Greek police arrested abbot on charges for art trafficking, and more: Morning contact

To receive morning links in your inbox every weekday, sign up for us Breakfast with Artnews communication.

good morning!

Headline News

Oh, brother. Greek authorities arrested historic abbot after a month of secret stinging operation Giant Spilaio Monastery In Peloponnese, allegations of trafficking in religious artifacts and antiquities Lemond and I kathimerini. A total of six defendants were arrested on Monday and were detained by police on suspicion of attempting to sell 14 soldier idols and two gospels of 14 plundered Byzantine icons for 200,000 euros ($235,000). All six people maintain their innocence. The arrests were conducted after anonymous tips, which prompted investigators to penetrate the network and contact the abbot of the 63-year-old Megalos Spilaios Monastery. The group is allegedly linked to auction houses in Germany and Cyprus.

A new museum rises. this Alamem Museum of Art (ALMA) It is reported Artnews. This is the first private museum in the country dedicated to modern art, and it will showcase the collections of its founders, automobiles and real estate tycoons. Nurlan Smagulov . This includes over 700 works of art by Kazakh and Central Asian artists as well as international artists. But, as previously reported, regional museums must also be related to Beijing’s art censorship, and how Alma plans to address these challenges remains to be seen. “Our goal is to promote curiosity, dialogue and global participation with Central Asian cultural wealth,” the Art Director said. Meruyert Kaliyeva.

Digestion

A major task Yoshitomo Nara Will be in Christie’s Upcoming 20th and 21st century evening sale in London on October 15 Artnews Learned. Large-scale work with title Haze Day (1998), one of the earliest examples of Nara’s creation of a more mature style during her time in Germany, is estimated to be priced between £6,500,000 and £8,500,000 ($8,700,000 to £11,430,000). [press release]

this Museum of Women’s Art (Mowa) It is the first art institution dedicated to opening female artists in China. Located in Lugu Lake in southwestern China, the museum is launched by the work of “La Barca Leggera” (La Barca Leggera) composed of works by Chinese-Swiss artists. lu Mingjunand poetry Alberto Nessi. [ArtAsiaPacific]

this Picasso Museum Paris announces plans to expand its buildings New wings For temporary exhibitions and a sculpture garden, it is expected to cost €50 million (about $59 million). The museum said it will remain open during the construction period, which will take place between 2028 and 2030 and through its own funding, the support of the Picasso family, and through fundraising through the foundation, is “automatic financing” of the project. Académie Des Beaux-Arts. [Le Monde]

In the upcoming version Fritz, London and Master Fritza group of galleries will donate 10% of the sale price of certain artworks to benefit nonprofits in London Gallery Climate Alliance (GCC). Several blue chip galleries are participating in the project 10%Of the more than 280 exhibitors in the two Frieze Fairs, about 8%. [ARTnews]

artsy and BBCA brand new series Art Game (Opened in 2026 by Media upgrade) Launch an exclusive online auction with Berlin’s new star star focus Celeste Najt and artist duo 44flavours. BBC’s art game X Artsy Auction Artsy Auction bridges TV and digital culture, with the opportunity to acquire the work of emerging artists. [Artsty]

Kicking

Resilience in Istanbul. International Art Fair Contemporary IstanbulIt is reported Ocula. Museum Consultant and CI Director Emin MahinBalcioğlu Talking about the strong threat of arrest by current government oversight and museum directors, but hopes to “go forward” to express hope. “There is always turmoil here in Istanbul, so it gives us a kind of resilience.” LeventÖzmendirector of Dirimart, a gallery based in Istanbul.