Explorations: A State Affair? The historical exhibition unfolds at the Army Museum

The Army Museum in Paris is hosting "Explorations: A State Affair?", a comprehensive exhibition running from April 15 to August 16, 2026. The showcase traces three centuries of French global expeditions, from the aftermath of the Seven Years' War in 1763 through the space race to contemporary missions focused on climate change and resource security. Featuring a diverse array of artifacts including maps, scientific instruments, military uniforms, and paintings, the exhibition highlights the military's central role in scientific discovery, territorial expansion, and state power.

20 artisti lavoreranno in 20 paesini remoti di 20 regioni italiane. La rassegna che porta l’arte contemporanea nei borghi torna per il settimo anno

The seventh edition of "Una Boccata d'Arte," an initiative by Fondazione Elpis, will bring contemporary art to 20 remote villages across all 20 Italian regions. Twenty artists, each paired with a curator, will create site-specific projects that will be inaugurated simultaneously on June 20-21, 2026, and remain on view until October 4. A key innovation this year is that artists and curators spent extra time engaging with local communities before designing their works, fostering deeper connections. Examples include Greek artist Vasilis Papageorgiu transforming a traditional tablecloth from a resident of Tredozio, and Francesco Alberico collaborating with a socio-health facility in Bressanone to create a bird-themed installation.

C’è un museo di Torino che cerca 100 lampade per realizzare una grande installazione. Ecco come partecipare

The MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale in Turin has launched an open call titled "We need your light," inviting the public to lend up to three lamps each for a large-scale collective installation. Participants can deliver their lamps on May 17-18, 2026, by booking a time slot via Eventbrite; the museum will collect the objects, rewire them for safety, and incorporate them into a site-specific artwork debuting during Turin's Art Week in October 2026. The museum also encourages lenders to share the story behind their lamp, which will be filmed and included in the exhibition.

The church, the village, the park. FAI's 'Places of the Heart' returns to save ruins

La chiesa, il borgo, il parco. Tornano i Luoghi del Cuore del FAI per salvare i beni in rovina

The Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (FAI) has launched the 13th edition of its "Luoghi del Cuore" (Places of the Heart) initiative, a biennial census that invites Italians to vote for cultural heritage sites most in need of restoration. Since 2003, the campaign has collected over 13.5 million votes, with the 2024 edition alone receiving more than 2.3 million votes for over 41,000 sites across 6,508 municipalities. The initiative has funded 180 recovery projects, 40% of which involve churches, followed by environmental, architectural, and archaeological assets. Notable successes include the Church of San Pietro dei Samari in Gallipoli, the Oratorio del Sasso in Orasso, and the Complesso di Sant’Angelo Magno in Ascoli Piceno.

The Story of Alexey Shor: From Mathematician to Contemporary Classical Composer. The Interview

La storia di Alexey Shor: da matematico a compositore classico contemporaneo. L’intervista

Alexey Shor, a 1970-born Ukrainian-American composer who originally earned a PhD in mathematics and worked in finance, has transitioned to a full-time career in contemporary classical music. From April 28 to 30, 2026, his neo-romantic compositions were performed at the Auditorium RAI "Arturo Toscanini" in Turin, Italy, by the RAI National Symphony Orchestra under Estonian conductor Anu Tali, alongside works by Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and Grieg. The concerts featured renowned musicians including Russian conductor Mikhail Pletnev, violinist Giuseppe Gibboni, violinist Daniel Lozakovich, and pianist Arsenii Moon. In an interview with Artribune, Shor discussed his dual career, his emotional connection to audiences, and his openness to having his music used in films.

In Valcamonica il Parco archeologico di Luine ha chiuso e non si sa se e quando riaprirà: la storia

The Luine Archaeological Park in Valcamonica, Italy, closed on April 1, 2026, after the municipality of Darfo Boario Terme, led by Mayor Dario Colossi, failed to renew the management contract held by Zamenhof Art and ArchExperience. The park, which houses rock engravings dating back to the end of the Paleolithic period (about 13,000 years ago), is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a unique part of the Camunian park system. Weeks after the closure, the park remains in limbo with no clear reopening date, while multimedia installations and digital content created by the former managers are being removed. The story has received little media attention beyond local outlets.

