The Language Beyond the Human in the Surprising Polish Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The Interview

Il linguaggio oltre l’umano nel sorprendente Padiglione Polonia alla Biennale di Venezia 2026. L’intervista

The Polish Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale presents "Liquid Tongues," a project by artists Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski, curated by Ewa Chomicka and Jolanta Woszczenko with the collective Choir in Motion. The installation eschews spectacle for a subtle, immersive exploration of language beyond the human voice, incorporating sign language, underwater immersion, choreography, and whale songs to destabilize conventional communication.

A Roma il popolare quartiere Quadraro ospita un festival d’arte diffuso. Il programma

The IPER Festival delle periferie returns to Rome's Quadraro neighborhood for its fifth edition, titled "Super Lieux (Super luoghi) Periferie. Storie e geografie." Running until May 31, the festival features conferences, roundtables, study days, talks, exhibitions, and performances. A highlight is "Überlagerungen," a diffuse art review curated by Spazio Y that animates the Quadraro Vecchio district on May 16 with actions, installations, and shows from 4 PM to 11 PM. Participating venues include Spazio Kina, vineria Moggio, and osteria Grandma, with works by artists such as Lucia Bricco, Giulio Cassanelli, Felice Levini, and many others.

Interview with the curators who brought Italy to London Craft Week

Intervista alle curatrici che hanno portato l’Italia alla Craft Week di Londra

Amalia di Lanno and Valeria Zerbo, founders of the London-based curatorial platform Avant Craft, are bringing Italian ceramics to the London Craft Week for the first time. Their exhibition, "Contemporary Perspectives on Italian Ceramics," showcases a selection of independent Italian artists and designers who explore ceramics as a material investigation, sculptural experimentation, and cultural continuity. The show opens on May 14 with a "Meet a Master" event featuring artist Riccardo Monachesi, marking the official kickoff of Avant Craft.

Art of resistance: Immigrant children share pain and strength in Tucson exhibit

An exhibition titled "Arte de la Resistencia" (Art of Resistance) was held from May 13 to May 17 at Free Associates gallery in Tucson, Arizona. Curated by a psychologist who uses the pseudonym Rosa for safety reasons, the show featured artwork created by immigrant children aged 7 to 19, many of whom are affected by deportation, family separation, and ICE enforcement. The pieces, including works like "Adiós Tucson" and "Silencio," express pain, grief, and resilience, with identities kept anonymous to protect the young artists. Proceeds from sales of original works and prints directly benefit the children's families.

Here’s what’s happening at Art in the Loft

Art in the Loft in Alpena is preparing for its SummerView 2026 exhibit, featuring roughly 30 local and regional artists in its 7,000-square-foot space. The exhibit has a soft opening on May 26 and an opening reception on June 2, showcasing original works in multiple mediums and techniques, all available for purchase. The gallery is also celebrating its 25th anniversary with a gala on November 7.

Exhibition celebrating local artists to be unveiled

Five artists on the Isle of Portland will open their studios to the public as part of Dorset Art Weeks, running from May 23 to June 7 at St George’s Art Studios. The event features encaustic wax artist Lyn Kirkland, printmaker Caro Lester, jeweller Kate Arbon, mixed-media artist Georgie Moore, and multimedia artist Yollande Posthumus. Visitors can view finished works, explore workspaces, and participate in taster workshops on May 30.

Plas Art Show goes back to basics with renewed focus on its sculpture, 3-D work

The Plas Art Show, a Seoul-based art fair specializing in sculpture and three-dimensional works, returns for its 11th edition from June 4 at Coex in Gangnam District. Featuring 102 galleries (91 domestic and 11 from Taiwan, Germany, Japan, and Georgia), the fair presents roughly 750 artists and 3,500 works under the theme “New Chance.” Fair president Shin Jun-won acknowledged criticism that the event had drifted from its sculptural focus and announced stricter curation, including on-site inspections and penalties for galleries that fail to include at least one three-dimensional artist and one stereoscopic work. Standard booth prices range from 5.7 to 6.7 million won, which Shin says attracts Gangnam-area galleries priced out of larger venues.

