Women’s Work: The art of Nancy Erickson (museum exhibition)

In 1973, three pioneering women artists—Lela Autio, Dana Boussard, and Nancy Erickson—proposed an exhibition of their soft sculpture at the University of Montana in Missoula, but were denied because their work was dismissed as "women's work." Undeterred, they staged their own exhibition in the empty Carnegie Library building in 1974, a year before the Missoula Art Museum (MAM) was founded. Now, MAM's special exhibition "Women's Work" celebrates the museum's 50th anniversary by showcasing the works of these three artists, including several pieces by Nancy Erickson (1935-2022) such as "Rainbow Flight" (1974), "Montana Selective Cut: Official Visit" (1974), and "Pattee Canyon Fire" (1977).

Small Formats, Great Tensions

Kleine Formate, große Spannungen

The Paper Positions art fair in Berlin is celebrating its tenth anniversary, held in the vast Tempelhof Airport hangar with around 70 galleries. The fair focuses exclusively on works on paper, showcasing artists like Kubra Khademi, whose series "Women in simple situations" features nude female bodies as acts of resistance and political visibility. Other highlights include Annegret Soltau's pierced paper works, Una Ursprung's layered collages, Dirk Krecker's typewriter compositions, and Tina Heuter's tissue-paper sculptures, alongside photography by Stefanie Moshammer and vibrant works by Madita Kloss.

The Contradictory Museum

Eugenio Viola, former artistic director of the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art (MAMBO), argues that museums must evolve from authoritative cultural temples into critical civic spaces. He contends that in polarized societies marked by inequality and contested histories, museums are essential infrastructures for hosting discomfort, divergent memories, and unresolved tensions, fostering collective dialogue and visibility for excluded narratives.

Seattle Art Museum Workers Announce Unionization

More than one hundred employees at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) announced their intent to unionize on May 13, delivering a letter to museum director and CEO Scott Stulen. Organizing as Seattle Art Museum Workers United (SAMWU) under the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28, the staff—spanning over twenty departments—cited unsustainable wages, subpar health benefits, and top-down decision-making as key issues. They filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board but will withdraw the petition if the museum voluntarily recognizes the union by May 27. Stulen acknowledged receipt of the letter and committed to good-faith negotiations.

Art exhibits abound this fall at Pitt State

Pittsburg State University's Art Department is hosting a series of free exhibitions in its two galleries at Porter Hall this fall. Featured shows include Katie Petersen's "Centripetal: The Return to the Self" (Sept. 3–Oct. 10) at the Harry Krug Gallery, exploring balance and health through pastel colors and x-ray imagery; Diane Bronstein's "Unreal city" at the University Gallery, blending vintage photography with embroidery to address climate change; "Seeded: Art After Investment" (Oct. 15–Nov. 10) showcasing faculty and student works made possible by grant funding; and Jason Tanner Young's "Finder" (Oct. 22–Dec. 15), a sculpture exhibition examining the relationship between objects and memory. All exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public.

Provincia Cosmica. Interview with Giuseppe Stampone, the artist who chose Gran Sasso as his home

Provincia Cosmica. Intervista a Giuseppe Stampone, l’artista che ha scelto il Gran Sasso come casa

Italian contemporary artist Giuseppe Stampone, born in Cluses in 1974, has returned to his native Abruzzo after years living in New York, Rome, and Brussels. Following the loss of his parents, he established his studio in the province of Teramo, where he is restoring a farmhouse under the Gran Sasso mountain to house the Archivio Giuseppe Stampone-Maria Crispal and an artist residency called Abruzzo Mon Amour. Stampone won the PAC2021 prize for his project "La natura delle cose," which explores his bond with the region and will create an archive dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Monti della Laga, Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, and Gran Sasso areas.

The ironic and intellectual painting of Renato Varese. The exhibition in Conegliano

La pittura ironica e intellettuale di Renato Varese. La mostra a Conegliano

Palazzo Sarcinelli in Conegliano is hosting a retrospective exhibition dedicated to Renato Varese (1926–2024), a versatile Italian painter, graphic artist, engraver, sculptor, and ceramist. Curated by Lorena Gava, the show marks the centenary of Varese's birth and features around fifty works spanning painting and graphic art, highlighting his ironic, intellectual, and visionary style often described as "Gothic." Concurrently, the artist's heirs have donated thirteen works to the city's civic collections, including the large canvas "Beati gli ultimi" (1997), now housed in a dedicated room named Sala L.R. Varese.

