London's Royal Society of Arts launches new annual summer exhibition

The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and AOAP Projects (formerly Art on a Postcard) are launching a new annual summer exhibition in London titled "Illuminated." Running from 10-24 June at the RSA's headquarters on John Adam Street, the show features over 100 artists including Caroline Coon, Susie Hamilton, and Helen Beard, with all works limited to seven inches by seven inches. Artists receive 50% of sales proceeds, with the remainder funding the RSA's social impact programs. The exhibition marks AOAP Projects' strategic shift from its long-running postcard auction format toward curated exhibitions and broader fundraising initiatives.

Emerging Zambian Artists Take the Spotlight at Imvelo Studios

Imvelo Studios, a Zambian gallery, has opened a group exhibition titled "Rise and Shine" featuring emerging Zambian artists across diverse mediums, including painting, sculpture, and printmaking. Curated by gallery founder Ng’onga Silupya, the show highlights artists such as Jeremiah Ludaka, Boyd Bishonga, Kaluba B. Chilawa, Hassan Yasini, Clare Chilemu, and Hezroth Simanda, whose works employ abstraction, Neo-Expressionism, and traditional techniques to explore themes of youth, cultural identity, and social commentary.

Jury Convicts Daniel Sikkema in Killing of New York Dealer Brent Sikkema

Daniel Sikkema, the estranged husband of murdered New York art dealer Brent Sikkema, was found guilty in Manhattan federal court on charges related to a murder-for-hire plot. Prosecutors proved that Daniel orchestrated the killing of Brent Sikkema, founder of the Chelsea gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co., at his vacation home in Rio de Janeiro in January 2024, amid a bitter divorce and custody dispute. Daniel was convicted on three counts for conspiring to hire Alejandro Triana Prevez, a Cuban former security officer, who stabbed the dealer 18 times. Daniel faces a mandatory life sentence.

Brand X Editions workshop celebrated at Dallas Museum of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) will present "X Marks the Spot: Contemporary Screenprinting at Brand X Editions," an exhibition exploring the expressive possibilities of screenprinting through the work of the legendary New York City-based workshop Brand X Editions. Featuring over 70 works created over four decades, the show highlights collaborations between Brand X's master screenprinters and artists including KAWS, Rashid Johnson, Deborah Kass, Robert Indiana, Glenn Ligon, and Tschabalala Self. The exhibition opens on May 24, 2026, and runs through November 8, 2026, following its debut at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It includes proofs, video, and interpretive materials to demystify the printmaking process, as well as new works created since the Philadelphia presentation.

Block Museum exhibition features contemporary art by five MFA candidates

Northwestern University's Block Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition "We can make any two stories touch," featuring contemporary works by five second-year MFA candidates in the art theory and practice department: Lamia Abukhadra, Pegah Bahador, naakita f.k., Przemek Pyszczek, and Gabby Banks. The show, running through June 14, includes portraits, films, and mixed-media pieces. Gabby Banks presents three portraits of living Black figurative painters Kerry James Marshall, Jordan Casteel, and Amy Sherald, painted in their respective styles. Przemek Pyszczek explores legacy with works like "My Father Winning Gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics (No Boycott Version)" and a wooden Olivier salad sculpture. naakita f.k. addresses resource extraction in "Porous Bodies," using dust from deep-sea mining and copper mine samples from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

See exhibition by Erin Jane Nelson, ‘Living and Working,’ at UAB’s AEIVA through Sept. 26

The Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham presents “Living and Working,” a survey exhibition of artist Erin Jane Nelson, running through September 26. This is Nelson’s largest solo exhibition to date and her first survey, spanning a decade of her practice across photography, textiles, and ceramics. The exhibition will travel to the Knoxville Museum of Art in August 2027, and AEIVA is co-publishing an exhibition catalog with Institute 193. The opening reception is May 21, and free community programming includes summer drop-in tours, a pinhole camera workshop, Science Nights in partnership with the Birmingham Zoo, and a chamber music event.

Los Angeles’s new Hospital of Emotions pop-up gives artists keys to the asylum

The Hospital of Emotions, a new pop-up exhibition in Los Angeles, has transformed the defunct St Vincent Medical Center into a sprawling art experience. Curator Yaara Sachs, founder of House of Art and Dreams, selected around 70 artists through an open call to take over 80 spaces—including examination rooms and operating chambers—in the building, which is slated for renovation into a behavioral health center. Each artist received $4,000 for their project and up to $10,000 for materials. The exhibition is organized into thematic "departments" dedicated to emotional states such as joy, fear, anger, and sadness, aiming to guide visitors toward catharsis. Featured artists include Kamil Cazpiga (Cosmodernism), Guy "Dioz" Bloom, Pablo Thomas, and Napo, among others.

