An exhibition in Milan brings visionary contemporary landscapes into dialogue with a great Turner watercolor. Review and interview

Una mostra a Milano fa dialogare visionari paesaggi contemporanei con un acquerello del grande Turner. Recensione e intervista

The exhibition "Continuum" at Robilant+Voena in Milan marks the first solo show in the city for American artist Maria Kreyn. It presents a selection of her contemporary landscapes—charged with pathos, abstract geometries, and references to art history—alongside a rare watercolor by J.M.W. Turner, *The Splügen Pass* (1842–43). Kreyn’s seascapes, influenced by her background in mathematics and philosophy, feature turbulent waves, ovoid and parabolic forms, and a sense of latent tension, creating a visual dialogue with Turner’s Romantic vision of nature.

Julie Hamisky's garden, the artist who fixes the ephemeral in time, is on show in a Milan auction house

Il giardino di Julie Hamisky, l’artista che fissa l’effimero nel tempo è in mostra in una casa d’aste di Milano

French artist and designer Julie Hamisky presents 'Giardino Alchemico' (Alchemical Garden) at Pandolfini Auction House in Milan during Fuorisalone 2025. The exhibition, organized in collaboration with Galerie Mitterrand of Paris, features around twenty works including monumental sculptures like 'La Géante' (a giant poppy), jewelry, and a chandelier titled 'Aqua'. Hamisky uses electroplating—a 19th-century technique she learned from her father-in-law—to preserve fresh flowers and botanical forms by coating them in metal, freezing them at the peak of their beauty before decay begins.

5 Artists to See at Converge 45

New York curator Lumi Tan has organized the 2026 Converge 45 triennial in Portland, Oregon, titled "Here, To You, Now." Running from August 27 across more than 15 venues, the triennial prioritizes performances and time-based artworks over traditional gallery exhibitions, featuring both local and visiting artists. Tan, whose background includes stints at the Kitchen, Luna Luna, and Frieze New York, selected five standout artists: Lex Brown (presenting an operatic video and installation), Trisha Baga (a 3D video installation about AI and parenting), Rose Salane (archival works involving Princess Diana’s shoes), and Linda K. Johnson (a choreographer mapping Portland’s dance network).

Expo 86-themed events and ‘A Little Art Buzz’ at Surrey Art Gallery in May

Surrey Art Gallery in British Columbia is hosting a series of events throughout May 2026, centered on the exhibition "In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art." Highlights include a Family Art Jam on May 3, an artist talk with Leah Murray on May 7, a symposium titled "Expo Lines: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art" on May 9, and a curator’s tour with Jordan Strom on May 28. The events explore the artistic legacy of Vancouver’s 1986 world’s fair, which drew 22 million visitors, and feature works by over 50 artists including Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, Debra Sparrow, and Paul Wong.

RTRU* (*Raudive Technoculture Research Unit) at KAJE

The exhibition "RTRU* (*Raudive Technoculture Research Unit)" is on view at KAJE in Brooklyn from April 4 to May 17, 2026. Curated by the Riga Technoculture Research Unit (Zane Onckule and Elizaveta Shneyderman), the show features works by Ka Baird, Scott Benzel, Valdis Celms, Cal Fish, Jason Isolini, Voldemārs Matvejs, Karlīna Mežecka, Adriana Ramić, Konstantīns Raudive, and Ieva Rubeze. The press release and checklist are available, and images of the exhibition are provided courtesy of the artists and the gallery.

‘Into Other Spaces' to reexamine trailblazing women artists across decades

The Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul is hosting 'Inside Other Spaces: Environments by Women Artists, 1956-1976,' an exhibition that reconstructs immersive room-scale works by 11 women artists from underrepresented regions. Co-curated by Andrea Lissoni and Marina Pugliese, the show traces two decades of experimental environments made from light, sound, plastic, and foam, which anticipated installation and media art. The Seoul edition features a new version of Jung Kang-ja's 1967 work 'Muche-jeon (Incorporal Exhibition),' a smoke-filled chamber that evokes the tension of 1970s authoritarian Korea.

