Art theft, forgery, fraud, and restitution, with news from the world of art and collecting.
In a riveting conclusion to a three-week trial, a federal jury ruled in favor of Sotheby’s on Tuesday, dispelling the accusations of Russian billionaire oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, who claimed the prestigious auction house defrauded him of tens of millions of dollars in art sales. The drama unfolded as Rybolovlev accused Sotheby’s of conspiring with Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier to inflate prices for four significant works, including the famed “Salvator Mundi” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
In a bold act of protest, two climate activists from the “Food Riposte” group targeted the iconic Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday. As they hurled soup at the protective glass encasing Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the activists passionately advocated for a sustainable food system, questioning the prioritization of art over the right to healthy and sustainable food. The incident unfolded in a video shared on social media, featuring two women adorned with “FOOD RIPOSTE” on their T-shirts breaching security barriers to approach the painting. Their impassioned slogans echoed concerns about the agricultural system, claiming it to be ailing and causing harm to farmers. Louvre employees swiftly responded by placing black panels in front of the Mona Lisa and evacuating the room.
In a high-stakes legal showdown gripping the art world, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev accuses renowned auction house Sotheby’s of orchestrating an elaborate art scam that cost him millions. The trial, underway in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, has thrust the secretive dealings of the art industry into the spotlight. Rybolovlev, with a net worth of $11.5 billion, made headlines as he pursued legal action against Sotheby’s, alleging collusion with Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier to inflate prices on four rare artworks, including the iconic “Salvator Mundi” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
The Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) urgently called for the safety of Afghan artists who are categorically persecuted by the Taliban as demonstrated in a new report launched today: Artistic Exodus: Afghan Artists Fleeing Taliban Rule. The report, produced in partnership with UC Berkeley Law Pro Bono Program, brings to light the abuse of people working in music, visual arts, performing arts, film and television, literature, museums, cultural heritage sites and arts education since the regime regained control of Afghanistan two years ago.
Art dealing can be a glamorous and lucrative business, but it can also be incredibly dangerous. In recent years, there have been numerous cases of art dealers falling victim to theft, fraud, and even violence. According to reports by the FBI, Interpol, and the Art Loss Register, there were over 24,700 reported cases of art theft between 2008 and 2022, with the value of stolen art during this period surpassing more than $11 billion. These statistics serve as a stark reminder of the risks that art dealers face in their line of work.
“I say this as a recovering addict – there is no better high for me than going to a concert”
Artist Elizabeth Mikotowicz was nearly beaten to death while being pregnant, addicted to drugs by the medical system, then sent to prison where she was regularly humiliated and treated as a slave.
In this explosive interview, for the first time ever, Elizabeth shares her phenomenal life story with The World Art News!
It is an emotional, at times horrific, and unquestionably inspiring account of one woman’s survival against all odds.
“I watched many women die”
“You suffer from things nobody should”
Artist Elizabeth Mikotowicz was nearly beaten to death while being pregnant, addicted to drugs by the medical system, then sent to prison where she was regularly humiliated and treated as a slave.
In this explosive interview, for the first time ever, Elizabeth shares her phenomenal life story with The World Art News!
It is an emotional, at times horrific, and unquestionably inspiring account of one woman’s survival against all odds.
“I was only 20 the first time I was rag-dolled around the room and sent flying backwards smashing the back of my head on a radiator”
Artist Elizabeth Mikotowicz was nearly beaten to death while being pregnant, addicted to drugs by the medical system, then sent to prison where she was regularly humiliated and treated as a slave.
In this explosive interview, for the first time ever, Elizabeth shares her phenomenal life story with The World Art News!
It is an emotional, at times horrific, and unquestionably inspiring account of one woman’s survival against all odds.
In Part 2 of our Exclusive Interview with a Movie Star and an Award-Winning artist Dave Vescio we dive deep into his Dark Past, Time in Prison, and the Harsh Lessons of Life. Dave candidly talks about his Inner Demons, Psychological Trauma, and how to live with them.
“I was too busy trying to take over the whole LSD empire for myself!”
“The ones who think they are heroes tend to be the most vicious villains of all!”
“I want my artworks to show the spiritual world that everyone else just seems to walk by and not notice at all”
Dave Vescio tell his incredible life story of how he went from a Soldier to an Ex-con to a Movie Villain to an Award-Winning Contemporary Artist!
“I went on the run for a year-and-a-half. I finally got caught and was sentenced to 10-years at Fort Leavenworth, a hard-labor, maximum-security prison for Department of Defense inmates. I lived amongst some of the worst criminals in the world. We had serial killers, rapists, child molesters, and even murderers. Which turned out to be the perfect training ground for me to study these monsters and figure out why they committed these horrific crimes. I did 5-years in total; two-and-a-half on the inside and two-and-a-half on federal parole.”
