Manchester Open exhibition to return in 2026 with ‘biggest celebration’ of local creative talent

The Manchester Open exhibition will return in 2026 for its fourth iteration, taking place at HOME Manchester from June 20 to September 6. The open-call show invites submissions from artists of all experience levels across eight categories including ceramics, painting, photography, and textiles. A new award honoring philanthropist Kate Voke will be introduced, and three artists will receive development packages managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery. The application process is now open, with the selection panel to be announced in spring 2026.

Art exhibits abound this fall at Pitt State

Pittsburg State University's Art Department is hosting a series of free exhibitions in its two galleries at Porter Hall this fall. Featured shows include Katie Petersen's "Centripetal: The Return to the Self" (Sept. 3–Oct. 10) at the Harry Krug Gallery, exploring balance and health through pastel colors and x-ray imagery; Diane Bronstein's "Unreal city" at the University Gallery, blending vintage photography with embroidery to address climate change; "Seeded: Art After Investment" (Oct. 15–Nov. 10) showcasing faculty and student works made possible by grant funding; and Jason Tanner Young's "Finder" (Oct. 22–Dec. 15), a sculpture exhibition examining the relationship between objects and memory. All exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public.

Solarium, a new plant shop and art gallery, to open at former Pittsfield Plant Connector location

Anastasia Drayton is transforming the former Pittsfield Plant Connector space at 46 West St. in Pittsfield into Solarium, a plant shop and art gallery slated to open in mid-September. Drayton, who previously ran a pop-up called Foraged and Found inside the Plant Connector, will offer plants, nature-based home decor, self-care products, and works from local artists. The center of the store will become the Atrium Gallery, curated by muralist Mike Carty, featuring local art and named in tribute to Carty's heart transplant. Drayton also plans to host workshops, educational seminars, and community events, building on the legacy of former owners Bonnie Marks and Emilee Yawn.

Ithaca artist Werner Sun merges science, math and art at new Schweinfurth exhibit

Artist Werner Sun, a particle physicist by training, presents a new exhibition at the Schweinfurth Art Center and Cayuga Museum of History & Art in Auburn, N.Y., running through May 17, 2025. The show merges digital photography and paper folding techniques into sculptural wall and ceiling works, drawing on Sun's background in science and mathematics. Sun, who earned degrees from Harvard and Caltech and works as IT director at Cornell University's Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education, uses algorithms and tessellation patterns to transform photographs into geometric folded pieces. The exhibition includes series such as 'Double Vision,' 'Big Bang,' and 'Rose Window,' with the latter two hosted at the Cayuga Museum.

Provincetown art exhibit celebrates 50 years of coastal studies

A new art exhibition titled "Persistent Curiosity: Charting the Rippled Fabric of the Sea" has opened at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Center for Coastal Studies. The show runs from May 15 through July 19, with an opening reception on May 22.

Researcher Announcement: 'Genre Palissy' Pottery in 19th-Century France

Annonce de chercheur : Les poteries « genre Palissy » au XIXe siècle en France

A doctoral candidate in art history, Mariette Boudgourd, has announced a public call for information to aid her research on 19th-century French ceramics in the 'genre Palissy' style. Her thesis aims to define the corpus of these works, analyzing their production techniques, market diffusion, and the construction of the myth surrounding the Renaissance potter Bernard Palissy.

OPEN CALL – Diriyah Art Futures: Emerging New Media Artists 2026-2027 Edition.

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has opened applications for its third Emerging New Media Artists Programme, a one-year fully supported residency running from October 2026 to October 2027. Developed in collaboration with Le Fresnoy – Studio National des Arts Contemporains in France, the programme offers emerging artists aged 35 or under access to professional equipment, a production budget, mentorship by international digital artists, and multidisciplinary training in art, science, and technology. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2026, with a focus on applicants from the Middle East and North Africa.

Carnegie Museums $500 million campaign will fund projects at all 4 museums

The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh have launched a $500 million comprehensive campaign, the largest in their history, to fund capital projects across all four of their institutions: the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. The campaign, which has already raised $325 million, will support renovations, new exhibitions, and expanded educational programming, including a major overhaul of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History's dinosaur hall and a new wing for the Carnegie Museum of Art.

National Artist Call for Juried Art Exhibition at Minneapolis Institute of Art, Allegories of a Better World

Artists nationwide are invited to submit original works to a juried exhibition titled "Allegories of a Better World," which will be held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art on June 28, 2026. The submission deadline is May 15, 2026. The exhibition is organized in conjunction with the premiere of the documentary film "The Making of America," directed by Monique Linder and produced by OMG Studios in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center. Submissions should explore themes such as virtue, moral courage, truth, justice, liberation, reconstruction, memory, history, and cultural healing. Selected works may also be featured in the film.

Art in Bloom returns to Mia, transforming galleries with floral interpretations

Art in Bloom, the Minneapolis Institute of Art's annual floral showcase, returned from April 23 to 26, 2026, featuring over 160 flower arrangements inspired by artworks from the museum's permanent collection. The free, four-day event, presented by the Friends of the Institute, drew thousands of visitors and included guided tours, family activities, and expanded programming. Floral designers, florists, and garden clubs placed their interpretations alongside original pieces, with this year's centerpiece inspired by a Japanese Presentation vase from the early 20th century, once owned by railroad magnate James J. Hill.

