Art in Brief

What happens when a nation’s cultural treasures are privately owned… and who gets to decide where they belong?

In our latest episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris explore the ongoing controversy surrounding the Gelman Collection, one of the most significant collections of twentieth-century Mexican art, featuring masterpieces by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, María Izquierdo, and Rufino Tamayo.

We discuss the collection’s remarkable history, the legal disputes surrounding its ownership, and the recent decision to relocate dozens of works to Spain under an arrangement with Santander. At the heart of the controversy are broader questions about cultural patrimony, private ownership, and the responsibility to preserve a nation’s artistic heritage.

How should governments balance the protection of national treasures with the public’s ability to access and experience them? And what does it mean for an artwork to belong to a nation, even when it is privately owned?

Listen to the latest episode of Art in Brief wherever you get your podcasts. We’ve linked relevant articles from the Center for Art Law and other resources below.

• https://itsartlaw.org/art-law/from-national-treasure-to-asset-class-the-gelman-collections-case/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/arts/design/frida-kahlo-gelman-mexico-spain.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
• https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/07/10/could-mexicos-treasured-kahlo-works-leave-the-country-forever

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What does it take to report and write a story about stolen art, war, and the people caught at the center of it?

In our latest episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris are joined by Matthew Campbell, award-winning reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek and author of The Man Who Stole the Gods, to discuss his years-long investigation into the looting and trafficking of ancient Khmer artifacts from Cambodia.

We talk about Matthew’s research and reporting process, why he chose to center the story around the book’s main characters, and how he approached telling the stories of complicated figures with nuance and empathy.

Listen to the latest episode of Art in Brief wherever you get your podcasts. Resources from the Center for Art Law and a link to Matthew’s book are linked below:

• https://itsartlaw.org/art-law/era-of-despoilment-looting-in-cambodia-1970-2010/

Read Matthew's book:

• https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Stole-Gods-Conspiracy/dp/B0FYM8H6DR/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=176765513495&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.w4vr5gaQ1DOINaPztVk_cRtrS7dmujglZON1r71_ACYNkGO7ALoQPLqpig7xGsBSj0v7vkInXWh6I5Zw8job_9NN_m0vafeEsc6NS7tb7cvjqSYcpDSMfgPA5PiY-Hi8Ud2GbEteTTjN3F6B4k9XQPpSSgPl7xgTYch7gajzwZCC8JT1EfxG8ny0y_TIxF9F258ty-Gg3sz6OB-8G1kH5w.P4BOqNzLgtaEuuO4XVFu71S8pCltFXJJnGU-Jub0z5M&dib_tag=se&hvadid=777917649781&hvdev=m&hvexpln=68&hvlocphy=9198132&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=636994792264238302--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=636994792264238302&hvtargid=kwd-2499641917404&hydadcr=15147_13840105&keywords=the+man+who+stole+the+gods&mcid=09d7cf031cce30b18102723217a114a8&qid=1787349338&sr=8-1

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In a world shaped by smartphones, smart glasses, and AI, what should be considered acceptable when images can be captured and shared so widely?

In 2015, Martha and Matthew Foster sued photographer Arne Svenson, who had spent the previous year taking photographs of them inside their home through their windows, without their knowledge. The court ultimately ruled in the photographer’s favor, citing his right to artistic expression.

In this episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris are joined by Cathy Kaplan - lawyer, professor, and chair of the boards of the Yale art gallery and Aperture, as well as the Whitney photography committee - to discuss the questions this case raises about privacy, consent, artistic freedom, and commercial use.

Check out our Zurich Intensive:  https://itsartlaw.org/events/art-x-law-intensive/

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In this episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris speak with Will Korner, founder and director of the Cultural Heritage At Risk Database Foundation (CHARD). 

