Art in April: Lowe Art Museum features new exhibitions and immersive programs

The Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami has unveiled a diverse April program featuring two major exhibitions focused on Afro-Cuban art and identity. "El Pasado Mío / My Own Past" showcases nearly two centuries of Afrodescendant contributions to Cuban art, highlighting 45 artists including a significant group of historically overlooked women, while "Afrocubanismo" draws from the Ramón and Nercys Cernuda Collection to explore the 1930s movement that fused European modernism with Afro-Cuban culture.

‘Night at the Museums’ to feature exhibits April 23, including Old Coaly

Penn State University is hosting its spring “Night at the Museums” on April 23, offering public access to a diverse array of campus collections from 4 to 8 p.m. Organized by the Penn State Museum Consortium, the event features a dedicated trolley service to transport visitors between sites including the Palmer Museum of Art, the HUB-Robeson Galleries, and the Frost Entomological Museum. A highlight of this year's program is the unveiling of a newly updated display for "Old Coaly," a historic mule significant to the university's 19th-century construction.

USU Eastern Student Art Show at Gallery East | KOAl - Price,UT

Utah State University Eastern is hosting its annual Student Art Show at Gallery East from April 20 through April 28. The exhibition showcases a diverse range of creative works produced by students over the academic year. A public reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for the evening of April 23 to recognize outstanding student achievements.

‘You’re just as good as Picasso’: Utah artist to hold art show featuring work done entirely in ballpoint pen

Utah artist Kipp Howard is hosting a public exhibition of his work at a residence in La Verkin, featuring 18 large-scale canvases created entirely with ballpoint pen. The show represents the culmination of 14 years of private work and includes hundreds of additional pieces spanning various media such as digital art, acrylics, and watercolors.

The top 10 art exhibitions in London right now

London's 2026 exhibition season is anchored by major retrospectives and career-spanning surveys across the city's premier institutions. Highlights include a 40-year retrospective of Tracey Emin's provocative career at the Royal Academy, a significant solo exhibition of Hurvin Anderson’s vibrant paintings at Tate Britain, and a celebratory nine-room exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of the Saatchi Gallery.

UBC Okanagan art students curate final-year exhibition

Graduating students from the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) are launching their annual year-end exhibition, titled "Odds and Ends." The showcase features a diverse array of works from Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Media Studies students, spanning traditional mediums like painting and sculpture to digital media, game design, and immersive art. The exhibition is the result of a year-long collaborative effort between the two programs, culminating in a public showcase held at the Creative and Critical Studies Building.

Space One Eleven presents art exhibitions by El Paso artist José Villalobos and local artist Jason Tanner Young

Space One Eleven Art Center in Birmingham is launching two concurrent solo exhibitions: "Navegando la Masculinidad de la Frontera / Navigating the Border’s Masculinity" by El Paso-based artist José Villalobos and "see saw sawn" by local sculptor Jason Tanner Young. Villalobos’s work utilizes sculpture and performance to deconstruct machismo and queer identity within Norteño culture, while Young, an Associate Professor at the University of Montevallo, presents a body of work rooted in his extensive background in wood and expanded sculpture practices.

Queer Art Converges at Art Sonje Center, Opening a New Chapter in Korean Modern and Contemporary Art History

Art Sonje Center in Seoul has launched 'Spectrosynthesis Seoul,' a landmark exhibition featuring 74 artists and collectives that explores the history and current state of queer art. The show, organized in collaboration with the Hong Kong-based Sunpride Foundation, features major international figures like Mark Bradford and Shin Wai Kin alongside prominent Korean artists such as Ayoung Kim and Mire Lee. By moving beyond small-scale independent shows into a major institutional space, the exhibition aims to map a comprehensive landscape of LGBTQ+ artistic practices.

The 2026 Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Award recipients announced

Vanderbilt University has announced the recipients of the 2026 Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Award, a prestigious honor granted to graduating seniors in the Department of Art. The award typically provides significant funding for a year of travel and art research, culminating in a solo exhibition at the university.

south africa venice biennale gabrielle goliath banned work exhibition 1234778846

South Africa’s official pavilion at the Venice Biennale will remain empty this year following the government's abrupt cancellation of artist Gabrielle Goliath’s planned exhibition. The controversy erupted when Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie pulled the project just days before the deadline, labeling Goliath’s work "highly divisive" due to its inclusion of a tribute to Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. Despite the official ban and a failed court challenge by the artist and curator, the work, titled *Elegy*, will now be staged independently at the Chiesa di Sant’Antonin nearby.

