What is the international exhibition of the Venice Biennale like? Review of "In minor keys" by Koyo Kouoh

Com’è la mostra internazionale della Biennale di Venezia? Recensione di “In minor keys” di Koyo Kouoh

The 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "In minor keys" and curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, opens to the public on May 9 amid controversies including the absence of the president's name in the colophon at the Arsenale entrance. The exhibition, organized by Kouoh's team (Rory Tsapayi, Siddharta Mitter, Marie Helene Pereira, Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, and Rasha Salty), unfolds across the Giardini and the Arsenale's Corderie, featuring works that balance strength and beauty with a harmonious mix of voices and themes. The Giardini section is particularly compelling, with a non-linear, polycentric layout that feels like a living organism, while the Arsenale offers further depth.

Visit the Art of Science Gallery

Florida Atlantic University is opening its 7th Annual Art of Science gallery exhibition, featuring visual art created by university researchers from their scientific work. The images were selected from a university-wide contest and will be on display at the Ritter Art Gallery on the Boca Raton campus from March 31 to April 20.

Exhibit Review: Revolution! 250 Years of Art and Activism in Boston – Museum Studies Blog at Tufts University

The Boston Public Library in Copley Square has opened "Revolution! 250 Years of Art and Activism in Boston," its first major exhibition in nearly a decade. The show uses a deliberately unfinished design of plywood and scaffolding to symbolize democracy as a work in progress, moving chronologically from the American Revolution through the 21st century. It features engravings by Paul Revere, portraits of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, works addressing Toussaint L’Ouverture and Haitian revolution, Boston abolitionists, the Civil War, civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and contemporary activism including Indigenous, LGBTQ+, climate, and anti-police brutality movements.

London's pre-contemporary art market gets boost from two new summer events

Two new summer events for pre-contemporary art are launching in London: Classic Art London (CAL), running from 23 June to 4 July, and Studiolo, a one-day showcase on 26 June. CAL fills the gap left by London Art Week, which ended in 2024, and features gallery exhibitions across Mayfair, St. James's, Cecil Court, and Belgravia, along with a talks programme at the Society of Antiquaries. Highlights include a rediscovered Titian, a solo show of Paul Nash landscapes, and a focus on Swedish Cubo-Futurist Gösta Adrian-Nilsson (GAN). Studiolo, held at Spencer House, presents art, antiquities, and sculpture.

Exhibition | Travis MacDonald, 'Had a Farm' at Contemporary Fine Arts | CFA, Berlin, Germany

Contemporary Fine Arts in Berlin is presenting 'Had a Farm', a solo exhibition by New Zealand-born artist Travis MacDonald, opening during Gallery Weekend Berlin 2026. The show features new paintings that explore countercultural aesthetics through long-haired, androgynous figures set in a rural-subcultural landscape, drawing on photographic archives of 1970s experimental communes and referencing Pier Paolo Pasolini's essay on hair as a political sign.

Exhibition | B. Koh, 'J Sculpture Show' at Baik Art, Seoul, South Korea

Conceptual sculptor B. Koh is holding his first solo exhibition in South Korea at Baik Art, Seoul, titled 'J Sculpture Show.' The exhibition features a comprehensive survey of the Los Angeles-based artist's career, spanning from his early 1990s experiments to new site-specific works created during a recent residency in Seoul. Koh is known for his "gentle trickery," using everyday objects like clocks, plastic chairs, and water bottles to create subtle interventions that disrupt the viewer's perception of time, gravity, and the mundane.

Fifteen must-see design events during Mexico City art week 2026

Mexico City's annual art week, anchored by the Zona Maco fair, is expanding its focus to include a significant design component in 2026. The event features 15 highlighted design-focused exhibitions and installations, including site-specific shows in modernist houses, a dedicated collectible design category at Zona Maco, and exhibitions by international names like Lee Broom and Lanza Atelier.

