Art Law Blog

In August 2023, the New York District Attorney’s (NYDA) Antiquities Trafficking Unit, which specializes in investigating looted artifacts, seized a headless statue valued at $20 million from th...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2023/11/articles/art-museums-and-cultural-organizations/titleless-tales-of-the-headless/

In 1966, an ancient bronze bust found its way to the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts. Believed to depict the daughter of the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, it was titled “Portrait of a L...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2023/09/articles/art-museums-and-cultural-organizations/busted-manhattan-prosecutors-seize-an-ancient-roman-bust-from-the-worcester-art-museum/

The artworks stolen by the Nazis are the last prisoners of World War II.  – Ronald Lauder, Woman in Gold Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer was a wealthy sugar magnate in Vienna, Austria where his six Gust...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2022/09/articles/art-museums-and-cultural-organizations/ny-museums-required-to-label-last-prisoners-of-world-war-ii/

In 1999, the estate and family of founding partner, Gordon F. Hampton, gifted his extraordinary collection of contemporary art to the University Art Museum — now known as the Carolyn Campagna K...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2020/10/articles/art-museums-and-cultural-organizations/fundraiser-material-concerns/

In support of the international crackdown on the black market trade of looted cultural artifacts, the FBI recently announced that art dealers may be prosecuted for engaging in the trade of stolen...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2015/09/articles/art-museums-and-cultural-organizations/crime-doesnt-pay-as-much-as-it-used-to-fbi-cracks-down-on-trade-of-looted-syrian-and-iraqi-cultural-artifacts/

With the June passage of New York Senate bill S7890 and Assembly bill A10143, the Empire State’s elephant and mammoth ivory and rhino horn trade may be approaching extinction. The legislation, ...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2014/08/articles/art-collectors/the-elephant-in-the-room-ivory-ban-seeks-to-curb-poaching/

Cornelius Gurlitt’s notarized will, which did not surface until after his unexpected death this past May, lists the Kunstmuseum Bern in Switzerland as the heir to his vast art collection, which...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2014/06/articles/art-museums-and-cultural-organizations/last-wishes-first-impression-potential-legal-issues-arise-after-munich-recluse-passes-away-bequeathing-nazi-looted-art-to-a-swiss-museum/

On January 23rd, in a rare public appearance, Jasper Johns testified against a New York foundry owner, Brian Ramnarine, who was charged with creating unauthorized sculptures, including a fraudule...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2014/02/articles/art-galleries/aint-nothing-like-the-real-thing-despite-forgery-scandals-the-fine-art-market-is-booming/

When public institutions are suffering from financial deficits, one question is usually raised: can they sell art to survive? In the museum world it is generally understood that you are to deacce...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2013/09/articles/art-museums-and-cultural-organizations/the-financial-crisis-and-a-new-round-of-deaccessioning-debates/

Last post discussed the legal issues surrounding museum loan agreements. This post continues the discussion of museum loans with a look at loans coming into the U.S. from abroad. When exhibition ...

https://www.artlawgallery.com/2013/04/articles/art-collectors/museum-loans-part-two/