From conflict zones to disaster-stricken regions, Will discusses how documentation, collaboration, and technology can help safeguard the objects and stories that connect us to our shared past from illicit trade. He also explains how CHARD’s database can be used to cross-check whether stolen or missing cultural objects are appearing on the art market, including at auction, and what is at stake when these irreplaceable pieces of heritage are lost.

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In this episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris speak with Will Korner, founder and director of the Cultural Heritage At Risk Database Foundation (CHARD). 

From conflict zones to disaster-stricken regions, Will discusses how documentation, collaboration, and technology can help safeguard the objects and stories that connect us to our shared past from illicit trade. He also explains how CHARD’s database can be used to cross-check whether stolen or missing cultural objects are appearing on the art market, including at auction, and what is at stake when these irreplaceable pieces of heritage are lost.

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In this episode, we speak with art market expert Doug Woodham to unpack how Jean-Michel Basquiat became one of the most enduring cultural icons of our time. 

Moving beyond his rise in 1980s New York, this episode focuses on what happened after his death. We explore how his estate, led by his father, shaped his legacy through control of supply, copyright, and narrative; how early collectors and market forces drove the value of his work; and how museums and media cemented his place in art history. 

Together, we explore the bigger question: is creating great art enough, or does becoming an icon require an entire ecosystem working behind the scenes?

Read Doug's book here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Jean-%C2%ADMichel-Basquiat-Making-Doug-Woodham/dp/0500030693

Also, please join us on May 27  for the highly anticipated Art Law Conference 2026, held at Brooklyn Law School and Online (Hybrid). Entitled “What is Copy, Right? Visual Art, AI, and the Law in the 21st Century,” this year’s conference explores the evolving relationship between visual art, copyright law, and artificial intelligence:

https://itsartlaw.org/2026-art-law-conference-new-york-city/

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In this episode, we had the opportunity to speak with Elysia Borowy, Executive Director of the Rema Hort Mann Foundation, Christy Ceriale, founder of the foundation’s Young Collectors Initiative, and Antonio Vidal, one of the recipients of the 2026 Emerging Artist Grant.

Through these three perspectives, we explored the inner workings of one of New York’s most prominent art foundations, hearing firsthand about the realities of running a philanthropic arts organization, building a career as a working artist, and navigating the world of collecting as a young person in the city.

Founded in 1995, the Rema Hort Mann Foundation supports both emerging visual artists and individuals battling cancer, providing grants and resources at pivotal moments in their lives and careers. 

Learn more about the foundation and its programs here:

https://www.remahortmannfoundation.org/

Check out Antonio's work here: 

https://www.instagram.com/antonio.vidal.l/ 

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In our first episode of the year, Paris and Andrea speak with Ali Nour, who recounts his journey from Khartoum to Cairo amid the ongoing civil war, and describes how he became involved with the Emergency Response Committee - a group of Sudanese heritage officials working to safeguard Sudan’s cultural heritage.

Upcoming Events: 

• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-lawyering-bootcamp-copyright-law-tickets-1977628671593?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-legacy-estate-planning-clinic-tickets-1369639341139?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

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What happens when culture becomes collateral damage in war?

In this episode of Art in Brief, we speak with Patty Gerstenblith, a leading expert on cultural heritage law, about the destruction of cultural sites in recent armed conflicts. 

We examine the role of international courts, the limits of accountability, and whether the law can truly protect history in times of war.

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In this episode, Paris and Andrea sit down with Carina Popovici, a physicist turned art tech entrepreneur and the founder of Art Recognition. 

Together, we explore how her team trains AI to read an artist’s hand, detect forgeries, and bring more transparency to the art market. We also dive into the ethical stakes, from questions of bias to concerns about authority and accountability, as technology begins to influence how we understand our cultural past.

Check out the Framework for Responsible Use of AI in Art Authentication, developed by Art Recognition and the Center for Art Law, a nonprofit organization based in the United States.

https://art-recognition.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Framework-for-Responsible-Use-of-AI-in-Art-Authentication-final.pdf

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