The Virgil Abloh Foundation has appointed Dana Loatman as its first executive director.
Dana Loatman has been appointed the first executive director of the Virgil Abloh Foundation, established by Shannon Abloh to continue her late husband’s legacy of championing underrepresented youth in creative fields. Formerly a senior director at the Obama Foundation, Loatman brings a track record of securing major funding and fostering strategic partnerships to support social impact initiatives. Under her leadership, the foundation will expand its programs, grants, and archival preservation efforts to provide young creatives with access, resources, and opportunities, ensuring Abloh’s influence remains a driving force in the industry.
New evidence suggests a Rubens painting in the National Gallery of London could be fake.
A new investigation casts doubt on the authenticity of Samson and Delilah, a painting long attributed to Peter Paul Rubens and housed in the National Gallery. Art historian Euphrosyne Doxiadis argues that stylistic inconsistencies, missing details, and historical evidence suggest the work is a 20th-century copy created by students under Joaquín Sorolla’s supervision. AI analysis and archival research further support the claim, raising fresh concerns about one of the gallery’s most expensive acquisitions.
In lieu of a runway show for Milan Fashion Week, Bottega Veneta will debut a new culture and design hub.
Bottega Veneta will celebrate its new Milan headquarters with a cultural event during fashion week, foregoing a runway show ahead of Louise Trotter’s debut collection. The historic building, once a renowned theater, has been restored as a design and cultural hub, blending its past with modern craftsmanship and sustainability. The event will feature Correspondences, a collaboration between Soundwalk Collective and Patti Smith, with a tribute to Carlo Mollino.
Harlem’s Studio Museum has inaugurated its sophomore class of leadership fellows.
The Studio Museum in Harlem has selected eight mid-career museum professionals for its second Arts Leadership Praxis cohort, expanding the program’s reach beyond New York. Designed to address inequities in the arts, the six-month initiative offers mentorship, workshops, and research trips to cultivate future leaders. Director Thelma Golden envisions the program as a lasting network of support, reinforcing the museum’s role in shaping the next generation of cultural stewards.
Later this fall, North America’s first Leonardo da Vinci Museum will open in Colorado.
Pueblo, Colorado will soon host North America’s only Leonardo da Vinci Museum, featuring interactive exhibitions and full-scale models inspired by the Renaissance master’s sketches. The museum aims to blend art, science, and innovation in an engaging, hands-on experience. Secured through an exclusivity agreement with Italy’s Artisans of Florence, the institution is expected to attract visitors nationwide and become a cultural landmark.
Today’s attractive distractions:
“Optical illusions,” by way of 3-D crosswalks, could be the future of urban planning.
Kith’s New Balance collab shows it’s on a roll lately.
Wondering what the long term outlook is for Asia’s strong luxury market? Start here.
A new addition to Hinge’s UI design stands to significantly enhance user safety.
