Brazilian artist Alex Senna creates large-scale, black-and-white murals that depict figures gathering, interacting, and connecting with their own shadows. His work, often set against colorful urban backdrops, emphasizes themes of community, emotional bonds, togetherness, and belonging.
Artist Hillary Waters Fayle has developed a unique series titled 'Portraits of Place,' which utilizes foraged botanicals to create intricate cyanotypes. By collecting and drying seeds, petals, and foliage from specific locations like Grace Farms and Maymont Park, Fayle arranges them into symmetrical, mandala-like compositions on UV-sensitive paper. The resulting bright blue prints serve as a botanical record of a specific geography and moment in time.
Lebanese photographer, filmmaker, and Cold Cuts magazine creative director Mohamad Abdouni has released a new documentary titled "Treat Me Like Your Mother," which documents the lives of trans women in Lebanon. The film, drawn from an Arabic expression asking for mercy, reframes motherhood as an ethical position rooted in responsibility for the trans community. Rather than extracting trauma, Abdouni allows the women to tell their own histories in personal, nonlinear, and surprising forms. The documentary evolved from a book project featuring oral histories of ten women, and the film centers Abdouni's own reflections on what these women represented to him growing up. In a dialogue with photographer Michael Bailey-Gates for CULTURED, Abdouni discusses the importance of letting trans women define the terms of their own visibility.
Ronan Day-Lewis, son of legendary actor Daniel Day-Lewis, has directed his debut feature film *Anemone*, which premiered at the New York Film Festival. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as a traumatized veteran living in self-exile in Northern England after the Irish Troubles, whose estranged brother arrives to trigger a reckoning filled with magic realism. Ronan, who also works as a painter, describes the film as being about brotherhood and the silence within it, developed over five years of collaboration between father and son. A concurrent exhibition of his paintings is on view at Megan Mulrooney gallery in Los Angeles.
Louis Vuitton is honoring its long-standing creative dialogue with Japan through a series of cultural initiatives timed to the 2025 World Expo Osaka Kansai. The LVMH-sponsored French Pavilion features an immersive narrative designed by OMA architect Shohei Shigematsu, including Rodin's *The Cathedral* among 85 wardrobe trunks and a video work by artist Daito Manabe. At the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, the exhibition "Visionary Journeys," curated by Florence Müller, presents archival materials tracing the Japanese influence on Louis Vuitton's monogram canvas. Two new publications—*Fashion Eye Osaka* by Jean-Vincent Simonet and *City Guide Osaka* with contributions from food critic François Simon and artist Verdy—further celebrate the connection.
The 14th Kibria Printmaking Fair concluded on May 9 at Kala Kendra in Lalmatia, Bangladesh, as part of a month-long printmaking festival running from May 1 to May 23. The fair brought together printmaking studios and institutions from across the country, alongside works by pioneering late artists Safiuddin Ahmed and Mohammad Kibria. It was inaugurated by artists Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam, with a special exhibition titled "Pioneers of Printmaking" showcasing early works by key figures who established printmaking as a distinct artistic language in Bangladesh. The festival also includes workshops, artist talks, and a forthcoming "Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition" from May 12 to May 23.
Le teaser délirant des créateurs de « Panique au village » pour la réouverture du musée de la Figurine à Compiègne
The Musée de la Figurine in Compiègne, France, is set to reopen on May 23, 2026, after a major renovation. To promote the reopening, the museum commissioned Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar, the creators of the cult stop-motion series "Panique au village" (known for its absurd plastic figurines), to produce a teaser video. The museum, which holds a rare collection of nearly 155,000 figurines spanning from prehistory to the present, has been redesigned with a 1,000-square-meter space, six thematic areas, interactive displays, and a monumental diorama of the Battle of Waterloo featuring 12,000 figurines, now enhanced with augmented reality. Admission will be free for all from May 23 to August 16, 2026.
Colossal's monthly list for April 2026 details numerous open calls, grants, and residencies for artists worldwide. Key opportunities include the Earth 2026 Art Awards, the Hopper Prize grants totaling $13,000, and the Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize in Australia, alongside calls for fiber art, gallery exhibitions, and magazine publications.
Deodato Arte, an Italian gallery group, has opened a new contemporary art gallery in L'Aquila, a city in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The new space aims to bring contemporary art to a historic city still recovering from the 2009 earthquake, expanding the gallery's presence beyond its existing locations in Milan and Pietrasanta.
Photographer Rich-Joseph Facun documents life in Athens, Ohio, in his project '1804,' focusing on the profound influence of Ohio University on the town. His images and interviews capture the socioeconomic and cultural dynamics, including strained housing markets, a nightlife economy driven by students, and the town's identity as a "company town" shaped by the university's calendar and employment.
Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the unlawful termination of a $750,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The grant, awarded in 2024 through the IMLS's 'Save America's Treasures' program, was intended to revamp the museum's catalog system and digitize works for its 'America 250' exhibition honoring the nation's 250th anniversary. After President Trump signed an executive order calling for the IMLS to be eliminated, the agency ceased distributing funding, leaving Woodmere with only about $195,000 of the grant received and scrambling to fulfill contracts already in place. The museum is seeking an injunction to stop the IMLS and the Office of Management and Budget from following the executive order.
Three men were convicted for stealing 483 ancient Celtic gold coins from the Kelten Römer Museum in Manching, Germany, in November 2022. The coins, dating to the 3rd century BCE and valued at several million euros, were discovered in 1999 near Manching. The thieves cut off telephone and internet service to the entire town to prevent the museum from contacting authorities. A court in Ingolstadt sentenced the men to prison terms ranging from four years and nine months to 11 years for gang robbery; a fourth defendant was acquitted of the museum heist but convicted for other thefts. DNA evidence linked the group to a string of robberies across Germany and Austria since 2014, and some coins were melted down, with 70 lost.
France's culture minister, Rachida Dati, will stand trial on charges of abuse of power and corruption stemming from her time as a Member of the European Parliament. She is accused of receiving €900,000 in lawyer's fees from a Renault-Nissan subsidiary between 2010 and 2012 while allegedly lobbying for the carmaker in the European Parliament, a prohibited activity. Dati, who has denied the allegations, was charged in 2019. The trial date is expected to be set at a hearing on September 29, and could occur after the Paris municipal elections in March 2026, for which Dati has expressed her candidacy.
The article reports on Frieze Los Angeles, a three-day international art fair held at the Santa Monica Airport from February 26 to March 1. The event featured numerous international galleries and artists, with displays ranging from works costing thousands to millions of dollars and attracting over 32,000 visitors. A highlight was the "Frieze Projects: Body & Soul" interactive installation, which encouraged public reflection. The piece also spotlights Santa Monica College alumni Cosmas and Damian Brown, whose outdoor installation "Fountain: Sources of Light" was an interactive steel and ceramic work that allowed audience participation by manipulating the sound and flow of water.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Auction set new records at its 2026 event, with student artworks attracting unprecedented bids from donor groups. The grand champion piece, a painting titled 'Between Boots and Moccasins' by Pasadena Memorial High School senior Joshua Washington, sold for a record $525,000, nearly doubling the previous year's top sale. The auction, held at NRG Arena, showcases artwork selected from a statewide competition involving over 200,000 students, highlighting the program's scale and impact on young Texas artists.
At the 2026 Venice Biennale, visitors encountered provocative performances and installations addressing war, climate anxiety, and human coexistence. Highlights include a naked performer acting as a human bell clapper in Florentina Holzinger's "Seaworld Venice" at the Austrian Pavilion, lifelike baby dolls in Ei Arakawa-Nash's caregiving-focused work at the Japanese Pavilion, and drone-powered flying carpets in Moldova's pavilion that transform symbols of war into tools of peace. The Nordic Pavilion also presented surreal installations exploring coexistence and environmental fears.
Dubai-based Indian Folk Art Corridor (IFAC) held its first-ever exhibition in Mumbai, titled 'Harshit — Experience the Joy of Indian Arts' (April 6–11). The show featured 30 artists—15 from the UAE and 15 from India—curated by IFAC founder Vidisha Pandey. It showcased diverse Indian folk and tribal art forms including Kalighat, Madhubani, Sohrai, Bhil, Warli, Pichwai, Miniature, Jogi, Manjusha, and Tholu art. Dignitaries such as Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar, singer Anup Jalota, and actress Sadhna Singh attended. Several artworks were acquired, including a Tholu piece by Shelar and two works by Shoma Banerjee purchased by Jalota; Pandey's works were placed at the Ministry of Culture in Mumbai.
The Arts Council of Wales has announced a 19-strong team of early-career artists, curators, and students who will travel to Venice this summer to support Wales' presence at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, running from May 9 to November 22, 2026. As part of the Invigilator+ programme, participants will spend at least one month in Venice acting as ambassadors for the Wales in Venice exhibition, an official collateral event. The exhibition, titled Sownd, is led by artists Manon Awst and Dylan Huw, jointly organized by Oriel Myrddin in Carmarthen and Oriel Davies in Newtown, with Steffan Jones-Hughes as Curator and Catherine Spring as Exhibition Project Director. The invigilators include Lily Tonkin Wells, Robert Oros, Ophelia dos Santos, Grace Springer, Cerian Wilshire Davies, Megan Evans, Howl Hubbard, Temeka Davies, Llyr Evans, Chloe Goodwin, Abby Pouslon, and Niamh O'Dobhain, while student team members come from Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of Wales Trinity St David, Wrexham University, and Aberystwyth University.