At the Baths of Diocletian in Rome, a show by a Chinese artist is a hit. The curator explains why

Alle Terme di Diocleziano di Roma spopola la mostra di un’artista cinese. Il curatore spiega perché

Chinese artist Wu Jian'an (born 1980, Beijing) is the subject of a major solo exhibition at the Baths of Diocletian in Rome, part of the Museo Nazionale Romano. Titled "Metamorphoses. L'arte che trasforma," the show explores connections between Chinese and Italian cultures, as well as broader Eastern and European traditions. Curated by Umberto Croppi, president of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, the exhibition features works such as the monumental leather installation "The Heaven of Nine Levels" (2008–2009) and the series "The Eternal Cycle – Running Through the Seasons" (2024–2025), which combines intricate paper cutouts, silk, wax, and cotton thread. The artist, who represented China at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017, was inspired by the ancient Roman spaces, creating a dialogue between his contemporary pieces and the site's classical mosaics and architecture.

Live Arts Program “1922 Revisited” Opens May 5th to Kick Off Preview Week, 61st Venice Biennale 2026

Third Space Art Foundation will present “1922 Revisited,” a live arts program curated by Dr. Janine A. Sytsma, from May 5–9, 2026 in Venice, Italy, during the preview week of the 61st Venice Biennale. The program brings together ten international artists to engage with the 1922 Venice Biennale exhibition of African sculpture through performances, a film screening, and a panel discussion, staged at venues including Hotel Monaco and the European Cultural Centre’s Marinaressa Gardens.

This Day in History, 1986: A Gianthropologist documents Expo 86 at new Surrey Art Gallery exhibit

The Surrey Art Gallery in British Columbia is presenting a new exhibition titled "In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art," running from April 18 to June 7, 2026. The show features over 50 artists, including a project by Michael de Courcy who took 1,700 photos of Expo 86 visitors, and works by Henri Robideau, a self-described 'Gianthropologist' who photographed giant roadside attractions across Canada in the 1980s.

Festival of Cats brings cat-inspired art to Thanet

The Festival of Cats, a community arts festival celebrating feline-themed art, is returning to Margate, Kent, from May 1-4. Featuring exhibitions, events, and workshops across fine art, poetry, film, performance, and craft, the festival showcases work from 100 local artists. Originally launched in 2018 as a satellite event for Turner Contemporary's "Journeys with The Waste Land" exhibition, it was inspired by T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and has since grown into a Thanet-wide event attracting thousands of visitors.

May Events at Lynden Sculpture Garden

The Lynden Sculpture Garden in Milwaukee announces its May 2026 events, including exhibitions, workshops, and outdoor installations. Featured exhibitions include Faythe Levine's "Time is Running Out," which explores the legacy of Charlotte Partridge and Miriam Frink, co-founders of the Layton School of Art, and "Slow Growing in the Time of Trees" by the mycology-focused collective mycollective. A bonsai exhibit opens on World Bonsai Day in collaboration with the Milwaukee Bonsai Society and Milwaukee Bonsai Foundation, alongside free community events like Knit @ Lynden with Sara Caron.

Venice Biennale jury resigns amid row over Russian entry

The international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned en masse just nine days before the opening of the world's oldest contemporary art fair, amid a dispute over Russia's participation and the panel's decision to bar prizes for countries accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. The jury, comprising president Solange Farkas and members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, stepped down without explanation, following tensions that also involved Italy's Culture Ministry cutting €2 million in EU funding over Russia's presence and sending inspectors to the Russian Pavilion.

Jonk & Friends: the exhibition that blends street art and photography at the Nature Forte Gallery

Photographer Jonk has invited 13 fellow artists to reinterpret his urbex photographs for a group exhibition titled "Jonk & Friends" at his Galerie Nature Forte in Paris. The show runs from May 7 to June 6, 2026, featuring works in a uniform 60 x 80 cm format, with participating artists including Horss, Mouarf, S4m, Siel, Bault, and Jace. Admission is free.

