Nominees for the Turner Prize 2026 announced by Tate

Tate Britain has announced the four nominees for the 2026 Turner Prize: Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau, and Tanoa Sasraku. The shortlist was revealed during a press conference broadcast online. An exhibition of their work will open at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima) on 26 September, with the winner announced on 10 December. The winner receives £25,000, while each runner-up gets £10,000. The jury, chaired by Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson, praised the diverse range of work spanning installation, performance, and sculpture.

Paint Drippings: Art Industry News February 23

paint drippings art industry news feb 23

This week’s art industry roundup highlights major shifts across the global market, including Art Basel’s announcement of 290 galleries for its flagship Swiss fair and Sotheby’s adjustment of its buyer’s premium rates. Significant personnel moves include Devyani Saltzman’s abrupt departure from the Barbican, which sparked an open letter from over 170 cultural figures, and Anne-Claire Legendre becoming the first woman to lead Paris’s Arab World Institute.

bonhams new hq opens lubaina himi wins pamm prize

Auction house Bonhams has opened a new 42,000-square-foot flagship headquarters in New York's Steinway Hall, launching a month of exhibitions and sales. The Philadelphia Museum of Art appointed Katherine Anne Paul as its new curator of Indian and Himalayan Art, while the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) awarded its Fund for Black Art Acquisition Prize to Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid, acquiring her painting "Horn Seller." Several galleries announced new artist representations, including Bortolami with Nathlie Provosty and Deborah Schamoni with Mariann Metsis, and auction house Freeman's appointed two senior executives.

alma allen american pavilion 2026 venice biennale

Alma Allen, a Utah-born, Mexico-based sculptor, has been selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, according to ARTnews sources. The pavilion's commissioning curator is Jeffrey Uslip, who previously curated the Malta Pavilion in 2022. The official announcement is pending the end of the government shutdown. Allen, known for large-scale stone, wood, and bronze sculptures, is in talks with Perrotin gallery for representation after his previous gallery, Kasmin, closed and rebranded as Olney Gleason.

us pavilion venice biennale robert lazzarini proposal

The United States Pavilion at the upcoming Venice Biennale faces an uncertain future after a proposal by artist Robert Lazzarini and independent curator John Ravenal collapsed. The proposal, selected by the US State Department in early September, fell through when the University of South Florida’s Contemporary Art Museum declined to sign the contract, citing a shortened timeline and financial obligations. Ravenal attributed the breakdown to bureaucratic misalignment rather than ideological disagreement, while the State Department declined to comment. The selection process also shifted this year, with the National Endowment for the Arts excluding itself due to staffing transitions, leaving the State Department to handle it alone.

here are the winners of the first art basel awards

Art Basel has announced the winners of its first-ever Art Basel Awards, a new global honors program recognizing excellence across the contemporary art world. The 36 medalists include artists such as David Hammons, Lubaina Himid, Joan Jonas, and Adrian Piper, as well as patrons, curators, museums, and other art-world figures. The awards were unveiled at a press event in New York, with CEO Noah Horowitz and director Vincenzo de Bellis outlining the structure: medalists will later select 12 gold medalists, with up to six artists receiving $50,000 each and a commission for the 2026 Art Basel fair. The jury includes prominent museum directors and curators from around the world.

The Only Guide to This Year’s Venice Biennale You Will Ever Need

The 61st Venice Biennale opens amid significant turmoil. The entire jury of the International Art Exhibition resigned after a statement about withholding prizes from countries with leaders charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC, leading to the cancellation of the Golden Lion awards in favor of 'Visitors' Lions' to be given at the exhibition's end. The event has been further marred by the sudden death of artistic director Koyo Kouoh from liver cancer in early 2025, and the death of artist Henrike Naumann, who was set to debut work in the German pavilion. Additionally, the selection process for the American pavilion artist, Mexico-based sculptor Alma Allen, sparked controversy after a delayed grant application process.

