What Does It Feel Like to Be Called an Emerging Artist at 72? Ask Takako Yamaguchi

Takako Yamaguchi, a 72-year-old Japanese-born artist based in Los Angeles, is experiencing a career resurgence with a new series of seascapes featured in a 2023 show at Ortuzar and the 2024 Whitney Biennial. She is set to receive her first solo museum exhibition in Los Angeles at MOCA's Grand Avenue space starting June 29, where she will present 10 new works. In an interview with CULTURED, Yamaguchi discusses her ambivalent relationship with the sea, her process of drawing inspiration from other artists' seascapes rather than nature itself, and her identity as an outsider who has lived most of her life in the U.S. while retaining Japanese citizenship.

‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’: Georg Baselitz incorporates his wheelchair into his art

Georg Baselitz, the 87-year-old German painter, has incorporated his wheelchair into his artistic process for a new series of 22 large-format paintings, 14 ink-on-paper drawings, and his first sculpture in over a decade. The works, made by spreading canvases on the floor and using the wheelchair's tracks to create swirling parallel lines, are on view at Thaddaeus Ropac in Pantin, Paris, in an exhibition titled 'Ein Bein von Manet aus Paris' (until 26 July). The show continues Baselitz's long exploration of the human figure, particularly his wife Elke, while introducing a novel technique that turns his mobility aid into a mark-making tool.

Together in doom: tense paintings of social ills feature at Tefaf New York

VIPs attended the opening of Tefaf New York at the Park Avenue Armory on 8 May, where a surprising number of dark, oppressive works stood out amid the usual luxury offerings. Highlights include Anne Imhof's entire stand at Sprüth Magers, featuring her painting *Untitled* (2024) showing figures holding hands before an atomic bomb (sold for €250,000), Fernando Botero's *El Nuncio* (1987) critiquing clerical power, Paula Rego's *The Bullfighter's Godmother* (1990-91) exploring dominance and loss, and George Grosz's interwar depictions of Berlin's social decay.

The Illuminated Room

The article presents an excerpt from Nathaniel Dorsky's book "Devotional Cinema," focusing on a chapter titled "The Illuminated Room." Dorsky explores the historical and perceptual relationship between cinema, vision, and spirituality, comparing the experience of watching a film in a dark theater to medieval conceptions of self-luminosity, as exemplified by stained glass windows in cathedrals like Chartres.

libertine cultured aspen artweek dinner salon

Libertine founder Johnson Hartig and Cultured editor-in-chief Sarah Harrelson hosted an intimate salon dinner at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen during Aspen ArtWeek. The event brought together artists Issy Wood and Rogan Gregory, collectors Michelle and Jason Rubell, entrepreneurs Jen Rubio and Sabrina De Baets, jeweler Briony Raymond, and other cultural figures for seasonal dining and conversation, celebrating Libertine's polychrome pop-up.

Highlights and Hidden Gems at Dumbo Open Studios

DUMBO Open Studios celebrated its 10th anniversary with over 175 artists across 21 buildings participating in the weekend event. The open studios, jointly managed by Team Dumbo and real estate developer Two Trees, featured a wide range of work, with a noted highlight being works on paper from artists like Bianca Fields, Amy Cutler, and Jason Karolak. Despite rainy weather, the event fostered impromptu conversations and community, with more than half of surveyed artists reporting sales and expectations of future exhibition opportunities.

Un Rothko adjugé près de 86 M$

A painting by Mark Rothko was sold for nearly $86 million at auction. The sale, conducted by an undisclosed auction house, achieved a price within the upper range of expectations for the artist's mature abstract works, reflecting sustained demand for top-tier modern art.

Thomas Hart Benton, Jessie Wlicox Smith announced for shows at Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, co-founded by filmmaker George Lucas and businesswoman Mellody Hobson, has announced its inaugural exhibitions. The ambitious survey will feature over 1,200 works from a founding collection of more than 40,000 objects, including pieces by Thomas Hart Benton and Jessie Wilcox Smith. The museum is housed in a 300,000-square-foot building designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec.

Jenny Holzer and Arthur Jafa among nominees for Art Basel Awards 2026.

Art Basel has announced the 33 nominees for the second edition of the Art Basel Awards, held in partnership with the fashion brand BOSS. The diverse shortlist features high-profile contemporary artists such as Jenny Holzer, Arthur Jafa, and Barbara Kruger, alongside multidisciplinary figures including architect Kulapat Yantrasast and critic Hilton Als.

scott kelly photographer astronaut 342386

Astronaut Scott Kelly is utilizing his record-breaking year-long mission aboard the International Space Station to capture high-altitude photography of Earth's surface. Dubbing his work #EarthArt, Kelly shares abstract, vividly colorful images of terrestrial landscapes—ranging from the Australian outback to the Himalayas—with his massive social media following. His approach favors formal abstraction over traditional documentation, highlighting the planet's diverse topography through a lens that blurs the line between science and fine art.

