Vasari Art Codex

article news schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 2 link 3 artists

art history teacher charlie kirk investigation florida 1234769708

Hope McMath, an artist and art history teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida, was removed from the classroom in September 2024 after posting about the assassination of Charlie Kirk on her private social media. An investigation by Duval County Public Schools found only a minor violation for profanity, but the district refused to reinstate her due to a concurrent state education board investigation. McMath is suing the school district, state officials, and Moms for Liberty, alleging her removal was politically motivated and violated her free speech rights.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 1 link 3 artists

south african culture mp denies censoring venice pavilion 1234769489

The South African Ministry of Sport, Arts, and Culture has denied censoring its 2026 Venice Biennale pavilion after canceling a proposed artwork by artist Gabrielle Goliath on December 2. The work, part of Goliath's "Elegy" series curated by Ingrid Masondo, addressed sexual assault, femicide, the killings of women and queer people in South Africa, colonial-era genocide in Namibia, and included a tribute to Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. Culture minister Gayton McKenzie initially called the piece "highly divisive" and linked to a polarizing international conflict, but a January 10 statement reframed the cancellation as a safeguard against foreign interference, alleging a foreign country attempted to fund or purchase the work to use the pavilion as a proxy for a geopolitical message about Israel's actions in Gaza.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 1 link 1 gallery

telfair museums lays off 15 percent of staff 1234769530

Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, laid off approximately 15 percent of its staff on January 9, 2025. The layoffs were announced abruptly during an afternoon Zoom call without prior warning, according to former employees, though the museum offered severance packages. Museum representatives attributed the cuts to reduced funding and stated the decision was approved by the board’s executive committee.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 2

unusual medusa carving discovered archaeological site turkey 1234769506

Archaeologists excavating a Roman forum near the ancient city of Amastris (modern-day Amasra) in Turkey have uncovered a marble Medusa carving with an unusual smiling expression. The relief was found atop decorative columns that once formed a covered walkway (stoa) in the forum. Excavations began three years ago after historical remains were discovered during school construction in 2017. The project, overseen by Bartin University’s Archaeology Application and Research Center and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture’s “Heritage of the Future” initiative, has so far reconstructed three columns across the 30,000-square-foot site.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 3 link 10 artists, 2 galleries

kim sajet milwaukee art museum 2683680

Kim Sajet, former director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG), has been appointed as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, starting September 22. She left the NPG in June after a high-profile clash with President Donald Trump over diversity initiatives and funding. Sajet brings extensive experience from museums in the Netherlands and Australia, and during her 12-year tenure at the NPG, she doubled attendance and raised $85 million. She replaces Marcelle Polednik, who departed in May after nine years.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 2 link 7 artists, 1 gallery

Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery removes wall text mentioning Trump’s impeachments

The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, has removed wall text accompanying a portrait of Donald Trump that mentioned his two impeachments. The text, part of the America's Presidents exhibition, listed Trump's achievements and noted he was impeached for abuse of power and incitement of insurrection, then acquitted by the Senate. The portrait by Matt McClain was replaced with a black-and-white photo by Daniel Torok, with a simplified label stating only Trump's birth year and status as the 45th and 47th president. The museum says it is beginning a planned update of the gallery, which will close from April 6 to May 14.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 1 link 3 artists, 2 galleries

Why is the French government spending millions on art no one sees?

The French government agency Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP), established in 1982 to support living artists and collect their work, has come under scrutiny following two opposing government reports. A July white paper by Martin Bethenod recommended refocusing CNAP's acquisitions on France-based artists and galleries, while a November report from the Cour des Comptes by Julien Aubert found the agency financially fragile and redundant, noting that 24,472 works—one quarter of its collection—have never been exhibited. Aubert recommended closing the CNAP by 2030, sparking backlash from over 1,000 art professionals who signed an open letter criticizing the ideological attack on public cultural service.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 1 link 2 artists, 2 galleries

Flowers laid after Bondi terror attack will form new work of art at Sydney Jewish Museum

Floral tributes left at Bondi Beach after a deadly terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration in December 2024 have been collected and will be transformed into an art installation at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Jewish Australian artist Nina Sanadze, born in Georgia and based in Melbourne, is working with volunteers to dry and process the flowers in a Sydney warehouse, experimenting with resin, bronze casting, and composted materials to create a work that may depict beachgoers fleeing the attack. The museum, currently closed for redevelopment, plans to feature the installation in a special exhibition when it reopens in 2027.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 1 link 4 artists, 1 gallery

Philip Tinari appointed as deputy director and head of art at Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun cultural complex