Artist lays bare journey through alcoholism in 'powerful' North East show

Artist Nat Hardy's exhibition 'ISM – Art with Heart' has opened at Arts Centre Washington in northeast England, showcasing over 30 works inspired by her journey through alcoholism and recovery via the 12-step program. A former social worker and self-taught artist working in needle felting, textiles, watercolors, and pastels, Hardy won the 2024 Spotlight Washington Open Exhibition. Her pieces, such as 'The Journey,' use color and natural imagery to represent the emotional landscape of addiction and healing, with the show running until June 6.

No Regrets: Artists Decide To Sell Buffalo’s Legendary Hitching Post Gallery

Father-and-son artists William and Hugh Jennings have closed the Hitching Post Gallery in Buffalo, Wyoming, after 30 years of operation. The gallery, which opened in November 1993 on Main Street, was a longstanding fixture in the community, showcasing works from many area artists alongside gifts, books, and tobacco products. William stepped away about seven years ago, and Hugh recently decided to retire, locking the doors for the last time at the beginning of May. Hugh expressed no regrets, saying he wanted to focus more on his own art.

Medium Art Center Celebrates Five Year Anniversary

Medium Art Center in Ukiah, California, celebrates its five-year anniversary. Founded during the pandemic by a small team of local artists and community members including Chris Pugh and Lillian Rubie, the center began as an online exhibition series called "Dear America" before securing a vacant storefront at the Pear Tree Center in 2021. Run entirely by volunteers for its first three years, the center has hosted in-person exhibits, traditional Chinese brush painting workshops with artist William Shi, and outreach programs to support local artists. Recently, it received a grant from the RISE program administered through Redwood Coast Regional Center to support people with disabilities or neurodivergence.

UK: Celebrities, Artists’ Paintings Feature in Support of School Art Festival

A school art festival at St Barnabas Primary School in the UK has received support from celebrities and artists, whose paintings and contributions feature in the event. Headteacher Beccy Harris noted that the festival's theme aligns with the school's vision to 'help children soar on wings like eagles.'

Slow Rot at Method Delhi Explores Human Fragility and Psychological Unrest Through Art

Method Delhi is presenting 'Slow Rot', a group exhibition featuring ten contemporary Indian artists whose works explore human fragility, psychological unrest, and the grotesque. The show runs from May 9 to July 3, 2026, at Method's New Delhi space in Defence Colony, with free entry. Participating artists include Aditya Dhabhai, Dhruvi Jain, M. Imran Ahamed, Milan Sharma, Mitali Das, Priyesh T., Revant Dasgupta, Riya Chandwani, Sajid Wajid Shaikh, and Tithi Das, working across painting, sculpture, and mixed media.

KU students, teachers to show off form-defying ceramics at Off-Site Art Gallery exhibition

University of Kansas students and teachers are showcasing ceramics that defy gravity and traditional form at Off-Site Art Space in Lawrence. The exhibition, titled “Almost a Body: Not Quite a Thing,” features works by artists-in-residence Seuil Chung and SunYoung Park alongside their students, including pieces like Natalie Slutsky’s “Vital Exchange,” an anatomical heart with arteries forming a Möbius strip. The show highlights innovative techniques such as using sand-filled brick boxes for firing, French cleat mounting systems, and beeswax finishes inspired by natural forms from the McGregor Herbarium.

Window to the past: Worcester history on show in Denholm installation

A new public art installation titled “Uniquely Worcester: Celebrating Worcester’s Past & Present” has opened in the windows of the Denholm Building in Worcester, Massachusetts. The exhibition features work from 10 local artists across eight front windows, highlighting the city’s history through themes such as sports, the arts, and notable figures like rocket pioneer Robert Goddard, Valentine card popularizer Esther Howland, and smiley face creator Harvey Ball. One window showcases Abu Mwenye’s vibrant paintings inspired by his Kenyan and Tanzanian heritage, while another displays musical instruments spanning 250 years, including a rope drum from the American Revolution and a guitar made at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The installation runs throughout 2026 and was organized by project manager Melissa Mattson.

Fair Play Art Fair launches in London with artist-first model offering free exhibition stands

A new artist-led art fair called Fair Play Art Fair will launch in London from October 15–18, 2026, at One Marylebone. Founded by Ryan Stanier, creator of The Other Art Fair, the event offers selected artists free exhibition stands instead of requiring upfront fees, operating on a commission-based model that takes 50% of sales. The fair will run alongside Frieze London and include immersive installations, sound art, dining, and live performances, with a curated selection process overseen by an independent committee.

