Explore art’s future at Hong Kong’s Affordable Art Fair this May

Hong Kong's Affordable Art Fair (AAF) returns in May with the theme “See Art. Love Art. Own Art.”, featuring 106 local and international exhibitors—up from 98 last year—and artworks priced from HK$1,000 (US$128). The fair, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, aims to make art accessible to new and seasoned collectors alike, with a focus on transactions under US$50,000. Founder Will Ramsay highlights growing confidence in this market tier, citing a report by Affordable Art Fair × ArtTactic that shows 69% of galleries expect sales growth and that art fairs generate 44% of gallery revenues.

AKKA Venice Project: Beyond the Exhibition

Lidija Khachatourian, founder of AKKA Project, discusses her gallery's evolution from Dubai to Venice, where it remains the only gallery dedicated to African and diasporic artists. In an interview with ART AFRICA, she explains her shift from a market-driven model toward a research-led, custodial approach that prioritizes long-term relationships and slowness over high-volume programming. The gallery, established in Venice in 2019, operates with a deliberate resistance to market pressures, focusing on care, continuity, and direct material support for its artists.

Festival of Cats brings cat-inspired art to Thanet

The Festival of Cats, a community arts festival celebrating feline-themed art, is returning to Margate, Kent, from May 1-4. Featuring exhibitions, events, and workshops across fine art, poetry, film, performance, and craft, the festival showcases work from 100 local artists. Originally launched in 2018 as a satellite event for Turner Contemporary's "Journeys with The Waste Land" exhibition, it was inspired by T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and has since grown into a Thanet-wide event attracting thousands of visitors.

‘What My Mother Gave Me’: Monuments of Flesh

Nona Faustine’s first retrospective, ‘What My Mother Gave Me,’ is on view at the Center for Photography at Woodstock until 10 May 2026. The exhibition gathers nearly three decades of the artist’s work, spanning series such as *Young Mothers*, *Mitochondria*, and *White Shoes*, to explore themes of matrilineal memory, the Black female body, and the afterlives of slavery in urban spaces. Faustine’s photographs range from intimate depictions of young motherhood to defiant nude self-portraits that transform sites of erasure into counter-monuments of presence.

NEYRA PÉREZ: RETURN TO ROEBIRI

NEYRA PÉREZ: RETORNO A ROEBIRI

Neyra Pérez, an Iskonawa artist, presents her exhibition "El retorno del Roebiri" at the Centro Cultural Ricardo Palma in Lima, Peru, running until May 9, 2026. The show features her distinctive kené designs, which she creates using natural materials like yakuchapana resin and virgin clay on raw canvas, fixed through sunlight and river washing. The works reference Roebiri, a mountain in the Amazonian Sierra del Divisor that was the ancestral territory of the Iskonawa people, from whom they were displaced in the late 1950s by missionaries and the military. Since 2018, Pérez has been part of a cultural revitalization effort led by anthropologist Carolina Rodríguez to recover these traditional designs and practices.

A new art exhibit is set to open at the Cooperative Gallery 213

Local artist Regina Losinger, a retired SUNY Broome administrator, opens her exhibition "Follow the Water" at Cooperative Gallery 213 in Binghamton, New York, on First Friday. The show features 50 works of painting and photography inspired by her kayaking and canoeing trips in the Adirondacks, Florida, and Canada, alongside her boat and paddling maps. Losinger, who returned to art after retiring a decade ago, will greet visitors during the opening reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

'World-renowned' photo exhibition returns to city

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, now in its 61st year, has returned to Brighton Museum and Art Gallery on loan from the Natural History Museum. The exhibition runs from 9 May to 6 September and features over 60,000 entries from photographers across 113 countries and territories, judged anonymously on creativity, originality, and technical excellence.

Jury of the Venice Biennial resigns, Russia and Israel return to Award Contention

The five-member international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale, led by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas, has resigned effective April 30, 2026. The jury—comprising Solange Oliveira Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi—announced their resignation in a written statement, referencing a prior Statement of Intention issued on April 22. In response, La Biennale di Venezia postponed the Awards Ceremony from May 9 to November 22, the final public day, and introduced two new "Visitors' Lions" awards—one for the Best Participant in the main exhibition "In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh, and one for the Best National Participation—to be decided by ticket-holder vote.

