Review | The Stanley Museum of Art’s new exhibit traces the legacy of Iowa Arts

The Stanley Museum of Art at the University of Iowa has opened a new exhibition titled “In the Studio: Art at Iowa in the 1940s,” running from August 26, 2025 to January 25, 2026. The show features works by influential artists connected to the university’s arts program, including Grant Wood, Mauricio Lasansky, Philip Guston, Elizabeth Catlett, James Dallas Parks, and Hayward Oubre. Highlights include a rarely seen oil painting by Wood of a boy in football apparel, and an unfinished 1944 oil painting by Guston of his wife and daughter, originally displayed at the Iowa Memorial Union. The exhibition also traces the legacy of Lasansky, who founded the Iowa Print Group and elevated the university’s printmaking reputation.

Euan Uglow monograph offers a fresh perspective through memoirs, papers and contributions

Andrew Lambirth's new book, *The Uglow Papers*, takes an unconventional approach to the monograph on British painter Euan Uglow (1932-2000). Instead of a traditional narrative, Lambirth compiles around 30 personal memoirs, papers, and contributions from friends, students, and colleagues—gathered through interviews, phone calls, emails, and letters. These firsthand accounts, paired with a concise introduction and a glossary of names, offer intimate recollections of Uglow's rigorous studio practice, his teaching methods, and his social life, including details about his Sunday night open houses and shared meals. The book also traces Uglow's artistic development from his studies at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts and the Slade School of Fine Art, through his mentorship under William Coldstream, to his own distinctive geometric and emotionally charged works like *The Diagonal* (1971-77) and *Pyramid* (1993-96).

The Collection of Robert F. and Patricia G. Ross Weis

The collection of Robert F. and Patricia G. Ross Weis, assembled over more than 50 years, will be offered at Christie’s 20th and 21st Century Art auctions in New York this November. The collection features major works by modern masters including Rothko, Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, and Miró, reflecting the couple’s intellectual rigor and shared passion for modernism.

At Kunsthalle Praha, Anna-Eva Bergman and Hans Hartung are reunited in art, as they were in life

Kunsthalle Praha has opened a dual exhibition, "Anna-Eva Bergman & Hans Hartung: And We’ll Never Be Parted," reuniting the two artists in art as they were in life. The show traces their youthful infatuation, creative partnership, divorce, and reunion, highlighting Bergman's neglected contributions to abstract art inspired by nature and Hartung's prominence in the Art Informel movement. Featuring paintings, sketches, archival material, and mutual gifts, it is billed as the first major museum exhibition to place the two in dialogue.

Artist's exhibition to showcase his journey from 'outsider' to 'master'

Local artist Steve Harrington-Ellsmore presents his exhibition "Phantasmagorical Experience" at Unity Art Studio in Andover, running from May 13 to June 7. The show traces his journey from a self-taught "outsider artist" to a formally trained practitioner, featuring surreal paintings, installations, and collages that have drawn comparisons to Bosch and Dali. Harrington-Ellsmore, who graduated from Winchester School of Art in 2006 with a degree in fine art sculpture, is known for vibrant collages and oil paintings that conjure dreamlike landscapes, often incorporating prominent figures for cultural commentary.

Special Exhibition "The Tree of the Collection, the 36th Spring: Focusing on New Acquisitions" @ Ashiya City Museum of Art & History

企画展「コレクションの樹、36年目の春 ―新収蔵品を中心に」@ 芦屋市立美術博物館

The Ashiya City Museum of Art & History is launching a special exhibition titled "The Tree of the Collection, the 36th Spring: Focusing on New Acquisitions" to celebrate its 36th anniversary. The exhibition showcases approximately 100 works, including paintings, prints, sculptures, and video art, highlighting pieces acquired since the beginning of the Reiwa era (2019) alongside the museum's founding collection. Featured artists include modern Western-style painter Narashige Koide, members of the Gutai Art Association such as Atsuko Tanaka and Jiro Yoshihara, and contemporary figures like Keiji Uematsu and Yukinori Yamamura.

Scandal in Florence's Skyline? After the Black Cube and the White Cylinder, the Prism That Impales Santa Croce Appears

Scandalo nello skyline di Firenze? Dopo il cubo nero e il cilindro bianco spunta il prisma che impalla Santa Croce

A cylindrical antenna installed by the telecom company Iliad in Florence has sparked controversy after it was reported that, from certain angles, it visually overlaps with iconic landmarks such as Brunelleschi's Dome and Giotto's Campanile. The article traces a pattern of periodic scandals in Florence, including a previous uproar over the so-called "Cubo Nero" (a new building replacing a decaying theater), and notes that the antenna has actually been in place since 2023 without earlier outcry. Local artist Giacomo Costa recently photographed another white prismatic antenna in Via Ghibellina, within the UNESCO zone, that obstructs the view of Santa Croce, fueling further debate.

