Philadelphia Museum of Art 'Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments (4/25-8/2)'

필라델피아미술관 '라이징업: 록키와 기념비 제작(Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments, 4/25-8/2)' - Lounge

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has announced a major exhibition titled "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments," scheduled to open in April 2026. Curated by Paul Farber of Monument Lab, the show will feature over 150 works by more than 50 artists, including Keith Haring, Kara Walker, and Andy Warhol. The exhibition uses the iconic Rocky statue—a fictional character that has become one of the city's most visited landmarks—as a focal point to explore the history, mythology, and evolving role of public monuments from antiquity to the present day.

David Hockney’s First English Landscape Painting Heads to Sotheby’s London’s Auction Block

David Hockney’s 1965 painting "English Garden" is set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s London during its modern and contemporary evening sale on March 4. Estimated to fetch between £2.5 million and £3.5 million, the work is historically significant as the artist’s first foray into English landscape painting. Interestingly, Hockney painted the vibrant scene from memory and a photograph in American Vogue while he was living in Boulder, Colorado.

friends fair austin 2026 exhibitor list 1234776877

The Friends Fair in Austin has announced its second edition, scheduled for May 7–9, 2026, at the Loren Hotel Austin. Following a successful debut that drew over 2,000 visitors, the boutique fair is expanding its roster from 10 to 17 exhibitors, occupying an entire floor of the hotel. The lineup features a mix of returning local staples like Martha’s and McLennon Pen Co. alongside new additions from major art hubs including Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, plus non-commercial presentations by Co-Lab Projects and UT Austin MFA students.

chicago neighbors expo satellite fair 1234776823

Collector Mirka Serrato and gallerist Jonny Tanna are launching Neighbors, a new satellite art fair debuting during Expo Chicago in April 2025. Located in a 1,200-square-foot neoclassical apartment in Chicago’s Gold Coast, the fair rejects traditional booth structures in favor of a domestic, intimate setting. The inaugural exhibitor list features a mix of local and international galleries, including London’s Gathering and Harlesden High Street, as well as spaces from New York and Dallas.

anne claire legendre institut du arabe monde 1234773567

Anne-Claire Legendre, a senior French diplomat and advisor to President Emmanuel Macron, has been selected to lead the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. Her appointment follows the abrupt resignation of former director Jack Lang and, if confirmed, will make her the first woman to head the institution in its 40-year history.

zona maco 2026 exhibitor list preview 1234769449

Zona Maco, one of Latin America's premier art fairs, will return to Mexico City from February 4–8, 2026, at Centro Banamex. The fair will feature 241 exhibitors across nine sections, including a new section called Forma, which blends contemporary art and design, and a revised Diseño Emergente section for emerging designers. Notable participants include Pace Gallery, Galleria Continua, Kurimanzutto, and OMR, with curated sections led by Aimé Iglesias Lukin and Manuela Moscoso. Founder Zélika García highlighted the fair's growth and its commitment to showcasing blue-chip galleries alongside emerging and mid-career talent.

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Louvre president Laurence des Cars faced a contentious Senate hearing on Wednesday, where lawmakers pressed her about ignored security warnings that preceded the October theft of $102 million in imperial jewels from the Apollo Gallery. Audits from 2017 and 2018 had flagged structural vulnerabilities, but Des Cars claimed she was not informed until after the theft. She defended the museum's response, citing new cameras, increased security training budgets, and an imminent senior security coordinator appointment. Conservative senators Jacques Grosperrin and Max Brisson demanded her resignation, with Brisson walking out when she declined to answer. Former president Jean-Luc Martinez also testified, saying he had not reinforced windows or balcony due to fire-safety concerns, a rationale security experts rejected.