Chicago creator honors community with collaborative art exhibition

Chicago artist Brian Sykes is debuting a multidisciplinary exhibition titled “I Heard the City Breathe” at the Beverly Arts Center, running from April 6 through May 1. The project, which includes a short film and gallery-style visual art, serves as a collaborative reflection on the Black experience in Chicago. By blending music, storytelling, and intergenerational community input, Sykes explores themes of identity, memory, and the cultural realities of the city’s South Side.

Weekender: Music, Live Sound Installation, Art

The UC Davis College of Letters and Science is hosting a weekend event titled "Weekender: Music, Live Sound Installation, Art" at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. The event features a live sound installation by artist and composer Pamela Z, alongside a performance by the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christian Baldini, which will include a piece by composer Gabriela Ortiz.

Self-generated income for UK museums ‘can only go so far’ in filling gaps left by funding cuts, report says

A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) warns that state-funded UK museums are reaching a breaking point as they attempt to offset significant government funding cuts with self-generated income. Analyzing 15 major institutions including the British Museum and Tate, the report reveals that while self-generated revenue rose by 53% since 2021-22, it remains highly volatile and susceptible to external factors like tourism costs and membership churn. Despite a recent £31m funding boost from the DCMS, over half of these institutions report being in a worse financial position than they were three years ago.

Zoo, science centre and art gallery open for students during teachers’ strike

During Alberta’s province-wide teachers’ strike, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, TELUS Spark science centre, and Contemporary Calgary are offering special programs for students. TELUS Spark is providing first-come, first-served camps for grades 1-6, with registration opening weekly, while the zoo highlights new animal additions. Contemporary Calgary is offering a $20-per-child art field trip on color theory and painting for students aged 5-13, with a maximum of 30 children per session.

How the National Gallery of Art is Using AI to Unlock New Insights into Art and Pain Managment

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is leveraging its extensive digitization program to apply artificial intelligence to new fields, including pain management. Through partnerships like the PHAROS consortium and a collaboration with McGill University researcher Hannah Derue, the museum's open-access collection of over 61,000 high-resolution images is being used to train AI models for PAin+, a software platform that helps chronic pain patients articulate and track their experiences using art-based mindfulness and machine learning.

Mindy N. Besaw appointed new director for Eskenazi Museum of Art at IU Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington has appointed Mindy N. Besaw as the next Wilma E. Kelley Director of the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, effective August 15. Besaw, who brings over two decades of curatorial and museum leadership experience, currently serves as director of fellowships, research and university partnerships and curator of American art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She succeeds interim director Mariah Keller and will oversee all facets of the museum's strategy, operations, and engagement, including exhibitions, collections, teaching partnerships, and public programming.

UC Davis Graduate Exhibition Showcases Next Generation of Artists, Thinkers

The University of California, Davis, will host the Arts & Humanities 2025 Graduate Exhibition from June 5–22 at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. The multidisciplinary showcase features 31 graduate students from art studio, art history, design, comparative literature, English, environmental science and policy, music, and performance studies. Works include photography, painting, sculpture, video, performance, and textiles, with live performances and awards on opening night. Participants explore themes such as human-technology relationships, environmental resilience, African diaspora, and emotional healing.

Glimpses of the Final Frontier at the American Museum of Natural History

The New York Times reports on a new exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History that offers visitors a look at space exploration and cosmic phenomena. The show features artifacts, models, and immersive displays that highlight humanity's journey into the final frontier, blending scientific discovery with visual spectacle.

Wavelength Space's "Glimmer & Shine" Exhibition Open Call Deadline Extended

Wavelength Space art gallery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has extended the deadline to January 28 for its open call exhibition "Glimmer & Shine," celebrating Women’s History Month in March 2026. Sponsored by the Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), the exhibition invites artists to explore themes of radiance, reflection, and resilience through works that engage with light as both phenomenon and metaphor. The show is guest-juried by artist Ayo Janeen Jackson and is open to all U.S. residents, with free entry for UTC students and faculty and a $30 fee for others.

MSU student debuting ant-themed art exhibit

Morehead State University student Josiah Kilburn, a senior biology major from Castle Rock, Colorado, is debuting an ant-themed art exhibition titled “Myrmecoportraiture: Experience the Enchanting World of Ants” at the Golding-Yang Art Gallery. Running from October 6 to 30, the show combines macro photography, live ant colonies, preserved specimens, and interactive multisensory displays, including tactile habitats and distinct ant smells. Kilburn developed the project through his biology studies and photography courses, with mentorship from Associate Professor Dr. Robyn Moore. An artist talk and reception are scheduled for October 22.