C’è un artista che ha deciso di vivere in povertà come un monaco francescano. La storia

Miltos Manetas, a Greek-born artist, has adopted a life of Franciscan poverty as both a personal practice and an artistic project called "Francesco_2026." His work is featured in the exhibition "Vita minore. San Francesco e la santità dell’arte contemporanea" at Palazzo Collicola in Spoleto, curated by Gianni and Giuseppe Garrera. Manetas has also launched the tenth Internet Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, inviting Saint Francis as the artist, using AI conversations and a monastery in the Venetian lagoon to create an informal community of "Fratelli e Sorelle" who follow a shared rule based on poverty, absence of preparation, and divine providence.

Fellow Painters and Also Friends. Zandomeneghi and Degas Are on Show in Rovigo

Colleghi pittori e anche amici. Zandomeneghi e Degas sono in mostra a Rovigo

Palazzo Roverella in Rovigo is hosting the exhibition "Zandomeneghi e Degas. Impressionismo tra Firenze e Parigi," curated by Francesca Dini. The show brings together works by Italian 19th-century painter Federico Zandomeneghi and French Impressionist Edgar Degas, featuring about fifteen paintings and sculptures by Degas alongside works by Zandomeneghi. It explores their friendship, mutual artistic influence, and shared commitment to realism, tracing their connections from Florence's Caffè Michelangiolo to Paris, where their paths fully converged. Themes such as dance and the nude are highlighted, with works like Degas's "Classe de ballet" (1888) and Zandomeneghi's "Visita in camerino" and "Donna che si asciuga" on view.

The Ricci Oddi Gallery in Piacenza has been renovated. Here's how it changed after the work (funded by citizens)

La Galleria Ricci Oddi di Piacenza è stata rinnovata. Ecco com’è cambiata dopo i lavori (finanziati dai cittadini)

La Galleria d'Arte Moderna Ricci Oddi in Piacenza, Italy, has completed a year-long renovation and reinstallation project, reopening to the public on April 28. The work, designed pro bono by Milanese studio Lissoni & Partners and funded by citizens, restored the original architecture by Giulio Ulisse Arata, emphasizing a central panopticon and natural zenithal light. The museum remained partially open during construction, which refreshed all 22 rooms and over 1,000 square meters of space, aiming to reconnect the collection with its purpose-built building.

Una delle opere più importante esposte alla Galleria Nazionale di Roma sta ammuffendo

An article by Laura Carlotta Cortoni on Artribune reports that Pino Pascali's iconic 1967 work "32 mq di mare circa" ("32 square meters of sea approximately"), on display at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GNAMC) in Rome, is covered in mold, dust, and insects due to a total lack of maintenance. The author describes the installation as resembling a neglected warehouse and notes that visitors unfamiliar with the piece mistake the decay for an intentional environmental statement, creating a critical paradox given Pascali's own series of works titled "Muffe" (Molds).

In Verona, the Palazzo Maffei Museum opens a new multifunctional space by reclaiming an ancient chapel

A Verona il museo di Palazzo Maffei apre un nuovo spazio polifunzionale recuperando un’antica cappella

Palazzo Maffei House Museum in Verona has inaugurated a new multifunctional space called "Il Monastero," following the restoration of an ancient chapel located behind the main palace. Inspired by a memory of seeing Miquel Barceló’s work in a deconsecrated Sicilian church, director Vanessa Carlon spearheaded the project to create a contemplative, intimate environment for exhibitions and educational activities. The restoration uncovered original frescoes, vaults, and columns, breathing new life into a previously neglected corner of the city's historic center.

Bologna Prepares for the Major Children's Publishing Festival: The Director Speaks

Bologna si prepara al grande festival di editoria per l’infanzia. Parla la direttrice

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) has announced the details for its 63rd edition, scheduled to take place from April 13 to 16, 2026, at BolognaFiere. This upcoming iteration will feature Norway as the Guest of Honor under the theme "What if?" and will host 1,500 exhibitors from 90 countries. The fair continues to evolve beyond traditional publishing, integrating transmedia narratives, licensing, and discussions on artificial intelligence alongside major anniversaries for figures like Carlo Collodi, Agatha Christie, and Mitsumasa Anno.

TOXIC’s ‘ALWAYS EVER SINCE 83’ brings four decades of uncompromising practice to Woodbury House

Torrick Ablack, known as TOXIC, will present a major solo exhibition titled 'ALWAYS EVER SINCE 83' at Woodbury House in London from 14th May to 26th June 2026. The show features new paintings alongside rarely seen early works dating back to 1983, marking what the gallery calls a long-overdue recognition of TOXIC's career. TOXIC emerged from the downtown New York scene of the early 1980s alongside figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Rammellzee, and participated in the landmark Post-Graffiti exhibition at Sidney Janis Gallery in 1983. The exhibition positions 1983 as a psychological and artistic turning point, tracing over four decades of his uncompromising practice.

