parties nyfw fashion bethann hardison

CULTURED magazine hosted a September issue launch party at FOOD, a revived 1970s art-world restaurant now run by artist Lucien Smith and the estate of Gordon Matta-Clark. The event, co-hosted by legendary model and activist Bethann Hardison and CULTURED Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson, drew a crowd of fashion and art insiders including designers, stylists, artists, and editors. Guests enjoyed family-style dishes, Lagavulin cocktails, and left with copies of the magazine's latest covers featuring Julia Fox, Anthony Edwards, Vicky Krieps, Sophie Calle, and Lucien Smith.

food mina stone artists favorite food

CULTURED's food editor Mina Stone asked over two dozen artists to name their essential foods, from comfort dishes to simple staples. Responses range from Aya Brown's rice (rooted in her Black American and Japanese heritage) to Rob Pruitt's Caesar salad, Kaws's cheese, and Armando Nin's Dominican breakfast Mangú, with many artists citing coffee, eggs, and nostalgic family meals.

art storm ascher hamptons black arts council

Storm Ascher, an artist and curator who has spent years in the Hamptons, founded the Hamptons Black Arts Council in 2020 to support public programming for Black artists and arts organizations. This summer, the council is marking milestones including the "Mami Wata" benefit exhibition at the Eastville Community Historical Society, which explores themes of water, healing, and Black women's history, and the establishment of a permanent contemporary art collection at Eastville with works by artists like Sanford Biggers and Derrick Adams.

Stonewall Monument Named Among Most Endangered Sites in the US

The Stonewall National Monument in Manhattan has been named one of the most endangered places in the US by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, marking the first time the site has appeared on the annual list. The designation comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to control LGBTQ+ history, including the National Park Service's removal of references to transgender individuals from the monument's official website and the removal of the rainbow pride flag from the site. Activists and the Gilbert Baker Foundation fought back, with the foundation filing a lawsuit that led to a settlement allowing the pride flag to be flown again, though the NPS has not restored the original website text.

A sonic tribute to the act of speech on New York City’s Roosevelt Island

Sound artist Hans Rosenström has launched a site-specific sound installation titled "Out of Silence" at Four Freedoms Park on New York City's Roosevelt Island, running until 21 June. The multi-speaker work features layered voices sung by the Estonian choir Vox Clamantis, arranged across four sections of the park as an homage to Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 Four Freedoms speech. Rosenström, a Finnish artist based in Stockholm, developed the project during an International Studio & Curatorial Program residency in New York in 2024, after being approached by Latvian curator Alina Girshovich to mark the 90th birthday of composer Arvo Pärt. The park's memorial to FDR was designed by architect Louis Kahn, who was born in Estonia and benefited from New Deal programs.

19th-century European weapons found in cenote in Mexico

Archaeologists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have discovered 153 Spanish and British muskets and rifles, along with an iron cannon, in the Síis Já cenote beneath the 16th-century former convent San Bernardino de Siena in Valladolid, Mexico. The weapons were likely discarded by the Yucatecan government during the early years of the Caste War of Yucatán (1847-1901) to prevent them from falling into Maya rebels' hands. The site also yielded Maya ceramic pieces and 18th-century Chinese porcelain, and INAH reported debris and pollution affecting the cenote.

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.

What Biennials Reveal About the Art World

Ben Davis and Jo Lawson-Tancred of Artnet News have published complementary projects analyzing global art biennials. Davis compiled data from major biennials including Istanbul, Gwangju, São Paulo, Sharjah, and Venice over the past four years, tracking which artists have been shown most frequently worldwide since the 2022 Venice Biennale. Lawson-Tancred examined the upcoming Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys" and curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, comparing the demographics of its artists to previous editions to trace shifts in the global art conversation.

U.S. Returns Hundreds of Looted Antiquities to Italy

U.S. officials formally returned 337 looted antiquities, archival materials, and artworks to Italy during a ceremony at Rome’s La Marmora barracks. The objects, spanning from the Villanovan era (900–700 B.C.E.) through the Hellenistic period (323–31 B.C.E.), include Etruscan, Greek, Italic, and Egyptian artifacts. The repatriation was coordinated by Italy’s Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. Key items include a marble head of Alexander the Great, a bronze sculpture from Herculaneum, and Egyptian basalt sculptures. Some 221 objects were recovered via the Manhattan DA, while the remaining 116 were secured with help from Christie’s.

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.

From car parks to piers: the 2026 Australian Urban Design awards celebrate utilitarian architecture

The 2026 Australian Urban Design Awards have been announced, celebrating projects that prioritize pragmatic, community-focused design over sculptural spectacle. Winners include the Campbelltown station commuter car park in Sydney, praised for its civic dignity and greenery; the St Kilda pier redevelopment in Melbourne, which balances engineering with tourism and penguin habitat protection; and Balam Balam Place in Brunswick, a cultural landscape honoring Indigenous history.

