Seeing beyond: Issam Kourbaj on mentoring three young artists for Abu Dhabi Art

Artist Issam Kourbaj is curating and mentoring three emerging UAE-based artists—Salmah Almansoori, Maktoum Al Maktoum, and Alla Abdunabi—for the Beyond Emerging Artists programme at Abu Dhabi Art, which runs November 19–23 at Manarat al-Saadiyat. The artists are creating new works for the fair and separate outdoor installations in Al Ain, including at historical sites like Al Ain Oasis and Jebel Hafeet Tombs, with the outdoor pieces on view for six months. Kourbaj, a Syrian-born artist based in Cambridge, selected the trio for their diverse materials and shared focus on place and memory.

A Look at the DIA’s Contemporary Anishinaabe Art Exhibition

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has opened "Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation," its first Native American art exhibition in over 30 years. Featuring 92 works by more than 60 Anishinaabe artists from the Great Lakes region, the show spans from 1892 to 2025 and includes pieces by renowned artists such as Jim Denomie, Norval Morrisseau, Kent Estey, Jonathan Thunder, and Rabbett before Horses Strickland. Highlights include Denomie's vibrant "Four Days and Four Nites, Ceremony" (2020) and Morrisseau's spiritual works like "Punk Rockers Nancy and Andy" (1989).

Ovartaci at auction: The Art Brut master behind surreal figures and smoking phantoms

On September 23, Bruun Rasmussen will auction ten works by Ovartaci, the Danish Art Brut master born Louis Marcussen. Ovartaci, who lived at the psychiatric hospital in Risskov for 56 years, created surreal figures, abstract female forms, and distinctive 'smoking phantoms'—handcrafted cigarette holders turned into magical beings. His breakthrough came in 1979 with the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art's 'Outsider' exhibition, and he has since been shown at the Venice Biennale and the CoBrA Museum of Modern Art. The online auction is already open for bidding, with a preview in Aarhus.

Brave New Work Is Coming to Santa Barbara

A three-day citywide symposium titled "Brave New Work: AI and Tech in the Hands of Artists" will take place in Santa Barbara from October 7-9, 2025. Organized by Michael Delgado in partnership with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, and UCSB, the event brings together leading artists and scientists for panel discussions, exhibitions, networking, and public art installations. Participants include internationally renowned artists Nancy Baker Cahill, JoAnn Kuchera-Morin, Victoria Vesna, and Beatie Wolfe, alongside technology leaders Kevin Davis, Ken Kosic, and Alan Macy. Highlights include a companion exhibition curated by the Brill Family Foundation, an AR installation at MCASB, performances from the Quantum Concerto, and free projected public artworks at the Michael Towbes Library Plaza.

An expert's guide to artists' books: four must-read publications on the genre

The Warburg Institute in London is opening an exhibition titled "Art & the Book" (16 May–2 August) and organizing the Biblioteka Art Book Fair (20–21 June) to explore the medium of artists' books. Curated by Arnaud Desjardin and Hlib Velyhorskyi, the show spans examples from the 1960s to today. To help readers understand the genre, Desjardin—author of the reference work *The Book on Books on Artists Books* (2013)—recommends four key publications: Lucy Lippard's *Six Years* (1973), the exhibition catalogue *Looking Telling Thinking Collecting* (2004) edited by Anne Moeglin-Delcroix and others, Clive Phillpot's essay collection *Booktrek* (2013), and Michael Lailach's *Printed Matter: Die Sammlung Marzona/The Marzona Collection* (2005).

Craft Contemporary celebrates a legacy of creativity

Craft Contemporary will host its 2025 Benefit & Art Auction on May 10 at the museum in Los Angeles, honoring founder Edith R. Wyle (1918–1999) and contemporary artist Bari Ziperstein. Wyle, who opened the Egg & The Eye in 1965—a hybrid gallery and omelet restaurant—will receive the Legacy Award, while Ziperstein, known for ceramics exploring consumerism and propaganda, will receive the Visionary Award. The sold-out dinner is followed by a 1960s-themed afterparty with cocktails, music, a puppet show, and a drag performance.

That Lovely Land of Might-Have-Been at The Falstaff Project

A new group exhibition, "That Lovely Land of Might-Have-Been," opened at The Falstaff Project in El Paso, featuring works by over twenty artists including Haydee Alonso, Diamond Stingily, and Edward Thomasson. Curated by artist Miguel Bendaña, the show presents a diverse range of media, from video installations to other contemporary forms, and will run from January 29 through March 8, 2026.