Exhibition | Olivia Sterling, 'Jelly' at Dirimart Pera, Istanbul, Turkiye

Dirimart presents Olivia Sterling's first solo exhibition in Istanbul, titled 'Jelly,' at its Pera location from May 7 to June 14, 2026. The show explores themes of race, power, and desire through scenes involving food, the body, and stains, using fruit and dark colors as metaphors for consumption and objectification. Sterling's paintings incorporate letters that expose how race is constructed through language, while the title 'Jelly' evokes flexibility, fluidity, and a grotesque bodily quality that mirrors the instability of identity and social conventions.

Tashkeel offers a shoulder to Moza Al Falasi in her debut solo exhibition

Tashkeel, a Dubai-based art organization founded in 2008 by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is presenting "Unfolding," the debut solo exhibition by Emirati artist Moza Al Falasi. Opening May 12 at Tashkeel's Nad Al Sheba 1 Gallery, the show marks the culmination of Al Falasi's participation in the Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme (CPP), where she was mentored by Luisa Menano and Hanaa Bou Hamdan. The exhibition explores memory, loss, and the passing of time through photography, sound, painting, plaster, and fabric, reflecting on inherited grief and personal loss, including the deaths of her parents and husband.

morocco debuts national pavilion at the venice biennale with monumental asǝṭṭa installation

Morocco will debut its first-ever national pavilion at the 2026 Venice Art Biennale, presenting a monumental installation titled "Asǝṭṭa" by multidisciplinary artist Amina Agueznay. Curated by Meriem Berrada, the project is housed in the Arsenale's Artiglierie and explores themes of traditional craftsmanship, shared memory, and the symbolic threshold (âatba). The installation, which involves 166 Moroccan artisans and two Venetian collaborators, is conceived as a porous, liminal space that engages with the Biennale's theme "In Minor Keys," curated by Koyo Kouoh.

Cinematic Painting Series

Cary Kwok's exhibition at Sessions Arts Club in London presents four new paintings created with support from Herald St, Cabin Studio, Jonny Gent, and David Southard. The works, rendered in acrylic and ink on paper, explore still lifes, silhouettes, and staged interiors inspired by 1980s visual culture, including interior design, cinematography, fashion editorials, and advertising. Featured pieces include *Eclipse* (2026) and *Anticipation* (2026), with the artist's signature subtly embedded in objects like jewelry and glassware. The show opens May 18 and is viewable by appointment or during dining hours, alongside a related wine label collaboration for the Sessions Arts Club Lost Wines Project.

When Art Meets Nature: Children’s Art Exhibition At National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore presents 'When Art Meets Nature', a children's art exhibition running from 30 April to 1 November 2026. The show features two installations: 'Peace Forest' by Singaporean artist Soh Ee Shaun, located in the Keppel Centre for Art Education, and 'Where the River Runs' by Yenting Hsu, displayed in the City Hall Alcove. The exhibition is co-curated by the Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts and National Gallery Singapore, offering interactive experiences such as a scavenger hunt and a woodblock art station, alongside a video and audio installation exploring the Dahan River in Taiwan.

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.

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.

MOCA Jacksonville announces new exhibition featuring international artist Amer Kobaslija

The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville announced a new exhibition featuring Jacksonville-based artist Amer Kobaslija. Titled "Outside Looking In: The Paintings of Amer Kobaslija," the show runs from April 30 to September 20 and traces his artistic journey from early works to the present. It includes series such as Florida Diaries, One Hundred Views of Kesennuma (inspired by Japan's 2011 tsunami), and his ongoing Artist Studios series. Kobaslija, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, draws on his experiences as a refugee and life across multiple countries, exploring themes of memory, displacement, and belonging.

Jule Korneffel Captures the Weight of the Pre-Dawn Sky at Spencer Brownstone Gallery, NYC

Jule Korneffel's third solo exhibition at Spencer Brownstone Gallery in New York, titled 'In Search of Lost Light,' presents a series of paintings that capture the quiet, liminal moments just before dawn. Using artist-mixed natural pigments, Korneffel shifts from her previous twilight-focused work to explore the anticipation of daylight, with pieces like the titular painting (2025) standing out for its playful, musical composition. The show also includes a mural in the gallery's back patio that blends colors into a grey neutral tone reminiscent of early-morning skies.

