Peruvian artist's solo exhibition opens at Heydar Aliyev Center [PHOTOS]

On May 21, a solo exhibition of Peruvian artist Ronald Companoca titled "The Theater of Dreams" opened at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan. The ceremony was attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Alena Aliyeva, Minister of Culture Adil Karimli, and other dignitaries. The exhibition features many works shown for the first time, including pieces inspired by Azerbaijani culture, such as carpet elements and national motifs. Companoca described his style as a synthesis of realistic and mystical elements, rooted in magical surrealism. An artistic performance with live characters mirroring the artwork accompanied the opening. The exhibition runs until March 1, 2027.

"Seasons and Soliloquies" by Zack Thurmond

Zack Thurmond will present a solo exhibition titled "Seasons and Soliloquies" at Idaho Art Gallery (IAG) in downtown Boise, opening Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5 to 9 pm. Thurmond, a largely self-taught artist with a BFA from Boise University, creates paintings rooted in direct observation of place, often starting as plein air studies and expanding into larger studio works. His pieces are held in collections across North America and Europe, and he currently serves as Chief Preparator at the Boise Art Museum.

Film and Documentary Planned About Louvre Art Heist

Film und Doku zum Kunstraub im Louvre geplant

A heist at the Louvre in October 2025, in which four masked thieves stole crown jewels worth an estimated €88 million, is being turned into a film and documentary series. The projects are based on the investigative book "Main basse sur le Louvre" by journalists Jean-Michel Décugis, Jérémie Pham-Lê, and Nicolas Torrent. The feature film will be directed by Romain Gavras, with production by Iconoclast, while a documentary series will be produced by Misfits of the Mediawan Group. The book was published on Wednesday by Flammarion, though no title, release date, or cast for the film has been announced yet.

Paseo Arts Association debuts three new exhibits during First Friday Gallery Walk June 5

The Paseo Arts Association in Oklahoma City is launching three new art exhibits during the First Friday Gallery Walk on June 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Paseo Arts and Creativity Center. The shows include "Breaking Bread" by the Black Artists' Collective Poetic City, curated by Sunee Rice and featuring her mother Rocelle Cole; "Marks and Musings" by David Hertzel, Astrid Moan, and Todd E. Clark; and "Main Street: Carnival Found," a photography exhibit by SJ Barrymore.

Gallery openings and exhibits in Central Oregon this week

This article provides a comprehensive listing of gallery openings and exhibits currently on display in Central Oregon. It includes details on a wide range of venues, from Amejko Artistry's nomadic woven artwork to the High Desert Museum's multiple exhibitions, covering diverse media such as pottery, fiber art, photography, and historical displays. The listings include locations, dates, and contact information for each venue, highlighting the region's vibrant local art scene.

Blak Douglas is an Archibald winner. He says the art prize needs to change

Blak Douglas, a four-time Archibald Prize finalist and winner of the 2022 competition, has opened a new exhibition titled *Home Flown* at NSW Parliament House. The show challenges perceptions of Aboriginal art by parodying the dominance of dot painting and the co-opting of Aboriginal iconography, such as the boomerang, in Australian commercial culture. Douglas uses roundels, laser-cut boomerangs, and killer boomerangs to critique the tax system, colonial structures, and the pressure on Indigenous artists to produce work that is 'identifiably Aboriginal'.

Guests Of Honor: Art Of Faith From The Jewish Museum, New York – At The Detroit Institute Of Arts

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has opened "Guests of Honor: Art of Faith from the Jewish Museum, New York," a display of 13 masterworks of ceremonial Judaica on loan from the Jewish Museum in New York. Rather than grouping the objects separately, the DIA has interspersed them among its permanent collection across five galleries, placing Torah adornments alongside Islamic Qurans and Christian religious art to draw connections between faith traditions. The exhibition, curated by Alan Darr and Katherine Kasdorf, runs through January 3 and includes objects dating from the 1400s to the 1800s.

