‘One simple gesture says it all’: the world in black and white – in pictures

Photographer Marina Sersale has released a new monograph titled 'Liminal Space,' published by Gost, which compiles over a decade of monochrome photography. The collection features dramatic black-and-white images captured between 2013 and 2021 across diverse locations including Italy, Japan, Iran, and the United States. Sersale, a former documentary filmmaker, focuses on the interplay of light and shadow to document fleeting, everyday moments—from sunbathers in Positano to commuters in Naples.

Calls for Artists: May 2026

Burnaway's May 2026 Calls for Artists roundup lists multiple opportunities with deadlines in early May. These include the Joan Mitchell Center's call for figurative works, the Michael P. Smith Fund for Documentary Photography for Gulf Coast photographers, the Center for Craft Teaching Artist Cohort offering $10,000 grants to mid-career craft artists, the Hopper Prize grants totaling $13,000, residencies at The Studios of Key West and Trillium Arts, and the National Performance Network Creation & Development Fund. Each opportunity has specific eligibility, fees, and deadlines ranging from May 3 to May 18, 2026.

8 Art Films Worth Watching in May

8 Kunstfilme, die sich im Mai lohnen

Monopol magazine presents eight art films worth streaming in May, including a documentary featuring 40,000 slides from critic Jerry Saltz capturing the 1990s New York art scene, Shirin Neshat's film "Women Without Men" about women in 1953 Tehran, Christian Petzold's new film "Miroirs No. 3," and a documentary on the Shroud of Turin. The roundup also includes a politically charged drama directed by Yael Bartana and a Dada-metal film, offering a diverse selection of art-related cinema.

Marcello Dantas Named Curator of 2027–29 Vancouver Biennale

The Vancouver Biennale has appointed Brazilian artist and documentary filmmaker Marcello Dantas as senior curator for its 2027–29 edition. Dantas, currently art director at the immersive museum Ster Ik in Tulum, Mexico, recently cocurated the 2024 iteration of Saudi Arabia's Desert X AlUla with Maya El Khalil. He has previously organized exhibitions for artists including Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor, Shirin Neshat, and Bill Viola, and curated a project by Vik Muniz for the 2013–15 Vancouver Biennale. Dantas plans to shape the event by addressing the city's corporate real estate development alongside its First Nations and colonial history, exploring themes of displacement and belonging.

White House launches review of Smithsonian museums and exhibitions

The White House has launched a comprehensive internal review of the Smithsonian Institution, targeting eight of its museums including the National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Hirshhorn Museum. A letter signed by senior White House officials Lindsey Halligan, Vince Haley, and Russ Vought demands extensive documentation, curatorial materials, and exhibition schedules within 30-, 75-, and 120-day deadlines, with the stated goal of aligning programming with President Donald Trump's directive to "celebrate American exceptionalism" and remove "divisive or partisan narratives." The review follows Trump's March executive order reshaping the Smithsonian, which had already led to the resignation of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet and the cancellation of artist Amy Sherald's traveling exhibition after the museum allegedly sought to remove her painting of a non-binary transgender person.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by several high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair. Key highlights include Cao Fei’s exploration of global farming and technology at Pirelli HangarBicocca, alongside Anselm Kiefer’s monumental portraits of female alchemists. The city's galleries and institutions are showcasing a diverse range of media, from immersive installations to historical retrospectives, positioning Milan as a critical hub for contemporary art during this peak seasonal moment.

Marsha Pels Presents a Material Memorandum on Grief

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by a series of high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair, ranging from Cao Fei’s exploration of global agriculture to Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists. Marsha Pels stands out with a deeply personal presentation that utilizes industrial materials to navigate the complexities of grief and memory.

