VISUAL

How The Big Art Auction Houses Engineered Their Roaring Comeback

“The houses leaned into spectacle — including a promotional video featuring Nicole Kidman dancing around a bronze Brancusi head — and prearranged deals … that reduced their risk. The result was a season with a few flashy records — and … a broader return to deliberate bidding, quality material and logical prices.” - The New York Times

Paris’ Pont Neuf Becomes A Stone Grotto

French artist JR has taken over Paris’s Pont Neuf—the oldest bridge over the Seine, and the city’s first built from stone, not wood. JR’s hotly awaited hometown installation La Caverne du Pont Neuf (2026) measures 120 meters long, 20 meters wide, and, in some spots, 18 meters tall. - Artnet

4,500-year-old Structure Recreated Close To Stonehenge

Reaching more than 20 feet in height, the hall was built over the course of nine months by a team of more than 100 volunteers who relied on the tools and techniques of their Neolithic ancestors. - Artnet

What Impact Does Free Admission Make On Museums?

“What we have seen, across the country, is that institutions that have eliminated admissions have generally not seen an increase in visitation in any meaningful way,” says Daniel Weiss. - The Art Newspaper

Ansel Adams Trust Slams Gallery Over AI Image

The artwork, which still appears on Danziger’s website, does not contain a title but is headlined A.I. GENERATED, From the prompt: Make a realistic color version of Ansel Adams’ iconic “Moonrise Over Hernandez”. - ARTnews

46 Museum Shows And Biennales To See This Summer

Spectacle in all its many forms is the big theme of the summer season, when big, glitzy projects will take over museums across the globe. - ARTnews

Philadelphia Museum Of Art Remakes Its Leadership Team

Daniel Weiss took over as director and CEO in December after the dismissal of former leader Sasha Suda. He has rolled back some of the decisions made during her tenure, including the brief renaming of the museum as the “Philadelphia Art Museum,” or PhAM. And now new leaders in finance and human resources. - Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)

Finnish Museum Tries Radical Support Plan For Artists

The museum has committed to supporting four artists over the next several years—P. Staff, Tarik Kiswanson, Jenna Sutela and Eglė Budvytytė—in four distinct ways: acquiring their work throughout the period; financially supporting external production; providing a part-time stipend for a year to alleviate financial pressure; and covering health insurance for a year. - The Art Newspaper

Officials Say Congressional Approval To Build Trump’s Triumphal Arch Was Granted 101 Years Ago

“The Trump administration does not plan to seek approval from Congress for President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot arch, arguing that they do not need it because lawmakers a century ago authorized a somewhat similar project that was never built.” - The Washington Post

No Transparency: Palm Springs Museum Refuses To Release Report On Investigation Into Fraud And Theft

The whistleblower complaint made numerous detailed allegations. Among them are claims that the museum improperly reclassified funds in its endowment to meet cash crunches. - ARTnews

Paris Judge Rejects Attempt To Block New Windows Commissioned For Notre-Dame

“A Paris judge has rejected a request to halt the removal of six 19th-century stained-glass windows by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc from Notre-Dame Cathedral, which are to be replaced by government-commissioned contemporary works (by artist Claire Tabouret).” - ARTnews

Dubai Says It’s Building A Big New Museum For Digital Art

“The planned Museum of Digital Art (MODA) … is part of Dubai’s monumental $27 billion transformation of its financial center into a tech hub, announced earlier this year, and will platform various art forms that rely on emerging technologies, including immersive and interactive experiences. No budget or completion date has yet been announced.” - Artnet

Pompidou And Hong Kong’s M+ Strike A Five-Year Deal To Exchange Art

The major exhibition featuring collections from both institutions will be staged first in Paris at the Centre Pompidou, after its five-year renovation, around 2029 or 2030, before being hosted at the M+ with a focus on visual culture in France and China. - South China Morning Post

Will Paint For Food?

“If my art isn’t in your budget right now, I’ll accept the following as payment…” the viral posts on Instagram and TikTok read. The caption includes a list of items or services that the artist will trade the work for, ranging from handmade clothes, jewellery and tattoos to accommodation, meals and beauty services.  - The Art Newspaper

The (Current, As Of Last Night) 16 Most Expensive Artworks Ever Sold At Auction

Yes, the maybe-it’s-really-a-Leonardo Salvator Mundi is still number one, more than $200 million ahead of the runner-up, which made the list just last year. Meanwhile, the fourth-ranking piece set its record on Monday night. Fully half the artworks on this list were auctioned since 2020. - ARTnews

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