Fra Angelico masterworks reunited for two-venue Florence exhibition

Florence is opening a comprehensive double-venue exhibition of over 140 works by Fra Angelico, the early Renaissance master. The show, titled simply "Fra Angelico," runs at the Museo di San Marco and the Palazzo Strozzi, reuniting dispersed altarpieces and panels for the first time in over two centuries. It traces his evolution from late Gothic to early Renaissance, featuring reconstructed altarpieces with panels gathered from major European and American museums, alongside works by his influences like Masaccio, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Lorenzo Monaco.

Krannert Art Museum’s opening turned a gallery into gathering

Krannert Art Museum in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, reopened after an 18-month closure for repairs and upgrades with a celebratory evening event. The crowd included students, retirees, new faculty, and local dignitaries such as Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen and Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams. Speeches emphasized the museum's role as a community anchor, and performances by Peruvian Quechua hip-hop artist Liberato Kani and dancer Yana Paqcha energized the space. Attendees explored newly reinstalled collections, including works by Thomas Gainsborough and Nicola Victor Ziroli, as well as exhibitions like "Fragmented Histories: Andean Art Before 1600" and "Ronny Quevedo: a l l s t a r s."

Magnum Photos agency’s first exhibition, lost for a half-century, to make its North American debut

The Image Centre in downtown Toronto will stage the North American debut of Magnum Photos' first-ever exhibition, originally titled 'Gesicht der Zeit' (Face of Time) and shown in Austria in 1955-56. The show, lost for half a century, was rediscovered in 2006 in the basement of the Institut Français in Innsbruck, Austria, along with its original poster and hanging instructions. It features 83 original gelatin-silver prints by legendary Magnum photographers including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Inge Morath, Ernst Haas, and Marc Riboud. The exhibition will run concurrently with 'Chim’s Children of Europe,' a show devoted to Magnum co-founder David 'Chim' Seymour's 1949 Unesco project on postwar European children.

Buffalo AKG Art Museum's new 'Northern Lights' exhibit brings Arctic landscapes to Buffalo

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum has opened a new exhibition titled 'Northern Lights,' featuring over 70 paintings of Nordic and Canadian landscapes created between 1880 and 1930. The show includes works by Edvard Munch, best known for 'The Scream,' and was curated by Helga Christoffersen. The exhibition opened on a First Friday with pay-as-you-wish admission and will run through January 2026. Consuls general of Canada and Finland joined museum staff at a press conference to highlight the cross-border significance of the collection.

Tate Modern looks to younger audiences with relaunch of late-night openings

Tate Modern will extend its opening hours until 9pm every Friday and Saturday starting next month, aiming to attract younger audiences and boost visitor numbers. The move builds on the success of its monthly Tate Modern Lates events, which have drawn over 750,000 people since 2016, and follows a cost-cutting exercise that eliminated 7% of the Tate’s workforce.

Seattle mural festival, shows that make you think and more visual arts

Seattle's visual arts scene remains vibrant after the Seattle Art Fair, with a packed schedule of exhibitions and events. Highlights include the politically charged "Latin American Land/Escapes" at SOIL Gallery, featuring 14 Mexican artists whose names were withheld due to immigration concerns; "Hugh Hayden: American Vernacular" at the Frye Art Museum, the artist's first solo museum show on the West Coast; a new mural by Charlene Liu at the Henry Art Gallery; and the ongoing "Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei" at the Seattle Art Museum. The Belltown Mural Festival also returns for a second year, with live painting performances starting Aug. 4.

Christie’s celebrates the late Syrian artist Marwan with non-selling London show

Christie’s is presenting a non-selling exhibition titled "Marwan: A Soul in Exile" at its London headquarters this summer, featuring over 150 works by the late Syrian artist Marwan (1934-2016). The show draws from major private and institutional collections including the Barjeel Art Foundation, the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, the Pinault Collection, and the Berlinische Galerie. This marks Christie’s third such non-selling exhibition of Arab art in London over the past three summers, following shows focused on Arab artists from the Barjeel collection and Saudi artist Ahmed Mater. The exhibition coincides with Christie’s 25th anniversary in the UAE and a broader surge in the Middle Eastern art market, including a recent white-glove sale for its online Modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art auction in Dubai.