Does Art Move You? The University of Pisa is Looking for You to be an Artwork Observer

L’arte ti emoziona? L’Università di Pisa ti cerca per fare l’osservatore di opere

The University of Pisa's Department of Biology is recruiting adult volunteers to participate in a study on emotional responses to visual art. Participants will observe images of artworks on a computer and describe their emotional reactions, with the aim of gathering a diverse sample to understand the processes behind emotion and perception.

The process for awarding the title of Italian Capital of Culture should be rethought. Here's why.

Il processo per assegnare il titolo di Capitale Italiana della Cultura andrebbe ripensato. Ecco perché

An analysis of the selection process for Italy's "Capital of Culture" title reveals a consistent pattern: cities chosen for the prestigious designation are almost exclusively administered by political coalitions aligned with the national government in power at the time of selection. The sole exceptions were Bergamo and Brescia, which were jointly awarded the title via a special parliamentary decree in recognition of their suffering during the pandemic, bypassing the standard procedure. This political alignment has persisted across different legislatures and changes in government.

In a Piacenza church, the light of designer Davide Groppi becomes a whisper suspended in time

In una chiesa di Piacenza la luce del designer Davide Groppi diventa un sussurro sospeso nel tempo

Renowned lighting designer Davide Groppi has unveiled a major anthological exhibition titled "Un’ora di luce" (An Hour of Light) at Volumnia, a gallery housed within the deconsecrated Church of Sant’Agostino in Piacenza. Curated by Marco Sammicheli, the retrospective spans forty years of Groppi’s career, featuring iconic works like Sampei and Moon alongside new site-specific debuts. The exhibition is structured in two parts: a series of enclosed "utopias" that create intimate light environments, followed by a dialogue between his minimalist fixtures and the soaring, historic architecture of the church.

Taking a nap in an art gallery? In Palermo you can, in the new 'nap-salon'

Fare la pennichella in una galleria d’arte? A Palermo si può, nella nuova ‘pisolineria’

Artist Pietro Librizzi has transformed Palermo's independent Rollò gallery into a temporary "Pisolineria Librizzi," or nap-salon. The project invites the public to visit the gallery not to view art, but to take a paid nap, offering various service packages from a basic rest to a sleep kit with eye masks and a personalized wake-up call.

ART OSAKA 2026 RETURNS WITH EXPANDED VENUES

ART OSAKA 2026 will take place from 28 May to 1 June with an expanded two-venue format, featuring over 60 galleries from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and beyond. The fair is split between the Galleries Section at Grand Green Osaka in the Umekita district and the Expanded Section at Creative Center Osaka, a former shipyard. A special exhibition, "Another 1990s—Kansai Artists Beyond Time," revisits regional art practices from the 1990s.

Annual {Ink}arcerated art exhibition returns to Arizona Center May 15

The {Ink}arcerated: Creativity Within Confinement art exhibition returns to the Arizona Center on May 15, featuring 365 new paintings, drawings, and sculptures created by incarcerated individuals. Managed by doctoral students Alexis Klemm and Madeline Boersma from ASU's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the program involves distributing art supplies to 17 correctional facilities across Arizona, including a youth facility for the first time, and curating the completed works into a polished exhibition with museum lighting and display walls.

Young Artists Take Center Stage At Rutland Gallery Exhibit

The Greater Rutland Central Supervisory Union recently launched its third annual student art celebration at the Vermont State University Castleton Bank Gallery. The exhibition showcases a diverse array of creative works—including paintings, charcoal drawings, pottery, and photography—produced by students ranging from pre-K through high school. The opening reception also integrated live musical performances by local students, creating a multi-disciplinary showcase of regional youth talent.

