Two years ago Russia ceded its pavilion at the Biennale to Bolivia. A testimony from within

Due anni fa la Russia cedette il suo padiglione in Biennale alla Bolivia. Una testimonianza da dentro

Two years ago, Russia ceded its national pavilion at the Venice Biennale to Bolivia, a move that artist Inés Fontenla experienced firsthand when she was invited by Bolivia to participate in the 2024 edition. Fontenla recounts how the pavilion's organization shifted after Bolivia's 2025 elections, with the curator replaced by the new Minister of Culture just one month before the opening. She realized Russia was using Bolivia as a front to re-enter the Biennale after closing its own pavilion in 2022 in protest of the Ukraine invasion, and she ultimately withdrew from the project to avoid being instrumentalized by a military power.

An Argentine artist inaugurates a brand-new space dedicated to photography in Turin

Un artista argentino inaugura a Torino le attività di un nuovissimo spazio dedicato alla fotografia

A new photography space called K! has opened in Turin's San Salvario district, inaugurated by Argentine artist Emilio Nasser with his exhibition "La Cornuda de Tlacotalpan." The space is the latest curatorial project of the Kublaiklan collective (Rica Cerbarano, Francesco Colombelli, Elsa Moro, Aleksander Masseroli Mazurkiewicz) and focuses on research, production, and education centered on the relational power of photography. Nasser's exhibition reinterprets a fading Mexican legend from Tlacotalpan by involving the local community in a collective reconstruction through drawings, transcriptions, and mud masks, resulting in a choral portrait of the mythical Cornuda creature.

An Italian Photographer Traveled to Palestine to Document the Growth of Two Bedouin Twins

Una fotografa italiana ha viaggiato in Palestina per documentare la crescita di due gemelle beduine

Italian photographer Monica Biancardi presents a nearly two-decade-long photographic project documenting the growth of two Bedouin twins, Sara and Sarah, in Palestine. The exhibition, titled 'Il capitale che cresce' (The Capital That Grows), opens at the MAN museum in Nuoro on April 24, 2026, and features black-and-white pigment prints from 2009 to 2023, alongside plexiglass maps and a travel video.

In Milan during these days of Design Week, it is possible to visit the mythical Villa Pestarini by Franco Albini. The images

A Milano in questi giorni di Design Week è possibile visitare la mitica Villa Pestarini di Franco Albini. Le immagini

Villa Pestarini, the only private residence ever designed by the renowned Italian architect and designer Franco Albini, has opened to the public for the first time in 87 years. The opening is an exceptional event timed with the 2026 Milan Design Week, where the villa serves as one of the venues for the itinerant design platform Alcova.

Rawya El Chab Tends to the Wounds of Lebanon's Civil War

Lebanese performance artist Rawya El Chab has debuted the second installment of her trilogy, "Crossing the Water," at The Brick in Brooklyn. The performance explores the collective trauma of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and her family's subsequent flight to the Ivory Coast, blending personal memory with political satire and mythology. By embodying various roles—from suspicious neighbors to puppet-like politicians—El Chab navigates the complexities of life under military occupation and the persistent feeling of surveillance.

Mexican Artist Alleges Plagiarism of Femicide Project

Mexican artist Elina Chauvet has accused Romanian news anchor Alessandra Stoicescu of plagiarizing her famous installation, "Zapatos Rojos" (Red Shoes). The dispute arose after Stoicescu organized a public intervention titled "Dragostea poartă pantofii roșii" outside the Romanian Athenaeum to mark new femicide legislation, featuring hundreds of red shoes in a manner nearly identical to Chauvet’s long-running global project. Chauvet claims this is the second time Stoicescu has co-opted her work without authorization or credit, following a similar incident in 2018.

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.

