Art News. Vasari Codex

museum exhibitions schedule Mar 24, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 13 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

Sands China Celebrates Grand Opening at Hong Kong's Art Central

Sands China has officially debuted its Sands Gallery booth at Art Central 2026, Hong Kong's prominent international art fair. The exhibition features contemporary works by three emerging Macao artists—Lei Ieng Wai, Leong Chi Mou, and Dor Lio Hak Man—paired with historical artifacts from the Iec Long Firecracker Factory. This marks the first time a Macao integrated resort operator has participated as an Associate Partner at the fair, signaling a significant push to elevate Macao's local art scene on a global stage.

newspaper Google News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule May 1, 2026 visibility 12

US exhibition unearths the Etruscans and their enduring cultural influence

The Legion of Honor in San Francisco will present "The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy" from 2 May to 20 September, featuring nearly 200 objects including jewellery, sculptures, and vessels from the ancient Etruscan civilisation. The exhibition highlights recent archaeological discoveries, such as the Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis—the longest surviving Etruscan text—and grave objects from the Regolini-Galassi Tomb, many making their US debut. Curator Renée Dreyfus aims to correct negative portrayals of the Etruscans by Greeks and Romans and showcase their cultural achievements.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

person people schedule Apr 14, 2026 visibility 20

Joyce Awards to Relaunch After Yearlong Pause with $100,000 Unrestricted Grants for Great Lakes Artists

The Chicago-based Joyce Foundation has announced the relaunch of its Joyce Awards after a year-long hiatus, introducing a significant shift in its funding model. Starting with the 2026 cycle, the program will move from project-based grants to providing four artists annually with $100,000 in unrestricted funds, alongside a $40,000 grant for a partner nonprofit. The awards will now operate on a biennial rotation between specific Great Lakes states and allow for self-nominations for the first time.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Apr 2, 2026 visibility 19

Ancient Roman Cargo Lost for 2,000 Years Resurfaces in Swiss Lake

A team of Swiss archaeologists and the nonprofit Octopus Foundation have recovered a 2,000-year-old Roman cargo from Lake Neuchâtel. The haul consists of approximately 600 remarkably preserved artifacts, including stacks of brand-new ceramic plates, bowls, goblets, weapons, tools, chariot wheels, and a wicker basket, dating from between 50 B.C.E. and 50 C.E. The ship itself was not found.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Mar 31, 2026 visibility 19 link 1 artist

Plan to build border wall along the Rio Grande in Texas threatens prehistoric rock art, locals warn

Plans to extend the US-Mexico border wall through Val Verde County, Texas, threaten to damage or destroy hundreds of prehistoric rock art murals in the Lower Pecos region. Archaeologists and local landowners warn that construction vibrations could destabilize the rock surfaces housing these ancient paintings, some of which are over 5,700 years old and span up to 100 feet in length.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Mar 30, 2026 visibility 16 link 1 artist, 2 galleries

New £5m cultural centre in Northampton, UK to pursue model that ‘embeds artists in social and economic fabric of a place’

A new £5.2 million cultural centre called Arts Collective is opening in Northampton, UK, on May 1st. The centre, housed in a refurbished 1930s former municipal building, features a gallery, 17 artist studios, workshop spaces, and community facilities. Its opening exhibition, "House Rules," presents a retrospective of British conceptual artist Rose Finn-Kelcey.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Mar 18, 2026 visibility 12

Archaeologists Identify Lost Medieval Village in Polish Forest

Archaeologists from Poland's Relicta Foundation have located the lost medieval village of Stolzenberg in a dense forest near Sławoborze in northwestern Pomerania. The 15-acre site, identified through a combination of historical research, metal detecting, and advanced geophysical surveys, has yielded 1,500 surface anomalies and 400 artifacts, including coins and belt buckles from the 13th-14th centuries, confirming its medieval origins. Radiocarbon dating places the height of its activity in the 14th century.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Mar 18, 2026 visibility 19

Competition in the Auction Business’s Middle Market is Fierce, and Growing Fiercer

