5 lieux d’art à visiter absolument à Rennes

Beaux Arts Magazine highlights five must-visit art venues in Rennes, France, a city known for its youthful energy and cultural heritage. The featured locations include the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, which houses masterpieces like Georges de La Tour's *Le Nouveau-né* (c. 1645) and recently opened a free satellite space in the Maurepas neighborhood in 2025; Les Champs Libres, a multi-purpose cultural center with a library, museum of Brittany, and science space; and La Criée, a contemporary art center located in a covered market. Other notable spots include the Oniris gallery and the Couvent des Jacobins, which hosts exhibitions from the Pinault Collection.

Latino community organisation opens $33m arts centre in Boston

On 15 May, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA), a Latino-founded nonprofit community development corporation, will open La Casa, a $33 million, 26,000-square-foot cultural center in Boston's South End. The largest Latino cultural center in New England, La Casa is designed by local firms Studio Enée and Annum Architects and features a terracotta-colored facade, energy-efficient design, and flexible spaces for civic engagement, education, and artistic expression. Initial programming includes artist residencies, workshops, and a mural by local artist Alvin “Acóma” Colon honoring Boston’s Puerto Rican residents. The building incorporates salvaged elements from the original turn-of-the-century Lutheran church that IBA repurposed in the 1960s.

Nymphs, mermaids and rosy cherubs: mansion filled with hidden wall paintings makes Victorian Society’s endangered buildings list

A derelict mansion called Parndon Hall, located within the grounds of Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, has been named to the Victorian Society’s annual list of the top ten at-risk buildings in England and Wales. The house, built in 1867, contains a hidden trove of wall paintings by the almost-forgotten Victorian artist Elizabeth Arkwright, who covered walls, ceilings, and doors with nymphs, mermaids, and cherubs—many still concealed under Edwardian whitewash. The building has been used for storage and has sat unoccupied since flood repairs in 2024.

In Seine-Saint-Denis, the clever housing for migrants by architect Patrick Rubin

En Seine-Saint-Denis, les logements futés pour les migrants de l’architecte Patrick Rubin

Architect Patrick Rubin of the firm Canal has transformed the former National Road Information Center, known as Bison Futé, in Rosny-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis) into a housing complex for 169 migrants. The project, commissioned by social landlord Batigere Habitats Solidaires, preserves the original 1986 half-moon building by Ludwik Peretz and Gilbert Delecourt, adding a new floor and a rear half-crown structure. Rubin used 79 prefabricated modules (17–25 m² each), built in workshops near Lyon, each equipped with a bed, kitchenette, bathroom, and window. Inspired by ship cabin manufacturing in Dunkirk and traditions of tiny houses and capsule hotels by Charlotte Perriand, Herman Hertzberger, and Shigeru Ban, the modules were craned into place. The project faced delays due to differing tolerances between concrete and wood construction, pushing delivery from early 2026 to late 2026.

Pitt Meadows artist goes ‘Full Circle’ with new exhibit

An exhibition titled “Full Circle” opens May 2 at the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery, showcasing the work of local artist Liz Boulton. The show features her paintings in watercolour, acrylic, and mixed media, as well as hand-built art dolls, reflecting her decades-long artistic journey and her use of texture mediums, gels, and repurposed materials.

Arts Center donates works for library sale

The Davis Arts Center (DAC) has donated approximately 100 artworks from its permanent collection to the Friends of the Davis Public Library for a sale starting this weekend. The works, mostly from the 1960s-1980s, include pieces by notable Davis-area artists such as Richard Nelson, Robert Arneson, Margery Mann, and Roland Petersen, and are priced under $100. The donation follows DAC's 2019 transformation from an exhibition space to a studio-focused nonprofit offering classes and camps, which led to most of its collection being placed in storage. DAC executive director Sam King enlisted Davis High School art teacher Luke Turner—a former museum professional—to help curate and place select pieces with institutions like the Mills College Art Museum and the Manetti Shrem Museum, while the remaining works are now being offered to the community at bargain prices.

Reconnecting with the Handmade: The Hart Gallery’s Ampersand student art exhibit

William & Mary students showcased their handmade artworks in the Hart Gallery's "Handmade" exhibit, held in conjunction with the Ampersand International Arts Festival. Curated by alumna Zara Fina Stasi '12, a Richmond-based artist and founder of Good for the Bees, the multimedia exhibition featured approximately a dozen student submissions including assemblage, collage, sculpture, sewn hangings, and traditional painting. Student curators Gibran Adnan '27 and Rebecca Graber '27 collaborated with Stasi to select and install the works, which explored themes of experimentation, self-expression, and the human process of creating by hand.

