In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus, "Return to Tipasa" (1952)
Dear Readers,
Where do we begin our 2026 programming and communications?! We sent out a quick email about our upcoming events (February marks the launch of public lectures, workshops, bootcamps and so much more), we have regrouped with the core team members and began planning for the Spring Interns’ arrival next week (another robust group to mold and mentor), we interviewed and hired new team members, secured a sub-domain, and missed a few deadlines (business as usual). While the world is living through one of the hardest winters in our modern history, the Center is here to learn from and to help advance visual arts together with veterans and new-comers to the field.
Before the year sets off in its frenzied pace, please accept our warm thanks for helping us reach our end-of-year fundraising goal. Together we raised over $37,000, thanks to support from our Board members, advisors, individual and institutional donors. Join me in thanking the family of Dr. Louis Mandel (1923-2025) for their generous donation of more than $12,000 on behalf of the Lou Mandel Estate. We will honor his memory and spend every dollar wisely and gratefully.
What’s Next? Our Monthly Art Law Blasts (a.k.a. newsletters) will strive to appear in the first half of the month to help you plan your social calendars and amplify our efforts to grow art law offerings and reach new audiences. To these worthy ends, we invite you to save the date for our second edition of the Center for Art Law Summer School (May 18-May 22, 2026) and renew your premium subscriptions/memberships (which term do you prefer? otherwise we continue using them interchangeably). We will make it worth your while, we always do, as we continue to advance the mission of the Center for Art Law and Center for Art Law Switzerland (great things are afoot).
Content
What's New in Art Law
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[ATTRIBUTION] Contract Battle Emerges Over Allegedly Misattributed Modigliani Painting
Art collector Charles Cahn has sued Sotheby’s, alleging that the auction house refused to re-sell a Modigliani painting he had purchased. The work in question, Portrait de Leopold Zborowski, dated to 1917, depicts Modigliani’s dealer. In 2003, Cahn purchased the painting from Sotheby’s for $1.55 million. Cahn claims that in 2016 Sotheby’s questioned the painting’s authenticity and, as a result, the parties entered into an agreement under which Sotheby’s promised to re-sell the painting if Cahn chose to do so within 15 years. Earlier in 2025 Cahn contacted Sotheby’s about consigning the work and received no response. He filed suit shortly thereafter. Read more here. [VD]
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[FRAUD] Repeat Fraudster Faces Charges for Stealing a Courbet
Thomas Doyle, described as a “quintessential con artist,” has been charged with defrauding a London gallery owner. In 2011, Doyle was imprisoned for an $880,000 fraud involving a Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot painting. After his release, he allegedly struck again, this time defrauding Patrick Matthiesen, a gallery owner who entrusted Doyle with a $550,000 Gustave Courbet painting. Doyle subsequently sold the Courbet to the Jill Newhouse Gallery in New York for $115,000, providing false provenance. The gallery later sold the work to collector Jon Landau for $125,000. Matthiesen has filed suit against Doyle, Jill Newhouse Gallery, and Landau. Read more here. [VD]
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[ART MARKET] Art Basel Miami Beach 2020 Highlights Market Shift
Art Basel Miami Beach took place amid a period of adjustment in the global art market. Although fourteen longtime participating galleries withdrew shortly before opening, the fair’s director, Bridget Finn, expressed optimism about the event’s outcome. Several notable changes were made to the fair’s layout this year. The Nova and Positions sectors were moved to the east side entrance, marking the first time emerging galleries have been placed at the fair’s entrance. The fair is also spotlighting local dealers, with seven Miami-based galleries participating. Among them, Nina Johnson’s eponymous gallery is making its Art Basel Miami Beach debut. Read more here. [VD]
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[NAZI-LOOTED ART] Germany Launches Binding Tribunal for Nazi-Era Art Restitution
Earlier in 2025, the German government established a specialized arbitration court aimed at streamlining the return of cultural property seized during the Nazi era. On December 1, the court officially began operations, replacing the long-standing Advisory Commission, commonly known as the Limbach Commission. The tribunal consists of 36 arbitrators who will issue binding decisions guided by an evaluation framework focused on the swift resolution of long-standing restitution disputes. The court’s co-chairs are Elisabeth Steiner, a former judge of the European Court of Human Rights, and Peter Müller, former minister-president of Saarland. Read more here. [VD]
