Latest
Zurich's Museum Rietberg transfers 11 Benin Bronzes to Nigerian government
Nine of the objects will stay in Switzerland despite the change of ownership
Gullah artist Sam Doyle’s narrative portraits shine at Outsider Art Fair in New York
His works, painted on found wood and discarded tin, illuminate culture on the remote Saint Helena Island
London National Gallery’s visitor numbers remain below pre-Covid levels, despite renovation boost
Meanwhile, London’s Natural History Museum overtakes British Museum as most-visited attraction in the UK
Russia’s pavilion at Venice Biennale will be closed if it features propaganda, city’s mayor says
Luigi Brugnaro makes clear however that he feels the event should be a place for “diplomacy and openness”
Police investigating DJ’s comments at Sydney Biennale opening following antisemitism allegations
New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) had filed a letter of complaint about a speech by Zubeyda Muzeyyen
Art market
Art Dubai 2026 to be postponed and adapted in response to regional conflict
The fair’s 20th edition will be rescheduled to mid-May and have a “more focused and flexible format”, as Iranian strikes in the UAE show no signs of abating
Global art sales grew 4% in 2025 but remain below pre-pandemic levels, Art Basel and UBS report finds
Political volatility and mounting operational costs weigh heavily on the trade, which ticked up to an estimated $59.6bn in 2025 after two years of decline
Major collection of Indian paintings and calligraphy to be offered at Christie's
Following the success of the Aga Khan sale in October, works from the collection of Seattle-based Mary and Cheney Cowles will be sold in London in April
The rise and fall of ‘buy-one, give-one’ art sales
A once-popular mechanism that allowed collectors to secure an in-demand work if they gifted a second to an institution, market shifts have made "bogos" less viable
The rise of the destination art fair
As collectors tire of mega-fairs and splurge on experiential travel, a new wave of boutique events seeks to draw buyers and sellers to places like Aspen, Joshua Tree, St Moritz and Mallorca
New Museum extension opens, NextGen collectors, a Wardian Case in Oxford – podcast
Museums & Heritage
New Chilean president reverses predecessor’s policies, cutting culture budget
The 3% cut to all ministries' budgets, which has raised concerns within the National Union of Artists, is part of José Antonio Kast’s plan to bring down public spending
Mexico’s culture ministry urges eBay to halt sales of pre-Hispanic artefacts
The Florida-based seller claims the listed objects were purchased legally, adding: “I suggest you research the laws”
British Museum did not remove Palestine from labels due to pressure campaign, museum sources say—as backlash continues
Some scholars however have questioned the wording used in the new labels in the Ancient Levant and Egyptian galleries
The new New Museum: now with twice the space
The New York institution opens its $82m expansion with a huge exhibition of works by more than 200 artists, from Salvador Dalí to Precious Okoyomon
Endemic leaking problems at Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater finally come to an end
A $7m conservation project has focused on mitigating the engineering issues of the architect's masterpiece as well as preparing the building for a changing climate
Exhibitions
Dalí painting that inspired Schiaparelli dress to be shown in UK for first time
“Necrophiliac Spring” was owned by the Italian fashion designer and led her to create the Tears Dress, one of her most famous creations
Exhibition explores how the US shaped Joan Miró—and he it
Works by the Catalan master will be shown alongside works by American contemporaries at Washington, DC’s Phillips Collection
EU threatens to pull funding from Venice Biennale over return of Russian pavilion
The move comes after Russia's participation sparked outcry from European governments and arts professionals
Tate announces major David Hockney, Edvard Munch and Sonia Boyce exhibitions for 2027
The programme, announced as Tate’s director Maria Balshaw departs, will also feature shows for the Algerian modernist painter Baya and the British artist Thomas Gainsborough, alongside a group exhibition exploring Asian works in ink
Dingo-related work at Sydney Biennale takes on new resonance following backpacker death
Cannupa Hanska Luger was unaware of the news of a young tourist dying on an island off Australia’s eastern coast while he was making “Volume III White Bay Power Station”
The Week in Art
A podcast bringing you the latest news from the art world, every week
New Museum extension opens, NextGen collectors, a Wardian Case in Oxford – podcast
In this week's episode of The Week in Art, Ben Luke discusses the newly-enlarged New Museum, talks to Georgina Adam about her new book on the latest generation of art collectors, and hears from the curator of a new exhibition on botany at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford
Art communities and heritage in Iran, moderate recovery in the art market, Sydney Biennale—podcast
Venice Biennale details revealed, Beatriz González and Tracey Emin in London—podcast
London National Gallery’s deficit bombshell, Simon Schama on birds and art, Vilhelm Hammershøi—podcast
The US struggles with history, Stephen Friedman Gallery closes, Tudor Heart pendant acquired by the British Museum—podcast
Art Basel Qatar, Dürer portrait debate, Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch—podcast
Hong Kong International Cultural Summit
The event returns to WestK from 22-23 March
Opinion
Comment | Climate change is forcing tough choices—how much heritage can we save before it is too late?