All of Italy Rediscovers Bice Lazzari: After the Brera Exhibition, the Second Stage Opens at the National Gallery in Rome

Tutt’Italia riscopre Bice Lazzari. Dopo la mostra a Brera, ecco la seconda tappa alla Galleria Nazionale di Roma

The major retrospective "Bice Lazzari: The Languages of Her Time" has arrived at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GNAMC) in Rome following its debut at Palazzo Citterio in Milan. Curated by Renato Miracco and featuring over 200 works, the exhibition traces the Venetian artist’s journey from her early collaborations with architects to her late-career mastery of abstract painting. The show highlights her constant experimentation across various media, including textiles and jewelry, before she fully dedicated herself to painting in her fifties.

Italy's Soft Power in China Thanks to Two Major Exhibitions on Pompeii and Palladio

Il soft power dell’Italia in Cina grazie a due grandi mostre su Pompei e Palladio

The National Museum of China in Beijing is currently hosting two major exhibitions celebrating Italian cultural heritage: "Pompeii: An Eternal Discovery" and "Geometry, Harmony and Life: The Architecture of Andrea Palladio from Antiquity to Classicism." These exhibitions, marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and China, were inaugurated by Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli. The Pompeii showcase traces 250 years of archaeological history using artifacts and multimedia, while the Palladio exhibition explores the Renaissance master’s influence on Western architecture and creates a cross-cultural dialogue with traditional Chinese building techniques.

We Interviewed Pixar's Historic Archivist: The History and Secrets of the Legendary Production House

Abbiamo intervistato la storica archivista della Pixar: storia e segreti della mitica casa di produzione

Christine Freeman, Senior Historian and Archivist at Pixar Animation Studios, provides an inside look at the evolution of the pioneering animation house. The interview traces Pixar's origins from Ed Catmull’s early work at Lucasfilm and the development of the Pixar Image Computer to the pivotal meeting with animator John Lasseter and the eventual acquisition by Steve Jobs. Freeman details the preservation of early CGI milestones, including the first computer-animated short, 'The Adventures of André & Wally B.', and the transition from proprietary secrets to open-source contributions like RenderMan.

Fashion Loves Art: All of the Exhibitions to See at the 2026 Venice Biennale

The article, published by L'Officiel Art, provides a guide to fashion-brand-sponsored exhibitions at the 2026 Venice Biennale. It highlights projects by luxury houses including Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Zegna, and Bvlgari, framing them as unmissable cultural events within the broader Biennale program.

Explore Luxembourg’s open-air urban galleries

The article explores the street art scene in Luxembourg, highlighting cities and towns like Esch-sur-Alzette, Leudelange, Koler, and Ettelbruck where murals and graffiti adorn buildings, schools, and even waste bins. It traces the movement's origins to the 1980s hip-hop-inspired rebellion, when graffiti was illegal and artists like Sumo, Spike, Stick, Dan Sinnes, and Alain Tshinza emerged. Today, urban art is embraced as a tool for social cohesion and expression, with projects like Kufa's Urban Art Esch in Esch-sur-Alzette featuring over fifty murals by international artists. The article also notes techniques such as grid systems, projections, and reverse graffiti, exemplified by Klaus Dauven's 2023 tribute on the Vianden dam.

Sorcières !

The article previews an upcoming exhibition titled "Sorcières !" at the Château des ducs de Bretagne – Musée d'histoire de Nantes, running from February 7 to June 28, 2026. It traces the historical debate around witchcraft in 16th-century Europe, focusing on key figures such as Heinrich Kramer, author of the *Malleus maleficarum* (1486), who argued that witchcraft was a female-specific evil requiring extermination, and Jean Bodin, who supported this view. In contrast, Johann Weyer and Michel de Montaigne challenged the persecution, suggesting accused women were mentally ill or elderly and deserved humane treatment rather than execution.

Homecoming for local artist in new West Lothian exhibition

Artist Leo du Feu is returning to his hometown of Linlithgow, Scotland, for his largest solo exhibition to date, titled 'Homecoming,' at the Gallery at Linlithgow Burgh Halls. Running from 22 May to 17 September 2026, the show traces the evolution of his work across nature, landscape, wildlife, and storytelling, and includes new pieces inspired by fatherhood and emotional well-being. The exhibition also marks the 15th anniversary of the gallery's opening in 2011, and a free artist talk is scheduled for 17 June.

