Yosra Mojtahedi, Iranian artist who moved from painting to astonishing living sculptures

Yosra Mojtahedi, artiste iranienne passée de la peinture à de stupéfiantes sculptures vivantes

Yosra Mojtahedi, an Iranian artist born in 1986, has transitioned from painting to creating stunning living sculptures. Her work, characterized by black and white contrasts, features sculptures that breathe, have hair, and incorporate torn tights and synthetic locks, evoking themes of identity, censorship, and bodily autonomy. She recently presented a spectacular installation titled "Isthme noir" at the Espace Monte-Cristo in Paris and an exhibition at the Abbaye de Maubuisson, where her spiritual universe unfolds across multiple rooms. Mojtahedi's practice includes sound elements in Persian or Kurdish, and she views her sculptures as "bodies" that are both intimate and political.

Notre-Dame : pas de suspension pour les vitraux !

On May 19, 2026, the Paris administrative court rejected requests from heritage associations Sites & Monuments and SOS Paris to suspend the removal and replacement of the stained-glass windows at Notre-Dame Cathedral. The associations had sought to block the prefect's authorization to remove the 19th-century windows by Alfred Gérente and install six new contemporary windows designed by Claire Tabouret, arguing legal doubts about the project. The judge ruled that the operation was reversible—since the new panels are the same size as the originals and the removed windows will be restored and displayed—thus no urgent suspension was warranted.

Comment un père et sa fille ont dupé le marché de l’art avec de faux Picasso et Banksy

A Polish father-daughter duo, Erwin Bankowski (50) and Karolina Bankowska (26), orchestrated a major art forgery scheme between 2020 and 2025, selling over 200 fake artworks attributed to Andy Warhol, Banksy, Pablo Picasso, Andrew Wyeth, and others through top auction houses and galleries in New York and across the United States. They pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and misrepresentation of Native American goods, facing up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for August 5. The fakes, produced by an unidentified Polish artist, were sold for at least $2 million, with the highest known sale being a fake Richard Mayhew landscape that fetched $160,000 at DuMouchelles in Detroit.

US SCULPTURES AMID CONTROVERSY AT THE VENICE BIENNALE

The United States Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale features sculptor Alma Allen's exhibition "Call Me the Breeze," which opened with no clear funding just ten days prior. Unlike previous pavilions supported by major foundations like Ford and Mellon, Allen's show relies on a $375,000 US government contribution and public donations via the American Arts Conservancy. The selection process was unconventional: the State Department, which took over after Trump's NEA budget cuts, imposed restrictions on DEI policies and required proposals promoting "American exceptionalism." Curator Jeffrey Uslip directly approached Allen without a formal proposal, leading the artist's two galleries—Olney Gleason and Mendes Wood DM—to drop him when he accepted the commission.

India’s Kiran Nadar Museum to stage major South Asian art exhibition at Christie’s London.

The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) will present a major exhibition from its collection at Christie’s London this summer, running from July 16th through August 21st at Christie’s King Street headquarters. Titled “The Meeting Ground: Scenes from the KNMA Collection,” the exhibition marks the first time Christie’s annual exhibition series has been dedicated to a South Asian institution, featuring works from the New Delhi-based museum’s holdings.

Jackson Pollock breaks auction record with $181 million painting.

Jackson Pollock's painting *Number 7A* (1948) sold for $181.2 million at Christie’s in New York, shattering the previous auction record for the Abstract Expressionist artist by nearly three times. The evening sales also set new auction records for Mark Rothko and Constantin Brâncuși, and realized over $1 billion in a single evening, only the second time in auction history that threshold has been crossed.

CUANDO LOS OBJETOS HABLAN. MUSEO HECHIZO, DE JUAN JOSÉ SANTOS

Juan José Santos's book "Museo hechizo" (Metales Pesados, 2025) challenges the perceived neutrality of the Western museum, presenting it as an institution shaped by colonial logics of classification, extraction, and representation. The essay centers on the concept of "lo hechizo"—understood as both artisanal precariousness and disruptive enchantment—and explores small, community-based Latin American museum experiences that operate from precarity, reciprocity, and care. Santos argues that the museum is a space of conflict where voices, narratives, and ways of constructing history are contested, and he proposes thinking of the museum through its minor, situated, and alternative forms in Latin America.

