Must-See Events and Exhibits at Scottsdale Arts

Scottsdale Arts has unveiled a diverse spring lineup of programming across its various venues, featuring a mix of milestone celebrations, contemporary exhibitions, and community events. Highlights include the 50th-anniversary ARTrageous Gala on April 11, the opening of Nancy Kravetz’s solo exhibition, and the 20th anniversary of Cycle the Arts, a citywide public art bicycle tour. The schedule also integrates performing arts with appearances by Americana musicians Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and a showcase of Arizona-based choreographers.

Still We Rise: Art Behind the Walls Exhibit at Fort Frederik Museum

The Fort Frederik Museum in St. Croix has unveiled "Still We Rise: Art Behind the Walls," an exhibition showcasing original works created by incarcerated individuals at the John A. Bell Correctional Facility. The collection features a variety of media, most notably locally sourced calabash gourds that have been transformed into intricate cultural vessels. Developed through a volunteer-led art and literacy program, the show highlights the personal narratives and creative growth of participants who used the project as a vehicle for self-reflection.

Photos: Somersfield Host Visual Arts Exhibition

Somersfield Academy recently hosted its DP2 Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition at the Rock Island Café, showcasing the final portfolios of students Nico Bean, Hayden Smith, and Excell Jordan. The event marked the conclusion of a two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) creative journey, featuring a diverse range of works including acrylic pour paintings, marine-inspired dot paintings, and detailed anatomical illustrations of dinosaurs.

In Paris, this exhibition invites you to engage in a dialogue with paintings.

Artist Aurore Guez is transforming the Wilde Galerie in Paris into an immersive, imaginary café for a two-day exhibition titled "LE CAFÉ" on April 25 and 26, 2026. The installation features interactive paintings and talking portraits of figures such as Kalash and Lujipeka, where visitors can trigger recorded dialogue to converse with the artworks. The 80-square-meter space will utilize warped scenography and actors playing waiters to blur the lines between traditional painting, performance art, and stage design.

In Paris, this exhibition invites you to engage in a dialogue with paintings.

Artist Aurore Guez is transforming the Wilde Galerie in Paris into an immersive, imaginary café for a two-day exhibition titled "LE CAFÉ" on April 25 and 26, 2026. The installation features interactive paintings and talking portraits of figures such as Kalash and Lujipeka, where visitors can trigger recorded dialogue to converse with the artworks. The 80-square-meter space will be populated by actors playing waiters, creating a surreal environment where the boundaries between stage set, performance, and traditional painting are intentionally blurred.

Six Nations, Six Languages of Resilience, at Ucross Art Gallery

The Ucross Art Gallery has launched "Resilience," a group exhibition showcasing the work of the 2025 Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists recipients. Curated by Marwin Begaye, the show features a diverse array of disciplines including sculpture by Gina Herrera, literature by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, mixed-media by Wade Patton, and performance art by Sarah Ortegon HighWalking. The collection explores the intersection of cultural identity, heritage, and the enduring strength of Indigenous communities across the United States.

Art exhibitions in Chiang Mai this April

Chiang Mai’s art scene is hosting a diverse range of exhibitions this April, anchored by a major retrospective of Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook at the MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum. The survey, curated by Kittima Chareeprasit and Roger Nelson, spans four decades of the artist's provocative video and installation works. Other highlights include Myrtille Tibayrenc’s installation of 108 Buddha paintings at the Museum of Something (MOS), Chatchai Notananda’s process-oriented solo show at Haan Studio, and Houda Bakkali’s digital compositions at Alliance Française.

UNT dean said fears of political repercussions led to removal of art exhibit, leaked transcripts show

Leaked transcripts from the University of North Texas (UNT) reveal that Dean Karen Hutzel attributed the abrupt cancellation of artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez’s exhibition to fears of political retaliation. The show, titled “Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá,” was shuttered shortly after opening at the CVAD Gallery without an initial public explanation. The transcripts indicate that administrators feared the provocative nature of the work—specifically pieces addressing incarceration and deportation—could lead Texas Republican lawmakers to slash university funding or eliminate programs, following a pattern of ideological clashes at other state institutions.

UAE pavilion announces Venice Biennale exhibition inspired by Arabic word for whispering

The National Pavilion UAE has unveiled details for its exhibition at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "Washwasha." Curated by Bana Kattan with assistant curator Tala Nassar, the show features six artists—Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Alaa Edris, Lamya Gargash, and Taus Makhacheva—whose works explore contemporary soundscapes, memory, and transformation in the UAE. The exhibition will be housed in a pavilion designed by Buro Koray Duman Architects, featuring a series of chambers that transition from intimate listening spaces to areas of sonic overlap.