art bites durer star charts 2716054

Albrecht Dürer created the first printed star charts in Europe in 1515, producing two 17-inch square woodcut maps of the northern and southern celestial hemispheres. The charts depict 48 constellations, including zodiac signs, and feature portraits of ancient astronomers. Dürer collaborated with mathematician Conrad Heinfogel and imperial astronomer Johann Stabius, and the prints were patronized by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. One set sold for £361,250 at Sotheby's in 2011.

artists no kings protests against trump 2657958

On Saturday, demonstrators across the United States took part in No Kings rallies protesting President Donald Trump, with artists playing a key role in creating protest visuals. In New York City, activists including Susan Sarandon and Mark Ruffalo carried a yellow banner by graphic designer Ange Tran reading “People Over Billionaires,” while Brooklyn artist Julie Peppito led an art build with Indivisible Brooklyn, producing around 100 signs featuring slogans like “people power” and a red sun design. The protests, organized by the 50501 movement alongside Indivisible and MoveOn, drew an estimated 5 to 13 million participants nationwide, making it the largest action since Trump took office in January.

‘It takes an entire museum to do it justice’: the Smithsonian celebrates America in 250 objects

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC is marking the 250th anniversary of US independence with a major exhibition titled "In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness," opening on 14 May. The show displays 250 objects spanning all three floors of the museum, ranging from a Revolutionary War-era gunboat (the Philadelphia) to a Donald Trump "Make America great again" hat. Seventy-six rarely seen objects are concentrated in entry hall cases, while the rest are embedded throughout existing galleries, connected by a "ribbon" design. Director Anthea Hartig frames the exhibition as a commemoration of moments where individuals and communities fought for recognition and identity, pairing each object with an action verb to emphasize democracy as participatory.

Two Thousand Seasons: A Conversation

The African Film Institute at e-flux launched its 2026 program with an event titled "Two Thousand Seasons: A Look Into 2026 and Beyond." The evening featured a screening of a curated playlist of film clips and works by artists like Ayesha Hameed, Ousmane Sembène, and John Akomfrah, compiled by Christian Nyampeta, followed by a conversation with Nyampeta, KJ Abudu, and Kaneza Schaal.

Smithsonian American Art Museum Names a New Director

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan has been appointed as the new director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. She is a former chief curator of the museum and most recently served as executive director of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.

parties artists and mothers gala wsa

Over 250 supporters gathered at downtown creative hub WSA on Sunday for the first annual gala of the nonprofit Artists & Mothers, a sold-out fundraiser for the organization’s hallmark $25,000 childcare grants supporting artists with children under three. The event featured interactive installations by Ei Arakawa-Nash, Lisa Alvarado, and Maia Ruth Lee, performances by DJ Cardamami, Sophie Becker, Zeena Parkins, and others, and was attended by co-founders Julia Trotta and Maria De Victoria, incoming First Lady of New York Rama Duwaji, numerous artists, curators, patrons, and gallerists.

The Slow Tomorrow at Air de Paris

Le lent demain at Air de Paris

The group exhibition "Le lent demain" (The Slow Tomorrow) was held at the Air de Paris gallery in Romainville from February 14 to March 21, 2026. Curated by Sebastián Quevedo Ramírez, it featured works by 17 artists, including Nicolas Aguirre, Devendra Banhart, and Hudinilson Jr., among others.

Five Women Artists Bring 'Psychedelic' Sense of Play to Pioneer Square Exhibit

The Beauty Shop collective, a group of five female artists based in the Puget Sound region, has launched a new group exhibition titled "The Party Mix" at Gallery 110 in Seattle's Pioneer Square. Featuring works by Arni Adler, Lynette Charters, Saundra Fleming, Kate Harkins, and Ingrid Sojit, the show presents a diverse array of media unified by a "psychedelic" sense of play, intuitive creative processes, and a focus on the female figure. The exhibition, which runs through March 28, was born out of a collaborative support network that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Featured Artists & Exhibitions

Relévant Galleries in Vail, Colorado, is hosting a series of artist meet-and-greet events and exhibitions throughout July 2025, featuring works by renowned photographer David Yarrow, jeweler Dan Telleen, and painter Sarah Winkler, among others. The gallery also highlights its other locations in Scottsdale, Park City, and Denver, while C. Anthony Gallery in Beaver Creek and Vail International Gallery present concurrent shows with artists like Britten and Sarah Winkler.

Two Exhibitions in Paris Galleries

Deux expositions dans les galeries parisiennes

Two notable drawing exhibitions are currently on view in Paris galleries. The first, organized by dealer Nicolas Schwed on Rue Saint-Honoré, features a strong selection of old and modern master drawings, with a surprising emphasis on 18th-century French works alongside Italian pieces. Highlights include a preparatory study by Federico Zuccaro for a Roman fresco and a rare drawing of the Trinity by Cornelis Schut, which is linked to a lost altarpiece from Cologne.

