Art News. Vasari Codex

trending_up market schedule Jul 3, 2025 visibility 9 link 1 artist

thomas kinkades legacy will outlive us all 36510

The Daily Beast published a lengthy article on Thomas Kinkade's legacy two years after his death from alcohol and Valium, detailing his divorce, alcoholism, and strip club visits—contradicting the idyllic scenes in his mass-marketed paintings. Despite these revelations, Kinkade's commercial empire has thrived: sales on ShopNBC have risen, most galleries report higher sales than before his death, licensing partners like Hallmark and Andrews McMeel Publishing saw double-digit growth, and Kinkade ranked #81 on Global License!'s bestselling licensed brands with $425 million in annual sales, ahead of CBS Consumer Products and National Geographic.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

gavel restitution schedule Jul 3, 2025 visibility 13 link 4 artists

mfa boston returns benin bronze robert owen lehman 1234746813

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has returned two Benin Bronzes—a 16th/17th-century terracotta and iron Commemorative Head and a 16th-century bronze Relief Plaque—to the Kingdom of Benin. The works were looted by British soldiers during the 1897 attack on Benin City, later acquired by collector Robert Owen Lehman Jr., and donated to the MFA in 2013 and 2018. The repatriation ceremony took place on June 27 at Nigeria House in New York, with the items handed over to Prince Aghatise Erediauwa and Ambassador Samson Itegboje. The MFA closed its Benin Kingdom Gallery in April and noted that three other Benin works donated by Lehman remain in its collection pending further provenance research.

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person people schedule Jun 27, 2025 visibility 9 link 2 artists

english heritage nick merriman steps down 1234746351

Nick Merriman has stepped down as chief executive of English Heritage, the British conservation charity, after just over a year in the role. He resigned for personal reasons related to family health, effective immediately. Merriman’s tenure was marked by a controversial restructuring plan that proposed cutting 7 percent of the workforce (189 jobs), reducing opening hours by 10 percent across its 400 sites, and closing 21 sites over winter. The charity had begun consulting staff and unions on the proposals, which were not finalized before his departure. Interim chief executive Geoff Parkin has been appointed to replace him.

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trending_up market schedule Jun 9, 2025 visibility 12 link 3 artists

gary burden album cover artist gary auction 2652741

Bonhams Los Angeles is auctioning the archive of legendary album cover designer Gary Burden, who died in 2018, in a sale titled "Cover to Cover" running from June 20 to 30. The collection includes original artwork, sketchbooks, and ephemera from Burden's five-decade career, featuring iconic covers for the Doors' *Morrison Hotel* (1970), the Eagles' *Desperado* (1973) and *One of These Nights* (1975), Joni Mitchell's *Ladies of the Canyon* (1970), and Jackson Browne's 1972 debut, among others. Highlights include a lithograph for the Eagles' *One of These Nights* (estimate $10,000–$15,000) and Burden's preparatory pencil sketch for *Desperado* (estimate $30,000–$40,000).

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article news schedule May 28, 2025 visibility 9 link 3 artists

lilo and stitch galleria dell accademia graceland 2648983

Disney has placed a white statue of the character Stitch from "Lilo & Stitch" inside the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, Italy, where it sits on a plinth near Michelangelo's David. The installation, part of a partnership between Disney and the Italian Ministry of Culture, promotes the upcoming live-action remake of the 2002 animated film. A promotional video shows Stitch causing mischief in the museum before carving its own marble likeness. The statue will be on view through June 20. Separately, Stitch also made an appearance at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, where it posed with Elvis Presley memorabilia and a pink Cadillac.

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trending_up market schedule May 23, 2025 visibility 10 link 1 artist

sothebys napoleons auction bicorne hat 1234743467

Sotheby's will auction approximately 100 lots from the private collection of French antiques collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon on June 25 in Paris, including Napoleon Bonaparte's iconic bicorne hat (estimated at €800,000), a herald sword and stick from his 1804 coronation, his personal gold and ebony seal, worn stockings, and a portable camp bed. The sale, described as one of the most significant offerings of Napoleonic material ever to come to market, spans imperial furniture, Old Master paintings, and personal relics. Chalençon, who has amassed the collection over four decades, is reportedly selling the items to repay a €10 million loan from Swiss Life Banque Privée, though he has denied being deeply in debt.

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article news schedule Apr 29, 2025 visibility 11 link 3 artists

portrait that putin gifted to trump last month finally revealed 1234739969

Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted U.S. President Donald Trump a portrait depicting Trump with a raised fist and blood streaming from his right ear, referencing the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last July. The painting was delivered to the White House by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy for Ukraine and the Middle East, after a meeting in Moscow. Russian artist Nikas Safronov, who has previously painted Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Pope Francis, created the work. CNN provided an exclusive look at the portrait, which Safronov said was intended to show Trump's bravery and potentially bring the two countries together.

