Art in Chicago: A Guide for Collectors, Curators and the Curious

This article introduces a comprehensive guide to Chicago's art world, published by a local outlet. The guide features multiple sections exploring the city's art history, key institutions, and lesser-known venues, including feature stories on the Hyde Park Art Center, the Arts Club of Chicago, the National Museum of Mexican Art, the South Side Community Art Center, the Renaissance Society, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. It also includes a massive 22-page "Art Geography" directory of museums, nonprofits, galleries, and alternative spaces, written by seasoned art critics. The editor, Brian Hieggelke, acknowledges the daunting task of covering a hometown art scene after forty years, but aims to provide both a resource for newcomers and fresh insights for longtime locals.

May Arts Calendar 2026

The May Arts Calendar 2026 highlights a wide range of visual art exhibitions and events in the Seattle area, including group and solo shows at galleries such as Gallery B612, Visual Arts Gallery No. 85, JG Art Gallery, Piano Nobile, ArtXContemporary Gallery, and Common Objects. Notable exhibitions include "Layered Being: A Celebration of AAPINH Heritage" at Gallery B612, "Moving As One" by Tetsuo Aoki, "Material Meditations" featuring woodworker Andy McConell, blacksmith Maria Cristalli, and mixed media artist Jill Kyong, and "TADAIMA: 'I'm Home'" at MOHAI, which explores Japanese American history through dolls. The calendar also features a solo show by Yaminee Patel and a group show titled "Moga" at Fresh Mochi, celebrating Japanese and Japanese American artists.

May Things to Do: Visual Art

This article from a Seattle arts publication rounds up May visual art events, including the Seattle Art Book Fair (May 9–10) at Washington Hall featuring over 85 artists and free admission; Timothy White Eagle's exhibition "Once Wild River" (May 9–June 21) at Mini Mart City Park, culminating his EPA artist-in-residency; "Monochrome: Calder and Tara Donovan" (May 13–Jan 17, 2027) at the Seattle Art Museum, where Donovan responds to Alexander Calder's black works; "Rebels + Icons: The Photography of Janette Beckman" opening May 15 at MoPOP, the largest collection of her iconic musician portraits; and Drie Chapek's "Then Is Now" (May 21–June 27).

NEXT in the Gallery: Preview Pittsburgh summer with a 'Pity Party,' dog sculptures and so much more art

NEXTpittsburgh's May 2026 gallery preview highlights a packed month of art events leading into the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Key offerings include the 59th Carnegie International at Carnegie Museum of Art, opening May 2 with works by 61 artists from 24 countries and four new commissions at local institutions. Other featured shows include 'Down to Earth: Revealing the Natural World' at James Gallery, Jody Shell's 'Shoebox Memories,' Dominique Swift's 'Uli Awakened,' and a three-artist exhibition at Irma Freeman Center featuring Laura Jean McLaughlin, James Simon, and Robert Qualters.

Fairfield University Art Museum invites readers to private tour

Fairfield University Art Museum is offering an exclusive private tour to readers, as reported by the Westport Journal. The event provides a behind-the-scenes look at the museum's collections and exhibitions, allowing attendees to engage directly with curators and artworks in an intimate setting.

Vermont Visual Arts

The article is a roundup of visual art exhibitions and events across Vermont and neighboring New York and New Hampshire, compiled by the Vermont Visual Arts staff. It lists current and upcoming shows at venues including Espresso Bueno, Studio Place Arts, Bennington Museum, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, UVM Fleming Museum, The Hyde Collection, Hood Museum of Art, and others, with details on dates, artists, and locations. Featured exhibitions include silk screen prints by Jodi Whalen, acrylic paintings by Heidi Broner, a group show on Vermont farms, and a Pride-themed closing reception for "Gayzing" at Studio Place Arts.

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.

