Show notes for today's episode of The Daily Art Download — your ten minute crash course in today's art world news.
Artnet News
- Rome’s Trevi Fountain Introduces Entrance Fee for Tourists: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/rome-charges-fee-for-trevi-fountain-2733686
- The Best Artworks We Saw in 2025: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/best-artworks-2025-2706925
- Banksy’s New Mural of Stargazing Children Pops Up in London: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/banksy-new-mural-queens-mews-centrepoint-london-2733570
- Jeff Koons on Mining the Past for His New Porcelains: ‘Time Is Very Important’: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/jeff-koons-porcelain-series-gagosian-2732756
- First-Edition ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy Sets New Tolkien Auction Record: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/first-edition-unsigned-lotr-tolkien-auction-2733229
- White House Pressures Smithsonian to Comply With Review or Risk Funding Loss: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/trump-arts-impact-2639197
- Archaeologists at Pompeii Unearth Lavish Frescoes Linked to Nero’s Wife: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/villa-de-poppea-frescoes-2733430
- Drapery Isn’t Just for Old Masters. How Contemporary Artists Are Reimagining an Ancient Motif: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/drapery-contemporary-artists-2731349
- The Legendary Persian City Alexander the Great Tried—and Failed—to Destroy: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/huge-persepolis-destruction-2718329
- Grid Addicts: Gallerist Todd von Ammon on the Art Business’s Contradictions: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/todd-von-ammon-grids-galleries-fairs-column-2730883
The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
- Guatemala’s Bienal de Arte Paiz nurtures connections across geography and history: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/22/guatemala-24th-bienal-de-arte-paiz-the-world-tree
- Comment | Digital art today has a narcissism problem: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/22/digital-art-2025-narcissism-problem-critical-feedback
- We are all in the gutter but Banksy’s Christmas kids are looking at the stars: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/22/we-are-all-in-the-gutter-but-banksys-christmas-kids-are-looking-at-the-stars
- Late UK artist Sarah Cunningham honoured with Nottingham Contemporary show: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/22/late-uk-artist-sarah-cunningham-honoured-with-nottingham-contemporary-show
- Arnulf Rainer, a revolutionary figure in postwar Austrian art, has died aged 96: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/22/arnulf-rainer-a-revolutionary-figure-in-postwar-austrian-art-has-died-aged-96
- A museum packed with once banned art is flourishing in the Uzbek desert: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/22/a-museum-packed-with-once-banned-art-is-flourishing-in-the-uzbek-desert
- Spirited art—Sharon Stone looks to the afterlife for her latest paintings: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/22/spirited-artsharon-stone-looks-to-the-afterlife-for-her-latest-paintings
Art Business News
- Art Week Miami 2025 Review: https://artbusinessnews.com/2025/12/art-week-miami-2025-review/
ARTnews.com
- New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Signs Open Letter Supporting Met Museum Union: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/zohran-mamdani-signs-open-letter-met-museum-union-1234767978/
- Artists Denounced Jeffrey Epstein’s Behavior Nearly 20 Years Ago—and Other Art-Related Reveals from the Newly Released Files: https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/news/jeffrey-epstein-files-art-reveals-1234767764/
- Uruguay’s Only Art Fair Wagers That It Can Create a New Regional Market Force: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/uruguays-only-art-fair-wagers-that-it-can-create-a-new-regional-market-force-1234767795/
- Just in Time for Christmas, Identical New Banksy Murals Look to the Stars But Point to Problems on the Ground: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/christmas-identical-new-banksy-murals-london-housing-crisis-1234767781/
- An Inherited Mess: How a High-Growth Fantasy Is Destroying the Art World from Within: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/opinion/an-inherited-mess-high-growth-fantasy-destroying-art-world-1234767467/
- See Wonders of the ‘Nanocosmos’ Through an Electron Microscope: https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/nanocosmos-electron-microscope-michael-benson-1234766840/
- TEFAF Managing Director Is Out After Just a Year, Continuing High Turnover: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/tefaf-managing-director-out-dominique-savelkoul-1234767756/
- White House Claims Smithsonian Hasn’t Fully Submitted to Content Review, Threatens Funding Cuts: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/smithsonian-content-review-white-house-threatens-funding-1234767747/
- Mexico City’s Material Fair Announces Last-Minute Venue Change Due to ‘Stranger Things’ Activation Conflict: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/material-art-fair-mexico-city-venue-change-stranger-things-1234767738/
- Robert Mnuchin Dies at 92, UK Museum Calls for Santa to Be ‘Decolonized,’ Uzbekistan’s Cultural Draw: Morning Links for December 22, 2025: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/robert-mnuchin-dies-at-92-uk-museum-calls-for-santa-to-be-decolonized-uzbekistans-cultural-draw-morning-links-for-december-22-2025-1234767741/
Hyperallergic
- The Egalitarian Vision of Nativity Scenes: https://hyperallergic.com/the-egalitarian-vision-of-nativity-scenes/
- Banksy’s Latest Mural Is a Heartbreaking Christmastime Message: https://hyperallergic.com/the-egalitarian-vision-of-nativity-scenes-2/
- The Messy Family Drama of Ancient Egyptian Gods: https://hyperallergic.com/a-guide-to-ancient-egypts-divine-drama/
- White House Renews Threats to Smithsonian Institution: https://hyperallergic.com/white-house-renews-threats-to-smithsonian-institution/
- British Museum Launches Farcical “Decolonizing” Loan Program: https://hyperallergic.com/british-museum-launches-decolonizing-loan-program/
- A Letter to Mamdani: https://hyperallergic.com/a-letter-to-mamdani/
