Latest acquisitions of the Musée Jules Desbois

Dernières acquisitions du Musée Jules Desbois

The Musée Jules Desbois in Parçay-les-Pins has expanded its collection with several new acquisitions by its namesake sculptor. Jules Desbois, a contemporary and close collaborator of Auguste Rodin, is being highlighted for his distinct artistic career that moved beyond his role as Rodin's assistant. The new additions include examples of his classical training from the Beaux-Arts de Paris as well as his later ventures into decorative arts and Art Nouveau styles.

1,200-Year-Old Limestone Lintel was Inadvertently Repatriated to Mexico Instead of to Guatemala

A 1,200-year-old limestone lintel, carved by the ancient Maya artist Mayuy and depicting a ruler of Yaxchilán, was repatriated from the United States to Mexico in mid-April after an American businessman turned it over to the Mexican consulate in New York. However, Guatemala's cultural minister has begun proceedings to reclaim the artifact, arguing that it was originally removed from the Guatemalan side of the Usumacinta River, not Mexico. The lintel was first documented by American explorers Dana and Ginger Lamb in the 1950s in an area called Laxtunich, and its exact provenance has been disputed by scholars.

Art bartering: artists start viral social media trend to fight cost of living crisis

Artists worldwide are using social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to barter their artwork for goods and services instead of money, in a viral trend responding to the cost of living crisis. Participants trade paintings for items such as handmade clothes, jewelry, tattoos, accommodation, meals, and professional services like video editing or framing, with some simply inviting offers. Artists like Lin Snow, Oli Fowler, and Andrea Mongenie cite economic pressures and anti-capitalist motivations, viewing bartering as a way to build community and bypass financial systems that leave creatives struggling.

A Landmark Benjamin Franklin Collection Is Hitting the Auction Block

A landmark collection of Benjamin Franklin memorabilia assembled by sports and entertainment mogul Jay Snider is heading to Sotheby’s New York on June 24. The collection includes over 150 items—books, broadsides, letters, and manuscripts—tracing Franklin’s career from printer to scientist to diplomat. Highlights include a 1758 letter to Joseph Galloway (estimated $70,000–$100,000), a 1778 letter from George Washington introducing the Marquis de Lafayette (which sold for over $1 million in January), and a bound volume of Franklin’s electrical experiments ($75,000–$125,000). The full catalogue is valued at $3 million to $4.5 million, and 40 artifacts will be displayed at the Library Company of Philadelphia from May 5 to 7.

Ada: My Mother the Architect review – illuminating profile of brilliant builder balances work and family

Architect-turned-filmmaker Yael Melamede directs a documentary portrait of her mother, Israeli architect Ada Karmi-Melamede, who co-designed the Supreme Court of Israel building in Jerusalem in the early 1990s with her brother Ram Karmi and later created Ben Gurion Airport. The film explores Karmi-Melamede's architectural philosophy of "architecture of the ground and of the sky," her departure from her brother's brutalism, and a painful family split when she left her husband and children in New York after being denied tenure at Columbia University.

Proposed Restitution Law in France Advances in National Assembly

The French National Assembly’s Cultural Affairs Committee has approved a landmark bill aimed at streamlining the restitution of cultural property looted from Africa during the colonial era. Moving away from the previous requirement for case-by-case legislation, the new framework allows restitutions to be ordered by ministerial decree, provided they fall within the 1815–1972 timeframe. This advancement follows years of debate sparked by President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 pledge and the influential 2018 Sarr-Savoy report.

Could Colorado Create the Country's First Artist Corporation?

Colorado legislators are considering a bipartisan bill to establish the nation's first Artist Corporation (A-Corp), a specialized limited liability company exclusively for artists. This legal framework aims to simplify incorporation, protect intellectual property rights, and allow artists to secure investors without ceding ownership of their creative output.

The shot that shows the absurdity of war: Peter van Agtmael’s best photograph

Photographer Peter van Agtmael reflects on a photograph he took 20 years ago while embedded with the U.S. military in Iraq. The image, captured during his first experience of war, depicts a dejected American soldier sitting in an ordinary Iraqi living room, a scene he describes as showing the vast military machine mobilized in the Middle East.

