World’s first AI art museum opens in LA

Dataland, the world's first museum dedicated to generative AI art, will open in Los Angeles on June 20. Founded by media artist Refik Anadol and his wife Efsun Erkılıç, the museum is located in the Grand LA cultural complex alongside The Broad, MOCA, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Spanning 3,250 square meters, it debuts with the exhibition "Machine Dreams: Rainforest," featuring a machine-generated rainforest created by Anadol's proprietary Large Nature Model, trained on data from the Smithsonian Institution, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the Natural History Museum in London.

Summer Previews: The Season’s Most Anticipated Shows

Artforum's editors preview twenty-five anticipated institutional exhibitions opening worldwide between May and August. Highlights include "Fade" at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the latest in its career-making "F show" series featuring seventeen emerging artists of African descent; "Modernity and Opulence: Women of the Wiener Werkstätte" at the Jewish Museum in New York, showcasing over 180 women designers from Austria's famed atelier; "Replica of a Chip: The Weaving Technology of Marilou Schultz" at the Hessel Museum of Art, exploring the intersection of Navajo weaving and microchip history; the 59th Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art, with 61 artists spread across Pittsburgh venues; and "Mary Ellen Carroll: How to Talk Dirty and Influence People" at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

Expansive Exhibition Highlights U.S. History Through ‘A Nation of Artists’

The United States is marking its 250th anniversary in 2026 with a major collaborative exhibition titled *A Nation of Artists*, presented simultaneously at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA). The show features over 1,000 works—paintings, photographs, sculptures, and decorative arts—spanning from the late 18th century to the present, including more than 120 rarely seen pieces from the Middleton Family Collection, one of the country's most significant private holdings of American art. PAFA organizes the works thematically around westward expansion, industrialization, and globalization, while PMA, celebrating its 150th anniversary, presents a chronological survey from 1700 to 1960, highlighting international exchange, technological innovation, and shifting cultural economics.

Experience 'Mona Lisa' and Renaissance Art at Hong Kong Heritage Museum Exhibition Starting Tomorrow

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is launching 'The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance' exhibition from May 1 to July 27. The show offers a multimedia immersive experience centered on Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' and features Renaissance art treasures on loan from French and Italian cultural institutions, including the Musée du Louvre and the Musée national de la Renaissance. The opening ceremony on April 30 was attended by Hong Kong Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, French Consul General Christile Drulhe, and other dignitaries.

Alexander Calder Thought 'It Would Be Fun' to Set Abstract Art in Motion. His Mesmerizing Mobiles Transformed the Definition of Sculpture

A major exhibition titled "Calder: Dreaming in Equilibrium" has opened at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, showcasing 300 works by Alexander Calder, including his pioneering mobiles, stabiles, paintings, drawings, and wire portraits. The show marks 100 years since the artist's arrival in France in 1926 and 50 years since his death in 1976. It features iconic pieces such as the 19-foot-long mobile *Triumphant Red* (1963) and his earliest known kinetic sculpture—a brass duck from 1909—alongside works by contemporaries like Barbara Hepworth, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Klee, as well as photographs by Man Ray, Agnès Varda, and Gordon Parks.

New museum dedicated to AI promises an ethical approach

Dataland, billed as the world's first museum dedicated to AI art, is set to open on June 20 in Los Angeles at The Grand LA, a Frank Gehry-designed complex. Co-founded by Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol, the 35,000-square-foot privately-funded museum will feature five immersive galleries. Its inaugural exhibition, *Machine Dreams: Rainforest*, is an audiovisual experience based on millions of images and sounds of nature, inspired by a visit Anadol and co-founder Efsun Erkılıç made to the Amazon rainforest. Anadol is known for his generative AI piece at MoMA in 2022 and a projection on the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Review: “Maya Blue” at the San Antonio Museum of Art

The San Antonio Museum of Art is presenting "Maya Blue: Ancient Color, New Visions," an exhibition curated by Kristopher Driggers that explores the ancient Maya pigment known as Maya blue. The show features eight earthenware artworks and one stucco piece dating from 550 to 1,500 years ago, alongside five modernist and contemporary works that highlight the enduring influence of Indigenous knowledge. Objects on view include figurines, a censer, and jade pieces, many bearing traces of the distinctive blue pigment, which was difficult to produce and held sacred significance in Maya culture.

