International Art News

After a turbulent year marked by controversy, crisis, and scandal, the Louvre Museum has lost its director. French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday confirmed he had accepted the resignation of Laurence des Cars, who had led the world’s most visited museum since 2021. Des Cars’s departure follows a series of damaging incidents that have shaken public confidence […]

In a landmark announcement for the global art world, Arts AlUla has officially revealed the name and vision of the AlUla Contemporary Art Museum, a major new institution set to become a cultural cornerstone in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The museum, which will feature original works ranging from Pablo Picasso to Etel Adnan, underscores AlUla’s growing reputation as a hub for international

British artist and 2019 Turner Prize winner Tai Shani has withdrawn her forthcoming monograph from Phaidon Press, citing graphic sexual assault accusations against the publisher’s owner, Leon Black, detailed in recently released Jeffrey Epstein files.​ Shani announced the decision in an Instagram statement on February 17, 2026, referencing “numerous horrific allegations” from Department of Justice

The British Museum has quietly removed references to “Palestine” from several exhibits on ancient Egypt and the Phoenicians in its Middle East galleries, following concerns raised by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). The changes replace terms like “Palestinian descent” for the Hyksos people with “Canaanite descent” and update maps to use “Canaan” instead, as the

A wave of prominent art galleries across the United States and even in Europe will shut their doors on Friday, January 30, in a coordinated act of protest against the Trump administration’s expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and the use of deadly force against demonstrators. The action, part of a nationwide general strike,

Iranian advocacy and human rights groups say several Iranian artists have been killed in the latest wave of anti‑government protests that began late December 2025 and have since spread across the country. The incidents come amid a wider and exceptionally violent crackdown by security forces, who have used live ammunition, metal pellets, and mass arrests

South Africa’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has withdrawn a performance mourning victims of Israel’s actions in Gaza from the country’s 2026 Venice Biennale pavilion. The decision prioritizes showcasing South African narratives over global conflicts, according to an official statement. In remarks to Hyperallergic, a department spokesperson explained that the pavilion “should not be

President Donald Trump’s administration announced on Wednesday its withdrawal from 66 international groups, conventions, and treaties, encompassing 31 United Nations-affiliated entities. This action targets organizations deemed contrary to U.S. interests, with several linked to arts, culture, historic preservation, and freedom of expression.​ Key Details of Withdrawal The Presidential Memorandum directs executive departments to cease participation

The Misk Art Institute’s ongoing exhibition, Art Across the Arabian Gulf, offers a sweeping exploration of the cultural and economic transformations that shaped the Gulf region from the 1950s to the 1990s. Running until March 31, the exhibition brings together paintings, sculptures, and conceptual installations by artists from across the Arabian Peninsula. Through its curated selection,