Boulder County art exhibits this week include a Boulder Valley School District student showcase

This article lists current and upcoming art exhibitions in Boulder County, Colorado, including a student showcase from the Boulder Valley School District at Canyon Theater and Gallery, a show by the Colorado South Asian Artist Group at Bus Stop Gallery, and a historical exhibit on racism at the Lafayette Swimming Pool at Collective Community Arts Center. Other featured venues include BMoCA at Frasier, Groundworks Art Lab, and the Museum of Boulder, with works by artists such as Rodney Carswell, Jorge Vinent, Margaret Johnson, and Melody Melamed.

Boulder County art exhibits on display this week

This article lists dozens of current and upcoming art exhibitions across Boulder County, Colorado, featuring a wide range of venues from commercial galleries like 15th Street Gallery and Ana’s Art Gallery to nonprofit spaces such as Art Parts and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA). Highlights include lithographs by Santa Fe artist Rodney Carswell, Jorge Vinent's recycled-material works in "We Choose Earth," and student showcases at Canyon Theater and Gallery. The roundup also covers community-focused shows like "Racism & Discrimination at the Lafayette Swimming Pool 1934" and group exhibitions at Liminal Light Gallery and The New Local Gallery.

Art Around Town

This article is a roundup of current and upcoming art exhibitions and events in and around Athens, Georgia, published under the title 'Art Around Town.' It lists shows at numerous venues including ATHICA@CINÉ Gallery, the Georgia Museum of Art, Lyndon House Arts Center, and others, featuring artists such as Greg Benson, Jon Swindler, Beverly Buchanan, and Rachel B. Hayes. Exhibits range from landscape works and Civil War-era illustrations to installations exploring bathrooms, cosmic themes, and discarded objects, with many running through May, June, or later in 2025.

Check out these art exhibits on display in Boulder, Longmont

A comprehensive roundup lists dozens of art exhibitions currently on view in Boulder, Longmont, and Lafayette, Colorado, spanning venues from commercial galleries and nonprofit art centers to libraries and museums. Featured shows include "Tres Voces, Un Corazón" at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, featuring three members of one family—Sylvia Montero, Tony Ortega, and Cipriano Ortega; "We Choose Earth" by Jorge Vinent at Ana’s Art Gallery; and "Black Futures in Art – Genome Speaks What Erasure Cannot Silence" at the Collective Community Arts Center. Other highlights include "Threaded Narratives" by the Colorado South Asian Artist Group, "Unfinished" by Lewis TallBull at the Dairy Arts Center, and "Boulder Eats! Traditions Along the Front Range" at the Museum of Boulder.

Bridges of Belonging: Cinco de Mayo Art Reception

A free reception for the exhibition “Bridges of Belonging: Cinco de Mayo, Bi-National Identity, and the Spirit of Chignahuapan” will be held on May 1 at the Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery in Las Vegas. The event, themed “Puentes de Pertenencia,” features live music, cultural performances, visual arts, and food, with the exhibit on display through May 28.

All the new exhibits to see at these 4 Louisville museums

Four Louisville museums have opened new exhibits. The Frazier Kentucky History Museum launched four exhibits as part of its America250 initiative, including 'Pursuit of Happiness,' 'Louisville to Liberty: The Blackburns’ Journey,' 'I Too Am a Kentuckian,' and 'Revolutionary Threads.' The Kentucky Derby Museum added a fashion display from the Hallmark Channel movie 'Kentucky Roses,' featuring costumes worn by actors Andrew Walker and Odette Annable. KMAC Contemporary Art Museum and the Speed Museum are also featuring new art exhibits, including works by female Abstract Expressionists.

Painting the park: Artists blossom at Wegerzyn as they make it their classroom

Sinclair Community College associate professor of art Bridgette Bogle took her mixed-level painting class to Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark in Dayton, Ohio, for a plein air painting session. Students ranging in age from 18 to 80, including postal worker Don Adams and lifelong artist Aubrey Botts, set up easels throughout the gardens to paint landscapes outdoors, learning the Impressionist-inspired technique of working quickly in natural light.

