News From Around the South Carolina Lowcountry

The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) announces its "Large Art" exhibition, running from January 5 to February 2 at the SOBA Gallery in Old Town Bluffton, South Carolina. The show features oversized works by SOBA member artists, including vibrant abstracts, mixed media, and contemporary compositions. Proceeds from artwork sales and donations during the exhibition will support SOBA's fundraising efforts to secure a new, permanent home for the nonprofit organization.

The Gallery: “Open House” by Area C Projects

The City of Tampa has added the monumental sculpture “Open House” by Area C Projects to its Public Art Collection, installed at the City Center at Hanna Avenue. Created by Rhode Island-based husband-and-wife team Erik Carlson and Ericka Carpenter, the piece features house silhouettes in vibrant sunset-inspired panels and illuminated street-name inscriptions.

Former Guilford Student Selected For Prestigious Art Exhibition

Keoni Mcfee, a former Guilford High School student who graduated in 2025 and now attends the University of Hartford, has been selected for the 2025 AP Art and Design Digital Exhibition presented by the College Board. His artwork, drawn from his AP Drawing Sustained Investigation, explores the relationship between human growth and nature using mixed media, collage techniques, and wild-style graffiti. Mcfee is one of only 51 student artists chosen from over 82,000 portfolios submitted worldwide.

Austin Studio Tour goes citywide both weekends for the first time

The Austin Studio Tour, organized by the artist-run collective Almost Real Things, will take place over two weekends in November 2025 with over 300 official locations—the largest edition yet. For the first time, the tour is citywide both weekends instead of split between East and West Austin, and artists can choose which days to participate. A guidebook and interactive online map help visitors navigate by location, medium, or curated paths, and free bus tours are offered to feature lesser-known stops.

STC Alumni Art Exhibit Celebrates Mentorship & Artistic Growth

South Texas College’s Technology Campus Library Art Gallery presented its annual STC Alumni Series exhibit, featuring three former Visual Arts students: Elijah Dueñas, Irma Garza Garcia, and Michelle Ramirez. The artists, who studied under STC Art Instructor Luis Corpus and later at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley under painter Rigoberto Gonzalez, reunited for a reception celebrating their work and the mentorship that shaped their careers. The exhibit runs until December 1 at the STC Technology Campus Library Art Gallery.

Mind of the Masters in collaboration with WASCA and NK Art Space set to exhibit The Spirit of Coffee

Mind of the Masters, in collaboration with the West African Specialty Coffee Association (WASCA) and NK Art Space, is hosting an art exhibition titled “The Spirit of Coffee” at The Spotlight Hub in Victoria Island, Lagos, from November 29 to December 12, 2025. The exhibition features 20 artworks curated by Mind of the Masters and NK Art Space, created by professional artist Lenrie Preks, whose works such as “The Spirit of Coffee,” “Coffee Blitz,” and “Flavour of Coffee” explore coffee culture through ritual, memory, and geometric abstraction.

Art group ‘think outside the square’ for annual show

A group of Southland artists from C.S Art Studio will present their annual exhibition titled "Circles" at Whare Taupua art space in Invercargill, New Zealand, from September 5-26. The show features paintings and sculptures by 43 artists with disabilities and lived experience with mental health or trauma, challenging them to create works within a circular format rather than traditional squares or rectangles.

Ocala’s smallest art gallery is a creative, interactive experience

A new mini art gallery called the Tiny Art Swap Shop has opened in Ocala, Florida, located outside the Art Approach Ocala Creativity Studio. Created by artist and business owner Stacie Rae Pedrick, the interactive space invites people of all ages and skill levels to leave their own miniature artworks, take a piece left by another artist, or simply view the display. The shop has no restrictions on age, talent, or medium, and Pedrick aims to inspire creativity as a tool for personal growth and mental wellness.

The Southwest City That Turned Itself Into an Essential Art Outpost

The New York Times reports on a city in the southwestern United States that has transformed itself into a significant art destination. Through strategic investments in museums, galleries, and public art initiatives, the city has attracted major exhibitions, international collectors, and a growing creative community, positioning itself as an essential outpost for contemporary art beyond traditional coastal hubs.

‘Re-scoped’ Alice Springs art gallery on public exhibition

The Northern Territory government has unveiled revised plans for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA) in Alice Springs/Mparntwe. The redesigned project, led by BVN, Susan Dugdale and Associates, and Clouston Associates, has been reduced from five storeys to three, with 1,300 square metres of exhibition space. A development consent application was submitted earlier this month and is now on public exhibition until 22 August, following cost blowouts that prompted a "re-scoping" of the original scheme. Construction is expected to take 18–24 months, with an opening targeted for late 2027.

