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 Biennale and the Weight of Flags. What Is the Point of National Pavilions?

La Biennale e il peso delle bandiere. Che senso hanno i padiglioni nazionali?

The article examines the inherent contradiction within the Venice Biennale: its historical structure of national pavilions, a legacy of 19th-century world fairs and state-sponsored art, clashes with the transnational, post-identity vision of the international exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The return of the Russia Pavilion amid geopolitical conflict and the international show titled "In Minor Keys," which rejects national belonging as an interpretive criterion, highlight this tension. The piece also addresses the controversy over the lack of Italian artists in the main exhibition, questioning whether a Biennale hosted in Italy should guarantee national representation.

A Fiumicino torna la open call per artisti emergenti che trasforma spazi commerciali in culturali

The WOW SIDE shopping centre in Fiumicino, Italy, has launched an open call for emerging artists as part of its PostArt project, now in its second edition. The 2026 theme is "La Voce" (The Voice), inviting artists to create works during a residency inside the shopping centre from June 26 to 28, 2026. The call is open until May 30, 2026, and selected works will be exhibited in the centre's galleries.

Captured in Escalante: Art Festival Invites Artists and Visitors This September

The Escalante Canyons Art Festival returns September 18–27, 2026, in Southern Utah, inviting artists and visitors to engage with the landscape through plein air painting, studio submissions, and special categories like nocturne and miniature works. The festival offers over $10,000 in prizes, including a Best of Show purchase award of $1,500, and features a dedicated junior division with no entry fee. Highlights include the Escalante 150th Anniversary Paint-Out, workshops, live music, judges’ talks, historic walking tours, and a play by local playwright Raymond Shurtz, all set near the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.

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.

黑龙江省美协召开2026年度工作会议暨七届九次主席团（扩大）会议

The Heilongjiang Provincial Artists Association held its 2026 annual work meeting and the 7th 9th Presidium (Expanded) Meeting on April 29, 2026, via a hybrid online-offline format. Over 100 participants attended, including presidium members, council members, heads of municipal and industry artists associations, and committee members. The meeting conveyed directives from the China Artists Association's study and implementation of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as the provincial文联's work arrangements. It summarized 2025 work and outlined key tasks for 2026, emphasizing ideological guidance through Xi Jinping's cultural thought, people-centered creative direction focusing on local themes like black soil culture and borderland heritage, and strengthening of traditional art forms such as Heilongjiang printmaking and watercolor. The meeting also approved new council member additions, first-batch 2026 membership applications, and committee adjustments.

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.

Landscape, colour and imagination celebrated at Armstrong art gallery

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum & Art Gallery in British Columbia is opening a dual exhibition on May 28, 2026, featuring the Shuswap Plein Air Troupe and artist Nancy Vince. The Main Gallery presents "Together: From There to Here," a group show by Diane Akey, Maureen Howard, and Patricia L. Smith, who paint together as the Plein Air Troupe, capturing landscapes with varied textures and emotional depth. In the Freeze Gallery, "A Touch of Whimsy" showcases Vince's high-definition metal prints filled with vibrant, playful imagery of flowers, cottages, and lakeside scenes. The exhibition runs through June 27, with a reception on opening night.

Open exhibition returns to celebrate artists across the region

The Hastings Open, a flagship exhibition founded in 2020, will return in 2026 at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, showcasing emerging and established artists from the South East region. The open call closes on July 19, 2025, and the winner will receive a solo exhibition at the museum in 2028/29. The exhibition features work in painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, video, and other media, with partnerships including The blackShed Gallery.

“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.

Fabio Adani investigates the perception of reality in his exhibition at Salamon Fine Art

Salamon Fine Art gallery in Milan is hosting Fabio Adani's solo exhibition 'Silentium fin che parli' from May 16 to June 4, 2026. The show explores the perceptual transformation of reality through painting, graphite, and the written word, emphasizing allusion over direct representation. The exhibition includes a critical text by Beatrice Gardella and prose and poetry by Elisabetta Amaini, featuring works inspired by natural environments that invite viewers to engage in an open-ended process of interpretation.

China Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia: Dream Stream

The China Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia has been announced under the title "Dream Stream." The pavilion will be part of the prestigious Venice Biennale, one of the world's most important contemporary art exhibitions, and is organized by the Chinese government or cultural authorities. The announcement was made via a press release distributed by PR Newswire, highlighting China's continued participation in this global art event.

Kazuhiro Nomura: Monad @ HARMAS GALLERY

野村和弘：モナド @ HARMAS GALLERY

Japanese artist Kazuhiro Nomura is presenting a solo exhibition titled "Monad" at HARMAS GALLERY in Tokyo, running from April 4 to May 16, 2026. The show features a series of works including the titular piece "Monad" (2026), alongside earlier works such as "juno (B)" (2006) and "eva's breast" (2009), as documented in a photo report by ART iT.

Call for Applications: Reiwa 8 (2026) Overseas Training Program for Emerging Artists – Japanese Culture Promotion and Dissemination Project

公募｜令和8年度新進芸術家海外研修制度における「日本文化発信・普及事業」

Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho) is now accepting applications for the "Japanese Culture Promotion and Dissemination Project" under the 2026 (Reiwa 8) Overseas Training Program for Emerging Artists. This separate track supports established cultural figures, artists, and researchers—not just emerging artists—to conduct activities that promote and disseminate Japanese culture abroad. The program covers travel, accommodation, and activity costs up to 1.5 million yen, with派遣 periods ranging from 20 to 80 days between October 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. Applications must be received by June 5, 2025, and results will be announced by early September.