The Art World This Week: 20 June 2025

This week's art news is dominated by the opening of Art Basel 2025, where dealers reported a strong start with numerous six-figure sales, including a David Hockney painting at Annely Juda Fine Art for $13–17 million and a $9.5 million Ruth Asawa sculpture at David Zwirner. Other major developments include the Museum of Modern Art announcing a major Marcel Duchamp survey for 2026, the reopening of a historic Paris building (temporary home for Centre Pompidou) after a £395 million rebuild, and the Studio Museum in Harlem receiving a significant gift from Vancouver real estate magnate Bob Rennie. The article also covers gallery representation changes, awards, and the passing of sculptor Joel Shapiro and businessman/art patron Leonard Lauder.

A Time of Transition

During the preview week of the 61st Venice Biennale, escalating protests targeted the national pavilions of Israel and Russia, with demonstrations by Pussy Riot, ANGA (Art Not Genocide Alliance), and Baltic pavilions. A major protest on May 8 drew over 3,000 people in solidarity with Palestine, and 27 national pavilions—including Austria, the Netherlands, France, and Japan—staged a strike, the first at the Biennale since 1968. The Golden Lion jury resigned after declaring they would not consider countries under ICC investigation (Israel and Russia), and the Biennale administration replaced the prize with a visitors' award, from which half the artists in the main exhibition have withdrawn.

Sculptor Alma Allen reportedly selected to represent US at 2026 Venice Biennale

Sculptor Alma Allen has reportedly been selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, replacing Robert Lazzarini, who was dropped after political interference and delays linked to the Trump administration's cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts. The selection process has been fraught, with the State Department directly choosing Lazzarini without NEA involvement, and his proposal—featuring distorted renderings of US national symbols—collapsed amid claims of political meddling. Allen, a Mexico-based artist formerly represented by Kasmin and now in talks with Perrotin, is less established than recent US pavilion artists like Jeffrey Gibson or Simone Leigh, but has a strong practice in stone, wood, and bronze sculpture.

Culture Type | The Month in Black Art, Here’s What Happened in June 2025

The June 2025 edition of Culture Type's 'The Month in Black Art' roundup reports multiple developments: the Detroit Institute of Arts acquired Tiff Massey's installation 'Baby Bling' (2023) for its reimagined Modern and Contemporary galleries opening in 2026; Aperture magazine released a summer issue guest-edited by Tanisha C. Ford focusing on Black style and fashion; Different Leaf, a cannabis culture journal, relaunched with guest editors Nick Cave and Bob Faust; and Sean Kelly Gallery announced representation of artist Lindsay Adams in collaboration with PATRON Gallery. The article also notes updates on the Studio Museum in Harlem, a shakeup at the Afro Brazil Museum, new Art Basel Awards, and Suzanne Jackson's exhibition at SFMOMA.

At the Venice Biennale I saw anger at Russia and Israel – and its leadership pretending everything was fine | Charlotte Higgins

At the 2024 Venice Biennale, the Russian pavilion returned with festive performances and prosecco deliveries, drawing sharp criticism from observers who saw it as a propaganda effort to distract from Russia's war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Kramatorsk was bombed, and protests erupted, including a Pussy Riot intervention. Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco defended Russia's and Israel's participation, rejecting preemptive bans despite open letters and appeals. European Commission investigated potential sanctions breaches, and culture ministers from Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, and Baltic states boycotted or condemned the biennale's stance, accusing it of yielding to the aggressor.

Numerous Venice Biennale Pavilions and Artists Go on Strike in Protest over Israel’s Participation

Thousands of protesters marched through Venice on the eve of the Venice Biennale's public opening, organized by Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), to demand Israel's exclusion from the event. At least 18 national pavilions—including Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Ukraine—participated in a 24-hour strike, shutting down completely or partially. Protesters chanted slogans, waved Palestinian flags, and carried banners reading "no genocide pavilions," while ANGA released a statement with 236 signatories calling for Israel's removal, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

israel 2026 venice biennale budget issues

Israel’s participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale is at risk due to government delays in renovating its pavilion. According to a Haaretz report, the Israeli culture ministry and foreign ministry, which co-manage the pavilion, have struggled to agree on a budget and schedule for the renovation, with the foreign ministry citing budgetary issues and the culture ministry awaiting a timeline. This follows the 2024 Biennale, where artist Ruth Patir shuttered the pavilion on opening day in protest of the Gaza war, and Israel’s absence from the 2025 Architecture Biennale.

