Protesters Demand Leon Black's Removal from MoMA Board Over Epstein Ties

Over two dozen demonstrators gathered near the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on October 6, demanding the removal of board member Leon Black due to his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The protest, organized by a coalition including the feminist group We Are UltraViolet, its Epstein Accountability Project, the Time & Memory Project, and the mobile Epstein-Trump Reading Room from the Institute for Primary Facts, aimed to pressure MoMA into severing ties with Black. Black, a billionaire, has also faced multiple rape allegations, which he denies, and no convictions have resulted. The action underscores ongoing scrutiny of cultural institutions' associations with controversial figures. In related news, the New Museum in Manhattan announced the 36 artists and collectives participating in its sixth triennial, set to open in February 2027 in its expanded building. Additionally, Independent Art Fair has been acquired by Informa, a London-based publishing, research, business intelligence, and exhibitions conglomerate that also owns several Miami art fairs and a yacht show in Monaco. These developments highlight shifting dynamics in the art world, from ethical accountability to market consolidation.