Fort Worth Contemporary Arts to Open New Location in September

Fort Worth Contemporary Arts (FWCA), the contemporary art gallery of Texas Christian University (TCU), will open a new 2,000-square-foot location at 3050 Waits Avenue in September 2025, one block from its former site. The inaugural exhibition on September 5 will be "Indian Removal Act III: We are a Wounding" by San Antonio artist Joe Harjo, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, continuing his series on Native American historical and contemporary issues. The previous location at 2900 W. Berry Street closed in November 2024 after a final memorial exhibition honoring influential faculty member Dr. Frances Colpitt, as the university repurposes the site for student housing under an $83 million development plan.

Art in Madinah through the eyes of a local artist

Artist and Madinah native Meshal Al-Hujaili discusses the expanding art scene in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, which blends traditional and contemporary influences rooted in Islamic heritage and cultural identity. His work, including the painting 'Flow' created during the Madinah International Symposium 2023, is currently displayed at the Madinah Art Center, where he also collaborates on exhibitions like 'Path' with curator Nouf Al-Balawi. Al-Hujaili describes how the center's programs, training sessions, and dialogues have fostered his artistic growth and exposure to other artists.

Independent spaces in Palermo, the new path of art

The article explores the rise of independent art spaces in Palermo, Italy, where artists have formed collaborative, non-commercial studios and exhibition venues outside the official art system. These spaces prioritize shared research, community growth, and collective projects over individual achievement or market goals, creating a unique artistic ecosystem rooted in the city's social fabric.

Kinhouse Art Gallery and Residency is bringing artists to Fort Wayne

Kinhouse Art Gallery and Residency, founded by artists Kaylan Buteyn and Dana Caldera, has opened a new artist residency space in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The residency offers one-week stays in a colorful three-bedroom house with two studio spaces, providing a solitary and focused experience for visiting artists. The gallery and studio spaces are also part of the business, located in the 46808 area.

‘American Asian’ exhibit in Avondale spotlights 16 Georgia-based artists

The Avondale Arts Center in Avondale, Georgia, is hosting 'American Asian,' a group exhibition curated by Nicole Kang that features 16 Georgia-based artists of Asian descent. The multimedia show explores the 'third culture' experience of belonging, with works ranging from intimate portraits and experimental abstraction to visual narratives examining heritage and homeland. Featured artists include Sanithna, Helen Choi, Killamari, Crystal Jin Kimm, and Janice Rago, among others.

Orange Art Center to present first Emerging Artist Residency exhibition this summer

The Orange Art Center in Pepper Pike, Ohio, will present its first Emerging Artist Residency exhibition this summer, featuring multi-media artist Lauren Sylvia. Her show, “The Many Hues Between Brown and Blue,” explores themes of love, loss, and remembrance inspired by her late cat Twila, using watercolor, acrylic, and experimental materials. The exhibition opens during the Orange Community Art Fest on August 16 and runs through September 30.

Jacky Winter Gallery opens submissions for 2025 group exhibition

Jacky Winter Gallery in Collingwood, Australia, has opened submissions for its 2025 group exhibition titled 'Assembly'. The gallery, founded in 2008 by The Jacky Winter Group, has historically showcased international and local artists including Oslo Davis, Kimberly Engwicht, and Beci Orpin. The exhibition will run from July 12 to August 16 and is curated by gallery manager Shena Jamieson with support from Tatanja Ross. Submissions are open to both emerging and established artists, and the gallery expects a high volume of entries.

Chassidus in Color Invites Community to Art Gallery Opening

The Chassidus in Color art contest has selected sixty finalist paintings from 180 submissions to be exhibited in a community gallery opening. The opening night event will take place on April 29, 2025, at the Maor Art Gallery in Brooklyn, featuring remarks from artist Yitzchok Moully. The exhibition will run for three weeks across two venues—Maor Art Gallery and Betzalel Art Gallery—before a finale at the Jewish Children’s Museum on May 18. Renowned Chabad artist Michoel Muchnik and a panel of fellow artists will review the finalists to determine the contest winners.

Art Düsseldorf Sees Increase in Visitors

Art Düsseldorf mit Besucher-Plus

Art Düsseldorf concluded its eighth edition with a significant increase in attendance, drawing 23,000 visitors to the Areal Böhler over the weekend. The fair featured 119 galleries from Germany and abroad, showcasing contemporary art despite broader economic uncertainties. This year's figures represent a notable growth from the previous year, which saw 20,000 visitors and 108 participating galleries.

A Lush Textile Installation Springs to Life in Shanghai

Artist Hu Yuehua presented a large-scale textile installation titled "Weaving Nature" at the 13th edition of Design Shanghai. The work is a dense, wall-like garden composed of stitched and dyed cotton and linen elements in indigo and ochre, forming leaves, blooms, and growths that highlight the artist's hand through loose threads, raw edges, and pleats.

