miami art dealer labubus getty trust morning links 1234758057

Greece's culture minister Lina Mendoni has publicly criticized the British Museum for hosting a lavish £2,000-a-ticket Pink Ball near the Elgin Marbles, attended by celebrities including Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, and Janet Jackson. Mendoni accused the museum of showing 'provocative indifference' by using the ancient Greek sculptures as mere 'decorative elements' for entertainment, echoing similar criticism from a fashion show held in the same gallery last year. Separately, disgraced Miami art dealer Les Roberts, previously charged with selling forged Andy Warhols, has opened a shop called Labubu Headquarters in Coconut Grove selling collectible monster figurines, despite bond conditions restricting him from working in the art industry. The article also reports that Richard Diebenkorn's estate has joined Gagosian, the J. Paul Getty Trust and the World Economic Forum will host a cultural table during Art Basel Paris, and Interpol has added stolen Louvre jewelry to its database.

miami art dealer labubus getty trust morning links 1234758057

Greece's culture minister Lina Mendoni has publicly criticized the British Museum for hosting a lavish £2,000-a-ticket Pink Ball in the gallery housing the Elgin Marbles, calling it a display of 'provocative indifference' that treats the ancient sculptures as mere 'decorative elements.' The event, co-hosted by museum director Nicholas Cullinan and Isha Ambani, drew celebrities like Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, and Janet Jackson, and follows similar criticism of a fashion show held in the same space last year. Separately, disgraced Miami art dealer Les Roberts, previously charged with selling forged Andy Warhols, has opened a shop called Labubu Headquarters selling collectible figurines, despite bond conditions restricting him from art dealing. Other news includes Richard Diebenkorn's estate joining Gagosian, the Getty Trust and World Economic Forum hosting a cultural table during Art Basel Paris, Interpol adding stolen Louvre jewelry to its database, and the shortlist for the 2026 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize.

acropolis michael rakowitz athens allspice mesopotamia 1234755193

Michael Rakowitz's survey exhibition "Allspice" at the Acropolis Museum in Athens explores themes of cultural displacement, looting, and historical narrative through works like his series "The invisible enemy should not exist" (2007–), which reconstructs looted artifacts from Baghdad's National Museum of Iraq using Arabic food wrappers and newspapers. The show also features his 2004 video "Return," documenting his effort to import Iraqi dates labeled as "product of Iraq" to the US after decades of sanctions, and includes interventions with the museum's own collection, such as a Cypriot head he linked to Assyrian art.

acropolis michael rakowitz athens allspice mesopotamia 1234755193

Michael Rakowitz's survey exhibition "Allspice" opened at the Acropolis Museum in Athens in 2025, featuring works that explore Iraqi cultural heritage, displacement, and the politics of looting. The show includes his series "The invisible enemy should not exist" (2007–), which reconstructs artifacts looted from Baghdad's National Museum of Iraq after the 2003 US invasion using Arabic food wrappers and newspapers, as well as a video work documenting his effort to import Iraqi dates labeled with their true country of origin for the first time in three decades.

Collector Dimitris Daskalopoulos’s NEON to Conclude After ‘Having Fulfilled Its Mission’

NEON, the Athens-based contemporary art initiative founded by collector Dimitris Daskalopoulos, will conclude its activities later this year after 14 years. Its final project is a trilogy of exhibitions by artist Michael Rakowitz at the Acropolis Museum, with the last installment set for 2026. The organization also announced it has fulfilled its cultural and social mission.

Greece Creates New Art Crime Unit to Combat Forgery and Trafficking

Greece has enacted a comprehensive new law to combat art crime, establishing a specialized unit within the Ministry of Culture to target forgery, antiquities trafficking, and vandalism. The legislation introduces significantly harsher penalties, including fines up to €300,000 and prison sentences of up to 10 years, while expanding the scope of criminal activity to include the mere possession of forged works with intent to distribute.

