Artnews

Tthe tomb of a high-ranking military commander dating back to the reign of King Ramses III Courtesy, Egyptian State Information Service An Egyptian archaeological team from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has unearthed the tomb of a high-ranking military commander dating back to the reign of King Ramesses III (ca. 1184 BCE–1153 BCE). The …

Archaeologists in Egypt Uncover Tomb of Ancient High-Ranking Military Commander Read More »

Kevin Young. Photo Nick Hunt/Getty Images for MVAAFF Kevin Young, the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., has been on personal leave since March 14, and will continue to be out of office indefinitely, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the news on Wednesday. The …

African American History Museum Director on Leave as Trump Targets Smithsonian Read More »

The Alte Pinakothek, a Munich institution that shows works from the Bavaria State Painting Collections. Photo Sven Hoppe/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images The Headlines AMID REPORTS OF NAZI-LOOTED ART in the holdings of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, its director, Bernhard Maaz, is stepping down, the German press agency dpa reports. An investigation is reportedly being launched into the institution, which oversees masterworks shown …

Bavarian State Painting Collections Director Departs, White House Calls Smithsonian Chief ‘Rabid Partisan,’ and More: Morning Links for April 4, 2025 Read More »

The Smithsonian Institution. Photo Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images During the 1990s, artist Consuelo Jimenez Underwood was driving along the 405 Freeway in San Diego when she spotted a yellow sign showing a man, a woman, and a little girl running in fear from an unseen threat. Above these people was a menacing word: “CAUTION.” The sign, …

Trump’s Executive Order on the Smithsonian Will Send Art History Backwards Read More »

Patti Smith performing at Elizabeth Street Garden rally, 2025. Courtesy Rolling Stone Patti Smith performed at a New York City rally Tuesday as part of an effort to prevent a downtown park from being converted into affordable housing. The Elizabeth Street Garden, located between between Spring and Prince streets, has long been a community gathering place …

Patti Smith to Perform at Rally to Save New York’s Elizabeth Street Garden Park Read More »

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Photo Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Since retaking office in January, President Donald Trump has issued a flood of executive orders taking up topics such as the importation of Chinese goods, Venezuelan immigrants, union protections, and electoral politics. But one executive order has the art world particularly worried, and that …

Trump’s Smithsonian Executive Order, Explained: What Is the Smithsonian Institution, and What Will Happen to It? Read More »

A Fayum portrait confiscated by authorities as part of a criminal investigation into antiquities trafficking. Courtesy of the District Attorney’s Office New York Serop Simonian, the alleged leader of an Egyptian antiquities trafficking ring, mysteriously left Paris for Hamburg during his jail sentence in January. The now 83-year-old dealer is believed to be behind the …

Alleged Leader of Egyptian Antiquities Trafficking Ring Returns to Germany with French Court Summons Read More »

L’Enfant Promenade in Washington, D.C., 2011. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons Work at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in Washington, D.C., came to a screeching halt yesterday afternoon after the entire staff was placed on administrative leave, effective immediately, by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Between 55 and 70 employees received a …

Institute of Museum and Library Services Staff Placed on Administrative Leave by Trump Administration Read More »

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas. Photo Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images A Texas lawmaker has proposed a bill that could be used to keep certain kinds of art off view, the Fort Worth Report reports. On March 6, representative David Lowe filed House Bill 3958, which outlines a proposed civil penalty against any …

Texas Politician Proposes Plan to Fine Museums for Displaying ‘Obscene’ Content Read More »

View of the Smithsonian American Art Museum building in Washington, D.C., 2012. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on Thursday directing the Smithsonian, a federal consortium of cultural and research institutions, to eliminate “divisive” and “anti-American” content from its exhibitions and restore “monuments, memorials, statues, markers” that have been removed …

Trump Executive Order Targets ‘Anti-American’ Content at Smithsonian Read More »