New Exhibit Explores Connection Of Good Medicine And Art

Dr. Jayasimha “Jay” Murthy, a Houston-based pulmonologist, has opened a solo exhibition titled "World: Photographs" at the Houston Museum of African American Culture. The show features a collection of high-clarity digital landscapes captured across the globe, including a signature shot of a Fofoti tree in Aruba. Murthy, who pivoted from watercolor to digital photography to balance his medical career, draws a direct parallel between the precision of electron microscopy used in lung research and the composition of his artistic photography.

German Provocateur Artist Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison in Russia After Mocking Putin

German carnival float artist Jacques Tilly has been sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in a Russian prison. A Moscow court convicted him on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military and insulting religious feelings due to his satirical floats depicting President Vladimir Putin, including one showing Putin in a blood-filled bathtub painted like the Ukrainian flag.

Footballer Erling Haaland Gifts Rare Viking Saga Manuscript to Hometown Library

Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland, along with his father Alf-Inge Haaland, purchased a rare 1594 manuscript containing Viking sagas for a record 1.3 million Norwegian crowns and donated it to his hometown. The manuscript, a first printed edition of Snorri Sturluson's chronicles translated by Mattis Størssøn, must be permanently displayed and made publicly accessible at the Bryne library in the Time municipality.

Unesco grants enhanced protection to 39 Lebanese heritage sites as war escalates

UNESCO has granted enhanced protection to 39 cultural heritage sites in Lebanon during an extraordinary session of its Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property. This designation, which prohibits targeting or military use of the sites, also unlocks over $100,000 in emergency funding for on-the-ground operations. The protected sites include the ancient Bekka Temple, the Lebanese National Library, and Barsbay Tower.

‘We are trying to preserve the memory of our people’: archaeologists create map tracking damage to Iran heritage sites

Iranian archaeologists Sepideh Maziar and Mehrnoush Soroush have launched an interactive online map to document and geolocate cultural heritage sites in Iran damaged by military strikes. The map, hosted by the University of Chicago's CAMEL Lab, currently lists 69 verified sites, including the historic Sa'dabad Palace complex in Tehran, and is updated as new information becomes available.

Can Tefaf Maastricht Keep Up with the Experience Economy?

Can Tefaf Maastricht keep up with the experience economy?

The 39th Tefaf Maastricht fair opened, showcasing high-quality pre-20th century art and antiques, from Monet paintings to a 1st-century Egyptian vase. However, the fair faces an existential question about the relevance of older art in a market where Old Masters specialists are declining and contemporary art sales are volatile.

Navajo Nation: the fight for cultural survival – photo essay

The Navajo Nation is currently navigating a complex struggle to preserve its cultural heritage against the lingering effects of colonial-era boarding schools and the modern pressures of social media and urbanization. While elders like Virginia Brown recount the trauma of forced assimilation and language suppression, a new generation is grappling with a decline in Navajo fluency, which UNESCO now classifies as a vulnerable language. Despite these hurdles, community members are utilizing local schools and traditional practices to reclaim their identity.

From car parks to piers: the 2026 Australian Urban Design awards celebrate utilitarian architecture

The 2026 Australian Urban Design Awards have been announced, celebrating projects that prioritize pragmatic, community-focused design over sculptural spectacle. Winners include the Campbelltown station commuter car park in Sydney, praised for its civic dignity and greenery; the St Kilda pier redevelopment in Melbourne, which balances engineering with tourism and penguin habitat protection; and Balam Balam Place in Brunswick, a cultural landscape honoring Indigenous history.

University challenges: how students changed one Ohio town – in pictures

Photographer Rich-Joseph Facun documents life in Athens, Ohio, in his project '1804,' focusing on the profound influence of Ohio University on the town. His images and interviews capture the socioeconomic and cultural dynamics, including strained housing markets, a nightlife economy driven by students, and the town's identity as a "company town" shaped by the university's calendar and employment.

Her Museum Was Surviving in Russia. Then the Threats Became Too Much.

Nailya Allakhverdiyeva, the longtime director of the PERMM Museum of Contemporary Art in Perm, Russia, has fled the country following escalating intimidation and a raid by security forces. Despite her efforts to maintain the institution's integrity through strategic compromises and "Aesopian language" to navigate tightening censorship, the pressure became untenable after she was interrogated and her home was searched by the F.S.B. in connection with activist Pyotr Verzilov.

AFFECTIVE CARTOGRAPHIES AND ARCHITECTURES BY SOFIA SALAZAR AT C3A

Ecuadorian artist Sofía Salazar Rosales has debuted a site-specific solo exhibition titled "Travesías de una lágrima" at the Centro de Creación Contemporánea de Andalucía (C3A) in Córdoba, Spain. The installation-heavy showcase utilizes sculpture and architecture to explore themes of migration, memory, and colonial legacies. Through materials like wax, charcoal, and iron grilles, Salazar Rosales transforms the gallery into a performative space where visitors navigate physical representations of borders, displacement, and the historical weight of territory.

