Salon des Refusés 2.0
A group exhibition titled "we refuse_d" has opened at the Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst (M HKA) in Antwerp, bringing together 15 artists, many of whom faced cancellations or disinvitations from exhibitions following the October 7, 2023 attacks. The show, referencing the historic 1863 Salon des Refusés, aims to reclaim reputation and amplify marginalized voices, specifically focusing on Palestinian history and artists affected by the cultural fallout.
New Orleans artists Dawn DeDeaux and Demond Melancon have been selected to participate in the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. Curated by Koyo Kouoh under the title "In Minor Keys," the exhibition marks a historic moment as two artists from the city receive simultaneous invitations to the prestigious international forum. DeDeaux, a veteran multimedia artist known for her "MotherShip Series" and environmental themes, will bring her focus on post-anthropocene landscapes to the global stage.
The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York is presenting "High Wire: Calder’s Circus at 100," a centennial exhibition celebrating Alexander Calder's iconic work "Calder’s Circus" (1926-31). The show brings together the miniature circus figures, wire sculptures, drawings, archival materials, and early abstract works, exploring how the circus inspired Calder's lifelong exploration of balance and movement, leading to his invention of the mobile. The exhibition runs from October 18, 2025, to March 9, 2026, and is co-curated by Jennie Goldstein and Roxanne Smith.
Art at a Time Like This, a non-profit organization, has opened the exhibition 'Don’t Look Now' in New York City's Nolita neighborhood (October 10–25), featuring 24 contemporary artists whose work has been censored or blacklisted. Participants include Marilyn Minter, Shepard Fairey, Dread Scott, Danielle SeeWalker, and Yvonne Iten-Scott, whose pieces were removed from shows, rescinded from residencies, or targeted by officials due to political content. The exhibition responds to the Trump administration's crackdown on free speech in the culture sector, including mass layoffs at the NEA and NEH, proposed funding cuts, and canceled shows at institutions like the Smithsonian.
Monica Rohan, a Brisbane-based artist, creates vibrant oil paintings in which domestic objects like patterned tablecloths and bentwood dining chairs appear in remote, natural landscapes. Her recent works, including those from her upcoming solo exhibition "Invitations" at Sophie Gannon Gallery in Melbourne this June, increasingly omit human figures, allowing the objects themselves to become stand-ins for people. The scenes are inspired by her hiking trip through Tasmania, featuring alpine summits, streams, and meadows.
Ilya and Emilia Kabakov's participatory art project *Ship of Tolerance* (2005–present) has been reinstalled at Oakville Galleries on Lake Ontario, near Toronto, opening on 31 May as part of the exhibition *Between Heaven and Earth* (through 20 September). The project, which involves children from diverse backgrounds creating painted sails for a 60-foot wooden boat, has previously traveled to locations including Siwa, Egypt; the Venice Biennale; Sharjah; Brooklyn; Miami; Moscow; and London. Emilia Kabakov continues to lead the project after Ilya Kabakov's death in 2023, and the latest iteration arrives amid global crises including wars, migrant displacement, and US President Donald Trump's threats to annex Canada.
Seoul-based gallery Artcube 2R2 is launching a solo exhibition titled "Dignity: Accumulated Time" featuring the work of artist Oh Ji-yoon. The show focuses on her "Dignity" series, which utilizes a labor-intensive process of layering charcoal, gold, hanji paper, and pearls to explore themes of human existence and reflection. The exhibition is designed to coincide with the artist's consecutive invitations to the Venice Biennale, bringing the same body of work shown on the international stage to a domestic audience.