The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston has announced it will rescind a promised gift of Benin Bronzes and close its dedicated gallery on April 28, per artnews.com. The space will transition into an exhibition for the museum’s Nubian art collection, with a partial display opening May 1 and a fuller presentation later.
The Benin Bronzes—thousands of bronze and ivory artifacts looted during Britain’s 1897 raid on the Kingdom of Benin—have become a flashpoint in global restitution debates. The MFA’s decision follows growing pressure on Western museums to return artifacts acquired through colonial violence.
The gallery, opened in 2013, housed works from the Robert Owen Lehman Collection, acquired in the 1970s–80s. Many pieces were traced directly to the 1897 plunder, prompting the museum to seek a resolution. While five donated Benin objects will remain in the Art of Africa Gallery, the MFA stated it continues to evaluate ownership claims.
MFA Director Matthew Teitelbaum emphasised the institution’s commitment to ethical stewardship, citing its early provenance research efforts. However, without a mutually agreeable resolution, maintaining the gallery was deemed unsustainable.
This decision aligns with a global restitution wave. In 2024, the University of Iowa became the first US museum to return Benin Bronzes, reclassifying them as loans from Nigeria’s Oba. Germany and the Netherlands have also repatriated dozens of artifacts, acknowledging Nigeria’s rightful claim.
•Featured image: Portuguese Soldier from the 16th century, part of the Benin Kingdom collection at the MFA in Boston/Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