The auction industry's middle market, generally defined as lots valued below $1 million, is experiencing intense competition and shrinking profit margins. While this segment accounts for the vast majority of transactions and a significant share of auction house earnings, rising overhead and sellers demanding complex financial deals—like enhanced hammers and guarantees—are squeezing profitability. Regional and specialized auction houses are fiercely competing for business against each other and against third-party online platforms.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article culture schedule Mar 18, 2026 visibility 11

University challenges: how students changed one Ohio town – in pictures

Photographer Rich-Joseph Facun documents life in Athens, Ohio, in his project '1804,' focusing on the profound influence of Ohio University on the town. His images and interviews capture the socioeconomic and cultural dynamics, including strained housing markets, a nightlife economy driven by students, and the town's identity as a "company town" shaped by the university's calendar and employment.

newspaper The Guardian open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Mar 9, 2026 visibility 8

panama tomb riches sacrifice

Archaeologists at El Caño Archaeological Park in central Panama have uncovered a 1,000-year-old tomb belonging to a high-ranking chieftain of the Gran Coclé culture. The burial chamber, designated as Tomb 3, contains a staggering collection of gold artifacts, including pectorals, earrings, and ornaments featuring crocodile and bat motifs. Crucially, the 'Lord of Tomb 3' was found buried alongside several other individuals, suggesting a practice of ritual human sacrifice intended to accompany the leader into the afterlife.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Jan 23, 2026 visibility 11

arttactic art market outlook 2026

ArtTactic's Global Art Market Outlook report indicates that the art market is entering 2026 with renewed optimism, with over half of participants expecting growth. Auction sales rose 11% year-on-year in 2025, driven by high-value trophy works and single-owner collections. Confidence is strongest at the top (works over $1 million) and bottom (under $50,000) of the market, while the mid-market remains squeezed. Modern and Post-War art lead the rebound, with painting dominating over NFTs and AI art. Geographically, the Middle East is the most bullish region, boosted by events like Art Basel Qatar, while the US and parts of Asia show improving sentiment, and Europe lags.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 23, 2026 visibility 15

thieves steal dutch museums entire silver collection

Thieves stole the entire silver collection of the Doesburg Silver Museum in the eastern Dutch city of Doesburg in the early hours of Wednesday morning. More than 300 "irreplaceable" objects, including a treasured collection of mustard pots assembled by the museum's founder Martin de Kleijn, were taken after two men forced entry into the 13th-century Martini Church housing the museum. CCTV footage shows the duo using a crowbar to break in and shatter display cabinets. Only ceramics on temporary display were left behind. The museum is insured, but chairman Ernst Boesveld emphasized the loss is about history and cultural heritage, not just the silver price.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 22, 2026 visibility 8

worlds oldest known rock art in indonesia 67800 years old

Researchers have discovered a hand stencil in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi that dates to 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest known rock art in the world. The faded 14 × 10 cm patch of pigment, found on the southeastern peninsula of Sulawesi, was dated using Uranium-series analysis of mineral crusts that formed on top of the painting. The discovery was made by a team from Griffith University in Australia, Indonesian archaeological organizations, and the National Research and Innovation Agency, who have been documenting cave art sites in the region since 2019.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Jan 21, 2026 visibility 11

bonhams 2025 sales results market reset

Bonhams ended 2025 with $970 million in global sales, one of its strongest recent performances, driven by growth across regions and categories including fine art, luxury goods, and collector cars. The year’s top lot was a 2020 Bugatti Divo that sold for $9 million. However, the results are overshadowed by a Financial Times report of a £213 million pre-tax loss in 2024, largely due to £153 million in impairment charges tied to a change in ownership—the house was sold by private-equity firm Epiris to Pemberton Asset Management in October 2025. Bonhams Hong Kong posted a record $104 million, UK sales rose 4.5% to $285 million, and digital sales accounted for 46% of total value.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 19, 2026 visibility 8

