Washburn student exhibition highlights diverse artistic talent

The Mulvane Art Museum recently hosted the Washburn University student exhibition reception, a juried showcase featuring a diverse range of student works selected by Kansas City artist Harold Smith. The event highlighted various artistic expressions, from oil paintings and wooden mandalas to photography, and served as a platform for announcing several honors, including the prestigious 2026 Charles and Margaret Pollak Award won by student Lauren Miller.

The business of body art

The article explores the evolving economic landscape of the professional tattooing industry, shifting from a counter-culture fringe to a sophisticated global business sector. It details how artists and studio owners are adopting traditional corporate structures, including brand licensing, specialized retail products, and digital marketing strategies to capitalize on the increasing mainstream acceptance of body art.

Call to Artists: 38th Annual Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition Applications open now until Friday, May 15, 2026, 5PM EDT

The Gadsden Arts Center & Museum has officially opened applications for its 38th Annual Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition. Open to current members living within 200 miles of Quincy, Florida, as well as former Gadsden County residents, the call for entries remains active until May 15, 2026. This year’s programming is set to expand beyond the gallery walls, featuring a three-day flash sale, artist studio tours, and a specialized luncheon to engage the local community.

Split-Toe Archive Exhibitions

Maison Margiela has launched the "Tabi: Collectors Exhibition" at the Third Avenue Art Museum in Chengdu, China. This immersive installation showcases the personal archives of nine global collectors, featuring rare, customized, and historically significant versions of the iconic split-toe shoe dating back to its 1989 debut. The exhibition utilizes large-scale photography and mannequins to contextualize the footwear within reconstructed wardrobes, forming a key part of the broader MaisonMargiela/folders initiative.

Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains to Hold 13th Annual Art Exhibit and Sale

The Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore will host their 13th annual art exhibit and sale on April 19 at the King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. The event features representational landscape and seascape paintings from approximately 20 local award-winning artists, all focused on the natural beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

shipping containers frame maison margiela's shanghai exhibition by OMA / AMO in china

OMA and its research arm AMO have unveiled a new exhibition design for Maison Margiela in Shanghai, utilizing industrial shipping containers as the primary architectural framework. The installation creates a modular, raw environment that reflects the fashion house’s deconstructivist aesthetic while navigating the expansive industrial space of the Chinese venue. By repurposing these steel structures, the design team has constructed a series of interconnected rooms that guide visitors through the brand's latest collections and archival pieces.

Artful April: The exhibitions everyone’s talking about

India’s major art hubs are hosting a diverse array of exhibitions this April, ranging from historical explorations to contemporary sculpture. Key highlights include 'Shadows of Empire' at Mumbai’s 47A Khotachiwadi, which examines colonial legacies through the works of Jit Chowdhury and Kaushal Parikh, and a major retrospective of Jaya Ganguly’s four-decade career in Kolkata. In New Delhi, Latitude 28 is showcasing Mayur Kailash Gupta’s metaphysical sculptures, while Gallery Art Motif presents a multidisciplinary group show titled 'Space Making : Making Space' curated by Kunal Shah.

Lagos LuxuryByFeyi Fashion Showroom, Feyiartistery Art Gallery’s pre-launch opening in Ikoyi

LuxuryByFeyi and Feyiartistery Art Gallery recently hosted an exclusive pre-launch event in Ikoyi, Lagos, blending high fashion with environmental advocacy. The showcase featured the 'Circular Economy: Now or Never' SS26 collection, which utilizes sustainable production methods and existing materials to promote slow fashion, alongside an art exhibition titled 'We Are Nature Defending Itself.'

Duke Ellington School of the Arts Hosts Underclassman Visual Arts Exhibit

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., has opened a new exhibition showcasing the work of its underclassman visual arts students. The event highlights the creative output of younger students within the prestigious arts-focused public high school.

The Other Art Fair Returns to Dallas with a Lineup of 135 Artists

The Other Art Fair is returning to Dallas for its second edition, taking place at the Fashion Industry Gallery from May 2-5. The event will feature 135 independent and emerging artists, offering them a platform to sell their work directly to the public.

Shopping Experience: How Has the Way of Experiencing Luxury Changed?

Shopping experience: com’è cambiato il modo di vivere il lusso?

Luxury retail in Milan is undergoing a significant transformation, evolving from simple commercial spaces into 'cultural brandscapes' that blend art, design, and hospitality. Major fashion houses are redesigning their flagship stores to function as urban salons and living galleries, integrating site-specific art installations, historical architecture, and high-end gastronomy to foster community and tangible experiences in an increasingly digital world.

