10 Artist-Run Galleries Around the World You Should Know

Artsy Editorial profiles ten artist-run galleries worldwide that are thriving despite the challenge of balancing gallery operations with active art practices. These spaces, founded and operated by working artists, leverage their founders' firsthand experience navigating the art world to curate distinctive programming and build meaningful client relationships. Examples include galleries in underserved neighborhoods in Thailand and other global locations, highlighting the diversity of this grassroots movement.

Human Connection Cuts Through Technology at Focus Art Fair

Focus Art Fair, New York's only art fair dedicated to contemporary Asian art, returned for its fourth edition at Chelsea Industrial, running through May 24, 2026. The fair's theme, 'human-technology coexistence,' was explored through works such as Hwia Kim's interactive installation 'What if two eyes don't work together?' presented by LG Electronics, and pieces by the Ukrainian-born F-Twins (Anna and Valeriia Lyshchenko), who founded the Primarealism art movement in response to AI's encroachment on critical thinking. Other highlights included Annu Yadav's political installation 'This Land is Wounded' (2025) and Taezoo Park's 'Hacked Snoopy' (2025), which memorializes neglected technologies. The fair featured more than 40 galleries and presenters, with a notable appearance by Japanese pop icon Kento Senga, who shared his FiNGA character as a means of connecting with his grandmother suffering from Alzheimer's.

Contemporary art returns to center stage in Ascoli Piceno for the fifth edition of the Premio Sparti

L’arte contemporanea torna protagonista ad Ascoli Piceno per la quinta edizione del Premio Sparti

The fifth edition of the Premio Sparti, titled "Dove finisce la città" (Where the City Ends), will open on May 23 at the Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, running through June 28. Curated by Alex Urso, the exhibition features over twenty international artists exploring artistic practice outside major urban centers, with works also installed at the Frida Museum. The show is divided into three sections—"Essere oltre," "Essere qui," and "Essere altro"—highlighting artists who have chosen peripheral, rural, or marginalized locations as bases for their research, including Francesco Arena, Davide Maria Coltro, Andrea Mastrovito, and emerging talents under 35.

International encaustic art conference comes to Truro

The 19th International Encaustic Conference will take place May 29-31 at Edgewood Farm in Truro, Massachusetts, produced by the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill. The three-day event brings together artists from around the world to celebrate encaustic painting, an ancient medium using pigmented wax, with technical demonstrations, educational programming, networking, juried exhibitions, and extended gallery hours in Wellfleet and Truro. Keynote speaker is artist Portia Munson, known for her maximalist installations exploring consumerism and identity. Pre- and post-conference workshops run May 26 to June 4.

AMSET, Symphony of SETX host Austin composer's Immersive Musical tour of the Neches River

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) and the Symphony of Southeast Texas are hosting an immersive musical performance titled "Tales of the Neches: An Immersive Musical Experience" on May 30, 2026. Acclaimed composer Nathan Felix has created an original site-specific composition that will be performed by musicians and singers moving through the museum galleries, inspired by the Neches River. The event also features imagery from Bill Pangburn's exhibition "Printed Traces: A Neches River Journal," on view through July 5th. The free public event was discussed on The Morning Show by Marketing Coordinator Hilary Deville and Nathan Felix.

‘Garden of Life’: immersive Monaco exhibition blends eastern wellness with mixed-media art

An immersive exhibition titled 'Garden of Life – A Wellness Journey Through Art' has opened in Monaco, blending the mixed-media artwork of international artist Fiona Tan with the serene environment of L&L Wellbeing, a luxury Japanese-inspired head spa. The exhibition, running until July, transforms the holistic wellness space into a living gallery, featuring Tan's complex works that combine digital techniques with traditional craftsmanship, including velvet, silk, gold leaf, and diamond dust. Tan, also a certified holistic health coach, creates pieces intended to serve as therapeutic tools, engaging viewers through neuro-aesthetics to promote mental peace and reflection.