Native artists highlighted Thursdsay

An event highlighting Indigenous art, the “Evening of Native American Artistry,” will take place Thursday at the Jackson Hole History Museum in conjunction with the seventh annual Teton Powwow. Curated by Susan Durfee and Al Hubbard of Central Wyoming College, the exhibit “Behind Linear Narratives” focuses on ledger art—drawings on repurposed accounting paper—featuring historic works from the late 1800s alongside contemporary pieces by father-and-son artists Terrance Guardipee and Terran Last Gun. Six other downtown galleries will each host an Indigenous artist, and Central Wyoming College’s culinary program will collaborate with chefs from Owamni Restaurant and NATIFS to create heritage-inspired appetizers.

Underground Railroad stop in New York threatened by real-estate development

A hidden chute within the Merchant's House Museum in Manhattan, identified as a rare surviving stop on the Underground Railroad, is threatened by a planned real-estate development next door. The two-foot-square vertical passage, concealed behind a built-in dresser, was built in 1832 by abolitionists Joseph and Susanna Brewster to shelter Black fugitives escaping slavery. The museum's western wall, which contains the hideaway, adjoins a one-story garage slated for demolition to make way for a commercial building, prompting the museum team to oppose the development due to risk of structural damage.

Alton's Elysian Gallery to close, reopen as art cafe and cultural hub

Elysian Gallery in Alton, Illinois, is closing its original location at Mineral Springs Mall on May 10, 2026, to relocate and expand into a new concept called Elysian Gallery and Cafe at 419 E. Broadway. Owner Jeff Bohnert, a photographer, is transforming the 500-square-foot gallery into a larger, pet-friendly cultural hub featuring a cafe serving Goshen Coffee, a book nook, workspaces, and art exhibitions. The new space will open with a soft launch on May 30 during Alton Main Street's Pup Crawl, followed by a grand reopening on June 6. Bohnert and his girlfriend Janel Freeman originally opened the gallery in August 2025.

Corner Gallery on brink of new show

Corner Gallery in Ontario, Canada, is preparing for a new exhibition titled 'Brink,' opening May 23. Curator David Partridge chose the theme to reflect the current global uncertainty, interpreting 'brink' as either the edge of collapse or the dawn of something new. The show features artists who responded to the theme in varied ways, including one landscape painter who shifted to portraits. Partridge notes that private art galleries are struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis, with attendance declining post-COVID, and acknowledges that this year is critical for the gallery's future.

Window to the past: Worcester history on show in Denholm installation

A new public art installation titled “Uniquely Worcester: Celebrating Worcester’s Past & Present” has opened in the windows of the Denholm Building in Worcester, Massachusetts. The exhibition features work from 10 local artists across eight front windows, highlighting the city’s history through themes such as sports, the arts, and notable figures like rocket pioneer Robert Goddard, Valentine card popularizer Esther Howland, and smiley face creator Harvey Ball. One window showcases Abu Mwenye’s vibrant paintings inspired by his Kenyan and Tanzanian heritage, while another displays musical instruments spanning 250 years, including a rope drum from the American Revolution and a guitar made at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The installation runs throughout 2026 and was organized by project manager Melissa Mattson.

Carmichael Artist to Exhibit Paintings in Davis Art Studio Tour

Carmichael artist Amanda Cadelago will exhibit her paintings in the Davis Art Studio Tour on May 16-17, 2026. The free, self-guided tour features 48 artists from the region opening their studios to the public, offering opportunities to view and purchase a range of artwork including sculpture, painting, printmaking, and photography. Cadelago, who rediscovered painting during the pandemic after a career in marketing and graphic design, will show her work alongside her mother, Cathie James-Robinson of Davis.

Johns Creek art exhibit finds inspiration in trash

The Arts Center at Johns Creek, Georgia, is hosting 'Upcycled: Reclaimed and Reimagined,' an exhibition running through May 16 that features artworks made from discarded objects. Curator Althea Foster organized the show to coincide with Earth Day, highlighting pieces such as Tracy Douchy's bulldog sculpture 'Watchdog' (made from old wrist watches) and Mary Jablonski's 'Grizzly Watching' (constructed from repurposed paper). The exhibit has drawn double the usual foot traffic from local residents.