Cannabis Art Exhibition Comes to Fort Collins

A traveling art exhibition called Hear/Say, part of the Tea on THC campaign, will open May 27 at the Center for Creativity in Fort Collins, Colorado, and run through May 31. The exhibition combines scientific research with visual art—including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and installation—to spark public conversations about the health impacts of high-potency cannabis. It is organized by the Colorado School of Public Health and Initium Health following Colorado House Bill 1317, which mandated research and public outreach on high-potency THC products. A free opening reception is scheduled for May 29, with additional events planned in Colorado Springs in June.

PlayLab to open Saturday at Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center

PlayLab, a new hands-on learning and play space for children and families, will officially open on Saturday, May 16, at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center in Dickinson, North Dakota. Located beneath the gallery's main floor, the interactive space features 12 themed labs—including motion, discovery, building engineering, design, spark, construction, magnet, sensory, logic, space, and eco areas—each equipped with materials to foster creativity, motor skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Admission is $10 per child, and regular hours will be Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.

Artist Presents 20 Years of “Cosmic Breath” Research at the Venice Biennale

The Hungarian Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale has opened with Endre Koronczi's exhibition "Pneuma Cosmic (Cosmic Breath)," a three-part installation based on nearly 20 years of research into visualizing air currents. The exhibition features elements including ventilation system components from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, a video of a year-long walk seeking the most significant sigh, and a breathing wall, complemented by a composition by Máté Balogh. The pavilion opened to professionals on Wednesday and will be open to the public from May 9 to November 22.

Southwest Art Gallery showcases women’s Western art exhibition, to host artist reception May 14

The Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center in Dickinson, North Dakota, is presenting a women’s Western art exhibition titled “Women Artists of the Western Plains” from May 7 through June 12. The show features 88 artworks including paintings, bronze sculptures, and historic saddles by regional artists Daphne Clark, Afton Ray Rossol, Barb Kalenze Kraft, Oksana Zvyagelskiy, Trish Stevenson, and Kelsey Jacobson. A public reception will be held May 14 with wine, cheese, and classical guitar. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Long X Arts Foundation and includes works by sculptor Linda Little and saddles from the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The world’s finest nature images are now on display at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (SMAG)

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has opened at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (SMAG) in Shropshire, UK, running until 20 June 2026. On loan from the Natural History Museum in London, the show features over 60,000 entries judged anonymously by an international panel, including a striking image of a lioness and cobra by Gabriella Comi. Alongside the main exhibition, a community photography competition highlights local Shropshire photographers focusing on 'Wildlife on your doorstep'.

A parking structure transforms to public art gallery

A parking structure at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach is being transformed into a walkable public art gallery featuring murals by eleven artists. The project, organized by City of Hope Orange County and Lido Marina Village, centers on the theme “Hope is a Rising Tide.” Murals include depictions of City of Hope cancer patients and themes of science and innovation. The final mural, “Hope on the Horizon” by artist RFX1, measures 64 by 8 feet and is currently being completed. The space is free and open to the public.

Schreyer Honors College installs art gallery featuring student art

Schreyer Honors College at Penn State has opened a new art gallery called “Illuminate” on the ground floor of Atherton Hall, featuring artwork from four Schreyer Scholars. The inaugural exhibition includes pieces by Olivia Knoechel, Jessica Matinchek, Paige Rishel, and Lisa Wang, selected by a panel of staff, students, and alumni artist Kaleigh Quinnan. The gallery opened on April 10 with a celebration attended by family, friends, and college staff.

Fourth annual Student Art Exhibition adds more artists and expands sponsors

Marquette University held its fourth annual Student Art Exhibition on April 23, 2026, at the Lemonis Center for Student Success, featuring ten student artists each awarded a $500 stipend to create works around themes such as “Culture & Career,” “Defining Success,” “Belonging at Marquette,” and “Expanding Horizons.” The event, organized by Career Center director Courtney Hanson, included pieces by Jessica Wrobel and Salo Aristizabal, among others, and was sponsored by the Career Center, the Division of Belonging and Student Affairs, the Lemonis Center, Raynor Library, and Enterprise Mobility.

Rare documents from National Archives’ Freedom Plane tour draw history buffs and more to USC Fisher Museum

The USC Fisher Museum of Art is hosting the "Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation," a traveling exhibition of rare founding-era documents from the U.S. National Archives. The show, which runs through May 3, includes items such as a rare engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris (1783), and a Senate markup of the Bill of Rights (1789). USC is the only university stop on the eight-city national tour, and the documents arrived in Los Angeles on a special Boeing 737. The exhibition has drawn history students, faculty, and the public, with USC Distinguished Professor Peter C. Mancall bringing his class to study the documents up close.

No Lost Generation Hosts Beautiful, Poignant Exhibition of Afghan Refugee Artists’ Work

Georgetown University’s student organization No Lost Generation (NLG) partnered with the Afghan artist collective ArtLords to host a five-day exhibition at the Intercultural Center galleria. Curated by Omaid Sharifi, the showcase featured works by three Afghan refugee artists—Abdul Hakim Maqsoodi, Mohammad Younus Qani, and Fatima Wojohat—centered around the theme of "nawroz" (new day). The collection spanned traditional Afghan miniatures, scenes of displacement, and portraits exploring the resilience of female refugees.