_A lot went down last week in the weird and wild world of Art. Some things were more scandalous than others, some were just plain wacky&#x2014;but all of them are worth knowing about. Without any further adieu:_

\+ "I like to compare myself to other kinds of artists like Picasso," said Madonna on Wednesday, surprising no one. _\[[AP](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/madonna-feels-picasso-art-expiration-date-32619958)\]_

\+ Grayson Perry claimed that his dream to install 800,000 ceramic puppies around the Tower of London was denied. _\[[Twitter](https://twitter.com/Alan_Measles/status/624224150488514561)\]_

\+ Residents of San Leandro, California voiced skepticism at plans to install the 3-story-tall nude female sculpture, _Truth Is Beauty_, from 2013's Burning Man on the city's new Tech Campus&#x2014;said one resident, &#x201c;Truth is beauty, but tacky is forever." _\[[SFGate](http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2015/07/22/naked-burning-man-sculpture-sparks-controversy-in-san-leandro/)\] _

\+  Ai Weiwei's [celebratory Instagram](https://instagram.com/p/5bdSb1qD6e/?taken-by=aiww) of the [return of his passport from the Chinese government](http://www.vice.com/read/the-chinese-goverment-finally-gave-ai-weiwei-his-passport-back-vgtrn-0915) was greeted with an online homage from the artist's global fanbase. _\[[artnet news](https://news.artnet.com/in-brief/ai-weiwei-passport-selfie-trend-319286)\]_

\+ These billionaire art patrons are throwing down the big bucks for 2016's presidential candidates. Great. _\[[Blouin Art Info](http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1204533/9-billionaire-art-patrons-who-are-shelling-out-for#)\]_

\+ The 40 fruits grown on artist Sam Van Aken's hyper-grafted "frankentree" include peaches, cherries, and almonds, oh my! _\[[Observer](http://observer.com/2015/07/artist-made-a-frankentree-that-bears-40-different-fruits/)\]_

\+ Hollywood's art collectors now own $4 billion in art&#x2014;entertainment mogul David Geffen leads the pack, with George Lucas taking a close second. _\[[CNBC](http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/20/top-collectors-now-own-4-billion-worth-of-art.html)\]_

\+ A librarian in China confessed to stealing over 140 paintings from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and replacing them with works of his own making in either an act of shameless self-promotion, high art theft, or world-class hijinks. _\[[AP](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/college-librarian-china-admits-replaced-art-fakes-32585241)\]_

\+ Mass-produced exoskeletons: coming to a store near you? _\[[International Business Times](http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/panasonic-mass-produce-alien-style-robot-exoskeleton-suit-help-workers-heavy-lifting-1509593)\]_

\+ A Loch Ness monster sculpture named Minne was removed from a lake in Minneapolis after two Minnesotans climbed on its lofty neck. _\[[LaCrosse Tribune](http://lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/mn/loch-ness-monster-like-sculpture-pulled-from-lake-calhoun/article_590e49ba-3109-5c37-ade2-3bd4679fe4fc.html)\]_

\+ This is the story of Subhash Kapoor's $100 million art smuggling franchise. _\[[New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/arts/design/the-ultimate-temple-raider-inside-an-antiquities-smuggling-operation.html?_r=1)\]_

_[Ax-Wielding Artists and Cosby Controversies: This Week in Art](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/ax-wielding-artists-and-cosby-controversies-this-week-in-art)_

_["Obey" Arrested, Dead Bodies Sought: This Week in Art](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/obey-arrested-dead-bodies-sought-this-week-in-art)_

_[Insta of the Week: Semi-Naked Camouflage in NYC](http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/insta-of-the-week-semi-naked-camouflage-in-nyc)_

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800,000 Ceramic Puppies, and Madonna vs. Picasso: Last Week in Art

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800,000 Ceramic Puppies, and Madonna vs. Picasso: Last Week in Art

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