Culture Wars and Shadowy Money Trails

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news. South Africa Drops Out of Venice Biennale Following Legal Uproar https://news.artnet.com/art-world/south-africa-venice-pavilion-court-2745430 John Akomfrah and Jasleen Kaur among 200 signatories of letter denouncing Barbican’s decision to remove arts head https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/20/john-akomfrah-jasleen-kaur-among-200-signatories-of-letter-denouncing-barbicans-decision-to-remove-arts-head Turkey’s heritage power grab: new law threatens Istanbul’s opposition-run cultural sites https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/20/turkeys-heritage-power-grab-new-law-threatens-istanbuls-opposition-run-cultural-sites Epstein Files Reveal Links Between Leon Black and Possibly Looted Antiquities https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/epstein-files-leon-black-indicted-dealer-douglas-latchford-1234774047/ A Cold Plunge Into Glenn Ligon’s Blue https://hyperallergic.com/a-cold-plunge-into-glenn-ligons-blue/ Bard College to Launch ‘Independent Review’ of President’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/bard-college-to-launch-independent-review-of-presidents-ties-to-jeffrey-epstein-1234774074/ Frida Kahlo’s Great-Niece Says Commercialization of the Artist Has Gone ‘Too Far’ https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/frida-kahlo-commercialization-too-far-1234774051/ Former Owners of The Art Newspaper and L’Officiel Say AMTD Still Owes Buyout Funds Amid IPO Listings https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/former-owners-of-the-art-newspaper-and-lofficiel-say-amtd-still-owes-buyout-funds-amid-ipo-listings-1234774020/ US Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs That Had a Tumultuous Effect on the Art Market https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/us-supreme-court-strikes-down-trumps-tariffs-art-market-1234774032/ Veterans Sue Over Trump’s Arch, Saying It Would Blight Arlington National Cemetery and Nearby Monuments https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/veterans-sue-over-trump-arch-1234774034/