KIDOOO INSTALL DAY

Maryland Art Place (MAP) is hosting KIDOOO INSTALL DAY on Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 12 pm to 4 pm, a youth version of its annual Out of Order event. Elementary, middle, and high school artists ages five to sixteen are invited to hang one original framed work (24" x 24" or less) on a first-come, first-served basis at MAP's 5th floor Gallery in Baltimore's Bromo Arts and Entertainment District. Registration is free, and all works must be priced to sell, with a silent auction taking place virtually on April 10, 2026.

New Atlantic Beach art exhibition highlights women’s contributions, history

The Skillern Family Art Museum in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, has reopened for the 2026 season with a new exhibition titled “Beyond the Gaze.” The show highlights artwork and historical pieces centered on the African American diaspora and Indigenous women’s experiences, achievements, and contributions. Co-owners Carmelia Scott-Skillern and Elliot Skillern aim to share untold stories and provide deeper historical context behind the art.

Art exhibits, farmers market and hospital safety award: THE DIGEST

Gallery 22 in Staunton, Virginia, has opened a new exhibit titled 'Art as Exploration,' located at 22 W. Beverley Street. The show runs through June 1, 2026, and is part of a local arts digest that also includes a farmers market and a hospital safety award.

Redwood Art Association Hosting Artist’s Choice Exhibition May 26-June 19

The Redwood Art Association Gallery in Eureka, California, is hosting the Artist’s Choice Exhibition from May 26 through June 19, 2026. Online entry is open until May 22, with physical entry day on May 23. Lindsay Kessner will serve as the judge for this year's exhibition, which has transitioned from a visitor-voted favorite to a judged format due to popular demand.

In pictures: inside the 2026 Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong

The 13th edition of the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong is taking place from May 14 to May 17 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The fair showcases a wide range of affordable contemporary artworks, with participating galleries presenting pieces priced to attract new and seasoned collectors alike.

Autumn Wunderkammer Auction - 2nd Session: Contemporary Decorative Art

Russell Kaplan Auctioneers is holding the second session of its Autumn Wunderkammer Auction on May 15, 2026, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The session, titled "Contemporary Decorative Art," will feature lots 700 through 1499, with approximately 60 lots sold per hour from 09:00 to 18:00.

New dual exhibition at Armstrong gallery celebrates local landscapes and whimsical art

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery in British Columbia is launching a dual exhibition on May 28, 2026, running through June 27. The Main Gallery features the Shuswap Plein Air Troupe—artists Diane Akey, Maureen Howard, and Patricia L. Smith—with their show "Together: From There to Here," presenting expressive landscape paintings inspired by outdoor painting sessions. Meanwhile, the Freeze Gallery hosts Nancy Vince's "A Touch of Whimsy," a collection of high-definition metal prints filled with playful imagery like enchanted cottages and hidden creatures.

Isle of Wight Open Studios 2026 opens this Friday with more than 200 artists taking part

Isle of Wight Open Studios 2026 opens this Friday, 15th May, and runs until Monday 25th May, featuring over 200 artists and makers across the Isle of Wight. Visitors can explore studios, galleries, and creative spaces to meet painters, ceramicists, photographers, jewellers, printmakers, textile artists, and sculptors. A preview exhibition, the IWOS Showcase Exhibition, is currently on display at Quay Arts until 30th May, showcasing work from over 90 participating artists. The event has been nominated in the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards under 'Best Event or Festival'.

The Betteravia Art Gallery makes way for another exhibit

The Betteravia Art Gallery in Santa Maria, California, is opening a new group exhibition titled "Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century" on May 21, 2026. The show features 54 works by 34 artists selected through an open call, spanning photography, painting, ceramics, and digital media. The exhibition was co-curated by Laura-Susan Thomas, a professor at Allan Hancock College, in collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture.

2026 Pride Art Exhibit: What Is Your Joy?

The Montrose Daily Press announces the 2026 Pride Art Exhibit, themed "What Is Your Joy?", taking place in Montrose, Colorado. The exhibit invites LGBTQ+ artists and allies to submit works exploring joy and celebration within the community.

Fei Tian College MFA Graduation Exhibition Blends Technical Excellence With Human Stories

Fei Tian College in Middletown, New York, opened its 2026 Fine Arts Exhibition on May 11, showcasing oil paintings and graphic design works by undergraduate and graduate students. The week-long show serves as the MFA in Oil Painting graduation showcase, featuring works that blend traditional techniques with personal themes such as innocence, spirituality, courage, compassion, and humanity. Faculty members curated the layout, but each graduate artist developed their own vision over a year-long creative process, with many spending at least a year on a single painting from concept to completion.

LCCC student artists receive awards during exhibition opening night

The Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) held the opening night of its 2026 Communication Arts Student Art Exhibition at the Schulman Gallery on May 8. During the event, President John Yudichak and Schulman Gallery Curator Robert Husty presented the President’s Choice Awards to student artists. The exhibition will remain on display through Friday, June 5, and is open to the public weekdays.

Robert Zhao Renhui: After Control @ Kyoto City University of Arts Gallery @KCUA

ロバート・ザオ・レンフイ「アフター・コントロール」@ 京都市立芸術大学ギャラリー@KCUA

The Kyoto City University of Arts Gallery @KCUA is hosting a solo exhibition by Singaporean artist Robert Zhao Renhui titled "After Control" (アフター・コントロール), running from May 16 to July 12, 2026. The exhibition presents works from Zhao's long-term projects on Christmas Island, Singapore, Tokyo, Hampi (India), and Phuket (Thailand), exploring environments shaped by human intervention and the complex interplay between nature and artificiality. Zhao, known for his participation in major international exhibitions including the Thailand Biennale Phuket 2025, the 60th Venice Biennale (2024), and the Gwangju Biennale (2023), uses photography, video, and installation to critically examine how ecosystems transform under human control.