In SF, a gallery transformed into an immense, red web of memory

The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has opened "Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries," the first solo museum exhibition in the Bay Area for the Berlin-based Japanese artist. The centerpiece is "Diary," an 88-foot-long network of blood-red yarn that incorporates pages from diaries of Japanese soldiers and German citizens from World War II, creating an immersive web of memory. The exhibition also includes a crimson dress unraveling into cords, set designs for a theatrical psycho-drama, performance videos, and paper works reflecting on the artist's experience as a cancer survivor.

Poly Auction Hong Kong Spring Auctions 2026 concluded on a high note

Poly Auction Hong Kong's Spring 2026 season concluded with a total of HKD 255 million in sales, representing a 23% increase over the previous autumn cycle. The auction was headlined by Liu Wei’s 1995 painting "You Like Pork?", which fetched HKD 27.6 million, followed by a Ming Dynasty 'Grapes' foliate-rim dish that sold for HKD 24.6 million. The event saw participation from collectors across 17 countries, with significant growth in the Modern and Contemporary Art and Jewels and Watches sectors.

Sotheby’s London Notches $63.3 Million Contemporary Sale, as Francis Bacon Portrait Soars

Sotheby's London held a contemporary evening sale on Thursday, totaling £47.6 million ($63.3 million), a significant increase from the £37.6 million ($49.2 million) achieved in the same Frieze-timed sale last year. The auction featured 27 lots, with a sell-through rate of 89%, and was led by Francis Bacon's *Portrait of a Dwarf* (1975), which sold for £13 million ($17.5 million), well above its high estimate. Tom Eddison, Sotheby's co-head of contemporary art, took the rostrum for his first marquee evening auction, guiding measured bidding that saw confident competition, including a cross-Channel contest for the top lot, ultimately won by Johan Nauckhoff for a client.

The Condé M. Nast Galleries Open at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Condé M. Nast Galleries have opened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, a 12,000-square-foot space designed by architecture firm Peterson Rich. The galleries feature white granite floors, classic pedestals, and recessed uplighting to protect fragile fabrics, creating a seamless integration with the museum's existing architecture.

At the 2026 Met Gala, 'Fashion is Art.' Here's what to expect

The 2026 Met Gala will take place on the first Monday in May at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, supporting the Costume Institute. The spring exhibition is titled "Costume Art" and will be the first to occupy the new Condé M. Nast Galleries. The dress code is "Fashion is Art," inviting guests to explore fashion as an embodied art form. Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs. The event will be livestreamed by Vogue, hosted by Ashley Graham, La La Anthony, Cara Delevingne, and Emma Chamberlain.

Met Gala 2026 – Everything to know about fashion's biggest night

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2026 Met Gala will take place on May 4, themed "Costume Art" to highlight fashion as a central artistic discipline. Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with a host committee featuring Anthony Vaccarello, Zoë Kravitz, and other celebrities. The event coincides with the opening of the new Condé M. Nast Galleries and the spring exhibition "Costume Art," which pairs historic garments with artworks spanning 5,000 years. The dress code is "fashion is art," and the red carpet will be livestreamed by Vogue.

The National Museum of Mexican Art’s Special Mission

The National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) in Chicago was founded in 1987 by a group of public school educators, led by Carlos Tortolero, to address a lack of Mexican history and culture in the curriculum. It has grown into a 48,000-square-foot institution with a collection of over 20,000 objects, spanning from Pre-Columbian times to the present, and was the first Latino museum in the U.S. to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

JoEllen Brydon explores her late mother’s work as an advice columnist in Art Gallery of Peterborough exhibition

The Art Gallery of Peterborough is set to host "Elizabeth Thompson Advises," a multimedia exhibition by Cavan-based artist JoEllen Brydon running from April to June 2026. The show centers on the work of Brydon’s late mother, Jean Armstrong Brydon, who wrote a progressive advice column for The Globe and Mail under the pseudonym Elizabeth Thompson between 1966 and 1978. The exhibition integrates original letters and columns with JoEllen’s bold paintings, audio recordings, and short films to bring these mid-century narratives to life.