Less than two years after opening, the Museum of Censored Art in Barcelona has closed its doors

The Museu de l’Art Prohibit (Museum of Censored Art) in Barcelona, the world's first museum dedicated to censored artworks, has closed indefinitely less than two years after opening. Founded in October 2023 by Catalan journalist and businessman Tatxo Benet, the museum housed over 200 banned works by artists including Ai Weiwei, David Wojnarowicz, and Abel Azcona. The closure, announced on June 27, was attributed to financial losses caused by four months of picketing by the Solidarity and Unity of Workers union (SUT), which protested the museum's termination of a contract with management company Magma Cultura. The union demanded better working conditions, including improved air conditioning, more breaks, and higher pay.

Cezanne family home opens to the public as Aix-en-Provence fetes its famous former resident

The French city of Aix-en-Provence is launching Cezanne 2025, a year-long program of events and exhibitions celebrating its most famous resident, Paul Cézanne. The season begins with two major openings: the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, Cézanne's family home, now open to the public after extensive renovations, and a major exhibition at the Musée Granet titled "Cezanne au Jas de Bouffan" (28 June to 12 October), which explores the painter's work during his 40 years at the estate. A highlight of the exhibition is the reconstruction of the Grand Salon, featuring a recently discovered mural fragment, *Entrée du port* (1864), and loans from institutions including the National Gallery in London and the Petit Palais in Paris.

Albanian dictator’s fortress-like palace becomes ‘hub for artistic experimentation’

Vila 31, a Brutalist compound in Tirana that once served as the fortress-like residence of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, has been transformed into an artistic hub called Vila 31—Art Explora. Opened in April by the Paris-based Art Explora Foundation, the site now hosts up to 30 international artists annually for residencies and experimentation, with programming developed in collaboration with the École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy, the Museum of Contemporary Art Skopje, and Oral History Kosovo. The conversion, led by NeM Architectes, preserves key elements of the original structure while radically reimagining its interior, turning a symbol of repression into a center for creative freedom.

‘Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing’ showcases 60 years of the artist’s uncanny, unique perspective

The Bates College Museum of Art will open 'Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing' on June 6, a major exhibition spanning 60 years of the artist and illustrator's career. Featuring 149 objects, the show includes works from Steadman's collaborations with Hunter S. Thompson, political commentary, and literary illustrations, along with a life-size bronze sculpture 'Vintage Dr. Gonzo' by Jud Bergeron. Originally scheduled for 2020 but delayed by the pandemic, the exhibition runs through Oct. 11 and fills the entire museum.

Review: Guadalupe Rosales crafts an analog Wayback Machine for a vibrant show at Palm Springs Art Museum

Guadalupe Rosales presents a solo exhibition titled "Tzahualli: Mi memoria en tu reflejo" at the Palm Springs Art Museum, centered on a checkerboard dance floor with a makeshift DJ booth, motorized blue spotlights, and mirrored disco fixtures. The show gathers ephemera from the 1990s—magazines, snapshots, lowrider bicycle parts, bandannas, street signs, and more—used in assemblage sculptures and display cases. Four thematic sections include a dance room, an entryway, a nighttime space, and a car culture gallery, with imagery referencing Chicana culture, Los Angeles' Eastside, and historic clubs like Arena and Circus.

Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art and Saudi Arabia strike deal to collaborate on exhibitions, conservation and more

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) has signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to collaborate on exhibitions, conservation, research, and staff exchanges. The deal, signed on May 14 by NMAA director Chase Robinson and RCU CEO Abeer AlAkel, focuses on the ancient site of Dadan, a capital of the Lihyanite and Dadanite civilizations. The partnership covers joint conservation and research projects, exhibition loans, and professional development over four years.

Comment | The greatest failure of PST Art: its successes are not travelling

The article critiques PST Art (formerly Pacific Standard Time), a $20 million Getty-funded initiative in Southern California, as its current edition wraps up. It highlights the closure of key exhibitions like "For Dear Life: Art, Medicine and Disability" at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego before major art events like Frieze Los Angeles, and notes that only 7 of the 72 exhibitions are traveling to other institutions. The piece questions the initiative's purpose and effectiveness in reaching broader audiences.

The Big Review | The reopening and rehang of the Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, London ★★★★★

The National Gallery in London has reopened its Sainsbury Wing after a renovation led by architect Annabelle Selldorf, designed to create a more welcoming entrance. The wing, originally designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown in 1991, now features a transformed ground floor with double-height spaces, improved lighting, and a new piazza linking to Trafalgar Square. The reopening coincides with the gallery's bicentenary and a major collection rehang titled "C C Land: the Wonder of Art," sponsored by a Hong Kong property developer. Old favorites like the chapel-like space for Piero della Francesca's works are restored, and new commissions, including Richard Long's "Mud Sun," greet visitors.