Walferdange exhibition ‘BeComing’ explores identity

Ukrainian visual artist Tetiana Popyk is presenting her first major solo exhibition, titled 'BeComing,' at the Gallery CAW in Walferdange. Running from April 17 to May 3, 2026, the show features a diverse range of photography, mixed media, and conceptual photo collages that explore the intersection of femininity, cultural identity, and belief systems. The exhibition includes works from several of her established series, such as 'Majestic Women of the World' and 'Ukrainian Legends,' alongside a new project focused on androgyny that was originally conceived during the pandemic.

Cameron Art Museum partners with Cucalorus on new cinema series

Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, North Carolina, has announced a new film series called CAM at the Movies, produced in partnership with the Cucalorus Film Foundation. The series will take place at Jengo’s Playhouse and feature screenings paired with live conversations with artists, curators, and cultural leaders. The lineup includes three films: "Legacy" (June 26), a short film about the United States Colored Troops; Andy Warhol's "Flesh for Frankenstein" (August 28); and "Always Looking: Titus Brooks Heagins" (December 11), a documentary about the photographer's work. Each screening will be accompanied by discussions with filmmakers, curators, and museum staff, connecting the films to CAM's current exhibitions.

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Crowns (Peso Neto)To Star in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale

Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1981 painting *Crowns (Peso Neto)* will headline Sotheby's Contemporary Evening Sale this November, carrying an estimate of $35–45 million—the highest ever for a Basquiat work from that year. The painting, never before offered at auction, debuted at Annina Nosei Gallery in 1982 and was later shown at documenta 7. It will be publicly exhibited in London, Paris, and New York before the sale, which coincides with the opening of Sotheby's new global headquarters in the former Whitney Museum's Breuer Building.

photographer maryam eisler alexei riboud interview

Photographers Maryam Eisler and Alexei Riboud, former high school classmates in Paris nearly 40 years ago, reunited in 2023 through a WhatsApp group and embarked on a creative challenge: photographing the same American Southwest landscapes side by side without sharing their images until the trip ended. The result is "West West," a book and exhibition at Pierre Yovanovitch's Manhattan gallery (June 12–July 11), curated by historian Carrie Scott and gallerist Howard Greenberg, featuring their work alongside iconic photographers like Diane Arbus, Joel Meyerowitz, and Ansel Adams.

lotus l kang on channeling poetry memory and spirits into her new work 2646703

Lotus L. Kang's latest exhibition, "Already," is on view at 52 Walker in New York through June 7, 2025. The Brooklyn-based Canadian artist transforms the gallery into a diasporic memoryscape using steel greenhouses, mixed-media paintings, sculpture, and found objects like oversized kelp knots and soju bottles. The show takes its title from a poem in Kim Hyesoon's "Autobiography of Death" (2016), and Kang's installation explores themes of presence and absence, memory, and the transmutative qualities of photography and film. In an interview, Kang discusses how Korean poetry helps her understand her own origins as a Korean-Canadian gyopo, and how translation—both linguistic and material—shapes her work.

‘It’s about processing’: the artist who spent three months recreating the most poignant moments with her ex

Photographer Diana Markosian has created a new project titled "Replaced," in which she spent three months recreating intimate moments from her past relationship with an ex-partner. To document the experience of falling in and out of love, she hired an actor to play her ex and traveled with him to locations they once visited together, including Miami, Paris, Naples, Capri, and Nice. The series blurs documentary and fiction, using staged reenactments to process grief, heartbreak, and healing.

Matt Connors at Herald St

Matt Connors presents his exhibition 'Cooperative Village' at Herald St gallery in Bologna. The show runs from February 6 to May 16, 2026, and is documented with 17 images by photographers Carlo Favero and Charles Benton.

Phillip Allen at Kerlin Gallery

Phillip Allen's solo exhibition 'Deep Waiting' was presented at Kerlin Gallery in Dublin from January 31 to March 7, 2026. The show was documented with 13 images on the Contemporary Art Daily platform.

Llyn Foulkes, art world iconoclast, has died, aged 91

Llyn Foulkes, the iconoclastic Los Angeles artist known for his defiantly independent and multidisciplinary practice, died on 20 November at age 91. A painter, jazz musician, and provocateur, Foulkes resisted commercial commodification throughout his career, creating work that ranged from Pop Art-inflected paintings to political assemblages incorporating Mickey Mouse imagery. His death was announced by Kent Fine Art, a New York gallery that had published several books on his work.