Nathaniel Mary Quinn's Museum Show | Herbie Hancock Returns Home | The Lake Plans Opening

Nathaniel Mary Quinn, a Chicago-born artist who grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes, will present his first solo museum exhibition in his hometown at the National Public Housing Museum. The show, titled "Nathaniel Mary Quinn: A Love Letter To My Mother," features ten works on canvas and paper, a recreated living room from his family's apartment circa 1984, and a reading room with historical materials about the housing project. Separately, Mariane Ibrahim gallery now represents Chicago-based artist Leasho Johnson, whose work draws on Jamaican mythology and appeared on the cover of Newcity's April 2026 issue. In other local news, a new social club called The Lake is set to open in River North this fall, designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects, and construction has begun on the next phase of the Southbridge development on the site of the former Harold Ickes Homes.

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.

Sumac Cottage in Greensboro, Alabama

Sumac Cottage, a historic 1820s building in Greensboro, Alabama, has been restored and transformed into a community arts space by visual artist Aaron Sanders Head and musician Tim Higgins. The cottage, which was nearly demolished and had only three walls remaining, now hosts workshops, exhibitions, performances, and community events. Its most recent exhibition, “Home Once,” featured a visual installation by Jenna Clark with performances by Clark, Jasper Lee, Sam Herman, and Ryan Brown.

High school students to showcase 'Revolutionary Art' at Attleboro Arts Museum

Thirteen high schools from Massachusetts and Rhode Island are preparing installation artworks for the Attleboro Arts Museum's annual High Art exhibition, which runs May 12–18, 2026, under the theme 'Revolutionary Art.' Students from schools including Dedham High School, Hope High School in Providence, and Seekonk High School are creating pieces such as 'Americana' and 'Re-revolution,' with guidance from art instructors like Bridget O'Leary, Delsin Jean-Louis, and Elizabeth Machado-Cook.

Bath museum to host artist workshop, lecture series in conjunction with exhibition

Maine Maritime Museum in Bath is hosting an artist workshop and lecture series from May through August 2025, tied to its exhibition “Re|Sounding.” Each month, a different contributing artist will lead a session exploring a specific medium—painting, oral storytelling, assemblage, or poetry—as a tool for examining local and personal histories. The first event on May 10 features James Eric Francis Sr., the Penobscot Nation’s tribal historian and visual artist, who will give a lecture, lead a painting workshop, and have his works on view in the exhibition. Attendance is on a sliding scale.

Ellen Noël Art Museum Looks Toward Future Following Renovation & Reopening

The Ellen Noël Art Museum of the Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas, reopened in December 2025 after a decade-long, $20 million renovation. The project added 8,000 square feet, a new silver oval exterior, a two-story lobby, renovated galleries, and a state-of-the-art lighting system. The museum is currently in transition, with interim director Steve Patton overseeing operations while a search for a permanent executive director is underway. Recent exhibitions include "Home, Love, and Loss" and "Shifting Subjects: The Heroes of the West."

In Savona there is a new contemporary culture festival that aims to make tradition dialogue with the most emerging research

A Savona c’è un nuovo festival di cultura contemporanea che mira a far dialogare la tradizione con le ricerche più emergenti

A new contemporary culture festival called Brucia has launched in Savona, Italy, with its zero edition running from May 9 to 17, 2026. Organized by the under-30 association Fiammiferi, founded by Teresa Raineri, the festival transforms the Fortezza del Priamàr and Teatro Chiabrera into a diffuse laboratory of artistic practices, including performances, concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and meetings. A highlight is the solo show [Çigae] by artist Gaia De Megni, curated by Gabriele Cordì, which explores themes of return and belonging through a Ligurian lens, featuring her film 'La tigre e i gabbiani' (2019).

At LACHSA, L.A.'s most important public arts school, the 'misfits' become superstars

The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), founded in 1984 and located on the Cal State L.A. campus, has become a premier public arts school offering conservatory-level training alongside college-prep academics. The article highlights alumni such as actor Anthony Anderson, musician Josh Groban, and visual artists Kehinde Wiley and Tomashi Jackson, who credit the school with nurturing their talents and providing a supportive, diverse environment for artistic growth.