George Costakis, collector and saviour of Soviet avant-garde art, celebrated with Athens exhibition

The National Gallery in Athens is hosting a major exhibition celebrating the legacy of George Costakis, the visionary collector who rescued thousands of Russian and Soviet avant-garde works from state-sponsored oblivion. Born in Moscow to Greek parents, Costakis spent decades acquiring pieces by artists like Kazimir Malevich and Liubov Popova at a time when such art was vilified by the Soviet regime. The new exhibition reinterprets these works through the lens of humanity's relationship with the environment, marking 30 years since the collection was first shown in Greece.

british museums controversy hit ball raises 3 3 m securing vital funding for its international partnerships 1234758530

The British Museum held its inaugural fundraising ball, modeled after the Met Gala, raising over £2.5 million ($3.3 million) through ticket sales and a silent auction. The event, attended by celebrities including Mick Jagger, Janet Jackson, Tracey Emin, James Norton, and Naomi Campbell, also secured a £10.3 million pledge from the Garfield Weston Foundation for the museum's Visitor Welcome Program. However, the evening was marred by controversy: a protester from Energy Embargo for Palestine gained access and demonstrated against the museum's £50 million sponsorship from BP, and Greece's culture minister Lina Mendoni criticized the museum for hosting the event near the Elgin Marbles, accusing it of disrespecting the ancient sculptures.

roman sculpture 2710619

This article explores the rediscovery of Roman sculpture during the Renaissance and its profound influence on artists like Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. It details how Roman sculptors, inspired by Greek methods after the conquest of Greece in 146 B.C.E., created highly realistic works that served both artistic and political purposes, glorifying emperors and reinforcing imperial power. The piece highlights six iconic Roman sculptures—including the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, the Colossus of Constantine, Trajan's Column, and the Augustus of Prima Porta—describing their historical context, artistic features, and enduring legacy.

vatican returns cultural objects indigenous groups canada 1234758559

The Vatican will return several dozen cultural objects, including an Inuit kayak, to Indigenous communities in Canada. The objects are housed in the Vatican Museum's Anima Mundi ethnographic collection and have been subject to scrutiny from Indigenous advocates who argue that cultural heritage stolen during colonial periods should be repatriated. The return follows Pope Francis's 2022 "penitential pilgrimage" to Canada, where Indigenous leaders requested the return of war clubs, masks, and wampum belts. The Vatican plans to use a "church-to-church" model, handing the objects to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, with the understanding that Indigenous communities will be the ultimate custodians. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks, with the objects potentially arriving in Canada by the end of 2025.

‘Arms and legs are very expressive, especially with bruises’: the absurdist photography of Yorgos Lanthimos

Director Yorgos Lanthimos has opened a photography exhibition at the Onassis Stegi in Athens, showcasing personal images taken in Greece over recent years. The show includes a central, temple-like installation housing his newer, non-film-related work, alongside earlier photographic series connected to his movies 'Poor Things' and 'Kinds of Kindness'.

Lost Parthenon Piece Unearthed From Lord Elgin’s Shipwreck

A small marble fragment from the Parthenon has been recovered from the wreck of the Mentor, a ship owned by Lord Elgin that sank in 1802 while transporting sculptures from the Acropolis to Britain. The fragment, discovered off the Greek island of Kythira by the Greek Ministry of Culture's underwater antiquities unit, is a decorative gutta likely from the temple's entablature or roof edge.

the met returns historic buddhist painting to korea 2715943

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned a late-18th century Buddhist painting, *The Tenth King of Hell* (1798), to the Sinheungsa Temple in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, South Korea. The work is believed to have been taken by U.S. troops during the Korean War. The repatriation was celebrated at a ceremony in Seoul attended by Met Director and CEO Max Hollein, Korean government officials, and religious leaders. The painting is part of a larger series of ten scrolls depicting the Ten Kings of the Underworld; three remain abroad, while six others previously at LACMA have already been returned.

Behind All Beautiful Things Lies Suffering

"Hinter allen schönen Dingen liegt ein Leiden"

The art market is undergoing a profound structural transformation as a new generation of collectors shifts focus away from traditional blue-chip masters like Cy Twombly and Mark Rothko. These 'NextGen' buyers, socialized through the internet and Instagram, prioritize identity-building over status, favoring streetwear, digital art by figures like Refik Anadol, and music memorabilia over classical painting. Meanwhile, institutional shifts are occurring globally: Greece has introduced specific legislation to criminalize the production of art forgeries, and LACMA director Michael Govan is defending the $724 million Peter Zumthor-designed expansion as a necessary 'magnet' for attracting major donations.