Slawn’s Studio Opens It's Doors To A Living Exhibition at Saatchi Yates

Slawn’s studio opens its doors to a living exhibition at Saatchi Yates, transforming the gallery space into an immersive environment where the artist’s creative process becomes part of the display. The exhibition invites visitors to witness Slawn at work, blurring the line between studio and gallery, and offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at his practice.

ROB ZOMBIE Art Exhibition 'What Lurks On Channel X?' To Open In Kent, Connecticut

Morrison Gallery in Kent, Connecticut, will host 'What Lurks On Channel X?', the first-ever gallery exhibition of musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie's paintings, from October 25 to November 16, 2025. The show features over ten large-scale works on canvas that blend pop culture icons—from Bela Lugosi and Charles Manson to Archie Comics characters and classic comedians—reflecting Zombie's childhood immersion in television.

In Minor Keys: The 61st Biennale di Arte Venezia Opens Under Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025).

The 61st Biennale di Arte Venezia opens under the posthumous curatorial vision of Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025), the late Cameroonian-born curator who reshaped contemporary African and diasporic art discourse. The central exhibition, spanning the Giardini and Arsenale, features 111 participants including artists, collectives, and artist-led organizations from across the Global South, with works in textiles, film, sculpture, and performance that interrogate colonialism, migration, and ecological repair. The Biennale is also marked by a pronounced presence of African and diasporic narratives across national pavilions, including several first-time pavilions from the African continent.

CalArts President Booed During Commencement Speech

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) President Ravi S. Rajan was loudly booed by students during the school's commencement ceremony on May 15, as they held signs reading “Hold the Admin Accountable” and “Save Our Faculty & Staff.” The protest stemmed from ongoing financial turmoil at the esteemed art school, including a multi-million-dollar budget deficit, significant staff and faculty layoffs, and a decline in enrollment from 1,500 to roughly 1,200. Despite Rajan's attempts to redirect focus to the graduates, the booing persisted, and board chair Charmaine Jefferson unsuccessfully appealed for calm. The incident follows a broader crisis at CalArts, where over 75% of staff sought to unionize in 2024, and faculty held a “Chop from the Top” rally in March against proposed $5 million in cuts.

scientists recreate egyptian blue pigment

A team of researchers has successfully recreated Egyptian blue, the world's oldest synthetic pigment, which was used by ancient Egyptians from as early as 3100 B.C.E. The study, published in NPJ Heritage Science, was led by John S. McCloy of Washington State University and Edward P. Vicenzi of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum Conservation Institute, in collaboration with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The researchers experimented with various minerals, heating them in ovens at around 1,000 degrees Celsius for up to 11 hours, and used modern microscopy and analysis techniques to compare their results with ancient artifacts from the Carnegie Museum's collection.

asian art market

The Chinese art market experienced a 31% year-on-year decline in sales to $8.4 billion in 2024, its lowest level since 2009, according to the latest Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report. The downturn is attributed to slower economic growth, a property market slump, and broader economic uncertainties. However, other Asia Pacific markets showed resilience: Japan saw a 2% increase in sales, Australia's dealer market grew 11%, and China remains the second-largest auction market for postwar and contemporary art. Dealer sentiment is improving, with half expecting stronger sales in 2025.

orlebar brown summer collection hamptons

Orlebar Brown and CULTURED magazine hosted a launch event in the Hamptons for the British brand's summer collection, held at Il Buco's Amagansett outpost. Guests included photographers, gallerists, a collector, an investor, a designer, and an artist, who mingled over drinks despite rainy weather.

Collaborative art exhibition at Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design explores the weight and wonder of ordinary things

A new collaborative exhibition titled *Tension & Tenderness: The Domestic Surreal* has opened at Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show unites artists Michael Pfleghaar and Lisa Walcott, who explore the hidden forces within everyday domestic life. Pfleghaar’s paintings blend queer-coded interiors and still-life scenes with abstract elements, while Walcott’s kinetic sculptures repurpose household objects like brooms and drying racks to evoke gravity, breathing, and tension. The exhibition is curated by KCAD Exhibitions Director Michele Bosak and runs through November 15 in the KCAD FLEXgallery.