Los Angeles Metro’s Stunning D Line Art Turns Stations Into Galleries

Los Angeles Metro unveiled a major public art installation on May 8 with the opening of the 3.92-mile D Line extension, connecting downtown to Beverly Hills. Nine artists were selected from over 1,400 applicants to create works across three stations—Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega. Notable pieces include Karl Haendel's "Hands and Things" at the Wilshire/Fairfax station, featuring photorealist pencil drawings of hands holding objects sourced from nearby cultural institutions, and Susan Silton's "WE, OUR, US." The artworks are mounted using durable porcelain enameling that resists corrosion, scratching, fading, and graffiti.

New book explores the complex history of Jewish country houses

A new book titled *Jewish Country Houses*, edited by Juliet Carey and Abigail Green, explores the history of approximately 1,000 country estates built or remodeled by wealthy Jewish families across Great Britain and Continental Europe from the French Revolution until World War II. These houses, such as Waddesdon Manor and Château de Champs-sur-Marne, served as symbols of social arrival and assimilation, blending eclectic architectural styles with art collections from European auction houses. The volume, published by Profile and Brandeis University Press in association with the National Trust, features contributions from an international team of historians and curators, with photographs by Hélène Binet, and includes case studies of a dozen houses now open to the public.

L'excellent rapport de la commission d'enquête sur la sûreté des musées est paru

A French parliamentary commission of inquiry into museum security, initiated by Alexandre Portier (president) and reported by Alexis Corbière, has published its findings. The report, unanimously adopted across party lines, includes forty recommendations and is notably critical of the Louvre's management under director Laurence des Cars, accusing her of neglecting security priorities and causing significant delays in the museum's master plan. The commission validated earlier criticisms by La Tribune de l'Art, describing the Louvre as an "État dans l'État" (state within a state) and estimating that twenty to twenty-seven months were lost due to postponed decisions.

Sasha Fishman '24 Fixates on Fish in Solo Exhibition at ILY2 Gallery

Sasha Fishman '24, an alum and adjunct assistant professor at Columbia, presents her solo exhibition 'Shad Mode' at ILY2 Gallery in Portland, Oregon. The show, which culminates her summer residency at ILY2, features sculptures made from materials like egg yolk-tanned sturgeon skin, ceramics, and lamprey teeth, exploring the relationships between fish, their ecosystems, and human intervention. Works such as 'Immortal by Wifi' and 'Each Time You Bathe Me' blend natural and synthetic elements, while a fish cannon encircles the gallery to highlight modern technologies used to transport fish over dams.

The Long-Awaited Reopening of the Musée Bonnat

La réouverture attendue du Musée Bonnat

After fifteen years of closure, the Musée Bonnat (now renamed Bonnat-Helleu) in Bayonne, France, has finally reopened. The closure was initially due to structural problems, including collapsing skylights and leaks, and even before that, much of the collection had been inaccessible. The renovated museum now features a new extension built from a former school, housing the public reception area, an exhibition space, a courtyard with a café terrace, and storage. The galleries display the museum's full holdings, including Rubens sketches, terracottas from the Paul Cailleux collection, and works by Léon Bonnat himself.

In Minor Keys: The 61st Biennale di Arte Venezia Opens Under Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025).

The 61st Biennale di Arte Venezia opens under the posthumous curatorial vision of Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025), the late Cameroonian-born curator who reshaped contemporary African and diasporic art discourse. The central exhibition, spanning the Giardini and Arsenale, features 111 participants including artists, collectives, and artist-led organizations from across the Global South, with works in textiles, film, sculpture, and performance that interrogate colonialism, migration, and ecological repair. The Biennale is also marked by a pronounced presence of African and diasporic narratives across national pavilions, including several first-time pavilions from the African continent.

Federal Panel Considers Plan to Paint Granite Eisenhower Executive Office Building White

The Trump administration has proposed painting the granite Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., white. The National Capital Planning Commission met on May 7, 2026, to review the plan, which was also submitted to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on April 16. That commission approved the idea conditionally, pending successful paint testing. The project, estimated to cost $7.5 million, has drawn over 2,000 public comments, most negative.