art basel qatar uncertainty

Art Basel Qatar is set to proceed as scheduled in early February despite heightened Gulf tensions following U.S. and U.K. troop reductions near Doha. Dealers and visitors remain cautious, with some delaying travel plans, while Iran's temporary airspace closures have disrupted flights. Organizers say they are continually evaluating the security environment and remain committed to delivering a successful inaugural edition.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Jan 15, 2026 visibility 8

spain valladolid medieval church apse collapse

A section of the apse of the 12th-century Romanesque-Mudejar Church of Our Lady of the Castle (also known as the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption) in Muriel de Zapardiel, Valladolid, Spain, collapsed on Monday morning. The protected Bien de Interés Cultural was immediately closed to the public, with no injuries reported. Heritage experts attribute the collapse to long-standing structural issues such as humidity, cracks, and brickwork erosion, compounded by years of insufficient maintenance. The Archbishopric of Valladolid, which owns the church, stated that inspections last summer had not indicated imminent risk, while regional culture minister Gonzalo Santonja visited the site and called for further analysis.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jan 13, 2026 visibility 10

telfair museums lays off 15 percent of staff

Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, laid off approximately 15 percent of its staff on January 9, 2025. The layoffs were announced abruptly during an afternoon Zoom call without prior warning, according to former employees, though the museum offered severance packages. Museum representatives attributed the cuts to reduced funding and stated the decision was approved by the board’s executive committee.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Dec 31, 2025 visibility 11

archeologists uncover frescoes villa di poppea

Archeologists have uncovered frescoes in the Hall of the Mask and the Peacock at the Villa di Poppaea in Oplontis, near Naples, as part of an ongoing excavation and renovation project led by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. The newly revealed Second Style frescoes feature vibrant peacocks and masks, including a complete peahen and a stage mask from Atellan Comedy, and have clarified the hall's true dimensions and decorative richness. The team also identified the locations of garden trees using a casting technique and discovered four new rooms, bringing the villa's total to 103 rooms.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule Dec 2, 2025 visibility 13

alserkal design miami dubai launch

Alserkal, a Dubai-based cultural enterprise, and Design Miami have announced a multi-year partnership to launch a new regional platform for collectible design in Dubai. The initiative, centered on a flagship fair and year-round programming, will debut in early 2027, marking Design Miami's first expansion into the Middle East. The collaboration leverages Alserkal's 15-year history in developing Dubai's contemporary art scene and Design Miami's two decades of experience in Miami and Paris, aiming to create a network that connects these hubs and elevates Middle Eastern design globally.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Nov 10, 2025 visibility 14

protesters storm campus nigeria museum of west african art

Protesters stormed the campus of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, on Sunday, just hours before its first preview events were set to begin. Demonstrators entered through a gate after being denied access, hurling insults at foreign guests and journalists. All preview events have been canceled and the public opening postponed. The museum attributed the unrest to disputes between previous and current state administrations, while local residents claimed anger over the perceived hijacking of a local initiative, with the Oba of Benin reportedly unhappy about the project.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Oct 30, 2025 visibility 6

typhoon halong scattered huge trove yupik artifacts along southwestern alaskan coast

Typhoon Halong severely damaged an archaeological site near Quinhagak, Alaska, that had been preserved in permafrost. The storm scattered thousands of Yup’ik artifacts—including wooden masks and tools—along the southwestern Alaskan coast. Archaeologist Rick Knecht of the University of Aberdeen raised the alarm about climate change threats, and salvage efforts are underway with the Nunalleq Museum to recover and conserve the items.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Oct 10, 2025 visibility 10

the rubin names 2025 art prize research and art projects grants

The Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, which closed its New York physical space in 2024 to become a "global museum," has announced the winner of its 2025 Himalayan Art Prize: Khadhok – Tibetan Artists’ Collective, a Dharamshala-based group founded in 2023. The prize includes a $30,000 purse, the largest of its kind for Himalayan artists. Additionally, the museum named 15 recipients of its 2025 Research and Art Projects grants, distributing $200,000 total among projects ranging from $3,000 to $25,000, selected from 132 applications.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jul 30, 2025 visibility 9