Glimpse the Fantastical Animated World of ‘Wildwood’

A feature-length animated film adaptation of the young adult novel *Wildwood* is in production at LAIKA Studios, directed by Travis Knight. The story follows a girl named Prue who ventures into a magical forest called the Impassable Wilderness after her baby brother is carried off by crows, accompanied by her classmate Curtis. The film is based on an original story by Colin Meloy, illustrated by Carson Ellis, and features a voice cast including Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett. A behind-the-scenes featurette highlights LAIKA's blend of hand-built puppets, sets, and CGI, with particular attention to animating the bird characters of the Avian Principality. The trailer is released, and the film is scheduled for release on October 23.

8 Must-Visit Art Galleries in Pune: A Creative Trail Through the City

The Bridge Chronicle published a guide to eight art galleries in Pune, India, highlighting venues such as Monalisa Kalagram, Darpan Art Gallery, Vida Heydari Contemporary (VHC), Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery, Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Cartoonist Art Gallery, Vesavar Art Gallery, Friday Art House, and Art2Day. Each gallery is described with its location, unique vibe, and reasons to visit, ranging from contemporary and conceptual spaces to those dedicated to traditional Indian art and political cartooning.

At the 2026 Met Gala, 'Fashion is Art.' Here's what to expect

The 2026 Met Gala will take place on the first Monday in May at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, supporting the Costume Institute. The spring exhibition is titled "Costume Art" and will be the first to occupy the new Condé M. Nast Galleries. The dress code is "Fashion is Art," inviting guests to explore fashion as an embodied art form. Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs. The event will be livestreamed by Vogue, hosted by Ashley Graham, La La Anthony, Cara Delevingne, and Emma Chamberlain.

Met Gala 2026 – Everything to know about fashion's biggest night

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2026 Met Gala will take place on May 4, themed "Costume Art" to highlight fashion as a central artistic discipline. Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with a host committee featuring Anthony Vaccarello, Zoë Kravitz, and other celebrities. The event coincides with the opening of the new Condé M. Nast Galleries and the spring exhibition "Costume Art," which pairs historic garments with artworks spanning 5,000 years. The dress code is "fashion is art," and the red carpet will be livestreamed by Vogue.

Satellite Galleries with Gravitas

The Gallery at Hotel Willa and the Encore Gallery at the Taos Center for the Arts have emerged as vital "satellite" exhibition spaces in Taos, New Mexico. Managed by the nonprofit Paseo Project under Executive Director Matt Thomas, the Gallery at Hotel Willa has transformed 2,000 square feet of hospitality space into a hub for local talent, featuring high-profile fashion installations by Josh Tafoya and upcoming ecological exhibitions like "Disturbance." Meanwhile, the Encore Gallery leverages the high foot traffic of the Taos Center for the Arts to provide local artists with significant community exposure alongside film and theatrical programming.

Harmless Art: Kim Sang-yu Exhibition Becomes Healing Space

A retrospective exhibition for the late Korean artist Kim Sang-yu, titled 'A Person Who Does Not Easily Fade,' is being held at the Seoul Museum of Art to mark the centennial of his birth. The show, featuring over 150 works, has become a popular destination for meditation and healing, with visitors describing the serene paintings as comforting and harmless.

Met Gala theme is Costume Art, celebrating fashion as fine art

The 2026 Met Gala, held on May 4, 2026, is co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. The theme, "Costume Art," celebrates fashion as an embodied art form, with guests interpreting the dress code "Fashion is Art" through sculptural, architectural silhouettes. The accompanying exhibition, also titled "Costume Art," opens at The Met Fifth Avenue on May 10, 2026, and runs through January 10, 2027, pairing garments with artworks from the museum's collection to highlight the connection between fashion and fine art.

