Peabody Essex Museum director steps down to lead Smithsonian American Art Museum

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan is stepping down as director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, to become the director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington, D.C., starting September 8. Hartigan, who began her career as an intern at SAAM, previously served as PEM's first chief curator in 2003, deputy director in 2016, and returned as director in 2021 after a brief stint at the Royal Ontario Museum. During her tenure at PEM, she oversaw the reinstallation of a 40,000-square-foot wing, guided a five-year strategic plan, and expanded programs in global fashion, contemporary art, photography, and American art.

Students take the lead: Inside a peer-led tour at Janet Turner Print Museum

Jasmine Lezema, an art history major and museum intern at the Janet Turner Print Museum, has organized a peer-led exhibition tour titled "Through an Art Historian’s Lens," scheduled for Wednesday from 5 to 5:30 p.m. The tour focuses on printmaking at Chico State and encourages students to engage deeply with artworks. Lezema selected three pieces from the current exhibition that personally resonated with her, drawing on her art history training to interpret symbolism, materials, and context. The museum’s director, Rachel Skowoski, and education assistant, Dylan Charlton, emphasize that student interns are empowered to shape programming around their interests, making this tour a product of that philosophy.

For Chicago, With Chicago

DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) in Chicago is presenting the exhibition "For Chicago, With Chicago," running from May 21-31, 2026. The show features works from the museum's collection, including pieces by Melissa Ann Pinney, Josh Dihle, and Claudio Dicochea, and was curated with input from DePaul students, staff, alumni, and the public. The exhibition is organized by DPAM interns, fellows, and delegates, highlighting a collaborative, community-driven approach.

Major art exhibition by Joe Lycett to come to city

Comedian Joe Lycett will present his first major solo art exhibition, titled EVERYTHING MUST GO, at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in July. The mixed-media show explores the theme of "things that are no longer with us," drawing inspiration from the city's collection and featuring subjects like deceased celebrities, discontinued products, extinct animals, and destroyed buildings, all presented in Lycett's signature colorful and humorous style. General admission will be free.

Joe Lycett to showcase artwork via Birmingham exhibition

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will stage the first major solo exhibition of artwork by comedian and artist Joe Lycett, titled 'EVERY THING MUST GO', opening on July 29, 2026. The exhibition will feature dozens of new, mixed-media works exploring themes of nostalgia, grief, and loss through Lycett's signature colorful and humorous style, focusing on subjects like deceased celebrities, extinct animals, and discontinued products.

Europe: China’s censorship of cultural institutions must be challenged - ARTICLE 19

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London has reportedly removed maps and images from exhibition catalogues on multiple occasions following pressure from its Chinese publisher, C&C Offset Printing. The publisher cited directives from China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), which enforces the Chinese Communist Party's official narratives on sensitive topics like territorial borders.

What the renovation of the Pergamon Museum costs

Was die Sanierung des Pergamonmuseums kostet

The Pergamon Museum in Berlin is undergoing a major renovation with a total budget of €1.5 billion for both construction phases, including cost risks. The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR) has announced that current projections indicate the overall costs will not be exceeded. Phase A, which includes the hall housing the famous Pergamon Altar, is expected to open on June 4, 2027, with a potential cost increase of up to 5% over the originally approved €489 million. Phase B, covering the Ishtar Gate and Babylonian Processional Way, has seen its cost forecast reduced by €27 million to €722.4 million, with an additional €295.6 million set aside for risks and price increases. The museum will fully reopen only in 2037.

Berlin Institutions Join Together to Form Museum Quarter

Berliner Institutionen schließen sich zu Museumsquartier zusammen

Several museums in Berlin are joining forces to form a new "MuseumsMeileMitte" (Museum Mile Mitte) district. The participating institutions are the Museum für Naturkunde, the Hamburger Bahnhof, the Futurium, and the Medizinhistorisches Museum der Charité. The initiative will launch on June 13 with a neighborhood festival offering free admission to all four venues, which are located within a 10-15 minute walk of each other near the Hauptbahnhof.

