Vasari Art Codex

article news schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 1 link 2 artists

pussy riot labeled extremist organization by russias justice ministry 1234767119

Russia’s justice ministry has officially designated Pussy Riot, the feminist punk rock band and art collective co-founded by Nadya Tolokonnikova, as an “extremist organization.” The ruling follows a December 15 closed-door hearing at Moscow’s Tverskoy Court, where prosecutor general Alexander Gutsan filed a lawsuit against the group. The designation bans all Pussy Riot activities in Russia and allows the state to seize property of members and their families, and to prosecute anyone supporting the group. Tolokonnikova told ARTnews the group will appeal, calling the decision a source of “anxiety and bureaucratic nonsense.” In September, five members were sentenced to 8–13 years for spreading “fakes” about the Russian military, and Tolokonnikova was placed on Russia’s wanted list in 2023 after her performance *Putin’s Ashes*.

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museum exhibitions schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 1 link 8 artists

In Oregon, a One-Night Art Exhibition Within a Midcentury Home

A one-night, invitation-only exhibition titled "The Open House" took place within a private midcentury home in Oregon, designed by modernism pioneer Robert Rummer. Curated by Lena Vasilenko and Emma Strgar of the experiential agency Ethereal Reflections, and presented by Marisa Swenson of Modern Homes Collective, the group show featured works by contemporary artists including Stephanie Ketty, Christopher Belluschi, Ben Latham, Aremy Stewart, and Carvers Collective. The installation was designed to integrate the artworks with the architecture, encouraging reflection on how art enhances domestic space.

newspaper surfacemag.com open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 2 link 11 artists, 2 galleries

Inside Dib Bangkok: Thailand’s most anticipated museum opening being watched by the global art world

Dib Bangkok, a long-anticipated contemporary art museum, opens this weekend in a former steel warehouse near Bangkok's port area. Founded from the vision of the late collector Petch Osathanugrah and realized by his son Purat 'Chang' Osathanugrah, the museum houses over 1,000 works amassed over 40 years, including pieces by James Turrell, Alicja Kwade, Pinaree Sanpitak, and Subodh Gupta. Its opening exhibition, (In)visible Presence, features 81 works by 40 international and Thai artists, positioning the museum as a major new cultural institution in Asia.

newspaper Monocle open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 3 link 10 artists, 4 galleries

A brush with… Olafur Eliasson

This article features an in-depth interview with artist Olafur Eliasson, who discusses his career-long focus on human perception, environmental concerns, and the concept of "we-ness" in his work. Eliasson reflects on key installations such as *Beauty* (1993) and *Your lost lighthouse* (2020), his influences from thinkers like Donna Haraway and Alva Noë, and his fascination with James Turrell and early Renaissance art. He also shares insights into his Berlin studio and answers the question "what is art for?" The piece is accompanied by details of his current exhibitions in Brisbane, Jakarta, and Singapore, as well as a new permanent public work in Oxford, UK.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 3 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

wes anderson rebuilds joseph cornell's legendary studio inside gagosian paris

Wes Anderson has recreated Joseph Cornell's legendary studio inside Gagosian Paris for an exhibition titled 'The House on Utopia Parkway: Joseph Cornell’s Studio Re-Created by Wes Anderson.' The show, curated by Jasper Sharp and running from December 16, 2025, to March 14, 2026, reconstructs the artist's basement workspace in Queens, New York, complete with over three hundred objects from Cornell's own collection, alongside iconic box constructions such as 'Pharmacy' (1943) and 'A Dressing Room for Gille' (1939). Exhibition design is by Cécile Degos.

newspaper Designboom open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Dec 17, 2025 visibility 3 link 28 artists, 1 gallery

