Mergers, Loot, and Museums in War Mode

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news. Still in ‘war mode’: Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art reopens with exhibitions about conflict https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/14/still-in-war-mode-tehran-museum-of-contemporary-art-reopens-with-exhibitions-about-conflict Nazi-looted painting discovered in home of Dutch SS commander's heirs https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/14/nazi-looted-painting-discovered-in-home-of-dutch-ss-commanders-heirs New York’s Neue Galerie will merge with the Metropolitan Museum https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/14/neue-galerie-metropolitan-museum-merger Gulag Museum rebrand marks latest phase in Kremlin’s assault on free speech https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/14/gulag-museum-rebrand-marks-latest-phase-in-kremlins-assault-on-free-speech Parliamentary report calls for major changes at French museums in the wake of Louvre heist https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/14/parliamentary-report-calls-for-major-changes-at-frances-museums-in-the-wake-of-louvre-heist The Met and Neue Galerie Embark on Historic Merger https://news.artnet.com/art-world/met-museum-neue-galerie-merger-2773237 London's Wellcome Collection returns 2,000 manuscripts to the Jain community https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/14/wellcome-collection-returns-2000-manuscripts-to-the-jain-community Valie Export, Groundbreaking Feminist Artist Who Questioned the Nature of Art, Dies at 85 https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/valie-export-artist-dead-1234785653/ Frick Inks Three-Year Partnership with Louis Vuitton, with Support for Exhibitions and Free Fridays https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/frick-collection-louis-vuitton-sponsorship-exhibitions-1234785574/ Required Reading https://hyperallergic.com/required-reading-784/