Finally, Culture Minister Giuli visited the Italy Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale and made peace with President Buttafuoco

Finalmente il Ministro della Cultura Giuli ha visitato il Padiglione Italia alla Biennale di Venezia 2026 e ha fatto pace con il Presidente Buttafuoco

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli finally visited the Italy Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale alongside Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, marking their first public appearance together after earlier tensions led Giuli to skip the opening ceremony. During the visit, Buttafuoco proposed that the work of artist Chiara Camoni, whose exhibition "Con te con tutto" is curated by Cecilia Canziani, should find a permanent home after the Biennale ends, sparking discussion about the future of pavilion artworks.

Notte Europea dei Musei 2026: tornano le aperture serali con biglietto a 1 euro. Il programma

The European Night of Museums returns on Saturday, May 23, 2026, with participating museums across Europe opening their doors for special evening hours. In Italy, the Ministry of Culture organizes extraordinary openings from 8 PM to midnight at the symbolic price of 1 euro, alongside events in theater, music, dance, literature, and cinema. Highlights include Rome's Notte dei Musei (16th edition) with civic museums open until 2 AM, Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este in Tivoli offering evening access and contemporary performances, and the Royal Savoy Residences in Piedmont featuring guided tours, exhibitions, and family activities.

Giuli Buys Everything! The Ministry of Culture Also Wants to Take Over Rome's Teatro delle Vittorie and Venice's Palazzo Labia?

Giuli compra tutto! Il Ministero della Cultura vuole prendersi anche Il Teatro delle Vittorie di Roma e Palazzo Labia a Venezia?

Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli is pursuing an aggressive acquisition campaign for cultural properties. After high-profile purchases including Antonello da Messina's *Ecce Homo* and Caravaggio's *Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini* (€30 million), the Ministry has now expressed interest in acquiring Rome's Teatro delle Vittorie and Venice's Palazzo Labia—both part of a real estate portfolio being sold by state broadcaster Rai. The Ministry also recently bought Verona's historic Cinema Astra (with a €7.5 million restoration plan) and Naples' Teatro Sannazzaro after a fire.

Working in Art: Opportunities from Movin’Up, Fondazione Accademia Carrara, nctm, and Sugar Music

Lavorare nell’arte: opportunità da Movin’Up, Fondazione Accademia Carrara, nctm e Sugar Music

Several Italian cultural institutions and organizations have launched new open calls and job opportunities for artists and creative professionals. Key initiatives include the Movin’Up international mobility grant for creatives under 35, a residency scholarship from nctm e l’arte, and a talent scouting program by the record label Sugar Music. Additionally, the Fondazione Accademia Carrara is seeking a new Head of Educational Services, while the Associazione Amici dell’Arte has opened a competition for young visual artists to exhibit in Piacenza.

mfa boston to rescind promised gift of benin bronzes close dedicated gallery

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will return a promised gift of Benin Bronzes and close its dedicated Benin gallery on April 28, 2025. The gallery will be repurposed for Nubian art. The collection, pledged by Robert Owen Lehman, includes objects traceable to the 1897 British looting of the Kingdom of Benin. Lehman has donated five objects outright, which will be displayed in the Art of Africa Gallery. The MFA stated it could not reach a mutually agreeable resolution for the gallery's long-term sustainability.

The AfD Rehearses the Seizure of Power

Die AfD probt die Machtergreifung

The article reports that in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right party AfD could achieve an absolute majority in the upcoming September election—a first in postwar German history. The state government has preemptively introduced a cultural funding law to protect the arts. The AfD's platform includes a "new patriotic cultural policy" under the slogan "#deutschdenken," which explicitly targets the Bauhaus and modernist art as symbols of an "identity disorder" they promise to "heal."

Vacant New Brunswick Bank Building to Become an Art Gallery in 2027

A vacant bank building in New Brunswick is set to be transformed into an art gallery, with plans to open in 2027. The project aims to repurpose the historic structure into a cultural venue for the local community.