Robust Sales at Sotheby’s, Phillips Suggest Art Market Upswing

The May 19 evening sales at Sotheby’s and Phillips generated a combined $419.1 million, signaling a potential recovery in the contemporary and modern art market. Sotheby’s brought in $303.9 million—60% more than the previous year—led by a record-breaking $48.4 million Matisse, while Phillips achieved $115.2 million, more than double its 2025 sales. Both auctions saw high sell-through rates, with 98% and 100% of lots sold respectively. Notable lots included a $42.6 million Picasso, a $29.4 million van Gogh drawing, and strong performances by female artists like Lee Bontecou, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler.

'Fade' review: Studio Museum Harlem's 'F' series returns

The Studio Museum in Harlem has opened 'Fade,' the sixth installment of its influential 'F' series, featuring 17 emerging Black and Afro-Latinx artists. The exhibition includes works such as London Pierre Williams's large-scale oil painting 'The Stage: He that leaves me blue, a dream (2026)' and Antonio Darden's 'Untitled (Reclining Figure) (2025),' among others. Curated to feel like an unfolding conversation rather than a traditional group show, 'Fade' explores themes of ancestry, spirituality, grief, and transformation, with sculptures, paintings, and installations that hover between memory and dream.

'It keeps me in touch with life': The London artist still working at 103

London painter Anthony Eyton, who turned 103, is preparing to exhibit new works at the 258th Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the world's oldest open-submission exhibition. A figurative painter and Royal Academician since 1976, Eyton has shown at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, and the Imperial War Museum. He continues to paint daily, finding satisfaction in the act of creation, and has embraced social media with his daughter Sarah, posting regularly on Instagram to reach a global audience.

“A Milano Fondazione Elpis sarà luogo di sorpresa e di comunità”. Intervista alla nuova direttrice Marcella Ferrari

Fondazione Elpis in Milan has appointed Marcella Ferrari as its new director, effective April 2026, marking a new phase for the foundation founded by Marina Nissim in 2020. Ferrari plans to expand the foundation's spaces in Porta Romana with the addition of Villa and Atelier Elpis alongside the existing Lavanderia, creating a constellation of venues for residencies, production, education, and public programs. She emphasizes listening to staff, artists, curators, and the local community, while strengthening international relations and developing projects that connect artistic production with public space and contemporary research.

Oshorenoya David Francis Explores Identity in Solitude, Fantasies & Becoming at 1853 Studios, Manchester

Oshorenoya David Francis presents a solo exhibition titled *In Solitude, Fantasies & Becoming* at 1853 Studios in Manchester, running from 15 to 17 May 2026. Co-curated by Obi Nwaegbe and Natasha Virli, the show features new acrylic paintings on canvas and paper that explore themes of solitude, identity, and emotional transformation through expressive figurative compositions. Key works include *Hug*, *Thoughts in Blue*, *Chapters in Atomic Habits*, and *Thy Wish*, each employing bold color, intimate perspectives, and narrative ambiguity to evoke psychological depth.

In Milan there is an art gallery where you can buy works by important artists all under 1000 euros

A Milano c’è una galleria d’arte dove si possono comprare opere di artisti importanti tutte a meno di 1000 euro

IONOI Gallery has opened in Milan at Via Perugino 24, founded by Alessia Rosato. The gallery debuts on April 15, 2026, with the exhibition "anew spring – prima che tutto accada," featuring 28 artists including Cesare Fullone, Giuseppe Frangi, Franko B., Antonio Marras, and Ercole Pignatelli. All works—prints, objects, and multiples—are priced under €1,000, aiming to make art collecting accessible. The space was formerly a showroom for designer Fabio Novembre.

ARTIndia and Vadehra Art Collaborate for ‘Next/Now’ Exhibition in Delhi

A group exhibition titled 'Next/Now' will open in New Delhi on 29 May 2026, organized by ARTIndia Magazine and Vadehra Art Gallery. The show features 30 emerging artists selected from ARTIndia's '30 Under 30' list, working across painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and mixed media. The opening coincides with Defence Colony Gallery Night, and partial proceeds will support the ARTIndia Care Fund, which provides medical care for young artists.

Could TikTok become the place to buy and sell works of art?