A world record for Lena Cronqvist and several million-plus sales at Stockholms Auktionsverk’s spring art auctions

Stockholms Auktionsverk's spring auctions, The Modern Art Sale and The Contemporary Art Sale, achieved strong results including a world record for Lena Cronqvist's sculpture "Flicka med flätor och parasoll", which sold for nearly SEK 1.9 million. Other top sales included Andy Warhol's "Queen Elizabeth II" at SEK 2.5 million, Jean-Paul Riopelle's "Arthur" at SEK 1,875,000, and Warhol's triptych "Ingrid Bergman" at SEK 1.25 million. Karin Parrow also set a new personal record with "Kappseglingsdag" selling for SEK 231,250.

Stockholms Auktionsverk Presents: The Modern Art Sale and The Contemporary Art Sale

Stockholms Auktionsverk is holding two live auctions, The Modern Art Sale and The Contemporary Art Sale, on May 20 and 21, 2026, at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm. The sales feature a curated selection of Swedish and international artists from the early 20th century to the present day, including works by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Tony Cragg, Lena Cronqvist, and a newly discovered painting by Gösta Adrian-Nilsson. The Modern Art Sale highlights modernist masterpieces by Otte Sköld, Sigrid Hjertén, and Ragnar Sandberg, while The Contemporary Art Sale pays tribute to Ola Billgren and includes works by David LaChapelle, Cindy Sherman, and Britta Marakatt-Labba.

Sold-out auctions suggest Hong Kong’s art market is back. But is it?

Hong Kong’s art market showed signs of a significant rebound during the March art week with two rare "white glove" auctions, where every lot was sold. Christie’s led the momentum with a 100 percent sell-through rate totaling HK$655.8 million, followed by Sotheby’s, which achieved HK$548.4 million and set a record for the most valuable work by a female artist sold at auction in Asia with Joan Mitchell’s La Grande Vallée VII.

Hera Büyüktaşçıyan Channels Istanbul’s Haunted Histories

Hera Büyüktaşçıyan Channels Istanbul’s Haunted Histories

Hera Büyüktaşçıyan has opened a major solo exhibition, 'I Know You As Her', at Istanbul's Arter museum. The show features new and existing works, including sculptures, installations, and watercolors, that explore submerged histories and spectral presences within the city's urban fabric, particularly around the historic Pera district.

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair Has Taken Off Its Training Wheels

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair (BFAPF) has returned for its second edition at Powerhouse Arts, expanding significantly from its inaugural "beta test" last year. The fair now features over 60 exhibitors, including a diverse mix of independent print shops, academic departments, self-represented artists, and established international galleries. This year's iteration emphasizes experimental mixed-media practices and a rigorous juried selection process, moving beyond traditional printmaking to include illuminated plexiglass screenprints and sculptural paper works.

Long-Lost Skeleton of D’Artagnan, the Fourth Musketeer, Discovered in Dutch Church

Archaeologists have discovered skeletal remains beneath the floor of St. Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht, Netherlands, which are believed to be those of the 17th-century French soldier Charles de Batz de Castelmore, the historical figure who inspired the literary character D'Artagnan. The discovery was made during repair work, and artifacts found nearby—including a French coin and musket ball fragments—align with the historical record of D'Artagnan's death during the 1673 siege of Maastricht.

La grande artista Carla Accardi e l’arte italiana sono da record nell’asta da Dorotheum a Vienna

Dorotheum opened its Contemporary Week in Vienna on May 19, 2026, with modern and contemporary art sales that achieved strong results, particularly for Italian artists. Carla Accardi set a new auction record when her 1986 triptych *Fonda Notte Pieno Giorno* sold for €520,000, while works by Piero Dorazio, Emilio Vedova, Marino Marini, and Gino Severini also far exceeded their estimates. Top lots included Claude Monet’s *Waterloo Bridge* (€611,000) and Mikuláš Medek’s *Too Deep a Sleep V* (€546,000).

Being a Street Photographer. Interview with Simone Morelli, the Artist of Slowness

Essere street photographer. Intervista a Simone Morelli, l’artista della lentezza

Simone Morelli, a street photographer born in Rome in 1987, discusses his slow, analog approach to photography in an interview with Artribune. He began after receiving a Praktica film camera as a gift in Sweden in 2012, and was captivated by the process of shooting and printing on film. Morelli describes his method as instinctive yet deliberate, often working on long-term projects that build a coherent visual narrative rather than seeking single 'beautiful' images. He cites Josef Koudelka as a key influence and emphasizes the importance of patience and reflection in an era dominated by fast, digital imagery.

