When we think about climate change we normally think about effects to cities, the environment, animals, and humans. But what about art? What about the things that humans have created and have been preserved and cared for for hundreds of years? While not a crime in the classic sense, how is art expected to survive?

In 1978 there was an art heist where 12 paintings were stolen, to this day only 3 of them have been recovered but that might be about to change.

Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology is the largest, most visited, and arguably the most significant museum in the country. It houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art and artifacts. So when a huge number of those artifacts go missing, it causes a stir.

This week we’re exploring controversy more than pure crime. Pussy Riot is a Russian performance art group that are known for their strong and provocative stances on issues including feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and politics.

In 1972 four paintings were stolen in broad daylight from the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts. One of them was a Picasso, which has a dramatic life story that stretches well beyond this heist.

Today we’re discussing an interesting case that talks about some things we’ve discussed here in the past; freedom of expression, intent vs. perception, and controversy. I don’t want to scoop myself so let’s just dive in.

Three years ago one of the rarest and most expensive (think millions of dollars) coins in the world was auctioned off. Now, an investigation has gone on into the provenance of this coin and the validity of its history.

We’ve covered stories on here about people stealing art to be used as leverage to release people from jail or secure bail and you might think this is a similar situation. Well, my answer to that is yes and no.

In Australia there is an extremely ironic and interesting case happening as of the writing of this article (March 2024) where a man is suing an artist for gender discrimination over a piece drawing attention to, you guessed it, gender discrimination.

On November 18, 2011, the Clyfford Still Museum was founded in Denver, Colorado. On December 29 of that same year, just over a month later, one of his iconic paintings hanging in the museum was deliberately vandalized.

If you’ve ever read or watched Sherlock Holmes and come across the villain in that series, Dr. Moriarty, you’re able to read about the man who inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to create that character. A so-called gentleman criminal who played a lifelong game of cat and mouse with investigators.

Klamath Falls is a city in Oregon, from the photos it looks like a charming place with a quaint downtown and beautiful scenery. However, it held a darker secret because for years a man was hiding priceless artefacts that didn’t belong to him.

In 1986 one of the most infamous art heists in Australian history was carried out at the National Gallery in Melbourne. Now, 38 years later we have the painting back but we still don’t know whodunit. Let’s discuss.

Very interesting case this week about a talented artist who found himself in the world of art forgeries. Let’s find out how he got there and what happened when he was found out, I promise you this isn’t going to end the way you’re thinking.

Today we’re going to talk about a work of art that is sometimes credited for a moment that incited the beginning of the Culture Wars in the 1990s. It drew admiration, widespread critique, debate, controversy, and, most importantly to this article, vandalism. 

Spoiler alert: in 1961 Francisco de Goya’s painting, Portrait of the Duke of Wellington was stolen from the National Gallery in London. For more than 50 years following the theft the identity of the thief and their motivation remained a mystery.

In 1990 a groundbreaking trial happened in Cincinnati, Ohio where perceptions of art, public funding, freedom of expression, and the definition of “obscenity” were challenged. Let’s unpack this one together.

Sorry, the title is a little click bait-y but it was too cute to resist! In 1928 a painting done by an avant-garde Hungarian painter was stolen leaving no trace behind. It wasn’t until Christmas 2009, and one very important movie viewing, that this mystery started to be unraveled.

In 1961 Aix, a city in the French region of Provence, was trying to attract tourists and make a name for itself as a destination. They had the idea to host art shows and traveling exhibitions as a way of getting their name out there. Little did they know what would happen when they did.

Today we’re tackling a bit of a sensitive issue; is there a line that art should not cross? This is at the core of the work we will be examining as an example as it uses something so sacred and symbolic to some in a way they find reprehensible. But, it’s meant to make a statement, right?