Art in Bloom returns to Mia, transforming galleries with floral interpretations

Art in Bloom, the Minneapolis Institute of Art's annual floral showcase, returned from April 23 to 26, 2026, featuring over 160 flower arrangements inspired by artworks from the museum's permanent collection. The free, four-day event, presented by the Friends of the Institute, drew thousands of visitors and included guided tours, family activities, and expanded programming. Floral designers, florists, and garden clubs placed their interpretations alongside original pieces, with this year's centerpiece inspired by a Japanese Presentation vase from the early 20th century, once owned by railroad magnate James J. Hill.

Tonight’s JT Art Walk features new “Walker’s Wipeout” store and gallery

The Joshua Tree Art Walk returns this Saturday in downtown Joshua Tree, featuring the grand opening of a new store and gallery called Walker’s Wipeout by local artist Walker Mettling. Mettling, a comic, woodcut, and risograph artist originally from Providence, RI, will exhibit his own absurdist neon comic dread multimedia works and plans to host other artists in the future. Other participating galleries include Hey There Projects with “Sous les etoiles” featuring Sofia Badaoui and Laura Cooper; La Matadora with “Fairytales & Fanciful Creatures”; Coyote Little with “Don’t Get It Twisted” showcasing fifteen desert-based textile artists; and The Beatnik Lounge with “Like A Dog: A Look at Selective Compassion” curated by Janice Taitel. Live music will be provided by Lee Scott and Joe Garcia on the Art Queen stage.

Art galleries book rooms at Austin's Loren Hotel for free Friends Fair this weekend

Friends Fair returns to Austin this weekend, transforming hotel rooms at The Loren Lady Bird Lake into temporary exhibition spaces for art galleries from across the country. Organized by Phillip Niemeyer of Northern-Southern, Meredith Williams of Martha’s Gallery, and others including McLennon Pen Co. and Ivester Contemporary, the fair will occupy 19 rooms on the hotel’s second floor, with each invited gallery creating a unique installation. The event is free to attend with an RSVP and runs Friday and Saturday.

Carmichael Artist to Exhibit Paintings in Davis Art Studio Tour

Carmichael artist Amanda Cadelago will exhibit her paintings in the Davis Art Studio Tour on May 16-17, 2026. The free, self-guided tour features 48 artists from the region opening their studios to the public, offering opportunities to view and purchase a range of artwork including sculpture, painting, printmaking, and photography. Cadelago, who rediscovered painting during the pandemic after a career in marketing and graphic design, will show her work alongside her mother, Cathie James-Robinson of Davis.

Taiwan Strips National Prize from Sakuliu Pavavaljung After Sexual Assault Conviction

Taiwan’s National Culture and Arts Foundation has revoked the National Award for Arts from Indigenous Paiwan artist Sakuliu Pavavaljung, following his conviction for sexual assault. The Supreme Court upheld a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for forcible sexual intercourse involving a female student in 2021. Pavavaljung, who received the award in 2018, must return the NTD 1 million prize. The case gained traction after artist Kuo Yu Ping disclosed it on social media in December 2021, leading to additional victims coming forward. His planned exhibition for Taiwan at the 59th Venice Biennale was canceled in 2022.

'Do or die': Flick's journey from jail to artist and First Nations mentor

Flick Chafer-Smith, a First Nations artist, turned her life around after being incarcerated on her 18th birthday and spending six years in and out of prison due to drug addiction. Through the Victorian Indigenous arts program The Torch, she discovered painting as a means of expression and healing. She is now among 424 artists featured in Confined 17, an annual exhibition at Glen Eira Town Hall showcasing works by First Nations artists with lived experience of incarceration in Victoria. The exhibition includes paintings, weavings, ceramics, and carved emu eggs, with sales proceeds going directly to the artists.

See these LGBTQ+ artists and more at The Other Art Fair this weekend

The Other Art Fair has returned to Dallas for its largest and most ambitious edition to date, featuring 135 independent artists—the most ever presented in the Dallas market. The fair, presented by Saatchi Art, transforms Dallas Market Hall into a marketplace where artists sell directly to collectors and art lovers, with highlights including immersive installations, live neurofeedback art, and a special focus on LGBTQ+ artists. A short list of queer artists featured includes Ty Hays, Patricia Juppet, Jake Trujillo, and others, with Christopher Sonny Martinez receiving The New Futures award for first-time exhibitors.

