via Telegraph.co.uk

Israel’s National Museum opened a two new exhibitions that aims to reunite works of art and their rightful owners. “Looking for Owners” features roughly 53 works on loan from French Museums that were stolen by the Nazis and never returned. “Orphaned Art” exhibits works of which the owners are known to be deceased. The exhibitions have an impressive roster that include works by Courbet, Matisse, Monet, and Seurat.

Israel Museum Displays Looted Art [Associated Press]
Israel Tries to Unite Owners with Nazi Looted Art [Art Info]
Art Stolen by Nazis Shown for First Time [Telegraph]

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Cai Guo-Qiang: 1st Chinese born artist with Guggenheim retrospective [New York Times]
New five-year contract for Lowry at MOMA (Not the MET) [The New York Times]
Ordway Prize, America’s Turner, announced; Driskell Prize also announced [ArtInfo]
Co-Head of I-Banking at Morgan Stanley named to Tate Board [Bloomberg]
Economist: German Expressionism is back [Economist via C-Monster]
Waning art sales spells cancellation for fledgling Duesseldorf art fair [Bloomberg]
Madrid’s famed “art triangle” adds a new cultural center to it’s roster [The Canadian Press]

 
Monet’s “Poppies Near Vetheuil”, via New York Times

Monet’s “Poppies Near Vetheuil” and Van Gogh’s “Blossoming Chestnut Branches” were found last night by Zurich police. Cezanne’s “Boy in Red Jacket” and Degas’ “Count Lepic and Daughters” still remain missing.

Monet and Van Gogh’s Recovered [Bloomberg]
Police Recover Paintings [City News]
Art found near psychiatric hopital [New York Times]

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The “most valuable missing painting,” Picasso’s “Maya with her Doll” – courtesy art.com

In the past few months there have been a series of Art Thefts worldwide, in Brazil, Zurich, and Zurich again. These thefts have prompted a series of different discussions and articles regarding the current frequency and history of Art Theft in general. Below is a brief list of different outlets take on the recent epidemic.

• If You Only Steal One Masterpiece per Year [Guardian UK] – Top 10 Stolen Pieces by price
• Where are you going with that Monet? [NY Times] – Inherent Flaws in Art Theft
• Opportunity Makes a Thief [Wall Street Journal] – Justifying Art Theft and its Economics
• Reward beats Risk for Art Thieves [CNN] – How stolen art makes its way to respectable retailers
• The World’s Most Famous Art Heists [Forbes] – Top Historical Art Heists
• The Art of Stealing [The Independent] – Overview of Art Theft Economy ($3bn/yr)
• List of Notable Art Robberies [International Herald Tribune via CultureGrrl] – Timeline of Art Thefts
• How to Steal a European Painting [Slate via C-Monster] – Analysis of Repeated Art Theft in EU

Gilbert and George, via The Sunday Morning Herald

A retrospective of photographs by Gilbert and George will be exhibited in the show, “Gilbert and George”,at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, running from February 15th – May 18th. The influential artists have been producing art together since the 1970’s, beginning with performance and then photography. The show opened at the de Young Museum on February 15th, celebrating their influential careers in the art world. The collection is on loan from the Tate Modern in London, and is largest traveling retrospective of Gilbert & George’s work ever sent on tour. The Fine Art Museum of San Francisco is quoted as being “honored to display the collection.”

Gilbert and George’s Exhibition [Fine Art Museum of San Francisco]
Events at the Museum [the de Young Museum]
Gilbert and George’s Opening [San Francisco County]
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Opening night of “Be Kind Rewind” at Deitch Projects

Droves of gallery goers attended Michel Gondry’s opening of “Be Kind Rewind” at Deitch Projects. The exhibition is a precursor to the film, of the same name, that will be released in theaters shortly.

Michel Gondry [MichelGondry.com]
“Be Kind Rewind” the movie [Be KindMovie.com]
Deitch Projects [Deitch Gallery]
“Be Kind Rewind” at Deitch Projects [New York Daily News]
“Be Kind Rewind” inspired by Michel Gondry’s latest film [Artinfo.com]

More pictures after the jump… (more…)

Works by Ellsworth Kelly and Roy Lichtenstein at LACMA via The New York Times

Update: Eli Broad’s penchant for collecting in depth [The New York Sun]
Update: The Innovative Design and Architecture of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum in Los Angeles [The New York Times]
Update: Nicolai Ouroussoff’s Architectural Critique of LACMA [The New York Times]
Update: FT Review’s LACMA: “The world’s youngest great museum” [The Financial Times]
Update: Review of Poussin at the Metropolitan Museum of Art [The New York Sun]
Update: Poussin and Nature: Arcadian Visions [The New York Times]
Update: $42.5 million of benefit’s sale for The Red Auction event [The New York Sun]

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Damien Hirst’s “Love You” up for auction via Bloomberg

Last night at Sotheby’s New York, Damien Hirst, the Gagosian Gallery and Bono organized a Contemporary Art Auction to benefit AIDS research. The $42 million total well exceded the projected total of $29 million.