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[ART CRIME] Additional Suspects Detained in Louvre Heist
French authorities have arrested four additional suspects connected to the theft of royal jewels from the Louvre, bringing the total number of detainees to fourteen. The arrests, two in Paris and two in southern France, follow months of surveillance and phone-tap evidence suggesting coordinated involvement in the nighttime break-in. While the jewels remain missing, investigators say the expanding inquiry points to an organized network behind the multimillion-dollar heist. Read more here. [SG]
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[ARCHIVES] Major Digital Catalogue Advances Scholarship on Romare Bearden
The Romare Bearden Foundation has released the first phase of a digital catalogue raisonné, offering open-access entries on more than 400 works by the influential African American artist. Developed in collaboration with Panopticon and overseen by art historians and the Foundation’s research team, the project brings together verified works, archival materials, and provenance records to support scholars and collectors. Future phases will expand the catalogue to include thousands of Bearden’s collages, prints, and paintings, marking a significant advancement in digital art-historical scholarship. Read more here. [SG]
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[ARTIST NEWS] Sculptor Alma Allen Selected for U.S. Pavilion
Artist Alma Allen, known for his biomorphic stone, bronze, and wood sculptures, has been selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Organized by SITE Santa Fe, the presentation highlights Allen’s trajectory from self-taught desert sculptor to internationally recognized artist, celebrated for works that merge organic forms with meticulous craftsmanship. His pavilion is expected to further explore questions of scale, material, and the boundary between natural and sculpted forms. Read more here. Read more here. [SG]
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[ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Italian Fresco Reconstructed Using AI
Thirty years ago, an earthquake in Italy shattered a fresco by the early Renaissance artist Cimabue. Located in the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, the fresco depicted Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, alongside architectural scenes from Asia, Greece, Judea, and Italy. The Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria is now collaborating with Florence-based architectural imaging firm Ikare to create a digital reconstruction of the fresco using video projection technology. Read more here. [LS]
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[TRUMP ADMINISTRATION] Threats to Smithsonian
On December 18, the Trump administration sent a letter to the Smithsonian Institution reiterating that it has yet to provide documents requested in August, including current exhibition descriptions, draft plans for upcoming shows, programming materials, and internal guidelines used in exhibition development. The administration emphasized that government funding, which accounts for approximately 62 percent of the Smithsonian’s budget, may be withheld if the Institution fails to comply with these requests. Read more here. [LS]
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[TURNER PRIZE] Nnena Kalu Wins 2025 Turner Prize
Nnena Kalu is a 59-year-old Nigerian, London-based artist whose practice centers on hanging sculptures and life-sized drawings. She is the first artist with a learning disability to win the Turner Prize. For the past 25 years, Kalu has worked as an artist-in-residence at ActionSpace, a nonprofit organization that supports artists with learning disabilities by providing studio space, materials, and exhibition opportunities. Kalu’s artistic facilitator, Charlotte Hollinshead, spoke on her behalf at the award ceremony, expressing hope that the win would help dismantle prejudice against artists with disabilities. Read more here. [LS]
Copyright and Immersive Experiences: Navigating Registration Challenges at the U.S. Copyright Office
Immersive media experiences blend technology, interactivity, and creative expression in ways that challenge traditional copyright registration practice. This panel will offer practical guidance on navigating eligibility issues when registering such works with the U.S. Copyright Office. Panelists, including Center for Art Law’s Director of Legal Research, Atreya Mathur, will address which components of interactive experiences that combine visual, audio, and experiential elements may qualify for protection, the strategies for avoiding common pitfalls, and what current Copyright Office registration practice reveals about the evolving treatment of emerging technologies.
