Events from the year 1997 in art. Events January 27 – It is revealed that French museums have nearly 2,000 pieces of art that had been stolen by Nazis. February 22 – Gustav Klimt's Portrait of a Lady (overpainted 1917 on Portrait of a Young Lady) is stolen from the Galleria d'arte moderna Ricci Oddi in Piacenza, Italy. It is recovered from a hiding place in the exterior of the building in December 2019. March 6 – Pablo Picasso's Tête de Femme is stolen from a London gallery. It is recovered a week later. April 27 – Andrew Cunanan murders Jeffrey Trail, beginning a murder spree that will last until July and end with the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace. September 8 – Marcus Harvey's controversial painting of Myra Hindley goes on display at the Royal Academy of Art in London and is vandalised twice, by two different artists, on the opening day. October 18 – Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, is opened. Full date unknown Puppy by Jeff Koons is moved from Sydney Harbour to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Robert Colescott becomes the first African-American to represent the United States in a solo exhibition at the Venice Biennial. Istanbul Contemporary Art Museum is established by conceptual artist Genco Gulan in Turkey as an art project. Patricia Martín conceives La Colección Jumex in Mexico City. Exhibitions Sensation opens at the Royal Academy of Art in London. Kate and Helen Storey's Primitive Streak opens at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. Documenta X opens in Kassel. Awards Archibald Prize – Nigel Thomson, Barbara Blackman John Moores Painting Prize - Dan Hays for "Harmony in Green" Schock Prize in Visual Arts – Torsten Andersson Turner Prize – Gillian Wearing -The Venice Biennial- The Lion d'or (Golden Lion) for Lifetime Achievement: Emilio Vedova (Italy), Agnes Martin (USA) The Lion d'or for Best Pavilion: France exhibiting the work of Fabrice Hyber Artworks Matthew Barney - The Erich Weiss Suite Louise Bourgeois – Eye Benches I, II and III (Seattle) Maurizio Cattelan – Turisti (installation, first version) Thornton Dial - The Bridge dedicated to Congressman John Lewis at John Lewis Plaza in Freedom Park in Atlanta, Georgia Lucian Freud – Eight Months Gone Zenos Frudakis – Statue of Ellis Arnall (Atlanta) Antony Gormley – Another Place (sculpture) Rodney Graham – Vexation Island (film loop) Philip Jackson Gurkha Memorial, London Raoul Wallenberg