Graduate art and design students exhibit their work at Krannert Art Museum

The Krannert Art Museum is currently hosting the annual Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, showcasing the thesis work of eight graduate students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Art & Design. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including sculptural 3D collages by Samantha Jones that critique the hypersexualization of Black girlhood, and a mixed-media experimental classroom by Anthony Obayomi that explores social justice and educational metrics. Other works, such as Emily Tomlinson’s text-based drawings, highlight themes of cataloging and observational study.

Black Artists in America, Installation Three Wraps at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens has concluded the third and final installment of its ambitious "Black Artists in America" exhibition series. This concluding chapter focused on the late 20th century, showcasing how African American artists navigated the Civil Rights Movement and the subsequent shift toward contemporary abstraction and conceptualism while maintaining a dialogue with social justice.

Dayton Art Institute welcomes new feminist art gallery

The Dayton Art Institute has opened a new gallery dedicated to feminist art, featuring works by women artists and addressing themes of gender, identity, and social justice. The space aims to highlight underrepresented perspectives within the museum's collection and contemporary art discourse.

Fowler Museum at UCLA presents ‘Construction, Occupation,’ exploring art, activism and housing justice

The Fowler Museum at UCLA has opened 'Construction, Occupation,' an exhibition exploring the intersection of art, activism, and housing justice. The show revisits the 2016–17 occupation of the abandoned Cambridge Hotel in São Paulo, Brazil, by low-wage workers, refugees, and artists—a project known as the Cambridge Artistic Residency (CARe)—which led to the building's transformation into government-funded social housing and a cultural hub. Curated by Alex Ungprateeb Flynn, Juliana Caffé, and Yudi Rafael, the exhibition features 24 artists and collectives, primarily from Brazil, with photography, video, installations from the original residency, and newly commissioned works. It runs through January 11, 2026.

Chico State Museum of Anthropology exhibition centered on protest art

An exhibition titled "Celebrate People's History: Latin America and the Art of Protest" has opened at the Chico State Museum of Anthropology in Chico, California. Housed in the Meriam Library Building, the show features protest art from Latin America and Latinx communities in the U.S., addressing topics such as Dolores Huerta, ICE raids, and local issues like the killing of Desmond Phillips. The exhibition includes works from Pedal Press, a Chico-based organization, and offers interactive print materials for K-12 and college students, with free field trips available for school groups.

Paul Kroner celebrates five years of his community art hub with solo exhibition

Cincinnati-based artist and activist Paul Kroner is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his space, Studio Kroner, with his first solo exhibition titled "What Have I Done?" opening April 17. Since its founding, the 1,200-square-foot venue has evolved from a private studio into a vibrant community hub, hosting national artists, theatrical performances, and social justice-oriented exhibitions. The upcoming show will feature a diverse range of Kroner’s own work, including paintings, illustrations, and a new series of bronze sculptures called "Liminals" created through a hybrid process of wax casting and digital scanning.

Still We Rise: Art Behind the Walls Exhibit at Fort Frederik Museum

The Fort Frederik Museum in St. Croix has unveiled "Still We Rise: Art Behind the Walls," an exhibition showcasing original works created by incarcerated individuals at the John A. Bell Correctional Facility. The collection features a variety of media, most notably locally sourced calabash gourds that have been transformed into intricate cultural vessels. Developed through a volunteer-led art and literacy program, the show highlights the personal narratives and creative growth of participants who used the project as a vehicle for self-reflection.

Tonika Lewis Johnson: Segregation and How to Disrupt It

Hyperallergic is hosting an online member event on April 15 featuring a conversation with social justice artist and 2025 MacArthur Fellow Tonika Lewis Johnson. The event will focus on her community-driven projects, including the "Folded Map Project," and will include readings from her 2024 book, *Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It*.

The Tender Work of Preserving Renee Good’s Memorial

A traveling photojournalist, Ryan Vizzions, has halted his cross-country project to become the archivist and caretaker of a sprawling memorial for Renee Good, a poet and mother killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Vizzions is photographing, digitizing, and preserving hundreds of objects left at the site, storing fragile items in a secret location, and protecting the memorial from vandalism and the elements.

The Returning Artists Guild

The Blue House Gallery in Dayton, Ohio, will host "Imagining Abolition: State Blues," a group exhibition presented by The Returning Artists Guild (RAG), an abolitionist collective of directly-impacted practicing artists from Ohio and beyond. The exhibition opens on June 13, 2026, with a reception from 6-9pm, and runs through July 13, 2026, with open hours on Fridays from 4-6pm or by appointment.

Summit County seeks artists to design public art benches for Silver Summit building

Summit County's Public Art Advisory Board has issued a call for artists to design and fabricate seven artistic benches for the exterior of the Silver Summit Services Building in Park City, Utah. The project includes two 8-foot and five 5-foot benches that must reflect themes of unity, community, justice, service, and law and order, while being durable enough to withstand deep snowfall, high winds, and temperature extremes. Proposals are due by May 22, with a pre-proposal meeting on May 15, and installation is planned for summer to fall 2026.