Serpentine Galleries and FLAG Art Foundation launch U.K.’s biggest contemporary art prize.

Serpentine Galleries in London and the FLAG Art Foundation in New York have announced a new biennial artist prize that will award £200,000 ($264,700) to five artists, one selected every two years, making it the largest single-artist prize in the United Kingdom. The total payout over the next decade is £1 million ($1.32 million). Each winner will receive a solo exhibition at Serpentine, which will then travel to the FLAG Art Foundation in New York. The prize launches in 2026, with the first exhibition scheduled for fall 2027 in London and spring 2028 in New York. Eligible artists must be actively working, have a strong exhibition record, and no more than 10 years of professional show history. A jury of art historians, curators, and artists will select winners from nominations.

Pussy Riot protest at Venice Biennale forces Russian pavilion to briefly close

On the second day of the Venice Biennale preview, the activist group Pussy Riot staged a chaotic protest at the Russian pavilion, forcing it to temporarily close. Wearing pink balaclavas and carrying flares, about 40 activists—including members of Femen—gathered outside the pavilion, shouting slogans like "Blood is Russia's Art" and attempting to enter before being pushed back by police. Founding member Nadya Tolokonnikova led the protest, condemning Europe for allowing Russian participation despite the war in Ukraine. Separately, the Art Not Genocide Alliance (Anga) demonstrated outside the Israeli pavilion, which was locked from inside, over Israel's war in Gaza.

In Protest of Israeli Pavilion, Activists and Unions Plan Strike on Venice Biennale’s Opening Day

The Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) has announced a 24-hour strike and rally on May 8, the day before the 2026 Venice Biennale opens to the public, in protest of the Israeli Pavilion. ANGA, formed in opposition to Israel's inclusion in the 2024 Biennale, refers to the current Israeli presentation—featuring Haifa-based artist Belu-Simion Fainaru—as the "Genocide Pavilion." Over 200 artists, curators, and culture workers have signed an open letter demanding Israel's exclusion, and a separate action called Solidarity Drone Chorus involved 60 artists. ANGA is collaborating with local labor and culture organizations including Biennalocene, Vogliamo Tutt'altro, S.a.L.E. Docks, and Mi Riconosci.

Dark clouds, protests and resignations dampen start of 61st Venice Biennale

The 61st Venice Biennale opened under grey skies and rain, with political tensions overshadowing the art world's premier event. The Russian pavilion, absent for two editions due to the Ukraine war, reappeared with a party atmosphere, though the Italian ministry of culture confirmed it would not be open to the public. The Ukrainian culture minister called Russia's symbolic presence powerful. The Iranian pavilion withdrew without explanation, and a protest by 60 artists from the In Minor Keys show marched through the Giardini humming in solidarity against Israel's participation. Over 200 artists, including Lubaina Himid and Alfredo Jaar, signed an open letter demanding the Israeli pavilion's cancellation. The event also proceeded without its curator, Koyo Kouoh, who died in May 2025; her curatorial team delivered the exhibition following her plans.

Venice Bound? Here’s All the News You Need to Know About This Year’s Biennale

The 61st Venice Biennale is embroiled in geopolitical controversy over Russia's return to the event in 2026, which has sparked widespread backlash. Nearly 10,000 artists and cultural leaders signed an open letter opposing Russia's participation, and the European Union withdrew €2 million in funding for the 2028 edition. Leaked emails reveal Biennale officials worked with Russian pavilion commissioner Anastasia Karneeva to circumvent EU sanctions, while Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli plans to boycott the opening week. Meanwhile, activists continue to push for Israel's removal from the Biennale, though Israel will be accommodated in the Arsenale this year.

pan african flags queen elizabeth portrait larry achiampong

British Ghanaian artist Larry Achiampong responded to controversy after two of his pan-African flags from the "Relic Traveller: Phase 1" series replaced a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in the UK Foreign Office. The flags, titled "Pan African Flag For The Relic Travellers’ Alliance (Motion)" and "Pan African Flag For The Relic Travellers’ Alliance (Community)", were hung by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy. Conservative MP Lee Anderson criticized the move, while Achiampong dismissed the outrage as "deeply problematic" in an interview with the Guardian.

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