A Bodybuilder’s 3,300-Year-Old Egyptian Stele Heads to TEFAF

A 3,300-year-old Egyptian stele once owned by bodybuilding pioneer Ben Weider is set to be a highlight at TEFAF New York this May. The limestone carving, which depicts Pharaoh Thutmose IV, was gifted to Weider in 1964 and recently surfaced at a Montreal auction before being acquired by the London-based gallery David Aaron. Alongside the stele, the gallery will present a 2,500-year-old greywacke bust of a goddess, which was recently authenticated after being dismissed as a fake due to its pristine condition and 18th-century restorations.

france mexico celebrate 200th anniversary pre hispanic manuscripts

In May 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Mexico City for his first official trip to Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a temporary exchange of two pre-Hispanic codices. The Codex Azcatitlán, held at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris, will travel to Mexico City, while the Codex Boturini, housed at Mexico's Biblioteca Nacional de Antropología e Historia, will go to Paris. Both illustrated manuscripts, rarely displayed due to conservation concerns, recount the Aztecs' migration to Tenochtitlan. The exchange comes amid ongoing Mexican efforts to repatriate Mesoamerican codices from European collections, including the Codex Borgia and Codex Vaticanus in the Vatican and the Codex Borbonicus in France.

libya national museum red castle reopens after 14 years

Libya’s National Museum, also known as the Red Castle Museum (As-Saraya Al-Hamra), has reopened in Tripoli for the first time since the 2011 revolution that ended Muammar el-Qaddafi’s rule. The museum, the largest in North Africa, closed at the onset of Libya’s military instability during the Arab Spring. Its 10,000-square-meter gallery houses artifacts spanning prehistory through Greek, Roman, and Islamic periods, including millennia-old mummies. Renovations began in 2023, with a full public reopening scheduled for early 2026; currently admission is limited to students.

art basel ubs report women and gen z

The Art Basel & UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2025, authored by Clare McAndrew, surveyed 3,100 high-net-worth collectors across ten markets. It reveals that nearly three-quarters of respondents are Gen Z or Millennials, with Gen Z collectors allocating an average of 26% of their wealth to art—the highest of any age group. Female collectors outspent men by 46% in 2024 and the first half of 2025, and 51% of collectors purchased digital artworks. Direct purchases from artists surged to 63%, up from 27% two years earlier, with 35% buying via Instagram links.

women ancient pompeii

A new exhibition at the Pompeii Archaeological Park, titled “Being a Woman in Ancient Pompeii,” aims to correct centuries of historical neglect by highlighting the lives of real women from the ancient city. Through frescoes, artifacts, inscriptions, and an interactive app, the show presents the stories of entrepreneurs, priestesses, innkeepers, artisans, sex workers, and slaves—including Clodia Nigella, a public pig-keeper; Faustilla, a pawnbroker; Asellina, a tavern owner who employed bar workers and sex workers; Julia Felix, an independent property owner who rented out her bathhouse; and Eumachia, a businesswoman. Co-curated by archaeologist Francesca Ghedini, the exhibition uses archaeological evidence to reconstruct the personalities and daily activities of these women, whose roles have long been obscured by male-dominated historical narratives.

scientists recreate egyptian blue pigment

A team of researchers has successfully recreated Egyptian blue, the world's oldest synthetic pigment, which was used by ancient Egyptians from as early as 3100 B.C.E. The study, published in NPJ Heritage Science, was led by John S. McCloy of Washington State University and Edward P. Vicenzi of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum Conservation Institute, in collaboration with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The researchers experimented with various minerals, heating them in ovens at around 1,000 degrees Celsius for up to 11 hours, and used modern microscopy and analysis techniques to compare their results with ancient artifacts from the Carnegie Museum's collection.

president zelenskyy gives pope leo ukrainian icon

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Pope Leo XIV with a Ukrainian religious icon painted on a fragment of an artillery crate from the front lines in the Kharkiv region, following the Pope's inaugural Mass on May 18, 2025. Zelenskyy described the icon, depicting the Virgin Mary and child, as a symbol of life that must be protected, referencing children affected by Russia's invasion. The meeting in Vatican City also included discussions about peace talks, with the Pope offering to host negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

frieze sale ari emanuel

Endeavor Group Holdings has sold Frieze, the company behind the influential art magazine and several international art fairs, to a new company formed by former Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. The deal, valued at nearly $200 million, is expected to close by the third quarter of this year. Frieze's current leadership, including CEO Simon Fox, will remain in place. The sale follows Endeavor's full privatization by Silver Lake and marks the end of a long-rumored ownership transition. Notably, two tennis tournaments initially bundled in the negotiations—Miami Open and Madrid Open—are not included in this deal.

The True Story of the Caravaggio Theft by the Sicilian Mafia Behind the 'Le Complot Caravaggio' Series on Arte

La véritable histoire du vol du Caravage par la mafia sicilienne derrière la série « Le Complot Caravaggio » sur Arte

The article details the infamous 1969 theft of Caravaggio's masterpiece, "Natività con i santi Lorenzo e Francesco d'Assisi" (The Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence), from the Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo, Sicily. The painting, a large-scale work measuring three by two meters, was expertly cut from its frame and has never been recovered, remaining second on the FBI's Top Ten Art Crimes list. The theft is widely attributed to the Sicilian Mafia, with theories suggesting it was stolen to order or for use in secret mafia gatherings.