Beginnings: Mapping the Origins of Saudi Modern Art in Riyadh

Mapping Saudi Modern Art’s Origins: “Bedayat” in Riyadh

The exhibition 'Bedayat: Beginnings of the Saudi Art Movement' at Riyadh's National Museum showcased over 250 artworks from the 1960s to 1980s, a period of rapid modernization. It featured archival materials like exhibition catalogs and scholarship letters, alongside paintings grouped into themes such as 'Faces and Features' and 'Social Life,' though the curation largely avoided direct commentary on the era's intense socio-political debates.

CAF AND PINTA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE TO STRENGTHEN THE LATIN AMERICAN ART ECOSYSTEM

CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – and the Pinta Foundation have formed a strategic alliance to bolster the Latin American art ecosystem. The partnership will support professional exchange, international visibility, and cultural integration for artists, artisans, and creators across the region, with CAF acting as a strategic partner for Pinta's network of events.

Local art gallery to host first Salmon Arm exhibition from the Federation of Canadian Artists

Atelier Gallery in Salmon Arm will host "Springing Forth," the first exhibition in the city from the Federation of Canadian Artists' Thompson Nicola Shuswap Chapter. The show runs from May 1 to May 16 and features works by artists from the Shuswap, Kamloops, and Okanagan regions, selected through a peer jury process.

Laura Rathe Fine Art presents "Austin Bound" opening reception

Laura Rathe Fine Art is opening its first gallery location in Austin, Texas, with an inaugural exhibition titled "Austin Bound." The new space, situated at 907 W. 5th Street in Downtown Austin, marks a significant expansion for the gallery, which has operated in Texas for over 25 years.

Sarzana failed to become Capital of Culture 2028 but relaunches: 'The dossier will be implemented anyway'

Sarzana non è riuscita a diventare Capitale della Cultura 2028 ma rilancia: “Il dossier sarà realizzato ugualmente”

Sarzana, a city in Liguria, Italy, failed to win the title of Italian Capital of Culture for 2028, which was awarded to Ancona. However, instead of shelving its candidacy dossier, the city has decided to implement its strategic cultural plan, titled "L'Impavida," as its official cultural governance program for 2026-2028. The plan treats culture as a permanent infrastructure, integrating urban planning, tourism, welfare, and economic development, and was developed through a decade-long process involving co-design with associations and citizens.

The recovery of the art market, collecting trends, and other analyses in the newly published report

La ripresa del mercato dell’arte, i trend del collezionismo e altre analisi nel nuovo report appena pubblicato

The global art market has returned to growth in 2025, recording a 4% increase compared to the previous year despite geopolitical tensions and financial uncertainty. According to the fourth edition of the "Collectors and the Value of Art in Italy 2026" report by Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking, buyers are increasingly shunning speculative assets like NFTs and ultra-contemporary art in favor of established categories. Significant growth was noted in Modern art, Impressionism, and Old Masters, signaling a flight to quality and historical stability.

Boyne Arts Center seeks artists for new installation honoring donors

The Boyne Arts Center in Boyne City, Michigan, is calling for artists to submit proposals for a commissioned installation that will honor donors at its new gallery at 211 Water Street. The permanent piece will initially feature 50 to 100 donor names and be expandable. Artists may propose designs for one of three locations: an exterior courtyard, a gallery window, or a moveable interior piece. Proposals are due May 26, with selection by June 15 and installation by September 7, ahead of an October ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Fifth Edition of the Paris Print Fair

La cinquième édition de Paris Print Fair

The fifth edition of the Paris Print Fair has opened, solidifying its status as a key event during Drawing Week. The fair, held in the Gothic refectory of the Couvent des Cordeliers, features 25 international exhibitors with a strong focus on old masters and works predating the 1930s, continuing a trend where specialists in older prints take precedence over modern and contemporary galleries. New participants this year include the Swiss dealer August Laube and the Brussels gallery Le Tout-Venant.

‘Eudaimonic well-being’ — the impact of art in healthcare - The Island News

The article discusses the growing recognition of art's role in healthcare settings, citing research that visual art enhances 'eudaimonic well-being'—a sense of meaning, growth, and purpose—which aids patient healing. Studies, including a 2025 review in The Journal of Positive Psychology, show that incorporating art in hospitals reduces stress and anxiety for patients and staff, improves communication, and even reduces patient aggression in high-stress areas like emergency rooms.

The Other Art Fair Returns to Dallas with a Lineup of 135 Artists

The Other Art Fair is returning to Dallas for its second edition, taking place at the Fashion Industry Gallery from May 2-5. The event will feature 135 independent and emerging artists, offering them a platform to sell their work directly to the public.