Daily Art Download

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
India's Kiran Nadar Museum to take over Christie's London headquarters this summer
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/21/indias-kiran-nadar-museum-to-take-over-christies-london-this-summer
US Commission of Fine Arts approves Trump’s Washington, DC arch despite public opposition
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/21/commission-fine-arts-approves-trump-arch-washington-dc
Chanel Renews Financial Support of Centre Pompidou During Long-Term Renovation
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/chanel-announces-financial-support-centre-pompdou-renovation-1234786697/
A New Richard Avedon Documentary Lets Him Down
https://hyperallergic.com/a-new-richard-avedon-documentary-lets-him-down/
Spain Threatens to Oust Reina Sofía Director Over Missing Artworks and Finances
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/spain-reina-sofia-museum-inventory-audit-missing-artworks-1234786651/
I'm a Chicana Curator. This Is Why I Removed Cesar Chavez From My Show
https://hyperallergic.com/im-a-chicana-curator-this-is-why-i-removed-cesar-chavez-from-my-show/
Stonewall Monument Named Among Most Endangered Sites in the US
https://hyperallergic.com/stonewall-monument-named-among-most-endangered-sites-in-the-us/
Robert Lugo’s Colossal Ode to Puerto Rico Rises in Madison Square Park
https://hyperallergic.com/robert-lugos-colossal-ode-to-puerto-rico-rises-in-madison-square-park/
Citing Epstein Ties, Wexner Union Demands Leslie Wexner’s Name be Dropped from Art Center
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/citing-epstein-ties-wexner-union-demands-leslie-wexners-name-be-dropped-from-art-center-1234786645/
Trump Officials Cite a Century-Old Report As Congressional Approval for 250-Foot DC Arch, in a Move Called ‘Tortured’ and ‘Laughable’
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/trump-officials-cite-century-old-report-approval-arch-1234786642/

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
Israeli organisation threatens legal action against Canadian Museum for Human Rights over Palestine exhibition
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/20/canadian-museum-human-rights-palestine-exhibiton-legal-threat-israeli-organisation
Authorities in New York return more than 650 looted antiquities, valued at nearly $14m, to India
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/20/manhattan-district-attorney-returns-650-looted-antiquities-india
Sainsbury Centre receives one of largest ever UK museum donations
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/20/sainsbury-centre-receives-one-of-largest-ever-uk-museum-donations
Expansion plans for Rome's Galleria Borghese draw fierce response
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/20/expansion-plans-for-romes-galleria-borghese-draw-fierce-response
Hong Kong Artists Bring Quiet Reflection to Venice
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/hong-kong-museum-of-art-venice-biennale-2774715
Tilda Swinton Is Bringing a New Performance Piece to Guggenheim Bilbao
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/tilda-swinton-performance-guggenheim-bilbao-2774868
Guggenheim to Screen Artistic Portrait of Soccer Legend Zinédine Zidane
https://hyperallergic.com/guggenheim-to-screen-artistic-portrait-of-soccer-legend-zinedine-zidane/
Art Basel Qatar Taps Former Mathaf Director Wassan Al-Khudhairi to Shape 2027 Fair
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/art-basel-qatar-artistic-director-wassan-al-khudhairi-2027-1234786338/
Paris Judge Rejects Bid to Suspend the Replacement of Notre-Dame’s Windows
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/paris-judge-rejects-bid-to-halt-replacement-of-notre-dames-windows-1234786334/
CalArts President Booed During Commencement Speech
https://hyperallergic.com/calarts-president-booed-during-commencement-speech/

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
Dubai Plans a Massive New Museum for Digital Art
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/museum-of-digital-art-dubai-2774566
Seoul’s new Centre Pompidou Hanwha museum opens next month—can it live up to expectations?
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/19/seouls-new-centre-pompidou-hanwha-museum-opens-next-monthcan-it-live-up-to-expectations
M+ and Centre Pompidou announce multi-year partnership
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/19/m+-and-centre-pompidou-announce-multi-year-partnership
Canadian Museum of Human Rights Threatened With Legal Action Over Palestinian Nakba Show
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/canadian-museum-of-human-rights-facing-legal-threat-over-nakba-show-1234786157/
After Whistleblower Complaint, Palm Springs Art Museum Declines to Release Report on Allegations of Fraud and Theft, Claims They Are ‘Not Substantiated’
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/whistleblower-palm-springs-art-museum-refutes-allegations-1234786097/
Hamburg Culture Prize Renamed After Namesake’s Nazi Ties Emerge
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/hamburg-culture-prize-renamed-nazi-ties-emerge-1234786212/
In Performance Series, Artists Tackle the Nature of Images, and Reality, in the Face of AI
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/artists/ai-art-immersive-world-artists-1234786121/
Art Lender Accuses Maddox Gallery of Inflating Value of Art Used as Collateral—’Bizarre and Irrational’ Claim, Says Gallery
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/maddox-gallery-lac-art-lender-lawsuit-1234786102/
The Black American Artists Who Dazzled Post-War Paris
https://hyperallergic.com/the-black-american-artists-who-dazzled-post-war-paris/
James McNeill Whistler was more than just a combative ‘coxcomb’
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/19/james-mcneill-whistler-was-more-than-just-a-combative-coxcomb

