Gareth Harris

Gareth Harris is the Chief Contributing Editor of The Art Newspaper

Jeff Koons sculptures complete long-awaited journey to moon

The project, first announced in 2022, has seen 125 miniature works inscribed with the names of famous cultural figures blasted into space

UK Science Museum Group announces move into Saudi Arabia

Organisation announces plans for a “museums hub” in Riyadh

‘Anti-monumental’ works shortlisted for next Fourth Plinth commission in London's Trafalgar Square

Proposals by Veronica Ryan and Thomas J. Price include a sweet potato and woman’s head

Over the Koons: US artist’s plan to send 125 sculptures to the moon set to finally take off

Works inspired by Leonardo and Cleopatra will blast into orbit on Elon Musk’s rocket as part of a project first announced two years ago

Westminster Abbey decides ‘in principle’ to return Ethiopian tabot

Discussions are ongoing between the Dean at Westminster and the Ethiopian Church over the possible restitution of the sacred object

Tania Bruguera’s reading at Hamburger Bahnhof shut down after heated pro-Palestine protests

A statement from the museum says the incident involved activists using “hate speech” towards one of the readers and a museum director

New York governor seeks removal of problematic images of Native Americans

Kathy Hochul has proposed removing certain imagery from the state capitol in Albany

Art UKnews

Preserving Banksy: public art database to document the UK’s murals

The project, backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will also capture many of Northern Ireland's politically charged street art works

Booksfeature

Missing Mona Lisa: the story behind the 1911 theft of Leonardo’s masterpiece

The author of a new book tells us why it was stolen and how Picasso got embroiled in the scandal

Ai Weiwei criticises ‘fragile’ state of Western democracy following Sky News interview

The dissident artist argues that restrictions manifest more subtly in Europe and the US

Painting made by The Beatles in a Tokyo hotel sells for $1.7m at auction

The Fab Four all painted a corner each of the psychedelic composition

Londonnews

Man dies after fall from Tate Modern

Police are not treating the event as suspicious

‘Effeminate’ image of Jesus sparks culture war in Spain

Image of semi-naked Christ by Salustiano García prompts petition while LGBTQ groups defend the work

British Museum interim director backs Parthenon Marbles loan plan with Greece

Mark Jones also says BP deal is the ‘right one’ and announces recovered items show

'A call to action': 2024 Venice Biennale to feature more than 300 artists with focus on Indigenous and queer figures

Historic works from 20th-century artists from Latin America, Africa, the Arab world, and Asia will also be included

When Sister Rosetta met Marsha P. Johnson: public art piece in London reimagines Leonardo’s Last Supper

Tavares Strachan’s monument is included in major colonialism survey at the Royal Academy

New campaign group to monitor Istanbul Biennial developments following curator row

Turkish artists and curators have organised two forums and raised concerns about participants who pulled out

Artist Taloi Havini wins £40,000 Artes Mundi prize

Her work explores impact of colonialism and mining on island of Bougainville

British Museum’s planned Cyrus Cylinder loan to Jerusalem sparks protests from Iran

The London institution says ancient clay drum is in the US but future venues are unconfirmed

Why the artist Tacita Dean is rooting for Oppenheimer at the Oscars

Advocate for photochemical film says director Christopher Nolan is saving cinema

Iwona Blazwick stands down as Istanbul Biennial curator—event postponed until 2025

A row erupted last summer over transparency issues concerning her appointment

Iraqi artist Mohammed Sami, witness to war, to take over Blenheim Palace

Goldsmiths graduate will draw inspiration from the 18th-century UK stately home

'Shameful waste of money'? New King Charles portrait causes controversy

Official photograph by Hugo Burnand depicts monarch in full military regalia and will be offered to every UK public body in £8m scheme

Detained Cuban artist and activist releases latest statement from prison

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was imprisoned on charges of contempt and insult to national symbols when widespread protests swept the nation in 2021

Plazas and pottery: oldest Amazonian cities uncovered in major archaeological discovery in Ecuador

Lidar light detection technology helped scientists to see beneath the foliage and discover the 2500-year-old settlement