Holy smoke! London’s National Gallery used to allow visitors to spark up just metres from the art

London's National Gallery opened a smoking room in 1975, located dangerously close to galleries housing priceless paintings. A photograph from the gallery's annual report shows staff members Betty Churchyard and Phyllis Rowlands using the facility. The smoking room was closed decades ago, well before the 2007 ban on smoking in public places, and the space has now been repurposed as part of the Roden Centre for Creative Learning, which opened in February 2025.

Provincia Cosmica. A Foggia per scoprire la fotografia sociologica di Maria Palmieri

Maria Palmieri (Foggia, 1986) is a photographer who uses her camera as a tool for observation, understanding, and social improvement. After studying law, she turned to visual arts, blending reportage with vernacular photography to uncover truth amid the 'noisy horror' of contemporary life. In an interview with Artribune, she discusses her sociological approach to photography, her return to her hometown of Foggia, and her ongoing documentation of the region's fragilities, including the largest migrant ghetto in Europe.

An Artist and a Pastry Chef Transform Easter into an Authorial Project

Un artista e un pasticciere trasformano la Pasqua in un progetto d’autore

Artist Giovanni Gaggia and pastry chef Mattia Casabianca have collaborated to create two limited-edition Easter confections, BLU (an egg) and NUVOLA (a dove-shaped cake), that blend contemporary art, high pastry, and material research. The project moves beyond gastronomy to tell a story, with Gaggia developing the visual concept and identity, inspired by a verse from Swiss poet Franco Beltrametti.

The Process of Becoming a Butterfly Closing Reception

The closing reception for 'The Process of Becoming a Butterfly' group exhibition will take place on December 6, 2025, at Bihl Haus Arts in San Antonio, Texas. The event features poetry by Patricia Yznaga, a guided stretching and meditation practice led by Laura Yohualtlahuiz, and an artist talk. Curated by Liz Gomez, the exhibition showcases 10 multidisciplinary artists exploring themes of transformation, identity, and collective healing.

Vernon Public Art Gallery unveils four new diverse summer exhibitions

The Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG) in British Columbia is launching four new summer exhibitions in June 2026: Emergence, featuring recent BFA graduates from UBCO; Fireline Kinship, a multidisciplinary response to the 2021 Nk’Mip Creek wildfire by Taylor Baptiste; Through Our Eyes, showcasing youth from the Boys and Girls Club Okanagan’s Teen Junction Youth Program; and Gathered, a group exhibition by School District 22 Indigenous students. An opening reception will be held on May 28, and all exhibitions run through June and July.

Carbondale Arts Gallery exhibition “Kindred Spirits” closes after month of portraying artistic friendship

The two-person exhibition “Kindred Spirits” at Carbondale Arts Gallery closed on May 21 after a month-long run, featuring ceramic artist Christine Anderson and abstract painter Benjamin Strawn. The artists, who have been friends since meeting as students at the University of Denver over 40 years ago, displayed their work together for the first time in a joint show, with Anderson’s ceramic sculptures occupying the center of the gallery and Strawn’s abstract paintings lining the walls.

Sacramento art exhibit puts a SMASH!-ing spotlight on piñata culture

A new art exhibition titled 'SMASH! A Piñata Exhibition' has opened at Prism Art Gallery in Midtown, Sacramento, curated by Bridgett Rex and Vianne De Santiago. Running through May 30, the show features piñatas created by amateurs, professional makers, and multidisciplinary artists, exploring the cultural and emotional significance of piñatas beyond their role as party decorations. The exhibition will conclude with a public smashing of selected piñatas. Artists such as Andres Alvarez and Gilbert Rangel contributed works that incorporate personal and cultural narratives, using materials like corn husks and tissue paper to reflect on heritage, memory, and community.

