Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.

Artnet News

- 2026 Begins With Big Tests for Asia’s Art Markets: https://news.artnet.com/market/2026-asian-art-market-preview-2737112

- Can Brainrot Be Art? Beeple Thinks So: https://news.artnet.com/multimedia/can-brainrot-be-art-beeple-thinks-so-2734872

- Ian McKellen Brings Beloved British Painter L.S. Lowry to Life in New Documentary: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ls-lowry-ian-mckellen-documentary-2737539

- Painter Henry Walsh’s Expansive Canvases Teem With the ‘Imaginary Lives of Strangers’: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/henry-walsh-fine-art-consultancy-2737216

- Stolen Louvre Jewels Were Last Seen in a Parking Garage, Surveillance Footage Reveals: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/stolen-louvre-jewels-parking-garage-2737363

- London Exhibition Forced to Close After Right-Wing Vandal Attacks: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/london-bomb-factory-show-vandalized-2737340

- This Church Became a Storied Gallery. Now It’s for Sale: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/freddy-gallery-church-sale-2737217

- Alaska Museum’s Mammoth Fossils Turn Out to Be Whale Bones: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/alaska-museums-mammoth-fossils-2736964

The Art Newspaper - International art news and events

- Rare work by Edgar Degas among £59.7m haul of art donated to UK public collections in exchange for tax benefits: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/15/£597m-of-art-donated-to-uk-public-collections-in-exchange-for-tax-benefits

- Kochi Biennale co-founder Bose Krishnamachari steps down as president: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/15/kochi-biennale-founder-bose-krishnamachari-steps-down-president

- Lehmann Maupin takes permanent space in Mayfair’s No. 9 Cork Street: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/15/lehmann-maupin-takes-permanent-london-space-at-frieze-no-9-cork-street

- Iranian galleries close amid protests and communications blackout: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/15/iranian-galleries-close-amid-protests-communications-blackout

- The road to ‘Fridamania’: how Frida Kahlo became a global phenomenon: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/15/how-frida-kahlo-became-global-phenomenon

- ‘It’s madness’: David Hockney blasts plans to loan Bayeux Tapestry to UK: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/15/david-hockney-blasts-loan-bayeux-tapestry-uk

ARTnews.com

- Swatch Launches Guggenheim Collaboration With Watches Inspired by Pollock, Degas, Monet, and Klee: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/swatch-guggenheim-collaboration-pollock-degas-monet-klee-1234769985/

- Centre Pompidou Reportedly Gives Up a Grand Palais Space Due to ‘Financial Constraints’: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/centre-pompidou-grand-palais-space-financial-constraints-1234769966/

- Bucking Current Trends, Prado Director Says Museum Won’t Be Chasing Ever-Growing Visitor Numbers: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/museo-del-prado-visitor-numbers-1234770012/

- Paris Investigators Say Stolen Louvre Jewels Were Hidden in Parking Lot as Thieves Ditched Getaway Vehicles: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/stolen-louvre-robbery-jewels-investigation-update-parking-lot-1234770011/

- Whitney Museum Taps Ego Nwodim as Art Party Co-Chair: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ego-nwodim-whitney-museum-art-party-2026-1234769989/

- Ian McKellan Will Act Out Unheard Audio Recordings of Cult Artist L.S. Lowry in New Documentary: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ian-mckellan-documentary-ls-lowry-bbc-1234770000/

- Iranian Artists Killed in Anti-Government Protests, Advocacy Groups Report: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/iranian-artists-killed-in-anti-government-protests-advocacy-groups-report-1234769963/

- Kochi Biennale Foundation Co-Founder Bose Krishnamachari Resigns: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/bose-krishnamachari-resignation-kochi-biennale-foundation-1234769987/

- Trump Reportedly Looking at D.C. Park Near Jefferson Memorial For Sculpture ‘Garden of Heroes’: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/trump-eyes-park-near-jefferson-memorial-garden-of-heroes-1234769973/

- Beloved Rocky Statue Will Move to Top of Philadelphia Art Museum Steps: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/beloved-rocky-statue-will-move-to-top-of-philadelphia-art-museum-steps-1234769939/

Hyperallergic

- 15 Art Books We're Excited to Read in 2026: https://hyperallergic.com/15-art-books-were-excited-to-read-in-2026/

- Art Movements: Pineapples, Coconuts, and More Art Awards: https://hyperallergic.com/art-movements-1-15-2026/

- Required Reading: https://hyperallergic.com/required-reading-1-15-2026/

- Meet the Artist in El Salvador’s First-Ever Venice Biennale Pavilion: https://hyperallergic.com/meet-the-artist-in-el-salvadors-first-ever-venice-biennale-pavilion/

- Smithsonian Complies With Trump’s Documents Request: https://hyperallergic.com/smithsonian-complies-with-trumps-document-requests/

- A View From the Easel: https://hyperallergic.com/a-view-from-the-easel-320/

- Christina Sharpe's Appeal to South Africa: https://hyperallergic.com/christina-sharpes-appeal-to-south-africa/