Jones Walker of Taos: Where art feels like home

Interior designers Tony Walker and Max Jones have established Jones Walker of Taos, a gallery on Bent Street that emphasizes a welcoming, domestic atmosphere. After relocating from Dallas in 2018, the duo transitioned from award-winning interior design careers to gallerists, curating a diverse collection of local talent that includes descendants of Taos Pueblo and Spanish carving families. The gallery showcases a mix of modern and traditional paintings, carvings, pottery, and weaving, focusing on authentic regional craftsmanship that appeals to both local residents and international collectors.

Satellite Galleries with Gravitas

The Gallery at Hotel Willa and the Encore Gallery at the Taos Center for the Arts have emerged as vital "satellite" exhibition spaces in Taos, New Mexico. Managed by the nonprofit Paseo Project under Executive Director Matt Thomas, the Gallery at Hotel Willa has transformed 2,000 square feet of hospitality space into a hub for local talent, featuring high-profile fashion installations by Josh Tafoya and upcoming ecological exhibitions like "Disturbance." Meanwhile, the Encore Gallery leverages the high foot traffic of the Taos Center for the Arts to provide local artists with significant community exposure alongside film and theatrical programming.

5 art exhibitions we can’t wait to see in Toronto

Toronto is set to host a diverse array of art exhibitions this winter, ranging from historical retrospectives to contemporary multimedia installations. Key highlights include a spotlight on 1940s abstract pioneer Edna Taçon at the Art Gallery of Ontario, a cross-cultural exploration of Ukrainian and Turkish identity at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, and solo showcases by local artists Tanya Besedina, Pree Rehal, and Yue Gao across various community galleries.

Poetry and visual imagery come together in Marion Art Gallery exhibition

The Marion Art Gallery at Fredonia is presenting "Children of Grass: A Portrait of American Poetry," an exhibition featuring 50 photographic portraits and one video of prominent American poets by photographer B.A. Van Sise. Each portrait visually interprets a poem by its subject, creating a collaborative image. The exhibition runs from February 24 to April 15, with related events including a lecture by Van Sise and a poetry reading by former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.

New U of A gallery to host unseen work opening in 2027

The University of Alberta (U of A) is renovating the Telus Centre on its campus to create a new gallery space called The Kenneth and Sandra Wong Gallery, with an estimated opening in 2027. The gallery will display works from the university's 30 registered collections, which include art, scientific specimens, and historical artifacts, such as the Southern Inspection Scroll from the MacTaggart Art Collection—a 100-foot-long survey of the Grand Canal from 1770 that will be shown for the first time in Canada.

Step into the Sublime Sculptures of Bobby Anspach at the Newport Art Museum

The Newport Art Museum is hosting "Everything is Change," the first solo museum exhibition of the late sculptor Bobby Anspach. Curated by Taylor Baldwin, Anspach's former MFA professor at RISD, the show features immersive installations from his *Place for Continuous Eye Contact* series, alongside a documentary by Julia Barrett Mitchell and a restorative space called "The Nature of Choice" designed by architect Lauren Rottet. The exhibition spans five rooms across two floors, with trained guides facilitating visitors' experiences of Anspach's kaleidoscopic, perception-altering works.

NYC’s American Folk Art Museum Is Closing for Renovations

The American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) on Manhattan's Upper West Side will temporarily close this summer for a major renovation project. The museum will shutter its current exhibition "Somewhere to Roost" on May 2 and close remaining galleries on May 26. The renovation, the largest in 30 years, will revitalize the museum shop, courtyard, office spaces, entry façade, and operations systems, with phased reopenings starting this fall and full completion expected next spring, timed around the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

One of the fairs during Milan Art Week will be open until midnight (and you can even have dinner there)

Una delle fiere in corso a Milano durante questa Art Week sarà visitabile fino a mezzanotte (e ci puoi anche cenare)

MEGA Art Fair has announced an unconventional schedule for its third edition during Milan Art Week 2026, extending its opening hours until midnight. Located in the former Esperis perfume factory known as PROFUMO, the fair will occupy over 3,000 square meters of industrial space. The event features a multidisciplinary public program and a unique "sensory dinner" titled The Perfume Table, which translates the olfactory structure of perfumes into a gastronomic experience set among artworks.