how louvre thieves evaded police senate hearing 1234766068

A French Senate hearing revealed that Louvre security failures allowed thieves to steal $102 million in French crown jewels from the Apollo Gallery in October, with officials stating that the escape could have been prevented if exterior camera footage had been monitored in real time. Noël Corbin of the General Inspectorate of Cultural Affairs and Pascal Mignerey of the Security, Safety and Audit Mission testified that a 2019 security audit by Van Cleef & Arpels identifying gallery weaknesses was not transmitted to new leadership under director Laurence des Cars, contributing to the heist.

louvre museum raises ticket prices for non european foreigners 1234764243

The Louvre Museum board has voted to raise ticket prices by 45% for visitors outside the European Economic Area, effective January 14. The price will increase from €22 ($25) to €32 ($37), affecting tourists from the United States, Britain, and Russia. The move is part of a broader effort to fund infrastructure upgrades and security improvements following a high-profile heist in October in which thieves stole nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the Apollo Gallery. The museum's director, Laurence des Cars, acknowledged that the institution has "very inadequate" and "outdated" security systems, and a full overhaul is not expected until 2032.

suspected fourth gang member behind louvre heist arrested 1234763889

On Tuesday, four more suspects were arrested in connection with the theft of the French crown jewels from the Louvre in Paris last month. One of the men, arrested in Laval, is suspected of being the fourth gang member involved in the heist, which occurred on October 19 when robbers used a cherry picker and angle grinder to steal nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the Apollo Gallery. The other three previously charged suspects were identified as Ayed G, Slimane K, and Abdoulaye N. Three relatives of the new suspect were also taken for questioning. One of the stolen pieces, a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, was recovered outside the museum.

four more suspects arrested louvre museum heist 1234763569

Four additional suspects—two men and two women aged 31 to 40—have been arrested in connection with the theft of the French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris last month. The arrests follow four earlier arrests, with one suspect still believed to be at large. The thieves used a cherry picker and angle grinder to steal nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the Apollo Gallery in under eight minutes. One piece, a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, was later recovered outside the museum.

cousin of suspected robber in louvre museum heist speaks out 1234761724

A cousin of one of the suspected robbers in the Louvre heist has spoken out in an interview with ABC News. The man, identified as Mehdy, told ABC News' James Longman on "Impact x Nightline" that his cousin was a low-income worker who sold fruit and had children. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the heist, which occurred on October 19 when robbers used a cherry picker and angle grinder to steal nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the Louvre's Apollo Gallery. One suspect remains at large, and a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was later recovered outside the museum.

louvre heist suspect is former museum guard social media influencer 1234760445

Four suspects have been arrested for allegedly stealing the French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum last month. One suspect, identified as 39-year-old Abdoulaye N., is a former security guard at the Centre Pompidou and a social media influencer known for motocross stunts under the name Doudou Cross Bitume. His DNA was found at the crime scene, and he is suspected of breaking into the museum's Apollo gallery through an unsecured window before escaping on a motorbike. He has a prior criminal record including a 2014 jewelry store robbery conviction, and was due in court for a separate case. The stolen jewels have not yet been recovered.

louvre heist suspects arrested 1234758905

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of French crown jewels from the Louvre on October 19. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced the arrests on Sunday, with one man detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport while preparing to board a flight to Algeria. The heist, captured on a 36-second video, involved two thieves escaping with $102 million worth of Napoleonic jewelry using a furniture lift. Nine artifacts were taken from the Apollo Gallery, but one crown was dropped in the haste. The stolen jewels were not privately insured, meaning France will not be reimbursed if they are not recovered.

german company launches viral ad campaign for louvre heist lift 1234758655

A family-run German company, Böcker, launched a viral advertising campaign on Facebook and Instagram featuring the furniture lift used in a recent Louvre jewel heist. The ad, with the tagline "When you need to move fast," depicts the Agilo furniture elevator that thieves used to enter the Louvre's Apollo Gallery, stealing approximately $102 million worth of Napoleonic jewelry in seven minutes. The company's marketing chief, Julia Scharwatz, said the campaign was inspired by the widespread circulation of a photo showing the lift at the scene, and that the response has been overwhelmingly positive, reaching 1.7 million views compared to their usual 15-20,000.