Malba acquires collection of more than 1,200 Latin American works

The Argentine real-estate developer and collector Eduardo F. Costantini has acquired the entire Daros Latinamerica Collection, adding 1,233 works by 117 artists to his Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (Malba). Previously housed in Zurich, the collection includes key pieces by artists such as Ana Mendieta, Hélio Oiticica, Lygia Clark, and Cildo Meireles. The acquisition brings 75 new artists to Malba's holdings, including Doris Salcedo and Jesús Rafael Soto, and strengthens existing ones like Guillermo Kuitca and León Ferrari. Plans for a museum expansion to accommodate the works are already underway.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 16, 2025 visibility 3 link 1 artist

jack vettriano no longer able to paint 303544

Jack Vettriano, the self-taught Scottish painter behind Britain's best-selling image of 2012, *The Singing Butler* (1992), has announced that he may never paint again after dislocating his shoulder. Vettriano told the Independent that he is undergoing physiotherapy but faces a long recovery and cannot paint in the foreseeable future. The news comes as a blow to his devoted fan base, who had been hoping for new work following his 2013–14 retrospective at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, which drew 123,000 visitors.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 16, 2025 visibility 2 link 8 artists, 1 gallery

louvre strike 2729747

On December 15, 2025, the Musée du Louvre in Paris was forced to close as approximately 400 of its 2,100 employees went on strike, picketing outside the museum's glass pyramids and turning away visitors. The strike follows a series of crises at the institution, including a $102 million jewel heist in broad daylight two months prior, a flooding incident from a burst water pipe in November, and ongoing concerns about deteriorating facilities, long lines, and substandard restrooms and dining areas. Workers are demanding higher wages and better conditions, with three trade unions—CGT, SUD, and CFDT—warning in an open letter that staff feel like "the last bastion before collapse."

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Dec 16, 2025 visibility 2 link 16 artists, 4 galleries

top artists december list 2725069

Artnet News published its quarterly list of the most exhibited living artists in U.S. museums for December 2025, compiled by tracking temporary exhibitions across hundreds of institutions. The list ranks artists based on the number and type of shows they appear in, prioritizing career retrospectives, dedicated exhibitions, and biennial appearances. Among the top artists featured are Marie Watt, whose touring print exhibition "Storywork" and numerous group show appearances earned her a high ranking, and Jeffrey Gibson, known for his installation at MASS MoCA. The article notes that Watt also won the $250,000 Heinz Award in September 2025.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Dec 16, 2025 visibility 1 link 1 gallery

sothebys is selling a watch gifted to admiral nelson before his last and defining victory at the battle of trafalgar 1234766915

Sotheby’s is auctioning a historic watch gifted to Admiral Horatio Nelson by officers of the HMS Victory in 1805, just weeks before his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. The gilt metal, gold, and enamel timepiece, known as the “Victory Watch,” is the top lot in Sotheby’s “Fine Watches” online sale, with a high estimate of £400,000 ($537,000). It is the first time the watch has come to auction in 20 years, and the current bid stands at £65,000 ($87,300).

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 16, 2025 visibility 2 link 6 artists

Cleveland Museum of Art unveils exhibition schedule for 2026

The Cleveland Museum of Art has announced its full 2026 exhibition schedule, featuring four major shows: 'Manet & Morisot,' the first major exhibition dedicated to the artistic exchange between Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot; 'Nexus,' showcasing works by American sculptor Martin Puryear; 'Spectacular Freedom,' exploring Andrew Wyeth's watercolors with over 100 works from his estate, most never before exhibited; and a Goryeo dynasty exhibition in partnership with the National Museum of Korea, centered on the reunification of ten 14th-century hanging scrolls depicting the 10 Kings of Hell. Additional exhibitions include 'still/emerging: Native American Works on Paper,' 'Epic of the Northwest Himalayas' featuring Pahari Ramayana paintings, and a photography show contextualizing Manet and Morisot's era.

newspaper WKYC open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 2 link 4 artists, 2 galleries

alex rotter christies private auctions market rebound interview 1234766803

Christie’s Global President Alex Rotter discusses the auction house’s strong November sales, which brought in $690 million across two evening sales in New York, with sell-through rates exceeding 96%. In an interview with ARTnews, Rotter attributes the rebound to restored confidence rather than a sudden influx of money, noting that he sensed a turning point as early as September through subtle improvements in mid-season sell-through rates. He also addresses Christie’s growing use of private auctions, which he describes as "basically a private sale, just with competition."