Ullger reflects on ‘quite special’ Berlin exhibition with Cane-Yo collective

Artist Karl Ullger recently participated in the group exhibition "Running with Scissors" at Anders Galerie in Berlin, organized by the global artist collective Cane-Yo. The show featured over 40 artists, including five invited Berlin artists, and displayed some 200 artworks. Ullger described the experience as "quite special," highlighting the energy of the packed opening and the direct engagement with visitors. He noted standout works by Austrian artist Theo Ritzinger, Chilean artist Diego Palacios, and Italian artist Yasmine Elgamal, as well as the opportunity to reconnect with fellow artists Alf Sims, Alex May, Shanice Farrugia, and Nicole Debono.

Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige review – how two Japanese masters reinvented art

The Whitworth gallery in Manchester is presenting a major exhibition comparing the works of Japanese masters Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. The show traces the evolution of ukiyo-e prints from their origins as mass-produced, voyeuristic snapshots of Tokyo's pleasure districts to the profound, psychologically complex landscapes that would later revolutionize Western art.

Sarah Alruwayti on Riyadh's Shift from Vision to Execution

sarah alruwayti on riyadhs shift from vision to execution interview

Sarah Alruwayti, director of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, discusses the evolution of Riyadh Art’s public art initiatives under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The symposium has grown from a local project into a global open-call forum, commissioning over 120 international sculptors to create permanent works using local materials like Saudi granite and reclaimed metal. The latest edition, themed "Traces of What Will Be," focuses on urban transformation and the historical context of Riyadh’s changing landscape.

oscar wilde memorabilia collection auction bonhams

Bonhams auction house in London will hold a sale on February 18 of books, photographs, and ephemera related to Irish writer Oscar Wilde, drawn from the 60-year collection of former antiques dealer Jeremy Mason. Highlights include a signed 1891 copy of *The Picture of Dorian Gray* (estimated $16,000–$24,000), a signed 1898 copy of *The Ballad of Reading Gaol* ($13,000–$20,000), and a letter to a child in which Wilde describes himself as a wallflower ($5,400–$8,100). The sale spans Wilde’s life from childhood to his literary success, imprisonment, and exile.

the oldest blue pigment found in europe identified

Researchers analyzing a stone from the Paleolithic site Mühlheim-Dietesheim in Germany have identified the earliest known use of blue mineral pigment in Europe. The study, published in the journal Antiquity, found traces of azurite on a roughly 13,000-year-old stone artifact, which is thought to have served as a palette for mixing pigments. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that Paleolithic art relied primarily on red and black pigments, as blue minerals like azurite had not been detected in Europe’s Paleolithic art until now.

polish venus of kolobrzeg

Experts from the Polish Conservator of Monuments have authenticated a Neolithic Venus carving discovered by a Polish farmer in 2022. The Venus of Kołobrzeg, a 6,000-year-old limestone sculpture, is one of the oldest artifacts from an agricultural community in this part of Europe. The figurine, now owned by the Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg, was unveiled after extensive analysis including microscopic residue analysis that found traces of mussel and snail shells. Unlike other prehistoric Venus figures, it lacks distinct facial features but shares the characteristic pronounced breasts and voluptuous hips.

the bestiary of cartier a wild history in jewels

Cartier's new High Jewelry collection, Nature Sauvage, explores animal vitality through bold abstraction and inventive form, moving away from literal depictions of fur or feathers. The collection includes pieces like the Koaga necklace, which distills a zebra into graphic onyx and diamond stripes. The article traces the history of Cartier's animal jewelry, beginning with the iconic Panthère motif introduced in 1949 by creative director Jeanne Toussaint, and highlights other historic pieces such as the Flamingo brooch (1940) and the Celestun Necklace. It notes that Cartier's big cats became status symbols for glamorous women from Hollywood and society, who would request bespoke designs from the Rue de la Paix boutique.

The Navy and the painters: a splendid exhibition of maritime paintings at the Navy Museum - photos

The Navy Museum in Paris is hosting a major exhibition titled "The Navy and the Painters" from May 13 to August 2, 2026, featuring nearly 150 paintings spanning the 17th to 20th centuries. The show traces the evolution of maritime art and the French Navy's history, with works by artists such as Manet, Signac, and Le Lorrain, alongside a special section on the Navy's Official Painters (POM) with 84 contemporary works.

