Lee Ufan: ‘I try to bring together those things which are made and unmade’

Lee Ufan, the South Korean artist and founding member of the Mono-ha movement, is being honored with a major solo exhibition at SMAC San Marco Art Centre as an official Collateral Event of the Venice Biennale, marking his 90th year. Simultaneously, a new display of his painting and sculpture opens at Dia Beacon in New York State, and his first show in Portugal opens at Casa e Parque de Serralves in July. In an interview with The Art Newspaper, Ufan discusses his artistic journey, his rejection of the artist's hand, and the influence of seeing a Barnett Newman exhibition at MoMA in 1971, which led him to develop his signature From Point and From Line paintings that use repeated marks to express the passage of time.

10 Shows Around Venice Not to Miss During the Biennale

ARTnews has published a guide to 10 exhibitions in Venice worth seeing during the 2026 Biennale, beyond the central show "In Minor Keys" curated by the late Koyo Kouoh and the national pavilions. Highlights include a major survey of Lee Ufan at the San Marco Art Centre (SMAC Venice), organized by the Dia Art Foundation and curated by Jessica Morgan; "Helter Skelter: Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince" at Fondazione Prada, curated by Nancy Spector; and "Strange Rules" at Palazzo Diedo, conceived by Hans Ulrich Obrist with Mat Dryhurst and Holly Herndon, introducing the concept of "Protocol Art." Other venues include the Gallerie dell'Accademia, Pinault Collection, Berggruen Arts & Culture, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, and a three-night-only performance at Teatro Goldoni.

10 Must-See Shows During the Venice Biennale 2026

The 2026 Venice Biennale is embroiled in multiple controversies, including the cancellation and reinstatement of Australia's representative artist Khaled Sabsabi, ongoing calls to bar Israel from participating, criticism over allowing Russia to participate, and mounting voices to exclude the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump's actions in Iran. Despite these disputes, the article highlights that many of the city's most exciting shows will take place away from the main Biennale venues.

Collateral Events Not to Miss at 61st Venice Biennale

The article highlights several collateral events not to miss at the 61st Venice Biennale, including "The Spirits of Maritime Crossing 2026" at Palazzo Rocca Contarini Corfù, featuring 20 artists from Southeast Asia, Ireland, and Serbia, anchored by Marina Abramović's performance piece "Sea Punishing" (2006). Other notable exhibitions include a seven-decade survey of Korean artist Lee Ufan at San Marco Art Centre, "TURANDOT: To the Daughters of the East" at ACP Palazzo Franchetti featuring 11 female artists from Central Asia, Li Yi-Fan's "Screen Melancholy" at Palazzo delle Prigioni, and Nalini Malani's "Of Woman Born" at Magazzini del Sale.

Venice Biennale: The Must-Sees Off the Official Program

Biennale de Venise, les immanquables du off

The article highlights must-see exhibitions taking place in Venice alongside the official Biennale, curated by the magazine L'Œil. It features three major shows: "Le pli et le temps" at Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro, exploring the fold as a material and temporal concept through the work of Patrick Saytour and Piero Manzoni; "Lorna Simpson. Third Person" at Punta della Dogana, a major European survey of Simpson's paintings, collages, and films organized by the Pinault Collection; and "Picasso, Morandi, Parmiggiani. Still Lifes" at Galleria di Piazza San Marco, a dialogue between three masters of still life, co-organized by Tornabuoni gallery and the Musée national Picasso-Paris.

museum exhibitions shows europe 2026

Artnet News has published a preview of major European museum exhibitions opening in early 2026. Highlights include a monographic show on Paul Cézanne at Fondation Beyeler (January 25–May 25), featuring 80 works from his late career; “Yellow. Beyond Van Gogh’s Favourite Colour” at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (February 13–May 17), exploring the color yellow across art, fashion, and literature; a solo exhibition by conceptual artist Danh Vo at the Stedelijk Museum (February 14–August 2); and “The First Homosexuals” at Kunstmuseum Basel (March 7–August 2), examining the intersection of emerging homosexual identity and the arts in the late 19th century.

fra angelico fresco restored

A long-forgotten fresco by the early Renaissance master Fra Angelico, believed to be his earliest known work, has been restored in the chapter house of San Domenico in Fiesole, Tuscany. The painting, a Crucifixion dating to around 1420, was hidden under whitewash for centuries and rediscovered by Bottega Belacqua, a group of Renaissance art enthusiasts. Funding from Friends of Florence enabled conservators Alessandra Popple and Cristiana Conti to revive the work, just in time for a landmark exhibition in Florence.