The Tender Work of Preserving Renee Good’s Memorial

A traveling photojournalist, Ryan Vizzions, has halted his cross-country project to become the archivist and caretaker of a sprawling memorial for Renee Good, a poet and mother killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Vizzions is photographing, digitizing, and preserving hundreds of objects left at the site, storing fragile items in a secret location, and protecting the memorial from vandalism and the elements.

how sothebys institute of art is training the next generation of leaders in luxury

Sotheby's Institute of Art, the academic arm of the Sotheby's auction house, is expanding its focus on luxury business education with three M.A. programs in Luxury Business. These programs, offered in New York and London as well as online, train students in sectors such as fashion, jewelry, watches, and wines and spirits, leveraging the institute's connections to the art market and luxury brands like Chanel, Cartier, LVMH, and Tiffany & Co. Program director Natasha Degen and Dr. Federica Carlotto emphasize the blurring boundaries between art and luxury, and the need for cross-disciplinary expertise.

career coach survey artists careers paddy johnson

New York artist mentor Paddy Johnson released the inaugural New Visions Report on Wednesday, surveying 1,000 mid-career artists to assess their careers with the same data-driven approach used for other businesses. The report, produced with arts journalist Julia Halperin and Gray Market columnist Tim Schneider, reveals that 75 percent of surveyed artists earn $15,000 or less from their practice, 45 percent earned less in 2025 than in 2024, and 56 percent say debt influences their decisions. Despite these struggles, 73 percent remain optimistic about their careers. The report also found that even the most successful artists—those with gallery representation and museum shows—face debt and lack basic systems like estate plans, while 82 percent want more gallery and museum opportunities but are unsure how to achieve them.

part man part machine robocop statue detroit monument

A bronze statue of RoboCop, the cyborg protagonist from Paul Verhoeven's 1987 film, has been installed in Detroit nearly 15 years after a grassroots campaign began. The 11-foot, 3,500-pound monument was sculpted by Detroit artist Giorgio Gikas of Venus Bronze Works, funded by a 2012 Kickstarter that raised over $67,000, and finally placed at Eastern Market after years of legal hurdles and location changes.

adaa cancels 2025 edition the art show

The Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) has canceled the 2025 edition of its flagship art fair, The Art Show, which was scheduled to open with a benefit preview on October 28 at the Park Avenue Armory. In an email to members, ADAA leadership cited a “strategic pause” and said the board made the decision after careful review, with plans to reimagine the fair for long-term sustainability. Exhibitors who submitted deposits will be contacted about reimbursement options, and the fair is expected to return in 2026 with a renewed vision.

churchill marrakech heffel sale 2025

A Winston Churchill painting, *Churchill’s Marrakech* (circa 1935), sold for $1.3 million at Heffel Fine Art Auction House in Toronto, more than double its high estimate of $600,000. The work was the top lot in a 27-lot sale of deaccessioned works from the Hudson’s Bay Company corporate collection, which realized $4.9 million in total hammer price. Churchill had gifted the painting to his wife, Lady Clementine Ogilvy Spencer-Churchill, who donated it to Hudson’s Bay in 1956.

hard truths curator invisibility

The article, presented as an advice column by consultants Chen & Lampert in ARTnews, addresses two anonymous letters from art-world professionals. The first letter is from a curator at a major museum who feels underpaid, invisible, and constrained by an ethics policy that prevents freelance work, while colleagues at smaller institutions enjoy more freedom. The second letter is from a veteran graphic designer and illustrator, active since the 1960s, who laments losing commercial clients to younger, cheaper talent using AI and smartphones. The consultants respond with sharp, critical advice: they tell the curator to consider collective action with colleagues to push for institutional reform, and advise the designer to leverage their legacy and experience rather than accept obsolescence.