Here's when the 2026 Met Gala red carpet arrivals start and end

The 2026 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 4, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, with red carpet arrivals officially beginning at 5:30 p.m. and continuing for several hours as celebrities trickle in. The event raises funds for the museum's Costume Institute and celebrates the new spring exhibition "Costume Art," with a dress code of "Fashion is Art." Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with a host committee chaired by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz, and the event is made possible by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos.

Beyoncé, Bezos, baubles and bustiers: What to know about the 2026 Met Gala

The 2026 Met Gala, scheduled for May 4, will serve as the fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, with a theme inspired by the new exhibition "Costume Art." The event is co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with lead sponsorship from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and will inaugurate the museum's new Conde M. Nast Galleries.

Exhibition coming this month will showcase work of Hampshire artist

An exhibition showcasing the work of Basingstoke-based artist Sam Sopwith will open on October 8 at the Osborne Studio Gallery in Belgravia, London. The show features 45 new pieces by the painter and sculptor, who specializes in portraying wild and domesticated animals. It marks Sopwith's first solo exhibition in six years and her debut at the gallery. Her clients include HRH Princess Alexandra and perfumer Jo Malone. Sopwith works in oils, pastels, charcoal, and bronze, drawing inspiration from her travels to Africa, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. She studied in Vancouver, trained under animal portraitist Neil Forster in England, and completed her education in Florence.

Man Can’t Tell if Friend’s Art Show Surrealist or Bad

Local man Brian Jacobs attends a friend's high-profile surrealist art show in New York but cannot determine whether the works are genuinely surrealist or simply poorly executed. He describes a painting of a five-eyed fisherman holding a melting bowling ball as looking like it was painted by a first grader. The artist, Gavin McCloud, interprets Jacobs's bewildered reactions as impressed awe and plans to gift him the melting bowling ball painting. Gallery owner Christine Morgan admits she sometimes hosts derivative work from donors' children in exchange for large checks, and advises artists to claim ambiguity as the real art if questioned.

Biennale, rules announced for Visitor's Lion. But dozens of artists withdraw

The Venice Biennale has announced the voting rules for the new Visitors' Lion awards, which replace the traditional Golden Lions after the original jury resigned before the opening. On the same day the popular voting opened, dozens of artists from the central exhibition 'In Minor Keys' and several National Pavilions announced their withdrawal from the competition in solidarity with the resigned jury, releasing a statement via e-flux on May 9, 2026. The voting system requires visitors to have attended both the Giardini and Arsenale venues, with anonymous voting open until November 22, 2026.

Exhibition of engravings and lithographs based on Raphael's work held in Vitebsk

A unique exhibition of engravings and lithographs based on the works of Renaissance master Raphael Santi has opened at the Vitebsk Art Museum, a branch of the Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local Lore in Belarus. The show features 92 works, including 30 engravings from the 1774 copper-plate series illustrating Apuleius's novel "Cupid and Psyche" (originally created 1530-1560), 52 toned lithographs of Raphael's Vatican Loggias frescoes executed in 1866 by Ludwig Gruner and Niccola Consoni, and a series of engravings from drawings of the Chigi Chapel dome. This marks the first time the complete set of 52 lithographs has been displayed together.

India Modern Art Boom Spreads Through Spring Auctions

The Indian modern art market has reached a significant milestone as a 19th-century oil painting by Raja Ravi Varma sold for nearly $18 million at auction. The sale of 'Yashoda and Krishna' reportedly involved high-profile Indian tycoons from the pharmaceutical and consumer industries acting as both buyers and sellers, signaling a robust domestic appetite for blue-chip Indian masterpieces.

A unique chance to immerse yourself in the world of engravings at Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery

Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery is hosting "A Simple Line," a specialized exhibition dedicated to the history and craft of engraving. The show features a prestigious selection of works ranging from 17th-century Dutch masters like Gerard Douw to 18th-century Italian printmaker Giovanni Battista Piranesi and the celebrated English landscape painter J.M.W. Turner. Visitors can view rare pieces such as Turner’s mezzotint of Dunstanburgh Castle and architectural etchings of Pompeii, alongside a concurrent "Festival of Arts" showcasing local regional talent.