April 27, 2026
A Pablo Picasso for cheap? Sure, why not!
April 1, 2026
(these are no April Fool’s posts)
Thieves steal paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse from Italian private museum.
True Identity in Art. Does it matter? Or is it the message that matters most?
Photographer Eirini showcases people, plants through art.
March 3, 2026
Georgia O’Keeffe’s views of the New Mexico desert will be preserved with conservation plan.
February 19th, 2026
The Pasadena Playhouse is back with a phenomenal opening of Amadeus by Peter Shaffer
Tony Award-Winner Jefferson Mays, Broadway’s Sam Clemmett & Tony Award-Nominee Lauren Worshan delighted the audience in this classic play directed by Tony Award-Winner Darko Tresnjak. This play was made possible by a force of over 100 people who wanted the incredible craft of live theatre to rebound after the challenges of 2020. And they did it beautifully. The play runs through March 15, 2026. Worth a trip. Get your tickets soon!
https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
February 4th, 2026
British Museum’s AI Post Triggers Online Backlash
This Anne Boleyn Portrait Hides a ‘Visual Rebuttal’ to a Historic Smear Campaign
Minions music leads to nightmare for Olympic skater while putting a spotlight on a yearslong problem
Italy gets creative, making art accessible to the blind
December 29th, 2025
The top 10 interior design posts of 2025.
Funding museums through digital copies of art masterpieces.
December 5th, 2025
Mourning the loss of Frank Gehry this week, here are some of his iconic works in photos.
Pantone chooses white ‘Cloud Dancer’ as its 2026 Color of the Year. It’s supposed to be a “calming color”. So one has to ask… “What are the policies we can enact globally, so that people don’t need calming down?
The British Museum never “gives art back”, they just send it on “long-term loan”.
November 21st, 2025
Frida Kahlo self-portrait breaks auction record for female artists
November 18th, 2025
Artificial installation: artist hangs his own AI-generated work in a Welsh museum.
Riso Club features world-renowned designers in a special 100th issue.
Bob Ross sets new auction record in sale to benefit public television!
October 24th, 2025
A magical, glowing mustang sculpture, with a great backstory.
October 19th, 2025
Brings a title change to this page from “Engaging art news” to “Global Art News” which is more accurate. First up:
Paris-based artist explores how painting dissolves the subject, leaving only light, color, and space.
Thieves steal crown jewels in 4 minutes at the Louvre Museum.
October 11, 2025
October – The busiest art month. Read more here.
A long-lost ancient Roman artifact reappears in a New Orleans backyard.
Basic income for the Arts. You know I’m behind this! Go Ireland!!
And a great documentary -Preserved, because to me, creativity springs from admiration for the natural world. Let’s make sure the next generation has some remnants of that left.
September 28, 2025
In my continuing series of “some people are not team players for humanity”:
Missing Egyptian Bracelet Found to Have Been Sold and Melted Down
And… on a different track, all good things must come to an end: World’s largest private collection may be fractionalized.
September 21.2025
Art Conservator Restores a Painting of Isabella de’ Medici:
Researchers solve decades-old color mystery in iconic Jackson Pollock painting
Frida Kahlo portrait could sell for $60 million and shatter records at Sotheby’s
Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson
Wine and Design!
September 12, 2025
Somehow this story seems appropriate in the U.K. and the U.S. but needs more people on the ground to be a wholly accurate art statement.
September 7, 2025
Argentina recovers long-lost Italian painting looted by Nazis during WWII
September 1, 2025
The U.S. Art Market – rethinking its future.
August 7, 2025
Marble Bust repatriated to Italy.
August 3rd, 2025
Desktop Wallpaper: August 2025 With Valentin Pavageau
July 24th, 2025
We had to say goodbye to a fellow artist this week. This was a sad and hard one. RIP MJW
I think he would have liked seeing this art installation at the border though. Better angels.
And apparently giant trolls have a message for our planet.
And finally, the next generation wants a livable planet and is actively doing something about it. Musicians are magic.
July 20th, 2025
Let’s start off after a sabbatical, with some happy news! New York State Museum appoints first woman director in its 200-year history.
Check out How AI Will Change Art, According to Arthur Jafa, Marilyn Minter, and Other Artists on Artsy.
AI robots can already carve stone statues. Entire buildings are next.
May 27th, 2025
So much happening in the world of art and design and AI integration. While we are pushed toward what will profit developers, there is also an equal and opposite reaction toward keeping the humanity connections and all of the benefits that come from connecting personally. Here’s a great article about just that very thing!
May 24th, 2025
A MUST SEE exhibit coming very soon.
May 23rd, 2025
The surrealist market is surging. Read more about what’s going on.
And speaking of surreal… WHAT IS GOING ON with Michael Winslow and Odd Nordstoga???
Give it a listen here. (Many thanks to my husband for delighting me with this gem.)
May 20, 2025
The Getty Villa is set to reopen after enduring January’s massive fires!
And why are ugly ceramics all the rage now?
