Rhys Meatyard, a celebrated St. Petersburg, Florida artist and muralist, has opened a new solo exhibition titled 'Ceremony' at The Werk Gallery. The show, which runs through the end of April, explores themes of love, grief, and hope, drawing inspiration from author Victor Frankl and the character Aragorn from *The Lord of the Rings*.
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is debuting "Giants," a major exhibition featuring over 130 works from the private collection of Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean and Alicia Keys. The West Coast premiere showcases monumental paintings, sculptures, and installations by nearly 40 Black artists, including Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas, and Nick Cave. The show is organized around themes of scale and cultural impact, beginning with personal artifacts from the Deans' early careers before transitioning into significant contemporary masterpieces.
Chicago’s art history is defined by a series of indigenous movements that prioritized visceral, existential expression over commercial appeal. The article traces this lineage back to the late 1940s with the emergence of the Monster Roster, a group of artists including Leon Golub and Dominick Di Meo who returned from World War II to produce agonistic work. This movement was catalyzed by institutional resistance at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, leading to the creation of the independent Momentum Exhibitions which bypassed conservative juried systems.
Tate Britain has launched a major survey dedicated to the visionary artist and poet William Blake, marking one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of his work in London. The show brings together his intricate watercolors, prints, and prophetic books, offering a deep dive into his unique mythological universe and radical political views.
Los Angeles
The Los Angeles art scene is experiencing a significant transformation as major blue-chip galleries like Gagosian and PaceWildenstein expand their presence in the city. This shift is driven by the influx of entertainment industry wealth and a growing interest from Hollywood figures, despite a historically smaller collector base compared to New York. Key institutional developments include Eli Broad's financial interventions to stabilize MOCA and fund new building schemes at LACMA.
The Victoria Art Gallery in Bath has announced 'The Transience of Light,' the first posthumous exhibition dedicated to the celebrated British printmaker Norman Ackroyd CBE RA. Opening on May 22, the retrospective features over five decades of etchings, ranging from his early 1980s works to his final pieces. Co-curated by the gallery’s senior curator Nathalie Levi alongside Ackroyd’s family and studio manager, the show includes archival material and a diverse range of subjects including his iconic remote coastal landscapes, cityscapes, and interiors.
Artist Marilyn Murray and the Bundaberg Regional Heritage Group have launched 'History in Your Hands,' a specialized exhibition of miniature paintings at the Bundaberg School of Arts Gallery. Part of the Australian Heritage Festival, the show features small-scale artworks that depict the architectural details, textures, and historical landmarks of the Bundaberg region.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosted a star-studded gala on April 16 to celebrate the opening of the David Geffen Galleries. The event drew a massive crowd of A-list celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Tom Hanks, Alicia Keys, and George Lucas, alongside city officials and museum leadership. Attendees gathered to preview the museum’s massive new exhibition space, designed by architect Peter Zumthor.
The Art Fund has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Museum of the Year award, featuring the National Gallery, V&A East Storehouse, The Box in Plymouth, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery. The finalists represent a diverse cross-section of British heritage, ranging from London’s "Goliath" institutions celebrating bicentenaries to regional hubs undergoing major architectural transformations. The winner, to be announced on June 25, will receive a £120,000 prize, while runners-up each receive £20,000.
Visually impaired artist Charlynne 'Char' Boddie is showcasing her unique creative process ahead of a new exhibition. Despite being legally blind, Boddie utilizes specialized techniques, including tactile markers and high-contrast lighting, to produce vibrant paintings that challenge traditional perceptions of accessibility in the arts.
Following the cancellation of Art Basel Miami Beach 2020 due to the pandemic, the Miami Design District has announced plans to host a physical art and design event. Approximately 25 to 30 top-tier galleries will occupy storefronts for a ten-day period starting November 27, while the historic Moore Building will house 'Design Miami/ Podium,' a curated selling exhibition titled 'America(s)' led by Aric Chen.