“Daughter of the Stars” Opens in Front Royal, Showcasing 70+ Women Artists in Largest Exhibition of Its Kind

The "Daughter of the Stars" exhibition opens October 18 at the Melissa Ichiuji Studio Gallery in Front Royal, Virginia, featuring over 70 women artists from the Shenandoah Valley and greater DMV region. The show is part of the Women Artists of the DMV Survey Show, a regional collaboration conceived by curator Lenny Campello in partnership with the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, spanning 18 venues and approximately 400 women artists. The opening includes live music, refreshments, and artist meet-and-greets, and the exhibition runs through December 7, 2025.

Class Notes

Boston University's College of Fine Arts (CFA) published its 2025 alumni class notes, featuring updates from graduates spanning the 1950s to the 1980s. Notable entries include Mark Mobius (’58) releasing a book on wealth, Cynthia Close (’67,’69) completing a memoir about her time in an artists' commune, and Jane O’Hara (’78) exhibiting a 51-painting series on animal rights at the New Bedford Art Museum. Other alumni activities range from radio documentaries and theatrical performances to gallery shows, poetry albums, and consulting work.

On Arte and France Culture, all the secrets of the unicorn

Sur Arte et France Culture, tous les secrets de la licorne

The article discusses the enduring cultural presence of the unicorn, from churches to toy stores and LGBTQIA+ parades, coinciding with the exhibition "Licornes!" at the Musée de Cluny (through July 12, 2026), which centers on the museum's famed tapestry *La Dame à la licorne*. It highlights two complementary media programs: an episode of the radio show *Le Cours de l'histoire* on France Culture and a documentary on Arte, both exploring the mythical animal's many transformations across history.

The pioneer of organic textile sculptures, Magdalena Abakanowicz, is taking over Helsinki Art Museum

Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) presents "Magdalena Abakanowicz: Crossing Boundaries," the first Finnish exhibition of the Polish artist's monumental fiber works, running from May 6 to August 30, 2026, at the Tennis Palace. The show features 58 works spanning six decades, including her iconic Abakans—suspended woven forms—and headless burlap figures, along with documentary screenings and a new Finnish-language publication.

Ali Banisadr: Temple of the Mind | Solo exhibition at Buffalo AKG Art Museum

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum will present "Ali Banisadr: Temple of the Mind," a solo exhibition running from June 26 to November 8, 2026. The show occupies the Hemicycle Gallery and, for the first time, the Wilmers Galleries, where Banisadr's works will be installed alongside Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist pieces from the museum's permanent collection. The exhibition includes an installation exploring the artist's influences, featuring works by Andō Hiroshige and Francisco de Goya, as well as studio materials, a new etching created with Mirabo Press, and an audio journey narrated by Banisadr.

(BPRW) Getty Awards $1.8M to Increase Access to Black Visual Arts Archives

The Getty Foundation has awarded $1.8 million in grants to eight institutions through its Black Visual Arts Archives initiative, a multi-year program aimed at increasing access to archival collections related to Black artists and arts organizations. The grants will support processing, digitization, and public programming at venues including Afro Charities, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Charles H. Wright Museum, Morgan State University, South Side Community Art Center, the University of Chicago's South Side Home Movie Project, and the David C. Driskell Center. This brings Getty's total funding for the initiative to $4.5 million since 2022, supporting 20 grants nationwide.

Eat Frida food off a Frida plate: Kahlo kitsch raises eye...

A major Tate Modern exhibition dedicated to Frida Kahlo and her circle opens next month in London, accompanied by a wave of commercial spin-offs including a Kahlo-inspired menu, dinner plates, a Netflix documentary, a clothing line, and an opera premiering in New York. The show, titled "Frida: The Making of an Icon," will also display over 200 souvenir objects and knick-knacks, examining Kahlo's transformation into a global brand. A new whodunnit novel by Oscar de Muriel reimagines Kahlo as a detective, and a culinary collaboration with Mexican chef Santiago Lastra will run at the Tate Modern restaurant.

