The super architect Kengo Kuma on display at the Bonsai Museum, a magical place on the outskirts of Milan

Il super architetto Kengo Kuma in mostra al Museo del Bonsai, luogo magico alle porte di Milano

The Crespi Bonsai Museum in Parabiago, near Milan, is hosting an exhibition during Fuorisalone featuring the new carpet collection "Faces" by Indian brand Jaipur Rugs, created in collaboration with renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The museum, founded 35 years ago by Luigi Crespi, houses the world's most important collection of author bonsai outside Japan, including a thousand-year-old Ficus retusa. The 16 carpets in the collection reinterpret the facades of iconic buildings by Kengo Kuma & Associates, translating their rhythm, depth, and sensory memory into wool and regenerated viscose, displayed among the bonsai and in the museum's zen garden.

May we suggest the art you need to see this May?

Lifestyle Asia has published a curated list of art exhibitions and events to see in May, offering recommendations for art enthusiasts looking to explore new shows and installations during the month. The article serves as a guide to notable cultural happenings, likely highlighting both emerging and established artists across various venues.

Contemporary Indian Art at the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is hosting "Sediments of Becoming: Fossilised Present, Summoned Pasts," an exhibition curated by Marina Schulz and Tunty Chauhan that features works by eleven contemporary Indian artists, including Afrah Shafiq, Anindita Bhattacharya, Debashish Mukherjee, and others. The show positions contemporary Indian artistic practice within a broader international and civilisational discourse, set against the Hermitage's historic backdrop of over three million objects spanning centuries.

Between everyday and exceptional

Emami Art in Kolkata presents "Nothing Twice," an exhibition featuring nine young women artists that explores the fragility of ordinary life through domestic, tactile, and overlooked subjects. Curated by Ushmita Sahu, the show includes works in painting, textiles, photography, ceramics, drawing, and video, with artists like Moumita Basak, Shilpi Sharma, and Riti Sengupta focusing on material memory and feminist art histories. Concurrently, "Khadi: A Canvas" at TRI Art & Culture showcases 19 khadi sarees woven in the jamdani technique by tribal women from Srikakulam, connecting Raja Ravi Varma's visual culture with Gandhi's politics of self-reliance, curated by Lavina Baldota with textile artist Gaurang Shah. Additionally, "Digital Atma (Spirits) X The Wandering Souls" at A.M (Art Multi-disciplines) examines digital life and technology's impact on identity and intimacy through poetry, sound, image, and performance.

Realms of the Dharma

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has opened "Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia," an exhibition on view through July 12, 2026, that brings together approximately 180 Buddhist artworks from its permanent collection for the first time in a single space. Curated by Stephen Little and Tushara Bindu Gude, the show features paintings, sculptures, ritual objects, and sacred texts spanning Asia, including a notable gray schist bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara from Gandhara (c. 200 CE). The exhibition highlights the transformative work of curator Pratapaditya Pal, who from 1970 built LACMA's Indian, Himalayan, and Islamic collections into one of the nation's premier repositories.

Nathaniel Mary Quinn's Museum Show | Herbie Hancock Returns Home | The Lake Plans Opening

Nathaniel Mary Quinn, a Chicago-born artist who grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes, will present his first solo museum exhibition in his hometown at the National Public Housing Museum. The show, titled "Nathaniel Mary Quinn: A Love Letter To My Mother," features ten works on canvas and paper, a recreated living room from his family's apartment circa 1984, and a reading room with historical materials about the housing project. Separately, Mariane Ibrahim gallery now represents Chicago-based artist Leasho Johnson, whose work draws on Jamaican mythology and appeared on the cover of Newcity's April 2026 issue. In other local news, a new social club called The Lake is set to open in River North this fall, designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects, and construction has begun on the next phase of the Southbridge development on the site of the former Harold Ickes Homes.

April 2026 Art And Culture Guide: Exhibitions, Museums & Cultural Events You Can’t Miss

A guide highlights key art and cultural events in India for April 2026. It features several exhibitions, including Nayanaa Kanodia's 'Staged Realities' at Bikaner House, Neha Sahai's introspective solo show at LATITUDE 28, and Mari Ito's first Indian solo exhibition at Bikaner House. Other notable events are the performance 'Sair-e-Motorcar' blending Kathak with vintage cars, the group show 'Houses I Almost Lived In' at LATITUDE 28, and the two-day World Dance Day festival curated by Geeta Chandran at the India International Centre.

Delhi Gallery District: Defence Colony Emerges As City’s First Art Hub

The Defence Colony neighborhood has officially transformed into Delhi’s first dedicated gallery district, housing 11 distinct art spaces within a compact, walkable circuit. Anchored by established institutions like Vadehra Art Gallery and Akar Prakar, the area has seen a recent influx of contemporary spaces including GALLERYSKE, PHOTOINK, and the newly opened Gallery Dotwalk. This concentration of venues has birthed a new cultural ritual in the city: late-night art walks where collectors, curators, and younger audiences move seamlessly between openings.

