Artists and Art Professionals Denounce Mexico’s Handling of Resurfaced Art Collection: ‘An Institutional Blunder’

Over 200 Mexican artists and art professionals signed an open letter accusing the government and the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) of an 'institutional blunder' for allowing the resurfaced Gelman collection—approximately 300 works including pieces by Frida Kahlo and other major Mexican artists—to be exported to Spain. The collection, now held by Banco Santander's foundation, is classified as Mexican artistic monuments, which typically restricts foreign export to one or two years.

gelman collection of mexican art surfaces at santander with plans to bring it to spain 1234770736

Banco Santander has announced it will manage roughly half of the Gelman Collection, one of the most significant collections of 20th-century Mexican art, which disappeared from public view in 2008. The Madrid-based bank now oversees 160 of approximately 300 works amassed by patrons Jacques and Natasha Gelman. The collection will anchor the new Faro Santander cultural center in Spain, set to open in June, through a long-term loan agreement with the Zambrano family, the prominent Mexican business family revealed to own the once-lost collection. The collection's whereabouts had been largely unknown, with only sporadic sightings in foreign institutions, after it was divided by executor Robert R. Littman despite the will's stipulation that it be shown intact in a private museum in Mexico.

san francisco art institute closed 2148604

The San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), a historic art school founded in 1871, permanently closed on July 15 after the University of San Francisco (USF) withdrew from a proposed acquisition deal. USF cited financial risks, low enrollment projections, and deferred maintenance as reasons for backing out. SFAI will continue as a small nonprofit to protect its archives and legacy, but the fate of its prized Diego Rivera fresco, valued at up to $50 million, remains uncertain.

julia stoschek foundation los angeles show 2716818

The Julia Stoschek Foundation, one of the world's largest collections of video art, will present its first major U.S. exhibition at the Variety Arts Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Titled "What a Wonderful World: An Audiovisual Poem" and curated by Udo Kittelmann, the show opens February 6, 2026, pairing contemporary video works by artists such as Marina Abramović, Dara Birnbaum, Cyprien Gaillard, Arthur Jafa, Jesper Just, and Lu Yang with historic films by Luis Buñuel, Walt Disney, Alice Guy-Blaché, Winsor McCay, and Georges Méliès. The exhibition spans 120 years of filmmaking and will occupy a historic 1920s Venetian-style landmark that once housed L.A.'s first women's clubhouse and a vaudeville theater.

school of art institute of chicagos video data bank 2714672

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) laid off three of five staff members of its Video Data Bank (VDB), including director Tom Colley, as part of 20 total layoffs across the institution. The cuts, announced on November 12, eliminated leadership and key distribution and digital management roles, sparking outcry from the new-media art community. VDB, founded in 1976, is a leading archive of video art with over 6,000 works by artists including Nam June Paik, Bruce Nauman, and Pipilotti Rist, distributed worldwide via subscription streaming.

video data bank downsizing school art institute chicago 1234761928

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) laid off three of five staff members at the Video Data Bank (VDB), a renowned video art distribution organization, on November 12. Former director Tom Colley announced the dismissals of digital collection manager Elise Schierbeek and distribution assistant Nicky Ni, and stated that acquisitions and programming would cease. SAIC cited financial pressures from federal policy changes and enrollment declines, insisting the VDB is not closing but needs adjusted staffing to protect its teaching mission. The VDB, founded in 1976 and approaching its 50th anniversary, holds works by major artists including Nam June Paik, Pipilotti Rist, and Bruce Nauman, and has historically received NEA funding.

fata morgana nicola trussardi massimiliano gioni hilma af klint 1234756897

"Fata Morgana," an exhibition organized by the Fondazione Nicola Trussardi at Palazzo Morando in Milan, presents works by 78 artists past and present who embody Marcel Duchamp's idea of the artist as a "mediumistic being." The show includes nuns, mediums, psychiatric patients, and contemporary stars like Marianna Simnett and Rosemarie Trockel, alongside avant-garde icons such as Man Ray and Duchamp himself. Curated by Massimiliano Gioni, Daniel Birnbaum, and Martha Papini, the exhibition explores creativity as compulsion, featuring drawings by James Tilly Matthews, séance photographs by Stanisława Popielska, and works by Madge Gill and Emma Jung, among others.