Lee Miller: Fearless

The Art Institute of Chicago announces 'Lee Miller: Fearless,' the first comprehensive survey of photographer Lee Miller's work in over 25 years, running from August 29 to December 7, 2026. The exhibition spans Miller's multifaceted career as a fashion model, Surrealist innovator, portraitist, and World War II battlefield correspondent for Vogue, featuring iconic images such as 'Self-Portrait with Headband' (about 1932) and 'Dressed for War' (1942). It is organized in collaboration with Tate Britain and Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, curated by Matthew S. Witkovsky, Hilary Floe, Saskia Flower, and Michal Goldschmidt.

Music & Maker's Night with “Get Surreal (A Surreal Lens)” Tour, May 14

The Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa, is hosting a Music & Maker's Night on May 14, featuring a guided tour of the exhibition "Get Surreal (A Surreal Lens)" led by Co-Senior Curator Joshua Johnson. The event includes an art-making activity and live music in the museum's Quad City Bank & Trust Grand Lobby. The exhibition explores how photographers from the earliest days of the medium have used techniques like montage, double exposure, and digital manipulation to distort reality and create dreamlike imagery, featuring works by artists such as Alan Cohen, György Kepes, Olivia Parker, and Emmet Gowin.

"Bertille Bak: Voices from the Earth" exhibition at the Vincenzo Vela Museum

From 26 April 2026 to 10 January 2027, the Vincenzo Vela Museum in Ligornetto, Switzerland, presents "Bertille Bak: Voices from the Earth," the first major solo exhibition in Switzerland of French artist Bertille Bak. The show brings together works from the past fifteen years that combine cinema, visual arts, and field research, focusing on marginalized communities and themes of labor, identity, and resistance. Bak, born in Arras in 1983, creates video installations and narrative devices through long immersions in communities, with her work held in collections such as the Centre Pompidou and the Collection François Pinault.

Chiharu Shiota’s ‘Two Home Countries’ at the Asian Art Museum marks her first solo exhibition in the Bay Area

The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has opened 'Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries,' the first solo exhibition in the Bay Area for the Japanese-born, Berlin-based artist. The show features her signature immersive installations of red thread, weaving together personal objects and exploring themes of memory, displacement, and identity.

How Digital Animation Can Help Audiences Understand Installation Art Before They Experience It in Person

The article examines the inherent limitations of traditional photography in documenting installation art, arguing that static images fail to convey the experiential qualities of scale, sequence, and audience interaction central to the medium. It uses Olafur Eliasson's iconic 'The Weather Project' as a prime example of a work whose atmospheric and social dimensions are lost in photographic reproduction.

LIVING LEGENDS LAXMA GOUD & THOTA VAIKUNTAM Film Screenings & Art Exhibition

Laasya Art is hosting a special exhibition in Palo Alto featuring the works of two of India’s most prominent contemporary artists, Laxma Goud and Thota Vaikuntam. The event includes the premiere of two original short films produced by the gallery, "Zauq: The World of Laxma Goud" and "Thota Vaikuntam: The Making of the Telangana Woman," which explore the personal histories and creative processes of these masters.

Surrey Art Gallery probes Expo 86’s artistic legacy with In the Shadow of the Pavilions

The Surrey Art Gallery has launched "In the Shadow of the Pavilions," an exhibition exploring the complex artistic legacy of Vancouver’s Expo 86. Curated by Jordan Strom, the show features works and archival materials from over 50 artists, including those officially commissioned for the world’s fair and those who were excluded or responded critically to the event. Highlights include documentation of Michael Snow’s pioneering holography and Bill Reid’s Haida canoe, Loo Taas, alongside works by Stan Douglas and Rodney Graham.