Oil Money, Restitution Wars, and Biennale Power Plays

Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news. ‘These are dirty funds’: Indigenous Brazilian leader slams Science Museum for oil sponsorship ahead of climate show https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/09/indigenous-brazilian-leader-slams-science-museum-for-oil-sponsorship-ahead-of-climate-show Trump Is Pushing for His Own Dedicated Smithsonian Display https://news.artnet.com/art-world/trump-wants-his-own-smithsonian-npg-display-2744110 Venice Biennale 2026: all the national pavilions, artists and curators so far https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/09/venice-biennale-2026-all-the-national-pavilions-artists-and-curators-so-far Van Eyck Attribution Dispute Pits Art Historians Against A.I. Firm https://news.artnet.com/art-world/van-eyck-ai-authenticity-2744090 Dangling sculpture—‘evacuated’ from Russian frontline—will be focus of Ukraine's pavilion at Venice Biennale https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/09/dangling-sculptureevacuated-from-russian-frontlinewill-be-focus-of-ukraines-pavilion-at-venice-biennale Cambridge University to return 100 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/09/cambridge-university-return-100-benin-bronzes-nigeria France’s ex-culture minister Jack Lang resigns from L’Institut du Monde Arabe amid Epstein revelations https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/09/frances-ex-culture-minister-jack-lang-resigns-institut-du-monde-arab-epstein-revelations Michaels Sues Artist Who Claimed the Craft Store Giant Used His Work Without Permission https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/michaels-lawsuit-pose-jordan-nickel-1234772883/ Dreaming of Creating a Giant Public Artwork With Google? Artist Judy Chicago Doesn’t Recommend It. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/google-judy-chicago-artwork-canceled-1234772774/ How Liminalism Became the Defining Aesthetic of Our Time https://hyperallergic.com/how-liminalism-became-the-defining-aesthetic-of-our-time/