2026 Annual Meeting: Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section
Forming a Non-Profit Monthly Workshop (CLE)
MediateArt: Mediation & Negotiation Training Program (CLE)
VLA’s MediateArt Training Program is a two-day intensive workshop of basic mediation training for attorneys, artists, arts administrators, and other professionals with an interest or background in the arts.
Participants will learn effective mediation skills, particularly as they relate to art-related issues, through observing mock-mediations, engaging in mediation simulations, and receiving feedback from program faculty. The workshop will focus on “deal mediation” negotiation, facilitative leadership skills, and resolution of disputes without resorting to litigation.
Following completion of the program, participants will be eligible to take part as mediators in VLA’s MediateArt Program, as matters arise.
Remedies for Looted Art and Cultural Property—Civil, Criminal or Consensual?
This is a moment in time when we as a society, in New York, nationally and internationally, are reexamining how we address looted art and cultural property. The Symposium will draw together discussion of Holocaust-era looted art and cultural property, antiquities taken in the Colonial-era and subsequently, as well as Native American cultural and religious artifacts, ancestors, and repatriation. There have been major developments recently in all these areas making this Symposium singularly appropriate at this point in time, and courts are increasingly being confronted with these issues. The Symposium will bring together diverse perspectives on issues of legislation, litigation, law enforcement, and societal examination of history, and will look at common themes of law and policy in these fields in order to examine where we are and to discuss potential future directions.
Provenance Research and Archives in the Netherlands
On 27 January, at 16:00 CET, the AG Netherlands will host an online panel meeting focusing on archives in the Netherlands and their relevance for WWII provenance research.
Following last year’s AG Netherlands panel session on archival sources for provenance research, the meeting will continue the exploration of Dutch archives and digital resources relevant to the Nazi era (1933-1945). Three expert speakers will discuss not only key archival materials for provenance research in the Netherlands, but also broader themes such as digitisation, the use of AI, archival ethics, and the role of the archivist. The panel will conclude with a Q&A and open discussion.
Center for Art Law Summer School 2026
Join us for the Second Edition of Center for Art Law Summer School! An immersive five-day educational program designed for individuals interested in the dynamic and ever-evolving field of art law.
Dates: May 18 – May 22, 2026
Location: New York City
Application Timeline:
- Applications Open: January 20, 2026
- Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
- Decisions Released: March 31, 2026
Stolen Art: Historical, Cultural, and Legal Perspectives on Contested Ownership
Public fascination with art and heritage theft and destruction is evident from their almost daily coverage by media sources. This course will delve into intriguing legal, ethical, political, historical, cultural, and financial questions about contested art across five subject areas:
(1) The acquisition of art during the Age of Imperialism (from Roman times through World War II)
(2) Holocaust-era art takings
(3) Theft of Indigenous art and heritage
(4) Heists from museums and private collections
(5) The illicit trade and destruction of antiquities
Students will think critically and comparatively about current high-profile stolen art disputes and related issues, including: restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and Benin Bronzes, the evolution in legal and ethical responses to Nazi-looted art, forgery of Indigenous art and its impacts, why and how thieves steal from museums, and causes of and best responses to antiquities looting and destruction.
Application deadline: January 17
Career Opportunities
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Associate General Counsel, The MET
Working closely in conjunction with the General Counsel and the Senior Associate General Counsel focused on labor and employment issues, the candidate will provide a wide range of legal services to several Museum departments, with a particular focus on Human Resources activities. They will identify, analyze and communicate legal developments. They will also provide legal counsel regarding investigations of compliance issues, including discrimination allegations. Read more here.