obama presidential center artist commissions jenny holzer nick cave 1234751585

The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has announced nine new commissions by ten artists for its 19.3-acre campus, set to open next spring. The commissioned works include a text-based sculpture spelling 'HOPE' by Jack Pierson, a bronze sculpture by Kiki Smith, a digital mural by Jules Julien, a textile-and-sound installation by Nick Cave and Marie Watt, paintings by Jenny Holzer and Idris Khan, a sculpture by Nekisha Durrett, a mural by Aliza Nisenbaum, and an outdoor bronze by Alison Saar. These join five previously announced commissions, with plans for over 25 site-specific works total.

christies lawsuit milos vavra egon schiele nazi looted art 1234749726

A Czech man named Milos Vavra, a descendant of Jewish cabaret performer and collector Fritz Grünbaum who was murdered by the Nazis, has filed a lawsuit against Christie's in New York Supreme Court. Vavra demands that the auction house disclose the ownership and location of several blue-chip artworks from the Grünbaum Collection, including works by Egon Schiele. He alleges that Christie's entered a nondisclosure agreement with a Swiss family seeking to auction looted artworks, and he needs the information urgently to file claims before the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act (HEAR Act) statute of limitations expires in late 2026.

manhattans beloved elizabeth street garden is saved 2659806

New York City has abandoned plans to demolish Soho's Elizabeth Street Garden for affordable housing, instead rezoning three nearby sites to build 620 units while preserving the garden. The deal, brokered with council member Christopher Marte—a former garden volunteer—ends a years-long campaign backed by celebrities like Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Patti Smith, as well as artists JR and Dustin Yellin and curator Klaus Biesenbach. The garden, filled with antique architectural remnants, was created by the late Allan Reiver and his son Joseph Reiver, who continued the fight after Allan's death in 2021.

jeffrey deitch sunk low hee280s curating douchebag property developers coney island 293267

Jeffrey Deitch is co-curating a street art exhibition in Coney Island this summer with Joseph Sitt, head of real estate developer Thor Equities. The show features artists including Crash, Lee Quinones, Futura, Kenny Scharf, Miss Van, Lady Pink, Swoon, and Icy Signs, and will debut alongside Smorgasburg Coney Island with 12 food vendors and live music. Deitch previously organized the controversial 2011 exhibition "Art in the Streets" at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, which drew large crowds but faced criticism for prioritizing entertainment over scholarship, and included the censorship of a mural by Blu.

hard choices marina abramovic longevity method 1234739297

Art-world consultants Chen & Lampert have published a satirical quiz in Art in America that lampoons Marina Abramović's wellness line, the Longevity Method. The quiz presents ten multiple-choice questions mocking the artist's foray into selling tinctures and elixirs, such as Energy Drops and Immune Drops, which she claims contain ancient secrets for living well. The questions parody Abramović's performance art history and the commercialization of her brand, with options referencing her past works and the high cost of her products.

‘One simple gesture says it all’: the world in black and white – in pictures

Photographer Marina Sersale has released a new monograph titled 'Liminal Space,' published by Gost, which compiles over a decade of monochrome photography. The collection features dramatic black-and-white images captured between 2013 and 2021 across diverse locations including Italy, Japan, Iran, and the United States. Sersale, a former documentary filmmaker, focuses on the interplay of light and shadow to document fleeting, everyday moments—from sunbathers in Positano to commuters in Naples.

Review: “50th Anniversary Exhibition Part I” at Moody Gallery, Houston

Moody Gallery in Houston opened “50th Anniversary Exhibition Part I” on September 13, showcasing 38 artworks by gallery-affiliated artists. The show is deliberately non-chronological and non-comprehensive, featuring works ranging from 2006 to 2025, including pieces by Melissa Miller, William “Bill” Steffy, Michael Kennaugh, Dan Sutherland, Pat Colville, Tracye Wear, Al Souza, and the collaborative MANUAL (Ed Hill & Suzanne Bloom). The exhibition spans three spaces and highlights the gallery’s eclectic, open-minded approach and its commitment to promoting Texas-based artists.

Goen Choi and Hyeree Ro on Representing South Korea at the 61st Venice Biennale

Goen Choi and Hyeree Ro are representing South Korea at the 61st Venice Biennale, which runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026. In an interview with ArtReview, Choi describes his sculptural installation "Meridian," featuring ruptured copper pipes that traverse the Korean Pavilion in the Giardini, exploring unseen infrastructures and unstable relations between fixed structures. Ro presents "Bearing," a membranelike waxed fabric installation with eight stations for mourning, remembering, and mending, inspired by Korean gardens and temples. Both artists respond to the Biennale's theme "In Minor Keys," emphasizing subtle forces, low vibrations, and contemplative spaces.

