When I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in search of a 2nd-century Roman bust, it was gone, leaving only a label behind. This sculpture had an intriguing history: purchased from Phoenix Ancient Art, a gallery infamous for its dubious practices.
The gallery’s founder, Ali Aboutaam, faced legal troubles after being convicted of illegally importing antiquities by a Swiss court. Yet, dozens of museums still hold objects he sold. Art crime scholar Erin L. Thompson delves into this paradox, asking why these questionable treasures remain.
Meanwhile, artists are mourning Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston resident killed during an ICE stop, with powerful tributes and artworks. His family’s grief echoes the broader ethical dilemmas surrounding cultural artifacts.
In other news, the Bennett Prize opens its fifth call for entries: women figurative realist painters can compete for $75,000 and a solo exhibition. Meanwhile, public feedback is sought on proposals for artwork commissions at Manhattan's High Line Art. And health officials have discovered Legionella in the Guggenheim Museum’s cooling tower.