Residencies, Exhibitions, and Events: Here are the Programs for the New Società delle Api Foundation in Rome

Residenze, mostre ed eventi. Ecco i programmi della nuova fondazione Società delle Api che ha aperto a Roma

The Società delle Api foundation, established by collector Silvia Fiorucci in 2018, has officially inaugurated its new permanent headquarters in Rome on Via Gregoriana. The move marks a strategic shift for the organization, which previously operated across a decentralized network of locations in Monaco, France, and Greece. The 2026-2027 program focuses on artistic production as a shared process, featuring residencies and exhibitions by artists such as Pol Taburet, Chiara Camoni, and Francis Offman, alongside multidisciplinary public programs covering poetry and architecture.

manhattan district attorney returns antiquities greece 1234756833

The Manhattan District Attorney's office has returned 29 antiquities valued at $3 million to Greece, seized by its Antiquities Trafficking Unit during investigations into looting networks run by convicted traffickers Robin Symes and Eugene Alexander. Two of the items—a Bronze Foot in the Form of a Sphinx and a Bronze Applique of a Gorgon, both from the 6th century B.C.E.—were seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year after passing through traffickers, dealers, and private collectors.

manhattan district attorney returns antiquities greece 1234756833

The Manhattan District Attorney's office has returned 29 antiquities valued at $3 million to Greece, following seizures by its Antiquities Trafficking Unit. The objects were recovered from ongoing investigations into looting and trafficking networks run by convicted traffickers Robin Symes and Eugene Alexander. Two of the items—a Bronze Foot in the Form of a Sphinx and a Bronze Applique of a Gorgon, both from the 6th century B.C.E.—were seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year, having passed through traffickers and galleries before entering the museum's collection.

manhattan district attorney returns antiquities greece 1234756833

The Manhattan District Attorney's office has returned 29 antiquities valued at $3 million to Greece, seized by its Antiquities Trafficking Unit from looting and trafficking networks, including those run by convicted traffickers Robin Symes and Eugene Alexander. Two of the items—a Bronze Foot in the Form of a Sphinx and a Bronze Applique of a Gorgon, both from the 6th century B.C.E.—were seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year after passing through traffickers, galleries, and private collectors with false provenance.

british museum lending program 2732038

The British Museum has launched a new long-term lending program, transferring some 80 Greek and Egyptian antiquities to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, India, for a three-year exhibition. Director Nicholas Cullinan presented the initiative as a collaborative alternative to the contentious debate over repatriation, aiming to share artifacts with former British colonies without permanently deaccessioning them. The loans are part of a 15-year partnership between the two museums, and Cullinan has signaled plans to negotiate similar arrangements with China, Nigeria, and Ghana.

dealer michael ward charged by manhattan da 2379589

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged veteran New York antiquities dealer Michael Ward with criminal facilitation following an investigation into the illicit trade of cultural property. Ward, who operated his Upper East Side gallery for nearly forty years, was convicted in September for his role in facilitating the sale of stolen artifacts, including a 1st-century gilded bronze plaque. Court documents reveal a broader pattern of misconduct involving 40 objects stolen from Italy, Greece, and Turkey, with a total value reaching into the millions.

Andreas Angelidakis: Escape Room

The Greek Ministry of Culture has selected artist Andreas Angelidakis to represent Greece at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. Angelidakis will present an installation titled "Escape Room" at the Greek Pavilion, curated by George Bekirakis with MOMUS as National Commissioner. The project reimagines Plato's allegory of the cave as an immersive environment addressing post-truth, nationalism, and digital illusions, while also confronting the troubled history of the Pavilion itself, including its 1934 inauguration amid the rise of fascism.

Andreas Angelidakis on Representing Greece at the 61st Venice Biennale

Artist Andreas Angelidakis will represent Greece at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with a project titled 'Escape Room'. He plans to split the Greek Pavilion in two, referencing the National Schism in Greek history, and will create an immersive experience that explores the building's dual identities as a national symbol and an exhibition space, set to the soundtrack of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'Relax'.

