Florida Art History Professor Suspended for Charlie Kirk Remarks; Transfer of Controversial Bayeux Tapestry Holds Up, and More: Daily Connections for September 18, 2025
In the world of art and culture, there's always something news-worthy happening. Here's a roundup of some recent developments:
Tragedy struck in Gaza City as an ongoing Israeli military ground invasion forced archaeologists and museum workers to race against time to save artifacts stored in the city. About 30 percent of the artifacts stored in Gaza City's main storage facility, the Al-Kawthar residential tower, could not be evacuated in time before an airstrike destroyed the building.
Meanwhile, in France, the high-profile transfer of the Bayeux Tapestry has been put on hold due to local authorities' inability to ensure security, as strikes continue to disrupt normal operations. The tapestry was intended to be restored ahead of a loan to the British Museum.
In the United States, the art world has been shaken by a series of events. Karen Leader, an art history professor at Florida Atlantic University, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation following her social media posts about Charlie Kirk. Coincidentally, Jimmy Kimmel, a high-profile figure, has also been suspended due to right-wing criticism of his remarks about Charlie Kirk. However, it's important to note that Charlie Kirk was murdered, but Kimmel's suspension is not directly related to his death.
The world of art also saw some positive news. The gallerist who opened the new gallery Felix Rödder in New York City is Felix Rödder, not Felix Roedder as previously reported. Rödder, a former David Zwirner director, discusses opening his new namesake gallery in New York City. He intends to keep the gallery small and focus on quality, as he stated in his interview with Monopol Magazine.
In Egypt, the disappearance of a 3,000-year-old gold bracelet with a lapis lazuli bead, once worn by a pharaoh, has caused quite a stir. The gold bracelet was last seen in the Egyptian Museum's restoration laboratory. Museum workers are reviewing all the inventory in the lab following the disappearance of the gold bracelet.
French artist Martial Raysse has joined Templon gallery after previously being represented by Mennour gallery in Paris. Raysse will have an exhibition of recent paintings in January 2026 at Templon gallery, coinciding with its 60th anniversary. A 2023 artwork titled La Paix by Martial Raysse will be presented at Templon's Art Basel Paris stand next month.
Finally, Christie's will sell a rare double portrait made by David Hockney in 1968 of the English novelist Christopher Isherwood and his partner, artist Don Bachardy. The painting is Hockney's first in a series of seven double portraits and is expected to fetch over $50 million at auction in November.
In other news, some museums in France, including the Louvre, have had to close galleries due to fallout from the protest movement. The Bayeux Tapestry's loan to the British Museum has become a controversial topic, adding to the challenges faced by the cultural sector.
Robert Redford, who recently passed away at age 89, had early dreams of becoming a visual artist. However, he gave up his dreams of a career in art after an art teacher expressed criticism of his artwork, according to a 1994 interview with CBS. Despite this setback, Redford continued to make significant contributions to the world of cinema and environmental activism.
These are just a few of the latest developments in the world of art and culture. As always, we'll continue to bring you updates as they happen.
Read also:
- Unfair Expenditure Distribution, Secret Tourists, Looming Rabies Threats: Latest News Roundup
- Hydrogen: Eco-friendly Alternative or Energy Imperialism Debate?
- Hydrogen: Environmentally Friendly Alternative or Energy Imperialism?
- Strategies for expanding your creative enterprise, directly from industry experts