Erster Teil des Pergamonmuseum öffnet im Juni 2027

The first section of Berlin's Pergamon Museum will reopen to the public on June 4, 2027, after years of renovation. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) announced the date, ending months of uncertainty. The museum has been completely closed since autumn 2023 for comprehensive refurbishment, and the reopening will finally make the famous Pergamon Altar accessible again. However, the south wing, housing the Ishtar Gate and Babylonian Processional Way, will remain closed until 2037, with full museum access expected that year.

Berlin Modern Museum Construction Delayed Until 2030

Museumsbau Berlin Modern verzögert sich bis 2030

The completion of Berlin Modern, a major new museum in Berlin, has been delayed again until 2030 due to moisture damage and microbial infestation found in parts of the raw structure. The Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (SPK) announced an estimated eight-month postponement, though no construction stop was required. The museum, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, is being built near Potsdamer Platz to expand the Neue Nationalgalerie's exhibition space. Costs have risen from an initial €200 million to a projected €507 million.

Maximilien Durand reconduit au Louvre

Maximilien Durand, aged 50, has been reappointed for a three-year term as head of the Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Arts at the Louvre Museum in Paris. He has been preparing the department's opening since 2022. Durand previously served as director of the Musée des Tissus in Lyon and deputy director of collections at Paris Musées. His role includes overseeing collections, acquisitions, loans, and exhibitions, as well as a national expertise mission. Separately, Sophie Jugie moved to the Musées de France service after her non-renewal as head of the Sculptures department.

Un agent du Louvre devant le juge

A Louvre agent appeared before a judge. The article, published in Le Journal des Arts on May 2, 2026, covers multiple art world stories including the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, a resized project for Bourges 2028 by Yann Galut, a new contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier's emergency sales.

Une vétérane pour diriger un des musées du Smithsonian

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, 75, will become the director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington, D.C., on September 8, ending a 17-month vacancy. Hartigan, currently the director of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, began her career at SAAM as chief curator, where she developed collections of modern, contemporary, African American, and self-taught art.

Ouverture du Musée des Tissus

The Musée des Tissus (Museum of Fabrics) has opened its doors, marking the return of a specialized textile museum in Paris. The article also covers several other art-world developments: American Rousseau works returning to Paris, the outsourcing of museum reception services as a growing model, the New Museum's expansion, and Art Brussels adapting to contemporary trends.

Tehran exhibition gives voice to war’s silent burden through modern art

An exhibition titled "Art and War" opened on May 11, 2026, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Antoni Tapies, Robert Motherwell, and Juan Gris that explore the impact of conflict on modern art. The show includes Spanish anti-war artists from the post-WWII era, such as Juan Genoves, and aims to give voice to those suffering under war's burden. Visitors like student-artist Kiyana Niknam described the paintings as a universal language expressing personal pain and resilience, while project adviser Fuad Necmeddin noted that museums in Iran had reopened after wartime closures due to cultural demand.

Art, research, and Night at the Museum: The flourishing partnership between UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Museum of Art and History - UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) have deepened their decade-long partnership, marked by the MAH's 30th anniversary in April 2025. The collaboration includes co-sponsored exhibitions like "This is Thirty" and the ongoing "Night at the Museum" public event series, which brings scholars, artists, and community members together for free panel discussions and exhibits. Notable past projects include the 2016 Kinsey African American Art & History Collection exhibition and the 2023 California premiere of "Resettlement: Chicago Story."

Five Scottish museum collections awarded national significance status

Five museum collections in Scotland have been awarded national significance status on International Museum Day, bringing the total number of recognized collections in Scotland to 56. The newly designated collections are the Linoleum Collection (managed by OnFife), the Photographic Collection (University of St Andrews), the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design Collection (University of Dundee Museums), the Oakbank Collection (Scottish Crannog Centre), and the Art Collection (University of Stirling). The Recognition Scheme, managed by Museums Galleries Scotland, highlights collections beyond those held in national museums and galleries, spanning from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway.

