Art Dealer Michael Werner to Establish Second Gallery in New York City; US Government Solicits Plans for Venice Biennale; Sotheby's Auctioning Off Buddha Relics: Daily Updates for May 5, 2025

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Today's HeadlinesAMERICA'S VENICE SPIRIT - The grant application for the U.S. pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale has been posted by the State Department, though suspiciously late, leading to speculations of administration withdrawal from the global event. It's a race against time for the chosen artist, with proposals expected to be submitted here - even as political critic Nate Freeman points out peculiar new criteria to be considered: delete any focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and prepare for "Federal anti-discrimination laws" and site visits monitoring. Sculptures and creativity, it seems, won't be the only items under the microscope anymore.

CULTURE CLASHES - As the Trump administration seeks to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, unsettling news swept in on the weekend. The federal agency withdrew or canceled grant offers to arts organizations nationwide, announcing that they would focus on projects that celebrate American tradition and values. Reports suggest that the administration's budget plan also proposes eliminating the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Hot Takes- Intriguing relics discovered by William Claxton Peppé in 1898 in Uttar Pradesh, India might be going up for auction at Sotheby's, but the prospect of their sale has kicked off a fierce debate on ethics. The artifacts, some inscribed and consecrated nearly 2,000 years ago, include bone relics that Peppé was given permission to take. [BBC]- Renowned art collector Michael Werner is set to open a new gallery in New York, featuring a two-part exhibition of Sanya Katarovsky’s work. [our website]- The president of the Art Institute of Chicago, James Rondeau, is taking a timeout following an investigation into an alleged in-flight incident in April, where he was accused of disrobing in public. [our website]- A feminist art show in southern France was vandalized, with statues smashed and phallic symbols spray-painted onto pieces celebrating female empowerment. [France Info]- A beloved bronze sculpture by Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi was stolen from Lehmbruck Museum's outdoor park in Duisburg, Germany. Police fear the thieves plan to melt down the artwork and sell the metal. Visitors frequently played on "Egypt," making the loss even more heartbreaking. [dpa]- Berlin's culture senator, Joe Chialo, resigns, and Kai Wegner, the city's governing mayor, will step in to replace him, confirmed the German Cultural Council's managing director, Olaf Zimmermann. [dpa]- George Lucas seems to be pulling a Jedi mind trick in his long delayed museum of narrative art, as Puck's Marion Maneker reports. The museum director and CEO Sandra Jackson-Dumont was fired, and the secretive Lucas remains silent, while his mission to elevate his movies alongside timeless artistic masterpieces raises eyebrows. Since the director is notorious for elusiveness, let's hope this story encourages journalists to do their digging!

The upcoming auction at Sotheby's might feature some ancient artifacts discovered in Uttar Pradesh, India, which have sparked a debate on ethics due to their potential sale.
The Art Institute of Chicago is currently under scrutiny following an investigation into an incident where the president, James Rondeau, was accused of disrobing in public.
The new gallery opening in New York, spearheaded by art collector Michael Werner, will showcase the work of Sanya Katarovsky.
A feminist art show in southern France was vandalized, with statues smashed and offensive graffiti added, leading to a disruption of pieces celebrating female empowerment.