Titanic, a deep emotion

Artist Claudia Bitrán is debuting her long-awaited solo exhibition, "Titanic, a deep emotion," at Cristin Tierney Gallery in New York City. The show features a scene-by-scene remake of James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster, meticulously reconstructed over a decade using lo-fi materials, DIY production methods, and a cast of over 1,400 volunteers. The exhibition is presented as a three-channel film installation complemented by paintings, sculptural props, and storyboards that highlight the labor-intensive, communal process of its creation.

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The historic San Francisco Art Institute campus, which shuttered in 2023 following bankruptcy, is being revitalized as the California Academy of Studio Arts (CASA). Founded by billionaire philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, the new center will offer a free, unaccredited, year-long studio program for up to 30 emerging visual artists. The initiative aims to foster an experimental environment inspired by Black Mountain College, providing mentorship, workshops, and public engagement platforms.

director of museo national de colombia liliana angulo cortes dies at 51 art centers in beirut pause programming amid war morning links for march 5 2026 1234775819

Liliana Angulo Cortés, the trailblazing director of the Museo Nacional de Colombia, has died at age 51. As the first Afro-Colombian artist to lead the historic institution, she was instrumental in diversifying the museum's collection and shifting its focus toward colonial remembrance and the representation of Black and Indigenous communities. Meanwhile, major art centers in Beirut, including the Sursock Museum and the Beirut Art Center, have suspended operations due to escalating regional conflict and airstrikes.

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Artist Carol Bove has unveiled a hidden Joan Miró mural as part of her new retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The 19-foot-long ceramic work, titled 'Alicia' (1965–67), was commissioned by Harry F. Guggenheim but has been concealed behind a false wall for over two decades because curators felt it clashed with other exhibitions. Bove integrated the masterpiece into her show by cutting a diamond-shaped aperture into the partition, allowing visitors a rare glimpse of the site-specific piece.

Sotheby’s to hold $141M Modern, Contemporary Art Sale in London

Sotheby’s is preparing to host a major Modern and Contemporary Art Evening Sale at its London headquarters on March 4. The auction features a high-profile selection of works with a total estimated value exceeding £110 million ($140.8 million), anchored by masterpieces from the impressionist and modern eras.

New Colorado Springs exhibit features yard art by more than 30 artists

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College has launched "Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard," an exhibition featuring works by more than 30 artists. Curated by artist and art historian Josh T. Franco, the show explores how residential yards serve as creative spaces between the private home and the public world. The display includes a diverse range of objects, from a functional windmill and an oversized cornhole set to a decorated Volkswagen Beetle and sculptures inspired by real estate signs.

Dozens of Artists Bring Their Studios to Hauser & Wirth New York

Hauser & Wirth New York has launched "Studio Visit," a sprawling group exhibition co-curated by artists Anicka Yi and Josh Kline in collaboration with Performance Space New York. Featuring works by 27 international artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Huma Bhabha, and Wolfgang Tillmans, the show pairs physical artworks with AI-generated "machine-generated memories" based on the artists' written recollections of their early workspaces. The project revives the spirit of Circular File, an experimental collective formed by Yi and Kline in the late 2000s.

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Billionaire Ari Emanuel, whose company Endeavor recently acquired the Frieze art fairs, kicked off the VIP opening of Frieze Los Angeles by acquiring three works by 86-year-old Black quiltmaker Yvonne Wells. Emanuel entered the Santa Monica Airport venue ahead of the general VIP crowd, purchasing textile portraits of Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley from New York gallery Fort Gansevoort. The transaction, facilitated by Emanuel's long-time advisor Jeffrey Deitch, set a high-energy tone for an opening day that saw brisk sales, including a $3.75 million Ed Ruscha painting at Gagosian.

Prado Restoration Lab Coats by Loewe

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Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe has designed custom, high-performance lab coats for the restoration department at the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. Developed in collaboration with the museum's conservators, the garments are crafted from non-reflective materials to prevent glare on masterpieces and feature leather-reinforced pockets specifically sized for restoration tools.

2026 Art Trends: Whitney Biennial, Greater New York, and Carnegie International

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Three major American art surveys—the Whitney Biennial, MoMA PS1’s Greater New York, and the Carnegie International—are set to define the artistic landscape of 2026. Early analysis of the artist lists reveals a significant overlap in curatorial interest for figures like Taína Cruz, Akira Ikezoe, and Jonathan González. These exhibitions appear to be moving away from rigid thematic structures in favor of "mood and texture," reflecting a broader institutional retreat from definitive political or social statements.

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The Ukrainian government has enacted a new resolution to streamline the evacuation of over three million cultural objects from conflict zones as the Russian invasion nears its fourth year. The policy establishes a mandatory evacuation zone for museum items within 50 kilometers of the frontline and requires storage at least 75 kilometers away. Crucially, the resolution empowers museum directors to act independently during crises and introduces a three-stage evacuation system based on the cultural value of the property.

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Renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei critiques the intersection of artificial intelligence and censorship, drawing parallels between AI's algorithmic limitations and the Chinese government's systematic suppression of dissent. Using the emergence of the Chinese AI model DeepSeek as a catalyst, Ai recounts how the tool refused to discuss him, mirroring the state's long-standing strategy of erasing sensitive topics from public discourse. He argues that AI's reliance on existing data sets inherently replicates societal biases and moral codes, leading to factual inaccuracies and the homogenization of human thought.

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German installation artist Henrike Naumann has passed away at the age of 41 following a battle with cancer. At the time of her death, Naumann was preparing for the pinnacle of her career: representing Germany at the upcoming 61st Venice Biennale. The German pavilion organizers have confirmed that they will work closely with her studio team to realize her finalized artistic vision for the exhibition as planned this May.

Louvre Theft Caused by Mismanagement; Veterans Sue to Halt Building of Arc de Trump: Morning Links for February 20, 2026

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A French parliamentary commission has released a scathing report accusing the Louvre of systemic mismanagement and a 'denial of risks' following the October 2025 theft of the French crown jewels. The investigation suggests the museum operates as an unaccountable 'state within a state,' leading to security failures that enabled the high-profile heist. Meanwhile, veterans have filed a lawsuit to block the construction of the 'Arc de Trump' monument in Washington D.C., and the National Constitution Center faces leadership turmoil amid political pressure.

Turkey’s heritage power grab: new law threatens Istanbul’s opposition-run cultural sites

The Turkish government has enacted a new law allowing the central state to seize historic properties from local municipalities, specifically targeting sites originally endowed to Ottoman-era foundations. This legislation directly impacts Istanbul, where Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s administration has spent years restoring nearly 1,000 heritage sites and converting neglected spaces into vibrant museums, libraries, and contemporary art venues. Critics argue that the state-run General Directorate of Foundations lacks the expertise to manage these cultural hubs and may instead lease them out or close them entirely.

London National Gallery’s deficit bombshell, Simon Schama on birds and art, Vilhelm Hammershøi—podcast

The National Gallery in London has announced unexpected and significant budget cuts, including potential staff reductions, due to a projected deficit of £8.2 million for the upcoming year. This financial crisis comes as a surprise following the recent completion of a major building project and the announcement of another ambitious expansion planned for the 2030s.

Things to do on Wednesday, February 18

A wide array of cultural events are scheduled across Cyprus for Wednesday, February 18. These include the opening of a curated showcase of publications from the late archaeologist Vassos Karageorghis in Nicosia, a contemporary art auction featuring 82 works, a presentation by underwater photographer Sakis Lazaridis, a sold-out theatre performance in Limassol, and numerous ongoing exhibitions in Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca featuring both historic and contemporary Cypriot artists.