Philip Tinari, the longtime director and CEO of Beijing's UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, has announced he will leave to become deputy director and head of art at Hong Kong's Tai Kwun cultural complex. He will oversee programming at Tai Kwun Contemporary and shape strategy for the entire complex, which includes performing arts, galleries, and restaurants. Tinari replaces Pi Li, who previously worked at M+ and co-founded Boers-Li gallery. The appointment is backed by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, whose director Chin Chin Teoh and Tai Kwun Arts director Timothy Calnin cited a 2018 collaboration with Tinari on a Cao Fei exhibition as influential. Tinari's departure follows reports of financial difficulties at UCCA, which the institution denied. UCCA has appointed Lingyi Kong as new CEO and Xi Guo as deputy director, effective February 2026.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 1 link 17 artists, 2 galleries

Artists share their pin-ups in a London exhibition

London's Incubator gallery has opened 'Notes from the Studio', a group exhibition featuring 45 visual artists, writers, musicians, and fashion designers. Each participant contributed one item currently taped or pinned to their studio wall, ranging from personal objects and notes to postcards, sketches, and reference images. Contributors include Tracey Emin, Michael Stipe, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Harland Miller, and Ben Okri. The gallery preserved the original tape or tack used to attach each item and installed the pieces within drawn charcoal 'frames'.

newspaper wallpaper.com open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 1 link 2 artists

ARTS at King Street Station 2026 Exhibition Calendar

The ARTS at King Street Station in Seattle has announced its 2026 exhibition calendar, featuring a diverse lineup of 13 shows from November 2025 through February 2027. Highlights include "Welcome to Paradise: ¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre!" by Jo Cosme, which critiques colonial narratives of Puerto Rico; "Living and Loving Under the Carceral State" by Alison Bremner; a South Indian kolam exhibition by Anuradha Samrat; and "Tết In Diaspora" by Nhi Vo celebrating Vietnamese New Year. Other exhibitions explore Afrofuturism, Black figuration, animation, augmented reality, the legacy of Black Arts West Theater, and themes of mothering and gender-based violence.

newspaper Seattle.gov open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 2 link 7 artists

israel pavilion venice biennale belu simion fainaru protest 1234769500

Israel will officially participate in the 2026 Venice Biennale, two years after its pavilion closed amid protests. The pavilion will be located in the Arsenale rather than its usual Giardini site, which is under construction. Representing Israel is sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, a Haifa-based artist and Israel Prize winner, who previously represented Romania at the 2019 Biennale. His pavilion, titled "Rose of Nothingness," will feature an installation about water inspired by poet Paul Celan's concept of black milk, with 16 pipes dripping black water into a pool. The pavilion is curated by Sorin Heller and Avital Bar-Shay. However, the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) has renewed its protest, calling the pavilion the "Genocide Pavilion" on Instagram and demanding Israel's exclusion from the Biennale.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

rate_review review schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 1 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

internet personality mackenzie thomas performance review 1234769494

Internet personality MacKenzie Thomas staged a four-hour durational performance titled "I Said What I Said" in New York, where she read aloud every post she made on X over the past year, interspersed with personal essays. The performance, which sold out both New York showings, will travel to Los Angeles at Heavy Manners. Thomas recounted intimate details of her life, including a breakup, her dog's death, health struggles, and family dynamics, while notably omitting her success as an influencer with half a million followers.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

jonathon sturgeon appointed deputy editor of artnet news 646094

Jonathon Sturgeon has been appointed deputy editor of Artnet News. Sturgeon brings nearly a decade of experience editing arts and culture coverage, having written for publications including Flavorwire, American Reader, n+1 Magazine, e-flux, the Guardian, the Paris Review, Frieze, and the Baffler. He will work closely with editor-in-chief Rozalia Jovanovic to guide the editorial process, handling both news stories and long-form features.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 2 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

ms rachel gaza art exhibition fundraiser youtube 1234769474

YouTube star Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, announced an exhibition and fundraiser titled "Colors That Survived" featuring artworks created by children in Gaza. The show opens Tuesday at Caelum Gallery in New York's Chelsea neighborhood, with limited-edition prints priced at $200 each available through January 30 via the nonprofit Artists Support. All proceeds will go to young Palestinian artists. Accurso, who has over 18 million YouTube subscribers, became an advocate for children in Gaza after participating in a Save the Children fundraiser in May 2024, and has faced backlash from Zionist groups including StopAntisemitism, which falsely accused her of receiving funds from Hamas.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 3 link 1 artist

sasha suda philadelphia art museum ceo title removed 1234769452

Sasha Suda, the former director and CEO of the Philadelphia Art Museum, gave her first extensive interview since her firing last November to Philadelphia Magazine, alleging that the board attempted to strip her of the CEO title. She claims former board chair Leslie Anne Miller initially offered both roles but later tried to separate them, only allowing her to hold both temporarily. Suda says she rejected the revised offer, leading the board to backpedal. The article also reveals that Suda placed chief curator Carlos Basualdo on administrative leave in 2024, a decision that upset some trustees and may have contributed to tensions. Suda was abruptly fired on Election Day via email citing "cause," and she and the board have traded allegations over misuse of funds and unfair investigations.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 3 link 6 artists, 2 galleries

