Restitution Reckonings and Museum Power Plays
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art will return three bronze sculptures to India after provenance review • Ecuador Announces First-Ever Venice Biennale Pavilion • Ai Weiwei faced vote about his Royal Academy of Arts, London membership after Gaza tweet
Today's stories:
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art will return three bronze sculptures to India after provenance review
On 10 February 2026, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) in Washington, DC, announced it will deaccession and return three...
Ecuador Announces First-Ever Venice Biennale Pavilion
Ecuador announced it will participate in the Venice Biennale with its first-ever national pavilion, featuring artist Óscar Santillán and the Tawna...
Ai Weiwei faced vote about his Royal Academy of Arts, London membership after Gaza tweet
On 10 February 2026, The Art Newspaper reported that Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei faced a vote at London’s Royal Academy of Arts over...
David A. Ross resigns from New York's School of Visual Arts over friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
David A. Ross resigned as chair of the Master of Fine Arts in art practice department at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA), effective 3...
Bill aimed at giving Israel control over all West Bank heritage sites sparks concern
A proposed Israeli bill to create a civilian authority governing antiquities and archaeological sites in the West Bank has prompted criticism from...
Investigators Find Decades-Long Mismanagement, Corruption at China’s Nanjing Museum
ARTnews reported that investigators found decades-long mismanagement and corruption at China’s Nanjing Museum. The investigation described...
Ali Eyal Wins Hammer Museum’s $100,000 Mohn Award
ARTnews reported that artist Ali Eyal won the Hammer Museum’s Mohn Award, which carries a $100,000 prize. The award is part of the Hammer Museum’s...
Philadelphia Museum of Art Chief of Staff Departs as Tumult Continues
ARTnews reported that the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s chief of staff departed amid ongoing internal turmoil at the institution. The leadership...
Pride Flag Removed From Stonewall Monument at Trump’s Directive
Hyperallergic reported that a Pride flag was removed from the Stonewall National Monument following a directive attributed to President Donald...
Bard College President Leon Botstein Scrutinized for Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
ARTnews reported that Bard College president Leon Botstein came under scrutiny following the release of emails indicating a relationship with...
—The Daily Art Download