Michael Maurello, former payroll manager at the Art Institute of Chicago, continued his scheme for over a decade before he was caught.

Taylor Michael
Taylor Michael is a staff reporter at Hyperallergic. Previously, she worked as a public programs coordinator at the National Book Foundation. She received an MFA from Columbia University School of the Arts and was the inaugural A Public Space Editorial Fellow.
What Just Above Midtown Meant for Black Artists
The long-gone art gallery afforded Black artists a space to create without having to consider the pressures of the commercial art market or the fickle nature of nonprofit art institutions.
Six Autobiographical Films That “Say It Like It Is”
The Brooklyn Academy of Music will screen Camille Billops and James Hatch’s unique films centering Black American life, sexuality, and social issues.
AI Art Platform Hit With Copyright Lawsuit
Getty Images says it is suing Stability AI, creator of Stable Diffusion, alleging intellectual property right infringement.
A New MLK Sculpture Draws Mixed Reactions
Some are praising Hank Willis Thomas’s artwork depicting MLK and Coretta Scott King’s embrace, but others question the design.
Remembering the Women of the Black Panther Party
Comrade Sisters centers photographs and personal accounts of the women who made up over two-thirds of the party.
Richmond’s Last Confederate Statue Comes Down
“The work to battle entrenched white supremacy in our communities is far from over,” said artist Sandy Williams IV.
Kojo Marfo’s Portraits Depict the Cracks in Polite Society
The artist’s style blends aesthetic and cultural elements from Ghana, London, and New York’s graffiti scenes.
Hana Yilma Godine’s Paintings Depict Ethiopian Traditions with Modern Style and Flair
Her work transports viewers into a timeless space where beauty, community, and the natural world are valued above all.
Toni Morrison’s The Black Book Was a Groundbreaking Archive, Anthology, and Scrapbook
Hilton Als’s collection of materials, art, and ephemera isn’t meant to elucidate Morrison’s work but ponder the novelist’s impact on American culture.
Dread Scott Celebrates a Long-forgotten Rebellion as a Moment of Resilience
Merging past and present Scott magnifies what has been reduced in American history to a plaque on a highway.
Jill Freedman’s Close-Up View of New York City Police
Did Jill Freedman, a leftist activist, create a pro-law enforcement series of images?