Bahar Behbahani Brings the Persian Garden to NYC

Bahar Behbahani's project "Damask Rose: A Gathering" transformed three fountains on Governors Island into a Persian garden using handwoven carpets and crocheted canopies. The event, part of Governors Island Arts's annual Interventions series, brought together over two dozen community practitioners and cultural groups for a four-hour gathering focused on storytelling, music, and art-making. The article also covers Mana Contemporary's Spring Open Studios in Jersey City, a new Gaza monument in Paterson, Sarah Lucas's public sculpture at the New Museum, and other New York-area art news.

In Giverny, Monet does not benefit everyone

À Giverny, Monet ne profite pas à tout le monde

The article examines the economic paradox of Giverny, the French village where Claude Monet lived and painted. While Monet's gardens attract nearly one million visitors annually—with ticket sales estimated at €9-10 million—the village itself, with a population of just 430 and an annual budget of €600,000, sees almost none of that revenue. Visitors flood in for half-day trips, queue for hours to see the gardens, and leave by evening, spending little in local shops. The gardens, run by the Académie des beaux-arts, are tax-exempt and operate as a closed economic loop, with their boutique and restaurant generating income that stays within the institution.

The most beautiful Parisian museum terraces to enjoy the sunny days

Les plus belles terrasses de musées parisiens pour profiter des beaux jours

Beaux Arts Magazine has published a guide to the best museum terraces in Paris for enjoying the sunny days of spring and summer. The article highlights five standout spots: Rose Bakery at the Musée de la Vie romantique, Joli at the Musée Carnavalet, the Grand Café at the Grand Palais, Corail at the Musée d'Art moderne, and Sama at the Institut du monde arabe. Each terrace is described for its unique atmosphere, from the bucolic garden of the Musée de la Vie romantique to the spectacular colonnade of the Grand Palais, with details on chefs, menus, and seasonal highlights.

“Gaza Love” Monument Unveiled in Paterson, NJ

Artist and activist Kyle Goen's sculpture "Gaza Love" (2014) was permanently installed outside the South Paterson Library Community Center in Paterson, New Jersey, as part of the city's newly dedicated Gaza Square on Main Street. The unveiling took place on Palestine Day, May 17, and commemorates Paterson's large diasporic Palestinian community. The sculpture, which borrows the typography of Robert Indiana's LOVE series and the colors of the Palestinian flag, originated during protests against the 2014 Gaza War and has been used in organizing spaces for over a decade, including during the 2021 Strike MoMA movement.

A skateboarder’s lament: the dismantling of San Francisco’s iconic and divisive fountain

San Francisco's Vaillancourt Fountain, a controversial concrete sculpture and centerpiece of Embarcadero Plaza since 1971, caught fire during its dismantling in early May 2025 after the city voted to potentially replace it with a grassy park. Designed by artist Armand Vaillancourt, the fountain was a landmark for the city's skateboarding scene in the 1980s and 1990s, but fell into disrepair and became a flashpoint in debates over modernist public art. The removal, costing $4 million for storage and assessment, was mourned by skateboarders and preservationists who saw it as a loss of cultural and architectural heritage.

Here’s what’s on Boulder County’s art gallery walls

A roundup of current and upcoming exhibitions at over 20 galleries and art spaces in Boulder County, Colorado, is provided. Listings include lithographs by Santa Fe artist Rodney Carswell at 15th Street Gallery, Jorge Vinent's recycled-material works at Ana's Art Gallery, Margaret Johnson's "Emergence" at BMoCA at Frasier, and group shows at Liminal Light Gallery and the New Local Gallery, among many others. Exhibition dates range through mid-2025, with venues spanning commercial galleries, nonprofit centers, libraries, and museum spaces.

Each spring in Potomac, Maryland, over 24,000 flowers are planted on Jeff Koons’ 37-foot-tall sculpture, “Split-Rocker” — and bloom from May to October. This year’s planting occurred over seven days, according to the Glenstone museum. https://wapo.st/4woJ

Each spring, over 24,000 flowers are planted on Jeff Koons' 37-foot-tall sculpture "Split-Rocker" in Potomac, Maryland, which blooms from May to October. This year's planting took seven days, according to the Glenstone museum, which houses the work.