Philadelphia Magic Gardens exhibition examines queerness, migration and belonging

Artist Santiago Galeas is presenting his first solo museum exhibition, "Entre Raíces y Alas" (Between Roots and Wings), at the Philadelphia Magic Gardens. The showcase features a series of portraits and landscapes that explore the intersection of queer identity, the first-generation immigrant experience, and the concept of diaspora. Galeas, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the New York Academy of Fine Arts, utilizes symbolic imagery and intimate interviews with his subjects to capture the vulnerability and essence of the queer Latin American community.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

Sorry!

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by several high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair. Highlights include Cao Fei’s exploration of global farming and technology at Pirelli HangarBicocca, alongside Anselm Kiefer’s monumental portraits of female alchemists. Other notable shows feature diverse practices ranging from historical rediscoveries to contemporary installations across the city's major institutions and galleries.

New exhibition features work from UWRF BFA candidates

Seven Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls are set to present their capstone exhibitions at the Kleinpell Fine Arts Gallery from April 13 to May 1. The showcase features a diverse range of media including ceramics, oil painting, photography, and interactive installations, representing the culmination of the students' undergraduate artistic development.

trump eisenhower executive office building paint white 1234781079

The Trump administration has proposed a significant aesthetic overhaul of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a historic French Second Empire–style structure adjacent to the White House. The plan involves painting the building’s original slate-gray granite facade white using a specialized mineral silicate paint. Despite the administration's claims that this 'magic paint' would strengthen and protect the stone, a leaked expert analysis warns that the paint is chemically incompatible with granite and could cause permanent structural damage and exorbitant costs.

Scotland’s oldest art exhibition marks 200 years with landmark show

The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) in Edinburgh is celebrating its bicentenary with its largest annual exhibition to date, running from May 9 to June 14, 2026. Curated by artist Annie Cattrell under the theme "In-Time," the landmark 200th edition features hundreds of works by artists and architects, including invited contributions from Martin Creed and Cathie Pilkington. The event also introduces several new major prizes, such as the Jack Vettriano Award, bringing the total prize fund to over £25,000.

Student Artists Explore Identity, Love in ‘Searching for Meaning’ Art Exhibit at New Providence Memorial Library

High school seniors Olivia Dai and Maggie Liu debuted their joint exhibition, "Gen-Z: Searching for Meaning," at the New Providence Memorial Library. The show features a diverse range of media, including painting, mixed media, and experimental video, focusing on the specific anxieties and hopes of the current generation. Works such as "Doom Scrolling" and "Normalcy" tackle themes of digital addiction, academic pressure, and identity formation.

FSU Department of Art presents exhibition highlighting work by graduating BFA students

Florida State University’s Department of Art is set to debut "A New Paradigm," an exhibition showcasing the thesis projects of eight graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts students. Opening April 17 at the Working Method Contemporary Gallery, the show features a diverse array of media including ceramics, digital fabrication, installation, and printmaking. The works collectively explore shifting societal frameworks and represent the culmination of the students' academic journeys.

Arty Parties: Your Guide to September's First Friday in Denver

Denver’s art scene is preparing for a busy spring and summer season with a series of exhibition openings, market events, and institutional announcements. Key highlights include the selection of six fellows for the 2026 Clyfford Still Museum Institute Residential Fellowship, a nationwide open call for the Dairy Arts Center’s 2027 season, and several new gallery shows featuring artists such as Stacey Steers, Kim Dickey, and Deanne Gertner. Local advocacy is also in focus as the RiNo Art District supports Colorado Senate Bill 26-133, which aims to establish a formal legal structure for artist-led companies.

Exhibition of Chebykin’s work has opened in Kyiv: from intimate drawings to images of war and nation

The National Museum “Kyiv Art Gallery” has launched a major exhibition titled “Andriy Chebykin. MASTER AND WORKSHOP” to celebrate the 80th birthday of the renowned Ukrainian graphic artist and educator. The show features a comprehensive range of Chebykin’s work, from his classic 1970s etchings and 1990s nudes to recent pieces created during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, such as “The Enemy Was Shot Down Over Tatarka.” Uniquely, the exhibition also includes works by his former students, highlighting his 55-year legacy at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture.

Exhibition by textile artist Kadi Pajupuu to be opened at the Riigikogu

Textile artist Kadi Pajupuu has opened a solo exhibition titled "Sinane" (This Very) at the Art Gallery of Toompea Castle, the seat of the Estonian Parliament. Inaugurated by Riigikogu President Lauri Hussar, the showcase features experimental works that blend archaic Estonian linguistic themes with modern material technologies. The exhibition highlights Pajupuu’s innovative weaving techniques, including her patented RailReed and MultiWeave systems, which allow for adjustable warp density and three-dimensional textile structures.

