Met Museum Returns Roman Bust to Turkey Amid Antiquities Dealer Scandal

In February, Turkey received a Roman bust back from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This sculpture had been acquired from Phoenix Ancient Art in Geneva, where its founder, Ali Aboutaam, was found guilty by a Swiss court for the illegal importation of antiquities. Art crime expert Erin L. Thompson examines why many other museums still possess items obtained from this gallery. Meanwhile, artists are honoring Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Houston man who was misidentified and shot by ICE on July 7, through various portraits and signs. The High Line Art in Manhattan is inviting public input on 62 proposals for plinth commissions planned for 2029 and 2030. Additionally, Legionella bacteria were detected in the Guggenheim Museum's cooling tower. Critic Bridget Quinn reviews Holly EJ Black's book on printmaking and democracy, while Gregory Volk assesses Kathy Butterly's ceramic pieces. The newsletter also includes a studio visit with Adam de Boer and a retrospective on art thief Stéphane Breitwieser.