Hirst Cabinets fetches $6.2 million for Bono AIDS sale [Bloomberg]
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NYC Auction raises $42m for AIDS relief [AP]
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Bono auction raises $42m for Aids [BBC]
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Auction nest over $40mln for AIDS in Africa [Reuters]
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Photos coverage of the people at Gagosian [Style.com]
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Stars bid to benefit Africa [New York Post]

More details, a Damien Hirst Video Interview & images after the jump…

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“Hannibal,” Jean-Michel Basquiat
via artsjournal.com–>

In November the Art Fraud division of the FBI located Jean-Michel Basquiat’s smuggled painting “Hannibal” from a warehouse in Manhattan. Basquiat created the oil collage (acrylic, oil stick on paper) in 1982.

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Michal Rovner and Makom II sculpture via The New York Sun

The artist Michal Rovner will presents February 13 to March 15 her new work called “Makom II” at Pace Wildenstein West 22nd street gallery in Manhattan. The exhibition is notable for featuring a 60-ton archeological sculpture built on site called “Makom II”.

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Broad Contemporary Art Museum via LACMA

Eli Broad created a paradox at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art by donating a building and then loaning the artwork. The Broad Foundation gave $56 million for the construction of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum, on LACMA grounds.

Eli Broad’s Museum Opens With Jeff Glitter, Dark Andy: Review [Bloomberg]
To Have and Give Not [New York Times]
Broad Collections’ artists on view at BCAM [The Broad Art Foundation]
Transforming the LACMA [LACMA]

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Video Still of Sotheby’s Francis Outred introducing auction items via Sotheby’s (Click to View)
Sotheby’s director, Francis Outred, gives a walkthrough of various contemporary pieces available in their upcoming auction in London. He details works from Lucio Fontana, Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, and Andreas Gursky. The auction will take place February 27th at 7:00pm.

Sotheby’s Private View [Sotheby’s]

Los Angeles County Museum Via Bloomberg

Review: Eli Broad gives $50mm, loans his foundation’s and personal collections to LACMA [Bloomberg]
Jeff Koons chats with Katy Siegel at 92nd Street Y Exhibition [Art Fag City]
Julian Schnabel claims he will “bring peace to Israel” in June [New York Mag]
Ad agency accuses Tracey Emin of plagiarizing Antony Gromley’s E.ON 2007 campaign [Art Fag City]
New Award for Top Swiss Contemporary Art, courtesy of Julius Bär Foundation [Swiss Info]
ARCO8, 27th Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair, opens today [Art Daily]

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Juergen Teller via Lehmann Maupin

Juergen Teller has his fourth exhibition at Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York from February 7th to March 15th.

Juergen Teller’s exhibition at Lehmann Maupin [ArtKnowledge News]
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Ukraine at Lehmann Maupin Gallery [Art Daily]
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Lehmann Maupin Gallery [Lehmann Maupin Gallery]
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Ukraine Lifestyle by Juergen Teller [MenStyle.com]

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Andy Coolquitt, JSUT, 2007 via Art Review

Galleries worth leaving Chelsea for [Art Review]
Details of 46,000 artworks stolen by Nazis [Bloomberg]
Interview with Armory Show chief Katelijne De Backer [Art Fag City]
Artist Hope Atherton on Peter Doig, soon to open at Tate [Style]
No market for stolen art: art thieves will have difficulty selling loot [NYSun]
Poussin Paintings together again [NYTimes]
Saatchi/HarperCollins join to sponsor a book design competition for Sean Dixon’s debut novel [Londonist]
Top Moscow contemporary art galleries merge [Bloomberg]
The Finnish version of the UK’s Turner prize: More of a marketing tool? [NYSun]

Luc Tuymans from Forever, 2008 via Art Cal

New works by Luc Tuymans will be exhibited in the upcoming show, “Forever: The Management of Magic”, at David Zwirner gallery. The influential Belgian artist has produced sixteen new works specifically for the show. The included works all deal with the hopelessly pervasive, and specifically American, Walt Disney phenomenon.

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Repossessing artwork via New York Times

Why would a respected Manhattan gallery have to file for bankruptcy and break the trust of loyal customers? The Manhattan District Attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, is investigating Salander – O’Reilly Galleries LLC for breach of fiduciary responsibilities. The gallery did so by using consignment fees, to pay off his debt, instead of using revenue generated by the business. Galleries do not own all of the proceeds of the artworks that they sell. Instead, they act as holding companies and are obligated to set aside the consignor’s cut of the sale, until they receive it. The Upper East Side, gallery allegedly swindled consignors, artists and buyers out of approximately $40 million dollars in artworks.