New art show at Art 10 Gallery focusing on shape shifting

Artist Margaret Bremner is presenting a solo exhibition titled "Shapes Shifting" at the Art 10 Gallery in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The showcase features Bremner’s mixed media works, which utilize paint pens, colored pencils, collage, and ink to explore geometric structures like ogees, triangles, and circles. The artist emphasizes a process that begins with random smears or washes before imposing order through intricate patterning and varied fills.

Daniel Roseberry plays tour guide at V&A Museum’s Schiaparelli exhibit

Creative director Daniel Roseberry led an intimate tour of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s landmark exhibition, "Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art," which opened in London on March 28, 2026. The retrospective features over 400 objects, ranging from Elsa Schiaparelli’s 1927 trompe l’oeil sweaters and the 1938 Skeleton Dress to Roseberry’s contemporary surrealist designs. During the walkthrough with British Vogue, Roseberry highlighted the historical continuity between the house’s archival disruption and his modern innovations like the hand-painted puzzle dress.

How is ethical knitwear made? The founder of Milanese brand Vitelli explains

Come si fa maglieria etica? Il fondatore del brand milanese Vitelli ci spiega

Mauro Simionato, founder of the Milanese brand Vitelli, discusses the evolution of his label as it returns from a year-long hiatus. Known for its 'Doomboh' regenerative process, Vitelli utilizes recovered yarns and vintage 1980s machinery to transform knitwear into a medium for aesthetic and cultural experimentation. The brand draws heavy inspiration from the 'Gioventù Cosmica' counterculture scene, blending music, material culture, and inclusive community-building into its production model.

Story of Black British music writ large in first exhibition at V&A East

The V&A East has officially opened in Stratford with its inaugural exhibition, 'The Music is Black,' a comprehensive survey of Black British music. Curated by Jacqueline Springer, the landmark show features over 200 items ranging from traditional African drums and a Ben Enwonwu sculpture to contemporary pieces by Rene Matić and iconic stage outfits from artists like Pauline Black and Stormzy. The exhibition marks the first major show for the new £135m O’Donnell & Tuomey-designed building, which joins the V&A’s expanding portfolio of sites.

Interior design in dialogue with natural elements: Fòco is the new project by Studiopepe and Archiproducts

Interior design che dialoga con gli elementi naturali. Si chiama Fòco il nuovo progetto di Studiopepe e Archiproducts

Archiproducts Milano has unveiled "FÒCO. Living notes by Studiopepe," the final chapter of a four-part curatorial series exploring natural elements. Located in the Via Tortona showroom, the project features over 50 invited brands integrated into twenty distinct environments unified by a warm, burnished color palette. Designed by Studiopepe’s Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto, the installation moves beyond a literal interpretation of fire to explore its symbolic power as both a creative spark and a communal hearth.

sothebys debt delays 2766303

Sotheby’s is navigating a complex financial landscape marked by a major debt refinancing effort and the introduction of a controversial delayed-payment program. The auction house is seeking to raise $825 million through five-year bonds to address existing debt due in 2027, while simultaneously facing a $10.2 million lawsuit over real estate commissions. To manage liquidity, the firm has codified a scheme offering sellers a 7 percent interest rate if they agree to wait six months for their payout, a significant departure from the industry standard of 35 to 45 days.

met gala reveals 2026 dress code fashion is art 1234774208

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced "Fashion is Art" as the official dress code for the 2026 Met Gala, complementing the Costume Institute’s upcoming exhibition, "Costume Art." Curated by Andrew Bolton, the show will feature approximately 400 objects that juxtapose couture fashion with traditional artworks and artifacts. The exhibition will be the first to inhabit the museum's new Condé M. Nast Galleries and is structured around a "typology of bodies," exploring how fashion interacts with various human forms ranging from classical nudes to aging bodies.

Museums & Heritage

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, departing her long-standing role at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. This major leadership transition comes alongside several other significant museum developments, including the Getty Center's planned $600m–$800m renovation closure and the National Gallery's staff reduction scheme to address a multi-million pound deficit.

