EU copyright reform eases access to applied art
On January 1, 2026, new copyright changes took effect in the European Union, allowing fans to access works by artists such as Fernand Léger, Nicolas de Staël, and Barbara Hepworth without restrictions. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that originality is the sole requirement for copyright protection of applied art, clarifying that no additional national standards can be imposed. This ruling is expected to impact product-design disputes across various industries, including furniture and fashion.
Prominent curator Kathleen Goncharov dies at 73
Kathleen Goncharov, a prominent curator and artist known for her work at New York's Just Above Midtown gallery and the Boca Raton Museum of Art, died on December 31 at the age of 73. She served as the senior curator at the Boca Raton Museum from 2012 until her retirement in 2025 and held curatorial positions at several prestigious institutions, including the Nasher Museum of Art and the MIT List Visual Arts Center. Goncharov was also the commissioner of the US Pavilion at the 2003 Venice Biennale and was recognized for her support of artists and innovative exhibitions throughout her career.
Protesters Demand Fair Wages at Florence's Uffizi Museum
Over 100 demonstrators protested outside the Gallerie degli Uffizi in Florence, demanding an end to low-paid and precarious work after a change in the museum's ticketing contract left temporary staff without jobs. The protest, organized by the trade union Sudd Cobas, highlighted the adverse impact on both temporary and permanent employees following the transition from Opera Laboratori Fiorentini to CoopCulture as the service provider. Union representatives are expected to meet with Florence's deputy mayor for labor to address the concerns raised.
Catharina van Hemessen's Work Featured in Major Exhibitions
Catharina van Hemessen's Self-portrait at the Easel, the earliest known oil painting depicting an artist at work, will be featured in a female Old Master exhibition at the National Gallery in London from March 4 to May 30, 2027. The exhibition will highlight her contributions as Europe's most significant early female painter, coinciding with a broader exhibition at the Snijders&Rockox House in Antwerp from October 15, 2026, to January 31, 2027, which will showcase most of her surviving works for the first time in nearly 500 years.
