The Biennale and the Weight of Flags. What Is the Point of National Pavilions?

La Biennale e il peso delle bandiere. Che senso hanno i padiglioni nazionali?

The article examines the inherent contradiction within the Venice Biennale: its historical structure of national pavilions, a legacy of 19th-century world fairs and state-sponsored art, clashes with the transnational, post-identity vision of the international exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The return of the Russia Pavilion amid geopolitical conflict and the international show titled "In Minor Keys," which rejects national belonging as an interpretive criterion, highlight this tension. The piece also addresses the controversy over the lack of Italian artists in the main exhibition, questioning whether a Biennale hosted in Italy should guarantee national representation.

A Milano esiste una community di illustratori che racconta la città disegnandola dal vivo

Urban Sketchers Milano, a local chapter of the international Urban Sketchers community, recently held an event at Casa Galimberti, a notable Liberty-style building in Milan. The group, founded in 2007 by journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario in Seattle, brings together illustrators who draw urban scenes directly from life, on location. The Milan chapter, active since March 2008, is currently managed by Valentín Di Salvo, Stefano Ziffarelli, and Daniela Paglia, and organizes events such as a recent gathering at the garden of Via San Martino, which drew over 90 artists.

Golden Lions of the Biennale voted by the public? 7 reasons why they cannot work

Leoni d’Oro della Biennale votati dal pubblico? 7 motivi per cui non possono funzionare

On April 30, 2026, the International Jury of the Venice Art Biennale resigned en masse. In response, the Biennale Foundation hastily announced a new initiative called the "Visitor Lions" (Leoni dei Visitatori), where paying visitors would vote to award the Golden Lions for best artist and best national participation. The voting system would rely on ticket tracking to verify attendance at the main venues, the Giardini and the Arsenale. However, just a week before the public opening, no further details had been released, raising numerous practical concerns about the mechanism's feasibility.

In a Piacenza church, the light of designer Davide Groppi becomes a whisper suspended in time

In una chiesa di Piacenza la luce del designer Davide Groppi diventa un sussurro sospeso nel tempo

Renowned lighting designer Davide Groppi has unveiled a major anthological exhibition titled "Un’ora di luce" (An Hour of Light) at Volumnia, a gallery housed within the deconsecrated Church of Sant’Agostino in Piacenza. Curated by Marco Sammicheli, the retrospective spans forty years of Groppi’s career, featuring iconic works like Sampei and Moon alongside new site-specific debuts. The exhibition is structured in two parts: a series of enclosed "utopias" that create intimate light environments, followed by a dialogue between his minimalist fixtures and the soaring, historic architecture of the church.

African Artists shine at Boomer Gallery’s “Vogued First Edition” in London

Boomer Gallery in London's Tower Bridge district hosted the opening of "Vogued | First Edition" on August 8, 2025, a group exhibition celebrating contemporary artists who push creative boundaries. Among the featured talents were African artists Kikelomo Solomon-Ayeni, Olamide Bakare, Bukola Abiodun, Mercy Odukogbe, and Olalekan Adetunji, whose works explored themes of tradition, innovation, heritage, and urban life through oil paintings, portraits, and mixed media. Guest of Honour Tabish Khan, an art critic and curator, delivered an opening talk on the relevance of contemporary art in a rapidly changing world.

International Quilt Museum to host artist Wada, professor Dudley

The International Quilt Museum is hosting a special event titled 'An Evening of Boro' on April 24, featuring artist Yoshiko Wada and professor Sandra Dudley. The event includes a reception for the exhibition 'Boro: The Hidden and the Visible in Japanese Mended Textiles,' a lecture by Dudley, and a guided tour of the exhibition led by Wada, who served as guest curator. The event will be livestreamed for remote attendees.

University of Sunderland Exhibition Celebrates 25 Years of Emerging Glass and Ceramics Talent

The University of Sunderland is celebrating 25 years of its Dry Run exhibition, a showcase for second-year BA Artist Designer Maker students specializing in glass and ceramics at the Shipley Art Gallery and Museum. The milestone exhibition, titled "A Celebration of Dry Run," brings together works from thirty artists who previously participated in the program, including a large ceramic bowl by recent graduate Lynn Donnelly. The show highlights the technical and conceptual evolution of the artists over the program's history.

Artcube 2R2 to Hold Oh Ji-yoon Solo Show in Seoul After Back-to-Back Venice Biennale Invitations

Seoul-based gallery Artcube 2R2 is launching a solo exhibition titled "Dignity: Accumulated Time" featuring the work of artist Oh Ji-yoon. The show focuses on her "Dignity" series, which utilizes a labor-intensive process of layering charcoal, gold, hanji paper, and pearls to explore themes of human existence and reflection. The exhibition is designed to coincide with the artist's consecutive invitations to the Venice Biennale, bringing the same body of work shown on the international stage to a domestic audience.

Tbilisi to Host the First International Auction of Georgian Modern and Contemporary Art

Tbilisi is set to host its first-ever international auction dedicated to Georgian modern and contemporary art. The event aims to showcase a diverse range of works from established masters to emerging local talents, providing a formal platform for Georgian artists to reach global collectors and investors.

Final weekend to see gigantic international art exhibition Embracing Our Differences

The international juried art exhibition "Embracing Our Differences" is concluding its current run in St. Petersburg’s Poynter Park this weekend. The outdoor showcase features 50 billboard-sized artworks created by artists and students globally, each paired with an inspirational quote centered on themes of inclusion, kindness, and respect. The event, which attracted over 400,000 visitors last year, also maintains a concurrent presence in Sarasota’s Bayfront Park through mid-April.

Art SG 2026

Art SG 2026, a major art fair in Singapore, has been announced, bringing together leading international galleries, artists, and collectors in the region. The event showcases contemporary art from Asia and beyond, featuring a curated selection of galleries and special exhibitions.

PHL airport prepares for 2026 with upgrades, student art exhibition

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by undertaking infrastructure upgrades and launching a student art exhibition. The exhibition features works created by local students, showcasing their artistic talents as part of the airport's broader efforts to enhance the traveler experience ahead of the international event.

Syria, Ukraine and Gaza among countries to receive heritage funds from Aliph

ALIPH, the Geneva-based cultural heritage protection agency, has announced over $16 million in its latest funding round, with support directed to Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and a new focus on climate change impacts on heritage, primarily in Africa. Nearly a third of the funding ($5 million) goes to Syria, where the newly appointed Director General of Antiquities and Museums, Dr. Anas Haj Zeidan, aims to restore sites damaged during the war under former president Bashar al-Assad. ALIPH executive director Valéry Freland reported extensive damage from 14 years of war, the 2023 earthquake, and economic crises, but noted strong local determination to rehabilitate heritage, including Palmyra. The agency also committed $9 million to address climate threats, supporting 28 projects—22 in Africa—focused on earthen architecture, sacred forests, and local knowledge preservation.

IC seeks exhibition proposals for ‘Art Macao 2025’

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) of Macau has issued an open call for exhibition proposals for the Collateral Exhibitions of 'Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025'. Eligible applicants include Macau residents aged 18 or above, higher education institutions, commercial enterprises, and community associations registered in Macau. Proposals must be submitted by May 23, with exhibitions running between July 19 and October 12 for at least two weeks. Chief Curator Feng Boyi will evaluate proposals based on curatorial concept, quality, thematic relevance, and feasibility. The biennale is themed 'Hey, what brings you here?' and includes six sections, with a separate open call for the Local Curatorial Project closing on the same day.