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.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

gavel restitution schedule Jul 28, 2025 visibility 13

protest sparks over sijena murals

A small protest of fewer than 50 demonstrators, organized by the Catalan National Assembly and joined by former Catalan president Laura Borràs and ANC president Lluís Llach, gathered outside the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) on Monday morning as Aragonese technicians arrived to inspect a set of contested 13th-century Romanesque murals. The murals, originally from the Sijena Monastery, were ordered returned by Spain’s Supreme Court after more than a decade of litigation, concluding that the original religious order never lawfully transferred ownership after the works were removed in 1936 following a fire during the Spanish Civil War. The inspection team, led by restorer Natalia Martínez de Pisón, began with less fragile sections using photogrammetry to assess transport viability, while MNAC officials warn that moving the more delicate frescoes could cause irreversible damage and plan to formally contest the execution order on conservation grounds.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

gavel restitution schedule Jul 22, 2025 visibility 15

romanesque murals return sijena monastery court ruling

Spain's Supreme Court has ruled that 13th-century Romanesque murals removed from the Sijena Monastery during the Spanish Civil War must be returned to their original home in Aragon. The artworks have been housed at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) since 1936, after a fire gutted the monastery's chapter house. The ruling dismisses previous agreements that Catalan authorities claimed legitimized their custody, finding that the Sijena religious order never ceded ownership. The decision caps over a decade of legal battles and jurisdictional disputes between Aragon and Catalonia.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Jun 30, 2025 visibility 8

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.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 29, 2025 visibility 9

1600 year old beer shema mosaic publicly accessible israel

A 1,600-year-old mosaic known as the Be'er Shema Mosaic has been opened to the public for the first time at the Merhavim Regional Council complex in northwestern Negev, Israel. Originally unearthed in 1990 near Kibbutz Urim, the mosaic features 55 medallions depicting hunting scenes, exotic animals, mythological figures, fruit, and daily life, and was created by a master craftsman using small stones, varied colors, glass, and pottery. It was rediscovered, conserved, and relocated from its original site to the council compound as part of the "Antiquities Near Home" project co-organized by the Ministry of Heritage and the Israel Antiquities Authority.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

trending_up market schedule May 27, 2025 visibility 9

art market minute may 26

Art Basel is launching a new fair in Doha in February 2026, marking its fifth global edition and a strategic expansion into the Gulf region. The move is backed by Qatar Sports Investments and QC+, a commercial arm of Qatar Museums, reinforcing Qatar’s cultural ambitions while placing the country in direct market competition with Dubai and a rising Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Sotheby’s has sold the most valuable trove of Old Master works ever offered in a single auction, and there have been more high-profile shifts from auction houses to private dealerships.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article news schedule May 16, 2025 visibility 8

ancient buddhist artifacts found in thailand

Workers installing a drainage system beneath Wat Dhammachak Semaram, a Buddhist temple in northeastern Thailand, discovered a cache of ancient relics buried just over a meter deep. The find includes 33 bronze, silver, and gold items such as rings, earrings, and two repoussé plaques—one gold depicting a seated Buddha in the teaching gesture, and one tin showing a standing Buddha with attendants. Archaeologists from Thailand’s fine arts department conducted a second phase of excavation, uncovering the plaques and a soil deposit embedded with metal sheets behind the temple’s famous 40-foot reclining Buddha.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule May 8, 2025 visibility 14

arts directors exit the national endowment for the arts

All ten directors overseeing grants across artistic disciplines at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) have departed this week, along with other senior leaders and employees. The mass exodus follows the Trump administration's effective shuttering of the agency, including a proposed budget cancellation for fiscal year 2026 and redistribution of funding. Among those leaving are Michael Orlove, director of state, regional and local partnerships, and Ayanna Hudson, chief strategy, programs and engagement officer. Officials overseeing Native arts and Challenge America grants—the latter canceled in February—are also departing, alongside many grant-review specialists who have retired or resigned. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403 reported that over 50% of open NEA awards are being terminated.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original