A Pablo Picasso painting is being offered for 100 euros in a charity raffle.
A Picasso painting valued at over €1 million is being raffled in Paris for €100 per ticket as part of the charity initiative “1 Picasso for 100 euros,” with proceeds supporting Alzheimer’s research. The work—Tête de femme (1941)—is offered with authorization from the Picasso estate, continuing a series of raffles that aim to democratize access to blue-chip art while raising millions for humanitarian causes. If all 120,000 tickets are sold, the initiative could generate up to €12 million, reinforcing a model that blends philanthropy, spectacle, and the global appeal of Picasso’s market.
39 artists will participate in the inaugural Medina Triennial.
Opening June 6, the inaugural Medina Triennial will unfold across the village of Medina, New York, bringing together 39 artists and collectives for a town-wide exhibition and public program. Titled “All That Sustains Us,” and curated by Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo, the triennial will present 100+ artworks across indoor and outdoor sites, exploring themes at the intersection of ecology, labor, infrastructure, and community resilience.
A long-lost film by Georges Méliès was found in a garage in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A long-lost 1897 film by Georges Méliès, Gugusse and the Automaton, has been rediscovered in a Michigan family collection and restored by the Library of Congress, marking a major find in early cinema history. The 45-second silent short—unseen for over a century—is believed to feature one of the earliest depictions of a robot in film, portraying a magician battling a mechanical automaton. The discovery underscores the fragile survival of Méliès’s work—of which only a fraction remains—and highlights the ongoing importance of archival preservation in recovering foundational pieces of film history.
The Bennett Prize raised its award for women painters to $75,000.
The Bennett Prize—now awarding $75,000—has opened applications for its 2026–27 cycle, positioning itself as the largest art prize dedicated exclusively to women figurative realist painters. Alongside the financial award, the winner receives support to produce a traveling solo exhibition, while finalists gain institutional visibility—making the prize a significant career accelerator for artists outside the top commercial tier. With eligibility designed to support emerging or under-recognized painters (excluding those with major prior sales or awards), the prize reflects a broader push to address gender imbalance and expand opportunities within the art market.
Kering revenue dropped 6.2 percent—with Gucci sluggish but Boucheron leading a 22 percent growth in jewelry.
Kering reported flat comparable revenue of €3.57 billion in Q1 2026 (–6 percent reported), as ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures—particularly in the Middle East—continued to weigh on performance. Its core fashion and leather goods division declined, driven by a continued downturn at Gucci (down roughly 8–14 percent), though the brand showed early signs of stabilization as part of a broader turnaround strategy under CEO Luca de Meo. Offsetting some weakness, jewelry and eyewear posted growth, reflecting Kering’s push to diversify and strengthen its portfolio as it works toward a longer-term recovery across key markets.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Bottega Veneta has released a $10,200 handwoven leather T-shirt.
Eric Wind and Marc Newson collaborated on an hourglass trio.
Paddington Bear won an Olivier Award.
Justina Alexandro’s fake flowers help blind bees find real flora.