A season of colour: Coimbatore gallery showcases works by Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu

An exhibition at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery in Coimbatore showcases around 70 works by five artists of the Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu: V. Rajendhran, Kumanan, Murugesan, Ramamoorthy, and Govindarajulu. The show features a wide range of styles—from realistic animal portraits and textured floral canvases to charcoal sketches of crows and Rajasthani-themed paintings—employing techniques such as knife work, spray painting, and texture painting with clay. Rajendhran’s works focus on textile design, Kumanan presents acrylics and seed-covered sculptures, and Ramamoorthy offers a series of crow sketches. The exhibition is part of the AURORA Series 2026 and runs through May 17.

Art show reflects on human experience, aspiration

A group of nine young artists, all alumni of the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai, have formed a collective called Continuum and will present their first exhibition, 'Between Becoming & Being,' starting May 15 at Lalit Kala Akademi. Initiated by artist couple Preethi Umapathy and Prithiviraj, the show features works in painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics by Deepika, Ganesh, Jagath Ravi, Padmapriya, Prithiviraj, Preethi, Ramesh, Saran Mathi, and Sarath Kumar, exploring themes of identity, aspiration, human existence, and lived experiences.

Open call to visual artists to help create festive sanctuary at Dorset venue

Lighthouse Poole in Dorset has issued an open call for visual artists with a local connection to submit work for its seasonal exhibition themed "BURROW," running from November 12, 2025 to February 27, 2026. The exhibition aims to create a peaceful, reflective space during the winter months, following last year's installation "The Wintering" by self-taught artist Carmel De’Lisser. Submissions are free, must use sustainable materials, and can explore concepts such as hibernation, searching, and comfort. The selection panel includes De’Lisser, curator Mille Lake, creative director Paul Newman, and co-founder Tom Pouncy.

Silent Stories by Sri Lankan artist Shanaka Kulathunga

Sri Lankan artist Shanaka Kulathunga presents 'Silent Stories,' a solo exhibition opening May 21–28, 2026, at the CCA Building, Bikaner House in New Delhi, India. Curated by Archana Khare-Ghose, the show features acrylic and oil paintings that explore memory, everyday life, and Sri Lanka's rural landscapes. The exhibition also marks the launch of a dedicated publication on the artist's practice, bringing together works that blend figuration and landscape to capture human emotion and social dynamics.

A Walk in the Cypress: Evolving at Cypress Art Gallery in May

The Cypress Art Gallery, operated by the Lompoc Valley Art Association, is presenting a new exhibition titled "A Walk in the Cypress: Evolving" during May. The show features works by local member artists and reflects the gallery's ongoing commitment to community engagement and artistic growth in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley region.

Madras’ Art Adventure Gallery is celebrating 40 years of business

Art Adventure Gallery in Madras, Oregon, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gathering of over 30 people. The event featured ice cream in handpainted ceramic bowls by Jozil Ceramics and showcased a new multi-medium exhibit highlighting artists from Jefferson County. Board members Mia Kelsay and John Scheideman, along with artist Diana Krugel and gallery director Coralee Popp, spoke about the gallery's role in supporting local talent and the challenges of sustaining a nonprofit art space.

Sheboygan welcomes its visual artist gallery

Sheboygan Visual Artists, founded in 2007 by artists Frank Juarez and Dale Knack, has opened a new gallery at 534 S Pier Dr in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The gallery features community outreach programs like Kaleidoscope, which offers free art workshops for children and adults in shelters, foster care, and the county juvenile detention center, and provides scholarships for local high school graduates. Current programming includes the "Rhythm and Beats" exhibit, judged by Lakeland students and graduates, running from April 24 to May 24.

Ashe Arts Center hosting opening reception for new exhibit this Friday

The Ashe Arts Center in Lansing, North Carolina, is hosting an opening reception for "Shadow of the Hills," a new exhibit featuring artwork created by the Blue Ridge Art Clan (BRAC). The reception will take place on Friday, May 8, from 5-7 p.m., and the exhibit will remain on display through June 6. BRAC, founded by Florence Thomas in 1978, promotes fine arts and supports artistic excellence, with members including professional and hobby artists from Ashe County and the surrounding High Country. The 2026 exhibit features 28 participating artists, including Scott Ballard, Lynn Baranowski, and Pete Benda, among others.

