epstein gave 30000 to new york art school for scholarships got portraits in return

Newly released Department of Justice documents reveal that the New York Academy of Art (NYAA) actively courted Jeffrey Epstein for funding years after he was a known sex offender. In 2013, board chair Eileen Guggenheim invited Epstein to sponsor a scholarship program where he personally selected student recipients in exchange for commissioned portraits. One such commission resulted in a painting of the sons of billionaire Leon Black, further illustrating the interconnected web between Epstein and high-profile art world figures.

goodman gallery laura lima

Brazilian artist Laura Lima is currently the subject of two major concurrent solo exhibitions in London. At Goodman Gallery, her show "Communal Nests for Windows, Balconies, Verandas, Gardens, and Forests" features woven, nest-like sculptures made from organic materials like jute and sisal, which she encourages collectors to install outdoors to be used by wildlife. Simultaneously, the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is hosting "The Drawing Drawing," a career-spanning survey centered on a site-specific performance piece involving life models and artists on mechanized orbiting platforms.

brazilian authorities search bank ceo art assets

Brazilian authorities are targeting the art collection and luxury assets of Daniel Vorcaro, the CEO of the recently liquidated Banco Master SA, as part of a massive fraud investigation. Following the bank's collapse due to insolvency and regulatory violations, liquidators filed subpoenas in a Miami federal court to probe Vorcaro’s dealings with blue-chip galleries and auction houses. Officials believe the financier may have funneled bank funds into high-value artworks and real estate to shield his wealth.

Epstein Emails and the Art Market

epstein emails art market

A massive release of over three million documents by the U.S. Department of Justice has exposed the deep ties between the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and prominent figures in the global art world. The files reveal how Epstein utilized sophisticated financial structures to manage and enhance the value of blue-chip art collections, most notably for billionaire Leon Black. The fallout from these disclosures has already led to high-profile resignations, including Jack Lang from the Arab World Institute and David A. Ross from the School of Visual Arts, while others like collector Steve Tisch face renewed scrutiny.

Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum Doha Review

lawh wa qalam mf husain museum doha review

The Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum has opened in Doha, Qatar, dedicated to the prolific career of the late Indian modernist Maqbool Fida Husain. Commissioned by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and designed by architect Martand Khosla based on a sketch by the artist himself, the 32,300-square-foot blue-mosaiced structure houses 150 works including paintings, films, and sculptures. The museum traces Husain’s journey from the 1950s through his final years in Qatar, highlighting his cross-cultural explorations of faith, science, and history.

anne boleyn portrait sixth finger witchcraft rebuttal

Technical analysis of a 16th-century portrait of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle has revealed that the artist deliberately reworked the queen's hands to clearly display five fingers. Using infrared reflectography and tree-ring dating, researchers determined the painting dates to 1583, during the reign of her daughter, Elizabeth I. This specific composition, known as the 'Rose' portrait, is now identified as the earliest scientifically dated panel portrait of the doomed queen.

oscar wilde auction bonhams

Bonhams recently concluded a highly successful auction of the Jeremy Mason collection, featuring over 500 items related to the life and legacy of Oscar Wilde. The sale, which coincided with the 125th anniversary of the author's death, achieved a total of £1.6 million ($2.1 million). Highlighting the event were iconic 1882 cabinet card portraits by Napoleon Sarony and a poignant 1900 deathbed photograph by Gilbert Maurice, which fetched £279,800 ($376,250), far exceeding its estimates.

the met agrees to repatriate artifacts to cambodia as douglas latchford fallout continues

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has agreed to repatriate 14 artifacts to Cambodia and two to Thailand following an investigation into the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. Latchford, who was indicted in 2019 for trafficking looted Khmer Empire relics, died in 2020 before trial, but federal authorities have continued to track works sold through his network. The returned items include significant sandstone statues and bronze deities dating back as far as the 7th century.

marilyn minter wins anderson ranch international artist award

Marilyn Minter has been named the 28th recipient of the International Artist Award by the Anderson Ranch Arts Center. The artist, celebrated for her feminist works that merge painting and photography, will be honored during the center's annual Ranch Week in July. The selection highlights Minter's meticulous technical process and her long-standing commitment to art education as a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts.

