Highlights and Hidden Gems at Dumbo Open Studios

DUMBO Open Studios celebrated its 10th anniversary with over 175 artists across 21 buildings participating in the weekend event. The open studios, jointly managed by Team Dumbo and real estate developer Two Trees, featured a wide range of work, with a noted highlight being works on paper from artists like Bianca Fields, Amy Cutler, and Jason Karolak. Despite rainy weather, the event fostered impromptu conversations and community, with more than half of surveyed artists reporting sales and expectations of future exhibition opportunities.

Brook Hsu ”The Barcelona Pavilion (including work by Georg Kolbe)” at Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler, Berlin

Brook Hsu's exhibition "The Barcelona Pavilion (including work by Georg Kolbe)" at Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler in Berlin presents a series of works that interweave references to architecture, film, literature, and animal carcasses. The show's title alludes to Mies van der Rohe's iconic Barcelona Pavilion and the sculptor Georg Kolbe, whose work was originally installed there, while the list of pieces—ranging from paintings like "Daybreak:Orange Tree" to works dedicated to figures such as Anne Wiazemsky and Pasolini—creates a dense, associative network of cultural and personal memory.

Required Reading

This week's cultural roundup connects diverse stories from art conservation to literary analysis. Novelist Karma Brown draws parallels between restoring artworks and revising novels, inspired by visits to the Art Gallery of Ontario, while an interview with Namwali Serpell examines the complex "monumentalization" of Toni Morrison's legacy. The column also includes a poignant image from Tehran—a framed artwork hanging in a bomb-damaged apartment—and touches on topics ranging from celebrating Eid in Gaza to discussions about "girl games" and the Lindy West drama.

A sturdy soldier in a sequin dress

"Eine kräftige Soldatin im Paillettenkleid"

Media reviews of the Venice Biennale's opening week offer contrasting takes on the German and US pavilions. Critics describe the German pavilion, curated by Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann, as a dense, ironic East-West narrative that layers Nazi architecture with DDR prefab construction, creating what Jörg Häntzschel calls a "shockingly seamless symbiosis." The US pavilion, featuring sculptures by Alma Allen, is panned by Maximilíano Durón in ArtNews as politically timid and empty, lacking the clear colonial critiques of previous editions by Simone Leigh and Jeffrey Gibson.

Silk Carries Stories of 3,000 Years

"Seide trägt Geschichten von 3000 Jahren"

Renowned artist Ai Weiwei has collaborated with the historic Italian textile house Rubelli to create a series of silk objects for Milan Design Week. The installation features intricate silk patterns incorporating the artist's signature political motifs, including handcuffs, surveillance cameras, and the Twitter bird. Despite his vocal criticism of the modern design industry as a profit-driven machine lacking ethics and philosophy, Ai was persuaded by Rubelli’s commitment to craftsmanship and their shared respect for the historical weight of the material.

Timor-Leste Pavilion Reveals Details for 2026 Venice Biennale

Timor-Leste has announced the details of its national pavilion for the 2026 Venice Biennale. Titled "Across Words," the exhibition will be directed by curator Loredana Pazzini-Paracciani and feature works by artists Verónica Pereira Maia, Etson Caminha, and Juventino Madeira, focusing on the nation's ethnolinguistic diversity. The pavilion will be located in the Arsenale and run from May 9 to November 22.

On Arte, the Fascinating Odyssey of a Lost Klimt Retraced in a Documentary

Sur Arte, la fascinante odyssée d’un Klimt disparu retracée dans un documentaire

A long-lost portrait by Gustav Klimt, depicting a young Black man, has been rediscovered and is the subject of a new documentary on Arte. The film, "Gustav Klimt and the Enigma of the Ghanaian Prince," details the painting's authentication and the investigation into the identity of its sitter, who was identified in 2024 as Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona, a member of the Ga people who was in Vienna in the late 19th century.

‘Out of Place’ : The Afterlives of Landscape.

