign group Freedom in the Arts (FITA). The 44-page document, originally published two years ago by the university’s Research Center for Museums and Galleries (RCMG), offers a framework for creating inclusive public spaces and workplaces, addressing legal and ethical questions about trans inclusion. FITA sent two letters threatening legal action, arguing the guidance is “misleading” and “unlawful,” particularly objecting to bathroom etiquette that states trans visitors should use the bathroom they feel most comfortable using. The university is reviewing the latest correspondence and declined further comment.
Tenured University of South Dakota art professor Michael Hook, who faced termination for social media comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been reinstated after dropping his lawsuit. Hook posted remarks on September 10 calling Kirk a "hate-spreading Nazi" after the activist was shot dead, then apologized and deleted the post. South Dakota political leaders including Governor Larry Rhoden called for his firing, and USD placed Hook on administrative leave on September 12. Hook sued the university and the South Dakota Board of Regents on September 23, arguing his comments were protected by the First Amendment. Students organized a petition with nearly 22,000 signatures supporting his reinstatement. On October 3, USD president Sheila Gestring withdrew the termination notice, citing Hook's apology and employment record. Hook then dismissed the lawsuit as moot.
The Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, a medical history institution that has faced controversy over its handling of human remains, announced a new policy on August 19 for exhibiting its collection. The policy shifts focus toward the lives of patients and changes in medical history, developed through the two-year Postmortem Project involving focus groups and public meetings. The announcement follows backlash after former executive director Kate Quinn removed online exhibits in June 2023 as part of an ethical review, and subsequent staff departures.
A small protest of fewer than 50 demonstrators, organized by the Catalan National Assembly and joined by former Catalan president Laura Borràs and ANC president Lluís Llach, gathered outside the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) on Monday morning as Aragonese technicians arrived to inspect a set of contested 13th-century Romanesque murals. The murals, originally from the Sijena Monastery, were ordered returned by Spain’s Supreme Court after more than a decade of litigation, concluding that the original religious order never lawfully transferred ownership after the works were removed in 1936 following a fire during the Spanish Civil War. The inspection team, led by restorer Natalia Martínez de Pisón, began with less fragile sections using photogrammetry to assess transport viability, while MNAC officials warn that moving the more delicate frescoes could cause irreversible damage and plan to formally contest the execution order on conservation grounds.
Spain's Supreme Court has ruled that 13th-century Romanesque murals removed from the Sijena Monastery during the Spanish Civil War must be returned to their original home in Aragon. The artworks have been housed at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) since 1936, after a fire gutted the monastery's chapter house. The ruling dismisses previous agreements that Catalan authorities claimed legitimized their custody, finding that the Sijena religious order never ceded ownership. The decision caps over a decade of legal battles and jurisdictional disputes between Aragon and Catalonia.
UNESCO has granted World Heritage status to Murujuga, an ancient Aboriginal rock art site in Western Australia's Pilbara region, despite concerns about its vulnerability to emissions from nearby gas and fertilizer plants. The site contains over 1 million petroglyphs, including the oldest known depiction of a human face, dating back up to 50,000 years. Indigenous groups campaigned for two decades for protection, and the Australian government nominated the site in 2023. However, the Karratha Gas Plant, operated by Woodside Energy, sits on the nominated land, and ICOMOS had warned that emissions pose a risk to the rock art. The UNESCO designation was unanimous, but an amendment was added requiring Australia to continue monitoring industrial impact.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Auction set new records at its 2026 event, with student artworks attracting unprecedented bids from donor groups. The grand champion piece, a painting titled 'Between Boots and Moccasins' by Pasadena Memorial High School senior Joshua Washington, sold for a record $525,000, nearly doubling the previous year's top sale. The auction, held at NRG Arena, showcases artwork selected from a statewide competition involving over 200,000 students, highlighting the program's scale and impact on young Texas artists.