british architecture sexism toxic culture

A report commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), titled the RIBA Build It Together report, reveals widespread sexism and toxic workplace culture in British architecture. Based on a survey of 635 industry workers conducted by the Fawcett Society, the report found that half of female respondents experienced bullying, one-third reported sexual harassment, and 83 percent said their career was hindered by having children. Many women described feeling humiliated, objectified, and traumatized, with 38 percent not reporting harassment for fear of consequences.

david chichkan ukraine artist dead battle russia

David Chichkan, a Ukrainian artist known for his explicitly political and often censored work, has died at age 39. The Ukrainian culture ministry reported that his heart stopped after he was wounded in battle against Russian troops. Chichkan founded the Libertarian Club of Underground Dialectics in 2014 and staged provocative exhibitions, including one about the 2013–14 Maidan revolution that was vandalized by masked intruders. He enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2024 as a mortar operator, after being unable to serve earlier for health reasons, and continued to create art depicting antiauthoritarian soldiers until his death.

weill cornells future at sothebys former headquarters

Weill Cornell Medicine is proceeding with plans to develop a research facility at 1334 York Avenue, the former headquarters of Sotheby’s, despite a federal funding freeze that has disrupted hundreds of research projects. The 200,000-square-foot leased space is intended for medical research, patient care, and teaching, and the university has stated the lease is not contingent on government funding. However, S&P Global Ratings has revised the property’s valuation downward by nearly 12% since last year, citing uncertainty over Weill Cornell’s financial commitment to complete the build-out.

wetransfer changes terms licensing rights ai

WeTransfer, the cloud-based file transfer company widely used by art institutions, updated its terms of service on July 14 to include a clause granting the company a perpetual, royalty-free license to use uploaded content for training machine learning models and creating derivative works, which it could monetize without compensating users. After widespread criticism from the art community, including post-production professional Ashley Lynch, who noted conflicts with non-disclosure agreements, WeTransfer removed the controversial language and issued a statement assuring users that it does not use their content to train AI or machine learning models.

formula 1 memorabilia auction sothebys rm

RM Sotheby's is hosting an online auction titled "The Champions – Schumacher and F1 Legends" from July 24 to 30, featuring 280 lots of Formula 1 memorabilia. Highlights include a Cartier Automatic watch gifted by Enzo Ferrari to Fiat executive Gianni Agnelli in 1988, estimated at €10,000–€20,000, and over 150 lots related to Michael Schumacher, such as racing suits, helmets, and boots from his career. Other notable items include watches presented to Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher, as well as memorabilia from drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, and Fernando Alonso. A selection of 35 lots will be displayed at the Concours of Elegance in Tegernsee, Germany.

the view from jonathan crockett

Jonathan Crockett, deputy chairman of Phillips in Asia, reflects on the auction house's 10-year journey in the region, from a small Hong Kong office to a major presence in the West Kowloon Cultural District. He recounts his career path from Christie's and Sotheby's to founding his own advisory firm, then joining Phillips to launch its Asian operations, overcoming brand confusion and building a robust client network.

freedom to be trans artists quilts

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) debuted a massive art installation called the Freedom to Be Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the start of WorldPride 2025. The 9,000-square-foot piece consists of 258 six-foot-square quilts created by over 1,000 trans artists and allies from across the country, celebrating trans joy and resilience. The project aims to rally support for the trans community ahead of the Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti, which will decide whether state bans on gender-affirming care for minors violate the Equal Protection Clause, and comes amid efforts by President Donald Trump and conservative lawmakers to roll back trans rights.

art frieze la art production fund

Frieze Los Angeles has announced its 2025 public art program, titled "Body & Soul," developed in partnership with the Art Production Fund. Seven Los Angeles-based artists—including Patrick Martinez, Amanda Ross-Ho, Kelly Wall, Shana Hoehn, Polly Borland, Dan John Anderson, and Cosmas & Damian Brown—will present site-specific installations outside the fair's main venue at Santa Monica Airport. Works include a neon billboard by Martinez addressing ICE raids, a durational performance by Ross-Ho rolling a giant inflatable Earth, and a resurrected newsstand by Wall filled with disappearing glass magazines. The program also features youth art workshops and three prizes for emerging artists.