8,000-year-old artifact on display at Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery

Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery in Saskatchewan is presenting an exhibition titled "môso-tâpiskan: Indigenous Living Heritage," curated by local artist Sadi Rose Vaxvick. The show features artifacts from the permanent collection, including a projectile point identified by an archaeologist as 8,000 years old, as well as pottery pieces dating back 2,000 years. Vaxvick consulted an Indigenous advisory committee of elders, repatriation liaisons, historians, and Métis locals, and worked with language speakers to translate all artifact notations into their original Indigenous languages.

Artist Jessica Smith Says Do What You Love, Even if it Takes You 35 Years

Artist Jessica Smith, originally from Texas, is opening her first solo exhibition in Salt Lake City titled "35 Years of Not Painting" at the Salt Lake City Public Library's Lower Urban Room Gallery from May 11 to June 21. After a high school art teacher censored her work, Smith abandoned painting for decades, turning to theater and later creating personalized picture books for her son with autism. She returned to art during the COVID-19 pandemic, painting portraits of admired figures like Mr. Rogers, Tupac Shakur, and Stevie Nicks. Smith is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and has become TERO Certified, allowing her to be listed as a potential artist for tribal commissions. She credits the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake as a key support system.

Nuit Blanche 2026: discover the exhibitions and installations from art galleries and cultural centers!

Nuit Blanche 2026 returns to Paris on Saturday, June 6, transforming the city into an open-air museum for a night of contemporary art. The event invites visitors to explore exhibitions and installations hosted by Parisian art galleries and cultural centers, including venues like Fluctuart and Galerie Saint-Séverin. Attendees can meet artists, participate in creative workshops, and experience art in public spaces throughout the night.

Popular art exhibition at Ellesmere College makes long-awaited return

The National Art Exhibition is returning to Ellesmere College in Shropshire after a four-year hiatus, running from May 28 to May 30 in the college's Big School Hall. The event will feature over 300 works by more than 70 nationally recognized artists and sculptors, including featured artist Stephanie Eufemia, who recently appeared on Sky TV's Landscape Artist of the Year. Proceeds from this year's exhibition will support Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham, providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care.

PSAD Student Art Exhibition returns, showcasing year of creativity

The Paducah School of Art and Design (PSAD) is hosting its annual student art exhibition, featuring works created during the 2025-2026 academic year. The exhibition includes ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, digital photography, audio and video, graphic design, print production, and digital art. An opening awards ceremony will take place on May 1, 2026, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with cash merit awards in categories such as 2D art, 3D art, digital media, and commercial graphic design. Additional honors include the President’s Choice Purchase Award and a Juror’s Choice Award, judged by former PSAD director and photography instructor Paul Aho. The exhibition runs from May 1 to 8 at the Bill Ford Gallery in Paducah.

Paradise Mobile Heritage Month Art Showcase

Paradise Mobile has announced the return of its Heritage Month Art Showcase, a local art exhibition running throughout May at its 24 Reid Street store in Bermuda. The exhibition features nearly 50 works from 20 Bermudian artists, selected through an open call around the theme 'For de Culture' set by the Department of Culture. Pieces span paintings, ceramics, photography, music, embroidery, woodwork, sculpture, model boats, and poetry, and are available for purchase with all proceeds going to the artists. A public opening reception will be held on May 8th with live music and refreshments, and visitors can vote for the 'Paradise People's Choice Award' winner.

Community Corner: 11th SLAM – Savannah Local Artist Market returns featuring more than 80 artists

The 11th Savannah Local Artist Market (SLAM) returns on Saturday, May 2, 2026, featuring more than 80 artists. The free, grassroots event takes place at Salvation Army Baseball field in Savannah, Georgia, with a rain date of May 9. SLAM Founder Charlie Ellis and local artist William Kwamena Poh discussed the event in an interview with WSAV's Kim Gusby.