Time as Witness: Ai Weiwei at Nature Morte

Ai Weiwei has launched his first major solo exhibition in India at Nature Morte gallery in New Delhi, timed to coincide with the India Art Fair 2026. The show features a range of works spanning three decades, including his signature large-scale Lego compositions and porcelain sculptures. Notably, the artist debuted new pieces that engage specifically with Indian art history, reimagining works by modernists SH Raza and VS Gaitonde, as well as traditional Rajasthani Pichwai paintings, through his modular toy-brick medium.

Ai Weiwei's first solo show in India features a Pichwai in his iconic toy-brick style

Globally renowned conceptual artist Ai Weiwei has opened his first solo exhibition in India at the Nature Morte gallery in New Delhi. The show, presented in collaboration with Galleria Continua, features his iconic toy-brick canvases, including new commissions inspired by Indian modernist painters like Raza and Gaitonde, and a unique LEGO-brick interpretation of a traditional Pichwai painting. Other works address themes of migration, history, and censorship through mediums like Neolithic stone axes, porcelain urns, and repurposed furniture.

From monumental scroll paintings to metaphorical breasts: five works to see at Art SG

The article highlights five standout works at Art SG, the Singapore art fair. Featured artists include Pinaree Sanpitak, whose hand-blown glass sculpture *Stacked Offering I* (2024-25) continues her exploration of breasts as metaphors for womanhood and spirituality; Jakkai Siributr, whose textile work *CG20* (2023) repurposes discarded uniforms from Thailand's struggling tourism workers into a tapestry of healing; Citra Sasmita, whose installation *Timur Merah Project XI: Bedtime Story* (2023-24) centers female protagonists in Balinese mythological scrolls; and Ayesha Singh, whose wall reliefs from the *Evolution* series trace Indian architectural motifs. Prices range from around $5,000 to $40,000, with works shown by galleries including Ames Yavuz, Flowers Gallery, Yeo Workshop, and Nature Morte.

Ai Weiwei will open his first solo exhibition in India

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei will open his first solo exhibition in India at Nature Morte in New Delhi, running from January 15 to February 22, 2026. The show spans over four decades of his work, featuring large-scale Lego pieces reinterpreting art history icons like Hokusai and Monet, new Lego compositions inspired by Hindu Pichwai paintings, homages to Indian modernists V.S. Gaitonde and S.H. Raza, the installation "Whitewashed Remnants of History of the State of Emerging Future Works," and the textile work "F.U.C.K." (2024). The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Galleria Continua.

Ai Weiwei’s first India solo exhibition to open in New Delhi

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei will open his first solo exhibition in India this week at Nature Morte gallery in New Delhi, running from 15 January to 22 February. The untitled show spans four decades of his career, featuring large-scale Lego works based on famous artworks (including versions of Hokusai's 'Surfing' and Monet's 'Water Lilies'), new Lego pieces inspired by Indian Pichwai paintings and homages to modernist painters V.S. Gaitonde and S.H. Raza, plus installations such as 'Whitewashed Remnants of History of the State of Emerging Future Works' and 'F.U.C.K.' (2024). All works are for sale, with several pre-sold; the exhibition is a collaboration between Nature Morte and Galleria Continua.

Sixth Kochi Biennale: what’s on show and who is funding it

The sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) in Kerala, India, titled "For the Time Being," will open on December 12, 2025, and run until March 31, 2026. Curated by artist Nikhil Chopra and his collective HH Art Spaces, the biennial features 66 artists or groups, including Marina Abramović, Tino Sehgal, Otobong Nkanga, Ibrahim Mahama, and Adrián Villar Rojas. South Asian artists make up about two-thirds of the lineup, with works addressing political themes such as the Kashmir conflict and the Gaza genocide, despite a climate of censorship in India. The central venue, Aspinwall House, will be partially used after previous access issues with developer DLF.

Untitled Art fair displays new dimensions on Miami's South Beach

Untitled Art fair opened its 14th edition on Miami's South Beach, featuring 160 exhibitors and a strong focus on emerging talent through its Nest sector and new solo and non-profit booth sections. Notable works include Márton Nemes's multisensory Stereo Paintings 11b (2025), Siebren Versteeg's media-critique piece History (2003), and Tanya Aguiñiga's socially engaged cotton-rope sculpture. The fair saw institutional visitors like collectors Don and Mera Rubell and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, with sales reported for works by Élise Peroi and Samuel Nnorom.

