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British Museum to Digitize Collection

October 18th, 2023

Following a string of controversial thefts, the British Museum has announced ambitious plans to digitize its collection. “Following the discovery that objects have been stolen from the collection, we have taken steps to improve security and are now confident that a theft of this kind can never happen again,” says interim director Mark Jones. “It is my belief that the single most important response to the thefts is to increase access, because the better a collection is known – and the more it is used – the sooner any absences are noticed.”
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Ann Philbin, Hammer Museum Head, To Retire

October 18th, 2023

Ann Philbin, director of UCLA’s Hammer Museum, has announced plans to retire. She will step down from the post in fall of 2024.
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Arthur Brand Recovers Series of Works Stolen from Dutch Town of Medemblik

October 18th, 2023

Art sleuth Arthur Brand has recovered a bundle of six paintings, stolen from the Dutch town of Medemblik this month. The works were delivered to Brand’s home after a statement that the thieves would have a hard time selling the pieces. “I’m very thankful that they decided to do the right thing. Stealing is wrong, but if you return it, at least you do something right,” he said. 
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REFERENCE LIBRARY

Francois-Henri Pinault

Collector’s Birthdate: b. 1936Pinault is the owner of Christie’s auction house, as well as department store chain Printemps, the Chateau-Latour vineyard and the luxury goods firm PPR, which owns Gucci and Yves Saint Lauren.

His father, Francois, is also an avid art collector and owns upwards of 2,000 invaluable works by the likes of Picasso and Miro. The family fortune is estimated to be worth an excess of 7 billion dollars.

The younger Pinault has been pinned as one of the most aggressive collectors in Europe. He lavishly displayed the “hottest” artists of his collection at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, Italy in time for the Bienalle. The grand entryway featured a two-story tall Urs Fischer’s sculpture entitled “Jet Set Lady” as well as works by Rudolph Stingel, Anselm Reyle, Richard Prince, David Hammonds, Kristen Baker, Mike Kelley, Laura Owens, and many more.

He has experienced a recent rash of tabloid articles for impregnating and then successfully proposing to movie star actress, Selma Hayek. He was previously married and has two children.

On basic relationship with art and artists:

“I want the artists to be recognized, the works of art to be appreciated, and for the public to further develop a passion for the art of today.”

Lindemann, Adam. Collecting Contemporary: Los Angeles, Taschen GmbH 2006. *( See “Stingel Comes to Whitney” ) *

Links:

François Pinault’s Ultimate Luxury