Ukraine’s New Museum
Using museums to shape the public’s perception of the past and the present is far from a new idea. This is especially true when it comes to governments with authoritarian streaks. And we are seeing it again with Russia concerning … More…
Recent Sotheby’s Sale Draws Unwarranted Pessimism
I wasn’t originally going to write about the Modern & Contemporary evening sale held at Sotheby’s on Wednesday, March 6th. However, I felt compelled to do so after seeing an incredibly misleading headline from The Art Newspaper. According to their analysis, this … More…
“Slasher Mary”: Museum Protests Then & Now
With the dozens of climate protests at museums over the past several years, many are inclined to see activists’ vandalism of prominent artworks as a fairly modern concept. Last month, someone threw soup at a Monet while others taped photos over the protective … More…
British Mural Recreates 100-Year-Old Photo
Some see graffiti and street art as signs of community degradation. However, one place in Britain views it the opposite way. The city of Peterborough, in the east of England, is embarking on a “business improvement district campaign,” which includes … More…
Art Show At Mussolini’s House
A photography exhibition in northern Italy is drawing criticism over the location where it is being staged. Riccione, a seaside town right outside Rimini, is hosting a retrospective on Robert Capa, one of the most significant photographers of the twentieth century. … More…
Sotheby’s New York “My Friend, Fernando Botero” Sale
There might be an inverse correlation between the number of lots in a sale and the estimated average value for each painting. And Sotheby’s New York on Friday proved that hypothesis with their very short sale showcasing the Salomón and … More…
Still Missing: The New Year’s Eve Heist
This is now the third entry in my ongoing series, which I call Still Missing, where I discuss some of the most interesting unsolved art thefts. While the 1934 Just Judges theft was certainly interesting to look into, here’s something … More…
Still Missing: The Just Judges
For the next installment in the Still Missing series, on still-unsolved art thefts, we’ll be going to 1930s Belgium for a story more fitting for a noir detective movie than real life. This is the story of Jan van Eyck’s … More…
Elton John’s Auction – Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
Elton John sold his opulent Atlanta home for $7.225 million in 2023. Following that, Christie’s hosted an auction titled “The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road” from February 9 to 28, 2024, featuring treasures from his residence. More … More…
Cézanne Mural Found On Parents’ Walls
A lot of kids draw on the walls of their house. Most of the time, their parents scrub away the crayon and think it’s over. But if your child turns out to be Paul Cézanne, it may be good to … More…
Still Missing: The Skylight Caper
All I wanted to do was a single post about unsolved art thefts. However, I have a habit of going down rabbit holes, so now it has morphed into a five-part series that I’m calling Still Missing. It’s about some of … More…
Trompe L’Oeil: Optical Illusions In Art
In certain genres or styles, some painters wish to express their talents through deception. Almost as if to say, “I’m so good I made you look twice.” Most often, this takes the form of painting something so realistic that the … More…
Assange Or Art?
Julian Assange has been one of the most controversial figures of the twenty-first century. As the founder of WikiLeaks, he received praise for his journalism concerning American military involvement in the Middle East. However, he later came under fire for his … More…
More Art At The Airport
Last year, the Italian government, in an attempt to promote the country’s art and culture to incoming tourists, set up a display case in the middle of Terminal 1 at Fiumicino Airport, just outside of Rome. There, travelers could view a … More…
Italy Gifts Replica Of Destroyed Statue To Iraq
Iraq recently received a gift from Italy, replacing an ancient artifact destroyed in 2015. Restoration expert Nicola Salvioli led a team to re-create a ninth-century BCE Assyrian statue from the ancient city of Nimrud in Iraq. Dubbed The Bull of … More…
Christie’s London Art Of The Surreal Sale
On Thursday, March 7, Christie’s hosted their annual Art of the Surreal sale. These sales are often relatively short and tend to do rather well. And this year was no exception. The expected star of the sale was the 1958 … More…