In Rome, the major company Acea launches its Foundation for art and culture: The interview

A Roma la grande azienda Acea lancia la sua Fondazione per l’arte e la cultura. L’intervista

The Italian multi-utility giant Acea has officially launched the Acea Foundation, signaling a shift from being a mere cultural sponsor to an active producer and curator of cultural projects. Central to this initiative is the Acea Heritage Museum, which showcases the company’s 117-year history through a massive 12km historical archive and a rediscovered art collection valued at two million euros. The foundation aims to integrate art into corporate spaces, including a dedicated contemporary art section in its foyer and a focus on site-specific works by artist Gino Marotta.

POC Arts Nonprofits Face Severe Staffing Challenges, Survey Finds

A new report by Museum Hue reveals that over a third of surveyed museums and cultural centers founded and led by people of color in the Northeastern United States operate without any full-time staff. The study, which examined 38 institutions, found that 67% of smaller-budget organizations (with budgets under $500,000) lack full-time employees, with some operating on less than $100,000 annually and relying heavily on volunteers.

New School Faculty React to Plans to Lay Off 15% of Workforce

The New School announced plans to lay off 15% of its full-time faculty and staff by mid-June, a move driven by a projected $48 million deficit and a 20% enrollment decline since 2021. The cuts are part of a broader workforce reduction strategy that has already included voluntary buyouts. The restructuring will disproportionately affect the New School for Social Research and Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, which are undergoing major mergers and program discontinuations, while the Parsons School of Design faces fewer cuts.

What Can $500 Buy at the Affordable Art Fair?

A reporter set a $500 budget to explore the Affordable Art Fair in Chelsea, discovering that at that price point, collectors must focus on very small-scale works. The search yielded options like miniature pet portraits, tiny tulle and resin wall hangings, food-themed art, and small abstract paintings, though these pieces were often overshadowed by more prevalent, flashy pop art clichés that dominate the fair's visual landscape.

egypt prince waserif re tomb discovered saqqara

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered the tomb of Prince Waserif Re, son of King Userkaf, founder of the Fifth Dynasty, at the Saqqara necropolis. The multi-chamber tomb features a 15-foot-tall pink granite false door inscribed with the prince's name and titles, a red granite offering table, and statues of Third Dynasty pharaoh Djoser, his wife, and ten daughters that were moved there during the Late Period. A black granite statue with hieroglyphic inscriptions from the 26th Dynasty suggests the tomb was reused nearly 2,000 years after its original construction. The joint Egyptian mission was led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Dr. Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage.

From Mallorca to St. Moritz, Art Fairs Are Meeting Collectors Where They Vacation

A new wave of high-end art fairs is targeting luxury vacation destinations like St. Moritz, Mallorca, and the Hamptons, moving beyond traditional market hubs. These events, such as the inaugural St. Moritz Art Week and Art on the Island in Mallorca, are strategically timed for the summer and winter holiday seasons to directly engage wealthy collectors during their leisure time.

This upcoming art exhibition at Joo Chiat celebrates the joy of doing absolutely nothing

Irish comic artist and illustrator Niall Breen is debuting his Dog & Frog comic series in Singapore with a solo exhibition titled "Lazy Days with Dog & Frog" at Heartware Store & Gallery in Joo Chiat. Running from May 29 to July 26, 2026, the show features original artworks, merchandise such as blankets and picnic mats, and a special artist talk on May 30 where Breen will discuss his creative process and the global following his tender, everyday-life comics have attracted since 2018.

FYI Calendar: Traveling exhibition “Painting the Arkansas Parks” is on display at Arts On Main

A traveling exhibition titled "Painting the Arkansas Parks" is on display at Arts On Main in Van Buren, Arkansas, through June 27. The show features artworks created outdoors that highlight the natural beauty and character of Arkansas's landscapes. The article also lists numerous other events and exhibitions in the region, including "In Full Color" showcasing pastel works, "Peeking Inside the Imagination" featuring student art from Southside High School, and "Soul Taking Shape" by Arkansas Living Treasure Longhua Xu at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum. Additionally, the calendar includes theater performances, culinary classes, a plant swap, and a cycling festival.

