The week in art news: Jonathan Anderson leaves Loewe, Barbara Gladstone’s collection to go on sale, futher Tate job cuts, and more…

Jonathan Anderson is leaving Loewe after 11 years as creative director. The Irish designer announced the news yesterday in a statement on his personal Instagram account: “While my chapter draws to a close, Loewe’s story will continue for many years to come, and I will look on with pride”. He was renowned for transforming Loewe into a Fashion Week powerhouse and setting up the Loewe Craft Prize in 2016 – a global platform recognising artists who bring a contemporary edge to traditional craft techniques. His departure comes amid a flurry of changes in the fashion industry, including Demna’s surprise appointment at Gucci and Donatella Versace stepping down as Versace’s chief creative officer. As the infamous fashion rumour mill has it, Anderson is apparently transitioning to a higher position within LVMH, possibly at Dior, though no official announcement has been made.

Performance into product: Marina Abramović drops new NFT collection. The NFT project is titled Marina Abramović Element (MAE), in collaboration with TaEx and is scheduled to debut on the Ethereum blockchain in May. Abramović stated that she views NFTs as a means to democratise art, making it more accessible beyond traditional market barriers, according to The Art Newspaper. MAE features four distinct NFT drops aimed at engaging viewers in the artist’s performance art through interactive elements and new artworks. The project will be previewed at Moco Museum in London on 8th April (naturally), with subsequent drops releasing from mid-May to November.

James Stunt cleared of money laundering. The bankrupt former art collector has been acquitted of the charges following a five-month trial in Leeds. Stunt was accused, along with four others, of participating in a £266M scheme to launder money through their companies by purchasing gold for resale in Dubai. While the prosecution argued that Stunt’s office facilitated the laundering, he maintained he was unaware of any criminal activity, despite his company reportedly taking a large share of the profits. The trial – retried after a previous jury failed to reach a verdict – resulted in convictions for the other defendants, one of whom was present in court while the others are believed to have fled the country.

UPDATE: gang convicted of gold toilet theft. Michael Jones was found to have orchestrated the burglary of a £4.8M gold toilet from an art exhibition at Blenheim Palace in 2019, while his accomplice, Fred Doe, was found guilty of attempting to sell the stolen gold. James Sheen, an individual known to be involved in organised crime, was also linked to the theft through forensic evidence. Despite spending about half of the past 20 years in prison, Sheen has personally made about £2M from his crimes, excluding the toilet heist, according to the BBC. Unfortunately, efforts to recover the stolen piece have failed.

Barbara Gladstone’s art collection to go on sale. Sotheby’s and Christie’s are reportedly competing for the collection of the legendary New York art dealer who died last year at 89, according to Artnet News. Her estate, which includes works by artists like Joan Jonas, Matthew Barney, Carroll Dunham, Ugo Rondinone, Shirin Neshat and Wangechi Mutu, is set to be auctioned off starting in May. The sale seeks to fulfill Gladstone’s will, which mandates a swift sale of all artworks with proceeds to benefit her heirs.

Black Lives Matter mural destroyed near the White House. The iconic street mural was created in spring 2020 during widespread protests following George Floyd’s murder. Initially designated as a permanent fixture of ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza’ by Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser, the decision to dismantle the mural and plaza follows a bill threatening federal funding if the mural isn’t removed and the area renamed ‘Liberty Plaza’. Bowser cited congressional interference as the reason, suggesting a new mural will replace it in 2026 amidst celebrations of the US semiquincentennial, where the city will invite students and artists to create new murals across all eight wards, according to The Art Newspaper.

Raymond Pettibon donates personal archive to the Getty. The collection includes handwritten notes, zine mockups, screen prints, concert flyers and more, which will be housed at the Getty Research Institute of Special Collections in Los Angeles. Pettibon initially gained recognition for creating iconic album covers and flyers for bands like Black Flag and Sonic Youth. Glenn Phillips, chief curator of the Getty Research Institute, stated that “this acquisition ensures that Pettibon’s legacy will be preserved and made accessible for future generations of scholars, curators, and artists, allowing them to better understand the intersection of culture, politics, and personal narrative in his work.”

Tate museum network to cut 7% of staff. The staff reductions will amount to about 40 roles, through voluntary departures and hiring freezes to address financial deficits from the Covid pandemic, according to Artnews and the Financial Times. Tate director Maria Balshaw emphasised that the reductions were carefully managed to “prioritise revenue streams” while maintaining artistic programmes and expanding collections across its museums in London, Liverpool and Cornwall. These cuts follow broader turmoil in London’s arts sector. Protestors recently gathered at the Royal Academy over planned job losses, with conflicting reports on the extent – the RA estimates up to 60 roles, while the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain claims nearly 100 are at risk. The restructuring has sparked staff concern and a vote of no confidence in RA leadership.

Trump strikes again. The presidential administration moves to dismiss General Services Administration staff responsible for the federal government’s extensive collection of artworks, including works by Ed Ruscha, Catherine Opie and James Turrell. Encompassing over 26,000 artworks across California’s public buildings, the art collection is considered one of America’s largest and oldest. The administration’s actions have raised concerns about the future care and accessibility of these culturally significant pieces, originally funded and commissioned to enrich civic spaces for the American people.

Rumoured partnership between Sotheby’s and Pace. There have been talks of a significant deal, described as a “new model” rather than an acquisition of either institution. Pace, known for its extensive international operations including a large New York headquarters, and Sotheby’s both see the partnership as an opportunity to expand their global brands and enhance revenue through private sales and art lending against a tough market backdrop. According to Artnews, the outcome of these talks remains to be seen, but it could benefit both parties strategically and financially.

Chisenhale Gallery appoints Edward Gillman as new director. Gillman will succeed Zoé Whitley, who resigned from the role last year. Formerly the director of Auto Italia from 2019 to 2024, his time there was marked by a focus on queer studies and social change, commissioning 103 artists and presenting significant exhibitions like the survey of work by the Aids activist group Gran Fury. In his new role, Gillman will oversee Chisenhale’s Social Practice projects aimed at fostering collaborative creation, particularly with young people facing cultural barriers in East London. He will also lead the Commissions Programme, including upcoming exhibitions by Claudia Pagès Rabal, Dan Guthrie and Grant Mooney.