Greetings!

We're thrilled to welcome two new Senior Fellows to the Berkeley Art, Law, and Finance Project: Robin Willsheidt and Giulia Picci. Also, check out our inaugural blog entry which discusses our initiative's origins and why it's proudly hosted by the Berkeley Center for Law and Business.

✴️ Mark your calendars for our Fourth Annual Berkeley Art, Law, and Finance Symposium on May 8th at SFMOMA, featuring Kent Keirsey, Trevor Paglen, and Kyle Karrash on AI artwork copyright, surveillance imagery, and sustainable art practices. Learn more and register>

✴️ Join us April 28th for a virtual fireside chat with Orlando Whitfield and Professor Sonia Katyal on Whitfield's book "All That Glitters," offering an insider's perspective on the art market from his experience with fraudster Inigo Philbrick. Register>

✴️ On April 19th, join our "Business of Art" Seminar, in collaboration with California Lawyers for the Arts, at the African American Art & Culture Complex in SF. Explore creative rights, public art, and building sustainable careers through expert panels. Learn more and register>

This month, we cover the Trump administration's actions against cultural institutions—suspending the Museum and Library Services and restricting "race-centered ideology" at the Smithsonian—alongside art world shifts. We examine institutional changes, heritage battles, art fraud legal developments, AI's creative impact, and market trends from the Art Basel/UBS Report 2025, which shows declining high-end sales but more transactions and new collectors in a diversifying market.

Delia Violante

Founder of the Art, Law, and Finance Project

Berkeley Center for Law and Business

Linda Fong - Symphony - acrylic on panel 24" x 36"

Academic Corner

BRIAN SOUCEK, JENNIFER C. LENA| UC DAVIS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

In their recent article about the taxation of the arts, authors Brian Soucek and Jennifer C. Lena dissect how Chicago officials controversially targeted clubs hosting rock, hip-hop, country, and DJ performances, arguing these genres weren’t part of the “fine arts” and thus not tax-exempt. This sparked public backlash, raised concerns about unconstitutional discrimination, and led to a swift legal change. They further explore similar disputes across the country, where plaintiffs argue that selective tax exemptions unfairly favor certain art forms. Tracing federal arts taxation back to World War I, the authors reveal how these policies shaped music trends, reflected societal biases, and fueled debates over what qualifies as “art” versus mere entertainment. Read More>

Student Corner

ELEANOR GARTSTEIN, BERKELEY LAW

In her article about Nazi-Era Art Restitution, Berkeley Law 2L Eleanor Gartstein dissects how as the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II approaches, Nazi-era restitution continues to face challenges, with many victims restricted to court proceedings that hinder fair resolutions. Read More>

Disgraced Collector Lisa Schiff Sentenced to 2.5 Years

ARTNET NEWS

Art advisor Lisa Schiff was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for wire fraud after stealing from wealthy clients to fund her lavish lifestyle. During her sentencing, she acknowledged her crimes and apologized to her victims. She must surrender by July 1. Read more>

Report Alert: Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report 2025

UBS



The 2025 Art Basel/UBS report reveals art market shifts with sales down 12% to $57.5 billion, yet transactions up 3%. While high-end segments contracted, smaller dealers saw 17% growth. New collectors are flourishing, with 44% of buyers new to dealers and first-time purchases at 38%. Art fairs remain essential for connecting with new buyers. These trends indicate a more accessible, diversified market despite economic challenges. Read more>

Canada/Mexico Tariffs and the Art Market

JDSUPRA



The White House announced a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods, potentially ending the longstanding exemption for art and sculpture, though inconsistent language in the official notices leaves its impact unclear. While the tariffs were paused until April, legal challenges may arise. Read More>

UK Extends Tax-Free Import Period for Art/Antiques

THE ART NEWSPAPER

The UK Treasury has extended the Temporary Admissions period for fine art and antiques from two to four years. This move aims to strengthen London’s position in the global art market, easing post-Brexit trade barriers and providing dealers with more flexibility in a challenging economic climate. Read more>

Authorities Drop Charges Against Sally Mann

ARTNET

A Tarrant County grand jury declined to take action against the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and photographer Sally Mann over child pornography accusations related to her exhibition Diaries of Home, which featured nude images of her young children. Read more>

Ending Impunity for Antiques Traffickers

ANTIQUES COALITION THINK TANK

In this policy brief, author Ricardo A. St. Hilaire laments that while progress has been made in restitution of stolen cultural heritage, prosecution of the traffickers themselves has lagged, allowing them to operate with virtual impunity. He proposes that minimal investment in enforcement could greatly improve deterrence. Read more>

Supreme Court Offers Family Path to Recover Stolen Painting

LOS ANGELES TIMES

The Supreme Court revived a family's claim to recover a Nazi-stolen Camille Pissarro painting, ruling that its fate should be decided under a new California law protecting heirs of Holocaust-era lost art. Read more>

Trump Admin Moves to Close Independent Library Agency

THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Trump administration placed the Institute of Museum and Library Services staff on administrative leave, potentially cutting off federal support for museums and libraries across the nation. Read more>

RISD Shuts down Pro-Palestine Art Show

ARTNEWS

Students at the Rhode Island School of Design accused the administration of censorship after a dissident art exhibition, which criticized Israel’s existence in Palestine as an "occupation", was removed by campus security just four days into its run. Read more>