Explore HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" Starting April 24

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) opens its large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" on April 24, featuring over 100 sets of paintings and artefacts from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Palace of Versailles, and HKMoA's own collection. Works include paintings, prints, lacquerware, sculpture, ceramics, and glassware, with highlights such as Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" and "Water Lily Pond," Zhang Daqian's "Entrance of Bade Garden," and a Ming dynasty bowl with garden scenes. The exhibition also includes a scenographic recreation of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering enhanced with technology for an immersive experience.

Dataland, the world’s first museum of AI arts, sets opening date and first exhibition

Dataland, the world's first museum dedicated to AI arts, will open on June 20 in downtown Los Angeles. Co-founded by new media artists Refik Anadol and Efsun Erkılıç, the 35,000-square-foot museum anchors the $1-billion Frank Gehry-designed Grand LA complex. Its inaugural exhibition, "Machine Dreams: Rainforest," created by Refik Anadol Studio, uses vast data sets from partners including the Smithsonian and London's Natural History Museum to immerse visitors in a machine-generated sensory experience of the Amazon rainforest. The museum features five immersive galleries, a 30-foot ceiling, and is powered by an open-access AI model called the Large Nature Model, which runs on Google Cloud servers using 87% carbon-free energy.

refik anadol's DATALAND opens june 2026 in los angeles as the first museum of AI arts

Refik Anadol Studio will open DATALAND, the world's first Museum of AI Arts, on June 20, 2026, at The Grand LA in downtown Los Angeles. The 2,320-square-meter institution will feature five galleries, including the Infinity Room, and launch with the inaugural exhibition "Machine Dreams: Rainforest," running through January 31, 2027. The museum integrates AI systems into its architecture, powered by the studio's Large Nature Model trained on ecological data from the Smithsonian and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

MIT List Visual Arts Center celebrates 40 years

MIT's List Visual Arts Center celebrated its 40th anniversary on April 10, 2026, with performances, receptions, and the opening of a new exhibition titled "Performing Conditions," which explores work, debt, and labor. Housed in the Wiesner Building designed by I. M. Pei, the museum manages public art across MIT's campus, including works by Olafur Eliasson and Sanford Biggers, and runs a Student Lending Art Program that loans about 700 works annually. An anonymous donor has launched a $1 million matching challenge grant for conservation of the public art collection.

Chinese Artist Cao Fei Opens New Exhibit at Fondazione Prada: See “Dash”

Chinese artist Cao Fei has opened a new solo exhibition titled "Dash" at the Fondazione Prada in Milan. The exhibition presents a new body of work, including video installations and sculptures, continuing her exploration of digital realities, urban transformation, and the human condition in a rapidly changing world.

5 New Art Pieces to See in NYC This Spring

New York City's spring art season is marked by a series of high-profile exhibitions across major institutions, focusing on themes of vulnerability, technological evolution, and personal identity. Notable highlights include the New Museum's exploration of the human body in the digital age and MoMA's deep dive into the tumultuous relationship and individual resilience of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Digital Art Exhibit Showcases Tech's Creative Potential in Austin

The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin has launched 'Run the Code: Data-Driven Art Decoded,' a major exhibition featuring over 20 digital artworks produced between 2004 and 2022. On loan from the Thoma Foundation, the collection includes pieces by prominent figures such as teamLab, Leo Villareal, and Marina Zurkow that utilize coding, real-time data, and generative AI. The show highlights the evolution of digital practice in the "post-social media era," ranging from interactive installations to algorithmic critiques of environmental and social issues.

