The ancient Near East had many divine beings with wings, including cherubim and seraphim. Yet, in both Old and New Testaments, angels are identified by gleaming robes or "a countenance like lightning," and they got to and from heaven on ladders. Their wings appeared several centuries later. - History Today
A New York-based nonprofit called the Restitution Study Group is asking a US federal court to undo the ownership transfer of the Smithsonian's 29 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, arguing that the repatriation "denies the descendants of enslaved people in America the chance to experience their heritage." - ARTnews
Although it was never publicized, the two institutions were to have jointly presented next year’s exhibition After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art, but the arrangement was abruptly terminated following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - The Art Newspaper
The color company used AI to create an "endless new ecosystem to be explored, called 'the Magentaverse'." Well. As the subhed puts it, "Say hello to Viva Magenta, the color no one asked for, coming to a world where no one lives." - The New York Times
The incident was reminiscent of recent climate actions at European museums, however the prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday that it has been deemed an isolated attack unconnected to any climate protection group. - ARTnews
Comparing their campaign to that of the suffragettes — one of whom attacked a Velázquez at London's National Gallery with a meat cleaver in 1914 — Just Stop Oil spokesperson Alex De Koning said, "If that's unfortunately what it needs to come to, then that's unfortunately what it needs to come to." - Artnet
Who would put a piece of art by arguably the world’s greatest living sculptor in a place that you cannot access without a location finder, a very serious vehicle and a lot of spare time? The Qataris. - The Globe & Mail
When Aline Louchheim took on Eero Saarinen, she "leveraged power dynamics and skirted journalistic ethics to get what she wanted: ... to champion Saarinen’s work and supercharge his career." - Hyperallergic
"Viva Magenta has taken the shape of a massive immersive exhibition during Art Basel—that’s 10,000 square feet and two floors dedicated to a single color meant to symbolize the 'unconventional time' we’re living in." OK, sure. - Fast Company
"Most of the fair workers I approached during my visit ... spoke Spanish, a jarring realization that makes me think the on-the-ground staff makeup of the fair is different from the audience it seeks to welcome." - Hyperallergic
According to Greek news sources, "British Museum chair George Osborne, the former chancellor, has been holding secret talks with the Greek prime minister." - BBC
"Archaeologists have previously suggested that they were symbols of goddesses that were placed on deceased people as a burial offering. It is debated whether the engravings are of owls, people or other figures." - New Scientist
According to Kyiv's governor, "'The image is in good condition and in the hands of the authorities.' Other works in the area thought also to be the work of Banksy are under police protection, he said." - The Guardian (UK)
After her death in 1689 in Brussels, Michaelina Wautier largely became a footnote in art history, occasionally drawing a mention here or there. Much of her work came to be attributed to other artists, often men. - The New York Times
The artworks, four by Smith and one by Kusama, are in the soon-to-open Grand Central Madison, an addition to the historic train terminal built for new service by the Long Island Rail Road to the East Side of Manhattan. - Untapped Cities