The major retrospective ‘Out of Place’ at ART AFRICA showcases over 200 images by South African photographer Jo Ractliff, spanning four decades of her career. The exhibition traces Ractliff’s evolution from her early 1980s street photography to her mature, atmospheric landscapes that examine the scars of colonialism, apartheid, and regional conflicts in Southern Africa. By focusing on the 'afterlife' of violence rather than the events themselves, the collection highlights her unique ability to capture how history sediments within the physical terrain.

Disobedience Archive (Canopy for Broken Time) In Dialogue with Raqs Media Collective at Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zürich

The Disobedience Archive, a mobile video archive initiated by Marco Scotini in 2005, is presented in dialogue with Raqs Media Collective at the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst in Zürich. The archive contains over one hundred documentary and art films at the intersection of art and activism, documenting forms of resistance, social struggle, and collective self-organization.

“Feedback. The Environments of Franco Vaccari” at Museion, Bolzano

Museion in Bolzano has launched a major retrospective titled "Feedback. The Environments of Franco Vaccari," focusing on the influential Italian conceptual artist. The exhibition marks the first comprehensive institutional survey to prioritize Vaccari’s "environments"—immersive spaces that utilize photography, video, and archival materials to engage the viewer in a process of real-time feedback.

Venice Biennale’s Visitor Lions Face Artist Boycott

Venice Biennale strike sees more than 15 pavilions temporarily or partially close

On 8 May, more than 15 national pavilions at the Venice Biennale temporarily or partially closed in a coordinated strike organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA). The protest opposes Israel’s participation in the event, which organizers say normalizes what they call genocide and exploits precarious labor. Participating countries include Austria, Lebanon, Slovenia, Egypt, Poland, and the Netherlands, whose artist Dries Verhoeven stood outside his shuttered pavilion with a Palestinian flag. Some pavilions, like Japan’s, remained open but suspended interactive elements. The strike follows earlier controversies, including the resignation of the prize jury and an open letter demanding the Israeli pavilion’s cancellation.

After Five Years of Community Building, Social Practice CUNY Initiative to End in 2027

The Social Practice CUNY (SPCUNY) initiative, a major program fostering the intersection of art and social justice across the City University of New York’s 25 campuses, will officially sunset in February 2027. Co-directed by artists Chloë Bass and Greg Sholette, the program will conclude following its final 2025–26 fellowship cohort. The decision to end the project stems from the directors' personal transitions, including Sholette’s upcoming retirement and Bass’s shift away from full-time teaching to focus on her studio practice.

NASA’s Artemis II Returns to the Moon—and Captures a Powerful New Image of Earth

NASA has released the first images from the Artemis II mission, marking humanity's first return to the moon since 1972. During a lunar flyby on April 6, Commander Reid Wiseman captured a series of high-resolution photographs using a Nikon D5, including a striking image titled 'Earthset' that shows the planet sinking below the lunar horizon. The mission's four-person crew produced approximately 10,000 images, documenting the far side of the moon and a total solar eclipse from a unique celestial perspective.

Australia’s best photos of the month – March 2026

The article presents a collection of notable Australian cultural events and announcements from March 2026. It highlights the addition of the viral 'Succulent Chinese Meal' speech to the National Film and Sound Archive, a profile of 'Squid Game' composer Jung Jae-il, pianist Jayson Gillham's announced tour with a Palestinian-Jordanian musician ahead of a court case, and Kylie Minogue's scheduled performance at the AFL Grand Final.

anonymous was a woman the new york foundation for the arts environmental art grants 2025

Anonymous Was A Woman (AWAW) and the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) have awarded $521,125 in grants to 29 environmental art projects led by women-identifying artists from the United States and its territories. The grants, up to $20,000 each, require a public engagement component to be completed by August 2026. Recipients include artists such as Heidi K. Brandow, Charlotte Brathwaite, Cara Romero, and collectives like BEAM and DeepTime Collective, working across locations from California to Senegal and South Korea.

