Brooklyn Museum curator Emeritus of the Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands William C. Siegmann dies

BROOKLYN, N.Y.- William C. Siegmann, Curator Emeritus of the Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands at the Brooklyn Museum, passed away peacefully on November 29, 2011. Bill Siegmann had a long-standing and deeply personal connection to Liberia, which began with service in the Peace Corps in the late 1960s and continued throughout his life. He taught at Cuttington University, where he also founded the Africana Museum. Bill returned to Liberia to pursue research between 1974 and 1976, which was supported by [...]

The Art of the Anatolian Kilim: Highlights from the McCoy Jones Collection at the De Young Museum

SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- A world-class collection of Anatolian kilims gifted to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco by Caroline McCoy-Jones from 1988­–89 is showcased in a choice exhibition of two dozen of the finest examples. Presented in the textile arts gallery at the de Young September 10, 2011 through June 10, 2012, the pre-19th-century Anatolian flat-woven kilims on view include a variety of design types, regional styles, as well as superb examples of artistic and visual prowess. The kilims in the Fine [...]

New de Young Museum Celebrates 5th and 40th Anniversaries of the Union with the Legion of Honor

SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- This year the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco celebrate two important anniversaries: the 5th anniversary of the new de Young Museum and the 40th anniversary of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. This celebration is bolstered by the remarkable, record-breaking five-year attendance figure at the de Young: 8.1 million visitors, making it one of the highest profile museums in the country and a local phenomenon. de Young Museum, American Art Galleries © Fine Arts Museums [...]

Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico to Open LACMA’s New Resnick Exhibition Pavilion

LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will present a major exhibition to debut its new Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion. The Resnick Pavilion will open to the public in October 2010 with Olmec: Masterworks of Ancient Mexico. The inaugural exhibition will highlight the diversity of the museum’s encyclopedic collection and programming, as well as the flexibility of the Renzo Piano-designed pavilion. The new 45,000 square foot building—the cornerstone of Phase II of LACMA’s ongoing [...]

Julian Cox Named Chief Curator of the de Young Museum

SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- John E. Buchanan, Jr., Director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, announces the appointment of Julian Cox, one of the country’s leading authorities on photography as Founding Curator of Photography for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) and Chief Curator of the de Young Museum. In this role, Cox will oversee FAMSF’s department of photography, its collection of over 3,500 photographs and its program of acquisition, exhibition and scholarly endeavors. In addition, he [...]

New Acquisition to Welcome Visitors at the de Young Museum this Summer

SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- Coincidentally timed with the special exhibition Birth of Impressionism at the de Young Museum, John E. Buchanan, Jr., the director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, announces the acquisition of The Absinthe Drinkers (Les buveurs d’absinthe), 1881, by the French painter Jean-François Raffaëlli (1850–1924). Widely regarded as one of the artist’s most important and accomplished paintings, The Absinthe Drinkers will temporarily grace the entrance of the Birth of Impressionism exhibition this summer before settling into [...]

Bonhams & Butterfields to Hold One of the Most Unique Fine Furniture Auctions Ever

SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- An extensive offering of European & American decorative arts includes property from noted estates and collectors Fine arts auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields will host the firm’s largest and most extensive auction of Fine European and American Furniture and Decorative Arts on Monday, June 14, 2010 in San Francisco. The late spring sale features American, English, French, Italian and Continental decorative arts, with an evening session devoted to furniture and decorations from the Ed Hardy San Francisco Collection. [...]

Carefully Curated Ensembles of African & Oceanic Art to Be Offered at Sotheby’s

PARIS.- On June 16 in Paris, Sotheby’s will offer one of the most carefully curated ensembles of African & Oceanic Art to be offered on the market in recent years. The works come from a number of esteemed private collections, including the famous Friede collection, and the sale is divided equally between Oceania and Africa. The objects have been selected based on their quality and rarity, reflecting the talent of the great artists of these two continents. Oceanic Art Following [...]