Neosho Valley Spring Art Exhibit opens at Chanute Art Gallery

The Neosho Valley Spring Art Exhibit has opened at the Chanute Art Gallery in Chanute, Kansas, showcasing original works by artists from the Four-State area. The exhibition features a variety of mediums including paintings, photography, sculpture, and ceramics, and will run through the end of the month. A reception is scheduled for May 23, with awards including a $200 best of show prize, first- and second-place prizes in each category, and a people’s choice award.

Art galleries book rooms at Austin's Loren Hotel for free Friends Fair this weekend

Friends Fair returns to Austin this weekend, transforming hotel rooms at The Loren Lady Bird Lake into temporary exhibition spaces for art galleries from across the country. Organized by Phillip Niemeyer of Northern-Southern, Meredith Williams of Martha’s Gallery, and others including McLennon Pen Co. and Ivester Contemporary, the fair will occupy 19 rooms on the hotel’s second floor, with each invited gallery creating a unique installation. The event is free to attend with an RSVP and runs Friday and Saturday.

New art gallery Visual Feast now open in Hoover

A new art gallery called Visual Feast Gallery has opened in the Patton Creek Shopping Center in Hoover, Alabama. Founded by 78-year-old abstract artist Rose Cook, the space features her original abstract paintings, handmade jewelry, vintage finds, and works by traditional artists. The gallery also offers art classes, creative workshops, and rentals for small events. Cook moved to Birmingham in 2025 and has been creating art professionally since 1986, previously running a successful handmade jewelry business.

A Shift in Void – Exhibition of Abstracts

Sameksha Gallery in New Delhi presents 'A Shift in Void', a group exhibition curated by Yamini Telkar featuring six contemporary artists—Rashmi Khurana, Savya Jain, Prateek Gupta, Megha Madan, Aman Kumar Bavaria, and Sweeta Rai—who explore abstraction through diverse materials and visual languages. The show runs until 31 May 2026 at the gallery's space within the Sanatan IILM Centre for Arts and Ideas.

Carson High artists dazzle at Nevada Artists Association Student Art Show

Several Carson High School art students earned top honors at the Nevada Artists Association Student Art Show. Senior Serenity Rodriguez placed first in the 3D category for her piece “Buried in Flowers,” while freshman Abbey Ortega earned third place for “Comic Book Art” and an honorable mention for “Cat Caught Fish.” Other students received honorable mentions across 2D and 3D categories. The Spring 2026 High School Art Exhibition features 69 entries from Carson, Dayton, Douglas, and Whittell high schools, on view at the Nevada Artists Association Gallery in Carson City through May 8.

Colourful debut for Thames artist

Jack Moskowitz, a Thames local, opened his first solo exhibition titled "Jack's Exhibition" at the Vessel Art Gallery on April 18. The show features 32 artworks including portraits, landscapes, and cars, rendered in pastels, watercolour, ink, and dye, with a strong emphasis on colour. Jack, who has been making art since age five, received tutoring from several local artists including Sue Clark and Laurie Spera, and many pieces sold quickly to the public.

Lawrence artists open their studios for Art Spaces Tours; looks behind the scenes continue Sunday

The Lawrence Art Guild held the fourth annual Art Spaces Studio Tours on Saturday, with studios open again Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Featured artist Nick Schmiedeler, a forklift operator who creates assemblage sculptures from found metal and wood, opened his studio at 710 Missouri St. Muralist Dave Loewenstein and his 8-year-old son Andrés hosted guests at their alleyway studio, where Andrés performed live drawing demonstrations. The tour also included Art Emergency, a collective studio space at 721 E. Ninth St. housing artists working in painting, photography, textiles, and mixed media.

Reston Art Gallery Presents its May Exhibit “ Down the Shore ” by Pat Macintyre

Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS) in Reston, Virginia, is presenting its May exhibition titled “Down the Shore,” featuring acrylic paintings by gallery director and artist Pat Macintyre. The show depicts coastal scenes from the Eastern Shore, Isle of Wight Bay, and Ocean City, including images of rural villages and large shells on pale canvases. A reception will be held on May 10 from 2-4pm, and the exhibit runs through May 31.