Moomin and Tove Jansson exhibitions worldwide

A global series of exhibitions celebrating the legacy of Tove Jansson and the Moomins has been announced for 2026, with major programming centered in Finland. Key highlights include the expansion of the Tove Jansson Gallery at the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) with the 'Artist Family Jansson' exhibition, a design-focused showcase at the Architecture & Design Museum, and a contemporary dialogue at Chappe featuring artists Erika Adamsson and Katja Syrjä. The programming coincides with the 80th anniversary of the book 'Comet in Moominland'.

From fine art to upcycled furniture - New exhibition opens in Festival Place

The Artist’s Window charity has launched a massive 660-square-metre pop-up exhibition titled Art Space within the Festival Place shopping centre. Featuring 17 professional and amateur artists, the showcase includes a diverse range of media such as fine art, photography, and upcycled furniture. The venue also functions as an interactive studio, offering community workshops and "Stay and Play" sessions for families throughout its run.

lee miller scrapbook gelman collection morning links 1234780035

The University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries has acquired a significant World War II-era scrapbook compiled by Roland Haupt, an assistant to legendary photographers Lee Miller and Cecil Beaton. This previously unseen archive includes iconic imagery such as Miller in Hitler’s bathtub and provides a rare look at the logistical trust placed in Haupt to develop and distribute wartime film. Additionally, the Gelman Collection has confirmed that 160 works by Frida Kahlo and other Mexican Modernists will return to Mexico in 2028 following a loan to Spain, resolving a dispute over the potential indefinite export of national treasures.

Sarasota Art Museum senior curator heading to Seattle

Rangsook Yoon, the senior curator at the Sarasota Art Museum (SAM), is departing her role to join the Frye Art Museum in Seattle as the senior director of curatorial affairs. Yoon will conclude her tenure at SAM on May 1, following the opening of the major loan exhibition "Something Borrowed, Something New," which features works by blue-chip artists like Louise Bourgeois and Ai Weiwei. Her move to Seattle follows a successful two-year period in Sarasota where she curated high-profile shows and participated in regional collaborations like Skyway 2024.

Open Studio #4 ARNALDO POMODORO. Places, Memories and Visions

Open Studio #4 ARNALDO POMODORO. Luoghi, memorie e visioni

Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro has launched the fourth edition of its "Open Studio" exhibition series, titled "Luoghi, memorie e visioni." This recurring program, initiated in 2022, provides the public with intimate access to the sculptor’s creative process by showcasing lesser-known themes and archival materials from his long career. The current iteration focuses on the intersection of memory and physical space within Pomodoro's monumental practice.

‘A Nation of Artists’ exhibition opens April 12 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and PAFA

The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) are launching a major collaborative exhibition titled 'A Nation of Artists,' set to open on April 12. The exhibition explores the foundational role of Philadelphia in shaping American art history, drawing from the deep permanent collections of both historic institutions to showcase a diverse range of American creative expression.

Mather Art Gallery Hosts Hartford Environmental Justice Research Partnership Exhibit

The Mather Art Gallery at Trinity College is hosting an exhibition showcasing the work of the Hartford Environmental Justice Research Partnership. The display highlights community-based research and collaborative solutions designed by student-led teams to address local environmental challenges in the Hartford area.

orientalist painting philadelphia penn museum auction 1234777819

The Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania is courting controversy by consigning a major 1891 painting by Ottoman artist Osman Hamdi Bey, titled "At the Mosque Door," to Bonhams London with an estimate of $2.7–$4 million. Although the museum purchased the work directly from the artist in 1895, it was never formally accessioned into the collection, allowing the institution to bypass strict industry regulations that typically prohibit using art sale proceeds for anything other than new acquisitions or collection care. The museum intends to use the funds to establish a permanent endowment for the long-term maintenance of its vast archaeological holdings.

Raphael and the Renaissance of Divine Beauty

The New York Times explores the enduring legacy of Raphael, the High Renaissance master whose work defined the pinnacle of 'divine beauty' and classical harmony. The analysis delves into his technical mastery, his ability to synthesize the influences of Leonardo and Michelangelo, and his prolific output during his brief life in Rome.

friends fair austin 2026 exhibitor list 1234776877

The Friends Fair in Austin has announced its second edition, scheduled for May 7–9, 2026, at the Loren Hotel Austin. Following a successful debut that drew over 2,000 visitors, the boutique fair is expanding its roster from 10 to 17 exhibitors, occupying an entire floor of the hotel. The lineup features a mix of returning local staples like Martha’s and McLennon Pen Co. alongside new additions from major art hubs including Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, plus non-commercial presentations by Co-Lab Projects and UT Austin MFA students.