All posts filed under: Review

House Holds Billionaire Collector Leon Black in Contempt

House Holds Billionaire Collector Leon Black in Contempt

Published by Jenni Sidey

The US House of Representatives has unanimously moved to hold Leon Black, the billionaire financier and one of the world’s top collectors, in criminal contempt of Congress, the New York Times reports. The contempt charge is related to Black’s dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whom Black had paid $158 million for financial advice between 2012 and 2017. The House Oversight Committee, which had also unanimously recommended the contempt charge to the full House, subpoenaed Black this past June, and he met with the committee in a closed-door interview on June 26. Related Articles However, Black has not submitted to a deposition and “refused to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements that he had signed with women, some of whom had been linked to Mr. Epstein,” according to the Times. The Washington Post added that he left the interview when the NDAs were brought up. He has also not handed over documents requested by the committee, which include any signed NDAs. Black sued the committee earlier this month as a way to block the subpoenas. …

Following new laws, LA lawsuits revive bid for restituting Nazi-loot

Following new laws, LA lawsuits revive bid for restituting Nazi-loot

Published by Jenni Sidey

On Monday, two new lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles in the hopes of recovering long-disputed, but so far unsuccessful, claims for the return of Nazi-looted art from renowned museums, reports the Los Angeles Times. Their timing is no coincidence. The heirs or representatives of Jews who lost artworks during the Holocaust are hoping that the passage of a new law in California and a second one at the federal level will turn the tables in their favor. Those laws include one that was passed in California in 2024, while the second, known as the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act of 2025, was signed by President Trump in April. Both are designed to facilitate the restitution of artworks taken “as a result of political persecution.” Importantly, they require that cases no longer be dismissed on technical legal grounds or due to the passage of time. Related Articles Previously, the laws of the country in which the disputed artwork was located superseded California state law. The new provisions reverse that legal technicality and allow for …

Metropolitan Museum of Art Breaks Ground on 0 M. Tang Wing

Metropolitan Museum of Art Breaks Ground on $670 M. Tang Wing

Published by Jenni Sidey

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York broke ground on its new modern and contemporary art wing, named for emeritus trustee Oscar L. Tang and his wife H. M. Agnes Hsu-Tang. The project had been in the works since 2014, but plans accelerated in 2021 when Tang and Hsu-Tang, two of the world‘s top collectors, gifted the museum $125 million toward renovating the its modern art wing. At the time, it was the largest capital gift the museum had ever received. In 2022, the Met announced Mexico City–based architect Frida Escobedo as the project designer, and in 2025 revealed the long-awaited designs for new wing, scheduled to open in 2030. Related Articles The groundbreaking event was attended by Tang and Hsu-Tang and the Met’s modern and contemporary art curator David Breslin, director and CEO Max Hollein, and head of capital projects Brett Gallard. Several politicians were also present, including New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Council Member Virginia Maloney, Council Member Gale Brewer, as well as New York State Assemblymember Keith …

Digital Platform Documenting Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Launched

Digital Platform Documenting Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Launched

Published by Jenni Sidey

Today, in honor of the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s death, a new digital platform dedicated to the eponymous basilica was launched by Haltadefinizione, part of the Gruppo Panini Cultura, in collaboration with the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis. The platform, called Preserving Assisi, is free to access and digitally preserves the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi’s architecture, as well as its masterpieces by Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini, and Pietro Lorenzetti. Related Articles It was created by a team of specialists who mapped the Basilica’s interior and exterior spaces and its major decorative schemes using ultra-high-resolution gigapixel photography and three-dimensional surveys. This allows users to virtually explore the Basilica, while also establishing a detailed record of its architecture, paintings, and state of conservation that will be used to support research, documentation, monitoring, and conservation over time at the complex. On the website, visitors can find an overview of the Basilica’s architecture and a close examination of individual frescoes and details that cannot be seen in person. “Over the …

Artist Who Collaborated With Silkwoorms Dies at 81

Artist Who Collaborated With Silkwoorms Dies at 81

Published by Jenni Sidey

Chinese artist Liang Shaoji, known for his multidisciplinary silkworm installations, died at age 81 in Shanghai following an illness, announced ShanghART Gallery, his longtime dealer. “It is with profound sadness that ShanghART Gallery announces the passing of Liang Shaoji,” reads the gallery’s social media post. In 1989, Liang began his lifelong project known as the “Nature Series,” defined by his research and art practice involving silkworms and silk farming as a “creation medium” and “collaborative partners.” Related Articles For these works, Liang introduced silkworms to objects of varying scales—a shoe, plastic cups, shards of ceramics, but also emotionally and physically weightier items like massive iron chains, oil barrels, or broken stones and bricks from earthquake debris. With his careful direction, the silkworms slowly adopted Liang’s foreign objects as their homes, covering them with snowy white threads, creating their own sculptures. “Through this sustained dialogue with nature, his work explored time, life, transformation, and the process of creation,” stated the gallery. Liang also used sculpture, textiles, films, performance, and sound in his installations, which could appear …

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum to Expand to a Second Location in Madrid