‘Rooted in Memory’ brings Gullah Geechee culture to Cameron Art Museum

The Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, North Carolina, will open a new exhibition titled "Rooted in Memory: The Gullah Geechee Vision of Jonathan Green" on June 19, 2025, running through January 24, 2027. The show features paintings by artist Jonathan Green alongside traditional Gullah Geechee crafts, exploring themes of heritage, storytelling, and cultural identity. An opening night event is scheduled for June 18, followed by a free community day on June 20.

A historic alliance: Inside the strategic partnership between M+ and the Centre Pompidou

M+ museum in Hong Kong and the Centre Pompidou in Paris have announced a strategic partnership, marking a significant cross-cultural collaboration between two major institutions. The alliance will involve joint exhibitions, curatorial exchanges, and shared programming, aiming to deepen ties between Asian and European art scenes. The partnership is seen as a historic move to foster dialogue and knowledge-sharing across continents.

Carleton Gallery hosting Spring Group Exhibition on May 30

Carleton Gallery is hosting a Spring Group Exhibition on May 30, as reported by the Watauga Democrat. The event will feature a curated selection of works by multiple artists, though specific participants and pieces have not been detailed in the brief announcement.

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock opens annual youth exhibition

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock opened its 65th annual Young Arkansas Artists exhibition on Saturday, showcasing over 50 student artworks selected by a panel of museum and art professionals. The exhibition, on view through July 26 at the Robyn and John Horn Gallery, features four works per grade from kindergarten through 12th grade, using media ranging from charcoal and watercolor to linoleum print and glazed ceramics. Awards included $25 gift certificates to BLICK Art Materials for each featured student, a $200 award for submitting educators, and special recognitions such as the Mid-Southern Watercolorists' Suzann Waggoner Memorial Award and the AMFA Docents' Recognition Award. Best in Class winners, like kindergartner Levi Splawn and fifth grader Blair Allen, received free summer camp sessions at the museum.

San Francisco's iconic art museum, the Legion of Honor, is hosting an after-hours party this June

The Legion of Honor, a historic art museum in San Francisco, will host an after-hours party on June 11, 2026, to celebrate its new exhibition "The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy." The event, part of the museum's Late Night Editions series, will feature drinks, live DJ sets, food from Off the Grid Food Trucks, and a VIP tasting room from Ezeta Wine, with general admission at $35 and VIP tickets at $95.

Annual Art in the West Exhibition and Auction Returns to the High Desert Museum - The Source

The High Desert Museum will host its annual Art in the West exhibition and online auction starting July 18, featuring nearly 130 works by painters, sculptors, photographers, and basket weavers inspired by the High Desert region. The 2026 edition highlights Jury's Choice winner Peter Dawson's photograph "Infinity #3363, Eastern Oregon" and Curator's Choice winner Natalie Kirk's basket "Yamash in Thunderbird of Nch’I Wana," alongside works by artists such as Arturo Garcia, Frank Buffalo Hyde, and Miguel Almeida.

Kayem and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Showcase Role of Hot Dogs in American History

Kayem, a New England-based hot dog brand, has partnered with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) to create an exhibition exploring the cultural significance of hot dogs in American history. The collaboration uses artworks and artifacts from the museum's collection to trace the hot dog's journey from its European origins to its status as a quintessential American food, highlighting its presence at events like baseball games, state fairs, and presidential inaugurations.

Arts Listings: Week of May 21, 2026

This article is a local arts listings roundup for the week of May 21, 2026, in Ventura County, California. It announces theater productions including "Firebringer," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Zapalooza," and "The Wolves," along with art exhibitions at venues such as the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Camarillo Art Center, Dama Gallery, the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, and UBS. It also includes a call for artists from the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley and an open call from Dama Gallery.