Landor partners with Museum of Contemporary Art Australia on landmark AI exhibition

Landor Australia partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) to create "Data Dreams: Art and AI," a landmark exhibition featuring ten international artists exploring art and artificial intelligence. Landor developed "Data Dreamscape," a generative identity system and interactive experience where visitors typed in dream memories, which AI transformed into unique artworks. The identity was applied across marketing, merchandise, and in-gallery applications, with approximately 3,000 visitors engaging with the tool during the exhibition's run.

Retrospective exhibition honors artist Luo Yi - China Daily

A retrospective exhibition titled "Imprints of History — A Retrospective Exhibition of Luo Yi's Works" opened on Thursday at the art museum of Minzu University of China in Beijing. The show features over 100 paintings by Luo Yi, a veteran fine arts professor at the university and a pioneer of higher education in ethnic groups' fine arts in China. The exhibition systematically presents his artistic achievements and academic lineage, including works in oil, gouache, ink, and color, spanning his 70-plus-year career.

New SLAM exhibition brings ancient Rome to life in ‘Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan’

The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) has opened “Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan,” a major traveling exhibition featuring a seven-foot-tall marble statue of Emperor Trajan and a vast array of artifacts from his reign. Organized in collaboration with the Italian organization StArt and curated by Roman expert Lucrezia Ungaro alongside SLAM’s Hannah Segrave, the show is structured into three thematic sections: the imperial household, the domestic lives of everyday Romans, and the public sphere. To enhance immersion, the museum has integrated sensory elements including scent stations that replicate ancient fragrances and a commissioned soundscape.

Behind the Uniform Art Exhibition

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities gallery in Washington, D.C., is hosting "Behind the Uniform," an exhibition featuring artwork by 125 artists, including several Capitol Hill veterans. Curated by Kasse Andrews-Weller, an Army and Air Force veteran, and co-curated by Moira McGuire, the show presents works that express wartime experiences and personal stories, with many artists using art as a means of healing from trauma. Highlights include a large quilt by the Treasured Piece Makers, led by Anne Crouch, made from uniform fabric and mission logos, and a painting by Jeremiah Foxwell honoring his bomb-disposal partner Kevin Powell.

Nostalgia and Decay Meet Theatricality in Andrew Moore’s Dramatic Photos

Photographer Andrew Moore has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Theater' at Jackson Fine Art. The show features his large-format, atmospheric photographs of aging theaters, grand staircases, and other architectural spaces in locations like New York, Cuba, and Russia, which evoke a sense of timelessness and a bygone era.

F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio welcome new exhibition by Shore Collective

The F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio in Northern Ireland has opened a new exhibition titled "Threads of Time: Industry, Ecology and the River Bann," presented by Shore Collective, an artist-led group based in Lurgan. The show features work from twenty local artists across painting, textiles, photography, and performance, exploring the River Bann's historical role in Irish linen production, its agricultural significance, and its evolving environmental story. The exhibition runs until July 2026 with free admission.

Reba Hore’s centenary exhibition in Kolkata spotlights her art of dizziness of the daily

The Waypoint café in Kolkata is hosting "Spring Time," a centenary exhibition dedicated to the late artist Reba Hore, in association with Seagull. The show features Hore's vibrant, abstract canvases that capture what is described as the 'dizziness of the daily'—scenes of ordinary life rendered with hurried, furious strokes and deep emotion. The exhibition runs until May 24, offering visitors a chance to view her work in a relaxed café setting.

Jockey Club unveils global horse art exhibition in Tsim Sha Tsui to celebrate 140th anniversary

The Hong Kong Jockey Club launched the Harmonious Horse International Exhibition Tour in Tsim Sha Tsui on Friday, featuring large-scale horse sculptures by artist Simon Ma. The opening ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza was attended by Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han and Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. The exhibition runs until May 21 at Tsim Sha Tsui before moving to Tamar Park in Admiralty, then traveling to Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. A nighttime light show accompanies the display, and winners of a youth art competition inspired by Xu Beihong's equine paintings were announced.