esphyr slobodkina louise nevelson arkansas museum 2733735

The Arkansas Museum of Art in Little Rock is presenting "Architects of Being," an exhibition pairing the work of Esphyr Slobodkina and Louise Nevelson through January 11, 2026. Slobodkina, a Russian-born Jewish immigrant and founding member of the American Abstract Artists, was a painter, sculptor, writer, and fashion designer who also authored the classic children's book *Caps for Sale*. Nevelson, also an Eastern European Jewish immigrant, is renowned for her monochromatic wood assemblages. The show juxtaposes their geometric abstractions, collages, sculptures, and personal fashion, curated as a hypothetical dialogue between two kindred spirits who never met. The exhibition will travel to the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, and the New Britain Museum of American Art.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 3 link 24 artists, 9 galleries

paint drippings art industry news jan 9 2736112

This week's art industry roundup covers a postponement, financial losses, legal disputes, and leadership changes. New Jersey's Art Fair 14C has been postponed to May 2027, with organizers citing capacity issues unrelated to market conditions. Bonhams reported a 90% pre-tax loss jump to £213 million in 2024 due to impairment charges. A rediscovered Watteau drawing will be auctioned at Christie's Paris, and personal items of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are featured in Christie's 'American Collector' sales. In galleries, Amy Sillman left Gladstone for David Zwirner, Trevor Paglen joined Jessica Silverman, and Maya Hewitt joined Theta. The Louvre partially closed after a staff strike demanding director Laurence des Cars' resignation and reassessment of a renovation plan. Belgium's plan to dismantle Antwerp's M HKA museum has sparked resignations and backlash. New appointments include Will Cary as COO of the Barnes Foundation and Patton Hindle as director of arts at the Knight Foundation. MATHAF museum in Doha announced a campus expansion by architect Lina Ghotmeh. Legal disputes emerged between Gian Enzo Sperone and Angela Westwater over the shuttered Sperone Westwater gallery.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 2 link 4 artists

art market minute jan 12 2736336

Artnet's Price Database reveals signs of recovery at the top end of the art market in 2025, following three years of contraction. The article highlights gains in high-value sales, exemplified by Gustav Klimt's "Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer" pictured at Sotheby's Marquee Sales Series in New York. It also notes a growing trend of small and emerging galleries working with artists' estates, and reports that roughly half of art-backed loans by non-bank businesses defaulted in 2024.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 2 link 7 artists

Nasher's "Dis/orient" exhibit seeks to challenge how we think of Asian art

The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University has opened "Dis/orient," a new exhibition featuring works by nine artists from the Asian diaspora. The show includes a raindrop-shaped mirror, stacks of Botan rice bags, burned denim on canvas, and a video of a man attempting to chop an apple on a spinning record player. Curatorial associate Julianne Miao explains that the exhibition confronts orientalism and stereotypes about Asian art, which is often reduced to ancient scrolls and ceramics. Featured artists include Korakrit Arunanondchai, Stephanie Shih, Taiyo Kimura, Pinaree Sanpitak, Asuka Anastacia Ogawa, Ravelle Pillay, and local artist Lien Truong, whose painting "My mother, she fell from the sky" reimagines orientalist depictions of Asian women. The exhibition runs until July 19.

newspaper WUNC open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 1 link 1 artist

Five Rising Contemporary Artists You Should Know

The New York Times has published a feature highlighting five emerging contemporary artists who are gaining recognition in the art world. The article profiles each artist's background, creative practice, and recent achievements, offering readers an introduction to new voices in visual art.

newspaper The New York Times open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 12, 2026 visibility 2 link 5 artists, 2 galleries

smithsonian drops wall text mentioning trumps double impeachment 1234769438

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has removed wall text referencing President Trump’s two impeachments from its “America’s Presidents” exhibition after installing a new black-and-white portrait of him by White House photographer Daniel Torok. The original label noted Trump’s impeachments for abuse of power and inciting insurrection, but the revised text now identifies him only as the 45th and 47th president and his birth year. The change follows years of contention from the Trump administration, which compiled a list of complaints accusing former director Kim Sajet of political bias; Sajet resigned, and Elliot Gruber now serves as acting director.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Jan 10, 2026 visibility 3 link 10 artists, 4 galleries