Ohio State’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum to reopen Saturday with new exhibitions

Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, home to the world's largest cartoon and comic collection, will reopen on Saturday after being closed since November 10, 2025. The reopening features renovated galleries, a new permanent exhibition titled "Story of Comics" that traces 400 years of cartoon art, and the U.S. debut of cartoonist Chris Ware's major international exhibition "Life Is Complicated," on display until January 3, 2027. The museum houses 300,000 original cartoons and 2.5 million newspaper comic strip pages and clippings.

Thursday’s Corvallis Arts Walk: Social Conscience, Multiplying Mediums and Fae Folk

The Corvallis Arts Walk on Thursday, May 21, features a wide range of exhibitions and events across multiple venues, including a window display by Living Studios Arts for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, miniature paintings by Jana Johnson at Art in the Valley, and a mixed-media installation by Vincent Frimpong at The Arts Center addressing textile waste and its global impact. Other highlights include abstract landscapes by Philip Stork, a Mental Health Awareness Month show by ACT/EASA participants, figurative clay sculptures from Niya Lee's class, and a bird-themed pastel collection by Alycia Helbling at Corvallis Foundry Gallery.

Byblos dans le fracas du monde

The article reviews an immersive exhibition at the Institut du monde arabe in Paris titled "Byblos, cité millénaire du Liban," which presents over 470 archaeological artifacts from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos in present-day Lebanon. The show features national treasures rarely or never before exhibited outside Lebanon, including stone anchors, statuettes, engraved stelae, gold and silver vessels, and a Roman mosaic depicting the abduction of Europa. The scenography plunges visitors into underwater and subterranean environments, evoking the city's 9,000-year history as a Mediterranean trade and diplomatic hub, its ties with Egyptian pharaohs through cedar wood, and its role in spreading the Phoenician alphabet.

Au Royaume-Uni les contraintes budgétaires des musées pèsent sur les effectifs

A survey of 329 museum directors in the UK, published in the Art Fund's Museum Directors Research 2026 report, reveals that staff shortages have overtaken building maintenance as the top concern for cultural institutions. Conducted by Wafer Hadley between January and March 2026, the study shows that 85% of directors cite team size and capacity as the main barrier to programming, ahead of budget constraints (67%) and lack of specialized expertise (23%). The National Gallery in London launched a voluntary redundancy plan in February 2026 to address a projected deficit of £8.2 million, while the Museum of Cambridge cut a third of its staff and reduced opening hours. Local authority grants have decreased or ceased for 45% of institutions between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, and over a third of museums have reduced or plan to reduce opening hours and annual exhibitions.

Beyond the Streets at La Villette’s Grande Halle: the exhibition dedicated to the legends of graffiti and street art

"Beyond the Streets," a major exhibition dedicated to graffiti and street art, opens at the Grande Halle de La Villette in Paris from May 27 to August 30, 2026. Featuring over 100 artists including Futura 2000, Shepard Fairey, Invader, JonOne, André Saraiva, Felipe Pantone, Mister Cartoon, Vhils, Yoshi Omori, JR, Ozzie Juarez, Nadya Tolokonnikova, Kenny Scharf, Paul Insect, and Tim Conlon, the show spans 3,600 square meters with historic works, new pieces, archives, and immersive installations. Highlights include a train car installation, a mural by JonOne, a gallery dedicated to Shepard Fairey, "The Cosmic Cave" by Kenny Scharf, "The Marionette Workshop" by Paul Insect, and a section on the Beastie Boys and French hip-hop, including outfits from Dapper Dan and T-shirts from Driss Dendoune's collection.

A Night at the museum

Artis—Naples is hosting its free Art After Hours program at The Baker Museum throughout the summer, offering free admission on the last Wednesday of each month through August from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The program features live music by local musicians and allows visitors to explore current exhibitions in a relaxed evening setting. Museum Director and Chief Curator Courtney A. McNeil and Director of Education & Community Partnerships Dave Aulenbach highlight the program's role in making art accessible to the community.

Exhibitions to See: Agenda for 25–29 May 2026

The article presents a curated agenda of art exhibitions to visit from 25 to 29 May 2026, listing shows across multiple cities. It is published by an Italian online magazine registered in Naples, with Lorenzo Crea as director and Visio Adv as publisher.