parties kyle maclachlan aesop los angeles 2

CULTURED magazine's Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson hosted a candlelit dinner at her Los Angeles home to celebrate the release of the Artists on Artists issue. The event was co-hosted by actor Kyle MacLachlan, the issue's digital cover star, and skincare brand Aēsop. Guests included artists Alex Israel, Jennifer Guidi, Callida Rawles, and Lauren Halsey; actors Jeanne Tripplehorn, Jordan Firstman, and Lisa Rinna; art dealers Sara Lee Hantman and Robert Goff; collector Sonya Yu; and other creative Angelenos. The evening featured Ruinart champagne, seasonal fare by Chris Kronner's Mayday group, and Aēsop gift kits as parting favors.

fashion anthony vaccarello saint laurent designer

Anthony Vaccarello, creative director of Saint Laurent, has opened a new Paris flagship store at 37 Avenue Montaigne, housed in the former Canadian embassy. The store reflects his vision with a mix of modern design and vintage furniture, including pieces by Jean-Michel Frank and François-Xavier Lalanne, alongside contemporary artworks by Mark Bradford, Camille Henrot, and Thomas Houseago on loan from the Pinault Collection. Vaccarello discusses the two-year transformation, his approach to retail as a context for the clothes, and his broader creative expansions into film with Saint Laurent Productions and the revival of Charlotte Perriand furniture designs.

art asher lifrin young artist

Asher Liftin, a 27-year-old New York-based artist, is profiled as part of Cultured's 2025 Young Artists list. He gained early recognition at age 12 when Wes Anderson selected his artwork for the film *Moonrise Kingdom*. Liftin now creates trompe l'oeil paintings that resemble tapestries but are actually finely rendered pointillist compositions inspired by art-historical still lifes and history paintings. He holds degrees in cognitive science and visual art, and cites graffiti artist Christian Aldunate as a key early influence.

art young photographer camille farrah lenain

Cultured magazine profiles French-Algerian photographer Camille Farrah Lenain, nominated by Bell Pitkin of Leica Gallery Boston as part of the publication's '35—New Orleans, New York' feature. Lenain's documentary and portrait work has earned her the Arnold Newman Prize, a residency at the Joan Mitchell Center, and publication in The New York Times and Rolling Stone. She is preparing to release her first monograph in spring 2026. The article includes Lenain's personal reflections on photography, trust, and connection, illustrated with her self-portrait and images titled 'A Day With Edith,' 'Cassandra and Raymond,' and 'Ramziya's Dance.'

Regional exhibition of Ohio Collage Society opening May 29 at Coburn Art Gallery

The Coburn Art Gallery at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, will host a regional exhibition featuring 70 works by members of the Ohio Collage Society from May 29 through July 24. The free opening reception takes place on May 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., showcasing two-dimensional and three-dimensional collages that explore diverse materials and techniques. Featured artists include Anita Burgess, Nancy S. Sotka, Mary Ann Sedivy, and others.

The Last Quarter of My Life Should Be Like the Beginning

"Das letzte Quartal meines Lebens soll wie der Anfang sein"

Armin Mueller-Stahl, the 95-year-old German actor and painter, opens his solo exhibition "Nacht und Tag auf der Erde" (Night and Day on Earth) at Museum Schloss Moyland. The show features a graphic cycle inspired by Jim Jarmusch's film "Night on Earth," in which Mueller-Stahl played a New York taxi driver. In an interview, he reflects on his dual careers in film and painting, his life between Hollywood, East Germany, and the present, and themes of loss and memory.

Tate St Ives to host first UK museum exhibition of groundbreaking artist

Tate St Ives will present the first UK museum exhibition of Aleksandra Kasuba, a Lithuanian American artist (1923–2019), from May 2 to October 4, 2026. The show spans seven decades of her career, featuring early paintings, mosaics, sculptures, and public artworks, including the spatial environment *Spectrum: An Afterthought* and a recreation of her *Live-In Environment*. Works are drawn from the Lithuanian National Museum of Art's collection, where Kasuba donated her pieces.