youtubes first video acquired by londons va

London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has acquired a reconstructed version of YouTube's 2006 interface, including its first-ever uploaded video, 'Me at the zoo.' The interactive display, built using archived code and Adobe Flash, is now on view in the museum's 'Design 1900-Now' gallery, representing a significant effort to preserve the look and feel of early internet culture.

the subtle scandal and snark of gainsboroughs mr and mrs andrews

Thomas Gainsborough's 1750 painting 'Mr. and Mrs. Andrews' is the centerpiece of the Frick's exhibition 'Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture' in New York. The portrait of the newlywed Suffolk gentry is celebrated as Gainsborough's earliest masterpiece, notable for its eccentric composition that gives equal prominence to the couple and their vast estate, hinting at the transactional nature of their marriage.

sothebys hikes buyers fees restitution battle franz marc painting

Sotheby's has increased its buyer's premiums globally, with the new fee structure taking effect on February 13. The changes mean buyers of lower-value lots will pay higher rates, with the premium for works sold in New York for up to $2 million rising from 27% to 28%. This move follows similar adjustments by rivals Christie's and Phillips, as auction houses seek to bolster revenue during a prolonged art market downturn. Sotheby's also recently raised $900 million through art-backed loans via securitization.

van eyck ai authenticity

A Swiss artificial intelligence firm, Art Recognition, has claimed with high certainty that two versions of the painting 'Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata' (ca. 1428-32), held by the Royal Museums of Turin and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, are not by the hand of Northern Renaissance master Jan van Eyck. The company's CEO, Carina Popovici, stated the A.I. model determined the works were not authentic with 91% and 86% certainty, respectively, though the museums involved have not officially commented.

imls trump vision grant guidelines

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has issued new grant application guidelines that explicitly reference President Donald Trump's executive orders and his vision for U.S. culture. The guidelines encourage applicants to align with orders like "Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again," which mandates classical style for government buildings, and "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which seeks to control exhibition content. The cover letter also points applicants to orders on combating antisemitism and anti-Christian bias, which appears to warn against pro-Palestinian applications.

domingo zapata worlds largest mural saudi arabia

Spanish artist Domingo Zapata has been commissioned by Saudi Arabia to create the world's largest mural, a 540,000-square-foot work the size of nine football fields. The project, part of the $63 billion Diriyah cultural zone in Riyadh, will take five to six years to complete and involves a team of about 100 artists, engineers, and architects. Zapata describes it as a "Middle Eastern version of the Sistine Chapel."

carolyn bessette kennedy fashion auctioneer wardrobe sale

Signature items from Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's personal wardrobe are being sold at auction by the Fashion Auctioneer. The sale includes four key pieces gifted to her friend Rosemarie Terenzio, such as three cherished Prada coats and a Yohji Yamamoto dress, with estimates reaching up to $30,000. The auction is supplemented by dozens of vintage items from a private collector, some of which were used as wardrobe for the new FX television series 'Love Story,' which dramatizes the couple's relationship.

wifredo lam surrealism moma

The Museum of Modern Art in New York is presenting the exhibition "Wifredo Lam: When I Don't Sleep, I Dream," featuring the iconic Cuban Surrealist painter. The show includes his seminal work *The Jungle*, acquired by MoMA in 1946, and explores his complex artistic identity.

nybg mr flower fantastic orchid show

Anonymous floral artist Mr. Flower Fantastic has created this year's Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden, titled "Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle." The exhibition transforms the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with approximately 7,000 orchids arranged in installations that pay homage to New York City's urban landscape, including a subway station, a pizzeria, a newsstand, a dumpster, and a brownstone.

christina zimpel lincoln center editions

Artist Christina Zimpel has released a new limited-edition print titled CLAP (2025) through a collaboration between Artspace and Lincoln Center Editions. The work, an edition of 36 with unique hand-embellishments in gouache, features a female figure clapping against a vibrant pink field, exploring themes of gesture, sound, and individuality.