New exhibition charts motherhood from the 15th century to today

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has opened a new exhibition titled 'Mother,' curated almost entirely from its existing collection. The show traces the experience of motherhood from the 15th century to the present, beginning with a juxtaposition of Giovanni Toscani's Madonna and Child and a 1998 birth mat by Elizabeth Birritjama Ngalandjarri. Co-curators Sophie Gerhard and Katharina Prugger organized the exhibition around the 'life cycle' of a mother, covering themes from matrescence to loss. It features works by artists including Kate Just, Kyra Mancktelow, Destiny Deacon, and Hannah Brontë, with a strong emphasis on First Nations perspectives and fiber arts.

2 Cincinnati museums to feature Charley and Edie Harper's works this fall

Two Cincinnati museums will present simultaneous exhibitions dedicated to artists Charley and Edie Harper this fall. The Taft Museum of Art will host the first solo museum exhibition of Edie Harper's work, featuring over 100 pieces spanning her entire career. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Art Museum will mount the first full-scale retrospective of Charley Harper's paintings, with about 150 works on display, covering his career from early pieces to near his death. Both exhibitions open in October 2026, with the Taft's running through January and the Cincinnati Art Museum's through March.

Sidle House Gallery Presents: “Anne Hebebrand: A World That Is”

Sidle House Gallery in Freeport, Maine, opens its 2026 season with a solo exhibition titled “Anne Hebebrand: A World That Is,” on view from May 1 through June 13. The show features cold-wax and oil paintings created over the past seven years, described by the artist as intuitive maps of memory. Related events include an opening reception, an artist talk, a cold wax and oil workshop, and a violin performance by Katherine Liccardo.

Exhibition | Olivia Sterling, 'Jelly' at Dirimart Pera, Istanbul, Turkiye

Dirimart presents Olivia Sterling's first solo exhibition in Istanbul, titled 'Jelly,' at its Pera location from May 7 to June 14, 2026. The show explores themes of race, power, and desire through scenes involving food, the body, and stains, using fruit and dark colors as metaphors for consumption and objectification. Sterling's paintings incorporate letters that expose how race is constructed through language, while the title 'Jelly' evokes flexibility, fluidity, and a grotesque bodily quality that mirrors the instability of identity and social conventions.

뉴뮤지엄 DEMO2026 Art, Design, and Technology Festival(6/3-5) - Lounge

NEW INC, the New Museum's cultural incubator, has announced the full schedule for DEMO2026, a three-day art, design, and technology festival running from June 3–5 at the New Museum's newly expanded OMA-designed building on the Bowery. The festival features keynote speakers including multimedia artist Lawrence Lek, cultural historian Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, artist and Ojas sound system founder Devon Turnbull, NTS Radio founder Femi Adeyemi, and artist-engineer Xin Liu. Public programming includes demonstrations, performances, workshops, and talks showcasing projects by 39 current NEW INC members, with a Track Showcase on view through June 10. This marks the first edition of DEMO held in the New Museum's expanded space since its reopening.

ArtWonk: Budgets, Brouhahas, and Beowolff

Boston Art Review (BAR), an independent publication focused on contemporary art in Boston, has published an article titled 'ArtWonk: Budgets, Brouhahas, and Beowolff' that appears to cover a mix of art-world financial issues, controversies, and a reference to a figure or concept named 'Beowolff.' The piece is part of BAR's ongoing coverage of the local and broader art scene, including weekly happenings and programs.

NEPA Philharmonic & Everhart Museum Panel Discussion | Scranton, PA | NEPA Events

The Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, will host a panel discussion on April 30, 2026, featuring astronaut and artist Nicole Stott, composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg, projection designer Camilla Tassi, and museum curator James Lansing. The event will explore the connections between the NEPA Philharmonic's upcoming "Planets, Moons, & Star Wars" concert and the museum's "Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe" exhibition.

This Spring at the Everhart Museum

The Everhart Museum in Scranton has unveiled its spring and summer programming, featuring a diverse lineup of exhibitions and community events. Highlights include a NASA-developed immersive exhibition on the Hubble Space Telescope, a long-term installation of Don Clark’s miniature recreations of Scranton landmarks, and a first-of-its-kind exhibition dedicated to the television series "The Office." The season also features collaborative events such as Scranton’s 160th Birthday Block Party and the Electric City Flower Show weekend.

Odyssey A First Open Exhibition For Hastings Contemporary – Jude Montague

Hastings Contemporary has launched its inaugural biennial open exhibition, titled "Odyssey," featuring 151 works selected from over 2,500 submissions by artists across Sussex. The exhibition explores themes of journeying and the local coastal landscape, showcasing a diverse range of media including enamel on aluminium, woodcuts, and ceramics. While the show has been a financial success for the gallery, it has sparked local debate regarding the high volume of rejected entries and the ethics of submission fees.

Biennale Arte 2026: In Minor Keys

The 61st Venice Biennale, titled 'In Minor Keys,' will proceed as a posthumous tribute to its late Artistic Director, Koyo Kouoh, who passed away in May 2025. Before her death, Kouoh had already finalized the curatorial framework, artist selection, and exhibition architecture during a pivotal meeting at her RAW Material Company in Dakar. The exhibition is scheduled to run from May 9 to November 22, 2026, across the Giardini, Arsenale, and various Venetian venues.