He painted them, back in 1889, in a deep, vibrant purple. Here's how two conservators at the Getty figured that out — and why the irises have turned blue over the intervening 135 years. - Hyperallergic
The Museum of West African Art (Mowaa), a constellation of buildings and outdoor performance spaces spread out across a 6-hectare (15-acre) campus, will hold its inaugural exhibition in May 2025. - The Guardian
More than half a dozen nonprofit arts and cultural institutions reviewed by the Chronicle have experienced significant revenue decreases, most say attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels and some have had issues with fundraising in recent years. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
Since last year, the Prado has been bringing novelists to live in an apartment overlooking the museum. They stay for periods ranging from three to six weeks, but they are not expected to write there. All they have to do is look at the art — and draw inspiration from what they see. - The New York Times
Stephanie Stebich raised more than $100 million for the museum in her seven years there and maintained good relations with the board and senior Smithsonian officials. But former and current staffers describe her decision-making as confused and her management style as anger and recrimination. - The Washington Post (MSN)
Buyers will compete to own more than 1,600 lots that are estimated to raise at least $1.1 billion. That includes a $1 million banana. The expected total is down more than a third from last November, with 16 percent fewer works headed to the auction block. - The New York Times
"Sinatra celebrated his return to bachelorhood by turning Farralone into the official headquarters of the Rat Pack’s poker games. During these alcohol-fueled gatherings, huge fortunes changed hands in the blink of an eye.” Then there’s the guest house, where Marilyn Monroe may have hung out with JFK. - El País
That is to say, “rather than treating art as mere decoration, History Colorado incorporates it as an essential storytelling tool, particularly when addressing challenging subjects.” - Colorado Public Radio
Artists got a PowerPoint’s worth of info, and then developed their music/dance/theatre/projection combos on their own. The Met “anticipates that many exhibition-goers will encounter performances unexpectedly as they make their way through the show.” - The New York Times
It is nearly double the size of its original location, at 11 East 26th Street in New York, which opened in 2012 and closed in 2020 and pivoted to virtual programming during the pandemic. - The New York Times
Such a high-value donation of art is uncommon in the UK; the last headline-making gift received by the British Museum was a bequest from a late trustee worth £123 million, or $156 million. - ARTnews