Un’importante collezione tedesca d’arte per la prima volta in mostra in Italia a Venezia

The Kelterborn Collection, a German private collection focused on video art and experimental installations, will be exhibited in Italy for the first time at Venice's Contemporary Forces platform from May 7 to September 27, 2026. The exhibition, titled "Who’s a good boy??," is curated by Anastasia Stravinsky and Mario von Kelterborn in collaboration with IKT – International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art, and features works by twelve artists including Joseph Beuys, Gary Hill, Laure Prouvost, and Ulay. The show aligns with the theme of the 61st Venice Biennale, exploring power "in minor keys."

young dealers new york gallery

CULTURED magazine hosted its first Young Dealers panel at Soho House in New York, featuring gallerists Margot Samel (of Margot Samel gallery) and Alex Fleming and Anya Komar (of Ulrik gallery). Moderated by CULTURED contributing writer Melissa Smith, the conversation covered building an art program, navigating market shifts, and the multifaceted role of running a gallery. The event previewed the magazine's upcoming Young Dealers list and included non-alcoholic cocktails from presenting partner Aplós.

Katie DeGroot: The Arboreal Life

Katie DeGroot's exhibition "The Arboreal Life" at Kathryn Markel Fine Arts in New York (April 2–May 9) presents tree paintings that anthropomorphize branches into human-like figures. Works such as "Chit Chat" (2026) and "Family Matters" (2025) depict trees leaning, gesturing, and tangling in ways that suggest intimate relationships, arguments, and familial bonds. DeGroot, who moved from New York City to a farm in upstate Fort Edward, began using fallen branches as models after lacking human subjects, developing compositions that emphasize color, texture, and the interplay of fungi and lichen. Her use of opaque and translucent watercolors balances natural observation with poetic interpretation.

Artist-led walk by K. S. Radhakrishnan at Chawla Art Gallery

Sculptor K. S. Radhakrishnan personally led an exclusive walkthrough of his exhibition "Once Upon a Sculptor" at Chawla Art Gallery. The event offered attendees an intimate look at his artistic evolution, from early works to his iconic Maiya and Musui figures, with the artist sharing insights into his ideas and processes.

Chawla Art Gallery Hosts Artist-Led Walkthrough for “Once Upon a Sculptor” Exhibition

Chawla Art Gallery in New Delhi hosted an artist-led walkthrough for the exhibition “Once Upon a Sculptor,” featuring the renowned Indian sculptor K. S. Radhakrishnan. The event allowed visitors to engage directly with the artist as he discussed his creative evolution, the development of his visual language, and the philosophical layers behind his iconic bronze figures, Musui and Maiya.

Imaginarium 5.0 in Kolkata features art works, and installations by 10 artists

Emami Art in Kolkata is hosting its fifth annual group exhibition, Imaginarium 5.0, featuring works by ten emerging Indian artists under the theme 'The Promise of the Depth of Being.' The show includes artworks, installations, prints, and sculptures that explore depth in various forms—from wooden etchings and teatime arrangements to vibrant body art and emotional human experiences. The exhibition culminates in an award, with Pankaj Sarma, Farhin Afza, and Rahul Sarkar taking the top three spots. The show runs until December 24, 2025.

In pictures: meet the newcomer galleries debuting at Art Basel

Art Basel has unveiled its lineup of newcomer galleries for the upcoming fair, featuring seven emerging and rediscovered artists from around the world. The debutants include Kyiv-based Sana Shahmuradova Tanska, whose monumental painting addresses the war in Ukraine; Japanese textile artist Junko Oki, showing embroidered vintage garments; and Italian feminist poet Mirella Bentivoglio, represented by a participatory tree sculpture. Other highlights include Parisian Ndayé Kouagou's video work on mass media, conceptual feminist Tina Girouard's wallpaper pieces from the 1970s, London-based Alexandra Metcalf's deconstructed grandfather clocks, and Georgian artist Nika Kutateladze's installation about rural depopulation. The galleries presenting these artists are Gunia Nowik Gallery (Warsaw), Kosaku Kanechika (Tokyo), Repetto Gallery (Lugano), Nir Altman (Munich), Anat Ebgi (Los Angeles), Ginny on Frederick (London), and Gallery Artbeat (Tbilisi).

