Over 70 Artists Withdraw from Venice Biennale Awards
More than 70 artists, including Walid Raad and Alfredo Jaar, have withdrawn from consideration for the Golden Lion awards at this year's Venice Biennale in protest against the resignation of the jury selected by Koyo Kouoh. The jury stepped down amid a dispute over the participation of Israel and Russia, leading to the introduction of a new Visitor Lion award system decided by public vote. The Biennale, which opened on May 9, continues to face protests and controversies, including a labor strike that closed several national pavilions.
Hitler's Apartment Photo Reveals Cranach Painting's History
Lucas Cranach the Elder's painting _Cupid complaining to Venus_ (1526-27), now owned by London's National Gallery, was discovered in a rare photograph of Adolf Hitler's Munich apartment from the early 1940s. The photograph, published in a 1978 furniture auction catalog, shows the painting in Hitler's sitting room, although its provenance remains unclear, with speculation that it was acquired through a forced sale or seizure from a Jewish collector. The National Gallery purchased the artwork in 1963 from E. and A. Silberman Galleries, which provided false provenance regarding its history.
Swiss art dealer Bruno Bischofberger dies at 86
Bruno Bischofberger, a prominent Swiss art dealer and early supporter of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, died at the age of 86, as announced by his Zurich-based gallery. Bischofberger, who founded his gallery in 1963, played a crucial role in introducing American artists to European audiences and was instrumental in the Neo Expressionist movement, shaping the art market significantly during his career.
Metropolitan Museum Opens Costume Art Exhibition May 2026
The Metropolitan Museum of Art launched its latest Costume Institute exhibition, 'Costume Art,' on May 4, 2026, featuring nearly 400 objects that explore the intersection of fashion and artistic expression across various cultures and time periods. Curated by Andrew Bolton and his team, the exhibition inaugurates the new Condé M. Nast Galleries, emphasizing the significance of the dressed body in art. The event coincided with the annual Met Gala, where fashion elites showcased designs that reflected the exhibition's theme, further solidifying the role of fashion as a vital form of cultural narrative.