Iranian photographer Mostafa Nodeh shares Dance of Mist and a selection of black-and-white landscapes with The World Art…
A discovery can lead to a major sale, a church conservation project or a public exhibition without a…
Four historical scenes by Maurice Leloir sold together for €128,600 at Bonhams Paris. The watercolor-and-gouache works recreate the spectacle of eighteenth-century France through ships, entertainment,…
A Rolex Daytona awarded to Vic Elford after his 1968 racing victory is heading to Phillips from Jerry…
A Scubacraft prototype associated with the James Bond film Spectre sold for £51,200 at Bonhams. Built to operate…
Iranian photographer Mostafa Nodeh shares Dance of Mist and a selection of black-and-white landscapes with The World Art News.…
A discovery can lead to a major sale, a church conservation project or a public exhibition without a change…
Sekoto’s auction success is one chapter in a much larger African art story. Connecting Nigerian artist Amarachi Okafor, Zimbabwean…
Renaissance art continues to attract extraordinary spending, from Leonardo’s US$450.3 million Salvator Mundi to major Botticelli and Raphael sales.…
Four historical scenes by Maurice Leloir sold together for €128,600 at Bonhams Paris. The watercolor-and-gouache works recreate the spectacle…
Jacob Jordaens’s portrait of Catharina van Noort sold for €154,200 at Bonhams Paris. The artist’s wife was also the…
A portrait attributed to Conrad Faber von Kreuznach sold for €295,000 at Bonhams Paris against a €40,000–60,000 estimate. Bonhams…
Florence will host the presentation of cARTEm’s complete facsimile edition of Leonardo da Vinci’s Madrid Codices I and II…
A Rolex Daytona awarded to Vic Elford after his 1968 racing victory is heading to Phillips from Jerry Seinfeld’s…
From Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck to million-dollar decoys and billion-dollar brands, ducks occupy an extraordinary place in art…
Jodi, a rare Nanotyrannus skeleton, sold for US$47.3 million at Sotheby’s after a 12-minute bidding battle. The result makes…
An imperial Qianlong gold ewer sold for approximately US$7.11 million at Christie’s Hong Kong. Decorated with pearls and colored…
David Hockney’s Yorkshire landscape sold for €282,200 as Bonhams’ Paris Limited Editions auction reached €1.06 million. Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe…
A 1965 MV Agusta Grand Prix motorcycle formerly owned by John Surtees sold for £967,000, approximately US$1.3 million, at…
NFTs went from multimillion-dollar auction sensations to symbols of speculative excess. From Beeple’s $69.3 million sale to shrinking markets…
A circa-1941 Enigma I cipher machine sold for £203,600 at Bonhams, offering a tangible connection to the history of…
A Scubacraft prototype associated with the James Bond film Spectre sold for £51,200 at Bonhams. Built to operate on…
Diamonds Are Forever and Thunderball reveal two distinct approaches to the classic James Bond poster. From Robert E. McGinnis’s…
Japanese swords from Peter Yorke’s collection are heading to Bonhams, led by a Masamune-lineage wakizashi estimated at £15,000–£25,000. The…
Yusuf Grillo’s 1967 painting One Man Band sold for £461,300 including premium at Bonhams, setting an artist record. Explore…
Uzo Egonu’s Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I set an artist auction record at £198,900 at Bonhams London. Explore the…
Ben Enwonwu’s gilt-bronze Anyanwu achieved £602,100 including premium at Bonhams London, setting an auction record for a sculpture by…
Forget clearing out the garage without a second look—that old set of wooden-headed golf clubs gathering dust in your…
Clear prices, documentation and ownership costs help artists and collectors make better art buying decisions.
How nature, still life and domestic subjects connect with buyers, with practical guidance for artists and collectors.
Explore renewed demand for established art and the importance of condition, provenance, edition details and comparable sales.
How studio visits and direct artist relationships can support informed purchases, clear agreements and lasting collector connections.
Why smaller originals attract buyers, how artists can price them sustainably and what collectors should check before purchasing.
A quick guide to the art market recovery, studio earnings and collecting costs, with practical opportunities for artists and…
Michael Gavrieli presents five encaustic paintings made with beeswax, fire and 24-karat gold, offered together as The 24K Metal…
After nearly three decades in the jewellery industry, internationally trained gemmologist Peggy Elias Nakhle brings her expertise in precious…
This autumn, (AV17) Gallery, Vilnius, brings the work of internationally acclaimed Lithuanian artist Žilvinas Kempinas to Artissima 2026, one…
JM Gems brings world-class custom jewellery design to downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, at affordable rates. Founder Peggy Elias combines…
With André de Jong and His Theater, The Merchant House (TMH) is pleased to present new works by the…
Jewellery owners in Halifax and across Atlantic Canada can now access professional jewellery and gemstone appraisal services without having…
Digital drawing and creative technology are increasingly finding a place in early childhood education, giving young children new ways…
Acquiring historical textiles requires a methodical approach, as the market for woven art moves from decorative appeal to rigorous…
Distinguished artist Vian Borchert is presenting LUMINOUS, a solo exhibition centered on light as a metaphor for hope, renewal,…
American artist Mateo Blanco has donated his original painting Rockefeller Flag to The Casements, ensuring the work will remain…
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, internationally acclaimed abstract expressionist Vian Borchert is making waves on both…
Today, as an internationally represented artist with Toolip Gallery in Vienna, Austria, Martinelli stands at the forefront of a…
From the shimmering landscapes of electropop to deeply personal reflections on identity, poetry, and the state of the world,…
As America approaches its historic 250th anniversary, artist Mateo Blanco offers a striking new perspective on one of the…
Art from War to War: Chasing Butterflies on the Verge of a Cliff, which opened on May 29, 2026…
Most collections tell you who matters. The Epochal Collection asks a different question: what remains of us when the…
The boundaries between art, technology, and human perception have never been more fluid. In recent years, artists have been…
What happens when a painting refuses to stay within its frame? This summer, The Merchant House transforms its historic…
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, world-renowned artist Mateo Blanco presents Silver Falls Flag (2026), a textile…