May 19, 2025
It’s always interesting to see people work with the original topography when designing buildings. I found this one in Oregon particularly interesting this week:
https://design-milk.com/tetherow-overlook-is-a-sculptural-retreat-in-oregons-high-desert/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin&utm_campaign=tetherow-overlook-is-a-sculptural-retreat-in-oregons-high-desert
May 13,2025
Just past several early May celebrations we have a sad post, however it can turn into a glad post if enough of the uber wealthy of this country know how to “recreationally” spend their earnings. Meanwhile, the rest of the creatives will have to learn how to properly navigate a new landscape because… the landscape of the art community has been altered dramatically.
May 4th, 2025
You know it has to be said. “May the 4th be with you.” Okay. Geek acknowledged, let’s move on to artworks about celebrations! May is a BIG month for celebrations for us. From family birthdays, to anniversaries, Mother’s Day and graduation season… let’s run toward the joy!
April 20th, 2025
This week I learned about a wonderful designer, known for her pool designs and yet involved in every aspect of creation, most especially collaboration. Meet Alex Proba! Maybe you already know about her, however, I was just introduced to her through a wonderful podcast called Women Designers You Should Know. You can find it on Apple Podcast, Spotify and also Instagram and YouTube. Not as many episodes as on the podcast services though.
And we have to celebrate an historic first for female cinematographers. Inch by inch, it’s a cinch!
April 13, 2025
An ancient bronze griffin head is returned to Greece from New York in a major repatriation move.
A trove of artifacts recovered from the black market goes on display in Naples.
For the crafters and artisans of the Los Angeles region, Craftiness is having a 40% off sale on ALL of their inventory. Check store for times (not regular business hours). 21746 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
April 6, 2025
One of my favorite states to look for creative artists is Colorado. They always have a good finger on the pulse of independent and emerging artists. Here’s their list for exhibiting artists in 2025 so far:
https://cherryarts.org/events/cherry-creek-arts-festival/2025-exhibiting-artists/
March 24, 2025
I just learned about this kindness performed by an artist locally. And please people, let’s refer to those who lost property in the fires as survivors, not victims. Yes, they lost a lot, some lost pets and some lost family. However THEY survived. (end of rant).
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/gifting-a-memory-artist-sketches-family-homes-lost-in-palisades-eaton-fires
March 23, 2025
My art news for you this week is about 2 things. One, the dynamic of two creatives who decide to share their lives together as beautifully done in this piece on CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/20/style/joel-meyerowitz-maggie-barrett-artist-couple-documentary
And two, focusing on a famous sculptured water fountain and the mechanics of how it has worked over decades in this fascinating sneak peak behind the scenes: https://apnews.com/article/rome-trevi-fountain-water-5d84c3dae993ccaaebd140d444e804f8
Note: I do like the clean, uninterrupted design of the AP site compared to the cluttered and confusing layout of the CNN site. This is why design matters. You should not have to “keep track” of the article you are reading, your eye should be able to flow through the whole piece (like water – hah!)
March 16, 2025
Out of tragic fires comes the creative spirit undaunted! A wonderful story about a youth theatre group that received major support at a time it was most needed. https://www.kiro7.com/entertainment/youth-theater/TPXKAOCDFVHPRN3MCXWPOF2MUA/
Fine Art Museum of San Francisco celebrate women artists.
Mysterious portrait of a woman revealed beneath a Picasso painting.
March 9, 2025
While this site is about creators, not destroyers, sometimes you need to talk about how the destroyers are attempting to erase a culture, because taking over territory is not enough for their fragile egos. So today we are looking at the efforts to save the Ukrainian creative culture.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/style/ukraine-art-artifacts-russia-war-cec?cid=ios_app
February 28, 2025
Happy last day of February! From Artsy: “Check out Michelangelo Pistoletto receives nomination for 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. on Artsy”: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-michelangelo-pistoletto-receives-nomination-2025-nobel-peace-prize
February 17, 2025
Happy President’s Day to the citizens of this country who have had a long line of only male President’s. There, that observance is done. On to things of more interest. Have you ever been told to Beware of the Blue Apple? No? Well, here’s a really interesting article I read today on colors and their names in different cultures.
February 9, 2025
Finnish designer Yrjö Kukkapuro, whose postmodern chairs graced waiting rooms and museums, dies. As I always like to highlight innovators, this man definitely fits the bill. You can enjoy some of his wonderful designs here. This is someone who has definitely earned their rest. R.I.P. Mr. Kukkapuro.
February 1st, 2025
Rabbit, Rabbit!
I hope everyone has a hopeful and creative day today. Today’s engaging art news is about creating something functional and recovering from climate challenges. To quote from the article: “He’s Alex Matisse, a potter-turned-businessman whose East Fork Pottery is a proud hybrid of art and American manufacturing. And, oh yeah, he’s also the great-grandson of the French painter and sculptor Henri Matisse.” You can read more about him and his colorful creations here.
January 28th, 2025
Getting your head on straight in this world is not easy. I have often said there are “creators” and there are “destroyers”. Stop to think which camp you might be in.
