MIA Returns Leger Painting Stolen By Nazis
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) and the Association En mémoire d’Alponse Kann today announced the restitution of "Smoke Over Rooftops" (1911), a painting by Fernand Léger, to the Kann Association. The decision to return the work of art was made after careful research into the painting’s provenance proved it had been looted by the Nazis at the home of Alphonse Kann during the German occupation of France.
(view more...)

AXA Art Insurance Appoints New Director Of Business Development
AXA Art Insurance Corporation announced the appointment of Jill Arnold to the position of director of business development. In this role, Ms. Arnold will develop and execute strategies and tools in conjunction with the company’s national underwriting and fine art departments to support AXA Art’s focus on sustainable and profitable growth. Additionally, the director of business development is charged with reinforcing existing relationships with brokers and other third party intermediaries and increasing new distribution channels.
(view more...)

NJPAC Receives US$11M Gift From Betty Wold Johnson
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center announced an $11 million gift from prominent New Jersey philanthropist Betty Wold Johnson. The gift, the single largest private sector contribution in NJPAC’s history, will be directed mostly toward endowing capital needs for the Arts Center, with additional funds dedicated to supporting artistic initiatives and operations. Mrs. Johnson’s donation brings the Arts Center’s ongoing Campaign for NJPAC to over $170 million toward a $180 million goal.
(view more...)

Campaign For The Titians "Diana and Actaeon"
The National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland have been offered the unique opportunity to purchase Titian’s "Diana and Actaeon". To do this, they need to raise £50 million before 31 December 2008. If funds can be raised, the two galleries will then have the chance to purchase the second picture, "Diana and Callisto" for a similar amount. If they are successful, the two Titian paintings will be displayed in London and Edinburgh, alternating between the galleries every five years.
(view more...)

Singhmar Family Donates $1.2 Million For New AGA Education Centre
The Art Gallery of Alberta received a generous boost to the capital campaign for the New Vision building project this week. Prem and Saroj Singhmar donated $1.2 million in support of the new expanded education centre. In recognition for the donation and the Singhmar family’s significant community leadership, the education facilities at the new AGA will be named the Singhmar Centre for Art Education. The new Singhmar Centre for Art Education represents the AGA’s commitment to the presentation of the visual arts in Canada, referencing both western and non-western, old and new cultural approaches.
(view more...)

Tyler Rollins Fine Art To Open NYC Gallery
Tyler Rollins Fine Art is set to open its doors in a magnificent 3,000 sq. ft. gallery housed in the 529 Arts Building on West 20th Street in the heart of West Chelsea’s Art District. Scheduled to open on October 30th, TRFA will be one of the only fine art galleries with a focus on the emerging contemporary art scene from the entire Southeast Asian region.
(view more...)

German Collector Bought Tattoo On Man's Back
German art collector, Rik Reinking, recently bought something very unusual. A large tattoo on the back of musician Tim Steiner for £116,000. The artist of the tattoo is Wim Delvoye who spent 30 hours working on Steiner's back. It "was the most awful experience of my life", said Tim Steiner, "I certainly have suffered for art."
(view more...)

Harvard Art Museum Receives Major Gift From Emily Rauh Pulitzer
Harvard University announced that the Harvard Art Museum has received a gift of 31 major works of modern and contemporary art and $45 million from Harvard alumna Emily Rauh Pulitzer, a former Harvard Art Museum curator, longtime supporter and friend of the museum and of Harvard, and wife of the late Joseph Pulitzer Jr. The modern works include important paintings and sculptures by Brancusi, Derain, Giacometti, Lipchitz, Miró, Modigliani, Picasso, Rosso, and Vuillard.
(view more...)

OKCMOA Announces Glen Gentele as New President & CEO
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art announced that Glen Gentele has been appointed to head the Museum, succeeding longtime director Carolyn Hill, who announced in January her intention to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer at the end of the year. Gentele was elected at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Trustees and will assume his duties on January 1, 2009.
(view more...)

Bomb "Art" Removed At Airport
An artwork was removed inmediately from an exhibition at the Isle of Man Airport. The artwork was a Bomb. It was a work by artist Krista Magee during five days before the airport director, Ann Reynolds, asked her to remove it. Magee reply that "This piece is a celebration of freedom".
(view more...)

University Of Iowa Museum Of Art Works Return To Campus
Nearly 250 works of art from the University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) permanent collection are now available for viewing by appointment, thanks to a collaboration between the Museum of Art and University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections. This broad cross-section of prints, drawings and photographs will be stored in Special Collections, located on the Third Floor of the UI Main Library.
(view more...)

Rubens Banqueting House Sketch Saved For The Nation
Tate announced that the first preparatory sketch made by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) for his magnificent scheme of ceiling paintings in the Banqueting House, Whitehall, has been saved, thanks to the last-minute intervention of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Tate Members and The Art Fund, all of whom increased their original pledges on the day of the final deadline, 30 September 2008.
(view more...)

Virgin Name Train After Tate Liverpool In Honour Of Its 20th Anniversary
Virgin Trains will commemorate Tate Liverpool’s twentieth anniversary by naming a Virgin Pendolino train after it, in what is a rare accolade for a museum or gallery. The dedicated train, unveiled at Liverpool Lime Street station, also marks Virgin Trains’ commitment to bringing visitors into Liverpool in its year as European Capital of Culture to enjoy cultural attractions such as Tate Liverpool.
(view more...)

Phillips De Pury & Company Announces Partnership With Mercury Group
Phillips de Pury & Company, the international contemporary art company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with leading Russian luxury company Mercury Group, with immediate effect. Mercury Group will acquire control of the company from the partners of Phillips de Pury & Company and Simon de Pury will remain Chairman and an important shareholder in the company.
(view more...)