The City That Inspired Rothko (It’s Not New York)

A major exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, "Mark Rothko: The Artist's Museum," presents a significant collection of the artist's monumental works, including the rarely seen Harvard Murals and the Seagram Murals. The show focuses on Rothko's late-career shift towards creating immersive, chapel-like environments intended for deep, meditative viewing.

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."

Venice off the beaten track

The article highlights collateral exhibitions at the 2024 Venice Biennale that take place beyond the main venues of the Giardini and Arsenale, offering visitors unexpected discoveries in historic Venetian palazzos and warehouses. Featured shows include Hernan Bas's 'The Visitors' at Ca' Pesaro, exploring tourism's contradictions; 'Turandot: To the Daughters of the East' at Palazzo Franchetti, a group exhibition of women artists from Central Asia; and Amoako Boafo's first solo show in Italy at Palazzo Grimani, presented by Gagosian.

A mapping of all the intersections between the 2026 Venice Biennale and the fashion world

Una mappatura di tutti gli intrecci tra la Biennale di Venezia 2026 e il mondo della moda

The article maps the growing intersection between fashion brands and the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026, detailing specific collaborations. Zegna is the main sponsor of the Italian Pavilion, supporting Chiara Camoni's project "Con te con tutto" curated by Cecilia Canziani, using materials from Zegna's Oasi Zegna and Lanificio. Bottega Veneta renews its partnership with Pinault Collection to support Lorna Simpson's exhibition "Third Person" at Punta della Dogana, curated by Emma Lavigne, and also presents a public intervention at Campo Manin. Swatch celebrates 15 years of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel with the exhibition "Flora Fantastica" at the Giardini Reali, featuring artist Elisa Insu. The newly opened Fondazione Dries Van Noten at Palazzo Pisani Moretta debuts with "The Only True Protest Is Beauty," curated by Dries Van Noten and Geert Bruloot.

The Colors of Mark Rothko Conquer Florence: A Major Exhibition Across Three Venues

I colori di Mark Rothko conquistano Firenze: una grande mostra in tre sedi

The city of Florence is hosting a major three-venue retrospective dedicated to Mark Rothko, centered at Palazzo Strozzi with extensions into the Museo di San Marco and the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana. Curated by Christopher Rothko and Elena Geuna, the exhibition features 70 works spanning the artist's career, from his early Surrealist-influenced paintings of the 1930s and 40s to his iconic 'Multiform' and classic color-field abstractions. A unique highlight of the show is the installation of Rothko’s smaller works within the historic cells of the Museo di San Marco, directly alongside frescoes by Beato Angelico.

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.

14 artists having major museum moments in 2026

The article previews 14 artists who will have major museum exhibitions in 2026, highlighting key shows such as a long-awaited US retrospective of Marcel Duchamp, a Calder exhibition in Paris, and a Rothko show in Florence. It also details concurrent auction highlights at Christie's New York, including works from the S.I. Newhouse collection by Brancusi, Lichtenstein, Matisse, and Pollock. Specific exhibitions covered include "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Roy Lichtenstein retrospective at the Whitney Museum, and multiple European shows for Constantin Brancusi's 150th anniversary.

Welcome to Venice: the shows you won’t want to miss at the 61st Biennale

The 61st Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys," opens with a keynote exhibition conceived by the late Koyo Kouoh and realized by her team after her sudden death in May 2025. The show spans the Central Pavilion in the Giardini and the Arsenale, featuring 110 artists and collectives. Highlights include Bracha L. Ettinger's installation at the Hotel Metropole, where she transforms a room where Sigmund Freud wrote part of *The Interpretation of Dreams* into a feminist 'borderspace,' and works by artists such as Arthur Jafa, Richard Prince, Issa Samb, Beverly Buchanan, and Daniel Lind-Ramos. The exhibition explores themes of history, colonialism, war, and environmental destruction, aiming for a 'sotto voce' tone that nonetheless delivers powerful, liberating statements.

Le vedute veneziane di Francesco Guardi tornano in laguna da un museo di Lisbona

Ca' Rezzonico, the Museum of 18th-Century Venice, has opened its exhibition season with a selection of ten paintings by Francesco Guardi (1712–1793) on loan from the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon. The works, dated between 1770 and 1790, include iconic Venetian views such as the Festa della Sensa in Piazza San Marco and the Regata sul Canal Grande, showcasing Guardi's distinctive loose brushwork and atmospheric perspective. The exhibition also features drawings from civic collections, including Il Gran Teatro La Fenice and two watercolored sheets depicting Le nozze del duca di Polignac.