Exciting Spring Exhibitions Across U.S. Museums

Major U.S. museums are launching a series of high-profile exhibitions this spring, headlined by a massive Marcel Duchamp retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Other key highlights include the North American debut of Iris van Herpen’s technologically-driven fashion at the Brooklyn Museum and a focused look at Peter Hujar’s photography of the New York underground at the Morgan Library & Museum.

Senior Thea Merritt Curates Exhibition About Artist Robert E. Mueller

Monmouth University senior Thea Merritt has curated the exhibition "Robert Mueller: Man and Machine" at the Ice House Gallery, focusing on the interdisciplinary legacy of the late artist and scientist Robert E. Mueller. Drawing from a massive estate donation of 1,500 objects, Merritt selected works that highlight Mueller’s unique fusion of electronic science, philosophy, and fine arts. The show represents the culmination of Merritt's work cataloging the collection and her research into contemporary curatorial practices.

These Are the 8 Best Fashion Museums and Exhibits in the World—From Rare Dior Pieces to Centuries-old Couture

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is set to unveil a massive 12,000-square-foot expansion of its Costume Institute galleries on May 10, 2026. The inaugural exhibition, "Costume Art," will explore the relationship between fashion and the human body by pairing historic garments with fine art from the museum's diverse collection. This high-profile opening will be preceded by the annual Met Gala, co-chaired by global icons including Beyoncé and Anna Wintour.

Artist Shana Moulton to speak at Humanities Decanted

Artist Shana Moulton is set to discuss her multidisciplinary practice at the "Humanities Decanted" event on April 21. The talk will focus on her long-running 'Whispering Pines' series and her recent site-specific installation at MoMA’s Kravis Studio, which features her iconic alter ego, Cynthia. Developed in collaboration with composer Nick Hallett, the project utilizes performance and video to explore a multi-chapter narrative centered on themes of wellness and consumerism.

How US museums are adapting to a new era for technology-based art

American art institutions are undergoing a structural shift to accommodate the rapid evolution of technology-based and time-based media. The opening of Canyon, a 40,000-square-foot space in Manhattan’s Lower East Side founded by Robert Rosenkranz, exemplifies this trend. Led by former Mass MoCA director Joe Thompson, the venue aims to provide a permanent, hospitable home for moving-image, sound, and performance works that often struggle to find long-term exhibition space in traditional New York museums.

From Studio Ghibli to ‘Jaws:’ The 16 Coolest Museum Exhibitions To Visit In L.A. This Spring

Los Angeles is hosting a diverse array of major museum exhibitions this spring, ranging from cinematic retrospectives to ancient history and automotive culture. Key highlights include the Academy Museum’s immersive look at Studio Ghibli’s 'Ponyo' and a massive 50th-anniversary tribute to 'Jaws,' while the Getty Villa explores ancient Egyptian spirituality through the 'Book of the Dead.' Other notable shows include a 1990s fashion retrospective at the ASU FIDM Museum and a unique exploration of soccer culture at LACMA through the miniature sculptures of Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr.

Everything you need to know about the Met Gala 2026 and ‘Costume Art’ exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced details for its 2026 Costume Institute exhibition, titled 'Costume Art,' which is set to open on May 10, 2026. Curated by Andrew Bolton, the show will explore the 5,000-year history of the 'dressed body' by juxtaposing contemporary and historical fashion with sculpture, antiquities, and portraiture from across the museum’s 17 departments. The exhibition will be preceded by the annual Met Gala on May 4, 2026, serving as the primary fundraiser for the department.

These are the 30 best museum exhibits in NYC right now

New York City’s cultural landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the reopening of the New Museum in its expanded 60,000-square-foot building designed by OMA. The inaugural exhibition, "New Humans: Memories of the Future," features over 200 contributors exploring the intersection of technology and humanity. Simultaneously, major institutions are launching landmark shows, including a massive Raphael retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the 2026 Whitney Biennial, which focuses on artificial intelligence and climate grief.