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 1 link 3 artists

marina abramovic and roman polanski team up for new film 188117

Marina Abramović has announced production dates for her upcoming performance piece "Seven Deaths," a seven-part film incorporating death scenes from influential operas such as "Madam Butterfly" and "Carmen." The 68-year-old artist has invited controversial filmmaker Roman Polanski, along with directors Alejandro González Iñárritu, Marco Brambilla, Giada Colagrande, Yorgos Lanthimos, and screenwriter Petter Skavlan, to contribute segments. Abramović will portray singer Maria Callas, whom she describes as a muse, and plans to produce a making-of documentary and a biography on Callas's life. Lars von Trier was invited but declined due to scheduling conflicts.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 15, 2025 link 5 artists, 2 galleries

pussy riot russia designation extremist group 2721804

A Moscow court designated the feminist art collective Pussy Riot as an extremist organization on December 15, following a lawsuit from Russia's Ministry of Justice. Founder Nadya Tolokonnikova, currently living in exile, condemned the ruling, warning that owning a balaclava, having a song on a computer, or liking a post could lead to prison time. She learned of the lawsuit while finishing her durational performance "Police State" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, which she described as a warning about surveillance authoritarianism. Tolokonnikova co-founded Pussy Riot in 2011 and was previously imprisoned for performing anti-Putin songs at a Moscow cathedral.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 3 link 6 artists

louvre closed as workers begin strike france 1234766783

The Louvre Museum in Paris was forced to close on Monday after approximately 400 employees went on strike to protest deteriorating working conditions. The strike, organized by unions CGT, CFDT, and Sud, blocked the museum's iconic pyramid entrance. Workers cited a brazen $102 million theft of French crown jewels in October 2025 as evidence of deep operational dysfunction, and they accused management of failing to address longstanding security and staffing issues. The closure follows a turbulent year that included a leaked memo from director Laurence des Cars warning of water leaks and overcrowding, a wildcat strike in June, and the closure of the Sully wing due to structural weaknesses.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 4 link 29 artists, 11 galleries

paint drippings art industry news dec 15 2729625

This week's art industry roundup covers major auction results, gallery representation changes, museum leadership shifts, and a high-profile art theft. François-Xavier Lalanne's *Hippopotame Bar* sold for $31.4 million at Sotheby's Breuer headquarters, setting a record for both the artist and design works. A Tiffany Magnolia floor lamp also set a new auction record at Sotheby's, fetching $4.4 million. Meanwhile, a New Jersey auction house quietly sold over $100,000 of Jeffrey Epstein's belongings, including artworks, without disclosing his ownership. In the gallery world, several artists changed representation, and former Clearing director John Utterson joined Thaddaeus Ropac. Museum news includes the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art repatriating three Khmer-era sculptures to Cambodia, Maria Balshaw stepping down as Tate director, MoMA PS1 offering free admission starting January 1, and the Rijksmuseum planning a new branch in Eindhoven. Additionally, eight rare Matisse prints and five works by Candido Portinari were stolen from São Paulo's Mário de Andrade Library.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 4 link 15 artists, 1 gallery

whitney biennial 2026 artist list 1234766723

The Whitney Biennial has announced the 56 artists selected for its 82nd edition, opening March 8, 2026. Curated by Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer, the exhibition explores themes of relationality, kinship, infrastructure, and the US role in global affairs. The curators visited over 300 studios worldwide, and the list includes many emerging and lesser-known artists, with most participants under 45 and a significant number identifying as queer.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 2 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

banksy walled off hotel reopens and more morning links for december 15 2025 1234766716

The Louvre was forced to close on Monday after staff launched strike action demanding urgent building renovations, improved security, increased staffing, and protesting a planned 45% ticket price increase for non-EU visitors. The strike follows a turbulent period for the museum, including a daylight theft of French crown jewels worth $102 million, a water leak damaging hundreds of documents, and safety concerns closing galleries. Meanwhile, Banksy's Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem has reopened for the first time since 2023, after closing following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war. The hotel, which opened in 2017, sits opposite the West Bank barrier and features original Banksy works, positioning itself as a cultural platform for peace and Palestinian artists.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 4 link 21 artists, 10 galleries