A tour of 10 must-see booths at the miart 2026 fair in Milan

Un giro in 10 stand da non mancare alla fiera miart 2026 a Milano

The 30th edition of miart, Milan’s international modern and contemporary art fair, has launched at the Allianz MiCo South Wing under the artistic direction of Nicola Ricciardi. Titled "New Directions," the 2026 edition features 160 galleries from 24 countries, organized into sections like Emergent, Established, and Established Anthology. Despite some logistical complaints regarding the new layout, the opening saw high attendance and early optimism from dealers regarding sales.

art collector carmelo anthony nba hall of fame

Carmelo Anthony, the retired NBA star and soon-to-be Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, discusses his art collection in an interview with Cultured. He began collecting seriously early in his NBA career, guided by older players like Juwan Howard, and now owns works by artists such as Nelson Makamo, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Ernie Barnes, Marcus Jansen, Hebru Brantley, and Stan Squirewell. His collection emphasizes street art, photography, and the Black experience, with pieces displayed intentionally throughout his home.

Cleveland Museum of Art hosting ‘France in the Time of Manet and Morisot’

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) has opened a free companion exhibition titled "France in the Time of Manet and Morisot," running through August 23 in the Mark Schwartz and Bettina Katz Photography Galleries. The show features 50 photographs from the museum's holdings of mid-1800s France, including works by Charles Marville and Édouard Baldus, who were commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III and the Louvre to document historic monuments and new architectural projects. Curated by Barbara Tannenbaum, CMA chair of prints, drawings, and photographs, the exhibition complements the museum's ticketed show "Manet & Morisot," which explores the artistic exchange between Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot. Highlights include André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri's 1861 portrait "Monsieur Merlen," which is noted as an early precursor to the selfie, and a photograph of the Arc de Triomphe under construction.

Cleveland Museum of Art presents 19th-century photo exhibit 'France in the Time of Manet and Morisot'

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) has opened a new photography exhibition, "France in the Time of Manet and Morisot," running through August 23 in the Mark Schwartz and Bettina Katz Photography Galleries. The free show features 50 photographs from CMA's holdings of mid-1800s France, complementing the museum's ticketed Impressionist display "Manet & Morisot." Curator Barbara Tannenbaum selected works by photographers such as Charles Marville, Édouard Baldus, and André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, including Disdéri's 1861 portrait "Monsieur Merlen," which is noted as an early precursor to the modern selfie. The photographs document historic monuments, new architecture, and figures like Sarah Bernhardt, offering a visual context for the era of painters Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot.

Color and Spirit: The Blue Rider at Lenbachhaus

The Lenbachhaus museum in Munich has opened a major exhibition titled "Beyond the World. The Blue Rider," running from March 10, 2026, to September 5, 2027. The show explores the cultural exchanges and historical context of the Blue Rider movement, featuring newly acquired works by Wilhelm Morgner, Emmy Klinker, and Albert Bloch, alongside iconic pieces by Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, and Gabriele Münter. The exhibition is organized chronologically, beginning with the cross-cultural inspirations behind the 1912 Blue Rider Almanac and concluding with a reflection on the Nazi suppression of German Expressionism, including inventory lists of confiscated "degenerate" art.

Inside the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s 2026 Gala

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) held its 2026 gala, a major fundraising event attended by prominent figures from the city's art, philanthropy, and social circles. The event featured notable attendees including artist Andy Goldsworthy, museum director Thomas Campbell, and major donors like Dede Wilsey and Mayor Daniel Lurie.

Valuable Art Collection Featuring Frida Kahlo Set To Leave Mexico Sparks Concern in Art Community

The Mexican art community is voicing alarm over the relocation of the prestigious Gelman Collection to Spain, where it is slated to become the centerpiece of the new Foro Santander cultural center. Managed by Santander Bank and previously acquired by the Zambrano family, the collection includes 160 works by modern masters such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, including 18 rare paintings by Frida Kahlo. Critics and academics have signed an open letter demanding transparency from the Mexican government regarding the legality of this long-term export, given that many of these works are designated as national artistic monuments.