Philippe Parreno: Film, the Digital, and the City Beyond

Renowned artist Philippe Parreno joined Hans Ulrich Obrist for an artist talk at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, hosted by Fondation Beyeler and UBS. The conversation spanned Parreno's career, from his early projects like the manga-inspired 'Annlee' to his current role as Artistic Director of the 2025 Okayama Art Summit. Parreno detailed his shift into filmmaking, including a new project featuring Jennifer Lawrence, and his use of AI and technology to create 'living' art installations.

SILSILA: Highlights from the Dalloul Collection Including Modern & Contemporary Middle Eastern Art - Christie's

Christie’s has announced a major auction titled "SILSILA: Highlights from the Dalloul Collection," scheduled for November 6, 2025, in London. The sale features 20 exceptional works from the Beirut-based Dalloul Collection, a premier repository of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, alongside pieces from other private owners. Key highlights include masterpieces by Paul Guiragossian, Mahmoud Saïd, and Samia Halaby, with a specific focus on Lebanese and Palestinian artistic heritage.

12 art exhibitions to check out this spring in L.A.

Los Angeles is preparing for a robust spring arts season with a diverse lineup of exhibitions across the city's major institutions. Highlights include the long-awaited opening of the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, a retrospective of the band Sublime at the Grammy Museum, and Yoko Ono’s first solo exhibition in Los Angeles. The season also features multidisciplinary showcases such as Guillermo Bert’s tech-integrated textiles at the Museum of Latin American Art and a sensory-focused group show at the Hammer Museum.

Spectacular: The Art of Jonathan Yeo in Augmented Reality Makes Its U.S. Debut at SXSW

British contemporary painter Jonathan Yeo is bringing his augmented reality exhibition, "Spectacular," to the United States for its debut at SXSW in March 2026. Utilizing Snap’s fifth-generation Spectacles, the installation transforms Yeo’s traditional portraiture into interactive, living digital experiences that respond to the viewer's movements in real time. The project, which premiered at the Centre Pompidou, represents a collaboration between the artist and Snap AR Studio’s Artist Residency Program.

9 new art museum and gallery exhibits opening in Houston this month

Houston is experiencing a significant surge in artistic activity this month, anchored by the 40th anniversary of FotoFest and major new installations at the city's leading institutions. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is hosting "Buddha/Nature," a dialogue between ancient sculptures and contemporary works, alongside the return of Ernesto Neto’s massive immersive crochet installation, "SunForceOceanLife." Meanwhile, the Menil Collection is showcasing recent gifts, and Artechouse has launched a technology-driven spring celebration featuring AI-assisted sculpting and digital floral environments.

Obscured Gauguin nude sculpture may be revealed in its entirety following museum donation

A polychromed wood relief by Paul Gauguin, titled 'Te Fare Amu', is set to undergo conservation to remove overpaint that has obscured the figure's genitals for seven decades. The sculpture was partially painted over in 1954 by American collector Henry Pearlman, who feared the work would be seized by US Customs as 'obscene' or 'indecent' upon its import from Paris. The piece is part of a major 63-work promised donation from the Pearlman family foundation to the Brooklyn Museum, LACMA, and MoMA.

Commentary | Art is more than its original context

Comment | Art is more than its original context

This commentary explores the tension between historical context and the immediate, physical experience of viewing art in the modern age. While art historians often focus on restoring works to their original origins—such as the rare, unmoved Giovanni Bellini altarpiece in Venice—the author argues that over-emphasizing biographical or political context can reduce a masterpiece to a mere illustration or a token in a power game.

Denver Art Museum presents Knife Fork Spoon: Everyday Tools, Extraordinary Design in May 2026

The Denver Art Museum will open an exhibition titled 'Knife Fork Spoon: Everyday Tools, Extraordinary Design' in May 2026. The show explores the history, artistry, and innovation of flatware, featuring over 200 objects from the 19th century to the present, including newly commissioned works by contemporary designers and architects.