Forest Tales: Lélia Demoisy's exhibition at Domaine de Chamarande

Lélia Demoisy presents 'Forest Stories' (Récits de forêts), a solo contemporary art exhibition at the Domaine départemental de Chamarande in Essonne, France, from May 10 to August 30, 2026. The exhibition features sculptures and installations across the orangery, park, and domain spaces, using materials such as wood, fibers, organic fragments, hides, charcoal, and animal tracks to explore the forest as a living network of relations, traces, and transformations. Key works include 'Laissés sur la rive', 'Le Foyer', 'Les chairs froides', 'Cedrus deodara – Forêts futures', and 'Créature'.

Linlithgow artist return home for summer exhibition

Artist Leo du Feu, a former Lowport Primary and Linlithgow Academy pupil, returns to his hometown for his largest solo exhibition to date, titled "Homecoming," at the Gallery at Linlithgow Burgh Halls. Running from 22 May to 17 September 2026, the show traces the evolution of his work across themes of nature, landscape, wildlife, storytelling, fatherhood, and emotional well-being, featuring large canvases, miniature wood engravings, and paintings created en plein air. The exhibition also marks the 15th anniversary of the gallery's opening in April 2011.

Retrospective exhibition traces Li Xiaoke's artistic journey

A retrospective exhibition titled "Distant Horizons · Traveler: The Footsteps of Li Xiaoke" opened at the Fangzhuang Culture and Art Center in Beijing, showcasing the work of the late artist Li Xiaoke. The exhibition, organized by the Li Keran Art Foundation, features his ink paintings, prints, and photography, all centered on his 34 journeys to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

First and final

The COMO Museum of Art is hosting "Traces: Drawing Practices Now," a major group exhibition curated by Hassan Sheikh featuring 19 artists. The show explores the evolution of drawing from a preparatory medium into an independent, sophisticated art form. Notable participants include Ali Kazim, Muhammad Ali Talpur, and Ghulam Mohammad, whose works range from meticulous mark-making and subverted scripts to expressive, intuitive compositions that challenge traditional linguistic and visual codes.

Artist Soumyadeep Roy's latest exhibition spotlights migration and identities

Artist Soumyadeep Roy's latest exhibition, "Shahrashob," explores migration and identity through the lens of historical and personal narratives. The show traces movements from Delhi to Lucknow in the 18th century, Lucknow to Calcutta in the 19th century, and post-partition shifts to Bombay and Karachi, centering on Wajid Ali Shah's journey to Kolkata and the creation of a mini-Lucknow in Metiabruz. The exhibition features video films of paan-sellers in Lucknow and Calcutta, archival references, and creative re-imaginings, drawing on Roy's personal bonds with descendants of historical figures.

From traditional Japanese woodblock to anime inspiration, Tacoma Art Museum exhibit has fun and fascination in store for all

The Tacoma Art Museum presents an exhibition curated by Kenji Stoll that traces the evolution of Japanese visual culture from traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints to contemporary anime-inspired works. The show features a diverse range of artists, including Roger Shimomura, whose painting "Minidoka No.5 (442)" references the Japanese American 442nd regimental unit in World War II, alongside self-taught artists like VanVan, who contributes manga-style drawings. Stoll himself, a tattoo artist, exhibits a large mural titled "Nikkei Butterfly," which celebrates Japanese diaspora culture through patterns and a samurai warrior motif. Other artists include Ed Augai, Lauren Iida, Hanako O’Leary, and Yoshiko Yamamoto, whose works bridge historical ukiyo-e techniques with contemporary themes of identity, memory, and female empowerment.

Embark on a creative journey through time and space at the Leiji Matsumoto exhibition

Tokyo City View is hosting 'Leiji Matsumoto Exhibition: A Creative Journey', the first large-scale retrospective dedicated to the legendary manga artist who died in 2023. The show, running until September 7, traces his seven-decade career through original drawings discovered after his death, immersive installations, and recreations of his creative space, highlighting iconic works like 'Space Battleship Yamato', 'Galaxy Express 999', and 'Space Pirate Captain Harlock'.

Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 presented by Riyadh Art

The seventh edition of Tuwaiq Sculpture will take place in Riyadh from January 12 to February 22, 2026. The annual public art symposium will bring 25 international artists to Tahlia Street to create large-scale sculptures on-site using local granite and reclaimed metals, with all finished works entering the permanent Riyadh Art collection for installation across the city.