8 exhibitions to see in Vienna for spring 2026

8 mostre da vedere a Vienna per la primavera 2026

Vienna's 2026 spring season features a diverse array of major exhibitions across its leading institutions. Highlights include a landmark survey of Canaletto and Bernardo Bellotto at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, featuring 32 high-quality paintings including international loans from the Wallace Collection and Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie. Other significant shows include "Animalia" at the Heidi Horten Collection, which explores the blurred lines between humans and animals through 90 works of art, and a major Gustave Courbet retrospective at the Leopold Museum.

Venice Unveils Stunning New Art Spaces

During the Architecture Biennale preview in Venice, two major new art spaces opened: the Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation's new home in a historic palazzo on the San Barnaba canal, and SMAC (San Marco Art Centre), a contemporary art center on Saint Mark's Square designed by David Chipperfield. Additionally, Belgian artist Luc Tuymans accepted a last-minute commission from the Abbot of San Giorgio Maggiore to replace two Tintoretto paintings with his own large-scale works. The Fiorucci Foundation's palazzo, acquired in December 2024, opened May 10 with an exhibition by Georgian artist Tolia Astakhishvili, featuring works made from found materials and drawings on walls, alongside pieces by Thea Djordjadze and Maka Sanadze. SMAC, restored by Chipperfield, currently hosts two exhibitions: one on Australian modernist architect Harry Seidler and another on Korean landscape architect Jung Youngsun.

"One of the most dramatic Biennales": 11 unmissable art shows to see at Venice

Theo Christelis reports from the opening week of the 2024 Venice Biennale, describing it as one of the most dramatic editions in recent memory. Key events include the death of main curator Koyo Kouoh and German Pavilion artist Henrike Naumann, the resignation of the prize jury over the participation of Israel and Russia, a protest by Pussy Riot, and a boycott by half the participating artists. Amid the turmoil, Christelis highlights unmissable shows including the Indian Pavilion (returning after seven years), Jenny Saville at Ca' Pesaro, Michael Armitage at Palazzo Grassi, and presentations at the British, Japanese, and Saudi Arabian Pavilions.

Patricia Li: An Art And Design Guide To Venice

Patricia Li, writing for Vogue Circle, shares a curated guide to art and design destinations in Venice beyond the main venues of the Venice Biennale. Her recommendations include the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Gallerie dell’Accademia, Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana (part of the Pinault Collection), the newly opened Fondazione Dries Van Noten, and Fondazione Prada, each hosting special exhibitions timed to the Biennale.

Summer Previews: The Season’s Most Anticipated Shows

Artforum's editors preview twenty-five anticipated institutional exhibitions opening worldwide between May and August. Highlights include "Fade" at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the latest in its career-making "F show" series featuring seventeen emerging artists of African descent; "Modernity and Opulence: Women of the Wiener Werkstätte" at the Jewish Museum in New York, showcasing over 180 women designers from Austria's famed atelier; "Replica of a Chip: The Weaving Technology of Marilou Schultz" at the Hessel Museum of Art, exploring the intersection of Navajo weaving and microchip history; the 59th Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art, with 61 artists spread across Pittsburgh venues; and "Mary Ellen Carroll: How to Talk Dirty and Influence People" at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

Lee Ufan retrospective will be among 2026 Venice Biennale collateral events

The Venice Biennale has announced 31 official collateral events for its 2026 edition, headlined by a major Lee Ufan retrospective at the San Marco Art Centre. Curated by Dia Art Foundation director Jessica Morgan, the exhibition will celebrate the artist's 90th birthday by tracing his seven-decade career from the Mono-ha movement to his recent dimensional paintings. Other notable collateral participants include national presentations from Scotland and Wales, a floating synagogue installation by Ukrainian artist Anna Kamyshan, and a Gaza-focused exhibition organized by the Palestine Museum US.

Fra Angelico masterworks reunited for two-venue Florence exhibition

Florence is opening a comprehensive double-venue exhibition of over 140 works by Fra Angelico, the early Renaissance master. The show, titled simply "Fra Angelico," runs at the Museo di San Marco and the Palazzo Strozzi, reuniting dispersed altarpieces and panels for the first time in over two centuries. It traces his evolution from late Gothic to early Renaissance, featuring reconstructed altarpieces with panels gathered from major European and American museums, alongside works by his influences like Masaccio, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Lorenzo Monaco.