Modern Freskos: Berlin Artist Paul Kuntze Debuts Solo Show at Black Cube Gallery

Berlin-based contemporary artist Paul Kuntze (b. 1995) will debut his first solo exhibition in India, titled “Modern Freskos,” at Black Cube Gallery in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, from December 5 to 27, 2025. The show presents Kuntze’s reinterpretation of European Baroque frescoes—inspired by masters like Pietro da Cortona, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and Andrea Pozzo—merged with 20th-century Abstract Expressionism and street-art techniques, using layered acrylic sprays to create atmospheric perspectives.

Tania Willard wins Canada’s top contemporary art prize

Tania Willard, a member of the Secwépemc First Nation, has won the 2025 Sobey Art Award, Canada’s top contemporary art prize, at a ceremony at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The award, announced by last year’s winner Nico Williams, comes with C$100,000 ($71,200). Willard’s multidisciplinary practice spans basketry, sculpture, public art, and land-based projects, and she is also a prominent curator. The five other finalists each received C$25,000. Works by all finalists are on view at the NGC until February 2026.

Palestinian artist ‘cancelled’ by US museum comes to Frieze Masters

Palestinian artist Samia Halaby is presenting a solo stand at Frieze Masters in London, hosted by Sfeir-Semler Gallery. This follows the abrupt cancellation of her retrospective at Indiana University Bloomington's Eskenazi Museum of Art last year, after staff raised concerns about her social media posts expressing support for Palestinian causes during the Israel-Gaza war. A petition launched by her grandniece garnered over 15,000 signatures, and the gallery reports sustained interest in her work from both private collectors and museums.

11 Must-See Art & Cultural Exhibitions in India This Season

This article highlights 11 must-see art and cultural exhibitions across India during the autumn season, spanning cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Featured shows include the Bvlgari Serpenti Exhibition at NMACC Mumbai, a retrospective of women artists titled "Woman Song | Looking Back" at Vadehra Art Gallery, experimental works by modernist FN Souza at Emami Art Kolkata, and solo shows by artists such as Pema 'Tintin' Tshering, Madhvi Parekh, and Nikhil Chaganlal. The lineup also includes group shows like "Mishran: A Medley of Mediums" at India Habitat Centre, offering a diverse range of mediums from sculpture to digital art.

A Husain horse painting, a portrait of Max Ernst’s soulful dog, and a Fini cat mask: our pick of the September auctions and fairs

The article highlights several notable artworks heading to auction and art fairs in September 2024. These include M.F. Husain's "Untitled (Horses)" (1971) at Christie's New York, estimated at $100,000–$150,000, following a record-breaking sale of another Husain work earlier this year. Also featured are Leonor Fini's embroidered cat mask (around 1960) at Weinstein Gallery during Independent 20th Century in New York, Dorothea Tanning's "Katchina and Her Soul" (1951) at Sotheby's London, and Alberto Giacometti's "Small Head of Elsa Schiaparelli" (around 1935) at FAB Paris.

Bollywood Star Sonam Kapoor on the Women Who Shaped Her Eye for South Asian Art

Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor discusses her evolution as an art collector, shaped by the women in her family—her mother Sunita Kapoor and aunt Kavita Singh, a Mumbai-based interior designer and art curator. Kapoor began collecting instinctively, drawn to South Asian modernists like Amrita Sher-Gil and Manjit Bawa, but has recently shifted toward contemporary works and underrepresented artists, especially women and those outside major art hubs. She sources art from galleries such as Jhaveri Contemporary, Chemould Prescott, and Nature Morte, as well as auction houses including Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Saffronart. Kapoor was on the host committee for the Serpentine Summer Party in London, where she admired Arpita Singh’s first institutional solo show outside India.

11 new art shows in India we’re excited about this August

Vogue India highlights 11 new art shows opening across India in August 2025, including the 8th edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week, which brings together six women-led galleries. Notable exhibitions include 'The Personal is Mythical' at Latitude 28 featuring Gond artist Bhajju Shyam, 'Roots of the Earth' at Jhaveri Contemporary exploring marginalized histories, and a solo show of Madhvi Parekh at DAG celebrating her folk modernist works. Other shows include 'Objects May Appear Softer…' at Black Cube Gallery, focusing on Indian female artists.

All that is trending in the art, entertainment, and culinary world

This article highlights several cultural events in India, including Kallol Datta's solo exhibition "Volume IV: Truths, Half-Truths, Half-Lies, Lies" at Experimenter Colaba in Mumbai, which critiques historical regulations on women's attire using textile-based works. It also covers the 8th edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week (DCAW) at Bikaner House, featuring six women-led galleries; Partha Pratim Deb's solo show "Play-Forms" at Emami Art in Kolkata; the group exhibition "Non-Residency" at Jaipur Centre for Art curated by Rajiv Menon; and the reopening of Bombay Club café in New Delhi. Additionally, it mentions Khyber restaurant's 65th anniversary menu and a forthcoming exhibition "What Am I Made Of?" at Latitude 28.