Owatonna Arts Center seeking submissions for its 73rd annual Steele County Arts Exhibition

The Owatonna Arts Center (OAC) is calling for submissions for its 73rd annual Steele County Arts Exhibition, with the submission period open through April 30 and the exhibition running from May 3 to May 31. Artistic Director Silvan Durban, who has been with the center for 48 years, notes that all forms of physical media are accepted and there is no specified theme, encouraging broad participation from both returning and new artists. The exhibition continues a local tradition that began in the 1930s with the Owatonna Arts Project supported by the University of Minnesota and the Carnegie Foundation.

Seoul Museum of Craft Art opens two exhibitions centered on brief but ambitious Korean Empire

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art opens two special exhibitions on Tuesday, both centered on the Korean Empire (1897-1910), a brief period when Korea sought to modernize through craft and industrial innovation. The larger exhibition, “The Hybrid,” marks 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, gathering 24 objects from European collections—23 from France and one from Germany—some not displayed in Korea in over 120 years. The second, “Folded Time, Unfolded Memory: Andong Palace,” focuses on the royal women who lived on the museum’s grounds, particularly Empress Sunjeonghyo and Princess Kim Deok-su. Museum director Kim Soo-jung described the two shows as “almost like an omnibus,” connected through the Korean Empire period.

Celebration of arts and community as free exhibition prepares for return

The Fairwinds Fine Art Exhibition is returning to Cowes Yacht Haven on the Isle of Wight from May 1 to 4, featuring works by 13 local artists. Entry is free, and all proceeds will support the Andrew Cassell Foundation, the Ring Daisy Bus, and Mountbatten Isle of Wight. The exhibition was inspired by the late John Garlick, a sailor and art enthusiast, and is continued by his family and artist Peter Allen.

The Circle of Parisian Artists returns to the Parc Floral in Paris: over 500 works to discover.

The Circle of Parisian Artists is holding its 24th annual exhibition at the Parc Floral in Paris from May 4 to 31, 2026. The event will feature over 500 works by more than 130 artists, spanning painting, sculpture, photography, engraving, and pastel, and will include participatory workshops led by the artists on weekends and holidays.

Bavarian State Police Return Saint Figures to the Czech Republic

LKA gibt Heiligenfiguren an Tschechien zurück

Bavarian state police (LKA) have returned five stolen religious sculptures—saints and angel figures—to Czech authorities. The artworks, some dating back centuries, were stolen from Czech churches as early as 1993 and later offered for online sale in Bavaria and Berlin. The handover ceremony took place in Prague, coordinated with Germany's Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM).

EU Plans Penalty for Russia's Biennale Participation

EU plant Strafe für Biennale-Teilnahme Russlands

The European Union has threatened to cut funding for the Venice Biennale if it allows Russia to reopen its national pavilion at the upcoming exhibition. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Russia's return is "morally wrong" while the country is bombing Ukrainian museums and destroying cultural heritage. Russia, in coordination with the Biennale foundation, had announced plans to participate this year with works by Russian artists, marking its first appearance since the 2022 invasion.

Marin resident returns to art after retiring from police department

Donna Loftus, a Marin County resident, retired from a 33-year career with the San Francisco Police Department in 2012 and has since returned to her lifelong passion for art. She took classes at the College of Marin, joined the Marin Society of Artists and the art group Marin 6, and has exhibited her work at venues including Fred's retail store in Mill Valley, Locati Mediterranean restaurant, and Coit Tower in San Francisco. Currently, she is the guest artist in the exhibition "Embracing Art" at the Arts Guild of Sonoma, running through June 1. Loftus, who is pursuing a fine arts degree, paints landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts inspired by nature and her travels.

The Biennale and the Weight of Flags. What Is the Point of National Pavilions?

La Biennale e il peso delle bandiere. Che senso hanno i padiglioni nazionali?

The article examines the inherent contradiction within the Venice Biennale: its historical structure of national pavilions, a legacy of 19th-century world fairs and state-sponsored art, clashes with the transnational, post-identity vision of the international exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The return of the Russia Pavilion amid geopolitical conflict and the international show titled "In Minor Keys," which rejects national belonging as an interpretive criterion, highlight this tension. The piece also addresses the controversy over the lack of Italian artists in the main exhibition, questioning whether a Biennale hosted in Italy should guarantee national representation.