The best exhibitions of 2025, as chosen by curators and museum directors

Curators and museum directors from leading institutions worldwide selected their favorite exhibitions of 2025, highlighting a diverse range of shows. Standouts include Wolfgang Tillmans at Centre Pompidou, Paris, praised for its generous scope and integration of the library space; 'Encounters: Giacometti x Mona Hatoum' at Barbican Art Gallery, London, noted for its dialogue across time; and Ithell Colquhoun's retrospective at Tate St Ives, which repositions the artist from a Surrealist footnote to a major figure. Other acclaimed exhibitions include Noah Davis at Barbican Art Gallery, Linder at Hayward Gallery, Hamad Butt at Whitechapel Gallery, and Caroline Walker at Hepworth Wakefield.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 1 link 6 artists, 2 galleries

'ARTnews' Names 'Confessions of Fire' by Isaiah Davis '25 One of New York's Best Art Exhibitions of 2025

Isaiah Davis '25, a visual arts alumnus of Columbia School of the Arts, opened his third solo exhibition, 'Confessions of Fire,' at King's Leap gallery in Chinatown this fall. The exhibition, which runs through December 20, 2025, features steel sculptures and enamel paintings on metal that explore Black masculinity through the motifs of leather culture and steel, inspired by rapper Cam'ron's debut album. ARTnews named it one of New York's best exhibitions of 2025, with senior editor Alex Greenberger praising the sculpture 'Slave (2025)' as the most surprising work of the year. The New York Times critic Travis Diehl and Frieze critic George Egerton-Warburton also gave it positive reviews.

newspaper Columbia School of the Arts open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 15, 2025 visibility 2 link 16 artists, 2 galleries

56 participating artists, duos and collectives revealed for 2026 Whitney Biennial

The Whitney Museum of American Art has announced the 56 artists, duos, and collectives participating in the 2026 Whitney Biennial, the 82nd edition of the landmark U.S. contemporary art survey. Co-curators Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer have chosen not to give the exhibition a thematic title, instead letting conversations with artists guide the selection. The roster includes well-known figures like Andrea Fraser, Kamrooz Aram, Precious Okoyomon, Pat Oleszko, and Julio Torres, alongside emerging talents and historical or overlooked figures such as Carmen de Monteflores, José Maceda, and Kimowan Metchewais. The exhibition opens March 8, 2026, occupying most of the Whitney's Manhattan building with performances, public events, and online programming.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

candle obituary schedule Dec 14, 2025 visibility 1 link 1 artist

guy cogeval obituary former director musee dorsay paris 1234761988

Guy Cogeval, the former director of Paris's Musée d'Orsay, died on November 13 at age 70 after a long illness. A specialist in 19th-century art and the Nabis, Cogeval led the Musée d'Orsay from 2008 to 2017, overseeing a major renovation of 80 percent of its galleries and merging it with the Musée de l'Orangerie. He previously directed the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of French Monuments, and curated acclaimed exhibitions including "Hitchcock and Art" and "Édouard Vuillard, Master of Post-Impressionism."

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Dec 14, 2025 visibility 4 link 22 artists, 2 galleries

Booming stock market is fueling a mega-billion return to classic art and a backlash to junk

A booming stock market and increased disposable income among the ultra-wealthy have fueled a $2.2 billion fall auction season in New York, led by Gustav Klimt's "Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer," which sold for $236.4 million at Sotheby's. Other major sales include Frida Kahlo's "El sueño (la cama)" setting a record for a female artist at $55 million, and Mark Rothko's "No. 31 Yellow Stripe" fetching $62 million at Christie's. The surge is attributed to a convergence of high-quality estates coming to market—including those of Leonard Lauder, Robert and Patricia Ross Weis, and Jay and Cindy Pritzker—and renewed confidence among wealthy buyers after a stagnant period for art prices.

newspaper New York Post open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 13, 2025 visibility 2 link 13 artists, 3 galleries

Museum of the African Diaspora caps 20th anniversary celebration

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a public celebration on December 13 and two exhibitions: “Continuum: MoAD Over Time” and “UNBOUND: Art, Blackness and the Universe.” Since opening in 2005, MoAD has been defined by Chester Higgins’s photomosaic “The Girl from Ghana,” which features over 3,000 stamp-sized images from contributors worldwide. Under executive director Linda Harrison (2013–2019) and current CEO Monetta White, the museum shifted from a focus on historical and anthropological narratives to centering contemporary Black artists, hiring its first full-time staff curator, Key Jo Lee, in 2023.

