The Metropolitan Museum of Art Presents First Museum Survey of Lorna Simpson’s Paintings

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened "Lorna Simpson: Source Notes," the first museum survey dedicated to Lorna Simpson's painting practice. Running from May 19 to November 2, 2025, at The Met Fifth Avenue, the exhibition features over 30 works spanning a decade, from her first painting to her latest series, alongside related works in other media. Simpson, known for her conceptual photography since the 1990s, explores identity and representation through screen-printed collages that incorporate vintage imagery from Ebony, Jet, and archival sources. The exhibition is supported by the Ford Foundation, Hauser & Wirth, and other donors.

Tentatively, Photo London's tenth edition moves away from traditional content and crowds

Photo London's tenth edition, under new director Sophie Parker, opened at Somerset House with a deliberate shift away from its traditional focus on established male photographers and celebrity subjects like Kate Moss. The fair eliminated its 'Master of Photography' award and revived the Positions section for unrepresented artists, featuring Palestinian-American Adam Rouhana and British Indian photographer Kavi Pujara. While the main pavilion still showcased familiar names like Sebastião Salgado, newer galleries reported strong early sales, including a £10,000–£15,000 portrait by Chou Ching Hui sold to a Norwegian museum via Taipei's Chini Gallery, and multiple sales at Amsterdam's Hungry Eye Gallery and Paris's Galerie XII.

Sotheby’s Closes Marquee Week With $186.1M in Contemporary Sales

Sotheby’s closed its May marquee auction week with $186.1 million in combined contemporary sales across three sessions on May 16. The evening began with a white-glove sale of 12 works from Barbara Gladstone’s personal collection, fetching $18.8 million, followed by a $40.4 million sale from Daniella Luxembourg’s collection, which signaled revived appetite for Italian postwar art. The main Contemporary Evening Auction saw strong bidding for emerging artists like Danielle Mckinney and Mohammed Sami, though some high-profile lots like Richard Prince’s Man Crazy Nurse fell short of estimates.

Why dealers play the waiting game before exhibiting a newly signed artist

David Zwirner Gallery is opening a new 18,000 sq. ft flagship in New York with a solo exhibition by Michael Armitage, his first at a Zwirner location since signing in March 2022. The three-year gap was intentional, aligning with the gallery's expansion and Armitage's other projects. Other dealers like Gladstone Gallery and Mrs. also vary their timelines, sometimes showing artists before officially signing them, as seen with Brook Hsu at Gladstone and Alexandra Barth, Nevena Prijic, and Precious Okoyomon at Mrs.

Korea’s first privately owned Van Gogh unveiled at newly opened museum

Hong Gyu Shin, a New York-based gallery owner originally from Ulsan, South Korea, became the first named Korean to purchase a Van Gogh when he acquired *Head of a Peasant* (January-March 1885) at Sotheby’s in May 2024 for $787,000—well below its estimate. The painting has now gone on display at the newly opened KAIST Art Museum (KAM) in Daejeon, South Korea, as part of Shin's exhibition *The Vault of Masterpieces* (until 30 August). The show features 49 works from his personal collection, including a recreation of his New York apartment, and marks the first time a Van Gogh has been exhibited on loan from a Korean collector.

The Art Market Defies Doom and Gloom With Independent, Esther and Future Fair in Full Swing

New York City is hosting an unprecedented concentration of art fairs this week, with over nine fairs running simultaneously, including Independent, Esther, and Future Fair. Independent, held at Spring Place in Tribeca, opened on May 8 and is positioning itself as a boutique, hyper-curated alternative to mega-fairs like Frieze, featuring mostly solo presentations. Early sales were reported by several galleries: Europa sold works by Suyi Xu ($9,000–$20,000), Long Story Short sold six works by Keita Morimoto (up to $26,000), Charles Moffett nearly sold out his booth of Julia Jo ($10,000–$45,000), The Approach sold four works by John Maclean ($13,500 or less), and Copperfield presented works by Ada Patterson ($8,000–$23,000).

New documentary bringing Metro Pictures gallery to the screen

A new feature documentary, *Pictures of Pictures: The Metro Years*, is being made about the influential New York gallery Metro Pictures. Founded in 1980 by Janelle Reiring and Helene Winer, the gallery represented key artists of the Pictures Generation, including Cindy Sherman, Robert Longo, Louise Lawler, and Walter Robinson. The film, directed by Sophie Chahinian, explores the gallery's four-decade run, its founding principles of integrity and curatorial care over profit, and the personal stories of its artists and founders.