The Fort Worth African American Museum and Cultural Center will officially open on June 12 with its inaugural exhibition, "All ’N All: Artists Embracing Community," in partnership with Kinfolk House and the National Juneteenth Museum. The show features paintings, photographs, and mixed-media works by 11 North Texas artists exploring memory, culture, and the Black experience, and is part of the larger Freedom Vibes festival running June 11-20. The museum, which has been in development since 2020, secured its final funding from the Fort Worth City Council in January and purchased a 5,000-square-foot building on East Rosedale Street last summer.
The Muskegon Museum of Art has announced a new exhibition titled 'HerStory of Animation: Mary Blair & Beyond,' premiering June 6 through September 27. The show redefines animation history by highlighting the contributions of women animators and artists, from early pioneers like Helena Smith Dayton and Lotte Reiniger to contemporary figures. Curated by Mindy Johnson, the exhibition features production artwork, studio artifacts, rare imagery, films, and newly uncovered research spanning over a century of innovation.
The National Museum of Military History in Bulgaria will open an exhibition titled “Created in War, Preserved through Art” on May 5, marking the Day of Bravery and the Bulgarian Armed Forces as well as the museum’s 110th anniversary. The exhibition transports visitors to 1916, during World War I, when the museum was founded to preserve the memory of the Bulgarian Army, and highlights how Bulgarian artists participated in an international exhibition in Berlin that year, with many of their war-inspired works later acquired by the Ministry of War to form a major art collection.
The international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned en masse just nine days before the opening of the world's oldest contemporary art fair, amid a dispute over Russia's participation and the panel's decision to bar prizes for countries accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. The jury, comprising president Solange Farkas and members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, stepped down without explanation, following tensions that also involved Italy's Culture Ministry cutting €2 million in EU funding over Russia's presence and sending inspectors to the Russian Pavilion.
The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum is hosting 'Time and Tide,' a multimedia exhibition running through June 6 that explores the Petaluma River and its wetlands through 90 works including watercolors, photographs, poems, and sketches. The show, subtitled 'An Artful Exploration of Petaluma’s Wetlands,' opened April 9 and features contributions from local artists such as Leslie Ihrig, Zoe Caron, Dan Rogers, David Tomb, Marion Hatcher, and Sonoma County Poet Laureate Dave Seter, alongside taxidermy from the Petaluma Wildlife Museum and a video presentation.
An interactive exhibit titled “Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way!” will open at the Reading Public Museum in Pennsylvania on May 16 and run through September 6. Created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum in partnership with Aardman, the hands-on experience is designed for children ages 3 to 9 and features activities inspired by the popular film and television character, including balance boards, costume play, stop-motion animation, and problem-solving challenges. The exhibit is sponsored locally by the Berks County Community Foundation.
Emma Lamb, a South Devon-based 3D mixed-media artist, has opened a new exhibition titled *Long Live the Wilderness Yet* at Lukesland Gardens near Ivybridge. The show features two of her major series, *Reviving Mires* and *Fragmented Forest*, both inspired by Dartmoor’s fragile ecosystems. Lamb uses handmade paper, natural fibers, pigments, and experimental techniques such as inks made from air pollution to create works that explore peatlands and temperate rainforests. The exhibition runs until early June, and Lamb will also host a workshop in June teaching participants to create collages using natural materials.
Studio A, a leading Australian supported studio for artists with intellectual disability, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a retrospective exhibition titled "SAD, MAD, THINKING birthday." The show features iconic Archibald Prize portraits by the studio's finalists, works that inspired major public artworks, and standout pieces from across the studio's artists. It culminates in a dining room installation created in collaboration with designers and brands including Mud Australia, Canberra Glassworks, Alémais, Erth, and Armadillo.
Artworld – Sarala’s Art Centre is hosting "Trilogy," an exhibition featuring the works of C Douglas, K Muralidharan, and Rm Palaniappan. Curated by Bishwajit Banerjee, the show highlights the shared lineage of these three artists who emerged from the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai. While they share a common academic foundation, the exhibition showcases how each artist has developed a distinct visual language and divergent creative path over several decades.