vatican returns cultural objects indigenous groups canada 1234758559

The Vatican will return several dozen cultural objects, including an Inuit kayak, to Indigenous communities in Canada. The objects are housed in the Vatican Museum's Anima Mundi ethnographic collection and have been subject to scrutiny from Indigenous advocates who argue that cultural heritage stolen during colonial periods should be repatriated. The return follows Pope Francis's 2022 "penitential pilgrimage" to Canada, where Indigenous leaders requested the return of war clubs, masks, and wampum belts. The Vatican plans to use a "church-to-church" model, handing the objects to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, with the understanding that Indigenous communities will be the ultimate custodians. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks, with the objects potentially arriving in Canada by the end of 2025.

investigators look to dna analysis video footage to identify louvre thieves 1234758560

On October 19, 2025, thieves broke into the Louvre Museum's Apollo Gallery in Paris, using a cherry picker and an angle grinder to steal nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million in under eight minutes. One piece was recovered outside the museum. Approximately 100 investigators are now analyzing DNA evidence found on a helmet and gloves at the scene, as well as video footage captured by a bystander showing two suspects escaping on scooters. The museum reopened the day after the heist, but the Apollo Gallery remains closed due to the ongoing investigation.

louvre museum reopens despite crown jewel heist investigations 1234758368

The Louvre Museum reopened on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, after a dramatic jewel heist on Sunday, October 19, in which robbers used a cherry picker and angle grinder to steal eight pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the Apollo Gallery in just seven minutes. The second-floor gallery housing France’s crown jewels remains closed as investigations continue, and the museum’s security systems—deemed outdated and inadequate in a prior official report—are under heavy scrutiny. Museum director Laurence des Cars was booed by staff and is expected to address questions in a hearing later Wednesday, while the thieves remain at large.

unesco new chief gaza and ukraine us exit anti israel bias 1234756336

UNESCO's executive board has nominated Khaled El-Enany Ezz as its sole candidate for the next director-general. The 54-year-old Egyptian archaeologist and former minister of tourism and antiquities was praised for his 'unwavering dedication' and a two-year campaign visiting 65 countries. El-Enany, a professor of Egyptology at Helwan University, previously oversaw the construction and renovation of more than 20 museums, including the Grand Egyptian Museum. He will be the first Arab to lead the organization.

Lost-Lost Film by French Cinema Pioneer Turns Up in Michigan

A long-lost film by French cinema pioneer Georges Méliès has been discovered in a garage in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after sitting in a trunk for two decades. The 45-second silent short, titled 'Gugusse and the Automaton' (1897), was identified by specialists at the Library of Congress after the owner, Bill McFarland, donated a collection of nitrate reels that had belonged to his showman great-grandfather.

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Statues of contested historical figures are being reinstalled across the United States, signaling a reversal of the monument removals sparked by the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. A replica of a Christopher Columbus statue, originally toppled in Baltimore, was recently mounted on the White House grounds near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Other planned returns include a monument to Caesar Rodney, a slave-owning Founding Father, which is set to be displayed in Washington’s Freedom Plaza this summer.

elda cerrato artist of the extraterrestrial has her long awaited new york debut 2740177

The Galerie Lelong in New York is presenting the first U.S. solo exhibition of Argentine-Italian artist Elda Cerrato, who died in 2023. The show features two distinct series: abstract "cosmovision" paintings from the 1960s exploring invisible energies, and more overtly political map-based works from the 1970s created in response to authoritarian regimes in Latin America.

