In February 1972, a fire raged at the Veterans Foreign Wars building in New Paltz, New York. With emergency services distracted, a robbery occurred at the town’s historic district of Huguenot Street. Dozens of objects were stolen, including a pair of portraits by the prominent itinerant folk artist Ammi Phillips (1788-1865) depicting local residents Dirck D. Wynkoop (1738-1827) and his wife Annatje Erlinge (1748-1827). Exactly fifty years later, the portraits were rediscovered, and were put back on display at the Historic Huguenot Street.
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Winners announced at second annual NFT Awards in New York
NFT.NYC, the international NFT (non-fungible tokens) industry conference, has kicked off in New York this week. There were more than 30 categories at the second annual NFT Awards in areas including visual arts, gaming and fashion.
Continue readingUnusual items found at extensive Anglo-Saxon burial ground in Buckinghamshire
Yet another significant archaeological find has been made during excavation work for the HS2 (High Speed 2) railway line. According to the archaeologists working on the project, the extensive Anglo-Saxon burial ground they unearthed is a “once in a lifetime discovery”, comprising 141 burials, numerous beads, jewellery, swords and other personal items. Of particular fascination to archaeologists is the discovery of ear wax removers, not something one might expect to unearth in a burial ground.
Continue readingGraffitist Saype unveils giant artwork about friendship on Belfast lawns
A colossal graffiti artwork showing two intertwined hands has been unveiled on the lawns of Stormont Estate in Belfast. The piece is part of an international art project called Beyond Walls, courtesy of French-Swiss artist Saype.
Continue readingCelebrations at the Italian Embassy in Madrid as two stolen objects are returned
Last week in a ceremony at the Italian Embassy in Madrid, two objects were returned to their rightful country of ownership, Italy. The discovery and restitution of these items was made possible by collaboration between cultural heritage police units in both countries.
Continue readingTate deaccessions Francis Bacon archive with doubts over authenticity
The Tate has announced that it will be deaccessioning a huge archive of material relating to Francis Bacon after researchers at the Francis Bacon Estate have raised questions over its authenticity.
Continue readingNew digital initiative launched by Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Museum has just announced a new initiative, in collaboration with electronics company LG, which marks the museum’s dedication to the burgeoning field of digital and technology based art.
Continue readingArt dealer arrested for selling alleged fake works by artists such as Warhol, Basquiat and Banksy
An art dealer in Florida, Daniel Elie Bouaziz, has been charged with wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, after supposedly selling fake works of art which he claimed to be by artists such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein, Henri Matisse and Banksy.
Continue readingNew NFTs of looted African art released
A new NFT project was released earlier in May which seeks to find an alternative form of restitution of African looted art. The project, titled ‘Looty’, plans to (legally) make NFTs of artifacts known to have been looted from Africa and sell them, with 20% of the proceeds going to a fund to provide a young African artist with a grant.
Continue readingCrowdfunding campaign hopes to return Aboriginal artist’s long-lost works to Australia
An Australian crowdfunding campaign is seeking to secure the return of two previously unknown works by one of the most significant Australian Aboriginal figures of the 19th century, William Barak (c. 1824-1903). Consigned to Sotheby’s New York, the works are estimated to sell for in excess of USD$425,000 (£340,000).
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