The Politics of In-action: Review of In-action: Viennese Actionism and the Passivities of Performance Art

Caroline Lillian Schopp's new book *In-action: Viennese Actionism and the Passivities of Performance Art* (2025) offers a revisionist history of Viennese Actionism, a movement retroactively named in 1970 by Peter Weibel and Valie Export. Schopp introduces the term "in-action" to describe a politics of artistic action that emphasizes intimacy, hesitation, and vulnerability rather than the violent or liberatory extremes typically associated with the movement. She expands the canon to include women artists such as Anna Brus, Hanel Koeck, and Ingrid Wiener, and reexamines the work of Rudolf Schwarzkogler, whose death was mythologized as a suicide by self-castration but was actually a fall from a window. Through close readings of photographs, Schopp argues that Schwarzkogler's performances were characterized by passivity and "in-sincerity," challenging the dominant narrative of actionism as aggressive or heroic.

A Persian Garden Blooms on Governors Island

Artist Bahar Behbahani organized a four-hour event called "Damask Rose: A Gathering" on Governors Island, transforming three shallow fountains with handwoven carpets and crocheted canopies. The gathering featured West African musical improvisation, Kurdish poetry, a cyanotype workshop, and communal activities like hair braiding and tea ceremonies, involving over two dozen community groups including the Asia Contemporary Art Forum and Eat Offbeat. The event was part of Governors Island Arts's annual Interventions series, curated with associate curator Juan Pablo Siles.

Art bartering: artists start viral social media trend to fight cost of living crisis

Artists worldwide are using social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to barter their artwork for goods and services instead of money, in a viral trend responding to the cost of living crisis. Participants trade paintings for items such as handmade clothes, jewelry, tattoos, accommodation, meals, and professional services like video editing or framing, with some simply inviting offers. Artists like Lin Snow, Oli Fowler, and Andrea Mongenie cite economic pressures and anti-capitalist motivations, viewing bartering as a way to build community and bypass financial systems that leave creatives struggling.

A Landmark Benjamin Franklin Collection Is Hitting the Auction Block

A landmark collection of Benjamin Franklin memorabilia assembled by sports and entertainment mogul Jay Snider is heading to Sotheby’s New York on June 24. The collection includes over 150 items—books, broadsides, letters, and manuscripts—tracing Franklin’s career from printer to scientist to diplomat. Highlights include a 1758 letter to Joseph Galloway (estimated $70,000–$100,000), a 1778 letter from George Washington introducing the Marquis de Lafayette (which sold for over $1 million in January), and a bound volume of Franklin’s electrical experiments ($75,000–$125,000). The full catalogue is valued at $3 million to $4.5 million, and 40 artifacts will be displayed at the Library Company of Philadelphia from May 5 to 7.

Reaching for the stars: enduring symbols of Soviet science – in pictures

Photographer Eric Lusito documents Soviet-era scientific institutes across former USSR states in his book "Soviet Scientific Institutes," published by FUEL. The photo essay captures decaying facilities and enduring equipment at locations including the Institute of Radio Astronomy in Kharkiv, Ukraine; the Byurakan astrophysical observatory in Armenia; the Andronikashvili Institute of Physics in Tbilisi, Georgia; and the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute in Kazakhstan, among others.

Lack of accountability after crush of crowds at Haiti’s Citadelle Laferrière kills 25

A crowd crush at Haiti's historic Citadelle Laferrière fortress on April 11 resulted in at least 25 deaths, including a pregnant woman and children. The tragedy occurred during an unauthorized event promoted by TikTok influencers, which drew over 3,000 people to the site. Heavy rain and a stampede at the narrow entrance exacerbated the overcrowding.

work of the week corneille de lyon mystery

A 16th-century portrait, attributed only to the "French or Flemish School," sold for $2.3 million at a Sotheby's New York auction, dramatically exceeding its estimate. The work, from the collection of Dutch magnate Anton Philips, sparked a 10-minute bidding war among four participants, likely driven by speculation it could be by the Dutch-born French painter Corneille de Lyon.

Masterworks Cofounders Face Legal Threats and Complaints

cofounders startup masterworks legal threats complaints

Masterworks, a company that sells fractional shares of high-value artworks, is embroiled in a legal dispute with former executive Hai Min Tran. The company has filed a complaint in New York state court, alleging Tran resigned from his role as chief product officer before taking paternity leave and is now attempting to extract a financial settlement. Masterworks calls his subsequent claim of illegal termination "wholly meritless."