On the Met Gala’s Cy Gavin-designed blue carpet, art was front and centre

The 2025 Met Gala, held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, raised a record $31 million while celebrating the opening of the Costume Institute's new exhibition, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" (May 10-October 26). The event's dress code, "Tailored for You," inspired attendees to embrace Black-dandy fashion, with guests including Rihanna, Cynthia Erivo, Stevie Wonder, and Kamala Harris. The exhibition, curated by Andrew Bolton and Monica L. Miller, explores the evolution of Black style in the Atlantic diaspora from the 18th century to today, drawing on Miller's 2009 book "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity." It is the Costume Institute's first show to directly address race's impact on style and the Met's first menswear exhibition in over 20 years.

Keeping it in the family: never-before-seen Picasso works to go on show in New York with help from artist's descendants

Two exhibitions dedicated to Pablo Picasso will open this spring on New York's Upper East Side, both organized in collaboration with the artist's descendants and featuring works never before displayed publicly. 'Picasso: Tête-à-tête' at Gagosian (through July 3) is presented with Paloma Picasso, the artist's daughter, and includes 12 never-before-seen works from her personal collection. Two blocks north, 'Pablo Picasso: Still Life' at Almine Rech (through July 18) is organized by dealer Almine Rech and her husband Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, a grandson of the artist, with over 60% of works never exhibited before. The Gagosian show will be the gallery's last at its 980 Madison Avenue space before moving out for Bloomberg Philanthropies.

MoMA acquires works featured in monumental Adam Pendleton installation

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has acquired the 35 individual paintings, drawings, and video works that comprised Adam Pendleton's monumental installation *Who Is Queen?* (2019-21), which was on view in the museum's atrium from 2021 to 2022. The installation explored Pendleton's conceptual framework of "Black Dada," a term he first outlined in his *Black Dada Manifesto* (2008), and included works such as *Notes on the Robert E. Lee Monument, Richmond VA (Figure)* (2021), a film reflecting on the 2020 racial justice protests. The acquisition marks a significant institutional commitment to Pendleton's practice, which continues to evolve in his current exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC.

8 Must-See Solo Gallery Shows in May

Galerie magazine has curated a list of eight must-see solo gallery shows across the United States for May, spanning from New York to Miami and Los Angeles. Featured artists include Takako Yamaguchi at Ortuzar in New York, Enzo Cucchi at Vito Schnabel Gallery, Iván Argote at Perrotin, and Kang Seung Lee, among others, with exhibitions showcasing a range of styles from hybrid transnational paintings to Neo-expressionist works and conceptual installations.

Stockholm’s 10 Contemporary Art Galleries You Should Visit

Rebecca Steel's article for Google News highlights ten contemporary art galleries in Stockholm, Sweden, that are essential for visitors interested in the local and international art scene. Featured spaces include Wetterling Gallery, which has championed Swedish and international artists since 1978; Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art, housed in a 1930s warehouse and known for its ambitious shows and private collection; Fotografiska, a premier photography museum in an Art Nouveau building; and Bonniers Konsthall, named after the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, which presents themed group and solo shows. The list also includes artist-run initiatives and galleries specializing in photography, all promoting Swedish talent alongside global artists.

7 Artists Who Capture the Essence of Black Dandyism

The article highlights seven contemporary artists whose work embodies Black dandyism, timed to the 2025 Met Gala theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' and the corresponding exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. It traces the history of Black dandyism from its 18th-century European roots through its evolution during slavery and the 20th century, emphasizing its role as a defiant, empowering form of self-expression that challenges gender norms and racial stereotypes. Featured artists include Barkley L. Hendricks, Derek Fordjour, and Tyler Mitchell, among others.

Two legacy galleries open in a Berlin gas station

International gallery Pace has partnered with Galerie Judin to open a new arts hub in a converted 1950s gas station in Berlin's Schöneberg neighborhood. The venue, called Die Tankstelle, features exhibition spaces for both galleries, a café, and a Die ZEIT-branded bookshop. The inaugural exhibition, 'Reverse Alchemy,' runs from May 2 to June 14, 2025, and brings together works on paper by Jean Dubuffet, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Robert Nava. The gas station, originally built in 1954 and abandoned in 1986, was purchased by Juerg Judin in 2007 and renovated by Thomas Brakel and bfs design, with landscape architect Guido Hager adding a garden. It previously housed Das Kleine Grosz Museum from 2022 to 2024.