In Florence, an exhibition that tells the story of Beato Angelico

From September 26, 2025 to January 25, 2026, the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and Museo di San Marco in Florence are jointly presenting a major exhibition dedicated to the 15th-century painter Beato Angelico. The show brings together over 140 works—including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and miniatures—from prestigious institutions such as the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery in Washington, the Vatican Museums, and the Rijksmuseum. It explores Angelico’s artistic development, his collaborations with contemporaries like Masaccio, Filippo Lippi, and Lorenzo Ghiberti, and his influence on Renaissance art, with a special focus on his frescoes at the Museo di San Marco, including the iconic Annunciation.

NSIDER: Frist Art Museum Debuts ‘Venice and the Ottoman Empire’

The Frist Art Museum has debuted 'Venice and the Ottoman Empire,' an interactive exhibition exploring the cultural, artistic, and commercial exchanges between Venetians and Ottomans from 1400 to 1800. Featuring over 150 works from seven Venetian museums, the show includes ceramics, glass, metalwork, paintings, prints, and textiles by artists such as Gentile Bellini and Vittore Carpaccio, alongside anonymous craftspeople. Immersive elements like soundscapes, scent stations, and a video installation with Nashville chefs Paulette Licitra and Ilyas Bakla enhance the experience, with rooms dedicated to doges, sultans, shipwreck artifacts, and the spice trade.

Scrappy: By Any Means Necessary

MotherShip Studios in San Marcos, Texas, announces its upcoming group exhibition "Scrappy: By Any Means Necessary," running from December 13, 2025, to February 7, 2026. Curated by Jennifer Moore, the show features works by eleven artists—Hollie Brown, Ellen Crofts, Lisa Guevara, Julia Hungerford, John Le, Elisa Lendvay, Niloofar Mofrad, Hilary Nelson, Gyan Shrosbree, Jim Shrosbree, and Narong Tintamusik—who explore the concept of "scrappiness" in artistic practice, embracing improvisation, process, and resourcefulness over polished finish.

The 15th-century Ca' Giustinian Faccanon reopens in Venice. It will be a space for exhibitions and events

A Venezia riapre il quattrocentesco Ca’ Giustinian Faccanon. Sarà uno spazio per mostre ed eventi

The historic Ca' Giustinian Faccanon, a rare example of Venetian Gothic architecture in the San Marco district, has reopened in Venice after over a year of restoration work. The 15th-century palace, acquired by entrepreneur Andrea Parisotto, will now serve as a space for exhibitions and events managed by Art Events and Cultural Real Estate Studio. During the 61st Venice Biennale, it will host the Vietnam Pavilion with the exhibition "Arte nel flusso globale" curated by Do Tuong Linh, marking Vietnam's first official participation, as well as a solo show by Korean sculptor Shim Moon-Seup titled "Harnessed From Nature."

Two new art centres set to open in Venice

Two new art centres are set to open in Venice in early May 2025. The San Marco Art Centre (SMAC) will launch on 9 May on the second floor of the Procuratie in St Mark’s Square, founded by David Hrankovic, Anna Bursaux, and David Gramazio. It will focus on temporary exhibitions spanning art, architecture, fashion, technology, and film, and is funded through admissions and sponsors. Its inaugural shows, timed with the Venice Architecture Biennale, feature architect Harry Seidler and landscape designer Jung Youngsun. Separately, the Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation opens a non-profit venue in the Dorsoduro district on 7 May, with a site-specific installation by Georgian artist Tolia Astakhishvili.

In Turin, a Confrontation Between Masters: The Exhibition of Beato Angelico and Bartholomeus Spranger

A Torino c’è un confronto tra maestri: la mostra di Beato Angelico e Bartholomeus Spranger

The Musei Reali in Turin has unveiled a specialized study exhibition titled "Beato Angelico negli occhi di Bartholomeus Spranger," which brings together two versions of the Last Judgment. The show features the return of Beato Angelico’s "Madonna of Humility" to Turin, accompanied by his "Last Judgment" on loan from the Museo di San Marco in Florence. This masterpiece is displayed alongside a later interpretation of the same subject by the Flemish Mannerist Bartholomeus Spranger, painted over a century later.

El Centro to host reception Sunday for Enriquez “Lotería” art show

Artist Courtney Enriquez is debuting her solo exhibition, “Mi Vida y Lotería,” at El Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos with an opening reception this Sunday. The exhibition features vibrant paintings inspired by the traditional Mexican game of Lotería, blending cultural heritage with personal family memories and humor. The show marks a significant homecoming for the artist, whose family roots in San Marcos date back generations.