Discover the David Geffen Galleries, Jazz at LACMA, and More This Weekend

LACMA is hosting its monthly Third Weekends event from May 15-17, 2025, featuring free workshops, screenings, concerts, and performances across its newly transformed campus, including the David Geffen Galleries. Highlights include guided architectural walks, figure drawing workshops, a concert by the Julius Rodriguez Trio at Jazz at LACMA, a screening of Tenzin Phuntsog’s film *Next Life*, a roving dance performance by Lula Washington Dance Theatre, and artist talks with Todd Gray. The weekend also includes outdoor activities, chess sessions, and a screening of the 1986 World Cup match.

Beyond the Mission Statement: Everhart Museum

The Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, celebrates 119 years of connecting the community to art, science, and natural history. Founded in 1908 by Civil War surgeon Dr. Isaiah Everhart, the museum has evolved from a cultural centerpiece during the Industrial Revolution into a regional attraction featuring fossils, taxidermy, folk art, and traveling exhibits. Recent highlights include a NASA exhibit that brought astronaut Paul Richards back to the museum where he first visited as a child, and the museum's folk art collection is noted as one of the best in the country, with pieces borrowed by major institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

For Gayane Umerova, Art and Culture in Uzbekistan are ‘About Empowerment’

The article profiles Gayane Umerova, a cultural leader in Uzbekistan, who discusses how art and culture in the country are centered on empowerment. It highlights her role in promoting Uzbek art and heritage through various initiatives and exhibitions, aiming to elevate the nation's cultural profile on the global stage.

Exhibition | 'Human Traces: Presence, Absence, and Material Memory' at Axel Vervoordt Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium

A group exhibition titled 'Human Traces: Presence, Absence, and Material Memory' is on view at the Axel Vervoordt Gallery in Antwerp. It features works by four artists—Ida Barbarigo, William Turnbull, El Anatsui, and Bosco Sodi—who explore themes of memory and transformation through material, shifting focus from the human body to its traces.

São Paulo pop-up exhibition spotlights spherical home by architect Eduardo Longo

The fifth edition of Aberto has launched in São Paulo, transforming the iconic Casa Bola—a spherical, sustainable home designed by architect Eduardo Longo in the 1970s—into a temporary art and design hub. Co-curated by Kiki Mazzucchelli and Claudia Moreira Salles, the exhibition features over 50 artists and six major galleries, including Gladstone Gallery and Mendes Wood DM. The show spans the futuristic residence and an adjacent warehouse, showcasing newly commissioned works that dialogue with Longo’s counterculture architectural vision.

'I never imagined we'd get here': Beirut gallery Marfa' Projects turns ten

Beirut gallery Marfa' Projects celebrates its tenth anniversary, a milestone founder Joumana Asseily never expected to reach given the immense challenges faced since opening in 2015. The gallery, located in the city's port district, survived widespread civil protests, Lebanon's economic crisis, and the devastating 2020 Port of Beirut explosion that destroyed its premises. Asseily rebuilt within a year, supported by a global network of fellow dealers who inspired her with virtual shows and offered solidarity during Israel's 2024 bombardment. The anniversary group exhibition features works consigned by partner galleries including Sadie Coles HQ, Experimenter, and Emalin, alongside Marfa' Projects artists like Mohamad Abdouni and Stéphanie Saadé, both of whom won major art fair prizes last year.

11 Must-See Art & Cultural Exhibitions in India This Season

This article highlights 11 must-see art and cultural exhibitions across India during the autumn season, spanning cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Featured shows include the Bvlgari Serpenti Exhibition at NMACC Mumbai, a retrospective of women artists titled "Woman Song | Looking Back" at Vadehra Art Gallery, experimental works by modernist FN Souza at Emami Art Kolkata, and solo shows by artists such as Pema 'Tintin' Tshering, Madhvi Parekh, and Nikhil Chaganlal. The lineup also includes group shows like "Mishran: A Medley of Mediums" at India Habitat Centre, offering a diverse range of mediums from sculpture to digital art.

Explore 200 Years of American Art at the PEM

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, is hosting "Making History: 200 Years of American Art," an exhibition organized by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and on view through September 21, 2025. The show features 85 original works by American artists, including Charles Willson Peale's *The Artist in His Museum*, Patience Wright's wax sculpture of George Washington, and portraits of Ruth St. Denis and Mrs. Chase. PEM's curators have reimagined the exhibition with local relevance and immersive design, and the final gallery invites visitors to contribute personal reflections on history.