Art Industry News is a daily summary of the most important developments in the art world and the art market. Here’s what you need to know this Thursday, March 16.
NEED TO READ
The Zurich Museum examines its own collection – The Kunsthaus Zurich is stepping up its efforts in provenance research to eradicate works illegally held as a result of Nazi persecution. His new approach includes “enhanced transparency” and the appointment of an independent commission of experts on provenance, which will help investigate the origin of some 203 works on display at the museum. Research results are expected to be published in the spring of 2024. (Switzerland Info)
Miami art dealer sentenced for ivory smuggling – Eduardo Ulises Martinez was found guilty of nine counts of smuggling ivory carvings without reporting them to US authorities, and one count of obstructing justice. A federal judge sentenced Martinez to 51 months in prison and ordered him to pay a $20,000 fine. The United States implemented a ban on the trade in elephant ivory in 2016, and Martinez was caught with ivory in his luggage at Miami International Airport in 2021. (ART news)
Leaked High-Res Taiwan Museum Art Scans Go For Sale The National Palace Museum in Taipei has confirmed that up to 100,000 high-resolution images of paintings and calligraphy from its collection of historical Chinese artworks have been leaked online. Some of them, which the museum had licensed for between $98 and $850, were available for sale on mainland China’s online shopping platform Taobao for less than $1.50. (CNN)
FBI returns cache of stolen weapons to museums – Authorities have recovered at least 50 firearms and other historical artifacts that had been missing for half a century hidden in a Delaware attic. They have been repatriated to 16 museums. (delaware online)
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Masterworks acquires Arthena – Fractional art investment platform has acquired Arthena, a data collection, analysis and pricing platform expert in data engineering and machine learning infrastructure for the art market . (Press release)
Names Director of the Columbus Museum of Art – The Ohio-based institution has named Brooke A. Minto as its next executive director and CEO. Minto was the first director of the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums, which was founded in 2020 to encourage dialogue among black museum trustees. She takes office on May 15, succeeding Nannette Maciejunes who retired in 2022 after two decades. (Press release)
Lio Malca expands – The veteran art dealer and collector is moving his gallery from Chelsea to newly created gallery center from Tribeca to 60 White Street. The multi-story exhibition space, a 19th-century building currently being renovated by design firm studioMDA, will open in May with an exhibition by Spanish painter Rafa Macarrón. (Press release)
FOR THE ARTS
Venus Williams and Adam Pendleton host a benefit – The tennis star and artist are teaming up to raise money to restore Nina Simone’s clapboard home in North Carolina, a project led by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Artists such as Julie Mehretu, Stanley Whitney, Cecily Brown and Rashid Johnson are donating works for the sale, which will be held at Sotheby’s online from May 12-22, with a corresponding IRL gala hosted by Pace. (The arts journal)
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