Press Release: Pace University Art Gallery Presents Siobhan McBride’s Summer Remembers Winter

Pace University Art Gallery presents *Summer Remembers Winter*, a solo exhibition by painter Siobhan McBride, opening February 14, 2026. The show features new works exploring disjointed spaces, memory, and identity shaped by dislocation, reflecting McBride's experience as a Korean-born, U.S.-raised adoptee. The exhibition includes a free public reception on February 19 and an artist talk on March 5, running through March 21, 2026.

DePaul Faculty, Artists Put Pressure On University To Save Art Museum

DePaul University faculty, students, and community members are mounting a public campaign to reverse the university's abrupt decision to close the DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) on June 30. An open letter led by philosophy professor Sean Kirkland has garnered nearly 3,800 signatures, while the museum's advisory board issued a separate statement condemning the closure as "egregious." Critics argue the decision was made without faculty consultation and undermines the institution's academic mission.

parties ifpda christies annual benefit

The IFPDA Foundation held its annual benefit at Christie's, celebrating printmaking with an evening of conversation and the second annual Studio Visit initiative. The event featured a discussion between artist Ana Benaroya and Leslie-Lohman Museum Associate Director Judy Giera on printmaking and queer contributions to the medium, with attendees including artists, curators, and collectors. The Studio Visit sale, offering access to artists' studios, runs through October 24.

Paul Stopforth | HERE COMES EVERYBODY 5 (2026) | For Sale

Paul Stopforth's artwork "HERE COMES EVERYBODY 5" (2026) is being offered for sale through The Schoolhouse Gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The piece is a unique gouache on panel measuring 16 × 16 inches, priced at US$900, hand-signed by the artist, and includes a certificate of authenticity. Stopforth, born in 1945 and originally from South Africa, emigrated to the United States 27 years ago and has since lived and worked in Boston, Cambridge, and Provincetown. His career includes teaching at Harvard University, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, and the Fine Arts Work Center, with his works held in public collections including the Harvard Film Archive, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and the National Gallery in Cape Town.

In the Gallery: See work by Rogue Valley artists

The article provides a comprehensive listing of art galleries and events in Oregon's Rogue Valley for the month of May. It highlights recurring monthly art walks in Jacksonville and Phoenix, and details exhibitions at ten local galleries including American Trails, Art & Soul Ashland, Art du Jour Gallery, Art on First, Art Presence Art Center, Ashland Art Works, and Collier Gallery. Featured artists include David Mensing, Kelly Anderson, Corbin Brashear, Nancy Darte, Elizabeth Ellingson, John Weston, and Dave Leibowitz, with a variety of media from painting and sculpture to photography and jewelry.

Eye on Art: Take Mom to a museum for Mother’s Day and feel the love

The article promotes taking mothers to art museums and galleries for Mother's Day weekend, highlighting several venues in the Lowell, Massachusetts area. It features the Fitchburg Art Museum's centennial free admission, with events including a curator talk, a members' mixer with artist Tara Sellios, and a drumming workshop. The New England Quilt Museum in Lowell offers a storytelling event with An Marshal and Luana Rubin tied to its exhibition "Soul Stories: Threads of Existence." The Whistler House Museum of Art is noted for being featured in Artscope Magazine, and the 21st annual Doors Open Lowell event provides access to historic buildings, alongside an opening reception at the Arts League of Lowell Arts Gallery.

Long Overlooked, Minnie Evans’s Mystical Landscapes Are Finally Getting the Spotlight

Minnie Evans (1892–1987), a self-taught African American artist who worked for 25 years as a ticket seller at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina, is experiencing a major resurgence. Long overlooked after her death, Evans created thousands of vibrant, kaleidoscopic drawings featuring florals, animals, and abstraction, often on scrap paper using affordable materials. A touring exhibition, "The Visionary Art of Minnie Evans," is currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, curated by Colton Klein, and a larger exhibition opens this November at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta before traveling to the Whitney Museum of American Art in summer 2026. Evans had a 1975 retrospective at the Whitney during her lifetime but faded from prominence afterward.