Judy Chicago’s first major New York museum survey, "Herstory," has opened at the New Museum, marking a triumphant return for the 84-year-old feminist icon. The exhibition features a comprehensive look at her 60-year career, including her large-scale tapestries and "Rejection" drawings, alongside a curated "show-within-a-show" titled "City of Ladies." This section integrates Chicago’s work with pieces by over 90 historic women and non-binary artists, ranging from Hilma af Klint to Hildegard of Bingen, creating a visual dialogue across centuries of female creativity.
British-South Asian artist Helena Samarasinghe is presenting her debut solo exhibition, "Reaching, Touching, Shedding," at Camberwell Space in London. The show features a series of vibrant drawings and sculptural cut-out installations that explore the intersections of sport, power, and identity. Developed during her residency as the 2024 Vanguard Prize winner, the works utilize oil, soft pastels, and charcoal to depict brown women engaged in activities like football, wrestling, and athletics, drawing stylistic inspiration from 19th-century Bengali Kalighat painting.
Art Basel has announced the 33 medalists for its 2026 Awards, a global initiative recognizing excellence across the contemporary art ecosystem. The awards span nine categories, including Emerging, Established, and Icon artists, as well as curators, patrons, and institutions. Notable honorees include Barbara Kruger, Howardena Pindell, and Jenny Holzer in the Icon category, alongside established figures like Arthur Jafa and Julie Mehretu. The selection process, led by a jury of nine international experts, emphasizes a cross-disciplinary and geographically diverse group with a strong representation from the Global South.
Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, departing her long-standing role at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. This major leadership transition comes alongside several other significant museum developments, including the Getty Center's planned $600m–$800m renovation closure and the National Gallery's staff reduction scheme to address a multi-million pound deficit.
Private & Public Gallery has partnered with Green Island Restaurant in Jersey to install a rotating display of works by local artists Jacques Le Breton, Charles Haydn Taylor, Claire Haithwaite, and Hazel Wynn. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including ceramics, iPad drawings, and paintings created from found coastal materials, all arranged in a traditional French Salon style.
The Yale School of Art is hosting "Tender Hell," an exhibition showcasing the thesis work of five Master of Fine Arts students in graphic design. The show features the work of Michael Stevens, Amy Fang, David Wonsik Jung, Camille J. Gwise, and Izza Alyssa, who utilize diverse media including collage, metal sculpture, and large-scale grids to explore the intersection of design and personal narrative.
Bologna is set to host a diverse array of major art exhibitions throughout the spring 2026 season, spanning photography, street art, and contemporary installations. Key highlights include a photographic exploration of Frida Kahlo at Palazzo Pepoli, a retrospective of Italian Informal artist Mattia Moreni at MAMbo, and a significant showcase of Michelangelo Pistoletto’s Mirror Paintings at Palazzo Boncompagni. The city’s cultural institutions are also featuring international names like Banksy, Agnès Varda, and the influential German photography duo Bernd & Hilla Becher.
The Tumut Art Society recently concluded its 68th annual art exhibition in regional New South Wales, marking a successful two-week event that drew approximately 500 visitors. The show featured 39 sales across both physical and virtual platforms and distributed $15,000 in prize money across nine categories. Melbourne artist Nina Volk emerged as the primary winner, securing both the prestigious Bendigo Bank Acquisitive Award for her work "The Storm is Coming" and the People’s Choice Award for "Grazing in the Autumn Mist."
The Victoria & Albert Museum presents "Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art," the first UK retrospective dedicated to the Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli. The exhibition highlights her central role within the Parisian avant-garde of the 1930s, showcasing her famous collaborations with artists like Salvador Dalí, Alberto Giacometti, and Meret Oppenheim. By displaying iconic pieces such as the 1938 skeleton dress alongside personal notes and related artworks, the show argues that Schiaparelli was not merely a follower of Surrealism but a primary catalyst for its innovation.