Art Industry News is a daily digest of the most consequential developments coming out of the art world and art market. Here’s what you need to know on this Monday, May 8.

NEED-TO-READ

Frankfurt Returns Painting to Jewish Heirs – A painting by artist Fritz von Uhde will be restituted to the heirs of Gustav Rüdenberg, a Jewish collector who was forced to sell it under duress during World War II. The 19th-century painting, Portrait of a Lady, was officially restituted to the family in 2022, and an agreement has now allowed for the Städel Museum in Frankfurt to reacquire it for the museum’s permanent collection. (JNS.org)

Empire State Building Murals Return at TEFAF – A pair of murals, painted by artist Winold Reiss in 1938 for the Longchamps restaurant at the Empire State Building, will go on view at TEFAF on May 12 as part of the Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts gallery’s booth. Long thought lost, the art deco paintings have appeared at auctions over the decades without any attribution until gallery director Ken Sims bought them on 1stdibs and had them appraised. They are valued in the low seven figures. (New York Times)  

Museums in Sudan Warn of Damage to Heritage Sites – Museum professionals and artists are raising the alarm as violence continues to rage in Sudan that institutions, especially those concentrated in the capital city of Khartoum, are at risk. The International Council of Museums published a report from director of the Sudan Natural History Museum Sara Abdalla Khidir Saeed, who said, “museums are now without guard to protect them from looting and vandalism.” (ARTnews)

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Claridge’s & Royal Academy Collaborate on New Prize – The luxury hotel is teaming up with the art school for the aptly named Claridge’s Royal Academy Schools Art Prize, which will be awarded to a graduating student from the institution. The prize will be presented by artist Marina Abramović this fall as her show opens at the RA, and the winner will receive £30,000 ($38,000), a production fund, and a solo show at Claridge’s gallery ArtSpace. (Bazaar)

Buffalo AKG Appoints New Deputy Director – Jillian Jones has been promoted to the position of deputy director beginning today, May 8. Jones previously served as the director of advancement at the museum from 2015. (Press release)

Finalists in Dallas Museum Competition Revealed – Six architectural firms have been selected as finalists for the Dallas Museum of Art’s planned overhaul. The firms include David Chipperfield, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Weiss/Manfredi, Johnston Marklee and Michael Maltzan Architecture, and Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos. The firms’ design proposals will go on view at an exhibition in July. (Glasstire)

FOR ART’S SAKE

Refik Anadol Lights Up Gaudí Building – The artist’s latest project from his ongoing “Living Architecture” series was set against the historic backdrop of the Spanish architect’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona. Anadol posted an image of the trippy light installation to Instagram, writing, “we… honored the genius of Gaudí by using incredible facade as a canvas, his entire life’s dataset as a light pigment, together!” (Instagram)