Art Hive Celebrates Third Anniversary

The Art Hive in Prescott, Arizona, is celebrating its third anniversary with a disco-themed party on Friday, May 22, from 5:00 pm to midnight. Founded in 2023 by artist Cloud Oakes, the venue houses 36 artist studios and a fine arts gallery, and the event will feature the Tenant Spring Exhibition, open studios, art booths, live music, a no-host bar, and a '70s Disco DJ bash, with a people's choice award for best costume and best in show.

‘Cultural identity is not a binary choice’: Newmarket artist finds artistic balance in solo exhibition

Newmarket artist Jing Fu presents her solo exhibition 'Unearthed – My Equilibrium' at the Aurora Cultural Centre, opening May 14. The show traces her 30-year artistic journey from Shanghai to Canada, blending traditional Chinese shanshui painting with Canadian natural landscapes. Fu's work includes atmospheric landscapes inspired by Ontario wilderness and an abstract 'Roots' series exploring emotional connection and inner balance.

The Exhibition Before The Exhibition: Art In The Making

Puke Ariki museum in New Plymouth, New Zealand, is hosting TUKU: Open Studio | Emerging Māori Artists, a collaborative project where senior artist Wharehoka Smith mentors early-career artists Jodie Tipa and Dwayne Duthie in creating eight manaia (spiritual guardian figures) in a public studio setting. Running from today through 12 July, the open studio prepares the museum's Temporary Gallery for the upcoming Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award exhibition, which opens on 25 July and features 40 tūpuna portraits. Visitors can watch the artists at work, engage with their creative process, and participate in free public events including workshops and talks.

SIU’s Sharp Museum seeking cryptid-themed art for juried exhibition

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Sharp Museum is organizing a national juried exhibition titled "Spooks or Spoofs," centered on cryptid-themed art. The exhibition runs from August 11 to December 21, 2026, and welcomes all media except AI-generated images. Artists may submit up to three works, with a requested donation of $5–$10 per entry. The submission deadline is July 1, with jury results announced by July 14. The juror is Jeremy Efroymson, an artist, collector, and amateur cryptozoologist. The museum's curator of exhibits, T. Lance, highlighted local Illinois legends such as Bigfoot, the Big Muddy Monster, and the Enfield horror as inspiration.

National Museum opens 'Pioneers of Omani Art' exhibition in Russia

The National Museum of Oman has opened an exhibition titled "Pioneers of Omani Art" at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia. Running until 16 August, the show features 23 works by 17 Omani artists, highlighting how they draw inspiration from their culture, heritage, history, and environment. The exhibition traces the journey of fine art in Oman, from prehistoric rock art to the modern art movement, shaped by historical commercial and cultural exchanges with European artists.

Sacramento art exhibit puts a SMASH!-ing spotlight on piñata culture

A new art exhibition titled 'SMASH! A Piñata Exhibition' has opened at Prism Art Gallery in Midtown, Sacramento, curated by Bridgett Rex and Vianne De Santiago. Running through May 30, the show features piñatas created by amateurs, professional makers, and multidisciplinary artists, exploring the cultural and emotional significance of piñatas beyond their role as party decorations. The exhibition will conclude with a public smashing of selected piñatas. Artists such as Andres Alvarez and Gilbert Rangel contributed works that incorporate personal and cultural narratives, using materials like corn husks and tissue paper to reflect on heritage, memory, and community.

A season of colour: Coimbatore gallery showcases works by Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu

An exhibition at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery in Coimbatore showcases around 70 works by five artists of the Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu: V. Rajendhran, Kumanan, Murugesan, Ramamoorthy, and Govindarajulu. The show features a wide range of styles—from realistic animal portraits and textured floral canvases to charcoal sketches of crows and Rajasthani-themed paintings—employing techniques such as knife work, spray painting, and texture painting with clay. Rajendhran’s works focus on textile design, Kumanan presents acrylics and seed-covered sculptures, and Ramamoorthy offers a series of crow sketches. The exhibition is part of the AURORA Series 2026 and runs through May 17.

Couple to open art gallery with first exhibition in town

Retired businessman and South Norfolk councillor Brendon Bernard and his wife, painter Barbara Bernard, are opening a new art gallery on Broad Street in Bungay, England. Their debut exhibition, titled "A Flying Start," will run from June 8 to June 27, featuring six artists working in painting, original prints, and sculpture, including Jackie Bell, formerly of the now-closed Bell Gallery. The building, over a century old, was once used for storage by American forces during WWII and later as a carpentry workshop; East Suffolk Council approved its conversion into a gallery in March.