Billionaire Collector Fred Eychaner Sued Over Chicago Museum Expansion

Billionaire philanthropist Fred Eychaner, founder of the private exhibition space Wrightwood 659 in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, is being sued by Lisa Berron, a condo owner who claims the museum's planned expansion will block natural light and skyline views from her top-floor home. Berron filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court in March, alleging that the expansion would rise above her roofline and sit just feet from her windows. Eychaner's team has already purchased two of the three units in her building and argues the project complies with existing zoning laws, while Berron reportedly rejected settlement offers and demanded nearly $4 million for her condo, which was appraised at around $1.2 million.

The best museums in the U.S. for art, history and culture

The article presents a curated list of the 10 best museums in the United States, as compiled by U.S. News & World Report, covering art, history, science, and cultural heritage. It begins with a philosophical reflection on the unique power of museums to provide direct, physical encounters with objects that cannot be replicated by digital media. The first museum profiled is The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, highlighting its 5,000-year collection, 5 million annual visitors, and its two distinct locations: The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters.

L.A. County Fair 2026: Playful art exhibit was curated in a mad rush

Two local artists, Keith Ballard and Rebecca Ustrell of the collective Claremont Temporary, were invited by L.A. County Fair officials in late January to curate an art exhibit at the Millard Sheets Art Center. With only two months to organize, they assembled "Play Pavilion," a community-driven show featuring 63 artists from the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley, including notable names like Chicano graffiti pioneer Chaz Bojórquez and album cover designer John Van Hamersveld. The exhibit runs through May 31 at the fair, which has the theme "Play Your Way."

Final proposals for Billie Holiday monument in New York City revealed

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs has selected six finalist proposals for a monument to jazz singer Billie Holiday in Queens, where she once lived and performed. The finalists—all Black artists from around the world—include Tavares Strachan, La Vaughn Belle, Tanda Francis, Nikesha Breeze, Thomas J Price, and Nekisha Durrett. Their designs range from realistic to abstract, with some focusing on Holiday's expressive face, her signature gardenia, or symbolic forms. The winning project will be announced this summer and installed near the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC).

Looking for art, culture? See the latest Central Illinois exhibits

A roundup article highlights current and upcoming art and cultural exhibitions across Central Illinois, featuring venues such as the McLean County Museum of History, Krannert Art Museum, Prairie Aviation Museum, Peoria Riverfront Museum, Eaton Studio Gallery, Illinois Art Station, Illinois State Museum, McLean County Arts Center, Main Gallery 404, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Dickson Mounds Museum, and David Davis Mansion State Historic Site. Specific shows mentioned include "Material Memory" fiber arts show at Brandt Gallery, "Goya's Ghosts" at Armstrong Gallery, "Arts Alive!" auction at Dolan Gallery, "Lincoln: Sight, Sound & Touch" at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, "Ken Kashian Botanical Photography Exhibit" at IAA Credit Union, and "Kelly Pile Pyrography Pop-up Sale" at Main Gallery 404.

BmoreArt’s Picks: May 12-18

BmoreArt's Picks for May 12-18 highlights a range of visual art events in Baltimore, including an exhibition of video works by Martha Rosler and Pipilotti Rist at the Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Museum, the Sondheim Art Prize 2026 Semifinalist Exhibition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, a conversation with artist Louis Fratino at the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the Scout Art Fair. Other events include a monologue workshop inspired by the 'Shoes at the Door' exhibit at SNF Parkway Theatre, a talk with artists Christine Stiver and Dominic Terlizzi at SBM Gallery, and the CPM 5th anniversary show. The article also notes open submissions for BAD's Creative Placemaking RFQ and other opportunities.

Stirling Art Collection awarded National Significance status

The University of Stirling's Art Collection has been designated a Collection of National Significance by Museums Galleries Scotland, joining four other collections receiving the honor on International Museums Day. The collection comprises over 800 prints, paintings, and sculptures, many displayed across the campus, particularly in the A-listed Pathfoot Building. Founded on a policy set by Principal Dr Tom Cottrell in 1967 to allocate 1% of building costs for art, the collection has grown through purchases and donations, including 14 works by Scottish Colourist J.D. Fergusson gifted by Margaret Morris. The collection team runs exhibitions, workshops, and an Artist in Residence programme to integrate art into university life.

