The week in art news: Keith Haring confirmed Disney adult, Ana Mendieta death dramatised, Diego Rivera Mural Sold and more…

Amazon MGM Studios to dramatise the death of Ana Mendieta. Her husband Carl Andre was accused of murder, but her death was ruled a suicide. America Ferrera will play Mendieta in the series, which is based on the 1990 book, Naked by the Window, by Robert Katz. However, the show is already facing criticism from the Mendieta estate for its focus on her death, over her life and work.

Key witness to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist dies. In 1990, Richard Abath was on guard duty at the Boston museum when he opened the locked doors to two thieves dressed as policemen, who made off with 13 artworks now estimated to be worth $600M. Abath always maintained his innocence. The identity of the thieves, and the location of the artworks, remains unsolved.

UK’s National Crime Agency issues warning to galleries after art seized in raid. The ‘amber warning’ report highlights the risk of galleries and art storage facilities becoming unwitting partners to money launderers, tax evaders and sanctioned individuals. The report details a recent raid in which 32 artworks were seized from a collector accused of illegally funding militant group Hezbollah.

Venice Biennale won’t cancel Israel pavilion. A petition signed by thousands called for the pavilion to be excluded because of “ongoing atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.” The petition points out that the Biennale has banned Russia since 2022 due to its “unacceptable military aggression”. The Biennale and the Italian culture minister dismissed the petition.

Fine wine and preserved meats: Damien Hirst takes over Château La Coste. Hirst is the first artist to exhibit across the entire 500-acre vineyard and sculpture park in the French region of Provence. The exhibition, ‘The Light that Shines’, runs until 23rd June, and includes major series such as Natural History. Hirst is also constructing a suitably subtle 30m hand-shaped chapel “pointing to God” on the grounds.

Keith Haring… confirmed Disney adult: A new biography of the artist reveals  a commercial partnership was proposed by Disney just days before his death. Haring frequently drew on Mickey Mouse in his art, and working with Disney was a “lifelong wish” according to biographer Brad Gooch. Haring’s dream was eventually realised in 2021, when the Mouse House and the Keith Haring Foundation released a line of branded merch.

MoMA has filed a motion to dismiss lawsuit by Marina Abramović performer. John Bonafede appeared nude while performing in Abramović’s Imponderabilia back in 2010. He’s now suing the museum, claiming that it failed to protect him from sexual assault. MoMA says they did everything possible to safeguard performers.

“Word to the wise: do your own research!” In his latest column for Artnet News, Kenny Schachter reports that there’s a number of fake Yayoi Kusama paintings on the market. Schachter notes that the fakes feature forged labels from Ota Fine Arts; however, they misspell the gallery’s website.

Arts writer Katy Hessel launches ‘Museums without men’ audio guide. Hessel, best known for her book The Story of Art Without Men, aims to introduce listeners to women and gender non-conforming artists in the collections of Tate Britain, the Met, the Hirshhorn Museum, the Hepworth and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Hilde Lynn Helphenstein (AKA @jerrygogosian) signs with United Talent Agency. Helphenstein started her popular pseudo-anonymous, satirical Instagram account in 2018. She revealed her identity in 2021 and has been expanding her art media empire ever since. In a statement, UTA noted Helphenstein’s “dedication to making the notoriously opaque art world feel welcoming to more people.”

Keep on truckin’: Tate is sending art around England on the back of a lorry. The collaboration with Art Explora and Mumo will see works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Cornelia Parker, Nam June Paik and Roy Lichtenstein travel throughout the Midlands and north of England, until the 11th May. The moveable museum is designed to break down barriers between galleries and potential art lovers.

San Francisco Art Institute finds new owner: when the historic art school went bankrupt last April, its future, and the future of its massive Diego Rivera mural, were uncertain. It’s now been bought by a non profit organisation run by Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Steve Jobs. With the sale reportedly going for $20M and Rivera’s mural valued at $50M, it might just be the deal of the century.