New York’s Rachel Uffner Gallery brings on new partner and rebrands

New York's Rachel Uffner Gallery, founded in 2008, has appointed director Lucy Liu as its first business partner, prompting a rebrand to Uffner & Liu. Liu, 25, joined the gallery as a sales assistant in 2023 and was promoted to director in 2024. The partnership aims to expand the gallery's international presence, particularly in Asia, and to introduce more artists from the Asian American Pacific Islander community into its programming.

As Kazakhstan cautiously strengthens ties with western Europe, new art venues herald a change of direction

Two wealthy Kazakh entrepreneurs, Kairat Boranbayev and Nurlan Smagulov, are opening private art institutions in Almaty this year: the Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture and the Almaty Museum of Arts. The Tselinny Center, designed by British architect Asif Khan, will open in September in a repurposed Soviet-era cinema, while the Almaty Museum of Arts, a 10,000 sq. m building by Chapman Taylor, aims to open the same month. These developments come as Kazakhstan cautiously strengthens ties with western Europe to reduce dependence on Russia, following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and positions itself as an energy supplier to Europe and a logistical hub for China's Belt and Road Initiative.

British artist Thomas J Price brings a contemplative colossus to Times Square

British artist Thomas J Price has installed a 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture titled *Grounded in the Stars* (2023) in New York’s Times Square, on view until 17 June. The work depicts a fictionalized woman in a contemplative contrapposto pose, finished in matte black, and is placed at street level rather than on a pedestal. Concurrently, Price’s *Man Series* (2005–present) will be shown on the square’s 95 giant screens every night in May as part of Times Square Arts’ *Midnight Moments* series. The sculpture was previously featured in Price’s 2023 solo exhibition at Hauser & Wirth’s Downtown Los Angeles location, and his New York gallery show *Resilience of Scale* runs until 14 June.

6 Under-the-Radar Art Shows to See in New York Right Now—and 3 to Look Forward To

The article highlights six under-the-radar art shows currently on view in New York, including Lotus L. Kang's solo presentation "Already" at 52 Walker, featuring light-sensitive film installations and greenhouses; Silät, a collective of Indigenous Wichí weavers from Argentina, showing at James Cohan; and a major solo exhibition of pioneering Korean artist Kim Yun Shin at Lehmann Maupin. It also previews three upcoming shows to look forward to, as the city prepares for a burst of art fairs next month.

Comment | Perhaps artists do have only ‘ten good years’—but they can happen at any time in their career

The article reflects on the idea that artists may have only 'ten good years' of peak creativity, prompted by a visit to the exhibition "Anselm Kiefer: Early Works" at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The author contrasts the young Kiefer's deft, emotionally intimate works from 1969–1982 with his later, more grandiose output, arguing that Kiefer's early period surpasses anything he has achieved since. The piece also revisits critic Douglas Cooper's harsh dismissal of late Picasso and former Tate director Alan Bowness's theory of artistic prime.

Observer’s 2025 May Art Fair Calendar (Updated)

Observer has published its updated 2025 May Art Fair Calendar, highlighting a packed schedule of art fairs in New York and around the world. Key fairs include CONDUCTOR 2026 (April 29–May 3), a Brooklyn-based fair focused on artists of the global majority; the Aotearoa Art Fair 2026 (April 30–May 3) in New Zealand; the Clio Art Fair 2026 (May 7–10 and 14–17), known as an "anti-fair" for unrepresented artists; and PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai 2026 (May 7–10), a leading platform for contemporary photography in China. The article notes that May is one of the busiest months in the spring art calendar, with many fairs concentrated in New York City during "Frieze Week."

When—and why—did Van Gogh paint a pair of crabs?

An article explores the story behind Vincent van Gogh's still life "Two Crabs," revealing that the two crabs are likely the same individual—a female Cancer pagurus missing its first pair of walking legs. Paul Clark, a crustacean specialist at London's Natural History Museum, confirmed the sex based on the broad abdomen visible in the painting. The work is on long-term loan to London's National Gallery, where it was recently redisplayed as part of the gallery's major rehang ahead of the Sainsbury Wing reopening on May 10. The article also traces the painting's provenance: it was the first Van Gogh bought by a British collector, William Cherry Robinson, in 1893 for 200 guilders, later sold at auction in 1906 for half that amount, and eventually resold at Sotheby's in 2004 for £5.2 million to an anonymous collector who lent it to the National Gallery.

