Forged Picasso prints sold at Stuttgart auction recovered as part of international police operation

Two forged Pablo Picasso prints from his Suite Vollard series, sold at a Stuttgart auction house, have been recovered as part of an international police operation led by Italian authorities. The Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office (LKA) announced that an Italian national, believed to be a professional art restorer, is suspected of consigning four forged works to the auction house over several years. Two prints were recovered—one in Germany's Rhineland region and one in Austria—while two others were seized before delivery. The operation, code-named "Minotauro bis," began in 2022 and has led to the seizure of 104 fake contemporary artworks, the dismantling of a forgery laboratory in Rome, and the freezing of bank accounts and vehicles. Forgers used complex methods including fake watermarks, scanned images, and aging paper with coffee or tea.

Here are the photos of the Austrian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (the one full of nude performers that it is forbidden to photograph)

Ecco le foto del Padiglione Austria alla Biennale di Venezia (quello pieno di performer nude che è vietato fotografare)

The Austrian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "Seaworld Venice" and curated by Nora-Swantje Almes, features provocative performances by artist and choreographer Florentina Holzinger. The installation includes four distinct nude female performances: a performer acting as a bell clapper on the hour, a female Deposition of Christ scene with three women on a rotating vertical structure, a nude woman riding a jet ski in circles, and a reenactment of Giorgione's Sleeping Venus in a urine-filled tank. The pavilion has become the most talked-about and Instagrammed at the Biennale, drawing long queues despite a ban on photography.

The Austrian Pavilion at the Biennale brings performances and installations around the Venice Lagoon

Il Padiglione Austria in Biennale porta performance e installazioni in giro per la Laguna di Venezia

Austrian artist and choreographer Florentina Holzinger (Vienna, 1986) will represent Austria at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale with a project titled "SeaWorld Venice." Curated by Nora-Swantje Almes, the interdisciplinary initiative combines a permanent installation at the Austrian Pavilion with a series of site-specific performances and actions spread across Venice and its lagoon. The project explores the body, water, and the tensions between nature and technology, drawing on mythological and classical imagery populated by aquatic creatures. It includes "Études," performative formats developed by Holzinger since 2020, which activate urban spaces through participatory and immersive experiences, engaging both spectators and citizens.

Ullger reflects on ‘quite special’ Berlin exhibition with Cane-Yo collective

Artist Karl Ullger recently participated in the group exhibition "Running with Scissors" at Anders Galerie in Berlin, organized by the global artist collective Cane-Yo. The show featured over 40 artists, including five invited Berlin artists, and displayed some 200 artworks. Ullger described the experience as "quite special," highlighting the energy of the packed opening and the direct engagement with visitors. He noted standout works by Austrian artist Theo Ritzinger, Chilean artist Diego Palacios, and Italian artist Yasmine Elgamal, as well as the opportunity to reconnect with fellow artists Alf Sims, Alex May, Shanice Farrugia, and Nicole Debono.

Ndidi Dike “Rare Earth Rare Justice” at Secession, Vienna

Ndidi Dike, a British-Nigerian sculptor and multi-disciplinary artist, presents her first major solo exhibition at an Austrian institution, titled "Rare Earth Rare Justice," at Secession in Vienna. The show features works across mixed media, painting, sculpture, collage, photography, video, and installation, addressing social, political, and economic conditions of the modern world.

Was This Anne Boleyn’s Seat? Rare 500-Year-Old Chair Linked to Tudor Queen

A rare, intricately carved wooden chair, potentially used by Anne Boleyn during her time in the French courts between 1510 and 1520, has been acquired and is now on display at Hever Castle. The chair was purchased by antiques dealer Paul Fitzsimmons from an online American auction in 2022, and its carvings—featuring dolphins, a Tudor rose, and the initials "AB" intertwined with a cordelière emblem of Queen Claude—suggest a strong link to the Tudor queen's early life.

three men convicted celtic gold coins theft germany

Three men were convicted for stealing 483 ancient Celtic gold coins from the Kelten Römer Museum in Manching, Germany, in November 2022. The coins, dating to the 3rd century BCE and valued at several million euros, were discovered in 1999 near Manching. The thieves cut off telephone and internet service to the entire town to prevent the museum from contacting authorities. A court in Ingolstadt sentenced the men to prison terms ranging from four years and nine months to 11 years for gang robbery; a fourth defendant was acquitted of the museum heist but convicted for other thefts. DNA evidence linked the group to a string of robberies across Germany and Austria since 2014, and some coins were melted down, with 70 lost.

polish venus of kolobrzeg

Experts from the Polish Conservator of Monuments have authenticated a Neolithic Venus carving discovered by a Polish farmer in 2022. The Venus of Kołobrzeg, a 6,000-year-old limestone sculpture, is one of the oldest artifacts from an agricultural community in this part of Europe. The figurine, now owned by the Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg, was unveiled after extensive analysis including microscopic residue analysis that found traces of mussel and snail shells. Unlike other prehistoric Venus figures, it lacks distinct facial features but shares the characteristic pronounced breasts and voluptuous hips.

Baby dolls, whale songs and swimming in urine: The Venice Biennale’s must-see national pavilions

The 61st Venice Biennale, themed 'In Minor Keys' by late curator Koyo Kouoh, has been marked by political protests against Russia and Israel's participation, pavilion closures, and threats to funding. Despite this tense atmosphere, several national pavilions quietly embody Kouoh's vision of nurture, intimacy, and reflection. Highlights include the Japan Pavilion's 'Grass Babies, Moon Babies' by Ei Arakawa-Nash, where visitors carry and care for baby dolls, and the Polish Pavilion's 'Liquid Tongues' by Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski, an immersive sound installation exploring Deaf culture and marginalized communication.