Coalition’ art exhibition draws massive turnout in Ibadan, eyes Guinness World Records

Over 900 art enthusiasts attended 'The Coalition' art exhibition in Ibadan, Nigeria, held from April 24 to 26, 2026, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The three-day event featured more than 600 artworks by 60 Nigerian artists, showcasing abstract works, portraits, and contemporary pieces exploring identity and culture. Organizers, including Constance and Sons Art Gallery founder Dunmade Ayegbayo, reported strong visitor engagement and sales, highlighting the commercial potential of Nigerian art.

Artist's books by Guido Strazza in Subiaco (Rome): the exhibition at Santa Scolastica

The State Library of Santa Scolastica in Subiaco, Rome, is hosting an exhibition titled 'Libri d’artista. Guido Strazza for Subiaco' from April 30 to June 2, 2026, dedicated to the artist's books of Guido Strazza. Curated by Simona Ciofetta with scientific coordination by Stefano Petrocchi, the show is part of Subiaco's initiatives as Italian Book Capital 2025. It explores the artist's book as an autonomous art form blending text, image, and materials, featuring limited-edition works and engravings by Strazza, including his 1980 portfolio 'Insects'.

THE ART OF SCALE: LARGE WORKS | An Online Exclusive Exhibition

JoAnne Artman Gallery presents 'The Art of Scale: Large Works,' an online exclusive exhibition running from April 27 to June 1, 2026. The show features 11 large-scale artworks by artists including America Martin, Mandy Racine, Martin Adalian, Mary Finlayson, Greg Miller, Anja Van Herle, CRASH (John "Crash" Matos), and Chris Watts, with prices ranging from $9,500 to $72,000.

‘Ojai Mystique’ exhibition returns to Ojai Valley Museum

The Ojai Valley Museum has opened its annual 'Ojai Mystique' exhibition, featuring 19 invited artists from California and beyond. Each artist created two paintings inspired by the Ojai Valley—a large masterwork and a smaller companion piece—resulting in 38 works that explore the region's landscape, atmosphere, and light. The exhibition runs through August 9 and includes a series of Sunday Town Talks with artists and a master framer.

Art or jungle gym? The Power Plant’s new interactive exhibition is all about play

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto has opened a new interactive exhibition titled "Colourful Parachutes: Imagining Alternative Futures Through the Power of Play," running until September 7. The show features 10 international and local artists and breaks the traditional gallery rule of "do not touch" by inviting visitors to play, climb, and alter the artworks. Curated with children in mind, the exhibition includes works like Harold Offeh's immersive installation "The Mothership Collective 2.0," which uses music, video, and interactive elements to encourage imaginative thinking about the future.

7 ‘Body Types’ in the Met’s ‘Costume Art’ Fashion Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has announced its upcoming spring exhibition, titled '7 Body Types,' which will explore fashion through the lens of diverse physical forms. The show will feature garments designed for seven distinct body types, challenging traditional fashion norms and highlighting inclusivity in design. Curated by Andrew Bolton, the exhibition draws from the museum's extensive collection and includes works from contemporary designers.

Flinders exhibition revives the ’60s-’70s

Flinders University Museum of Art (FUMA) presents 'Anarchive: knowledge follows form', a solo exhibition by South Australian artist Bridget Currie running from 27 April to 19 June 2026. The show reimagines the archive as a living force, drawing on FUMA's 'Post-object and Documentation Art' collection from the 1960s and 1970s. It features works by Bonita Ely, Alison Goodwin, Poppy Johnson, Dorothy Thompson, and Eva Yuen Man-Wah, including Thompson's playful protest performances in bird costumes. The exhibition is co-presented with Adelaide Contemporary Experimental and includes a guest-edited issue of Artlink magazine.

May-June Exhibition | Sertoma Arts Center

Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, presents its May–June Exhibition from May 4 through June 21, 2026, featuring regional artists across multiple gallery spaces. The Raleigh Room highlights Adam Cooley's "Boro Land: Layered Worlds," while the Hall Gallery displays works by Natacha Sochat and Rachel Stewart, and the Lobby Gallery showcases Beverly Lovelace, Heather Lee McLelland, and Linette Knight. An opening reception is scheduled for May 16.