Not just dollars, euros and pounds: Tefaf speaker sets out art’s deep value for wellbeing

Professor Daisy Fancourt presented research at the Tefaf Summit in Maastricht, detailing the measurable health benefits of arts engagement. Her findings, drawn from longitudinal data and biological markers, show arts therapies can double symptom improvement for depression and regular cultural attendance can nearly halve depression risk over a decade.

IMLS Funding for Freedom Truck Mobile Museums Under Trump Administration

imls funding museums libraries trump freedom truck museum

The Trump administration has launched 'Freedom 250,' a fleet of six 'Freedom Trucks' serving as mobile museums to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. These tractor-trailers, which will tour the United States through 2026, feature historical artifacts such as George Washington’s spectacles and an Aitken Bible, alongside interactive AI-powered displays developed in partnership with Hillsdale College and PragerU.

devyani saltzman abruptly leaves her role as director of the barbican in london

Devyani Saltzman has abruptly left her position as Director of Arts and Participation at the Barbican Centre in London. Her departure, which comes just weeks after the arrival of a new CEO and shortly after she unveiled a five-year creative vision for the institution, marks another sudden leadership change at the major UK arts center.

Advocates for Incarcerated Protest Removal of Artworks from UK Courts

advocates incarcerated protest removal artworks courts uk

A report from the independent monitoring body Lay Observers revealed that government contractor Serco ordered the removal of artworks from court custody suites in England and Wales. The artworks, created by inmates at Doncaster prison, were commissioned by the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services to brighten the often bleak, underground holding areas where detainees await court appearances.

french senate passes colonial art bill

The French Senate has unanimously passed a bill to streamline the process of returning artworks and artifacts looted from former colonies during the colonial era. The legislation, which now moves to the National Assembly for final approval, specifically targets items acquired between 1815 and 1972, aiming to remove legal hurdles that have previously required a separate parliamentary vote for each object's restitution.

vanessa horabuena trump painter

Vanessa Horabuena, a Christian speed painter known for her rapid, faith-driven artworks, made headlines after a $2.75 million charity art auction with President Donald Trump on New Year's Eve at Mar-a-Lago. Horabuena, who sells original paintings for $15,000 to $40,000, creates what she calls 'worship paintings' in front of live audiences, blending art, prayer, and dance. She has also promoted conspiracy theories, including denying the moon landing and questioning the Earth's shape.

rome new metro stations mini museums

Rome has opened two new subway stations on Line C—Colosseo/Fori Imperiali and Porta Metronia—that double as mini museums, showcasing over 500,000 artifacts unearthed during two decades of excavation. The stations, located 100 feet underground, feature displays of ancient ceramics, frescoes, mosaic floors, and the remains of a Roman military compound and thermal baths, curated by the Colosseum Archaeological Park and Sapienza University. Commuters can view the artifacts without a ticket in the station atriums, and future stations on the line will incorporate additional archaeological finds.

david oyelowo ava duvernay thriller heist of benin

David Oyelowo and Ava DuVernay are reuniting for a new thriller film titled "Heist of Benin," more than a decade after their Oscar-winning collaboration on "Selma." The film is set in modern-day London and described as a thriller that intertwines art, love, and restitution. DuVernay will direct from a screenplay by Jesse Quiñones, based on an original idea. Oyelowo will star and produce under his Yoruba Saxon banner, with Studiocanal financing and distributing. The project was announced during Canal+’s ORIGINAL+ presentation in Paris.

bayeux tapestry canterbury mealtime reading

A new study by University of Bristol historian Benjamin Pohl, published in the journal *Historical Research*, proposes that the Bayeux Tapestry was originally designed as mealtime reading for monks in the refectory of St. Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury. Pohl argues that the tapestry’s moralistic episodes, inclusion of Aesop’s fables, and simple Latin text align with Benedictine rules requiring silent dining accompanied by edifying readings. The theory builds on earlier speculation that the tapestry once hung in a private school’s refectory, but Pohl provides documentary and archaeological evidence for the Canterbury location.

mark fingerhut halcyon exe the ride

Mark Fingerhut's software-based artwork "Halcyon.exe: The Ride" (2024) is gaining cult status as it tours indie venues like Public Works Administration gallery in Manhattan and Sulk Chicago, before appearing as a star attraction at "Rhizome World" at Water Street Projects in New York's Financial District. The piece takes over a computer desktop, flooding it with images, videos, and text in a choreographed, immersive experience that includes vibrating seats, wind, rain, and synced spotlights, evoking the sensation of art-as-malware.