At the Galleries for May 21, 2026

The article titled 'At the Galleries for May 21, 2026' published by 27east provides a roundup of current art exhibitions and gallery shows opening or ongoing as of that date. It highlights specific venues, artists, and works on view, serving as a local guide for art enthusiasts on the East End of Long Island.

Wonder Gallery Debuts in Coney Island With Vintage Photos and Mini Zines

Wonder Gallery, a collaboration between Parachute Literary Arts and the Coney Island History Project, opens May 23 at the History Project's Exhibit Center beside the Wonder Wheel in Coney Island. The seasonal gallery will debut with black-and-white photographs by Brooklyn documentary photographer Anders Goldfarb, capturing Coney Island residents and architecture from the 1970s and 1980s, alongside the launch of the Coney Island Zine Machine featuring miniature zines by Sheepshead Bay artist Kelly Luu. The free gallery will be open weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Beyond the Mission Statement: Everhart Museum

The Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, celebrates 119 years of connecting the community to art, science, and natural history. Founded in 1908 by Civil War surgeon Dr. Isaiah Everhart, the museum has evolved from a cultural centerpiece during the Industrial Revolution into a regional attraction featuring fossils, taxidermy, folk art, and traveling exhibits. Recent highlights include a NASA exhibit that brought astronaut Paul Richards back to the museum where he first visited as a child, and the museum's folk art collection is noted as one of the best in the country, with pieces borrowed by major institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Aux Catacombes, une visite réinventée

After five months of closure, the Catacombs of Paris have reopened with a major modernization project. The site now features a new immersive audio guide narrated by the voice of its historical founder, Louis Étienne Héricart de Thury, along with improved lighting that highlights previously invisible details and a revamped climate-control system to better preserve the bones. The €5.5 million renovation, led by Paris Musées and funded by the City of Paris, also included structural repairs to the bone stacks using dry-stone techniques instead of cement.

Dans les ateliers de la Maison du vitrail, où création et restauration conjuguent au présent cet art du verre et de la couleur

The article visits the Maison du vitrail, a French stained-glass workshop founded in 1973 by Christiane and Philippe Andrieux and now run by their daughter Emmanuelle. Located in a historic courtyard, the studio employs fourteen artisans who cut, paint, and assemble colored glass for both restoration and original creations. The workshop has evolved from a small space in Châtillon to a thriving enterprise that handles everything from church windows and Parisian staircases to trophies, jewelry, and commercial projects for clients like Truffaut and the Casino de Paris.

Memorial Art Gallery raises $9 million to make admission free in 2027

The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) at the University of Rochester has raised over $9 million through its "Free for All, Forever" fundraising initiative, surpassing its original goal and timeline. The museum will now open its doors free of charge to all visitors sometime in 2027, much sooner than anticipated. Key donors include Alexander and Lucy Levitan, who contributed a $1 million capstone gift; Doug and Abby Bennett and the Sands Family Foundation, who gave a $3 million leadership gift; and Mary Ellen Burris, who donated $2 million. The announcement was celebrated at MAG's Flourish For All, Forever gala on May 9, 2026.

May Art And Culture Calendar: Every Exhibit, Live Performance, And Concert Worth Your Visit

This article is a curated calendar of art and culture events in Delhi and Mumbai for May and June 2026. Highlights include a photography exhibition of Satyajit Ray by Nemai Ghosh at DAG, a documentary photography show by Jyoti Bhatt at Gallery Vayu in collaboration with LATITUDE 28, a candlelight concert tribute to A.R. Rahman at Le Méridien, a group exhibition titled 'Slow Rot' at Method Delhi exploring vulnerability and the grotesque, and a dance performance celebrating Rabindranath Tagore at NCPA.

Racine Art Museum announces sizzling slate of summer events

The Racine Art Museum (RAM) and its Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts campus have announced a packed schedule of summer events for 2026, including new programs like the Twilight Garden Series, which combines cocktails, creativity, and themed activities. Highlights include Free First Friday, a Master Workshop with artist Liandra Skenandore on black ash plaiting, Kids Day inspired by the Handcrafted exhibition, and City Movie Night featuring a screening of Lilo & Stitch (2025). Wustum also offers one of Wisconsin's largest museum-based studio arts programs with over 60 class options in ceramics, drawing, glass, fiber, jewelry, painting, and paper arts.

