Vasari Art Codex

article culture schedule Apr 13, 2026 visibility 3 link 3 artists

Andrew Lloyd Webber Is Writing a Musical About the Heist that Made ‘Mona Lisa’ Famous

Renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced he is developing a new musical centered on the 1911 theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The production will dramatize the true story of Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee who stole the masterpiece and hid it for two years before it was recovered in Italy. Lloyd Webber revealed the project following the Broadway opening of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, noting that he is beginning the writing process immediately.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule Apr 13, 2026 visibility 4 link 1 artist

Stealing the show: Mona Lisa heist inspires Andrew Lloyd Webber musical

Renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced he is developing a new musical based on the 1911 theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The production will dramatize the true story of Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee who stole the masterpiece and kept it hidden for over two years before attempting to sell it to an antiques dealer in Florence. Lloyd Webber, the creative force behind global hits like Cats and Phantom of the Opera, is currently in the writing phase of the project.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article culture schedule Apr 17, 2026 link 8 artists, 1 gallery

Andrew Lloyd Webber Says He's Writing a New Musical About the Time the 'Mona Lisa' Vanished Without a Trace in 1911

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the legendary composer behind 'The Phantom of the Opera,' has announced he is developing a new musical centered on the 1911 theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s 'Mona Lisa.' The production will dramatize the true story of Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian glazier who stole the masterpiece from the Louvre, leading to a two-year international search before the painting was recovered in Italy.

newspaper Smithsonian Magazine Art open_in_new Read original

article culture schedule Apr 1, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 8 link 3 artists

51% of Men Say Mona Lisa "Should Smile More"

A new visitor experience survey at the Louvre Museum has revealed that 51% of male respondents believe Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa "should smile more." The finding highlights a specific demographic's critique of the artwork's famously enigmatic expression.

newspaper Hyperallergic open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 9, 2026 visibility 1 link 1 artist, 1 gallery

Art of the Brick: LEGO Exhibition opens in Downtown Cincinnati

The globally acclaimed exhibition "Art of the Brick" has officially opened in downtown Cincinnati, showcasing over 100 sculptures crafted by artist Nathan Sawaya. The display features millions of LEGO bricks transformed into large-scale original works, including a 20-foot T-Rex, alongside brick-built interpretations of iconic masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and The Starry Night. Visitors can also engage with a hands-on building zone designed to foster creativity.

newspaper WKEF open_in_new Read original

article local schedule Apr 10, 2026 visibility 2 link 2 artists

Metro Detroit billboards feature pop art in 'open air museum'

International Outdoor, a Farmington Hills-based advertising firm, has launched an "open-air museum" across Metro Detroit featuring the work of French pop-street artist Jisbar. The initiative utilizes over 57 billboards and digital panels across three counties, displaying vibrant mashups of art history icons like the Mona Lisa with pop culture figures such as Bart Simpson and SpongeBob SquarePants. The exhibition, which runs through mid-June 2026, aims to transform the regional landscape into a public gallery accessible to commuters.

newspaper The Detroit News open_in_new Read original