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article news schedule Apr 23, 2026 visibility 12 link 7 artists

World Press Photo 2026 winners – in pictures

The World Press Photo 2026 winners have been announced, with Carol Guzy awarded the top honor for her image of distraught girls clinging to their father as ICE agents detain him after an immigration hearing in New York City. Finalists include Saber Nuraldin’s photograph of Palestinians scrambling for aid in Gaza, Victor J Blue’s image of Achi women outside a Guatemala City court, and other powerful works documenting climate displacement in Mexico, a wedding during a typhoon in the Philippines, police detaining a priest at a pensioners’ protest in Argentina, and a social robot in Europe.

newspaper The Guardian open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Apr 13, 2026 visibility 10 link 3 artists

Mysterious Lake District barn joins national treasures on heritage list

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has granted Grade II* listed status to "Henry’s Castle," a mysterious limestone structure in the Lake District previously used as a livestock shelter. Following a four-year restoration project involving archaeologists and conservation engineers, experts identified high-status architectural features including a 14th-century oak roof truss, a corbelled chimneystack, and a garderobe. These elements suggest the building was originally a significant residence, such as a hunting lodge or a lookout dwelling, rather than a simple barn.

newspaper The Guardian open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Nov 8, 2025 visibility 11 link 6 artists, 2 galleries

After being closed for years this gallery is opening its doors again

Toi Tauranga Art Gallery in Tauranga, New Zealand, will reopen to the public on November 15, 2025, after a three-year closure (2022–2025) for seismic upgrades and refurbishment. The gallery, originally opened in 2007, has been renovated to connect with the new council-led cultural precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa, which includes a library, museum, performing arts centre, and council chambers. The reopening programme, titled "Rawe," features local and international artists including Kereama Taepa, Pusi Urale, and esteemed senior Māori painter Darcy Nicholas, who is exhibiting in Tauranga for the first time.

newspaper The Post open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Nov 7, 2025 visibility 9 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

Latest on the UNH Art Gallery

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has converted its former Museum of Art, which closed in March 2024, into a vibrant art gallery now managed by the Department of Art and Art History. The gallery is led by department chair Professor Ben Cariens and has hosted exhibitions featuring student, faculty, and external work, including the "Not For Sale" exhibition from Rochester and a Modernisms show organized by the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. The space, located in the Paul Creative Arts Center, is open to the public with free admission.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 29, 2025 visibility 15 link 16 artists, 1 gallery

Prague Redefines Contemporary Art. Prague Art Week 2025 Recap.

Prague Art Week 2025 (PAW25) took place from September 25 to 28 across multiple venues in Prague, including the Mánes Exhibition Hall, galleries in Prague 1 and Prague 7, and the Trade Fair Palace of the National Gallery. The program featured exhibitions such as HAC#2 celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Havrlant Art Collection, group shows like Interlude at C12 gallery and IT at HYB4, solo exhibitions by Lenka Glisnikova and Stanislav Zábrodský, the Jindřich Chalupecký Award exhibition, and the duo show With Feathers and Flesh. Activities included guided tours, artist talks, and open studios, with works by Czech and international artists exploring themes of digital transformation, corporeality, identity, environmental crisis, and spirituality.

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article culture schedule Apr 13, 2026 visibility 16 link 2 artists

Simultaneous or Poly-Cinema

The Bauhaus artist László Moholy-Nagy proposes a radical departure from traditional filmmaking in his 1925 text, "Simultaneous or Poly-Cinema." He envisions a cinematic experience that moves beyond the static, rectangular screen, suggesting instead curved, spherical, or multi-planar surfaces that can accommodate multiple simultaneous projections. By utilizing rotating prisms and intersecting film strips, Moholy-Nagy describes a system where different narrative threads—such as the lives of multiple characters—can physically overlap and merge, creating a dynamic architectural arrangement of light and movement.

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candle obituary schedule May 14, 2026 visibility 9 link 2 artists

Mary Lovelace O’Neal, painter and activist, 1942–2026

Mary Lovelace O’Neal, the American painter, professor, and civil rights activist, has died at age 84. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, she was a co-founder of the Non-Violent Action Group while a student at Howard University, later earning an MFA from Columbia University. Known for monumental abstract works on soot-black surfaces, she developed her signature technique through the Lampblack series (1960s–70s) and continued evolving her practice through series such as Whales Fucking (1970s–80s) and Panthers In My Father’s Palace (1980s–90s). In 1985, she became the first African American woman to receive tenure in the Department of Art Practice at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught for nearly three decades and served as chair from 1999 until her retirement in 2006.

