Berlin Museum Crisis, Epstein Ties, and Gallery Closures: Art World in Turmoil

A media roundup on August 17, 2026, highlights several pressing issues in the art world. In Berlin, the Alte Museum faces a severe renovation backlog, with the building sinking about one millimeter per year due to falling groundwater levels. Critic Nikolaus Bernau calls the situation a 'disgrace of Berlin architecture policy' and warns that the museum's renovation may be postponed indefinitely due to the city's overloaded museum landscape. Meanwhile, in the art market, the closure of London's Sid Motion Gallery after ten years underscores the financial strain on mid-sized galleries, with rising operating costs outpacing revenues. The Epstein scandal continues to haunt art collector Leon Black, who remains a MoMA trustee despite paying $170 million to Epstein and purchasing Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' for nearly $120 million in 2012. In a podcast, artist Katharina Grosse discusses her expansive painting practice and influences, ahead of her exhibition 'Black Bed' at the MUNCH Museum in Oslo opening September 26. Finally, a Zeit article reflects on the ineffectiveness of viral wildfire images in prompting action, citing a prize-winning photo by Konstantinos Tsakalidis.