The Nuart Aberdeen street art festival has returned for its 2026 edition, running from Wednesday through Sunday. Thirteen international artists are creating new murals and installations across the city, including the first indoor work at the historic Bon Accord baths, alongside pieces on the Chapel Street car park and North East Scotland College. A guide and walking tours help visitors locate both new and existing artworks.
The Museum of Graffiti in Miami’s Wynwood district has launched a new permanent artist studio residency program featuring Jel Martinez, James “Ras Terms” Monk, Nicole “Nico” Holderbaum, and Entes. These four established artists, who began their careers painting illegally on the streets, now occupy professional workspaces that are open to the public seven days a week. Fully funded by the museum, the initiative allows visitors to observe the creative process in real-time and purchase works directly from the artists through an on-site sales gallery.
Guatemalan authorities, acting on a court order, raided and closed the Museo de Arte Colonial in Antigua, forcing the emergency relocation of 287 artworks from their home of 89 years. The collection, including fragile 17th- to 19th-century paintings and sculptures, is now in temporary storage in Guatemala City, though six large-scale works deemed too delicate to move remain in the shuttered, unsecured building.
Zona Maco, Latin America's largest art fair, has concluded its 2026 edition in Mexico City, reporting strong sales and significant international attendance. The fair featured over 200 galleries from more than 25 countries, with a notable focus on contemporary art from Latin America and a robust program of curated sections.
Hong Kong's first large-scale art dome, FutureScope, has opened at Kai Tak Sports Park, running from December 19, 2025 to January 4, 2026. The dome features 'Perpetual Records', an immersive exhibition co-created by local media art studio XCEPT and Japanese artist Daito Manabe. Visitors can interact with 360-degree projections using facial recognition technology that translates their expressions into geometric patterns and alters an adaptive soundscape. Ticketed performances from January 2 to 4 offer deeper engagement with the artwork through live audio-visual sessions guided by XCEPT's artistic director Chris Cheung (h0nh1m).
The Waterworks Visual Art Center in Salisbury, North Carolina, has opened a new exhibition titled "The Spark That Drives Us," which explores the intersection of visual art and automotive design. Featuring works by five internationally-acclaimed automobile artists—Heidi Mraz, Stefan Johansson, Michael Furman, Dan McCrery, and Richard Pietruska—the show includes watercolor paintings, mixed-media pieces, and sculptures, alongside two rare cars: a 1957 Dawson Ferret from Ray Evernham's collection and a 1954 Martin Stationette from the Lane Motor Museum. The exhibition runs through February 28, 2026.
Malaysia's Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry announced the opening of a third National Art Gallery branch in Ipoh, housed in the historic Ipoh Old Post Office building starting next year. The new venue will feature two main exhibition spaces showcasing visual arts with digital elements, including masterpieces from Malaysian and Southeast Asian artists, and a lower level dedicated to what officials describe as the country's most extensive immersive exhibition. Secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot and National Art Gallery director-general Amerrudin Ahmad attended the announcement during the Ipoh Suka Langka Programme.
Guy Gerber, a well-known electronic music DJ, made his fine art debut with a photography exhibition titled "Separate Ways" in Tribeca, New York. The show features 21 photographs where subjects' faces are obscured by mirrors, inspired by self-reflection. Curated by Katie Lister, the exhibition opened on September 9, attracting VIPs including Sergey Brin, Richie Akiva, and others. Gerber also performed a DJ set at a NYLON Membership party to celebrate the launch.
The Collectible design fair returns to New York for its second edition, taking place from September 4-7 at the WSA building in the Financial District during Armory Week. Founded in Brussels in 2018 by Clélie Debehault and Liv Vaisberg, the fair brings together international galleries, designers, and architects for a curated showcase of 21st-century design. This year's edition occupies the 39th floor, spanning over 30,000 square feet, and features six curated sections including a buzzy section titled "In Praise of Folly" curated by Architectural Digest's Hannah Martin. Around 60% of exhibitors are from the United States, with the rest from Europe and beyond, including Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, South Korea, and Turkey.
The Viera Voice reports on a local gallery, Galleria, which is introducing a distinctive artistic approach centered on flowing forms and weaving techniques. The article highlights how this gallery is bringing a unique perspective to the local art scene through its focus on these dynamic, textile-inspired methods.
Random Sample, an art space in Nashville, is expanding both its physical footprint and its artistic vision. The organization is growing to accommodate more ambitious programming and a broader community engagement strategy.
Artists and architects are increasingly designing and creating elaborate, artistic birdhouses, elevating a common backyard object into a subject of creative expression and public art. This movement reflects a broader trend of engaging with nature and public space, blurring the lines between functional design, sculpture, and environmental commentary.