Rollstone Bank commits $100K to Fitchburg Art Museum

Rollstone Bank & Trust has committed $100,000 to sponsor free admission at the Fitchburg Art Museum (FAM) through 2029, the final year of the museum's Centennial celebration. The gift eliminates all admission fees, replacing previous categorical free programs with universal access, and is expected to significantly increase the museum's annual attendance of 14,000 visitors.

3 to See: Ballet at Kravis; Conservation cinema; Boca Museum of Art

The Palm Beach County Cultural Council highlights three deals for MOSAIC (Month of Shows, Art, Ideas and Culture) in The Palm Beaches. Ballet Palm Beach presents 'Giselle' at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Audubon Everglades hosts 'Flyway: A Conservation Cinema Series' at Lake Worth Playhouse, and the Boca Raton Museum of Art offers buy-one-get-one-free admission throughout May.

ICYMI: From the Princeton Art Museum to the Present Day Club – Docents on the Wall

An exhibition titled "Docents on the Wall" was held at the Present Day Club in Princeton, NJ, featuring artwork created by docents from the Princeton University Art Museum. The show included paintings, photographs, weaving, and collage by participating artists Laura Berlik, Hetty Baiz, Dee Gozonsky, Judy Langille, Denise McDaniel, Elizabeth Quatrano, Ellen Rogers, Connie Shaffer, and Adria Sherman. Notable works included Denise McDaniel's "Nassau Hall" and Hetty Baiz's richly textured piece.

Art exhibition at P.E.I. Farm Centre features work of Wendy Jones

The P.E.I. Farm Centre in Charlottetown is hosting an exhibition titled "Chaos Corralled: Art Harvested from the Heart of Havoc" by Belle River artist Wendy Jones, running from May 20 to June 30. The show features paintings and photographs, with an opening reception on May 20 where Jones will demonstrate fluid art techniques and offer visitors a chance to create their own miniature pour paintings.

Dive deep into creativity at AMSET’s Free Family Arts Day celebration Saturday

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) will host a Free Family Arts Day titled "The Art of H2O" on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Beaumont, Texas. The event features hands-on art activities inspired by the museum's current exhibitions, "Julius Stockfleth: Dawn of a Century" and "Bill Pangburn: Printed Traces - A Neches River Journal," both celebrating water. Visitors can explore galleries, create art, and enjoy live entertainment from Sonny “The Birdman” Carlin, with treats from the IScream Ice Cream Truck available for purchase.

Il fotoreport Andy Rocchelli morto nel Donbass nel 2014 ha un giardino a lui dedicato a Pavia

On May 24, the Collegio Ghislieri in Pavia inaugurated the Giardino della Ricerca, a garden dedicated to photojournalist Andy Rocchelli, who was killed in 2014 in the Donbas region of Ukraine alongside human rights activist Andrei Mironov. The garden, opened on the twelfth anniversary of his death, features a commemorative plaque and includes speeches by Gherardo Colombo and Michele Serra, as well as a podcast by Agostino Zappia and Enrico Rotondi. Italian courts have ruled that Rocchelli and Mironov were killed by Ukrainian army fire, but no one has been convicted.

McEvoy Gallery Open House & Art Sale Planned

Newtown artist Dick McEvoy will open his studio and gallery at 51 Taunton Lake Road to the public for a weekend open house and art sale on June 13-14, 2026, from 1-4 pm each day. This is the first time in five years he has hosted such an event. McEvoy, known for his pastel landscapes and later large-scale oil paintings, synthesizes techniques from Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism, with curator Peter Hastings Falk praising his evolution into drip-action painting and his ability to reconcile seemingly opposing art movements.

City College art faculty showcase their work in the Kondos Gallery

Sacramento City College's Kondos Gallery has opened its spring faculty exhibition, “The Other Half; SCC Art Faculty,” featuring works by five full-time art professors in painting, printmaking, mixed media, ceramics, and sculpture. A reception was held on April 30, 2026, attended by librarian Antonio López and others. The gallery, originally opened in the 1930s, was renamed after noted California artist Gregory Kondos, who served as its director in the mid-1970s until his retirement in 1982.