Law & Politics - ART Walkway

A glass ceiling inside the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Art News

Smithsonian Rebukes Trump’s Attempted Firing of National Portrait Gallery Director

The Smithsonian asserts its independence after Trump’s claim to have fired the National Portrait Gallery director, highlighting ongoing battles over museum autonomy and political pressure.

The Château de Versailles palace exterior with visitors in the gardens, representing France’s historic cultural sites facing new entry fee policies

Art News

France Raises Museum Entry Fees for Non-European Visitors at Iconic Sites Like Louvre and Versailles

Starting in 2026, France increases admission fees for non-European Union visitors at major museums, aiming to fund critical restoration while stirring debate on cultural access.

Damaged ruins of Palmyra symbolizing the online trafficking of Syrian antiquities on Facebook Marketplace

Art News

Facebook Marketplace Flooded with Looted Syrian Antiquities Amid Conflict

Ancient Syrian artifacts looted from Palmyra and other sites are rapidly appearing on Facebook Marketplace, fueling a booming illicit trade amid conflict and economic collapse.

Trump’s administration has transformed the arts sector through budget cuts, leadership changes, and rollback of diversity programs

Art News

Trump’s 2025 Arts Shakeup: Funding Cuts, Political Interference, and Cultural Turmoil

Since January 2025, Trump’s administration has transformed the arts sector through budget cuts, leadership changes, and rollback of diversity programs, challenging artists and institutions nationwide.

Art News

Deadly Shooting at D.C. Museum: Israeli Embassy Staff Killed in Antisemitic Attack

Two Israeli embassy staff members were killed in a shooting outside a D.C. museum during a diplomatic event. The attack, motivated by antisemitism, spotlights security challenges at cultural institutions amid global tensions.

Maurizio Cattelan’s solid gold toilet, "America," on display at Blenheim Palace before its 2019 theft.

Art News

$6 Million Gold Toilet Stolen from Blenheim Palace—Thieves Convicted, But Where Is It?

After a five-year investigation, two men have been found guilty of stealing Maurizio Cattelan’s solid gold toilet, "America." But the infamous artwork is still missing—likely melted down and lost forever.

Empty picture frames remain after Russian forces looted thousands of artworks from the Kherson Regional Art Museum.

Art News

Ukraine’s Stolen Art: A Race Against Time

Museums looted. Heritage sites bombed. Thousands of artifacts missing.

Examine the back of a painting and check for labels, stamps, or signs of removed markings.

Art News

Why Even High-End Art Buyers Must Vet Every Purchase

Before buying, make sure the artwork isn’t stolen, looted, or lost in wartime.

Italian authorities seize fake artworks, including pieces attributed to Picasso, Rembrandt, and Warhol.

Art News

Another Major Forgery Ring has Been Exposed—This Time in Rome

How long can the blue-chip art market survive the forgery boom?

Portrait of Brent Sikkema, a prominent art dealer.

Art News

Gallerist’s Husband Faces Murder-for-Hire Indictment, DOJ Reveals Disturbing Plot

Daniel Sikkema faces charges that could lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty for allegedly orchestrating the murder of his estranged husband, Brent Sikkema, in Rio de Janeiro.

Bronze spiral sculptures on plinths outside the Wakefield One building prior to their theft.

Art News

Stolen Wakefield Sculptures: Police Investigation Closes With No Suspects Found

The theft has left police and local officials at a loss to identify the culprits.

Russian avant-garde painting attributed to Natalia Goncharova, among the 135 works seized by French authorities

Art News

French Authorities Seize $200 Million in Stolen Russian Avant-Garde Masterpieces

The works—linked to art legends like Malevich and Kandinsky—remain in legal limbo pending a separate German court ruling.

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