“Cartographies of Growth” at MARTa Herford

From February 7 to June 7, 2026, MARTa Herford presents a dual exhibition dedicated to Lois Weinberger (1947–2020) and Katinka Bock (born 1976). The show explores poetic phenomena beyond human control, where materials react, spaces shift, and natural forces leave their traces both inside the museum and beyond.

Bharti Kher Commissioned by Powerhouse Parramatta for Major Public Artwork

British Indian artist Bharti Kher has been commissioned by Powerhouse Parramatta to create a large-scale public artwork for the museum, which is set to open later this year in Parramatta, Western Sydney. Titled *Tree of Life*, the seven-meter-tall bronze sculpture features four stacked heads and incorporates clay fragments from figurines found in Indian secondhand markets, drawing on themes of ancestral memory, interconnectedness, and community.

Senior Art Exhibition 2026 Showcases the ‘Incredible Crossroads’ of Studio Art Majors

The Senior Art Exhibition 2026 at Colby College Museum of Art's Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art in Waterville showcases capstone projects from 17 graduating studio art majors. The works span painting, photography, printmaking, digital media, and sculpture, created after a yearlong capstone course coordinated by Associate Professor Bradley Borthwick. The exhibition runs through May 23 and includes a catalog with artist statements and critical essays.

Mexican filmmakers to co-host Serpentine Summer Party

The Serpentine Summer Party, a major fixture in London's art calendar, will take place on 23 June, co-hosted by Mexican actress Salma Hayek Pinault and celebrated filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu. The event, an invite-only fundraiser, celebrates the Serpentine pavilion, which this year is titled 'a serpentine' and designed by Mexico City-based architecture firm Lanza Atelier. Last year's co-host was movie icon Cate Blanchett.

Wiggy stardust! The mind-blowing hair artist who astonished Rihanna and Cate Blanchett

Taiba Akhuetie, a London-based artist who uses human and synthetic hair as her primary medium, is preparing for her first solo exhibition at the Sarabande Foundation. Her unsettling, taxidermy-like sculptures transform everyday objects—handbags, mirrors, rocking chairs, and umbrellas—into eerie, hair-covered artworks. Akhuetie began her career as a braider, founding the salon Keash Braids in Peckham, and pivoted to sculptural work during the pandemic. Her creations have attracted high-profile clients including Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, and Nigerian singer Tems, and have been featured by Vogue.

Sumac Cottage in Greensboro, Alabama

Sumac Cottage, a historic 1820s building in Greensboro, Alabama, has been restored and transformed into a community arts space by visual artist Aaron Sanders Head and musician Tim Higgins. The cottage, which was nearly demolished and had only three walls remaining, now hosts workshops, exhibitions, performances, and community events. Its most recent exhibition, “Home Once,” featured a visual installation by Jenna Clark with performances by Clark, Jasper Lee, Sam Herman, and Ryan Brown.

The exhibition "The Charm of Flowers" will open in honor of the 290th anniversary of the Rundāle Palace

An exhibition titled "The Charm of Flowers" will open at Rundāle Palace in Latvia to mark the palace's 290th anniversary. It explores the history of exotic garden flowers in Europe, their popularity in the Duchy of Courland-Semigallia, and the symbolic meaning of flowers in 17th- and 18th-century art. The show features works from major European museums including the National Art Gallery named after Boris Voznyatsky in Lviv, Het Loo Palace Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the National Art Museum named after M. K. Čiurlionis. A key highlight is the multimedia installation "Tulipomania" by Dutch artist Joost Agassi, which offers a contemporary take on the 17th-century Dutch tulip mania.

Ten artists serving life have a story to tell. It’s on the walls of this Center City art gallery.

Ten artists serving life sentences at SCI-Phoenix, a Pennsylvania state prison, have their work on display at Morton Contemporary Art Gallery in Philadelphia in an exhibition titled "The Weight of Time." The show is co-curated by artist Keith Andrews, who has been incarcerated for nearly 30 years, and gallerist Debbie Morton. Andrews' painting "Defiant Mercy" explores themes of time, isolation, and confinement, reflecting his own experience. The exhibition includes nearly 50 works by ten artists, each accompanied by biographies detailing their lives inside and outside the carceral system.

A Blade of Grass Names 2026 “In Fellowship” Cohort

New York-based arts nonprofit A Blade of Grass (ABoG) has announced the three members of its 2026 In Fellowship cohort: Emily Johnson / Catalyst, The Projects/Space, and UNDOC+Collective. Each fellow receives $25,000 in support and a $25,000 honorarium for their socially engaged practices. The fellowship, established in 2025, focuses this year on gathering as a form of movement building and resource distribution.