UAE unveils ‘Washwasha’ at Venice Biennale

The article reports on the UAE Pavilion's presentation at the Biennale Arte 2026 in Venice, titled 'Washwasha'. It also covers several art exhibitions in Dubai, including 'In Abstracto, In Concreto' at Efie Gallery featuring artists like Tunji Adeniyi-Jones and Ludovic Nkoth, the 'White' faculty exhibition at XVA Gallery, and the inaugural exhibition at Tatintisian Gallery's new Dubai space with works by Ron Arad, Peter Saul, and Tony Matelli. Additionally, it mentions a book of the week and a photo of the UAE Pavilion.

Wrapped for Travel: On "The American Connection" by Peter Halley and "Black Painter, White Figuration" by Maxwell Alexandre

Two simultaneous exhibitions at Almeida & Dale in São Paulo present contrasting visions: American artist Peter Halley's "The American Connection," curated by Antonio Gonçalves Filho, features his signature geometric abstractions using Roll-A-Tex and Day-Glo colors to critique digital confinement and post-industrial surfaces. Brazilian artist Maxwell Alexandre shows works from his "Clube" series, depicting Black bodies navigating exclusionary leisure spaces. The pairing is deliberate, not for aesthetic dialogue but to juxtapose an established international artist with a rising Brazilian talent, timed to coincide with SP-ARTE.

A Guide to Minneapolis Art Galleries for Beginners

This article serves as a beginner's guide to art galleries in Minneapolis, highlighting several venues that welcome newcomers. It features All My Relations Arts, a gallery in the American Indian Cultural Corridor showcasing Native artists; Northern Clay Center, which challenges perceptions of pottery with subversive and political clay works; and Dreamsong, a gallery founded in 2021 focusing on female-identified emerging and mid-career artists. The guide emphasizes that galleries are accessible, free, and low-commitment spaces for exploration.

Go big or go home: how The Lost Giants revived the ancient art of goliath-making

The Lost Giants (TLG), an art collective based in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, is reviving the British tradition of making processional giants—large, community-built figures made from wood, cloth, and papier-mâché. Founded three years ago by theatre designer Ruth Webb and her sister-in-law Amy Webb, the group has created giants for events ranging from local lantern parades to a harvest procession at Hauser & Wirth’s Somerset gallery. This New Year’s Eve, environmentalist Lisa Schneidau joined a massive procession of these giants in Lostwithiel, describing it as an extraordinary experience. The collective recently issued a public callout for an environmental group to collaborate on making a new beastie.

kraftwer cofounder auction electronic gear ephemera

Julien's Auctions will sell equipment and ephemera from the estate of Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider on November 19 at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, with online bidding already open. Highlights include an EMS Synthi AKS suitcase synthesizer used on the 1974 album *Autobahn* (est. $15,000–$20,000), a 1960s flute from Schneider's early career, and his 1964 Volkswagen van featured in the "Tour de France" video.

israeli airstrike doha qatar risk of planning art basel fair

On Tuesday, Israel carried out a missile strike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas leaders, with explosions reported in the Leqtaifiya neighborhood and smoke visible over the Katara cultural district. The strike comes as a shock to Qatar, which has built a reputation for stability and is home to major art institutions operated by Qatar Museums, including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, and the Museum of Islamic Art. Art Basel, which announced in May a partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+ to launch Art Basel Doha in February 2026, said it is closely monitoring developments and remains committed to the fair's inaugural edition.

netherlands returns 119 benin bronzes to nigeria in landmark repatriation agreement

The Netherlands has signed an agreement to return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, one of the largest repatriations of looted artifacts to date. The transfer, formalized on February 19 by Dutch culture minister Eppo Bruins and Nigerian official Olugbile Holloway at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, includes 113 bronzes from the Dutch National Collection held at the museum and six additional objects from the municipality of Rotterdam. The artifacts were plundered by British forces in 1897 and later acquired by Dutch institutions, with provenance research confirming the museums were aware of their looted origins.