Somerville brings art into City Hall with new Community Collections exhibits

Somerville is launching a new rotating art exhibit series called Community Collections inside City Hall, starting April 29 with the RE-discovering Somerville Open Studios show. The inaugural exhibit features artwork by Somerville Open Studios (SOS) artists, photographs of artists in their studios by Aram Comjean, and vintage SOS posters. The series is hosted by the Somerville Arts Council and co-curated by City Art Coordinator Heather Balchunas and SOS President Hilary Scott, with an art reception scheduled for May 18.

A parking structure transforms to public art gallery

A parking structure at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach is being transformed into a walkable public art gallery featuring murals by eleven artists. The project, organized by City of Hope Orange County and Lido Marina Village, centers on the theme “Hope is a Rising Tide.” Murals include depictions of City of Hope cancer patients and themes of science and innovation. The final mural, “Hope on the Horizon” by artist RFX1, measures 64 by 8 feet and is currently being completed. The space is free and open to the public.

Padua Airport Wants to Become a Cultural Hub

L’aeroporto di Padova vuole diventare un hub culturale

Padua's Gino Allegri Airport, historically used for military purposes and now partially repurposed for commercial and tourist flights, is transforming into a cultural hub. In December 2024, the Terminal Urbano opened inside the airport, a multifunctional space created by Heron Air (the private flight company that has managed the airport since 2021 under a 20-year concession). The space includes the Himmelmann exhibition area for temporary shows, performances, and conferences, and features permanent works such as Sergio Rodella's "Icaro." Now, the airport is moving to phase two: a massive renovation of former military hangars, set to begin by 2026, which will demolish old helicopter offices, refurbish the first hangar, and restore the former Aeroclub building. Some spaces will be sold to private entities, while others will be dedicated to public, non-profit artistic, and educational projects.

Colares studio opens its doors for one-day art show

Three artists—Maria José Meneses, Clara Rêgo, and Mary St. George—are opening their studio at Casa do Celeiro in Colares, Sintra, for a one-day "Open Studio" event on Saturday, May 30, from 12pm to 6pm. The event offers the public a rare behind-the-scenes look at a working art studio, featuring contemporary paintings, mixed media, sculptural ceramics, and artists' books in a 17th-century building that was once a barn and stable.

Vacant Cincinnati warehouse to become new visual arts center

A long-vacant warehouse on Stathem Avenue in Westwood, Ohio, is being converted into the Apropos Art Society, a visual arts center. The project will include eight artist studios, a classroom for public workshops, and an art gallery, with the owners collaborating with an architect and contractor to transform the former plumbing warehouse. The center is expected to open by the end of the year.

New cultural space opens in Monchique with first art exhibition

A new cultural venue called Primavera Cultural is opening in Monchique, Portugal, in the former Primavera supermarket on Travessa das Guerreiras. The space will feature artists' studios, a multi-purpose room, and a rooftop area, hosting exhibitions, artist residencies, concerts, workshops, and wellness activities. Its inaugural exhibition is a solo show by internationally recognized artist Fernanda Eva, running from May 15 to June 15, 2025, with works exploring memory and sensory experience through contemporary figurative language.

Historic Downtown Pocatello to hold Art Walk on Friday

Historic Downtown Pocatello will host its May First Friday Art Walk on Friday, May 1, from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring local and regional art, music, food, and fashion. Participating venues include the Pocatello Art Center with its Shared Perspectives Exhibition, White Owl Books & Imports, Knotty Twist inside Elwen Cottage hosting Indiana Morris of Firefly Designs, Walrus & Carpenter Books with an open mic, Enchantments offering aura photos and tarot readings, Salty's True Tattoo, Mitera Made, Purpose Tea, The Martlet Brewery with live music by Cat Daddy, The Hygge Place hosting author Daniel Miller, Old Town Alley Outdoor Gallery, Bluebird Country Boutique, Cottonwood Junction, The Not So Starving Artist gallery owned by Jim Bacigalupi, Main Street Mercantile & Antiques featuring Annie Oakley Design Co., Wysteriasage & The Vintage Menagerie, and Brick 243 Gastropub.