TikTok potrà diventare il posto dove comprare e vendere opere d’arte?

TikTok Shop has launched a new "Fine Art" category, allowing users to buy and sell artworks directly within the app. The initiative was spearheaded by British artist-influencer Sophie Tea, who sold a series of 20 oil paintings titled "Bric-a-Brac" during a three-hour live stream that combined performance art, studio visits, and televised sales. Each piece sold for around £2,800, with TikTok taking a 9% commission. The move applies discovery commerce—where products find users through social feeds rather than active searches—to the art market, bypassing traditional gallery intermediaries.

Wadjan artist Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty to present a major solo exhibition at Kate Owen Gallery

Wadjan artist Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty, fresh from winning the 2026 Alice Art Prize, will present a major solo exhibition titled *Grounded + Growing in Country* at Kate Owen Gallery in June. The show brings together significant recent works and paintings connected to major art prizes, including her People's Choice Award at the 24th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards and the inaugural Margaret Olley Art Award. Tyalmuty will be joined by her son, emerging artist Heath Minjin Wilson, for a four-day live painting residency from June 4–7, offering visitors a rare intergenerational artistic experience.

Kingston’s Art After Dark showcases emerging artists, veterans alike

Kingston’s Art After Dark event took place on Friday, May 22, 2026, transforming downtown Kingston into an open gallery for three hours. Organized by the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area, the self-guided crawl featured over 30 venues including boutiques, studios, and improvised gallery spaces, showcasing painting, photography, sculpture, live demonstrations, and interactive art. Emerging artists and veterans alike participated, with painter David Gilmore demonstrating watercolour and body painter Cornelia Rose creating face art on patrons.

Future Generation Art Prize Returns with $100,000 Award for Emerging Artists.

Applications are now open for the eighth edition of the Future Generation Art Prize, a biannual international prize for emerging artists aged 35 and under. Established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and organized by the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv, the prize offers a total award of US$100,000, including $60,000 in cash and $40,000 invested in the artist's future practice. The open call accepts submissions in any medium, with a deadline of 28 June 2026. Shortlisted artists will exhibit at the PinchukArtCentre in spring 2027, and a distinguished international jury will select the winners.

Full circle creativity: Courtney Saunders finds artistic community

Courtney Saunders, a graphic designer and digital artist, has returned to Tallahassee after accepting a position with Grova Creative in early 2025. Her digital painting "Watch Us" earned Third Place in COCA's 2026 Creative Tallahassee exhibition, currently on view at City Hall Gallery through June 8. Saunders, who attended the School of Arts and Sciences in Tallahassee during middle school, credits the city's creative community and her supportive teachers for nurturing her artistic voice. She holds a BFA in graphic design from Andrews University and works across multiple mediums including acrylic, watercolor, collage, and digital illustration.

Weekend for the arts: 'Untitled' exhibition, 'Lessons Of Silence' theatre

The article covers three events in Kuala Lumpur as part of the KL Festival and Borneo Native Festival 2026. The 'Untitled' group exhibition at GMBB creative mall features 127 artists and 329 works without labels or artist names, inviting viewers to write personal reflections. Proceeds from admission and 'gift letters' go directly to participating artists, offsetting typical financial burdens for emerging creators. The theatre piece 'Lessons Of Silence' by Indonesian artist Agnes Christina is a wordless performance exploring race, class, and parent-child dynamics during a turbulent period in Indonesian history. Additionally, the Borneo Native Festival 2026 at Central Market showcases Sabah and Sarawak's arts and culture, with a highlight being Pangrok Sulap, a woodcut collective from Ranau, presenting prints, books, and socially engaged art.

RSA 200 Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh

The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is celebrating its bicentenary with the RSA 200 Annual Exhibition, featuring 560 works by members and emerging artists. The exhibition, led by convenors Annie Cattrell and Fergus Purdie, runs from 9 May to 14 June 2026 in Edinburgh. Cattrell's theme "In Time" links to the tercentenary of geologist James Hutton, exploring geology and the passage of time, while Purdie's themes "Beginning(s)" and "Unbuilt" invite Academicians to design an imagined alternative Academy building. The show includes works by artists such as Julie Brook and Samantha Clark, with installation views photographed by Julie Howden.