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Newly released surveillance footage shows masked thieves breaking into the Louvre's Apollo gallery in October 2025, using disc cutters to slice open display cases and steal France's crown jewels. The heist occurred under staff observation, with no security guards present, and police have since identified five suspects via DNA evidence, arresting four, though the jewels remain missing. The footage was broadcast on French TV on January 18, 2026, as the museum faces its third staff strike in over a month.

louvre installs bars on heist window 2733943

The Louvre Museum has installed security bars on the French window of the Apollo Gallery, the entry point used by thieves in a $102 million jewel heist on October 19. The museum announced the measure on X, showing workers installing the bars before dawn. Additional security upgrades include a mobile police base, distancing devices on the Quai François Mitterrand, and plans for 100 new perimeter cameras by 2026. These steps are part of a $92 million security master plan. Ticket prices for non-E.U. visitors will rise 45% to $37 starting January 14, 2026, to help fund the improvements. The museum also revealed that a 2018 audit sponsored by Van Cleef and Arpels had flagged the balcony's vulnerability, but then-director Jean-Luc Martinez did not act. Louvre president Laurence des Cars offered to resign after the security failures came to light but was asked to stay.

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The House Oversight Committee has released a crude drawing that President Donald Trump reportedly gave to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003. The sketch, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, features a marker outline of a naked woman with Trump's apparent signature placed where her pubic hair would be. Trump has denied creating the drawing, claiming he has never drawn, and has filed a $10 billion libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch. The New York Times compared Trump's signature on the drawing with his correspondence from 1987 to 2001 and found they "closely matched."

louvre security cameras captured heist but guards werent watching 2727603

French investigators have revealed that security cameras at the Louvre did capture the $102 million jewelry heist on October 19, 2025, contradicting earlier claims by museum director Laurence des Cars that no video existed. The footage was discovered during a Senate hearing on December 10, showing that the control room lacked enough screens to monitor all cameras simultaneously, so guards did not see the break-in in real time. By the time they switched to the relevant feed, nearly eight minutes later, the thieves had already escaped. The investigation also found that security guards and police arrived just 30 seconds too late because staff miscommunicated the exact location of the break-in within the Apollo Gallery. All four members of the heist commando group have been arrested.

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A 2018 security audit commissioned by the Louvre from Van Cleef and Arpels identified critical vulnerabilities in the museum's Apollo Gallery, including a balcony accessible via a lift platform—the exact entry point used by thieves in a daring October 19, 2025 heist. The audit, which included diagrams highlighting a window facing Quai François-Mitterrand as a major weakness, was not passed on to current Louvre president Laurence des Cars when she took over in 2021. The museum only discovered the document after the theft, prompting an internal review and referral to France's General Inspectorate of Cultural Affairs. French authorities have since arrested four more suspects, bringing the total to eight, as the investigation continues into the theft of eight valuable pieces including Napoleon Bonaparte's emerald-and-diamond necklace.

The Angel of History Is Stuck in Jerusalem

The Jewish Museum in New York's exhibition 'Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds' is missing its central artwork, Paul Klee's 'Angelus Novus' (1920). The original, owned by Walter Benjamin and normally housed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, is absent due to "current conditions affecting international transport," a likely reference to the Israel-Hamas war. A reproduction stands in its place, alongside Benjamin's famous 'Angel of History' text, which interprets the angel as a figure witnessing the catastrophic pile-up of history.

500-year-old Aztec ritual offering uncovered in Mexico City

Archaeologists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History have uncovered a 500-year-old Aztec ritual offering at the Templo Mayor site in Mexico City. The discovery consists of six volcanic stone boxes containing greenstone sculptures, thousands of marine shells, copal spheres, and pendants, all forming a complete ceremonial assemblage from the reign of Emperor Moctezuma I (1440-1469).

Ides Kihlen, Abstract Painter and Argentine Art Legend, Dies at 108

Ides Kihlen, the beloved Argentine abstract painter, died on April 14 at age 108. Her first solo exhibition came at age 85 in 2002 at the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Buenos Aires, after which her career blossomed with presentations at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo and the Emilio Caraffa Fine Arts Museum. Known for rhythmic compositions blending geometric forms, experimental line work, and collage on varied supports, Kihlen maintained a daily routine of painting from morning and playing piano after sunset, reflecting her lifelong dual commitment to art and music.