New Warhol exhibition at Saginaw Art Museum & Gardens

The Saginaw Art Museum & Gardens in Michigan is hosting a new exhibition of works by Andy Warhol, running from May 20 to September 19, 2026. The show brings the iconic Pop artist's pieces to a regional audience in Flint-area community.

Los Angeles Sees Cultural Explosion: AI Art Museums, Immersive Exhibits, and Iconic Festivals Set to Redefine US Tourism

Los Angeles is undergoing a major cultural expansion in 2026, with several high-profile museum openings and immersive art experiences set to debut between June and December. Key developments include Dataland 3.0, the world's first dedicated Museum of AI Arts, created by Refik Anadol Studio at The Grand LA; the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a 100,000-square-foot gallery in Exposition Park designed by MAD Architects; and a new permanent installation by the art collective Meow Wolf. These are joined by recurring events such as LA Pride 2026, Cali Vibes 2026, the German Currents Film Festival, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and the L.A. County Holiday Celebration, creating a dense cultural calendar.

The Art of Performing Maintenance

This article explores the work of artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, who in 1969 wrote her "Manifesto for Maintenance Art" after experiencing a crisis of meaning following the birth of her first child. She proposed that routine maintenance tasks—like cleaning, cooking, and laundry—could be redefined as art when performed in public, particularly in museums. The article traces her early exhibitions at the Wadsworth Athenaeum, where she swept and mopped as performance, and her later projects interviewing passersby on New York City sidewalks and embedding herself in a Manhattan office building, where she invited workers to declare their maintenance tasks art.

In Antwerp, as photography show asks 'What is a normal family?'

The FOMU photography museum in Antwerp has opened a new exhibition titled 'Families', curated by Anne Ruygt. The show explores the evolving concept of family through historical and contemporary photography, featuring works by artists such as Mous Lamrabat, Cecil Beaton, Omar Victor Diop, Mayara Ferrão, Peter Hujar, Carmen Winant, and Seiichi Furuya. It includes diverse perspectives, from 'hidden mother portraits' and post-mortem photography to AI-generated images of queer Black and Indigenous women, questioning traditional notions of kinship and representation.

George Herms Dies at 90; Turned Castoff Objects Into Art

George Herms, the California artist who transformed discarded objects into evocative assemblages, has died at age 90. Known for his poetic, often whimsical sculptures made from rusted tools, old photographs, and other found materials, Herms was a central figure in the West Coast assemblage movement that emerged in the 1960s. His work bridged Beat-era spontaneity with a deeply personal, tactile approach to art-making, earning him a devoted following and exhibitions at major institutions.

Exhibits celebrate 30 years of Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with two concurrent exhibitions: “This is Thirty: Celebrating the MAH and Our Creative Community,” which mixes permanent collection works with new acquisitions, and “The Things We Did and Didn’t Do,” an archival installation by local artist Joshua Moreno. The museum originated from a merger of the Santa Cruz Historical Society and the Art Museum of Santa Cruz County, delayed by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and opened in 1996. The exhibits feature earthquake-related artworks, pieces by founding director Charles Hilger, and contributions from the family of Executive Director Ginger Shulick Porcella, including wearable art by her late mother-in-law Yvonne Porcella.

From galleries to guest rooms: The best art-inspired stays in Europe

A number of European hotels are integrating art collections and museum-quality experiences into their accommodations, offering travelers the chance to stay within or adjacent to art spaces. Notable examples include MACAM in Lisbon, Portugal, which combines a contemporary art museum with a hotel featuring the private collection of founder Armando Martins, including works by Marina Abramović and Paula Rego; the Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà in Verona, Italy, blending Renaissance architecture with avant-garde art; and the Elizabeth Arthotel in Ischgl, Austria, which has showcased art and sculpture since 1976 and recently added a rooftop commission by the artist duo NONOS.