Chicago's Intuit Art Museum set to unveil $10m renovation

Chicago's Intuit Art Museum has completed a two-year, $10 million renovation that triples its footprint and adds a lower level featuring the Henry Darger Room, a permanent installation recreating the artist's apartment. The museum will preview publicly on April 25 during Expo Chicago and officially reopen on May 23. The renovation, led by president and CEO Debra Kerr and local architecture firm Doyle & Associates, balances improved accessibility and natural light with preservation of the building's historic character. The inaugural exhibition, "Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-taught Art in Chicago" (May 23–January 11, 2026), features 75 works by 22 artists exploring migrant and immigrant contributions to outsider art from the 1930s to today.

Antonia Ruder On the Role of Gallery Weekend Berlin in a Changing Art Market

Gallery Weekend Berlin returns for its 21st edition from May 2-4, 2025, featuring fifty-two galleries showcasing established and emerging artists. Antonia Ruder, who joined the event in 2023 and is now preparing her second full edition as director, discusses the festival's origins as a private initiative by five art dealers in 2005, its growth to become a global art calendar highlight, and its role as a premier platform for contemporary art in Germany in the absence of an international art fair in Berlin.

TOP CHARITY Art Exhibition

The Museum of King Jan III in Wilanów, Warsaw, is hosting the TOP CHARITY Art exhibition from April 24 to June 24, 2025, featuring works from the OmenaArt Foundation’s African art collection. Acclaimed Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama served as guest of honour at the opening, and his jute sack piece NANDANBIA (2019) is on display. The exhibition includes a sculpture park curated by Isabel de Vasconcellos and Natalia Bradbury in partnership with Opera Gallery, showcasing artists such as Niki de Saint Phalle, Manolo Valdes, and Amedeo Modigliani. Works from the exhibition will be auctioned in the TOP CHARITY Auction on June 7, alongside a silent auction for emerging artists.

Kingston’s Art Renaissance Continues: 68 Prince Street Gallery Opens with Francine Tint’s “Symbolic of the Whole”

A new contemporary art gallery, 68 Prince Street Gallery, has opened in Midtown Kingston, New York, in a former dry cleaners space transformed over six years by artists Paula and David Kucera. The inaugural exhibition, “Symbolic of the Whole,” features paintings and sculptures by New York artist Francine Tint, a former costume designer for David Bowie and Ridley Scott who turned to abstraction in the 1970s. Curated by Alan Goolman, the show highlights Tint’s rarely seen bronze sculptures alongside her canvases, while a front room dedicated to artist books and prints is overseen by book artist Maureen Cummins.

Regional strength helps insulate Art Dubai from tariff-related turbulence

Art Dubai, running until 20 April, opened as the first major art fair since US President Trump announced global tariffs that nearly triggered a financial crisis. Sales were solid, with most works priced in the low six figures or thousands, insulating the fair from market anxieties. A divide emerged between regional SWANA galleries—which presented the strongest booths—and international galleries from the US, Europe, and Latin America, which seemed uncertain about what to bring. Notable sales included works by Rana Begum, Mehdi Ghadyanloo, Ali Cherri, and Shaikha Al Mazrou, while galleries like Sfeir-Semler, Vigo Gallery, and Experimenter reported strong results.

Artist interview

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Arielle and the Politics of Beautiful Things

Arielle und die Politik der schönen Dinge

Josefine Reisch presents new works at Noah Klink gallery during Berlin Gallery Weekend. Her paintings combine mermaids, shipping containers, and Euroboxes to explore themes of standardization, global capitalism, and the politics of beauty. The exhibition, titled "Poxy Proxy," is a duo show with Miriam Umiń. Reisch's studio visit reveals her interest in how objects like Eurokisten (standardized plastic crates) and shipping containers symbolize economic progress and power structures, while mermaid imagery from Disney's "Arielle" questions the equation of beautiful things with moral goodness.

‘Emergent Figures’ Carves Space for Thai Artists in a Global Canon

Frieze published a critic's guide titled 'Emergent Figures' Carves Space for Thai Artists in a Global Canon, which highlights a group exhibition featuring Thai artists at a venue in Brussels during Art Brussels. The show aims to present Thai contemporary art within a broader international context, moving beyond regional stereotypes. The article is part of a larger guide that also includes recommendations for other must-see shows during the fair, such as Richard Tuttle at Galerie Greta Meert and Lutz Bacher at WIELS.

Work in Progress: Nohemí Pérez

The article is a critic's guide highlighting seven must-see exhibitions during Art Brussels, including Richard Tuttle's assemblages at Galerie Greta Meert and an expansive show of Lutz Bacher at WIELS. Written by Emile Rubino, the piece serves as a curated selection for visitors navigating the Brussels art scene during the fair.