How a Loveland wilderness photographer is turning his art into a career, and finding gratitude in the process

Dean Allen, a wilderness photographer from Loveland, Colorado, is hosting a free outdoor photography showcase at the Wilderness Art Quarry on Sunday, displaying his images of Colorado's northern lights, mountains, and aspen trees. Allen, who grew up in Loveland and learned photography at Thompson Valley High School, began pursuing photography full-time after selling the electronics company he co-owned in 2023, using the financial cushion to fund his passion. His work reflects a deep gratitude for natural beauty and aims to inspire viewers to appreciate the world around them.

Artist Isaac Spellman on creating spaces for the misunderstood through art

Artist Isaac Spellman discusses his creative practice and upcoming presentation at the Affordable Art Fair 2026 in an interview. Spellman, whose style blends Art Deco graphic posters with elements of Chinese gongbi silk painting, has attracted commercial clients including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Bang & Olufsen. For the fair, he will debut two original series: "Red, White, Bright and Young," inspired by London's Bright Young Things of the 1920s and their queer-inclusive social scene, and "Pretty Monster," which portrays whimsical monsters embracing their differences.

Before Language: An Interview with Song E Yoon at Biennale Arte 2026

Song E Yoon's exhibition "Songs Across Time" at Spazio 996/A in Venice, presented as a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, pairs her Song E Code with Frédéric Bruly Bouabré's Bété alphabet. In an interview with Kun Sok, Yoon discusses how her work uses dots, intervals, and repetition to create a visual language that exists before conventional meaning, emphasizing bodily encounter, sensation, and the productive role of misreading.

Serakai Studio unveils dreamedcore, a multi-sensorial exhibition exploring digital nostalgia in Hong Kong

Serakai Studio presents 'dreamedcore', its second exhibition at GOLD in Hong Kong's Wong Chuk Hang district, running from June 6 to August 1. Curated by Shirley Lau and Tobias Berge, the show blends an art exhibition, concept store, and runway format to explore digital-age nostalgia through the lens of 'dreamcore' aesthetics—drawing on 1990s and early 2000s visual textures. Featuring 22 emerging multi-disciplinary artists and creative practitioners from across Asia, including Li Shuang, Wong Ping, and Peng Ke, the exhibition is divided into two chapters: 'The Lure' and 'The Twist', with a central runway stage, ambient lighting, and a mini cinema screening a video by Wong Ping.

International Friendship Park, at the western end of the U.S.-Mexico border, is focus of new art exhibition

A new art exhibition titled “Occupy Thirdspace III: The Park” opens at San Diego’s Central Library, focusing on International Friendship Park, a state park at the western end of the U.S.-Mexico border. Co-curated by Sara Solaimani and Natalia Ventura, the show features three artist collectives—Las Comadres, Art Made Between Opposite Sides (AMBOS), and Friends of International Friendship Park—to visually tell the park’s story. The park opened in 1971 as a meeting place for families divided by the border but has been closed on the U.S. side since 2020, while remaining open on the Mexico side. The exhibition is the third installment in Solaimani’s series exploring Henri Lefebvre’s concept of “third spaces” as symbolic sites that challenge systems of power.

Exhibition brings together 23 contemporary artists in exploration of styles across generations | Hindustan Times

An exhibition titled "The Contemporary Lore: Sojourn of Styles and Generations Unfurled" has opened at Bikaner House in New Delhi, bringing together 23 contemporary Indian artists. Curated by Kiran K Mohan with a critical essay by art historian Johny ML, the show features works by veterans like Ashok Bhowmick and emerging talents like Nilisha Phad, spanning paintings, sculptures, and mixed media. The non-chronological arrangement aims to present artistic lineages as a landscape rather than a linear progression, encouraging dialogue across generations. The exhibition runs until May 14 before moving to Shailja Art Gallery in Gurugram from May 17 to June 13.