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
Louvre Reveals Architects for $1 Billion Expansion
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/louvre-architects-2774247
59th Carnegie International tests the limits of connection and inclusion
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/18/59th-carnegie-international-explores-connection-and-division
Guatemala stakes claim to stone lintel by 'the Michelangelo of the pre-Columbian era' that was repatriated to Mexico
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/18/guatemala-maya-stone-lintel-mayuy-mexico-repatriation
Christie’s S. I. Newhouse Sale Totals $630.8 M., Bringing Cumulative Total to $1 B.
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/christies-s-i-newhouse-sale-pollock-brancusi-results-1234786039/
S.I. Newhouse’s Brâncuși Sells at Christie’s for Record-Breaking $107.6 M.
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/s-i-newhouse-constantin-brancusi-sells-christies-breaks-record-1234785976/
The art world remembers Valie Export, Austrian pioneer of feminist performance art
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/18/the-art-world-remembers-valie-export-austrian-pioneer-of-feminist-performance-art
Who’s That Nude Figure on a Washing Machine Outside the New Museum?
https://hyperallergic.com/whos-that-nude-figure-on-a-washing-machine-outside-the-new-museum/
Seattle Art Museum Workers Move to Unionize
https://hyperallergic.com/seattle-art-museum-workers-move-to-unionize/
Thousands Decry Right-Wing “Smear Campaign” Against Misan Harriman
https://hyperallergic.com/thousands-decry-right-wing-smear-campaign-against-misan-harriman/
Gabrielle Goliath Sounds a Call to Action in Venice
https://hyperallergic.com/gabrielle-goliath-sounds-a-call-to-action-in-venice/

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
In a new home, Photo London gets down to business
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/16/in-a-new-home-photo-london-gets-down-to-business
A True-to-Life Biennale
https://hyperallergic.com/a-true-to-life-biennale/

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
Robert Mnuchin's $85.7m Rothko leads Sotheby's $407.5m auction in New York
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/15/robert-mnuchins-857m-rothko-leads-sothebys-4075m-auction-in-new-york
Es Devlin Is Creating a Living Portrait of the Entire U.K.
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/es-devlin-national-portrait-gallery-2773867
A Delayed Art Dubai Opens With Fewer Galleries—but Buyers Abound
https://news.artnet.com/market/art-dubai-report-2773646
Valie Export, Avant-Garde Icon and Feminist Trailblazer, Dies at 85
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/valie-export-obituary-2773624
Borghese Gallery Faces Pushback Over New Building Plan
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/borghese-gallery-backlash-expansion-2773658
Catalonia Sues Aragón for €791,000 for Repayment Over Restitution of 56 Artworks
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/catalonia-sues-aragon-restitution-1234785790/
More Than 100 Seattle Art Museum Workers Plan to Unionize
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/more-than-100-seattle-art-museum-workers-plan-to-unionize-1234785795/
Independent Art Fair Trades Downtown for the World
https://hyperallergic.com/independent-art-fair-trades-downtown-for-the-world/
London’s Wellcome Collection to Transfer 2,000 Manuscripts to Jain Community, But They Will Stay in UK
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/wellcome-collection-jain-manuscripts-transfer-1234785772/
Frieze New York Is an Assembly-Line Salad
https://hyperallergic.com/frieze-new-york-is-an-assembly-line-salad/

