More stories from the week that ended Feb 2 (click on bolded words for more information):

  • Roger Ballen’s releases book based on photographs with Die Antwoord.
  • RIP Rene Ricard, who died of cancer.
  • Salzburg’s Haus der Natur seeking to return natural-history artifacts looted by founder.
  • Cornelius Gurlitt signals readiness to discuss restitution of looted works. Task force assembly complete with the addition of thirteen experts.
  • Philippine government attempting to locate and seize over 150 paintings formerly owned by Imelda Marcos.
  • Ralph O. Esmerian’s folk art collection sells for $13mil. at Sotheby’s and will help pay creditors.
  • Market for French 18th-century furniture has virtually collapsed and some galleries have closed.
  • Russell Murphy/CASH4 arrested again in the East Village.
  • Brian Ramnarine pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud related to sale of fake Jasper Johns work.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art dismisses claims that its upcoming Van Gogh show includes eight fakes.
  • Fernando Botero escapes unhurt after fire damages his holiday home.
  • Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren add miniature rabbit inside ear of Nelson Mandela statue.
  • Chicago has slowed spending on public art under Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
  • Banksy street works headed to auction. Story of woman who bought two Banksy originals from his NYC street booth.
  • An analysis of weather an artwork is really burnt if it fails to sell at public auction.
  • Floors are buckling again inside Milwaukee Art Museum.
  • Cairo Museum of Islamic Art to receive $100,000 from U.N. cultural agency to help museum recover from explosion.
  • Kat Eng sews in front of H&M Times Square in an act of solidarity with protesting Cambodian garment workers.
  • Šedá thinks Silicon Valley needs more artists to fall through the cracks for the sake of creativity.
  • LA art scene a reason why many in SF are moving to Southern California.
  • Dave Hickey’s talk in Los Angeles disappoints Carolina Miranda.
  • President Obama disses art history majors in speech.
  • Proposed Senate bill seeks to impose government oversight of art auction houses for the first time.
  • Government in Lisbon is aiming to raise at least $50 million from sale of 85 Joan Miro works.
  • Kellogg Foundation pledges $40mil to protect Detroit pensions and DIA’s art work. DIA pledges to raise $100 million over 20 years for art and Detroit pension rescue fund.
  • Tacoma Art Museum donating nine works of Chinese textile art to the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation
  • Cleveland Museum’s eight year expansion and renovation project finished at $30mil. under expected cost.
  • Wildenstein family selling East 64th Street headquarters to the government of Qatar for over $90mil.
  • Friday night date night at the Met Museum with Jerry Saltz and Roberta Smith.
  • The Vatican’s twitter account posts image of Mauro Pallota’s SuperPope.
  • Delhi getting a street art festival known as St.Art.
  • Saatchi Online rebrands itself as Saatchi Art with new CEO.
  • A look at the Houston art scene.
  • Dallas versus Denver’s art scene.
  • A look at the February art scene in London.
  • Ralph Rugoff announced as curator of the 2015 Biennale de Lyon.
  • Due to booming Asian art market, paintings which feature the color red are expected to rise in value, according to Sotheby’s.
  • Bonham’s upcoming contemporary sale to include work directly consigned by eight “carefully selected” young artists.
  • Letter written by Lucian Freud heads to auction.
  • A look at Carrie Mae Weems on occasion of her Guggenheim Museum show.
  • Christoper Knight and Ed Schad writes about the Four Abstract Classicists show at LACMA.
  • Ken Johnson reviews What Is a Photograph? at the I.C.P.
  • A look at John Miller’s Bad Conscience group show at Metro Pictures.
  • A look at Tilman Hornig’s show Content is King! at Galerie Gebr. Lehmann.
  • Andrew Russeth reviews Jesse Greenberg’s show at Derek Eller Gallery.
  • Oscar Murillo’s show at The Mistake Room reviewed by KCRW.
  • Roberta Smith reviews Davina Semo’s show at Marlborough Chelsea.
  • Thelma Golden to critique artists as part of Theaster Gates exhibit.
  • Keith Sonnier answers 24 Questions.
  • What Steve Powers, aka ESPO, has been up to.
  • Shirin Neshat honored at Davos World Economic Forum with a Crystal Award.
  • Martin Creed: What’s the point of it? exhibition catalog includes torn paper piece with CoA.
  • Beck and Doug Aitken have a conversation.
  • LA Weekly checks out the fashions of LACMA visitors.