Meet the Women of the American Studio Glass Movement

An expansive exhibition at the Corning Museum of Glass highlights the women artists who were instrumental in the American Studio Glass Movement of the mid-20th century. The show, curated by Osman Can Yerebakan, brings together works that demonstrate the resilience and creative contributions of these often-overlooked figures.

Running for more than a century, annual juried art exhibition opens at Bendheim Gallery today

The Bendheim Gallery in Westport, Connecticut, opens its annual juried art exhibition today, a tradition that has been running for more than a century. The show features selected works from local and regional artists, chosen through a competitive jury process, and is a staple of the community's cultural calendar.

Art Review: "The Rip in Her Sleeve" and "Iliana Arocho: Drawings" at Maiden Lane Gallery in Kingston

Maiden Lane Gallery in Kingston is hosting two concurrent exhibitions curated by Matt Moment: "The Rip in Her Sleeve," featuring pigment print photographs by Alicia Schirrmeister and Ruth Lauer Manenti, and "Iliana Arocho: Drawings," a solo show of ethereal drawings and metalpoint works by Iliana Arocho. The shows occupy two floors of a brick building that serves as an outpost for Headstone Gallery, run by Lauren Aitken and Chase Folsom, marking Moment's first collaboration with the gallery as a guest curator.

Raven’s Heart Gallery Summer Show Brings Live Art and Community to Kanab

Raven’s Heart Gallery in Kanab, Utah, will host its Summer Show on June 13, 2026, from 1–4 PM at 57 W. Center St. The free, interactive event features live art-making demonstrations by a roster of Southern Utah artists, including Gail Alger (acrylic animal painting), Angela Woods (oil painting), Rebekka Anderson (color reduction linocut printmaking), Ken Ragsdale (basket illusion technique on wood), David Lane (astrophotography), James Mosdell (lapidary work with Grand Canyon Opal), Ellie Mae Clough (mixed media on encaustic wax), and Gary Kalpakoff (wild mustang photography and metal sculpture). The signature artwork is Gail Alger's 'Raven in Flowers,' and large-scale oil paintings from Cyrus Mejía's 'The Vicktory Dog' and 'Mill Dogs Revenge' collections will also be on view. The gallery, home to more than 30 regional artists, will transform into a working studio with easels, paints, cameras, lapidary equipment, and printmaking presses.

Syrian artist Ismail Nasra explores silence and solitude in new Damascus exhibition

Syrian visual artist Ismail Nasra has opened a new exhibition at Zawaya Art Gallery in Damascus, featuring 28 medium- and large-scale works that mark a departure from his earlier dense, colorful style. The paintings, created over three years on aged and weathered fabrics, employ muted palettes, abstraction, and negative space to explore themes of silence, absence, and emotional solitude. Solitary female figures and recurring bird motifs—symbols of freedom and escape—dominate the compositions, with the natural textures and cracks of the fabric becoming integral to the artwork.

Art show reflects on human experience, aspiration

A group of nine young artists, all alumni of the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai, have formed a collective called Continuum and will present their first exhibition, 'Between Becoming & Being,' starting May 15 at Lalit Kala Akademi. Initiated by artist couple Preethi Umapathy and Prithiviraj, the show features works in painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics by Deepika, Ganesh, Jagath Ravi, Padmapriya, Prithiviraj, Preethi, Ramesh, Saran Mathi, and Sarath Kumar, exploring themes of identity, aspiration, human existence, and lived experiences.

Open call to visual artists to help create festive sanctuary at Dorset venue

Lighthouse Poole in Dorset has issued an open call for visual artists with a local connection to submit work for its seasonal exhibition themed "BURROW," running from November 12, 2025 to February 27, 2026. The exhibition aims to create a peaceful, reflective space during the winter months, following last year's installation "The Wintering" by self-taught artist Carmel De’Lisser. Submissions are free, must use sustainable materials, and can explore concepts such as hibernation, searching, and comfort. The selection panel includes De’Lisser, curator Mille Lake, creative director Paul Newman, and co-founder Tom Pouncy.