While the world is ending outside

Während draußen die Welt untergeht

The ninth edition of the art festival "Various Others" opened in Munich amid rain, with galleries, institutions, and off-spaces presenting their exhibitions. Highlights include Jana Schröder's large-format paintings at Jahn und Jahn, juxtaposed with Willem de Kooning's works on newspaper; André Butzer's solo show at Galerie Christine Mayer, featuring his transition from monochrome 'N-Bilder' back to color; and Anselm Reyle's solo exhibition at Walter Storms in collaboration with Galerie Dirimart. Two standout shows are inspired by Persian miniature painting: Elif Saydam's 'Glory' at Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle, where silver and gold leaf works will oxidize over centuries, and another exhibition exploring bodies in transitional states—pupating, oxidizing, and escaping fixed forms.

Venice’s top museum brings in 80-year-old performance artist as St. Mark’s Square hosts Lee Ufan exhibition

Gallerie dell'Accademia, one of Venice’s most historic museums, is hosting "Energy in Transition," a major retrospective marking performance artist Marina Abramović’s 80th birthday. The exhibition features iconic works such as "The Lovers: The Great Wall Walk" (1988) and "Balkan Baroque" (1997), for which she became the first woman to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale. Visitors can interact with installations involving crystals, meditation platforms, and energy brushes, transforming Abramović’s once-violent performances into a healing journey. Separately, St. Mark’s Square is hosting an exhibition by Korean artist Lee Ufan, featuring his sculpture "The Kiss."

Urban Art Biennale: Rust, dust and decay revamps Germany's Völklingen ironworks

Dozens of urban artists from 17 countries have gathered at Germany's Völklinger Hütte (Völklingen Ironworks), a UNESCO World Heritage site, for the Urban Art Biennale 2026 opening this Saturday. The exhibition features 50 artists including Tomas Lacque, Boris Tellegen (Delta), Vortex-X, Ampparito, Remi Rough, and Anders Reventlov, who have created site-specific installations that engage with the industrial landmark's sprawling spaces, rust, dust, and sense of decay. Works range from a van covered in ash-like paint to a massive wooden sculpture and a rooftop text piece visible from 45 meters high.