The Sydney Morning Herald is highlighting the often-overlooked art in Sydney, specifically mosaics created by the Melocco Brothers at the State Library of NSW. The article features a mosaic detail from one of their works, and Julie Power writes about the forgotten art that people may be standing on while walking through the city.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-forgotten-and-overlooked-sydney-art-you-may-be-standing-on-right-now-20250324-p5lm47.htmlAn art enthusiast has discovered a faint signature in a painting that experts believe belongs to French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, specifically his wife Aline Charigot. The painting is set to be authenticated by the Wildenstein Plattner Institute (WPI) on April 10, a process described as "rigorous" by the team leader, Ms Markow. If successful, she hopes to sell the piece for around six or seven figures to someone who appreciates its beauty.
https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/drawing-bought-by-woman-for-rs-1-000-might-be-rs-8-5-crore-renoir-painting-8037905Tanzania's art industry is set to undergo significant changes with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), following a meeting between the National Arts Council and the African Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The collaboration aims to enhance creativity, increase value addition, and protect artistic works in Tanzania, with the first step being the implementation at BASATA's offices in Dar es Salaam.
https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/ai-set-to-transform-tanzania-s-artistic-industry-4983266The UK is returning a 17th-century painting, "Aeneas and his Family Fleeing Burning Troy" by Henry Gibbs, 1654, to its Jewish family descendants after being looted by Nazis in 1940. The artwork had been held at the Tate Britain gallery in London for three decades.
https://www.asiaone.com/world/uk-return-artwork-stolen-nazis-jewish-familyThe UK's Spoliation Advisory Panel has ruled that a painting, "Aeneas", was looted as an act of racial persecution and will be returned to the heirs of Jewish Belgian art collector Samuel Hartveld in the coming months. The painting, produced after the English Civil War, was bought by the Tate collection from the Galerie Jan de Maere in Brussels in 1994. The panel's decision acknowledges the Nazi persecution of Hartveld and his family, who had to leave behind their art collection during World War II.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/uk-gallery-to-hand-over-17th-century-oil-painting-stolen-by-nazis-to-heirs-of-jewish-collector-13875504.htmlThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has faced criticism from hundreds of its members for not directly acknowledging Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal's name in a statement condemning violence against artists after he was attacked by Israeli settlers and detained in the West Bank. The Academy initially released a statement on March 26, but it did not mention Ballal or his film "No Other Land," which won the best documentary award at the Oscars. However, after an open letter signed by over 700 members, including Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, and Olivia Colman, the Academy issued a fresh statement apologizing for its failure to defend Ballal and expressing regret for not directly acknowledging his film. The Academy now condemns violence against artists and supports free speech, with CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang stating that they regret their initial oversight.
https://www.insider.com/film-academy-apologizes-response-palestinian-director-hamdan-ballal-attack-oscars-2025-3Bhumi Pednekar believes that fashion and style are often used interchangeably, but she distinguishes between the two. She thinks of style as a personal expression, while fashion is more about trends and following what's popular. The actress emphasizes being a conscious consumer, choosing brands that align with her values and aesthetic, rather than just buying into fast fashion to stay on-trend.
https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/lakme-fashion-week-x-fdci-day-3-exclusive-bhumi-pednekar-lauds-designer-amit-aggarwal-for-reviving-traditional-weaves-through-banarasi-saree-corset-it-really-makes-me-feel-like-im-ready-to-take-13875540.htmlIn the Democratic Republic of Congo, a musician named Jenny Paria fears that the ongoing conflict in Goma will lead to the loss of cultural heritage. As a slam poetry champion and rapper, Paria's livelihood depends on performing, but his upcoming concerts have been canceled due to the M23 takeover, leaving him and other artists without income.
https://africanews.com/2025/03/29/gomas-cultural-scene-struggles-amid-ongoing-conflict/The Hansens, longtime supporters of the University of Montana and the Montana Museum of Art and Culture (MMAC), have established a commitment to the UM Foundation that enables the museum to showcase emerging artists. In response, over 100 artists submitted their work for consideration in the fall of 2024, with a statewide selection committee choosing 19 promising young contemporary artists from across the state.
https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-county/19-under-39-artists-going-above-and-beyond-for-art