Mapped by Tide and Time art exhibition in Mumbai

The solo exhibition "Mapped by Tide and Time" has opened in Mumbai, showcasing over three decades of work by Indian artist Vishakha Apte. Curated by Ina Puri, the show features a diverse range of mediums including painting, printmaking, paper constructions, and ceramics. The collection highlights Apte’s career-long investigation into tactile depth and material dialogue, moving away from artistic spectacle in favor of quiet, process-led inquiry.

Uzbek Artist Saodat Ismailova Makes Her U.S. Museum Debut at the Smithsonian

Uzbek artist Saodat Ismailova is making her U.S. museum debut at the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition introduces her multimedia works, which often explore Central Asian history, spirituality, and female identity, to an American audience for the first time.

May art guide: Exhibitions in Dayton, Cincy, Columbus and more

May’s art guide highlights several exhibitions across Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, including "The Future of Female" at the Dayton Society of Artists, a juried show exploring women-identifying artists' perspectives; "At This Moment" at the Main Library's 2nd Floor Gallery, reflecting on contemporary life; "Teresa Olavarria: Lichen" at The Contemporary Dayton, featuring works in vitreous enamel and bronze; and a color-themed collaborative exhibition at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery in partnership with Dayton Collaboratory. The guide also features a 35mm film series by photographer Jake Schneider documenting Greenville’s Swinging 8’s Square Dance Club.

Rocky Balboa statue takes up a new home inside Philly art museum

The iconic bronze statue of Rocky Balboa, the fictional boxer portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, is moving inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the first time starting Saturday, as part of the museum's new exhibition "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments." The exhibition, which marks the 50th anniversary of the original film, features over 150 artworks and ancient artifacts, and explores how monuments are created and reinterpreted by artists and communities. The statue had stood outside the museum for more than 20 years and was originally a prop from the 1982 film "Rocky III."

Philadelphia Museum of Art previews "Rocky" exhibit

The Philadelphia Museum of Art previewed a new exhibition titled "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments," timed to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the "Rocky" film. The exhibition focuses on the iconic Rocky statue at the base of the museum's steps, and a talk featured guest curator Paul Farber and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, daughter of boxing legend Joe Frazier. A statue of Joe Frazier will be moved to the base of the Art Museum steps, where the Rocky statue once stood. The exhibit opens to the public on April 25, 2026.

New York City’s first Trans Art Fest showcases, connects and empowers trans artists

New York City is hosting its inaugural Trans Art Fest, a grassroots, community-driven festival featuring the work of over 120 transgender artists. Founded by curator and textile artist Carter Shocket, the two-month program includes 12 all-trans exhibitions and more than 20 events ranging from glassblowing workshops to cinema screenings. Major highlights include the exhibitions "Alchemists" and "A Tender Touch," the latter of which focuses exclusively on the work of Black trans artists.

New York City provides long-term support to five local arts organisations

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) has inducted five new members into its Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), an exclusive program that provides long-term operational subsidies to private arts organizations operating on public land. The new members—Bric (Brooklyn), Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (Manhattan), the Bronx Children’s Museum, the Noble Maritime Collection (Staten Island), and the Louis Armstrong House Museum (Queens)—represent each of the city’s five boroughs. This is the largest expansion of the program, now totaling 39 members, since the 1970s. A celebratory event was held at Bric on September 30, featuring remarks from DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo and Deputy Mayor Adolfo Carrión Jr., along with musical performances by each institution.

Hauser & Wirth will open a Palo Alto gallery in 2026.