AFFECTIVE CARTOGRAPHIES AND ARCHITECTURES BY SOFIA SALAZAR AT C3A

Ecuadorian artist Sofía Salazar Rosales has debuted a site-specific solo exhibition titled "Travesías de una lágrima" at the Centro de Creación Contemporánea de Andalucía (C3A) in Córdoba, Spain. The installation-heavy showcase utilizes sculpture and architecture to explore themes of migration, memory, and colonial legacies. Through materials like wax, charcoal, and iron grilles, Salazar Rosales creates a physical itinerary that invites visitors to navigate the complex emotional and political landscapes of displacement and territory.

Paris Internationale in Milan

Paris Internationale à Milan

Paris Internationale has announced its first-ever edition outside of France, scheduled to take place in Milan from April 18 to 21, 2026. Hosted at the Palazzo Galbani during Milano Art Week, the satellite fair will feature 34 galleries, including notable participants such as Jocelyn Wolff, Kaufmann Repetto, Luisa Delle Piane, and Sylvia Kouvali.

An Evening in Paris: The Birmingham Museum of Art’s 69th Annual Museum Ball

The Birmingham Museum of Art hosted its 69th annual Museum Ball, themed "An Evening in Paris," to celebrate the institution's enduring presence in the Alabama cultural landscape. The black-tie gala featured French-inspired decor, fine dining, and live entertainment, drawing a significant crowd of local patrons and civic leaders.

Hungarian Modernity: the exhibition that sheds light on an overlooked painter at the Petit Palais, our photos

The Petit Palais in Paris is hosting the first French retrospective dedicated to Károly Ferenczy, a seminal figure in Hungarian art history. Running from April 14 to September 6, 2026, the exhibition features nearly 140 paintings and drawings, many on loan from the Hungarian National Gallery and private collections in Budapest. The showcase traces Ferenczy’s stylistic evolution from naturalism to symbolism and impressionism, highlighting his role as a founder of the Nagybánya artists' colony and a pioneer of en plein air painting in Central Europe.

Finnish artist Helene Schjerfbeck wows New York, Europe is next

Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck's major retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts in London has generated significant acclaim, following a successful exhibition at the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki. The show, which features over 100 works spanning her seven-decade career, is now traveling to European venues, including the Petit Palais in Paris.

Paul Kroner celebrates five years of his community art hub with solo exhibition

Cincinnati-based artist and activist Paul Kroner is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his space, Studio Kroner, with his first solo exhibition titled "What Have I Done?" opening April 17. Since its founding, the 1,200-square-foot venue has evolved from a private studio into a vibrant community hub, hosting national artists, theatrical performances, and social justice-oriented exhibitions. The upcoming show will feature a diverse range of Kroner’s own work, including paintings, illustrations, and a new series of bronze sculptures called "Liminals" created through a hybrid process of wax casting and digital scanning.

The Forward Frame: East End Arts Holds Last Hurrah Before Gallery Relocation

East End Arts hosted a final exhibition titled "The Forward Frame" at its historic East Main Street gallery in Riverhead before the building undergoes a massive structural renovation. As part of the Riverhead Town Square redevelopment project, the 1840s-era building will be raised seven feet to escape the Peconic River floodplain and reconfigured alongside a new five-story Hilton hotel. During the farewell event, community members were invited to create ephemeral art directly on the gallery walls, marking a transition period where the organization will operate out of temporary spaces at 11 and 48 West Main Street.

‘Beaming smiles’: Karachi art exhibit puts artists with Down syndrome on path to empowerment

The Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi recently hosted the fourth edition of 'Rangon Ki Lehr,' an exhibition showcasing over 90 paintings by 80 artists with Down syndrome. Organized by the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), the event featured works created by students in the 'Education for Life' program, drawing participants from Karachi, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. The exhibition serves as a professional platform where artists take full creative control of their canvases, choosing their own techniques, colors, and subjects.

Hilma af Klint - all exhibitions and events about the artist

The Grand Palais in Paris has announced a major monographic exhibition dedicated to the Swedish pioneer Hilma af Klint, running from May 6 to August 30, 2026. This comprehensive retrospective aims to showcase the artist's visionary abstract works, which predated the recognized beginnings of the abstract movement by several years.

Paint meets protest at this dalit art exhibition in Chennai

The fifth edition of the Dalit Aesthetics Art Show, titled ‘The Whole Story’, has opened at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai. Organized by the Neelam Art Collective as part of the annual Vaanam Festival, the exhibition features works by 36 artists that explore themes of social justice, identity, and resistance. The show highlights both the struggles of the Dalit community and their cultural contributions, featuring a dedicated gallery for B.R. Ambedkar and honoring veteran artist Savindra Sawarkar, a pioneer of the Dalit art movement.