As increasingly extreme weather threatens cultural sites, archaeologists are turning to technology to try and record them before they are lost forever
Comment | Art is more than its original context
The place where we observe a work of art—and the feelings we have—play a crucial role in our experience
Comment | Time for a rethink: women artists were never meant to merely be canon fodder
Exhibitions pairing Munch with Paula Modersohn-Becker and Maria Lassnig provide opportunities to subvert the established order
How do we stem the decline in students studying art history in the UK?
We need to reframe the subject as one worth knowing about, rather than focusing on its use
Art collective Cooking Sections’ food projects are helping save the planet
Art duo are delivering actionable ecological change through sustainable food production and consumption schemes
Obituaries
Obituary | Umberto Allemandi, visionary publisher who founded 'Il Giornale dell’Arte', has died aged 88
The editor built an international network of publications—including 'The Art Newspaper'—that transformed cultural journalism
Pedro Friedeberg, key figure in Mexican art renowned for hand-shaped chair, has died at age 90
Beyond his famous chair design, Friedeberg created a singular world of ornament, architecture, and irony
Liliana Angulo Cortés, director of Bogotá’s Museo Nacional de Colombia, has died, aged 51
Angulo’s work was devoted to decolonising the museum, anti-racism and reparation with a special focus on diversifying narratives to include more Black and Indigenous voices
Renowned gallerist Marian Goodman has died, aged 97
The dealer was known for her support of conceptually challenging artistic practices, and credited with bringing key European figures like Gerhard Richter and Marcel Broodthaers to the US
Remembering Gathie Falk, Canadian artist whose singular practice sparked comparisons to Surrealism and Pop art
Shaped by the austerity of her Mennonite upbringing and the bustling Vancouver art scene of the 1960s and 70s, she developed a playful, poignant and exacting visual language
Books
Clash of the Renaissance titans: an intriguing double biography of Titian and Michelangelo
The book about the two Old Masters, who probably only met twice, considers what they had in common and how they differed
New book digs into the little-known gallery that brought Modern art to America
The publication's author on how it has taken decades of research to tell the story of the New York gallery, which exhibited artists such Picasso and Mondrian
An expert's guide to John Constable: five must-read books on the British painter
The best publications to learn all about Constable, from a journey through the landscapes that inspired him to a children's activity book—selected by the curator Emma Roodhouse
A short guide to the hidden meanings in great paintings
An A to C extract from the glossary of Painted Mysteries, which deciphers common motifs and symbols in famous works
March Book Bag: from a Modigliani catalogue raisonné to a career guide for artists
Our round-up of the latest art publications
A brush with... podcast
A podcast that asks artists the questions you've always wanted to
A brush with… Danh Vo—podcast
Danh Vo talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work
A Brush With... Veronica Ryan—podcast
A brush with… Catherine Opie—podcast
A brush with… Louis Fratino—podcast
A brush with… Olafur Eliasson
A brush with… Luc Tuymans—podcast
The Year Ahead
Our pick of the shows to see in the world's great art cities in 2026
The exhibitions to visit in London, New York, Tokyo, Paris and Madrid
Fair behemoths bet on Gulf plus new, bigger venues for Independent—a quick look at art fairs in 2026
Art Basel and Frieze are expanding in the Middle East while Art Cologne is reinstating its Mallorca edition
Venice, Sydney, Gwangju: the most interesting biennials to visit in 2026
Plus, full listings of the biennials, triennials and festivals taking place throughout the year
Art market 2026 predictions: underwhelming rebound and another Frieze fair
Our columnist gazes into her crystal ball to spot the major trends—from London regaining its lustre to AI fatigue—that are set to dominate the trade over the coming 12 months
Adventures with Van Gogh
Adventures with Van Gogh is a weekly blog by Martin Bailey, our long-standing correspondent and expert on the artist. Published every Friday, his stories range from newsy items about this most intriguing artist to scholarly pieces based on his own meticulous investigations and discoveries.
Epstein files reveal Leon Black as a key collector of Van Gogh works
The New York collector Black is revealed to have bought five of the artist’s pieces
Diary
Damien Hirst offers his hot take on art dealers
Speaking on a podcast, the artist likened art galleries to estate agents
Innocent mistake? Italy's prime minister appears as a cherub in Rome church
A double of Georgia Meloni was spotted in the chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina
Can you feel the love tonight? Elton John's cosy family portrait captured by Catherine Opie
Picture featuring his sons, husband David and their dogs goes on show at the National Portrait Gallery in London
‘Haters will say this urn is mid’: US National Gallery of Art curator is Insta hit with Gen Z
Deputy head of sculpture's slang-heavy posts appeal to a new generation of art lovers
See you, Searle: Guardian chief art critic bows out after 30 years
Adrian Searle has described writing for the paper as “an exhilarating ride”















































