The million-dollar (or should I say pound) question. Who TF is Banksy? You know his work already if you’re a loyal reader of this blog but even if you aren’t you know it, he’s an icon of contemporary art. But who is he?

This is yet another case that made headlines around the world in 2012 when it happened. The main question on the surface is how did three guys manage to break into a museum and steal seven masterpieces in 2 minutes and 48 seconds, and leave before the police arrived? But there is so much more to this story than just that, strap in.

Everyone knows the famous Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris and the mystery surrounding her. But, honestly, it has pretty much been solved, she was painted by Leonardo da Vinci and we know her identity but what remains murky is if there are two other Mona Lisas floating around and if he also painted those.

Michelangelo’s Pietà sculpture is revered as one of his best, if not his very best, work. It is a piece of art that is famous and recognizable the world over and people come from all over to see it. However, for one man the trip to see Pieta wasn’t about admiring its beauty, he chose violence instead.

This story sounds like it’s something out of a comic book or like something I just made up but I promise I didn’t. It’s about the insane robbery of the Paris Museum of Modern Art in 2010 and it involves parkour, paint stripping acid, and five missing masterpieces. If that doesn't pique your interest idk what will.

This crime is considered one of the most significant art crimes in history and the FBI named it in their Top 10 Art Crimes in 2005. The Italian police, the FBI, and Interpol all have been working to try to find this painting over the last 50 years. So yeah…… I’d say this one is a big deal. 

Here we are back again with another highly controversial and debated topic within the art community. Vermeer, one of the greatest Dutch masters, is credited for 34 paintings however is this the right number? Is there a chance that his daughter is the true artist behind six of these famous works? Let’s find out.

Pretty sure everyone knows what the HUGE head sculptures on Easter Island look like, but how much do you really know about them? Who made them and why? How were they made and moved?? Do they have bodies? What are some other fun facts about them? Some of these things will be revealed, read on!

So excited to talk about Rothko this week. He is hands down one of my all-time favourite artists, I love him. I am also enraged that someone vandalized this very classic piece, they didn’t even target it for any reason it was just in the wrong place at the wrong time :( let’s discuss.

During quarantine my good friends and I started a book club, the book we read for September (yikes I’m still not done) is Say Nothing: A Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. It’s about The Troubles in Northern Ireland and follows a few IRA members. In order to try and gain leverage to free some of their members from jail, the IRA started conducting art heists and stealing some insanely famous and valuable paintings.

Ok, ok, ok very excited about this case!! It is pretty recent (part of it takes place in 2020), it involves robbery, forgery, mystery, escapes, a discovery, a major twist, and authentication. We will experience this rollercoaster together so strap in!

No real crazy crime here just going to get a wee bit controversial (potentially) talking about vandalism and art and Banksy. Banksy is a special case because he is technically a vandal BUT his work is treated very differently than any other artist/vandal. Should it be? Shouldn’t it be? These are the questions.

We have everything fun and interesting in this one. A big (and when I say big I mean BIG) painting, a famous artist, a murder plot (?????), and bonus vandalism! This post has it all!

She is beauty, she is grace, she is the subject of an ancient Dutch painting. A little thing called The Girl With A Pearl Earring. But who is she??? There are a few theories and of course, people LOVE to speculate.

I’m 100% sure you can picture this iconic painting, The Scream by Edvard Munch. It is a whole mood. What may be news to you is that there are actually four versions of this painting in four different places and two of them have each been stolen once. This one may get confusing, sorry in advance.

When making a statement or protesting something you feel is unjust most people would take to the streets (or to the internet) but for one suffragette the solution was clear, slash the most famous female nude painting she could get her hands on.

The Parthenon Marbles/Sculptures are works of art originally created in Greece in the 400s BCE. They are now on display at the British Museum in London and have been there since the early 1800s. Why you might ask? Let’s investigate. 

Here we have a classic Canadian mystery. For anyone who has been to Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park and seen the memorial to Thomson, it is impossible not to wonder if he really did just drown or if something shady was going on.

The world is locked down, everyone is dutifully staying inside and slathering on hand sanitizer right?! No one would even think about going outside more than once a day for a short walk, especially not in the busy city. Many people are concerned about friends and relatives and not thinking about museums and galleries. So obviously some opportunists decided it would be the perfect time for a break-in.

What is a painting? What counts as art and what doesn’t? Just because your kid could probably make that same piece, does that mean the artwork is less “art” than something your kid definitely couldn’t make? Everyone has their own thoughts on these questions but not everyone takes them out on the art.