Local art exhibition brings mental health into focus through collaboration

A new art exhibition called "TWOgether" has opened at Spare Room Gallery in Barrie, Ontario, running for a month during Mental Health Awareness Month. Curated by Sean William Dawson and Katie Green, the show pairs 12 emerging artists with 10 established artists from Simcoe County to create collaborative works exploring mental health. The project includes a limited-edition art catalogue of 200 signed copies, with 100% of sales proceeds going to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). A public reception and catalogue launch is scheduled for May 22, and the exhibition also features a panel discussion series titled Start Making Sense.

MINISO Launches World’s First MINISO Gallery in Shanghai with Exhibition by Indonesian Artist RYOL

MINISO has opened the world's first MINISO Gallery in Shanghai, featuring an exhibition by Indonesian artist RYOL. The gallery marks the lifestyle brand's expansion into the art space, blending retail with curated visual art experiences.

Check out adventurous artists in the running for the Carlos Malamud Prize at UCF and Rollins this week

The Carlos Malamud Prize, a biennial group exhibition, opens this week at the UCF Art Gallery and the Rollins Museum of Art in Florida. The show features work from six emerging Florida artists working in diverse media, from traditional ceramics and portraits to unconventional materials like furniture and a Modelo beer can. The winner will receive $10,000 and a solo exhibition in 2027, and will serve as a juror for the 2028 edition. The opening receptions are split over two days: Wednesday at UCF and Thursday at Rollins, where the winner will be announced.

Laois artist Siobhán launches second solo art exhibition

Siobhán Parkinson, a local artist, sound therapist, and playwright from Laois, Ireland, launched her second solo art exhibition titled "Playing with Colour: From Dawn Til Dusk" at Mountmellick Library on May 5. The exhibition features 24 mixed-media works including drawings, paintings, and photographs, organized into three rooms representing dawn, noon, and dusk. The launch included a holistic sound healing session with instruments like sound bowls and a gong, guided meditation, and a celebration cake. Parkinson, a member of the Mountmellick Art Collective, debuted her first solo show at the same venue in February 2023.

Vernon Public Art Gallery unveils four new diverse summer exhibitions

The Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG) in British Columbia is launching four new summer exhibitions in June 2026: Emergence, featuring recent BFA graduates from UBCO; Fireline Kinship, a multidisciplinary response to the 2021 Nk’Mip Creek wildfire by Taylor Baptiste; Through Our Eyes, showcasing youth from the Boys and Girls Club Okanagan’s Teen Junction Youth Program; and Gathered, a group exhibition by School District 22 Indigenous students. An opening reception will be held on May 28, and all exhibitions run through June and July.

From classroom to canvas: 's debut art exhibition

Teacher and artist Jodi Scandrett is holding her debut art exhibition, titled *Let Me*, at Matawhero Art Gallery in Gisborne, New Zealand. The exhibition runs until June 14 and represents a personal milestone for Scandrett, who describes the show as an act of bravery in sharing her creativity with the public.

Great Pulteney Street gallery presents Soho Solos: 4 solo exhibitions by Soho Open prize winners

Great Pulteney Street Gallery (GPS Gallery) is launching the inaugural edition of Soho Solos, a new exhibition programme developed from last year’s Soho Open in partnership with Parker Harris. Running from 10th–28th June, the show features four solo exhibitions by prize-winning artists Mandy Hudson, James Robert Morrison, Conor Quinn, and Alice Sheppard Fidler, each presenting new work that explores themes from queer memory and car-crash eroticism to the transformation of everyday objects.

Rockport Center for the Arts announces summer exhibitions

The Rockport Center for the Arts has announced two summer exhibitions: "Byways," a solo show featuring Elena Rodz's work from June 13 to August 2 in the H-E-B Gallery, and "Rockport Legends," a group exhibition honoring past Master Artists of the Rockport Art Festival, running from June 12 to August 30. Elena Rodz has also been named the 2026 Rockport Art Festival Master Artist. A joint reception will be held on June 13, and both exhibitions lead into the 58th Annual Rockport Art Festival scheduled for July 4-5 at the Rockport Festival Grounds.

St. Pete multimedia artist Cato Galen is one of the region’s rising talents

St. Petersburg multimedia artist Cato Galen is profiled for their wide-ranging creative practice, which includes curating immersive installations, writing music, leading workshops, and creating spaces for reflection at festivals. Galen's recent projects include a virtual gallery for How Bazar's “Memories and Fortunes” exhibition in Tampa and the Decompression Space at the Big Culture and Arts Festival in Gainesville, where QR codes merged physical and digital experiences to improve accessibility. Galen also performs music under the name Creating Cato, produces a zine series called “Guide for Blocked Artists,” and hosts a gathering called “Artist Block.”