M+ in multi-year strategic partnership with Centre Pompidou

M+, Hong Kong's premier art museum, has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with Paris's Centre Pompidou. The agreement, signed on May 15, 2026, by Centre Pompidou President Laurent Le Bon and M+ Museum Director Suhanya Raffel, covers joint curatorial research, exhibition development and sharing, co-commissions and artwork displays, and collection exchange. A major co-curated exhibition will be presented at both venues, with a series of jointly developed exhibitions staged at M+ from 2027 onwards, featuring works from both institutions' collections.

Meet the New Boss of the Steven Spielberg-Endorsed Sag Harbor Cinema

Mark Lubell has been appointed as the new executive director of the Sag Harbor Cinema, a historic theater in the Hamptons endorsed by Steven Spielberg. Lubell previously served as executive director of the International Center of Photography (ICP), where he oversaw the opening of its new campus on Ludlow Street in 2020. He brings experience from Magnum Photos and a background in fine art photography, and he aims to foster community connection through the cinema experience.

Next Episode of Art21’s Art in the Twenty-First Century to Premiere in June

Art21 has announced the premiere of "Human Nature," the next episode of its documentary series *Art in the Twenty-First Century*, set to air on PBS on June 10, 2026. The episode features artists Lenka Clayton, Josh Kline, Delcy Morelos, and Sin Wai Kin, and explores themes of humanity's impact on the environment, social and economic systems, and interpersonal relationships. Directed by Ian Forster and produced by Andrea Chung, the episode will also be available on Art21.org, YouTube, and PBS Digital Platforms, with an advance screening on May 28 at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center in Manhattan.

Get to know these 5 unconventional galleries driving art forward in North Texas

A wave of independent, artist-run galleries is emerging across North Texas, operating out of unconventional spaces like houses, lofts, and apartments. Notable examples include PRP (Permanent Research Project) in a little white house in Trinity Groves, Nature of Things in a Deep Ellum loft, and 2 BED 1 BATH in an Oak Cliff apartment. These venues often face precarious funding and zoning issues, yet they persist, with some like 500X operating since 1978 and PRP for a decade. Recent exhibitions have addressed themes such as the treatment of bodies in visual culture and political commentary, including a protest show after the University of North Texas shut down an exhibition critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Vima 2026: Highlights From Cyprus’ Emerging International Art Fair

The second edition of Vima, Cyprus' emerging international art fair, took place in Limassol from May 15-17, 2026, drawing 5,200 visitors and featuring 26 invited galleries from over 20 countries. Artworks sold ranged from €550 to €90,000, reflecting increased sales from the inaugural 2025 edition. Highlights included a special exhibition curated by Kostas Stasinopoulos titled "The Crashing Waves," performances by Scottish choreographer Magnus Westwell, and notable presentations by galleries such as Cut Art Gallery (Riga) and Eins Gallery (Limassol). The fair also hosted 25 events including talks, live music, and off-site shows across Limassol and Nicosia.

Arts Listings: Week of May 21, 2026

This article is a local arts listings roundup for the week of May 21, 2026, in Ventura County, California. It announces theater productions including "Firebringer," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Zapalooza," and "The Wolves," along with art exhibitions at venues such as the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Camarillo Art Center, Dama Gallery, the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, and UBS. It also includes a call for artists from the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley and an open call from Dama Gallery.

The San Juan Islands Museum of Art Summer 2026 Exhibitions include Photography, etching, glass sculpture and feather sculpture

The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) in Friday Harbor, Washington, will present three exhibitions from June 11 to September 14, 2026, featuring photography, etching, glass sculpture, and feather sculpture. The exhibitions include "Convergence & Divergence: The Family Aesthetic" in the Nichols Gallery, showcasing the work of Imogen Cunningham, Roi Partridge, and Rondal Partridge together for the first time, with over 100 photographs and prints spanning nearly 110 years. Also on view are "Feathered Masterpieces: The Artistry of Chris Maynard" in the North Gallery, featuring intricate feather carvings, and a glass sculpture by Raven Skyriver.

