The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., has received a $116 million gift from billionaire art collector Mitchell P. Rales. This donation will fund a new program to send the museum's collection on long-term loans to smaller institutions across the United States in perpetuity, significantly expanding its national reach.
A hand-signed offset lithograph poster by Ed Ruscha, created for the 2012 "Reading Ruscha" exhibition at the Kunsthaus Bregenz in Austria, is available for sale. The poster features an iconic 1971 photograph of the artist by Jerry McMillan and is noted for its rarity, with Ruscha having signed fewer than 50 copies for the institution.
Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles is presenting 'Material Curiosity by Design: Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman,' an exhibition showcasing the mosaics, tapestries, wood carvings, and other works of the late midcentury design duo. The show, which runs through May 10, juxtaposes their vintage pieces with contemporary works by artists Porfirio Gutiérrez, Jolie Ngo, and Vince Skelly.
ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse is hosting a new exhibition titled 'A Rising Tide of Plastic in Art,' featuring works by members of the international collective Project Vortex. The show includes sculptures, photographs, and installations created from reclaimed plastic waste, with artists like Alejandro Durán, Nicole Hixon, Anne Percoco, and Blue McRight transforming debris into commentary on pollution.
The article presents a critical review of the 2026 "Greater New York" exhibition at MoMA PS1, a massive survey featuring over 150 works by more than 50 artists. The Hyperallergic editorial team highlights specific artists and works they loved, disliked, or found puzzling, offering a curated list of around 20 standout pieces. The review includes detailed commentary on individual works by artists like Dean Millien, the collective Red Canary Song, and Kameron Neal, capturing the diverse and often contentious reactions the show provokes.
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., has received a gift of 1,261 photographs from artist Mitch Epstein and his wife, Susan Bell. The donation, the largest institutional collection of Epstein's work, spans his five-decade career and includes major series such as 'American Power,' 'Property Rights,' and 'New York Arbor.'
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) has appointed Lynda Roscoe Hartigan as its new director, concluding a 17-month search. Hartigan, who is leaving her position as executive director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum, will begin her role in September, succeeding acting director Jane Carpenter-Rock. She previously worked at SAAM as a curator in the 1970s and has held senior leadership roles at the Peabody Essex Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum.
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) has named Farida Sherif, a senior at Verona High School, as the recipient of its 2026 Paul Bartick Emerging Artist Award. Sherif was selected by an award committee for the strength, individuality, and compelling voice of her work, which she developed through SOPAC's Inspired Minds Young Artist Exhibition program. She will receive the award at a gallery opening reception on May 14, 2026.
The Chen Art Gallery at Central Connecticut State University is hosting the 2026 Art Capstone Student Exhibition from April 23 to May 1. The show will feature the work of 16 graduating art students from the university's program.
The Nuart Aberdeen street art festival has returned for its 2026 edition, running from Wednesday through Sunday. Thirteen international artists are creating new murals and installations across the city, including the first indoor work at the historic Bon Accord baths, alongside pieces on the Chapel Street car park and North East Scotland College. A guide and walking tours help visitors locate both new and existing artworks.
A crowd crush at Haiti's historic Citadelle Laferrière fortress on April 11 resulted in at least 25 deaths, including a pregnant woman and children. The tragedy occurred during an unauthorized event promoted by TikTok influencers, which drew over 3,000 people to the site. Heavy rain and a stampede at the narrow entrance exacerbated the overcrowding.
NEON, the Athens-based contemporary art initiative founded by collector Dimitris Daskalopoulos, will conclude its activities later this year after 14 years. Its final project is a trilogy of exhibitions by artist Michael Rakowitz at the Acropolis Museum, with the last installment set for 2026. The organization also announced it has fulfilled its cultural and social mission.
A mass shooting occurred at the Teotihuacan archaeological site in Mexico, leaving one Canadian tourist dead and 13 others from various nations injured. The gunman, identified as Julio César Jasso Ramírez, opened fire from atop the Pyramid of the Moon before killing himself at the scene.
Artist Fritz Horstman has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Folded Worlds,' featuring his Folded Cyanotypes and a new series of Folded Palladiums. These camera-less photographic works are created by exposing folded, chemically coated paper to sunlight or UV light, resulting in abstract images that suggest crystalline landscapes and architectural forms.
American Legacy Fine Arts, a private gallery in Pasadena, has opened a new exhibition titled 'Mastering the Mood: Atmospheric Emotion.' The show, running from April 24 to June 6, features 14 nationally recognized painters, including Peter Adams, Warren Chang, and Jean LeGassick, whose works use light, color, and atmosphere to transform landscapes and still lifes into immersive emotional experiences.
The Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson hosted a preview exhibition on April 17, 2026, to launch the 20th-anniversary edition of the Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour. The event featured works from approximately 30 of the 50 participating local artists, allowing guests to meet creators and view a diverse array of regionally resonant art before the public studio tour begins in May.
Art Week nordiche: Stoccolma è capitale dell’arte europea per una settimana. L’intervista
Stockholm is hosting the Stockholm Art Week from April 21-26, transforming the city into a hub for contemporary art. The event features a citywide program of exhibitions across museums, galleries, and independent spaces, including a retrospective of textile artist Anna Casparsson at Moderna Museet, a photography show by Lotta Antonsson at Fotografiska, and an outdoor bronze sculpture installation by Italian artist Davide Rivalta. The week also coincides with the 20th anniversaries of two major Nordic art fairs, Market Art Fair and Supermarket Art Fair, which are moving to new venues.
A new public art installation titled "Sail Through This to That" by conceptual artist indira allegra will debut on May 28 at Philadelphia's Spruce Street Harbor as part of the new ArtPhilly festival. The work features a trio of neon-colored schooner sails mounted on the historic vessel North Wind, commemorating the 1796 escape from enslavement of Ona Judge, who fled the household of George and Martha Washington.
A major exhibition titled 'Lillian Pitt: Art, Memory, Home' opens at The Museum at Warm Springs on May 21, featuring the contemporary art of celebrated Pacific Northwest Native artist Lillian Pitt alongside works from her personal collection and other institutions. The show, curated by Angela Anne Smith with contributions from Rebecca Dobkins, explores six themes in Pitt's life and work and includes an opening reception sponsored by The Ford Family Foundation.
The nonprofit organization Awamaki was founded in 2009 to support Quechua communities in Peru's Sacred Valley, particularly women weavers, as they navigate economic shifts and climate change. It now assists nine cooperatives comprising 174 artisans, providing structural support for selling traditional textiles and coordinating tourism to generate income while preserving cultural practices.
Hōhepa Canterbury, a not-for-profit organization, will host its biennial Art and Sculptural Exhibition in Christchurch next month. The event features works from over 50 established and emerging New Zealand artists, including Renata Przynoga and Gwyn Hughes, alongside pieces created by Hōhepa residents. A VIP preview and auction will be held on May 22, followed by public exhibition days on May 23-24, with proceeds funding the organization's wellness and community programs.
Sculptor and author Barbara Chase-Riboud has publicly declined an invitation to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, stating it was "not the moment" for her to do so. She was among the artists initially considered by the newly formed American Arts Conservancy (AAC), which is organizing the US pavilion after both she and photographer William Eggleston turned down the opportunity.
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.
The Fort Smith Museum of History will open two new exhibitions on May 15. 'The Art of the Brick' features large-scale sculptures by contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya, built entirely from LEGO bricks, while 'The Art of Native American Basketry' showcases a collection of woven baskets from regional tribes.
MoMA PS1 has opened its major quinquennial exhibition "Greater New York," a sprawling survey featuring early-career artists based in the city. The show, which fills three floors of the former public school, is noted for its gritty, immersive portrayal of contemporary New York life, capturing everyday textures from delivery drivers to urban wildlife.
The Highlands, a senior living community in Decorah, has opened a new on-site art gallery. Its inaugural exhibition features acrylic paintings by tri-state area artist Corey Cleven, with all artwork available for purchase. A portion of each sale will be donated to The Highlands Foundation to support resident programs and services.
The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art will debut 25 new mannequins for its 2026 Met Gala exhibition, "Costume Art." The mannequins are modeled on a diverse range of real body types, including individuals with disabilities, and are intended to challenge the fashion industry's historical reliance on standardized, thin display figures.
The Sandy Cleary Art Gallery in Nashua, New Hampshire, is currently hosting an exhibition of student artwork from the Nashua School District, featuring three-dimensional pieces for the first time. The show, which runs through the end of July, includes works from middle and high school students, with new display cases acquired specifically for 3D art like jewelry, paper mache, and ceramics.
Four Indianapolis-based artists—Salma Taman, Alejandra Carrillo, Bailey Jörk, and Iryna Bondar—are creating work that directly responds to contemporary political and social crises, including the war in Gaza, immigration, and political division. Their art, ranging from Taman's Arabic calligraphy painting promoting forgiveness to Carrillo's digital drawing protesting a migrant detention center, serves as a form of personal and communal expression in a fraught global climate.
A major portrait by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, "La femme aux lilas (Portrait de Nini Lopez)" (1876–77), will be sold at Christie's on May 18. The painting, which has been held privately by the Whitney Payson family for 97 years, is expected to fetch between $25 and $35 million.