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum to Expand to a Second Location in Madrid

Published by Jenni Sidey

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid is expanding to a second location just a few blocks from its current site due to overcrowding in its galleries, El Pais reported. The project is slated to be complete in 2032. The museum, known as the Thyssen, was founded in 1992 by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza to house his private collection. The 107,639-square-foot building is known as the Ice and Automobile Palace and is located in Madrid’s Literary Quarter. The city-owned space has been unoccupied since 2007 and, prior to its reopening as a museum, the building will undergo a €70 million ($80.8 million) renovation. Related Articles There, more than 360 works by 21st-century artists will be displayed from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation’s contemporary art collection, known as TBA21, which was created by ARTnews Top 200 collector Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, daughter of the Baron. “More than 30 years ago, the Thyssen family and the Spanish government made it possible for one of the world’s greatest art collections to become available to the public,” Ernest Urtasun, Minister of Culture, said in reference …

The 2026 National Book Award Longlist for Nonfiction

The 2026 National Book Award Longlist for Nonfiction

Published by Jenni Sidey

Join over 300,000 readers who get the latest book buzz, smart commentary, and must-read picks delivered straight to their inbox.<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Book-Riot-Newsletter-mock_1000-150×150.jpg”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/book-riot-newsletter\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”Literary Activism”,”listname”:”BookRiot_LiteraryActivism”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_LiteraryActivism”,”description”:” News you can use plus tips and tools for the fight against censorship and other bookish activism!<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/LiteraryActivism_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/literary-activism\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”The Fright Stuff”,”listname”:”BookRiot_TheFrightStuff”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_TheFrightStuff”,”description”:”Ready for some thrills and chills? Sign up to receive the latest and greatest from the world of horror.”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/TheFrightStuff_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/the-fright-stuff\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”Book Deals”,”listname”:”BookRiot_BookDeals”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_BookDeals”,”description”:” Sign up for our Book Deals<\/strong> newsletter and get up to 80% off books you actually want to read.<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/BookDeals_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/book-deals\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”Kissing Books”,”listname”:”BookRiot_KissingBooks”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_KissingBooks”,”description”:” Sign up for Kissing Books<\/strong> to receive news, book recommendations, and more for residents of Romancelandia.<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/KissingBooks_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/kissing-books\/”,”checked”:true}]”> Subscribe to Selected No Thanks Source link

The 2026 National Book Award Longlist for Poetry

The 2026 National Book Award Longlist for Poetry

Published by Jenni Sidey

Join over 300,000 readers who get the latest book buzz, smart commentary, and must-read picks delivered straight to their inbox.<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Book-Riot-Newsletter-mock_1000-150×150.jpg”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/book-riot-newsletter\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”Literary Activism”,”listname”:”BookRiot_LiteraryActivism”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_LiteraryActivism”,”description”:” News you can use plus tips and tools for the fight against censorship and other bookish activism!<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/LiteraryActivism_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/literary-activism\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”The Fright Stuff”,”listname”:”BookRiot_TheFrightStuff”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_TheFrightStuff”,”description”:”Ready for some thrills and chills? Sign up to receive the latest and greatest from the world of horror.”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/TheFrightStuff_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/the-fright-stuff\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”Book Deals”,”listname”:”BookRiot_BookDeals”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_BookDeals”,”description”:” Sign up for our Book Deals<\/strong> newsletter and get up to 80% off books you actually want to read.<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/BookDeals_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/book-deals\/”,”checked”:true},{“name”:”Kissing Books”,”listname”:”BookRiot_KissingBooks”,”sfmc_name”:”BookRiot_KissingBooks”,”description”:” Sign up for Kissing Books<\/strong> to receive news, book recommendations, and more for residents of Romancelandia.<\/p>”,”thumbnail_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/KissingBooks_600x600-150×150.png”,”category_url”:”https:\/\/bookriot.com\/newsletter\/kissing-books\/”,”checked”:true}]”> Subscribe to Selected No Thanks Source link

Father of Late Artist Lucien Smith Speaks Out and More Art News

Father of Late Artist Lucien Smith Speaks Out and More Art News

Published by Jenni Sidey

To receive Morning Links in your inbox every weekday, sign up for our Breakfast with ARTnews newsletter. Good Morning! Father of the late artist Lucien Smith discusses estrangement from his son and appeals to the public to send their memories. Chinese artist Liang Shaoji died following an illness on September 13 at age 81. President Trump threatened to block a $257 million renovation of the Kennedy Center, and then the center abruptly closed. The Headlines A FATHER’S REGRETS. Terrence Sanders-Smith, father of artist Lucien Smith, who passed away September 7 at age 37, spoke to Whitehot Magazine about his loss, the life of his son, and their years of estrangement he so deeply regrets now. About the latter, he said, “I don’t think there was one moment when we lost each other. It was an accumulation of distance, drugs, ambition, pride, fear, and mistakes his and mine.” Sanders-Smith nevertheless candidly discusses his son’s drug addiction at length, and his decision to financially cut off his son, which he regrets. Smith’s early market success, and what …