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Contract Attorneys-Entertainment Law
A midtown New York law firm is seeking contract entertainment litigation attorneys with at least four to six years of experience in a litigation-focused practice at a large firm or entertainment company. Candidates must be admitted to the New York Bar and have strong research, writing, and e-discovery skills. The position offers hybrid work, a forty-hour work week, and compensation ranging from $75 to $125 per hour depending on experience. Applicants interested in temporary litigation work within the entertainment sector are encouraged to apply through Solomon Page HERE.
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Director of Legal and Business Affairs, Warner Chappell Music
Warner Chappell Music, the global music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, is seeking a Director (or Senior Director) of Legal and Business Affairs to join its New York office. The position focuses on supporting the company’s international operations and involves drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, advising global teams, assisting with catalog acquisitions, and providing cross-border legal support. Candidates should have a J.D., New York Bar admission, and two to five years of relevant entertainment law experience, along with strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills. The salary range is $130,000 to $165,000 annually. Interested applicants may apply through Warner Music Group’s careers portal HERE.
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Vice President of Artist & Label Operations, UnitedMasters
UnitedMasters is seeking a Vice President of Artist & Label Operations to serve in a senior leadership role overseeing the financial, operational, and strategic management of its exclusive artist and label partnerships. Based in Brooklyn, New York, this role bridges creative execution and business administration, with responsibility for royalty accounting, financial reporting, release operations, metadata integrity, and contract compliance across digital and physical formats. The VP will lead artist and label onboarding, manage complex licensing and operational workflows, oversee physical product logistics, and guide A&R administration including sample clearance and delivery documentation. The position also involves leading and developing the Artist and Label Operations team, interpreting complex music industry agreements, and ensuring artist-first, accurate, and scalable operational systems that support independent artist ownership and growth. Read more here.
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Development Coordinator: Cultural Emergency Response
Cultural Emergency Response (CER) is hiring a Development Coordinator to support their fundraising efforts for safeguarding cultural heritage in crisis. Based in Amsterdam, the role focuses on managing donor pipelines, coordinating grant processes, and strengthening CER’s fundraising systems to ensure sustainable support for emergency response and heritage protection. The position begins in April 2026 and applications are due by February 8, 2026. Read more here.
Educational & Other Opportunities
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Call for papers: Art and design in the age of AI
At the same time as AI is reshaping the landscape of creative practice, it is raising complex questions about the future of creativity and the livelihoods of artists. AI tools can assist with creative processes, automate routine tasks, and open visual art creation to a wider audience, but they also necessitate a shift in skills for human professionals. As artists and designers engage with machine learning, automation, and data aesthetics, new questions emerge about authorship, ethics, aesthetics, and the future of creativity itself.
This Collection invites scholarship that explores the intersections of art, design, and artificial intelligence from across the humanities and social sciences. We welcome contributions from fields including media studies, cultural studies, art history, design theory, sociology, education, and critical technology studies. Submissions should reflect critically on the cultural, social, and conceptual implications of AI in creative domains. Read more here.
Check back soon for updates!
Case Law Corner
View both new and old art law cases featured this month in our Case Law Database:
Price v. United States, 69 F.3d 46 (5th Cir. 1995)
Lew v. City of Los Angeles, No. 220CV10948DDPPLAX, 2023 WL 5985491 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 13, 2023)
In re Google Generative AI Copyright Litig., 5:23-cv-03440, 2025 WL 2624885 (N.D. Cal. 2025)
Thomson Reuters Enter. Ctr. GmbH v. Ross Intel., Inc., 765 F. Supp. 3d 382 (D. Del. 2025)
Demand for Jury Trial, Brodie v. Rower, No. 1:25-cv-00103-ALC (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 6, 2025)
New Titles in the Art Law Library
The Subjects of Literary and Artistic Copyright
From our friend Enrico Bonadio who co-authored this book that examines to what extent copyright protects a range of subjects that are engaged in the creation and management of literary and artistic works, and how such subjects use copyright to protect their interests. Providing a starting point for future research paths on copyright practices in art and literature, this book will be of interest to legal academics looking to expand their knowledge of literary and artistic copyright.