newspaper Mission Local open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Dec 13, 2025 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

D'art Gallery Announces A Unique Colorado Women’s Self-portraits Exhibition in Denver for the Holidays

D'art Gallery in Denver will host "She Makes an Impression: Colorado Women Take a Look at Themselves," an invitational exhibition of self-portraits by over sixty Colorado women-identifying artists, from December 18, 2025, to January 11, 2026. Organized by the Colorado Women's Art Museum (CWAM), the show features works in diverse media including painting, printmaking, ceramics, fiber, mosaic, and photography, ranging from realistic depictions to abstract and non-representational pieces that explore personal experiences and emotions.

newspaper Yellow Scene Magazine open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 12, 2025

ceo canadian national museum departs 1234766691

Marie Chapman, CEO of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, stepped down on Thursday after a special commissioner's investigation found she had mistreated staff throughout her decade-long tenure. The report, released by the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, accused Chapman of serious code of conduct breaches, including using slurs and misogynistic language—such as referring to the senior leadership team as "sluts"—ranking female employees by age, and fostering a culture of fear that left some staff contemplating self-harm. Chapman was appointed under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and reappointed by the Trudeau government in 2016 and 2021; her contract expired in October but she had been granted a 90-day transitional term.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article culture schedule Dec 12, 2025 visibility 1 link 9 artists, 1 gallery

gustav klimt the kiss why so important 1234766409

The article examines Gustav Klimt's iconic painting *The Kiss* (1907–1908) within the turbulent sociopolitical context of Vienna before World War I. It describes the city as a hotbed of ethnic tensions, anti-Semitism, and artistic ferment, where Klimt, alongside figures like Sigmund Freud and Gustav Mahler, explored repressed sexuality and decadence. The painting is presented as a symbol of this era, blending Symbolism, Japanese art, and Art Nouveau, and reflecting Klimt's role as a co-founder of the Vienna Secession, which broke with traditional aesthetics to pioneer modernism.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Dec 12, 2025 visibility 1 link 7 artists, 3 galleries

maria balshaw tate 2728573

Maria Balshaw, the director of Tate, will step down in the new year after nine years at the helm, the museum announced Friday. Appointed in 2017, Balshaw was the first woman to lead the institutional network, which includes Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Her tenure was marked by a substantial diversification of Tate’s collection and programming to spotlight new art forms, indigenous artists, and artists from the Global South. She also oversaw the launch of a landmark £150 million endowment fund for Tate Modern to address financial woes. Memorable exhibitions included surveys of pre-internet digital artists, modern art in Nigeria, and retrospectives for Leigh Bowery, Isaac Julien, Yoko Ono, and Emily Kam Kngwarray.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 12, 2025 visibility 4 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

art basel artist arrest chalk performance 1234766521

Performance artist Thomas Iser was arrested during Art Basel Miami Beach after spray-painting the words “Sorry to disturb, art in progress” on a window of the Miami Beach Convention Center using washable spray chalk. He invited his three-year-old daughter to add marks, and police charged him with criminal mischief. Iser, who has staged similar interventions globally, was handcuffed in front of his child and spent a night in jail before posting $600 bail. Miami-based artist Jillian Mayer witnessed the scene and documented it, noting the artist was in full body paint. Iser has since reframed the arrest as an unintended extension of the performance.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Dec 12, 2025 visibility 2 link 4 artists, 1 gallery

tiffany magnolia lamp sothebys sale 2728111

Sotheby's sold a Tiffany Studios Magnolia floor lamp for $4.4 million at its Dreaming in Glass auction in New York, making it the most expensive leaded lamp by the decorative arts studio ever sold at auction. The lamp, manufactured around 1910, features a patinated bronze stand and a 28-inch colored glass dome depicting magnolias, and was crafted by Agnes Northrop, Tiffany's star designer, rather than Clara Driscoll. The bidding battle lasted 10 minutes, surpassing the $3 million high estimate.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original