OPEN CALL TEST SPACE Residency 2026

Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA) has announced an open call for its annual Test Space Residency programme for 2026, now in its sixth year. The residency offers two awards: one for early-career art practitioners and one for those at a more advanced stage. Selected artists will receive an 8-week studio residency with a €5,000 stipend, curatorial support, promotion, and the opportunity to engage with LCGA's audiences and community. The programme was established in 2020 in response to the Arts Council's EDI Policy and prioritizes projects involving public engagement, workshops, talks, or community inclusion events. Applications are open to writers, filmmakers, dancers, performers, academics, and visual artists across all disciplines.

Anna Thew's exhibition

New Art Projects gallery in London is presenting a solo exhibition of Anna Thew, an artist whose practice spans painting, performance, filmmaking, and music. The show brings together historic and recent works on paper and film, including pieces never before shown or screened, and will feature a new multi-screen projection created for the duration of the exhibition. Thew first made a film in 1980 and gained a reputation for challenging the Structuralist Materialist school of British experimental cinema through works that emphasize emotive content, poetic editing, and spoken word soundtracks.

Drawings of the Seicento: 17th-Century Italy from the Collections of the Musée Condé

Dessins du Seicento. L'Italie du XVIIe siècle autour des collections du musée Condé

The Musée Condé in Chantilly is presenting an exhibition titled 'Dessins du Seicento' from March 7 to June 14, 2026. It focuses on the museum's previously unexhibited collection of 17th-century Italian drawings, featuring 26 high-quality sheets from its holdings, supplemented by a few prints and related drawings borrowed from other institutions like the Fondation Custodia and the Louvre.

fashion buccellati shanghai retrospective milanese jewelry

Buccellati, the Milanese jewelry house founded in 1919 and now owned by Richemont, held a major retrospective titled “The Prince of Goldsmiths” in Shanghai. The exhibition traced the family-run enterprise’s 100-plus-year history, showcasing signature pieces such as four butterfly brooches representing successive generations of the Buccellati family—from founder Mario to great-granddaughter Lucrezia—alongside sumptuous jewelry and lesser-known home decor, including animal-inspired silverware and chrome lobster sculptures.

“长征前夜·抚州烽火”纪念红军长征胜利90周年美术采风创作活动在抚州举办

From April 30 to May 4, 2026, the "Long March Eve·Fuzhou Beacon" art sketching and creation event was held in Fuzhou to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March. Organized by the Jiangxi Artists Association and the Fuzhou Municipal Propaganda Department under the guidance of the China Artists Association, 15 artists including China Artists Association Chairman Fan Di'an and Secretary-General Wang Ping visited revolutionary heritage sites such as the Red Ninth Army Luojiapu Command Post, the Dengxian Bridge Victory Site in Le'an County, and the Long March National Cultural Park (Guangchang Section). They also explored the intangible cultural heritage Nuo Dance in Shiyou Village, Nanfeng County, to absorb local cultural roots for their creations.

Western’s Art Gallery to host student artworks in end of year exhibition

Western Wyoming Community College (Western) will host its annual Student Art Exhibition in the Art Gallery from May 8 through August 28, with a public reception and awards ceremony on May 14. The exhibition features works in painting, printmaking, ceramics, photography, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media by Western students, many of whom are exhibiting and selling their art professionally for the first time. Proceeds from sales will be split between the artists and the college's Art Gallery. The show is curated by Assistant Professor of Art Ben Nathan with student gallery interns.

How the Brothers Behind Manhattan’s Aicon Art Gallery Found Themselves in Infinite Feuds

The New York Times reports on the ongoing legal and personal disputes between the brothers who co-founded Manhattan’s Aicon Art Gallery, which specializes in modern and contemporary South Asian art. The article details how sibling rivalry and disagreements over business decisions have led to a series of lawsuits and fractured relationships, threatening the gallery's stability and reputation.