Digitising Cultural Heritage: Clashes with Copyright Law
From the publisher:
“As heritage digitisation projects become increasingly common for purposes such as preservation and access, the impact of copyright is also becoming more problematic. In order to provide a full and current picture of the copyright problem, the book first introduces the reader to the debates on the scope and ownership of cultural heritage and provides an overview of the copyright implications of the digitisation process and newer uses, including 2D and 3D scanning; virtual and augmented reality; text and data mining; and artificial intelligence.
The author then divides the main critical analysis into three parts, referred to as the ‘clashes with copyright’. The first, clash in theory, lies between cultural property law and copyright justification theories. The second clash is in the different legal approaches to digitising in-copyright, public domain, orphan, out-of-commerce and unpublished works in the chosen jurisdictions, focusing on the relevant rights and defences. The third clash is in the interests of stakeholders, based on public reactions to existing projects and cases, supported by interviews with heritage professionals engaging in digitisation.
By placing itself in this particular intersection of law, heritage, and technology, the book will be of interest to both intellectual property academics and cultural heritage professionals.”
Copyright and Patent Laws for the Age of Artificial Intelligence
“This book responds to the need to distinguish human creations from those produced by AI. It does so by tracing human attributes of authorship and inventorship in statutory requirements for protection and ownership in European copyright and patent laws.
Its main contribution lies in exposing shortcomings in how the laws are applied in the UK, Germany, and France. It shows that the human origin of creations is traditionally inferred from their expressive form or technical character. Given the advancements in AI, such inferences are no longer legitimate. What is more, these shortcomings may eventually lead to granting copyright or patent protection where none is lawfully permitted or sufficiently justified. To remedy the situation, this book offers doctrinal and conceptual amendments and proposes law reforms to implement them.
This book guides authorities, practitioners, and students through the main arguments of the debate concerning copyright and patents for objects entirely or partly generated by AI. It also makes original contributions to advance the ongoing academic and policy debates on AI and intellectual property law.”
Cultural Heritage in International Investment Law and Arbitration
Vadi maps the relevant investor-state arbitrations concerning cultural elements in an effort to show that arbitrators have increasingly taken cultural concerns into consideration in deciding cases brought before them, eventually contributing to the coalescence of general principles of law demanding the protection of cultural heritage.
Cultural Heritage and Mass Atrocities
Cultural Heritage and Mass Atrocities assembles thirty-eight experts from the heritage, social science, humanitarian, legal, and military communities. Focusing on immovable cultural heritage vulnerable to attack, the volume’s guiding framework is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), a United Nations resolution adopted unanimously in 2005 to permit international intervention against crimes of war or genocide. Comprehensive sections on vulnerable populations as well as the role of international law and the military offer readers critical insights and point toward research, policy, and action agendas to protect both people and cultural heritage.
A Legal Primer on Managing Museum Collections
This revised and expanded third edition addresses the many legal developments—including a comprehensive discussion of stolen art and the international movement of cultural property, recent developments in copyright, and the effects of burgeoning electronic uses—that have occurred during the past twenty-five years.
Inventing the Modern: Untold Stories of the Women Who Shaped The Museum of Modern Art
Founded in 1929, the Museum of Modern Art owes much of its early success to a number of remarkable women who shaped the future of the institution in its first decades. As founders, patrons, curators and directors of various departments, these figures boldly defied societal norms to launch this radical venture during the depths of the Great Depression. They were fortunate in the freedoms afforded by uncharted territory; because the notion of a museum of modern art was new, there was a conspicuous absence of the professional prerequisites, official structures and respectable salaries that would have limited the jobs to men. This left the door open for a host of women to define their own roles and invent new fields. This book profiles 14 pioneering figures who made an indelible mark not only on MoMA, but on the culture of their time.