artist trevor paglen steven spielberg disclosure day

Artist Trevor Paglen has publicly noted a striking visual and conceptual overlap between his recent gallery exhibitions titled "Cardinals"—which explore UFO photography and lore—and the imagery in the trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming film *Disclosure Day*. Paglen suggests the film's use of cardinals as harbingers of alien life likely originated from his work, specifically a 2023 video installation profiling a former Air Force officer who claimed "Cardinals" was an internal code name for UFOs.

cvad unt canceled exhibition criticizing ice

The College of Visual Arts and Design Galleries at the University of North Texas abruptly canceled the solo exhibition "Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá (Not From Here, Not From There)" by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez after it had been fully installed. The show, which includes works from his "I.C.E. Scream" series critically rebranding Immigration and Customs Enforcement as "Inhumane and Cruelty Enforcement," was removed without explanation, and gallery staff ceased communication with the artist.

Eugenio Viola, Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá

eugenio viola museo de arte moderno de bogota

The Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (MAMBO) terminated the contract of its artistic director, Eugenio Viola, earlier this month. Viola claims his dismissal came after he raised concerns with the board in September 2025 about deteriorating working conditions at the museum, concerns he says were shared by other staff. The museum stated the decision resulted from a comprehensive review and that it has begun searching for a new artistic director.

flaming hot cheetos meme artist sunday nobody

An artist known as Sunday Nobody has created a new work consisting of a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos encased in resin and suspended inside a 3,000-pound concrete sarcophagus, which he has buried outside Seattle with instructions for it to be opened in 10,000 years. The 28-year-old motion graphics designer, who maintains anonymity, funds his complex, labor-intensive projects through his day job and documents their creation in viral social media videos.

antonello da messina ecce homo

The Italian Ministry of Culture has acquired a rare double-sided Renaissance painting by Antonello da Messina, 'Ecce Homo; Saint Jerome in Penitence,' for $14.9 million in a private sale with Sotheby's New York. The work was withdrawn from a planned public auction, and its final institutional home is now the subject of a heated debate among major Italian museums and the artist's hometown.

museo reina sofia israeli flags tourists incident

The Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid is seeking an investigation after security officers removed three visitors displaying Stars of David and an Israeli flag from the museum. Video of the incident, published by a conservative Spanish outlet, went viral, showing officers stating other visitors were "bothered" by the symbols. The museum has stated it is investigating the actions of its security team.

art market minute feb 16

Chinese authorities have concluded a major investigation into the Nanjing Museum, revealing decades of alleged mismanagement and corruption that led to nationally significant artworks being funneled into the private market.

agnes gund collection christies rothko twombly cornell

Three major artworks from the collection of the late philanthropist and collector Agnes Gund will be offered at Christie's marquee May sales in New York. The lots include Mark Rothko's 'No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe)' (estimated around $80 million), Cy Twombly's 1961 'Untitled' (estimated $40-60 million), and Joseph Cornell's 'Untitled (Medici Princess)' (estimated $3-5 million), all being sold on the secondary market for the first time.

trump wants national portrait gallery new portrait

Former President Donald Trump has requested a new official portrait to replace the one painted by artist Ronald Sherr, which was completed in 2022 and ready for acceptance by the National Portrait Gallery. The White House stated Trump wants a portrait that reflects the full scope of his time in office, including both his 45th and potential 47th terms, as he is currently running for president again.

year ahead fire horse

Artnet Pro's Asia Pivot newsletter consulted feng shui masters and artists versed in Chinese metaphysics to forecast trends for the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse. Predictions include high volatility in financial markets and the art sector, a potential slowdown in traditional Western markets like Europe and North America, and continued growth in emerging regions such as Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Gulf. A 'big disruption' from the Global South is anticipated in the first half of the year, followed by market growth in the latter half.

louvre ticket fraud

Two Louvre employees and several tour guides have been arrested in connection with a decade-long, large-scale ticket fraud scheme targeting Chinese tour groups. French prosecutors allege the operation involved counterfeit tickets and overbooking, costing the museum an estimated €10 million in lost revenue, with proceeds allegedly invested in real estate in France and Dubai.