'Do or die': Flick's journey from jail to artist and First Nations mentor

Flick Chafer-Smith, a First Nations artist, turned her life around after being incarcerated on her 18th birthday and spending six years in and out of prison due to drug addiction. Through the Victorian Indigenous arts program The Torch, she discovered painting as a means of expression and healing. She is now among 424 artists featured in Confined 17, an annual exhibition at Glen Eira Town Hall showcasing works by First Nations artists with lived experience of incarceration in Victoria. The exhibition includes paintings, weavings, ceramics, and carved emu eggs, with sales proceeds going directly to the artists.

“Queer Art, For and By Queer Artists” student exhibit seeks to build community

Freshman anthropology student Mia Wallen is hosting a student art exhibition titled “Queer Art, For and By Queer Artists” on May 1 at the St. Louis Virtuoso Collective. The show features works in all mediums by queer artists, with proceeds benefiting Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis, a trans-led organization addressing housing injustices. Wallen, who grew up in a small town with little queer community, conceived the exhibit as her final project to combine her passion for art and LGBTQ rights.

Venice Biennale jury to avoid artists from nations with ICC-charged leaders

The jury for the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition announced on April 24, 2026, that they will not consider artists from countries whose leaders face charges at the International Criminal Court, an apparent reference to Israel and Russia. The five jury members, tasked with selecting Golden and Silver Lion winners among 110 participants, stated they felt compelled to commit to the defense of human rights. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. The decision follows criticism of the Biennale for allowing Russia to reopen its pavilion after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Paint meets protest at this dalit art exhibition in Chennai

The fifth edition of the Dalit Aesthetics Art Show, titled ‘The Whole Story’, has opened at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai. Organized by the Neelam Art Collective as part of the annual Vaanam Festival, the exhibition features works by 36 artists that explore themes of social justice, identity, and resistance. The show highlights both the struggles of the Dalit community and their cultural contributions, featuring a dedicated gallery for B.R. Ambedkar and honoring veteran artist Savindra Sawarkar, a pioneer of the Dalit art movement.

Toledo Juvenile Court art exhibit showcases teen creativity

Six teenagers currently involved with the Lucas County Juvenile Court system are debuting a new art exhibition at JUST Toledo. The showcase features 25 original works, including photography and custom-built frames, all created and installed by the young artists under the guidance of lead artist Christopher Pickett.

Work by incarcerated artists showcased in recent exhibit at IHM Sisters' gallery

The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Motherhouse Gallery in Monroe, Michigan, recently hosted an exhibition featuring artworks created by incarcerated individuals from correctional facilities across the state. Organized by the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), the show displayed pieces made from unconventional materials like soap and graham crackers, ranging from spiritual reflections to bright, hopeful compositions. The exhibit was curated from donated works by artists who are unable to keep their pieces or sell them directly due to Department of Corrections regulations.

Call to step up to end violence against women - Ballarat Times

The Ballarat community has launched the 16 Days of Activism campaign to end violence against women, beginning on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25) and running until Human Rights Day (December 10). The campaign includes a '16 Ways for 16 Days' trail map with daily activities, and features the 'Transforming Pain into Power' art exhibition at Ballarat Library, Barkly Square, and Art Space Ballarat, showcasing works by local artists speaking out against gendered violence. Survivor Marita Forsyth's artwork depicts her perpetrators in a burning car, symbolizing her empowerment.

One Art One Community: Exhibit illustrates the transformative power of art among the incarcerated

An unconventional art exhibition titled “One Art One Community” is on display at Case Western Reserve University’s Wade Park Community Engagement Center, featuring 46 works by 16 incarcerated artists from Grafton Correctional Institution. Curated by Eric Gardenhire, who directs the prison’s arts and crafts program, and co-curated by Megan Alves, the show replaces traditional artist statements with “Community Voice labels” written by Cleveland residents impacted by incarceration, including formerly incarcerated artist Gwendolyn Garth. The exhibit opened on October 30 and aims to bridge the gap between inmates and the broader community.

ARTS at King Street Station Exhibition Invites You to Unlearn the Fantasy of Paradise

The exhibition "Welcome to Paradise: ¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre!" by Seattle-based Boricua artist Jo Cosme opens at ARTS at King Street Station on November 6, 2025. Featuring over 30 artists from Borikén/Puerto Rico, the show confronts the colonial reality and disaster capitalism affecting the island, using the tools of tourism and advertising to challenge viewers' perceptions of Puerto Rico as a tropical paradise.

Art exhibition set to bring significant interest in Mayo town

An art exhibition called The Crow Gallery is opening in Westport, County Mayo, during the Westival 2025 arts and music festival. Housed in the vacant The Local public house on Castlebar Street, the show features work from local artists with disabilities and participants of an Open Call centered on disability justice. The exhibition explores perceptions of disability, challenges ableism, and aims to spark dialogue about inclusion. It is the first phase of a long-term project to establish a permanent gallery, coffee shop, gift shop, and artist studios where disabled and non-disabled artists collaborate, with people with disabilities leading the space. The project was inspired by local artist Maitiu Quinn and Amber Walsh, and is driven by Anna Wall, who participated in Social Entrepreneurs Ireland's Ideas Academy and a Mayo County Council Arts Office workshop facilitated by artist Kari Cahill.