Gyeongnam Art Museum to host Picasso film screening and talk program May 27

The Gyeongnam Art Museum in South Korea will host a special film screening and curator talk on May 27, 2025, as part of its ongoing Picasso Ceramics exhibition and Korea's monthly Culture Day program. The event, titled Picasso Film Room, features the 1954 documentary "Meeting Picasso" by Italian filmmaker Luciano Emmer, which shows Pablo Picasso creating ceramics and drawings in real time. Following the screening, curator Kim Ju-hyun will lead a discussion on Picasso's artistic legacy and the significance of the exhibition.

New walking tour sees concrete walls turn into open-air galleries

A new walking tour in Auckland, New Zealand, celebrates 40 iconic street art murals created over the past 40 years in the city center. Supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate, the tour transforms concrete walls into open-air galleries, featuring works by artists including Sung Hwan ‘Bobby’ Park, Anzac Tasker, and Otis Frizzell. New murals were recently unveiled, including three light-based works in Cross Street and the Tiaki Promise 2026 mural near the New Zealand International Convention Centre, which explores Māori culture, Pacific migration, queer identity, and community values.

From art school to soccer pitch: Peter Robinson's six-decade career celebrated in new exhibition in Glen Ellyn

The Daily Herald reports on a new exhibition in Glen Ellyn celebrating the six-decade career of artist Peter Robinson, whose work spans from his art school training to unexpected subjects like soccer pitches. The show highlights the breadth of his practice and his enduring creative output over sixty years.

major exhibition of rare paintings and archives honors zaha hadid ten years after her passing

A major exhibition titled 'I Think There Should Be No End to Experimentation' has opened at LUMA Arles, marking the sixth chapter of the Hans Ulrich Obrist Archives. Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Arthur Fouray, the show honors the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid on the tenth anniversary of her passing. It features rarely exhibited paintings, early calligraphic drawings, personal notebooks, and previously unseen video interviews from 2001 to 2013, alongside tribute posters by peers such as Sir Peter Cook, Stefano Boeri, Sumayya Vally, Iwan Baan, and Lina Ghotmeh. The exhibition is presented in the Tower building designed by Frank Gehry and unfolds across the Cherry Tree Gallery and Archives Gallery, with exhibition furniture conceived by Kazuyo Sejima.

Orlan, Marina Abramović, Ai Weiwei and Roger Ballen lead a major exhibition on love in Paris

A major group exhibition exploring the theme of love has opened in Paris, featuring works by renowned contemporary artists including Orlan, Marina Abramović, Ai Weiwei, and Roger Ballen. The show brings together diverse perspectives on love, intimacy, and human connection through various media such as performance, photography, and installation.

From Paris To Gyeongseong’ Illuminating The Flow Of Modern Art​

The article 'From Paris To Gyeongseong’ Illuminating The Flow Of Modern Art' explores the historical and cultural exchange of modern art between Paris and Gyeongseong (the former name of Seoul during the Japanese colonial period). It traces how Western modernist movements, particularly from Paris, influenced Korean artists in the early 20th century, highlighting the cross-cultural dialogue that shaped the development of modern art in Korea. The piece examines specific artworks, exhibitions, and the role of key figures who facilitated this artistic flow.

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 fair showcases Beijing’s evolution as cultural destination - China Daily

The Beijing Dangdai Art Fair opened on Thursday at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center, running through Sunday. It features a wide range of works from late artist Zao Wou-ki’s tiny sketch drafts to large-scale installation art and robot pieces co-developed by artists and tech companies. Galleries from Beijing’s 798 art zone, other Chinese cities, and international institutions are participating. The fair also marks the launch of the 2026 Beijing Art Season, which includes Beijing Design Week and Gallery Weekend Beijing, and offers an off-site exhibition at WONDER · China World Mall through May 31.