Controversies
Dutch exhibition on Black culture and ancient Egypt faces social media backlash
The National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden has reportedly been criticised for “portraying Tutankhamun as Black”
'Public sculptures are tricky to get right: would making them temporary help?'
Public art is often lauded for bringing art out of hallowed gallery spaces and inviting everyone to see and opine on it. But it’s also fiendishly difficult to do well
Report into Documenta 15 backs claims of antisemitism
The 2022 edition of the German exhibition became mired in controversy after criticism that some works included antisemitic images
London artists face eviction from studios of ten years
Landlords have given the community of 25 artists and small businesses one week to leave
Controversial UK politician slams Tate for hosting children's drag queen storytime session
Conservative Party peer Emma Nicholson has lambasted the London museum for "propaganda" in open letter
Prophet Muhammad image controversy rages on as US university staff demand president's resignation
After a professor was dismissed for showing the depictions, faculty have voted that Fayneese Miller should step down over mishandling the issue
Professor who was controversially fired for 'Islamophobia' after showing depictions of Prophet Muhammad is named
US university's decision to dismiss employee for displaying the 14th- and 16th-century works has been described as an "egregious violation" of academic freedom
What can we learn from the Wellcome Collection's gallery closure backlash? What museums are really capable of
Professor Ken Arnold, co-curator of the Medicine Man display that was considered "racist, sexist and ableist", on the recent controversy
Miami’s controversial dog and cat sculpture park is unleashed
The new garden, containing 52 sculptures of pets by 50 local artists, has been criticised by many in the city’s arts community
Fake video claims German auction house will raise funds for Ukraine by selling—and then destroying—Russian art
Bolland & Marotz in Bremen issued a statement this week saying it was "outraged" by the incident
Artists take to Instagram to criticise Gilbert & George’s claims that museums are now ‘woke’ and only focus on Black and women artists
Candice Breitz, Chika Okeke-Agulu, Ghada Amer and Athi-Patra Ruga all spoke out against the duo on social media
'Germany has cancelled us': As embattled Documenta 15 closes, its curators ruangrupa reflect on the exhibition—and what they would have done differently
This edition of the Kassel quinquennial was engulfed by a row over antisemitism and racism that has drawn comment from Germany's senior politicians
Art and activist body a/political to open London space with exhibition by Russian artist facing trial over sex video
Pyotr Pavlensky has been ordered to stand trial in France over leaked sex videos that brought down a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron
Former trustees of Florida museum claim they were kept unaware of FBI’s interest in allegedly fake Basquiats
Trustees who say they were summarily dismissed over email as retaliation claim that the board chair concealed information about an FBI subpoena months before the Basquiat exhibition opened
Victoria and Albert Museum announces three new trustees including right-wing commentator Zewditu Gebreyohanes
‘Anti-woke’ activist appointed along with Rosalind Blakesley and Rusty Elvidge
Artist and poet Ashraf Fayadh is freed after more than eight years in Saudi prisons
A religious court sentenced him to death for blasphemy in 2015. Saudi artist Ahmed Mater says times have changed and this would be unlikely to happen today
Russian guard who doodled eyes on $1m painting sentenced as scrutiny of museum intensifies
Aleksandr Vasiliev had used a ballpoint pen to draw eyes on the stylised figures in a painting by avant-garde artist Anna Leporskaya
Orlando Museum of Art leaders resign amid scandal over allegedly fake Basquiats
The museum's board chair and its recently appointed interim director have both resigned as the fallout from an FBI raid in June continues
Iraqi artists remove their works from Berlin Biennale over Abu Ghraib photography row
Sajjad Abbas, Raed Mutar and Layth Kareem say curators "prioritise the display of wrongly imprisoned Iraqis"
Dead pigs, guts and crucifixion: an intense encounter with Nitsch's epic performance about creation
This version of the late artist's 6-Day Play is a "toned down" iteration of the 1998 original—but it felt primal, real and morbidly beautiful
‘Three-metre phallus’: Antony Gormley sculpture with ‘ambiguous anatomy’ falls foul of university students
Imperial College Union has released a motion to prevent the work's installation saying it could be considered "exclusionary"
Twitter storm erupts over Ukrainian president's Vogue photoshoot with Annie Leibovitz
Some say the images, alongside First Lady Olena Zelenska, are in poor taste as the battle with Russia continues while others argue it will promote Ukraine's cause
Documenta's director steps down over antisemitism scandal
Sabine Schormann's decision to resign as head of the Kassel exhibition was supported by a number of leading German politicians
Basquiat expert denies she authenticated disputed paintings the FBI seized from Florida museum
Jordana Moore Saggese, a professor at the University of Maryland, wrote in a statement that her evaluation of the discredited works mischaracterised by the Orlando Museum of Art exhibition organisers
Hito Steyerl withdraws from Documenta 15 amid antisemitism scandal
The influential German artist cited the handling of antisemitism charges and staff working conditions among the reasons for her decision
Documenta will now come under greater government control in light of fresh antisemitism accusations, Germany's culture minister says
Jewish groups call for the exhibition director's dismissal following removal of controversial banner work by Indonesian collective Taring Padi
There is a ‘deal to be done’ with Greece over Parthenon Marbles, says British Museum chairman George Osborne
The comments from the former chancellor signals dramatic shift in museum’s policy and attitude ahead of planned protests this weekend
Partygate: debaucherous celebrations captured by artists through the ages
As Sue Gray report detailing the British government's breach of lockdown rules is published, we look at similar scenes in art history
The enigma of Philip Guston: two books unpack artist's fascination with dualities
Coinciding with opening of controversially postponed Guston show, these publications are vital to grasping the artist's contribution to post-war American art
Magnum photographer defends images of teenage gang rape victim after humanitarian organisation removes them from website
After controversy on social media surrounding Newsha Tavakolian’s photographs of East Congo, Médecins Sans Frontières announces internal review