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museum exhibitions schedule Apr 23, 2026 visibility 14 link 1 artist

Nilbar Güreş on Representing Turkey at the 61st Venice Biennale

Nilbar Güreş, the artist representing Turkey at the 61st Venice Biennale (2026), responds to a questionnaire from ArtReview about her upcoming exhibition. She expresses exhaustion with having to explain herself to Western audiences and critiques the white, male-dominated art world. Her inspiration for the pavilion comes from this disgust and fatigue, and she states that the Biennale's theme, "In Minor Keys," did not guide her preparation. Güreş also voices disillusionment with the art world's silence on humanitarian crises, particularly the bombing of hospitals and children in Palestine, and notes that artists speaking out on Palestine face censorship and exclusion.

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museum exhibitions schedule Mar 27, 2026 visibility 24 link 1 artist

Sara Flores on Representing Peru at the 61st Venice Biennale

Sara Flores will represent Peru at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with an immersive exhibition titled 'From Other Worlds.' The presentation, curated with Issela Ccoyllo and Matteo Norzi, will feature large-scale kené paintings, ethereal sculptures, and a video work in the Arsenale, aiming to create portals to Shipibo-Konibo ancestral knowledge and Indigenous futures.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 13, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 10 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

EAT/ART Space to inhabit ETSU's Tipton-Ashe Galleries

EAT/ART Space, a collaborative project merging food and visual art, will take over ETSU's Tipton-Ashe Galleries. The initiative transforms the gallery into an interactive environment where visitors can engage with art through culinary experiences, blurring the lines between gallery viewing and dining.

newspaper Johnson City Press open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Apr 17, 2026 visibility 23 link 5 artists

Ax Swings Following Artsy/Artnet Consolidation as Top Reporters Are Laid Off

Major layoffs have hit Artnet and Artsy following their consolidation under the UK-based investment firm Beowolff Capital. The staff reductions occurred just one day after the merger announcement and include the departure of veteran Artnet News reporters Sarah Cascone and Eileen Kinsella, who both served the publication for over a decade. As part of the restructuring, Artnet will also shutter its German entity, while Andrew Russeth has been tapped to serve as interim editor.

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article local schedule May 9, 2026 visibility 14 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

High school students to showcase 'Revolutionary Art' at Attleboro Arts Museum

Thirteen high schools from Massachusetts and Rhode Island are preparing installation artworks for the Attleboro Arts Museum's annual High Art exhibition, which runs May 12–18, 2026, under the theme 'Revolutionary Art.' Students from schools including Dedham High School, Hope High School in Providence, and Seekonk High School are creating pieces such as 'Americana' and 'Re-revolution,' with guidance from art instructors like Bridget O'Leary, Delsin Jean-Louis, and Elizabeth Machado-Cook.

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article news schedule Oct 29, 2025 visibility 7 link 1 gallery

hurricane melissa hits jamaica cultural institutions 1234759380

Hurricane Melissa has devastated Jamaica and Haiti, causing deadly floods and landslides before moving on to Cuba. The storm forced the closure of major cultural institutions in Kingston, including the National Gallery of Jamaica (closed since October 24) and the Bob Marley Museum, which announced it would remain shut until further notice. The National Gallery offered artists advice on protecting their work, such as removing art from walls, storing it above ground, and anchoring outdoor sculptures. At least 30 deaths have been reported across the region, with Jamaica declared a disaster area.

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article news schedule Apr 13, 2026 visibility 18 link 2 artists

New Art21 Documentary Follows Camille Henrot as She Completes New Work for the New Museum’s Reopening

Art21 has announced the premiere of a new documentary titled "Camille Henrot: In Movement," scheduled for release on April 22, 2026. Directed by Adam Golfer, the film tracks the multidisciplinary artist over the course of a year as she prepares a new body of work, including paintings, bronze sculptures, and a new film titled "In the Veins" (2026). The production follows Henrot from her New York studio to a foundry in Paris, capturing her creative process leading up to a major presentation at the newly reopened New Museum.

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article culture schedule Dec 9, 2025 visibility 19 link 3 artists

“Trey Abdella’s Miserable Dream” New Art21 Film to Premiere Online on December 10, 2025

Art21 will premiere a new documentary film, "Trey Abdella's Miserable Dream," online on December 10, 2025. The film, directed by Andrew Nadkarni, follows the artist as he draws inspiration from Coney Island and American middle-class aesthetics to create mixed-media paintings that blend skilled representation with unconventional materials.