‘A very basic human desire to want some control’: US exhibition explores the power of magic

The Toledo Museum of Art has opened an exhibition titled 'Cursed!' that explores the widespread use of magic spells and objects in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The show features amulets, inscribed gemstones, and figurines used for purposes ranging from protecting newborns and winning lawsuits to casting coercive love spells.

Greece Introduces New Law to Combat Art Forgery and Vandalism

Greece has enacted a landmark legislative framework specifically designed to combat art forgery, vandalism, and the trade of counterfeit cultural property. The new law introduces stringent criminal penalties, including prison sentences of up to ten years and fines reaching €300,000, while mandating the destruction of works confirmed as fakes. Key provisions include the creation of an independent registry of forgery experts under the culture ministry and the expansion of legal protections to include historically significant cinemas.

Students Worked on Exhibit of Gowns Worn at La Scala by Maria Callas

Six opera gowns worn by Maria Callas onstage at La Scala in Milan are on display at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., as part of the exhibition “Callas at La Scala.” The exhibition, located within the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, features costumes from roles including Anna Bolena and Ifigenia, alongside costume sketches by designers Nicola Benois and Piero Tosi and photographs of Callas. Students from the Corcoran School, guided by assistant professor Tanya Wetenhall, contributed by researching, writing labels, and installing the show, while ambassadors from Greece and Italy spoke at the opening.

Karachi celebrates global creativity

The fourth edition of the international art exhibition 'Peace & Pieces' opened in Karachi on Thursday, inaugurated by Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab as part of the 39-day World Culture Festival 2025. Held at the Ahmed Pervez Art Gallery, the exhibition features works by global artists including Kelechi Nwaneri (Nigeria), Adjaratou Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Sofia Maria Xenaki and Aglaia Perraki (Greece), alongside Pakistani artists such as Amin Gulgee, Akram Spaul, Basil Habib, Hamza Qazi, and Haider Ali Naqvi. The event was attended by Marc Piton, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy, and drew a diverse crowd of art enthusiasts.

giorgos tsagarakis dealer arrested stolen antiquities 1234778988

Greek authorities have arrested Athens-based art dealer and television personality Giorgos Tsagarakis following an investigation into a suspected criminal network involved in the theft, forgery, and illegal trade of antiquities. The arrest, executed by the Organized Crime Division, led to the seizure of hundreds of paintings, ancient ceramics, Byzantine artifacts, and a rare 1745 gold-plated Gospel manuscript. Investigators were reportedly alerted to the illicit items after Tsagarakis posted a video of the artifacts on social media.

thirty five arrested in bulgaria criminal art trafficking network 1234762594

Bulgarian authorities, with support from Europol, arrested 35 individuals and conducted 131 searches across Bulgaria, seizing over 3,000 cultural artifacts valued at more than €100 million. The operation targeted a criminal network trafficking artifacts from Thracian and Greco-Roman civilizations across Europe, with connections to illegal excavations in Bulgaria and the Balkans. The investigation, which began after a 2020 house raid that uncovered 7,000 artifacts, involved law enforcement from Albania, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the UK, and was coordinated from Sofia and Eurojust in The Hague.

Tokyo cherry blossom and Holy Week processions: pictures of the day – Thursday

The Guardian's picture editors curated a global selection of photographs for April 2, 2026. The images include scenes of cherry blossoms in Tokyo and Seoul, Holy Week processions in Costa Rica and Venezuela, a NASA rocket launch in Florida, political events in the US and the Middle East, and the aftermath of storms in Greece.

Is this art Celtic? It’s complicated.

The Harvard Art Museums have launched "Celtic Art Across the Ages," a first-of-its-kind exhibition that challenges traditional Eurocentric narratives focused on Greece and Rome. Spanning from the Iron Age to the modern Celtic Revival, the show features objects like the abstract Heidelberg sandstone head and the bronze Dea Artio sculpture to highlight a visual language defined by ornamentation and deconstruction.