Art, Writing Unite During Art Aloud Exhibit Around City

The annual Art Aloud exhibit has returned to Colorado Springs, transforming local businesses like Poor Richard’s into temporary galleries that merge visual art with the spoken word. Celebrating its 19th year, the event features a diverse roster of 40 to 60 participants ranging from seasoned professionals like Bill Young to first-time exhibitors. The curated selection focuses on whimsical and unconventional works that challenge traditional gallery norms, often pairing installations and photography with poetry.

Get Out There: A short list of community art spaces to check out during the shutdown

A short list of community art spaces is being promoted for people to visit during a shutdown period. The article highlights local venues where art can still be experienced, encouraging public engagement with grassroots creative hubs despite broader closures.

Art exhibit brings mental health into focus

A touring exhibition featuring work by well-established and up-and-coming Saskatchewan artists has opened at a church-turned-art gallery in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan, just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month. The show focuses on mental health themes and brings together diverse artistic voices in a small town 60 kilometres east of the Alberta border.

Explore artistic depictions of nature in 21st century at Betteravia Art Gallery exhibition

Santa Maria's Betteravia Art Gallery will host a free opening reception for a new exhibition exploring how contemporary artists depict, interpret, and challenge ideas of nature in the 21st century. The event takes place on Thursday evening and is supported by the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture.

Cuzco Time Capsule

Soho Photo Gallery in New York is presenting "Cuzco Time Capsule," an exhibition of 18 black-and-white photographs by Michael Page Miller, taken in 1972 during his travels in highland Peru. The images capture laborers, craftsmen, market vendors, and Quechua people in and around Cuzco, shot with a 35mm Nikkormat and Tri-X film. The show runs from May 20 to June 14, 2026, with each print priced at $600.

Seafront gallery hosts major exhibition of local artists

The Fishing Quarter Gallery on Brighton seafront hosted the Bright On Open Call Exhibition, featuring works by 65 local artists. Curated by seascape painter Emma Christopherson, the exhibition presented a visual tour of Brighton from the sea through the city to the South Downs, including seascapes, portraits, and landscapes. Most works were available for purchase, and visitors could meet the artists. This is the second year Christopherson has organized the event, with plans to continue next year.

Hannah Powell: Pushing the University Art Gallery forward

Hannah Powell, a University of Pittsburgh alumna, has been appointed as the first official coordinator of the University Art Gallery (UAG) at Pitt. After earning a degree in anthropology and a minor in museum studies from Pitt in 2016, she pursued a master's in museum studies from the University of Glasgow, then worked at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and later at Pittsburgh institutions like the Heinz History Center and Carnegie Science Center. Since starting her role at the UAG in 2024, Powell coordinates exhibitions, plans educational programming, and improves accessibility to a collection of over 3,000 pieces, working alongside one other full-time employee.

Greytown exhibition circles back for third year

The Greytown Art Gallery has launched the third edition of its annual "Full Circle" exhibition, featuring nearly 100 anonymous works created on small, circular formats. The opening event, officiated by South Wairarapa mayor Fran Wilde, included an auction of the pieces, which are priced at a flat rate of $200 to ensure affordability. The exhibition showcases a mix of emerging and established artists from across the Wairarapa region, challenging them to work outside traditional rectangular constraints.

On the Town: Vacaville gallery ready to set the table; "Beyond Time' at MI Art Studios

The Vacaville Art Gallery is preparing to host its annual "Set the Table" event, a fundraiser and exhibition where artists create and display unique table settings. The event serves as a key financial driver for the non-profit gallery, supporting its year-round operations and community programming. Meanwhile, MI Art Studios in Fairfield is opening a new exhibition titled "Beyond Time," featuring works by local artists that explore themes of temporality and memory.

Timeless at Orion Art Gallery and Studio

Orion Art Gallery and Studio in Watertown, New York, is hosting a winter feature exhibition titled “Timeless,” showcasing the work of artist and photographer Thomas Murray. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 16, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with light refreshments, and the exhibition will remain on view from January 19 through February 15 during regular gallery hours. Admission is free and open to the public.