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museum exhibitions schedule Apr 28, 2026 visibility 14 link 7 artists, 1 gallery

Textile Artist Ian Berry on Denim and the Ever-Evolving Art World

British artist Ian Berry, known for creating photorealistic works from recycled denim, is participating in the group exhibition "Textile Art Redefined" at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The show, curated by Helen Adams and inspired by her book "Fine Art Textiles," features 15 visionary textile artists from the U.K. and around the world, running through May 10. Berry's installation "Secret Garden" is made entirely from denim scraps, and he discusses the significance of showing in his hometown and alongside peers he admires.

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museum exhibitions schedule May 12, 2026 visibility 11 link 1 artist, 2 galleries

All 3.5 Million Pages of the Epstein Files Are Now on View at This Pop-Up Exhibition

The Institute for Primary Facts has transformed New York's Mriya Gallery into the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Reading Room, a pop-up exhibition displaying all 3.5 million pages of the released Epstein files in 3,437 bound volumes. Open from May 8 to May 21 in Tribeca, the installation is the group's first live project, requiring visitors aged 16 and over to book appointments via a platform called Trumpsonian. Only accredited press, Congress, law enforcement, and victims' advocates may open the volumes, due to the Department of Justice's failure to properly redact victims' names.

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trending_up market schedule May 11, 2026 visibility 12 link 3 artists, 2 galleries

Paul Stopforth | HERE COMES EVERYBODY 5 (2026) | For Sale

Paul Stopforth's artwork "HERE COMES EVERYBODY 5" (2026) is being offered for sale through The Schoolhouse Gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The piece is a unique gouache on panel measuring 16 × 16 inches, priced at US$900, hand-signed by the artist, and includes a certificate of authenticity. Stopforth, born in 1945 and originally from South Africa, emigrated to the United States 27 years ago and has since lived and worked in Boston, Cambridge, and Provincetown. His career includes teaching at Harvard University, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, and the Fine Arts Work Center, with his works held in public collections including the Harvard Film Archive, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and the National Gallery in Cape Town.

newspaper Artsy open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Mar 13, 2026 visibility 10 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

7 unforgettable London events, shows and exhibitions that are ending in March

London’s cultural calendar is reaching a turning point this month as several major exhibitions and festivals prepare to close. Key highlights include the Sony World Photography Awards at Somerset House, a retrospective on the influential Blitz club at the Design Museum, and Min Woo Nam’s solo exhibition at LBF Contemporary. The month also sees the return of The Other Art Fair to the Old Truman Brewery, showcasing independent artists alongside community-driven events like the Telegraph Hill Festival.

newspaper London Now open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Mar 3, 2026 visibility 17 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

art paul chan ai breathers digital

Paul Chan, the artist known for his early digital video works, is preparing for a new exhibition at Greene Naftali titled "Automa Mon Amour," opening March 12, featuring his latest "breathers"—kinetic windsock-like sculptures powered by fans. Chan, who quit making art in 2009 to found the indie publishing house Badlands Unlimited, has since returned to art-making with analog-focused works, yet simultaneously developed Paul’ (Paul Prime), a sophisticated AI project that creates a digital version of himself using his personal data, writings, and interviews. The article explores the contradiction between Chan's rejection of screens and his engagement with highly technical, code-intensive digital art.

newspaper Cultured open_in_new Read original

article culture schedule Sep 26, 2025 visibility 11 link 4 artists, 1 gallery

photography zora sicher dashwood book geography

Photographer Zora Sicher releases her first monograph, *Geography*, published by Dashwood Books, which compiles her personal archive from 2011 to the present. The book features intimate images of friends, tattoos, and everyday life, including a closing photograph of her and Eden with matching ink from 2012. Sicher, who has worked with figures like Paloma Elsesser and brands like Marni, describes the project as a reflection on time, friendship, and the act of making, rather than technical perfection. The book coincides with a show at Dashwood Projects opening on October 3.

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article policy schedule Mar 31, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 24

Germany Creates New Council to Oversee Returns of Looted Art

The German government has established a new council, the Coordination Council for Returns of Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts, to oversee the restitution of artifacts acquired during the colonial era. The council will include representatives from federal, state, and municipal authorities and is intended to provide a structured, national approach to handling these complex returns.

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gavel restitution schedule Mar 19, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 18

Mexico’s culture ministry urges eBay to halt sales of pre-Hispanic artefacts

Mexico's Ministry of Culture has identified 195 pre-Hispanic archaeological objects listed for sale on eBay by a US-based seller and has formally demanded the platform halt the sales and return the items. The ministry, through Secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza, argues the sale is illegal as the export of such cultural heritage has been prohibited since 1827, and their presence abroad results from illicit extraction. Legal action has been initiated with Mexican and international authorities, including Interpol and US Homeland Security Investigations, to secure repatriation.

newspaper The Art Newspaper Also: ARTnews open_in_new Read original