robert colescott market 2732463

The article examines the posthumous market resurgence of painter Robert Colescott, who died in 2009. After his commercial profile faded, Los Angeles dealer Tim Blum and his gallery Blum & Poe began working with the artist's estate in 2017, staging five solo shows and rescuing a disorganized estate with works stored in shipping containers in Arizona. Major auction prices followed, including a record $15.3 million for 'George Washington Carver Crossing The Delaware' in 2021. In 2024, after Blum & Poe closed, Gladstone Gallery took over representation. A current exhibition at the Tacoma Art Museum, 'The One-Two Punch: 100 Years of Robert Colescott,' runs through March 29.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 10, 2026 visibility 1 link 3 artists, 7 galleries

the winter show returns to the park avenue armory heres what to expect 2735622

The Winter Show returns to New York's Park Avenue Armory for its 72nd edition, running from January 23 to February 1, 2026. The fair brings together over 70 international dealers offering a wide range of collecting categories including jewels, antiques, design, and fine art. Highlights include returning exhibitors such as A La Vieille Russie, Ralph M. Chait Galleries, and Joan B Mirviss, alongside newcomers like Galerie Cahn, Greg Pepin Silver, and Rose Uniacke. The fair also features a Design Council co-chaired by Noz Nozawa, Ben Pentreath, Jane Keltner de Valle, and Giancarlo Valle, and includes benefit events like Opening Night Preview and Young Collectors Night.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 10, 2026 visibility 1 link 6 artists

U.S. Museums And Major Expansions Opening Across The Country In 2026

A roundup of major U.S. museum openings and expansions scheduled for 2026 highlights several high-profile projects across the country. These include the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, the Hip Hop Museum in New York City, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. Additionally, the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History opens in Newport, Rhode Island, in June; the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City, California, completes a $23.5 million expansion in the fall; and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland finishes a $175 million expansion adding 50,000 square feet.

newspaper Forbes open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Jan 9, 2026 visibility 3 link 22 artists, 2 galleries

antwerp contemporary art museum controvery 2735239

Belgium plans to revoke the museum status of Antwerp's Museum of Contemporary Art (M HKA) and transfer its 8,000-work collection to Ghent's Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art (Smak), canceling a promised $93 million new building. The proposal by Flemish culture minister Caroline Gennez has sparked resignations, legal challenges, and backlash from artists including Luc Tuymans and Anish Kapoor, who call it unlawful and a threat to cultural independence. A parliamentary hearing is expected in January 2026.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Jan 9, 2026 visibility 2 link 1 artist

marc spiegler 2026 market 2713062

Artnet News editor Kate Brown interviews Marc Spiegler, former global director of Art Basel (2007–2022), to analyze the state of the art market entering 2026. The article reviews a turbulent 2025: galleries closed, buying energy dried up, some fairs shrank, and the secondary market faltered, though the hype-driven speculation of previous years receded. By late 2025, signs of recovery emerged—successful fall auction weeks in New York and a stronger-than-expected Art Basel Miami Beach—and both Christie’s and Sotheby’s reported upticks in projected revenue for the year.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 9, 2026 visibility 1 link 5 artists

More artists killed in Ukraine as anniversary of full-scale Russian invasion approaches

Two Ukrainian artists—Lana Chornohorska, a 27-year-old left-wing journalist and artist known for her anarchist and LGBTQ+ activism, and Yurii Kostyshyn, a 48-year-old photographer and artist who joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2015—have been killed on the frontlines while fighting for Ukraine. Additionally, Timofey Anufriev, a 21-year-old Russian-born philosophy student raised in Odesa and son of prominent contemporary artist Sergei Anufriev, was killed while serving with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Their deaths come as the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches next month.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 9, 2026 visibility 2 link 3 artists, 1 gallery

Storm over closure of South Africa’s much-loved Irma Stern Museum

The Irma Stern Museum (ISM) in Cape Town, South Africa, was abruptly closed in October 2024 after the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Irma Stern Trust ended their 56-year partnership. The museum, housed in Stern's former home The Firs, displayed her collection of artifacts and her own works. The closure sparked public outrage over lack of transparency, with staff removed without clarity and the announcement made only after pressure. The trust, owned by Nedgroup Private Wealth, plans to relocate artworks to a new storage facility and repurpose The Firs, but no reopening date has been set.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Jan 9, 2026 visibility 1 link 7 artists, 1 gallery

Hurvin Anderson and Caroline Walker to show new works on London Underground

London's Art on the Underground programme has announced its 2026 lineup, featuring new public artworks by Hurvin Anderson, Caroline Walker, Phoebe Boswell, and Ain Bailey. Anderson will create a commission for Brixton station tied to his long-standing studio in the area, while Walker will depict women working night shifts on the Jubilee line. Boswell will install photographic assemblages at Bethnal Green and Notting Hill Gate stations focusing on Black swimming communities, and Bailey will produce an audio piece for Waterloo station highlighting closed London venues.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original