‘Broadening access to contemporary art’: The best art-inspired stays in Europe

A Euronews Travel article highlights several European hotels that integrate contemporary art into the guest experience, positioning themselves as destinations for cultured travelers. Featured properties include the MACAM Hotel in Lisbon, which opened in March 2025 and shares a building with the Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins, offering guests access to a private collection spanning Portuguese and international art from the 19th century to the present. Other hotels mentioned are the Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà in Verona, blending Renaissance architecture with avant-garde works by artists like Andy Warhol, and the Elizabeth Arthotel in Ischgl, Austria, which has showcased art and sculpture since 1976 and recently added a rooftop commission by the artist duo NONOS.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Adds ‘Star Wars in Motion’ Exhibit to Opening Lineup

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has announced a new exhibition titled "Star Wars in Motion" as part of its inaugural lineup, set to open on September 22, 2026, in Los Angeles's Exposition Park. The showcase will feature vehicle designs, props, costumes, and illustrations from the first six Star Wars films, including iconic items like Luke's Landspeeder and General Grievous's Wheel Bike. The museum, co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, will open with over 30 exhibitions and more than 1,200 objects spanning visual storytelling from ancient sculptures to modern cinema.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Announces 'Star Wars In Motion' As Part of Inaugural Cinema Exhibition

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has announced details of its inaugural Cinema exhibition, titled 'Star Wars In Motion,' set to open on September 22. Curated by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the exhibition will feature vehicle designs, props, costumes, and illustrations from the first six Star Wars films, including Luke's Landspeeder and General Grievous's Wheel Bike. The museum, located at Exposition Park in Los Angeles, will launch with over 30 installations tracing visual storytelling from ancient sculptures to modern cinema, drawing from a founding collection of more than 40,000 works.

Picasso immersive digital exhibition at Museum of Art + Light

The Museum of Art + Light (MoA+L) in Manhattan, Kansas, will host the U.S. debut of "Picasso: Art in Motion," a landmark immersive exhibition exploring Pablo Picasso's life and work, opening May 3, 2026. Produced in agreement with the Picasso Administration, the exhibition uses large-scale projections, film, and digital environments in the museum's 21,500-square-foot Mezmereyz gallery, featuring 108 projectors and over 188 million pixels. It will be accompanied by "Picasso on Paper," a quieter exhibition of etchings, lithographs, and linocuts, and will anchor a broader season including "Interference: The Interactive Art of Daniel Rozin" and "EMULATION: Selections from the Art Blocks 500."

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art reveal inaugural exhibition schedule

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (LMNA) has announced its inaugural exhibition schedule, curated by founder George Lucas himself. Opening on September 22, the museum will feature over 30 galleries and more than 1,200 works, exploring human history and the human condition through narrative art forms including illustration, sequential art, and cinema. The exhibitions will showcase production designs, props, and costumes from the Lucas Archives, alongside works by iconic artists such as Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Jack Kirby, Alison Bechdel, Frank Miller, and Mœbius, spanning adventure, fantasy, sci-fi, children's literature, and comics.

Intermezzo: revisiting Helmut Newton

The Helmut Newton Foundation at Berlin's Museum für Fotografie is overhauling its permanent exhibition after more than 20 years, introducing a cinematic installation called "Intermezzo" that uses eight video projectors across four screens to present a film portrait of Helmut Newton. The film incorporates previously unreleased material, including personal recordings by his wife June Newton, and features interviews with figures from Newton's world such as Philippe Garner, Carla Sozzani, and Matthias Harder. Alongside the immersive film, the ground-floor gallery displays nearly 100 of Newton's exhibition posters and launches a new curatorial series, "Spotlight: behind the frame," which will focus on iconic photographs by Helmut Newton or Alice Springs, starting with Newton's 1975 "Rue Aubriot" and Alice Springs' 1970 Gitanes advertisement.