The Venice Biennale of Art has begun! The pavilions you should not miss this year

The Venice Biennale of Art has officially opened, showcasing national pavilions and exhibitions from around the world. The article highlights key pavilions that visitors should prioritize this year, offering a curated guide to the most notable presentations at the prestigious international art event.

Hong Kong wows the crowds to sleep at the 2026 Venice Biennale

The 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys" by its late artistic director Koyo Kouoh, has been marked by loud protests and urgent environmental alarms, notably at Florentina Holzinger's Austria pavilion. Amid this chaos, the Hong Kong collateral exhibition "Fermata" at Campo della Tana offers a quiet counterpoint, featuring Kingsley Ng Siu-king's installation *Laundry Nocturne (2026)*, a rest lounge with padded floors and cushions that has caused visitors to doze off. The exhibition follows Kouoh's curatorial vision of creating space for silenced voices and convivial collectivity.

Venice Biennale performances confront war and climate fears

At the 2026 Venice Biennale, visitors encountered provocative performances and installations addressing war, climate anxiety, and human coexistence. Highlights include a naked performer acting as a human bell clapper in Florentina Holzinger's "Seaworld Venice" at the Austrian Pavilion, lifelike baby dolls in Ei Arakawa-Nash's caregiving-focused work at the Japanese Pavilion, and drone-powered flying carpets in Moldova's pavilion that transform symbols of war into tools of peace. The Nordic Pavilion also presented surreal installations exploring coexistence and environmental fears.

These Toilets in Venice Have the Art World Aflush

At this year's Venice Biennale, the Austrian pavilion has become the most talked-about attraction, inviting visitors to actively contribute to the artwork on display by using specially designed toilets. The interactive installation encourages attendees to leave their own marks, turning a mundane act into a participatory art experience.

Jobs in Art: Opportunities from Catania Academy of Fine Arts, MADRE Naples, Camera Austria, Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Lavoro nell’arte: opportunità da Accademia Belle Arti Catania, MADRE Napoli, Camera Austria, Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Several prominent Italian and international cultural institutions have launched open calls for professional roles, residencies, and artistic competitions. Key opportunities include the search for a new director at the MADRE Museum in Naples with a three-year contract, a social media manager position at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and various residency programs for photographers and designers at the Academy of Fine Arts in Catania and Camera Austria in Graz.

Geneva art exhibition in support of nuclear abolition

Geneva is hosting a new anti-nuclear art exhibition by Italian artist and activist Enrico Muratore, known professionally as EMA, under the title "Promemoria: Sending out an SOS." The multimedia project, which began as a series of paintings and now includes a book, song, video, and live readings, is presented at ICAM (Institut des Cultures Arabes et Mediterraneennes) with support from ICAN and the organization Colorier L’Avenir. The exhibition features selected paintings from the Promemoria series and live readings of EMA's fable inspired by George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984. It was officially opened by Christoph Wieland, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Geneva, and Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN.

In Wiesbaden, Wolfgang Hollegha Understands Abstraction Physically

In Wiesbaden begreift Wolfgang Hollegha Abstraktion körperlich

The Museum Reinhard Ernst in Wiesbaden is hosting a major retrospective dedicated to the late Austrian painter Wolfgang Hollegha. The exhibition showcases Hollegha’s signature monumental canvases, characterized by a unique technique of pouring paint to create eruptive yet precise compositions that bridge the gap between physical movement, memory, and spatial abstraction.

Susanne Wenger “Àdùnní Olórìṣà” at HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark, Graz

The HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark in Graz is presenting "Àdùnní Olórìṣà," a major exhibition of Austrian-Nigerian artist Susanne Wenger. This marks a significant homecoming for Wenger's work, which has not been shown in depth in Austria for over two decades, and features her sculptures, paintings, drawings, prints, and batik textiles.

Eva Ursprung “The Art of Surfacing” at HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark, Graz

The HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark in Graz is presenting "The Art of Surfacing," a solo exhibition showcasing the diverse work of Austrian artist, musician, and curator Eva Ursprung. The exhibition follows her receipt of the Honorary Prize of the State of Styria for the Fine Arts in 2024, awarded based on a jury's recommendation.

This art exhibition wants to leave you ‘a bit happier’

Architect and artist François Valentiny, together with his wife Edith Burggraff, has opened a joint exhibition titled "L'art en partage" at the Valentiny Foundation in Remerschen, Luxembourg. Running until 10 May, the show features paintings and sculptures by the couple and is accompanied by concerts, workshops, and community events. Valentiny, known for designing landmarks like KPMG Luxembourg's headquarters and the Bijou building, studied architecture in Vienna and splits his time between Luxembourg and Austria.

From Prison to Cultural Space: New Life for the Former Austrian Jails of Busto Arsizio

Da prigione a spazio per la cultura: nuova vita per le ex carceri austriache di Busto Arsizio

The city of Busto Arsizio has officially inaugurated the transformation of its mid-19th-century Austrian prison into a vibrant cultural hub. Following a €2.35 million restoration project largely funded by the EU’s PNRR (NextGenerationEU), the historic structure on Via Borroni now serves as an extension of the "G.B. Roggia" Civic Library. The facility features three levels of study rooms, multi-purpose exhibition spaces, and a literary café, all while preserving original architectural elements like cell doors and prisoner graffiti.