Salt Lake Art Show Debuts, Bringing a Community-Centric Vision to the Rapidly Growing Western Art Market

The inaugural Salt Lake Art Show will debut May 14–17, 2026 at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah. Founded by father-daughter team Kevin O’Keefe and Briana Dolan of Peaks Art Fairs and the Reno Tahoe International Art Show, the fair features nearly 200 exhibitors from 20 U.S. states and five countries, organized into six segments including Galleries, Studios & Collectives, Utah Treasures, Bespoke Furniture, Sculpture Walk, and First Nations, Indigenous Peoples. The show emphasizes accessibility, interdisciplinary programming, and community engagement, building on the Reno Tahoe model that has doubled in size twice and generated millions in art sales.

Spotlight: Local mentorship program launches careers of emerging artists

WKP Kennedy Gallery in North Bay, Ontario, has launched an open call for its 2026 Curatorial Mentorship Program, which provides emerging artists with a solo exhibition, mentorship, and professional development support. The program previously supported interdisciplinary artist Gabriel George, who went on to win 'First in Show' at Toronto's Artist Project art fair after his first solo show at the gallery. Applications are open until June 29, with the recipient notified on July 7.

Melville to become an open-air art gallery for a weekend

Melville Open Studios returns for its ninth year, transforming the Western Australian suburb into an open-air gallery for one weekend. Seventy-seven local artists will open their home studios and dedicated hubs—including Atwell House, Goolugatup Heathcote, Applecross Art Gallery, Feld & Co., and Myaree Ceramics—to the public. Visitors can explore ceramics, painting, printmaking, floristry, mixed media, and textiles, purchase artworks commission-free, and take guided bus tours across six routes. Coordinator Jennifer Gaye, who took over the event from the City of Melville in 2022, reports that last year's edition attracted 5,000 visitors and generated over $100,000 in direct sales for artists.

Prairie photography and Fantastical Art featured at EAGM

Two exhibitions are currently on view at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) in Saskatchewan, Canada. One features prairie landscape and wildlife photography by Nicola Dare, while the other presents colorful, fantastical sculptures and drawings by Kristin Teetaert in a show titled "A Selection of Specimens." Both exhibitions run through the end of May, offering visitors contrasting artistic experiences from realistic nature imagery to imaginative, biomorphic forms.

Get Happy at Casa Ramos Art Gallery

Casa Ramos Art Gallery in Los Osos, California, will open a group exhibition titled “Happy” on May 2, featuring new works by eight Central Coast artists: John Ramos, Mike Golling, Phillip Lopez, George Jercich, Jon Miller, Adrianne Jenkins, Dan Rider, and Elena Ramos Peffly. The show is curated around themes of happiness, color, and optimism, with pieces spanning painting, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. John Ramos will also debut three new prints at the opening reception, which runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at 1034 Los Osos Valley Road and is free to the public.

Solana’s first physical art gallery is using a Frank Ape solo show to prove the onchain art model works in the real world

Brandon Sines, the artist behind FrankApeWorld, opens his first solo exhibition in eight years, titled “Let’s Be Frank,” on May 1 at Cycol Gallery in New York. The show features a cohesive, journey-like curation culminating in a site-specific immersive installation, with every piece minted on Exchange.Art. Cycol Gallery, located at 91 Allen Street, describes itself as Solana’s first brick-and-mortar gallery, built on Solana infrastructure and powered in part by the BONK memecoin, which acquired Exchange.Art in March 2025. Physical display uses Blackdove Art’s digital frames, allowing works to exist as tangible objects and verifiable onchain assets simultaneously.

Hartnell Student Art Show

The annual Hartnell Student Art Show for 2026 is now on display at the Hartnell College Art Gallery in Salinas, California. The exhibition features a range of multimedia student works created in Hartnell art classes, including drawing, sculpture, painting, photography, mixed-media, and digital art. A piece by student Justin Heart is highlighted. The show runs until May 1, 2026, at the Visual & Performing Arts Center on campus.