‘Northwest Expressions’ call for art is open

Northwind Art has launched a call for entries for its upcoming juried exhibition, "Northwest Expressions," scheduled to run from June 25 through August 10 at the Jeanette Best Gallery in Port Townsend. Open to artists aged 16 and older residing in Washington and Oregon, the showcase accepts a wide range of media including painting, jewelry, sculpture, and photography. The submission deadline is May 29, with artist and educator Anne Pfeiffer serving as the 2026 juror.

schiaparelli fashion exhibition review 1234781242

The Victoria & Albert Museum presents "Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art," the first UK retrospective dedicated to the Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli. The exhibition highlights her central role within the Parisian avant-garde of the 1930s, showcasing her famous collaborations with artists like Salvador Dalí, Alberto Giacometti, and Meret Oppenheim. By displaying iconic pieces such as the 1938 skeleton dress alongside personal notes and related artworks, the show argues that Schiaparelli was not merely a follower of Surrealism but a primary catalyst for its innovation.

Sotheby’s Sued by Cushman & Wakefield Over $10.2 Million Commission

sothebys lawsuit cushman wakefield commission lawsuit 1234781268

Sotheby’s is facing a lawsuit from real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield over an unpaid $10.2 million commission related to the $510 million sale of its former New York headquarters at 1334 York Avenue. The brokerage claims that its work securing Weill Cornell Medicine as a tenant in 2023 paved the way for the medical school's eventual purchase of the building, triggering a contractual 2 percent fee that the auction house has allegedly refused to pay.

Brandywine Museum of Art’s exhibition features a contemporary eye on still life

The Brandywine Museum of Art has announced a new group exhibition titled "Abundance/Excess: A Contemporary Eye on Still Life," featuring works by 10 contemporary artists. The show is divided into two thematic sections: "Abundance," which examines the history of wealth and commerce in America, and "Excess," which focuses on the environmental and social consequences of overconsumption. Curated by Kerry Bickford, the exhibition includes diverse media ranging from traditional painting to works made from discarded materials like trash-picked toys and grocery flyers.

ifpda print fair 2026 sales attendance drawings expansion 1234781135

The 2026 IFPDA Print Fair concluded at the Park Avenue Armory with record-breaking attendance of over 21,000 visitors and robust sales across various price points. This edition marked a significant pivot for the fair following its formal expansion to include drawings dealers, rebranding as the International Fine Prints and Drawings Association. Notable sales included a sold-out edition of Cecily Brown etchings at Two Palms and six-figure works by David Hockney and Rashid Johnson at Galerie Maximillian.

france national assembly vote bill looted artifacts 1234781166

The French National Assembly has unanimously passed a landmark bill designed to streamline the restitution of cultural artifacts looted during the colonial era between 1815 and 1972. This legislative framework aims to replace the previous requirement for individual laws for every return, fulfilling a long-standing pledge by President Emmanuel Macron to restore African heritage. While the vote was unanimous, the debate was contentious, with critics arguing over the omission of the word "colonialism" to avoid far-right backlash regarding national "repentance."

south africa venice biennale gabrielle goliath banned work exhibition 1234778846

South Africa’s official pavilion at the Venice Biennale will remain empty this year following the government's abrupt cancellation of artist Gabrielle Goliath’s planned exhibition. The controversy erupted when Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie pulled the project just days before the deadline, labeling Goliath’s work "highly divisive" due to its inclusion of a tribute to Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. Despite the official ban and a failed court challenge by the artist and curator, the work, titled *Elegy*, will now be staged independently at the Chiesa di Sant’Antonin nearby.

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.

expo chicago sales vip day report 1234780810

The thirteenth edition of Expo Chicago opened its VIP preview at Navy Pier with a streamlined floor plan and a focus on emerging talent. Despite a generally slow global art market, exhibitors reported strong early sales, including Nashville-based artist Annie Brito Hodgin’s debut outside her home state and Wenhui Hao’s near-sell-out presentation with Half Gallery. The fair’s decision to reduce the number of exhibitors from 170 to 130 was widely praised by dealers for improving the quality of presentations and making the event more navigable for collectors.

trump admin white house ballroom national security risk 1234780061

The Trump administration has filed an emergency motion to overturn a federal judge's ruling that halted a $400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom renovation at the White House. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon previously ordered a stop to the project following a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues the president lacks the unilateral authority to alter the historic site. The administration's appeal claims the construction pause creates grave national security risks and that the court lacks the authority to interfere with presidential renovations.

Raja Ravi Varma Becomes The Highest Value Modern Indian Artwork At Auction

Raja Ravi Varma’s 1890s masterpiece "Yashoda and Krishna" has set a new record for the most expensive Indian artwork ever sold at auction. During Saffronart’s Spring Live Auction, the painting fetched Rs 167.2 crore (approximately $18 million), far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of Rs 80–120 crore. The work was acquired by billionaire Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, chairman of the Serum Institute of India, who has pledged to make the national treasure available for periodic public viewing.