The Museum of Graffiti in Miami’s Wynwood district has launched a new permanent artist studio residency program featuring Jel Martinez, James “Ras Terms” Monk, Nicole “Nico” Holderbaum, and Entes. These four established artists, who began their careers painting illegally on the streets, now occupy professional workspaces that are open to the public seven days a week. Fully funded by the museum, the initiative allows visitors to observe the creative process in real-time and purchase works directly from the artists through an on-site sales gallery.
The Suffolk University Gallery recently concluded "The Long View," a three-part exhibition series dedicated to celebrating the enduring careers of Boston-based women artists. The final installation, which closed on April 3, featured abstract works by Sharon Kaitz, Alyson Schultz, Jo Ann Rothschild, and Maggi Brown. The showcase highlighted the evolution of their studio practices, ranging from Schultz’s urban-inspired "Fracture" series to Brown’s material-focused oil paintings that explore the intersection of beauty and disturbance.
The historic Rototāwai homestead in South Wairarapa, New Zealand, has officially opened a new public art gallery and cultural space. Facilitated by the Anna Bidwill Foundation, the site features Bidwill’s extensive private art collection housed within her restored childhood home. The opening ceremony, which included a traditional pōwhiri and an address by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith, marks the culmination of a four-year restoration project since Bidwill repurchased the estate in 2020.
The 2026 Coast Next Gen Art Exhibition has officially opened at the new Gosford Regional Library, showcasing works by 25 high school graduates from across Australia's Central Coast. Organized by the University of Newcastle, the fourth annual showcase features a diverse range of media from HSC students and awarded several top prizes during its opening night, including the Bouddi Foundation of the Arts Award and an acquisitive prize for the university’s permanent collection.
The Estuary Arts Centre in Ōrewa is hosting "Pressing Matters – Printmaking in Focus" throughout March, showcasing over 150 works by contemporary New Zealand printmakers. The event features a daily pop-up print lab for live demonstrations and a family-oriented open day on March 14, including a talk by letterpress specialist Tara McLeod.
Guatemalan authorities, acting on a court order, raided and closed the Museo de Arte Colonial in Antigua, forcing the emergency relocation of 287 artworks from their home of 89 years. The collection, including fragile 17th- to 19th-century paintings and sculptures, is now in temporary storage in Guatemala City, though six large-scale works deemed too delicate to move remain in the shuttered, unsecured building.
The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art has launched its 2026 spring season with three major exhibitions and a new program of free field trips for students. The exhibitions, which run from February 20 to June 13, include the traveling group show 'Actions for the Earth: Art, Care & Ecology,' a solo exhibition by Guatemalan American artist Jackie Amézquita titled 'El camino se traza al andar,' and a solo exhibition by Amy Elkins called 'Mourning Songs of Salt and Silt.' An installation by Ash Ferlito and Patrick Costello, 'Moth Ball,' is also on view. The museum is hosting a free opening reception and a series of public lectures and events for Black History Month.
A collective of 26 local artists has opened a new fine art gallery called Twenty-Four North East in Sunderland city centre, transforming the former Sweet Home Alabama shop on Fawcett Street. The gallery launched with a busy opening night attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, featuring works ranging from screw art by Darren Timby to SAFC fan scenes by Chris Cummings and pieces by Dr Ron Lawson, creator of the Molly sculpture. The gallery operates Tuesday to Saturday, selling original fine art from £90, prints, and cards, and plans to host workshops.
Christie's London held the 'SILSILA: Highlights from the Dalloul Collection' auction on 6 November 2025, featuring Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art. The sale achieved a total of £4,112,260, with a 93% sell-through rate by value and 85% by lot. The top lot was Saloua Raouda Choucair's 'Poem' (1966-68), which sold for £393,700, setting a world auction record for the artist in the wood medium. Other highlights included Sliman Mansour's 'Untitled' (2014) at £323,850 and Kamal Boullata's 'Nocturne I' (2001) at £165,100. Eight world auction records were set during the evening.