Frame Work: Poster art a reflection of culture, history

The Scarab Club, a Midtown Detroit arts club and gallery, is presenting a new exhibition titled "Paper, Place, Power: The Global Language of Posters," showcasing poster art that spans music, movies, social justice, and politics. The works are drawn from local collections including Signal Return, Wayne State, 1xRun, and the Black Canon, with an international perspective contributed by L.A.-based Poster Territory, covering subjects like the environment and the war in Ukraine. The free exhibition runs until October 5, and a related talk by Es-pranza Humphrey, assistant curator at New York City's Poster House, is scheduled for a Wednesday evening.

A Museum Show About Disability Asks: ‘Who’s Sorry Now?’

The New York Times reports on a new museum exhibition that centers on disability, posing the provocative question 'Who’s Sorry Now?' The show challenges conventional narratives around disability, moving beyond pity or inspiration to explore themes of agency, identity, and societal attitudes. It features works by disabled artists and aims to reframe how disability is represented in cultural institutions.

Call for artists: County Museum invites submissions for Hispanic Heritage Month exhibition

The San Bernardino County Museum, in partnership with the Inland Empire Latino Art Association, has issued a call for artists for an exhibition titled "Expectations: A Better World Through Art, Music, and Respect," running from September 13 to December 14. The show celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and invites submissions in all mediums from artists in San Bernardino County and surrounding regions, with a deadline of August 8. Selected works will explore how expectations shape identity and community, and the museum has explicitly banned AI-generated art from the submission process.

Local art exhibition confronts apartheid silence

A live exhibition titled "Uncovering / Recovering the Past" was held on 21 May at the Stellenbosch University Museum in South Africa, featuring sound, sculpture, and archival material. Created by artist Haroon Gunn-Salie, the exhibition explores the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's failure to prosecute apartheid-era crimes, focusing on the reopened inquest into the 1969 death of anti-apartheid cleric Imam Abdullah Haron while in police detention. The event was presented by the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and The Reparative Quest (AVReQ) and included speakers such as human rights lawyer Odette Geldenhuys and senior research coordinator Westley Ceasar.

At ELAC’s Vincent Price Art Museum, an exhibition pays tribute to 30 years of Latina lesbian activism

East Los Angeles College’s Vincent Price Art Museum is hosting an exhibition through August that spans three decades of Latina lesbian activism in Los Angeles, from the 1980s to the late 2000s. The show features photos, posters, letters, and ephemera highlighting the fight against anti-gay hate crimes, alongside struggles for LGBTQ+ healthcare, affordable housing, fair wages for janitors, and immigrants’ rights. Co-curated by Jocelyne Sanchez and Vanessa Esperanza Quintero, the exhibition is a collaboration with UCLA’s Latina Futures 2050 Lab and pays tribute to activists including the late archivist Yolanda Retter Vargas.

Art exhibit to show the realities of homelessness in Kansas City

Artist Daniel Montoute will present "Living in Tents," an exhibition of paintings, found objects, and mixed media works at the Shirley Stiles Gallery in Kansas City starting August 18, 2025. The show depicts the realities of homelessness in the Kansas City area, featuring imagery of tents, shopping carts, and people sleeping in alleyways. Montoute, who moved to Kansas City in 2023 to join the Pendleton ArtsBlock artist community, was struck by the prevalence of homelessness. All exhibition pieces will be donated to reStart Inc., an emergency shelter, and auctioned at its annual fundraising gala on September 11.

Berliner Finanzsenator Evers übernimmt Leitung von Kulturverwaltung

Berlin's finance senator Stefan Evers (CDU) has been appointed to temporarily lead the city's cultural administration, marking the third change in leadership within a year. This follows the resignation of Joe Chialo in May 2025 and the departure of his successor Sarah Wedl-Wilson on the previous Friday, after months of controversy over the approval of funding grants. Evers will hold both finance and culture portfolios until the Berlin state election on September 20, 2025. The decision was made by CDU district chairpersons after initial talks with former justice senator Thomas Heilmann fell through.

Biennale Jury Will Not Consider Countries with ICC Allegations

Biennale-Jury will Länder mit IStGH-Vorwürfen nicht berücksichtigen

The jury of the Venice Art Biennale has announced that it will not consider countries whose heads of state or government face allegations of crimes against humanity from the International Criminal Court (ICC) when awarding prizes this year. The jury, led by Brazilian art historian Solange Farkas, cited its commitment to defending human rights. While no specific countries were named, the ICC currently has arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The Biennale leadership stated the jury acted in full autonomy and independence.

Annual {Ink}arcerated art exhibition returns to Arizona Center May 15

The {Ink}arcerated: Creativity Within Confinement art exhibition returns to the Arizona Center on May 15, featuring 365 new paintings, drawings, and sculptures created by incarcerated individuals. Managed by doctoral students Alexis Klemm and Madeline Boersma from ASU's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the program involves distributing art supplies to 17 correctional facilities across Arizona, including a youth facility for the first time, and curating the completed works into a polished exhibition with museum lighting and display walls.