Contemporary art exhibition to showcase work from Wales and beyond

The Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (AMOCA) is launching its second pop-up exhibition, "Dialogues Wales: New Voices from the Museum Collection," at Cardiff’s Temple of Peace. Running from April 15 to 18, the show highlights women and nonbinary artists from the private collection of co-founder Anders Hedlund, featuring over forty international and local figures including Shani Rhys James, Ewa Juszkiewicz, and Lynda Benglis.

The largest regional gallery in NSW has opened just two hours from Sydney

Newcastle Art Gallery has officially reopened following a major $145 million site-wide transformation, doubling its footprint to become the largest public art gallery in New South Wales outside of Sydney. Designed by Clare Design in collaboration with Smith and Tzannes and Arup, the expansion adds 1,600 square metres of exhibition space, a new learning studio, and upgraded facilities to house a collection of over 7,000 works. The inaugural exhibition, "Iconic, Loved, Unexpected," features nearly 500 pieces ranging from colonial-era paintings to contemporary commissions by artists like Megan Cope and Shellie Smith.

Gallery no longer a 'waste of time' as $145m of art goes on display

The Newcastle Art Gallery in New South Wales is set to open its $48 million expansion this Saturday, concluding a turbulent development process that spanned over two decades. The upgrade adds 1,600 square metres of exhibition space and 13 new galleries, transforming the facility into the largest public art institution in the state outside of Sydney and allowing its $145 million permanent collection to be displayed at scale for the first time.

Old Master Grandeur and Modern Patronage Converge at the 2026 Norton Museum of Art Gala

The Norton Museum of Art's 2026 annual gala drew nearly 700 guests and raised nearly $5 million for the museum's programs. The event featured a live auction hosted by Sotheby's Oliver Barker, selling works by contemporary artists like Julie Curtiss, Jeffrey Gibson, Jessie Henson, and Marilyn Minter, and honored trustee Ronnie Heyman and artist Loie Hollowell. The evening's design was inspired by the concurrent exhibition "Art and Life in Rembrandt's Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection."

New York Galleries: Openings and Closings (02/09-02/15)

A comprehensive list of gallery exhibitions opening and closing in New York City for the week of February 9-15, 2026, has been published. The schedule includes openings at major galleries like Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and Matthew Marks, featuring artists such as Michael Heizer, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, and Anish Kapoor, alongside shows at smaller spaces. The list also notes the final weekend to see exhibitions at venues including Tanya Bonakdar Gallery and Alexander Gray Associates.

Renowned Mexican art collection to be managed by Spanish bank

Banco Santander announced on 21 January that it will manage 160 works from the Gelman Collection of 20th-century Mexican art, following a long-term agreement with the Zambrano family, which acquired the collection in 2023. The newly branded Gelman Santander Collection will debut this summer at Faro Santander, the bank's new venue in Cantabria, Spain. The collection, started by Russian-born film producer Jacques Gelman and his wife Natasha, includes major works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, and others, but has been largely out of public view since 2008 amid inheritance disputes. The agreement is complicated by Mexican law, which designates many works as National Artistic Monuments, restricting their permanent export and requiring oversight by the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL).

How much should art cost? The pitfalls and paradoxes of pricing works

The article examines the current state of the art market, which is in its third consecutive year of contraction. It traces how low interest rates fueled speculative price inflation, leading to a boom in ultra-contemporary art that has now burst, with collectors shifting toward Old Masters. Dealers like Larry Gagosian are now advocating for lowering primary market prices, while private sales stall due to sellers' 'anchoring' to peak valuations. The piece highlights the disconnect between high prices and long-term value, using examples such as auction records being manipulated (e.g., Patrick Drahi's anonymous bidding on a Francis Bacon triptych) and the reality that most artworks in even celebrated collections depreciate.

The Woman Question 1550–2025 The City of Women

The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw (MSN Warsaw) will launch two concurrent exhibitions, "The Woman Question 1550–2025" and "The City of Women," running from November 21, 2025, to May 3, 2026. Featuring nearly 200 women artists from around the world—spanning from Artemisia Gentileschi and Frida Kahlo to Yoko Ono and Tala Madani—the shows aim to present five centuries of art by women, curated by Alison M. Gingeras and a team of researchers including Julia Bryan-Wilson, Michalina Sablik, Vera Zalutskaya, Karolina Gembara, and Wiktoria Szczupacka. The exhibitions include works borrowed from major international institutions such as the Uffizi Gallery, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and the Nasjonalmuseet.