Links:
Congoleum, Northwest Air, Adelphia, Dana: Bankruptcy (Update1) [Bloomberg]
Salander, Magnus, Movie Gallery, Plastech: Bankruptcy (Update1) [Bloomberg]
Art Dealer Files for Bankruptcy, Delaying Suits Against Him [New York Times]
Lawyers Suggest Process to Retrieve Art From Salander-O’Reilly [Bloomberg]
First Republic Says $40 Million in Default in Salander Art Fray [Bloomberg]
Big Dreams, Big Expenses: In a Lavish Town House, an Art Gallery in Trouble [New York Times]
First Republic Bank 2005 Annual Report [First Republic Bank]
The Salander Chronologies [ARTINFO]

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Clockwise from Top Left, Monet’s “Poppies” , Van Gogh’s “Chestnuts in Bloom”, Cezanne’s “Boy in Red Jacket” and Degas’ “Count Lepic and Daughters” courtesy of BBC

Zurich, Switzerland – A gang of masked men threatened a security guard with a pistol and proceeded to steal 4 extremely valuable works of art: “Poppies” by Claude Monet, “Chestnuts in Bloom” by Vincent Van Gogh, “Boy in Red Jacket” by Paul Cezanne and “Count Lepic and Daughters” by Edgar Degas. (more…)

Tagged Murakami Billboard via Boing Boing

Murakami Billboard in Los Angeles tagged [Art Fag City] and subsequently kept by Murakami [Boing Boing]
Russian Art Prices continue to grow [FT]
London Auctions buoyed by Expressionists [NYSun]
Detailed Summary of LACMA and Eli Broad Controversy [NYT]
NYC Evening Museum Party Schedule [NYT]
Gagosian maintains Schnabel Oscar plans despite writers strike [NY Observer]
Proenza Schouler inspirated by Donald Judd on MARFA, Texas trip [Style]
Richter’s “Zwei Liebespaare” sells for £7.3M, exceeds expectations [Christies]
Art forced out of Britain by Tax Laws: 40% of work’s value [Times Online UK]
Auction houses are increasingly financiers versus exchange agents[Economist]

Kehinde Wiley’s St. Sebastian II (Columbus), 2006 via Columbus Museum of Art
Michael Jackson via MJsite

Michael Jackson planning collaboration with Kehinde Wiley?[PR Inside]
UK’s planned taxes on incoming art from non-domiciled residents could discourage wealthy donors and supporters [Financial Times]
London’s February auctions prove that despite shaky financial climate, demand is still high for Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary works [NYTimes]
Recap of Jeff Koons talk at the 92nd St. Y [Art Fag City]
Salander O’Reilly Gallery in NY goes bankrupt: Ownership of works held at gallery still yet to be determined [Bloomberg]
Ed Ruscha talks about new show “Ed Ruscha: Paintings” on view at Gagosian London [Gaurdian]
Banksy’s Kate Moss/ Marilyn Monroe portrait fetches $191,000 at Bonhams [Bloomberg]

“The Tete de cheva” (Horse Head) Picasso via Daily Mail

Two Pablo Picasso paintings were stolen from an exhibition on Wednesday in a Zurich Museum. Police say that the burglars may have locked themselves into the building before the museum had closed for the night. The culprits broke into the Seedamm-Kulturzentrum cultural center and are thought to have escaped in the middle of the night. In a press conference on Thursday morning, the lead detective announced the case was still under investigation.

Two Picasso Paintings Stolen From Swiss Lakeside Museum [Bloomberg]
Two Picasso paintings stolen from Swiss exhibition, police say [Herald Tribune]

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Catherine Sullivan via Metro Pictures

Catherine Sullivan’s multichannel video installation opened last night at Metro Pictures. This ambitious show features a 4 screen epic video piece entitled A Triangle of Need.

Catherine Sullivan “triangle of need” [Artcal]
Metro Pictures [Metro Pictures]

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LA Museum of Modern Art via Bloomberg

Renzo Piano too popular with Museums? Too many projects? [Bloomberg]
Collectors steal the headlines at Jasper Johns opening at the Met [NY Mag]
Knight Foundation gives $5 million to Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, $15 million other Miami institutions [NY Times]
Hong Kong International Art & Antiques Show adds Contemporary Art for first time in decade [ArtDaily]
China over takes France as 3rd largest Art Market Worldwide [ArtNewspaper]
Martin Lawerence Gallery sues Brooklyn Man, Chrisitie’s over supposedly stolen Warhol [NYDailyNews]

Damien Hirst via This Is London

Subject to an interview with the building’s owner, Damien Hirst will open a retail store in Marylebone High Street in Marylebone, England. The shop will feature t-shirts, books, housewares, post cards and even some of his art.

Hirst is allowed to open Art Shop…After he passes interview [This is London]
Art Shop for Damien Hirst [ArtNet]
Hirst Sells Out [Telegraph]

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