Art Law Conference 2025: Nazi-Era Disputed Art: Research & Restitution

80 years after the end of World War II and more than 25 years after the 1998 Washington Conference, which set the stage for modern restitution efforts, we continue to face title disputes and build on the pioneering work of those who came before us. Decades of meticulous research, digitization, and scholarship have expanded our understanding of Nazi-era looted art, yet much remains unfinished. Armed with new tools and technologies, how do we persist in the pursuit of fair and just solutions to the enduring legacies of war, genocide, and theft?

The Nazi-Era Disputed Art: Research & Restitution Conference examined ongoing efforts to document, analyze, and facilitate the restitution of Nazi-era looted art. It will highlight the evolving role of research, digital resources, and interdisciplinary collaboration in uncovering provenance, advancing legal claims, and ensuring accountability. By bringing together attorneys, art historians, museum professionals, heirs, journalists, and scholars, the conference explored seminal cases, evidence-gathering methodologies, and the evolving challenges of restitution in the 21st century.

Organized by the Center for Art Law, this hybrid conference fostered dialogue, shared critical insights, and charted the future of restitution efforts in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.