In the destroyers category this week are some selfish, shortsighted people who stole a gold helmet of irreplaceable value. You often wonder what desperation sends someone on a quest like this and if their short term “win” will have been worth it. While I try to remember the Walt Whitman quote, “Be curious, not judgmental”, I have a hard time living up to it in cases like this. So I will just ask. What desperate circumstance makes it okay for you to take something that belongs to future generations?
January 25th, 2025
Is the beloved Louvre in trouble? I have heard many complaints from friends who visited that crowd management is sorely needed. Apparently there are other issues as well. Read more here.
2,000 year-old Greek statue found abandoned in a garbage bag. Read more here.
January 21, 2025
Here I am, posting from my new laptop! I needed to get the purchase in post Christmas/pre-tariffs and make sure everything was connected and working. All went well so, now I am back to giving you interesting art news!
We find ourselves in Italy for the latest (best not to try it yourself) news. Etruscan artifacts worth $8.5 million have been recovered in the Umbria region of Italy. I am pleased to see these artifacts will be in the hands of people who appreciate them for the knowledge they can provide, instead of the black market dollars alone.
January 12, 2025
I’m pleased to share this article about the Art Deco Design Style making a comeback after about a century of being more or less “out of fashion”. I love Art Deco. You would never know it by my home decor, however I would have to be like Barbra Streisand and own a property with at least 5 homes to properly indulge my various loves of architecture and design.
January 11, 2025
It’s been an extremely challenging week with my husband’s return to work (which is always chocked full and long hours – he loves it) and keeping up with friends, family and the fire news here in Los Angeles. Because of all of that, I have kept up with my checklists of tasks yet not my checklist of creative projects. Many, many events have been either postponed or canceled entirely this week and an art class was one of the things that was delayed. I should have 3 classes this next week. So I will catch up on creative learning if all goes well with holding the line on fires. So I have focused on the most urgent and my easel has sat neglected. I am fortunate that at this stage, I am not dependent on my artwork for my livelihood. However, many, many artist/designers are in L.A., and they just lost EVERYTHING. So here’s a good resource for anyone who really needs to get back on their creative feet quickly.
Week of Jan. 5-11, 2025
Hell has frozen over. Or at least that’s how many in the upper middle and a swath across to the eastern coast of the U.S. may feel this week. Now is the perfect time to discuss the obvious differences between “climate” and “weather” to your relatives who say, “It can’t be global warming if it’s freezing!” The organization One5c put it well when they wrote: “… climate is not weather. Weather is a measure of what’s going on in the atmosphere at a given time (stuff like temperature, precipitation, wind), and it can change daily and can swing wildly from one extreme to another. Climate is about patterns that occur over decades. Think of it this way: Weather is what tells you you might need to put on a scarf; climate is what tells you how to stock your wardrobe.”
Meanwhile, it feels like a true raging, fiery hell to those who are battling the Palisades fire that broke out about 10:30 a.m. this morning (January 7th, 2025) along California’s coastline. The fire quickly spread and many people had to abandon their cars as they tried to leave the area. Meanwhile, the Getty Villa, which is closed on Tuesdays regularly, was busy making sure any moveable art was stored properly and safely. Both the Getty Villa and The Getty (often referred to as “the Center”) – yes there are two distinct locations – have pre-planned systems to protect their valuable resources. God forbid the buildings should be damaged or even burned to the ground… most of their artwork would be spared. You have to applaud the forethought.
The Getty Villa’s Instagram post this evening (Jan. 7th) states:
“A brush fire started late this morning in the Pacific Palisades, fueled by extremely high winds. We swiftly closed the Villa to non-emergency staff, and the site is, in any case, closed to the public on Tuesdays. The Getty Villa will remain closed at least through Monday, January 13. We, of course, are very concerned for our neighbors in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the surrounding areas.
Fortunately, Getty had made extensive efforts to clear brush from the surrounding area as part of its fire mitigation efforts through out the year. Some trees and vegetation on site have burned, but no structures are on fire, and staff and the collection remain safe. Additional fire prevention measures in place at the Villa include water storage on-site. Irrigation was immediately deployed throughout the grounds Tuesday morning. Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from smoke by state-of-the-art air handling systems. The double-walled construction of the galleries also provides significant protection for the collections.
We are grateful for the tireless work of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and other agencies to keep the Villa and it’s staff safe, as well as for the on-site presence of fire trucks throughout the day.” – Posted approximately 5:15 p.m.
How can you help the fire victims? Locally donation centers for those who have lost it all, are open around the L.A. area. Check your local TV stations, they list them as do many social media sites. Collect what you can and drop off items now and over the coming weeks. There need will be there for a while.
January 7th, 2025
Predictions on where the art world will move in a new year are always interesting to me, because no one knows what the year will hold. Beyond educated guesses and uber wealthy fingers on the scales or destructive influences, be it violence or acts of nature, there is no firmness in knowing. John Lennon knew that art was about all of us, the human reflections on the world. So really… it is yet to be created. However here is one take on where we might be going with Art in 2025. Do you think it’s too early to tell or do you think this prediction is spot on?
Archived Post:
I love studying trees. Here’s a wonderful article on the beauty and variety of bark.
https://www.brainpickings.org/2010/11/02/cedric-pollet-bark/
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