Explore 200 Years of American Art at the PEM

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, is hosting "Making History: 200 Years of American Art," an exhibition organized by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and on view through September 21, 2025. The show features 85 original works by American artists, including Charles Willson Peale's *The Artist in His Museum*, Patience Wright's wax sculpture of George Washington, and portraits of Ruth St. Denis and Mrs. Chase. PEM's curators have reimagined the exhibition with local relevance and immersive design, and the final gallery invites visitors to contribute personal reflections on history.

Zuccaire Gallery Exhibit Explores Power of Indigenous Language in Contemporary Art

The Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at Stony Brook University presents "Weaving Words, Weaving Worlds: The Power of Indigenous Language in Contemporary Art," a group exhibition featuring 24 artists including Jeffrey Gibson, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, and Kay WalkingStick. The show, on view from July 17 through November 22, explores how traditional and new media art can serve as a vessel for cultural continuity, storytelling, and the reclamation of Indigenous languages, with a focus on Algonquian languages spoken across Long Island and the Northeast. Archival materials from Stony Brook University’s Special Collections, including the Native Long Island map with over 400 Algonquian words, provide historical context.

An expansive monograph of Celia Paul paints a portrait of a single-minded, singular artist

A new monograph on Indian-born British painter Celia Paul (b. 1959) presents an expansive survey of her career, featuring over 500 color reproductions and essays by Hilton Als, Clare Carlisle, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Edmund de Waal, and Rowan Williams, alongside contributions from the artist herself. The book traces Paul's trajectory from her training at the Slade School of Fine Art and her decade-long relationship with Lucian Freud to her recent solo exhibition *Colony of Ghosts* at Victoria Miro in London, positioning her as a singular figure distinct from the shadow of Freud and the School of London painters.

'I'm a container for my own spirit': Nickola Pottinger on her show of sculptures at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

Nickola Pottinger presents her first solo museum exhibition, "fos born," at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, curated by chief curator Amy Smith-Stewart. The show features Pottinger's emotive, organic sculptures called "duppies," inspired by Jamaican folklore and her West Indian upbringing in Brooklyn. Constructed from recycled materials like furniture, bones, bird cages, and pigmented paper pulp made from family documents and rubble, the works explore themes of cultural identity, motherhood, and the duality of post-colonial existence. The exhibition centers on the recent birth of Pottinger's daughter, Zora, with pieces like "Give tanks and praises" (2025) incorporating a cast of the artist's pregnant torso.

Explore Contemporary Art At These 3 Must-Visit Exhibitions | Grazia India

The article highlights three must-visit contemporary art exhibitions in India. The first, 'India in Dialogue: Tradition & Transformation' at Jaipur Centre for Art (May 3–June 8, 2025), is a group show curated by Noelle Kadar featuring artists like Shilpa Gupta and Jitish Kallat. The second, 'Bachpan' by Vicky Roy at Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi (May 2–30, 2025), is a solo photography exhibition capturing childhood resilience, with 30% of proceeds supporting the Barefoot Skateboarders Organisation. The third, 'A Moment in Modernity' by Haren Thakur at Art Magnum and Gallery Time and Space in New Delhi (May 4–June 30, 2025), blends tribal art with modernist aesthetics.

Venice Biennale 2026: The Pavilions Not to Be Missed

Biennale de Venise 2026 : les pavillons à ne surtout pas manquer

The 61st Venice Biennale, curated by Koyo Kouoh as an invitation to slow down and reconnect with emotions, features a constellation of contemplative and powerful proposals across the city. Notable national pavilions include the Holy See transforming a monastic garden into an immersive sound experience by Soundwalk Collective, Canada exploring colonial heritage through giant water lilies by Abbas Akhavan, and Austria electrifying the Giardini with radical performances by Florentina Holzinger. Other highlights include Spain dissecting collective memory through postcards, Poland imagining new forms of language between human and underwater worlds, and India's pavilion exploring notions of home.

Who is Prune Delon, the 24-year-old fashion designer selected for a residency at the Villa Medici?

Qui est Prune Delon, cette créatrice de mode de 24 ans sélectionnée pour une résidence à la Villa Médicis ?

Prune Delon, a 24-year-old fashion designer and Institut français de la mode graduate, has been awarded a prestigious one-month research residency at the Villa Medici in Rome. Moving away from traditional ready-to-wear collections, Delon is using the residency to develop a multidisciplinary project that blends textile art with sculptural installation. Her work at the historic site draws inspiration from the villa's mineral architecture and classical sculptures, as well as her formative experiences studying traditional embroidery and natural dyeing techniques in India.