‘America’s Mona Lisa’: how chance, genius and cheap paint made the masterpiece Whistler’s Mother

James Abbott McNeill Whistler's iconic painting of his mother, Anna, known as 'Whistler’s Mother' or 'Arrangement in Grey and Black No 1', is returning to London for the first time in nearly two generations as part of a Tate Britain exhibition. The article recounts how the portrait was painted in 1871 in Whistler's Chelsea studio during a low point in his career, using cheap paint and a used canvas after a young sitter canceled. The author, who restored the painting for the Musée d'Orsay, details the work's accidental genesis, Whistler's radical minimalist aesthetic, and the initial critical confusion it caused.

In London, Churchill's astonishing talent as a painter celebrated by an unprecedented retrospective

À Londres, l’étonnant talent de peintre de Churchill célébré par une rétrospective inédite

The Wallace Collection in London is hosting the first major posthumous retrospective of Winston Churchill's paintings, titled "Winston Churchill: The Painter." Running until November 29, 2026, the exhibition features nearly 60 still lifes and landscapes, many from private collections rarely shown publicly. Churchill took up painting in 1915 after the Dardanelles disaster and used art as a therapeutic escape from the pressures of politics and war, producing luminous, impressionistic works inspired by Monet, Cézanne, and Renoir.

Jill Bedgood: Vestiges of Existence

Andrew Durham Gallery in Houston announces "Vestiges of Existence," a solo exhibition of multi-media works by artist Jill Bedgood, running from June 6 to August 1, 2026. The show explores how physical remnants—such as worn jewelry, handwritten letters, and natural anomalies—carry memory and document human presence, functioning as contemporary memento mori. An opening reception on June 6 and an artist talk on July 11 accompany the exhibition.

San Diego Museum of Art is Celebrating 100 Years With its Most Ambitious Exhibition Yet

The San Diego Museum of Art is marking its 100th anniversary with what it describes as its most ambitious exhibition to date. The show brings together a wide range of works from the museum's collection and loans, aiming to celebrate a century of artistic achievement and institutional history.

7 D.C. art exhibits to catch this summer before they close

The article highlights seven art exhibitions in Washington, D.C. that are closing at the end of summer 2025, urging visitors to see them before they end. Featured shows include a retrospective of African American artist Alma Thomas at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, a survey of contemporary Indigenous art at the National Museum of the American Indian, and a solo presentation of Yayoi Kusama's infinity rooms at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Other notable exhibits include a photography collection by Gordon Parks at the National Gallery of Art and a showcase of modern Latin American art at the Museum of the Americas.

Palette of flowers: Nada Al Barazi hosts ‘Gardens’ solo exhibition at Intent Gallery

Internationally acclaimed artist Nada Al Barazi presented her solo exhibition 'Gardens' at Intent Gallery in Dubai from May 9 to 13. The show featured a contemplative body of work exploring nature as an emotional and introspective experience, with layered textures, expressive color, and organic forms that invite viewers to reflect on memory, transformation, and renewal. Al Barazi, a holder of the UAE Golden Visa from Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, is recognized for her contributions to contemporary art in the Emirates and globally.

Marat Guelman and the group + - Komma: First of all, it’s beautiful

Marat Guelman's exhibition at Ethan Cohen Gallery in New York (April 23–May 30, 2026) features AI-generated monoprints created in collaboration with the Montenegrin digital art group + - Komma. None of the works were painted by Guelman himself; instead, he programmed AI outputs based on historical models by artists like Picasso, Gauguin, Monet, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Turner, Matisse, and Richter. Every piece in the show incorporates an image of an atomic mushroom cloud, a motif Guelman uses to respond to Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats during the Ukraine war.

MONET TO MATISSE: DEFYING TRADITION to Launch at Art Gallery of South Australia

The Art Gallery of South Australia is set to launch a new exhibition titled 'MONET TO MATISSE: DEFYING TRADITION,' which will feature works by iconic modern artists such as Claude Monet and Henri Matisse. The show aims to highlight how these artists broke away from conventional artistic norms to pioneer new movements in art history.

The Colorful History of the Van Gogh Museum and the Highlights You Must Not Miss

The article traces the history of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, from its origins in the efforts of Johanna van Gogh-Bonger—who preserved Vincent van Gogh's works after his death—to its official opening in 1973 by Queen Juliana. It describes the museum's location on Museum Square, its two-part building designed by Gerrit Rietveld and Kisho Kurokawa, and its role as a major tourist attraction that drew nearly two million visitors in 2024.

Artist Pooja Bhansali unveils Grid & Garden exhibition in Mumbai

Mumbai-based contemporary artist Pooja Bhansali is making her debut solo exhibition, "Grid & Garden," at Jehangir Art Gallery in Kala Ghoda. The show features works that blend painting, textile, and sculpture, using materials like herringbone tweed, silk brocade, and wool felt on custom wooden structures. Series include "Wave Grid," "The Golden Realm," "The Beehive Series," and "Water Garden Triptych," exploring themes of structure, fluidity, nature, and luxury.

Al Padiglione Emirati della Biennale di Venezia l’ascolto passa dall’architettura

At the Venice Biennale, the UAE Pavilion at the Arsenale presents 'Washwasha,' a project curated by Bana Kattan that focuses on sound as an invisible infrastructure crossing cultures, memories, and identities. Featuring artists Tala Safié, Farah Al Qasimi, and Ala Younis, the pavilion eschews visual shock and political slogans for an immersive, auditory experience that prioritizes listening, proximity, and disorientation. Architect Koray Duman, who designed the space, explains in an interview that the pavilion is a deliberate counter to the contemporary culture of hyperstimulation and monetized attention, using architecture not as a container but as a system that organizes perception and emotional tension.