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/

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
Trump’s Plan to Paint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Blue Sparks Lawsuit
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-trump-lawsuit-2773039
Authorship Dispute Erupts Over ‘Hair Dress’ at the Met’s Costume Institute
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/met-costume-institute-samms-hadari-dress-credit-2772663
Performa Is Bringing a Star-Studded Variety Show to Broadway
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/performa-variety-show-broadway-new-york-2772781
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Announces 312 New Acquisitions During 50th Anniversary Year
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/hirshhorn-314-new-acquisitions-during-50th-anniversary-year-1234785215/
Tiny Cranach Painting That Vanished During WWII Returns to Dresden
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/cranach-friedrich-portrait-dresden-return-2772879
Getty’s Black Visual Arts Archives receives additional $1.8m in funding
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/13/gettys-black-visual-arts-archives-receives-additional-19m-in-funding
Iran has not withdrawn from 2026 Venice Biennale, pavilion commissioner says
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/13/iran-has-not-withdrawn-from-2026-venice-biennale-pavilion-commissioner-says
Israel Advances Bill Granting Sweeping Civilian Authority over West Bank Archaeological Sites
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/israel-advances-bill-granting-control-west-bank-archaeology-1234785293/
French Parliament Accuses Louvre of Prioritizing ‘Prestige And Influence’ Over Security Prior to Jewel Heist
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/french-parliament-releases-report-accusing-louvre-deprioritizing-security-jewel-heist-1234785295/
What Does a Booth Cost at a New York Art Fair?
https://hyperallergic.com/what-does-a-booth-cost-at-a-new-york-art-fair/

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
For Fashion Iconoclast Iris van Herpen, ‘Nature Is the Best Artist’
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/iris-van-herpen-sculpting-the-senses-brooklyn-museum-2772234
New Museum unveils Sarah Lucas's bawdy Bowery commission
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/12/new-museum-unveils-sarah-lucas-bowery-commission-public-art
Cai Guo-Qiang joins White Cube
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/12/cai-guo-qiang-joins-white-cube
Art Collectors Bet on Known Quantities Amid Market Reset
https://news.artnet.com/market/most-lucrative-category-auction-2025-2772357
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair focuses on Afro-Brazilian art
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/12/1-54-contemporary-african-art-fair-focuses-on-afro-brazilian-art
Gozo Yoshimasu wins first Serpentine x Flag Art Foundation Prize
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/12/gozo-yoshimasu-wins-first-serpentine-x-flag-art-foundation-prize
Leading French Gallery Air de Paris Is Declaring Bankruptcy and Closing After 36 Years
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/french-gallery-air-de-paris-declaring-bankruptcy-closing-1234785172/
Across Venice, Artists Defy Censorship to Mourn and Memorialize Gaza
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/venice-biennale-artists-censorship-palestine-israel-1234784973/
Trump Administration Sued Over Wildly Over-Budget Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Changes
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/trump-administration-sued-reflecting-pool-changes-1234785175/
Venice Biennale’s Russian Pavilion and Pussy Riot Spar Over Usage of Protest Footage
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/russian-pavilion-pussy-riot-protest-footage-censorship-claim-1234785093/

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
A New Landmark Survey Aims to Bring Transparency to Museum Collecting Practices
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/penn-m2a-survey-museum-collecting-practices-2772058
More than 70 Venice Biennale artists withdraw from awards
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/11/more-than-70-venice-biennale-artists-withdraw-from-awards
Bruno Bischofberger, Swiss Art Dealer and Early Backer of Basquiat, Dies at 86
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/bruno-bischofberger-warhol-basquiat-dealer-died-2771876
Radiohead Brings Its Strange Visual Universe to Life in an Immersive Spectacle
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/radiohead-motion-picture-house-installation-brooklyn-2771574
The Founders of Open Restitution Africa (ORA) on Their New Open Data Platform
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/founders-of-open-restitution-africa-new-database-interview-1234781430/
Somali Artists Take Issue With Nation's First-Ever Venice Biennale Pavilion
https://hyperallergic.com/somali-artists-take-issue-with-nations-first-ever-venice-biennale-pavilion/
Art Installation Featuring Trump Iran War Video Game Appears on National Mall
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/trump-iran-war-video-game-national-mall-artwork-1234784963/
Did Zurbarán Believe What He Painted?
https://hyperallergic.com/did-zurbaran-believe-what-he-painted/
Putin ‘Won’ the Venice Biennale, Quips Italian Culture Minister
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/venice-biennale-italy-culture-minister-putin-russia-1234784956/
Venice Biennale Strike Makes History
https://hyperallergic.com/venice-biennale-strike-makes-history/