Hauser & Wirth will open a new gallery in Palo Alto, California, in spring 2026, marking its first location in Northern California and its third in the state. The gallery will occupy a historic post office building at 201-205 Hamilton Avenue, near Stanford University, offering 2,600 square feet of exhibition space, a bookshop, and a design overseen by architect Luis Laplace. The expansion follows the gallery's existing venues in Los Angeles and comes nearly a decade after its major downtown L.A. complex opened in 2016.

Great Neck Library to host Rosemary Wilson Sloggatt art exhibit in June

The Great Neck Library in New York will host an exhibition of paintings by artist Rosemary Wilson Sloggatt titled "Among Children 2026: Paintings and Portraits by Rosemary Wilson Sloggatt" from June 1 to June 30. The show includes a Kids' Reception on June 3 and an Artist Reception on June 20. Sloggatt, who studied at Parsons School of Design and Otis Art Institute, has taught art in the Great Neck Public Schools for over 25 years.

‘A nuclear explosion of happiness’: Graphic artist Jim Phillips opens first solo gallery in Santa Cruz

Graphic artist Jim Phillips, the 81-year-old creator of the iconic "Screaming Hand" logo for Santa Cruz Skateboards, has opened his first solo gallery in his hometown of Santa Cruz, California. The exhibition, titled "Jim Phillips: New Fine Art Prints and Classic ’70s and ’80s Pen and Ink Drawings," runs at the R. Blitzer Gallery and features 15 new large-scale art prints and 30 hand-drawn pen-and-ink works from 1971 to 2026. The show includes his famous "Screaming Hand" and "Hand Wave" pieces, alongside surf, skate, and rock poster art from his career, which includes work for The Doors, James Brown, and Neil Young.

Ron Nagle in Milan: at Gió Marconi the first Italian solo exhibition 'Phantom Banter'

Gió Marconi Gallery in Milan will host 'Phantom Banter', the first Italian solo exhibition of American sculptor Ron Nagle, from May 29 to July 24, 2026. The show features eleven ceramic sculptures created between 2024 and 2026, along with a selection of recent drawings, highlighting Nagle's process-oriented practice focused on material, surface, and language. Nagle, born in San Francisco in 1939, is a key figure in the California Clay Movement, having apprenticed with Peter Voulkos in the 1960s and influenced by Ken Price. His small-scale works, rarely exceeding 15 centimeters, explore reduction of scale and surface construction through cast and fired ceramics combined with resins and synthetic materials.

Art diary: Generations of Indian art converse at this showcase in Delhi | Hindustan Times

An ongoing group exhibition titled 'Echoes of Past and Future' at Divine Art Gallery in Delhi brings together 48 artworks by 48 artists, spanning generations of Indian modern and contemporary art. The show features works by masters such as Anjolie Ela Menon, Manu Parekh, and Himmat Shah alongside contemporary voices like Ashok Bhowmick and Bhaskar Rao, aiming to create a dialogue between past and present artistic expressions.

World’s first museum of AI arts, Dataland, to open in June

Dataland, the world's first museum dedicated to AI arts, will open to the public on June 20 at The Grand LA complex in Los Angeles. Designed by Gensler, the museum's inaugural exhibition, 'Machine Dreams: Rainforest' by Refik Anadol Studio, runs through January 31, 2027, and uses a Large Nature Model (LNM) processing ecological and biofeedback data in real time to create an immersive, evolving sensory experience.

Running from one image to another, from one time to another, from one hope to another: at Circolo, in Milan, an exhibition on the contemporary Lebanese scene

The article reviews "Shifting Crossroads. Beirut Contemporary," an exhibition at Circolo in Milan that surveys the contemporary Lebanese art scene. It features internationally recognized artists like Mona Hatoum and Simone Fattal alongside emerging talents, including works from the Saikalis Bay Foundation, founded in 2024 by Nicole Saikalis and Matteo Bay. The show spans historical-archival investigation, photography, installation, painting, and sculpture, with pieces such as Stéphanie Saadé's "Stage of Life" (2021), Catherine Cattaruzza's "I am Folding the Land" (2022), and Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige's "Waiting for the Barbarians" (2013) exploring themes of memory, fragility, and geopolitical instability.