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.

Art Exhibit 'Color in Motion' by Lucy C. Pierpont at Shutter Speed Through June 13

The Art Gallery at Shutter Speed Photo in Middlebury, Connecticut, is hosting an exhibit titled "Color in Motion" by artist Lucy C. Pierpont, on display through June 13. Pierpont, a Middlebury native now living in Woodbury, has a background in marketing and graphic design and has shown her work at numerous local venues including the Mattatuck Museum, Hartwick College, and the Kent Memorial Library.

South Fork Bakery Holds Spring Benefit At The Parrish Art Museum

South Fork Bakery held its spring benefit at the Parrish Art Museum on Saturday, May 9. Guests enjoyed music, bites, and signature cocktails while funds were raised to support the bakery's mission of providing meaningful employment for adults with disabilities. The event featured attendees including local officials, board members, and supporters, with photography by Lisa Tamburini.

Longtime art and studio complex in downtown Wilmington is for sale

Acme Art Studios, a longtime visual arts institution in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, has been listed for sale at $4.4 million. The one-acre complex at 711 N. Fifth Ave. includes a 12,000-square-foot warehouse with studio and gallery space, plus four vacant lots. Founded in 1991 by a collective of artists in a former carpet warehouse, Acme has become a vital hub for the local arts scene, renting to dozens of artists and hosting countless shows over more than three decades. The property is owned by five artists, including co-founder Pam Toll, who said the decision to sell was unanimous and that the timing is right for a number of reasons.

Kathleen Telesco: Nature Reconfigured at Metro Art in Bridgeport

Metro Arts Studios in Bridgeport will feature Kathleen Telesco as its Featured Artist from May 31 to July 18, 2026. Telesco, who previously focused on realistic still lifes and portraits, has shifted to expressionist and semi-abstract painting over the last five years, working with acrylics and charcoal. Her inspiration comes from nature, ancestry, and dream narratives, and she also volunteers as a wildlife rehabber and birder.

Art, research, and Night at the Museum: The flourishing partnership between UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Museum of Art and History - UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) have deepened their decade-long partnership, marked by the MAH's 30th anniversary in April 2025. The collaboration includes co-sponsored exhibitions like "This is Thirty" and the ongoing "Night at the Museum" public event series, which brings scholars, artists, and community members together for free panel discussions and exhibits. Notable past projects include the 2016 Kinsey African American Art & History Collection exhibition and the 2023 California premiere of "Resettlement: Chicago Story."

Otis College’s Annual O-Launch Exhibition Weekend Showcased Work by Graduating Artists and Designers

Otis College of Art and Design held its annual O-Launch Exhibition Weekend on May 15 and 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. The event featured a campus-wide exhibition of graduating student work across all majors, including Animation, Environmental Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Game and Entertainment Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, and Toy Design. Highlights included an industry preview for employers, an alumni reception, and the Fashion Design program's runway show, which showcased collections from junior and senior students along with mentor projects from brands such as St. John, Vince, Activision, Nike, Vuori, and Wilson Sporting Goods.

Leeum Museum Opens on Closing Day, Welcomes Over 200 Multicultural Families for Art Visit

On May 11, the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul opened its entire museum on a Monday—its regular closing day—to host approximately 200 members of multicultural families. The event, organized in partnership with family centers and related organizations across Seoul, included exhibition tours of the permanent antique art collection, the special exhibition "Into Another Space: Synesthetic Environments by Women Artists 1956-1976," and the outdoor Orozco Garden. A curator provided explanations, and a magic show was held in celebration of Family Month. Participating organizations included the Yongsan-gu Family Center, Itaewon and Ichon Global Village Centers, the Mari Shelter for Migrant Women and Mari Community, and the Dongdaemun and Seocho Family Centers.