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.

triqueti campbell sculpture export bar

The U.K. government has imposed a temporary export bar on a mid-19th century marble sculpture by Henri-Joseph-François de Triqueti, depicting sisters Florence and Alice Campbell. The work, valued at £280,000 ($367,000), sold for £117,700 at Lyon and Turnbull auction house in January 2025. The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) intervened on the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art (RCEWA), citing the sculpture's rarity, outstanding aesthetic importance, and potential for scholarly study. The export license is deferred for three months, with a possible six-month extension, to allow a U.K. institution to acquire it.

maya train old man sculpture construction mexico

Archaeologists excavating for Mexico's Maya Train project in the Yucatan peninsula have uncovered a 2,000-year-old limestone sculpture of an elderly man, dating to the Preclassic period (2500 B.C.E.–200 C.E.). The 18-inch tall carving, found at the site of Sierra Papacal near Mérida, once marked the entrance of a west-facing ceremonial structure. The sculpture's flat nose, defined lips, and deep eye sockets symbolize wisdom and respect in Maya culture. It will be transferred to a laboratory for conservation and further study.

christies jonathan burden decorative arts auction results

Christie's online sale of decorative arts from the collection of Jonathan Burden, titled 'Crafted and Collected: The Jonathan Burden Sale,' achieved over $1.07 million with fees, more than doubling the low estimate of $487,500. The sale featured 151 lots, with only five unsold, a 97% sell-through rate. The top lot was a 10-foot-long French Incarnat Turquin marble dining table that sold for $101,600, far exceeding its $30,000 high estimate. The auction employed an innovative 'in-situ' viewing at Burden's studio in Long Island City, where potential bidders could meet the dealer, hear stories, and see pieces demonstrated. Many items sold for multiples of their estimates, including a Victorian metamorphic chair that brought $27,940 against a $3,000 high estimate.

frieze acquisition finalized mari ari emanuel

Ariel Emanuel, through his newly formed company Mari, has finalized the acquisition of Frieze, which includes its magazine, seven art fairs worldwide, and two exhibition spaces. The deal also encompasses tennis events like the Miami Open and Madrid Open, along with a majority stake in the collector car auction house Barrett-Jackson. The acquisition was first announced in May and reportedly valued at $200 million, with financial backing from investors including Apollo, RedBird Capital Partners, and the Qatar Investment Authority. Mari will be led by Emanuel and Mark Shapiro, with Simon Fox remaining as CEO of Frieze.

a new study conducted the most comprehensive survey of egypts karnak temple revealing unprecedented detail

A new study published in the journal Antiquity reveals that Egypt’s Karnak Temple was originally built on a small island, or “fluvial terrace,” surrounded by river channels. The research, led by Ben Pennington of the University of Southampton, is the first comprehensive geoarchaeological survey of the site, analyzing 61 sediment cores and thousands of ceramic fragments. It dates the earliest occupation of Karnak to around 2520 BCE, with ceramics from 2305–1980 BCE, and shows that ancient Egyptians geo-engineered the landscape by dumping desert sand into channels to create new building land.

milton esterow artnews editor dead

Milton Esterow, the award-winning journalist who owned and edited ARTnews for 42 years, died on Friday at age 97. His death was confirmed by his daughter Judith Esterow, a former associate publisher of the magazine. Esterow purchased ARTnews in 1972 from Newsweek and transformed it into a news-focused powerhouse, winning a National Magazine Award and two George Polk Awards. He introduced the influential ARTnews Top 200 Collectors list in 1990 and was known for his relentless investigative journalism, particularly on Holocaust art restitution. He continued writing into his 90s, using his 1950 Royal typewriter.

vapid art world novel dimes square zoe dubno happiness love

Zoe Dubno's novel *Happiness & Love* is a satire of the art world, heavily borrowing from Thomas Bernhard's 1984 novel *Woodcutters*. The book follows an unnamed narrator who relentlessly criticizes the vapid, social-climbing denizens of the downtown New York scene, using the word "stupid" over twenty times. The narrator laments the art world's obsession with wealth and clout over meaning and beauty, but her own hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness are evident. The novel has received superficial coverage from outlets like *New York Magazine*, focusing on the author's lifestyle rather than the book's content.

fed reserve interest rate cuts art market loans

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, the first reduction since December, bringing rates to their lowest level since late 2022. Art finance experts Anita Heriot of the Fine Art Group and Joshua Greenberg of Bank of America Private Bank told ARTnews that while the cut is unlikely to create new art buyers, it could stimulate art lending and borrowing against collections, as lower rates reduce the cost of carrying debt. The move signals a potential trend of further rate declines, which may encourage collectors to reengage with the market, especially amid softening art prices.