Art in Brief

What does it take to report and write a story about stolen art, war, and the people caught at the center of it?
In our latest episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris are joined by Matthew Campbell, award-winning reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek and author of The Man Who Stole the Gods, to discuss his years-long investigation into the looting and trafficking of ancient Khmer artifacts from Cambodia.
We talk about Matthew’s research and reporting process, why he chose to center the story around the book’s main characters, and how he approached telling the stories of complicated figures with nuance and empathy.
Listen to the latest episode of Art in Brief wherever you get your podcasts. Resources from the Center for Art Law and a link to Matthew’s book are linked below:
https://itsartlaw.org/art-law/era-of-despoilment-looting-in-cambodia-1970-2010/
Read Matthew's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Stole-Gods-Conspiracy/dp/B0FYM8H6DR/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=176765513495&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.w4vr5gaQ1DOINaPztVk_cRtrS7dmujglZON1r71_ACYNkGO7ALoQPLqpig7xGsBSj0v7vkInXWh6I5Zw8job_9NN_m0vafeEsc6NS7tb7cvjqSYcpDSMfgPA5PiY-Hi8Ud2GbEteTTjN3F6B4k9XQPpSSgPl7xgTYch7gajzwZCC8JT1EfxG8ny0y_TIxF9F258ty-Gg3sz6OB-8G1kH5w.P4BOqNzLgtaEuuO4XVFu71S8pCltFXJJnGU-Jub0z5M&dib_tag=se&hvadid=777917649781&hvdev=m&hvexpln=68&hvlocphy=9198132&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=636994792264238302--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=636994792264238302&hvtargid=kwd-2499641917404&hydadcr=15147_13840105&keywords=the+man+who+stole+the+gods&mcid=09d7cf031cce30b18102723217a114a8&qid=1787349338&sr=8-1
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In a world shaped by smartphones, smart glasses, and AI, what should be considered acceptable when images can be captured and shared so widely?

In 2015, Martha and Matthew Foster sued photographer Arne Svenson, who had spent the previous year taking photographs of them inside their home through their windows, without their knowledge. The court ultimately ruled in the photographer’s favor, citing his right to artistic expression.

In this episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris are joined by Cathy Kaplan - lawyer, professor, and chair of the boards of the Yale art gallery and Aperture, as well as the Whitney photography committee - to discuss the questions this case raises about privacy, consent, artistic freedom, and commercial use.

Check out our Zurich Intensive:  https://itsartlaw.org/events/art-x-law-intensive/
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In this episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris speak with Will Korner, founder and director of the Cultural Heritage At Risk Database Foundation (CHARD). 

From conflict zones to disaster-stricken regions, Will discusses how documentation, collaboration, and technology can help safeguard the objects and stories that connect us to our shared past from illicit trade. He also explains how CHARD’s database can be used to cross-check whether stolen or missing cultural objects are appearing on the art market, including at auction, and what is at stake when these irreplaceable pieces of heritage are lost.
Support the show

In this episode of Art in Brief, Andrea and Paris speak with Will Korner, founder and director of the Cultural Heritage At Risk Database Foundation (CHARD). 

From conflict zones to disaster-stricken regions, Will discusses how documentation, collaboration, and technology can help safeguard the objects and stories that connect us to our shared past from illicit trade. He also explains how CHARD’s database can be used to cross-check whether stolen or missing cultural objects are appearing on the art market, including at auction, and what is at stake when these irreplaceable pieces of heritage are lost.

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In this episode, we speak with art market expert Doug Woodham to unpack how Jean-Michel Basquiat became one of the most enduring cultural icons of our time. 
Moving beyond his rise in 1980s New York, this episode focuses on what happened after his death. We explore how his estate, led by his father, shaped his legacy through control of supply, copyright, and narrative; how early collectors and market forces drove the value of his work; and how museums and media cemented his place in art history. 
Together, we explore the bigger question: is creating great art enough, or does becoming an icon require an entire ecosystem working behind the scenes?
Read Doug's book here: 
https://www.amazon.com/Jean-%C2%ADMichel-Basquiat-Making-Doug-Woodham/dp/0500030693

Also, please join us on May 27  for the highly anticipated Art Law Conference 2026, held at Brooklyn Law School and Online (Hybrid). Entitled “What is Copy, Right? Visual Art, AI, and the Law in the 21st Century,” this year’s conference explores the evolving relationship between visual art, copyright law, and artificial intelligence:
https://itsartlaw.org/2026-art-law-conference-new-york-city/

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