Trump Admin Continues to Target the Smithsonian

POLITICO

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 27 which restricts “race-centered ideology” in the Smithsonian Institution, framing discussions of oppression as “anti-American”, pushing for a "whitewashed" version of U.S. history. Read more>

Post-Art Basel Hong Kong: Shifts in the Art Market

ARTNEWS

The results of this year’s Art Basel in Hong Kong revealed the continuation of current art market trends with buyers focusing on blue chip works and a pronounced downturn for medium and small galleries. Read more>

New York Print Fairs See Young Energy and Collectors

THE ART NEWSPAPER

Despite the global art market downturn, works on paper are thriving, attracting a new wave of collectors. This trend was evident at the IFPDA Print Fair, where over 5,000 attendees packed the aisles during its VIP preview. Read more>

OpenAI Reveals New Image Generation Engine

THE NEW YORK TIMES

OpenAI has updated ChatGPT with the new GPT-4o engine, enabling it to generate images from complex and unexpected instructions. Examples include multi-panel comic strips and images that mimic an existing artist’s style. Read More>

ChatGPT’s Viral "Ghibli Style" Raises Copyright Concerns

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

One of the most popular styles for image generation with OpenAI’s latest product is one that mimics Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli. This trend has raised concerns over whether image generation in this style may infringe on Studio Ghibli’s copyrights. Read More>

Authentication with AI

ARTNET

A Swiss company, Art Recognition, used AI to analyze a version of Rubens’s The Bath of Diana, previously thought to be a copy, and concluded that at least some parts were painted by Rubens himself. The evaluation has been criticized by even some supporters of AI authentication. Read more>

AI, IP, and Fair Use

THE INSTITUTE OF ART AND LAW

In this report, author Stephanie Drawdy explores how legal and technological uncertainties surrounding AI in the art world continue to spark debate, particularly on issues like infringement in AI training and protections for AI-generated works. Read more>

How to Avoid Buying Stolen Artwork

THE NEW YORK TIMES

No matter where one chooses to acquire fine art or antiquities, there is always a risk that a piece has a dubious background. There are steps that every buyer can take to minimize the risk of purchasing stolen or looted works. Read more>

A Formerly-Incarcerated Artists' Center Grows in Brooklyn

THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Center for Art and Advocacy, a nonprofit supporting artists who have served time in prison, is opening its first physical space in Brooklyn with an exhibition titled Collective Gestures: Building Community Through Practice. Read more>

U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee Awaits Its Fate

CENTER FOR ART LAW

The U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee’s February 2025 meeting has been indefinitely postponed. The committee was created by Congress to advise the President on cultural property import restrictions with members appointed by the President to staggered three-year terms. They are likely not protected from summary dismissal. Read more>

Egon Schiele, Artist's History

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

As an artist working during one of the most traumatic and turbulent times in history Egon Schiele, along with his sister Gertrude Schiele, provide us a glimpse into how art is shaped by and shapes the era in which it is made. Read more>

San Francisco Art Institute to Be Renovated

SFIST

The former San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) will be revived as an unaccredited art school by the BMA Institute (BMAI), a nonprofit led by Laurene Powell Jobs, which has filed for renovation approval to restore the campus while preserving its historic features. Read more>

Runway Models Are Getting Skinnier

DAZED

During the latest fashion season, only 0.3% of models were plus-size, with nearly all wearing UK sizes four to eight, reflecting a decline in size diversity on the runway. This represents a troubling reversal, even as the industry faces calls for progress. Read more>

Potential Change in Museum Admissions

THE ART NEWSPAPER



A report by Remuseum suggests that expanding museum spaces isn't always beneficial and that free admission could be financially viable. Based on data from 153 U.S. art museums, the study highlights the need for greater transparency and strategic investment in visitor engagement to maximize both attendance and experience quality. Read More >

After 96 Years, Archeologists Find Missing Half of Statue

POPULAR MECHANICS



U.S. and Egyptian archaeologists have discovered the long-missing top half of a statue of Ramses II. A proposal to reunite it with its bottom half has been submitted and is expected to be approved. Read more >

The Case for a "Faux" Van Gogh

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Stuart Pivar, a 94-year-old art collector, claims to own a lost Vincent van Gogh painting, but the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam rejected its authenticity after a thorough review. In response, Pivar sued the museum for $300 million, arguing that their decision devalued the painting. Read more>

Meet the Artist

LINDA FONG

Born in the United States, Linda Fong refined her artistic vision while studying Design at Carnegie Mellon University. Her professional journey spans major cultural centers—New York, Philadelphia, and Honolulu—before she ultimately established roots in the Bay Area. Today, she creates from her painting studio nestled within San Francisco's historic Hunters Point Shipyard. Fong's distinctive work inhabits the realm of abstract landscapes, employing forms that suggest rather than replicate elements from everyday life. She thoughtfully incorporates traditional pictorial techniques—perspective, scale, and dimension—to craft unique visual environments where her artistic inventions thrive independently. Learn more>

Please note that some articles listed may be subject to a paywall.

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The Art, Law, and Finance Project is hosted by the Berkeley Center for Law and Business