Phillips’ Evening Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art More than Doubles Auction Total from the Previous Year

Phillips’ Evening Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art achieved a total that more than doubled the previous year's auction result, driven by strong demand for works spanning the 19th to 21st centuries. The sale opened with three lots exceeding their high estimates, including record prices for Lee Bontecou's rare 'Untitled' (1985-2001), which set a new record for any two-dimensional work by the artist after nearly five minutes of bidding. Other records were set for Pat Passlof, P.S. Krøyer, and Joseph Yaeger. Top lots included Andy Warhol's 'Sixteen Jackies' ($16.2 million), Claude Monet's 'La Route de Vétheuil, effet de neige' ($9.9 million), and Jackson Pollock's 'Untitled' ($9.2 million). The sale also featured works from The Collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr., which achieved a combined $8.4 million, with two Vilhelm Hammershøi works acquired by prominent institutions.

Canadian Museum of Human Rights Threatened With Legal Action Over Palestinian Nakba Show

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg has been threatened with legal action by Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center over an upcoming exhibition titled "Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present," scheduled to open June 27. The exhibition focuses on the 1948 expulsion of approximately 750,000 Palestinians, known as the Nakba, and features video testimonies, photography, visual art, and text exploring human rights violations and forced displacement. Shurat HaDin's letter, sent to the museum's board and senior leadership, argues the exhibition omits Jewish historical ties to the region, politicizes history, and could fuel hostility against the Jewish community. The organization demands the museum halt work on the show, commission an independent review, and retract statements about Israeli human rights violations, threatening litigation if the museum does not respond within 14 days. The museum has confirmed the letter is under review but stated the exhibition is still expected to open as scheduled.

Architects Behind Frick Renovation Tapped for Louvre’s ‘New Renaissance’

The French government has selected STUDIOS Architecture to lead a major renovation of the Louvre Museum in Paris, including new galleries and a second entrance. The project, called the 'New Louvre Renaissance,' was announced by President Emmanuel Macron in early 2025 but stalled after a jewel heist and staff strikes led to the resignation of former Louvre president Laurence des Cars, who was succeeded by Christophe Leribault. The $778 million plan aims to ease overcrowding at the museum, which hosts 9 million visitors annually, and includes a dedicated 33,000-square-foot gallery for the Mona Lisa.

Palate Cleansers at Frieze NY

Hyperallergic's coverage of Frieze New York and concurrent art fairs in the city frames the experience as overwhelming yet punctuated by standout works. Senior Editor Valentina Di Liscia compares the fair to an assembly-line salad, finding reprieve in art that evokes lush canopies, diaphanous portraiture, and ancestral gardens. The issue also includes dispatches from Future Fair, 1-54, TEFAF, NADA, and Independent Art Fair, alongside a tribute to Austrian performance artist Valie Export, who died at age 85, remembered for her radical feminist guerrilla performances that challenged the male gaze.

Plains Art Museum marks Smithsonian relationship with new Indigenous exhibit

The Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota, has been awarded a Smithsonian Affiliation, becoming the only institution in the state with such a designation. The partnership grants the museum access to Smithsonian programs, including artwork loans, touring exhibitions, educational resources, and professional development. The first public display of this collaboration is the new exhibit "Know Your Treaty: Wiwahokichiyapi," which opened in late April. The touring Smithsonian show, developed by the National Museum of the American Indian, examines the history of treaties between Indigenous nations and the U.S. government through photographs and text, while the museum has supplemented it with works by Indigenous artists from its permanent collection and loans.

Thursday’s Corvallis Arts Walk: Social Conscience, Multiplying Mediums and Fae Folk

The Corvallis Arts Walk on Thursday, May 21, features a wide range of exhibitions and events across multiple venues, including a window display by Living Studios Arts for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, miniature paintings by Jana Johnson at Art in the Valley, and a mixed-media installation by Vincent Frimpong at The Arts Center addressing textile waste and its global impact. Other highlights include abstract landscapes by Philip Stork, a Mental Health Awareness Month show by ACT/EASA participants, figurative clay sculptures from Niya Lee's class, and a bird-themed pastel collection by Alycia Helbling at Corvallis Foundry Gallery.

Oxford Festival Of The Arts brings world famous artists, free exhibitions and silent films to the city centre

The Oxford Festival of the Arts is bringing a major visual art component to its 2025 program, featuring free exhibitions by world-renowned artists across multiple venues in Oxford city centre. Highlights include James Gemmill's cinematic paintings at St John's College, a collaborative installation by Chinese artist Qu Lei Lei and Caroline Deane at OVADA examining humanity and geopolitics, a retrospective of Ukrainian artist Oleksandr Dubovyk's 'White Bouquet' series, and a charitable project supporting Ukrainian children through art. All exhibitions are free and require no booking.