Trustees of Renowned West Coast Artist Residency Visited Epstein’s Island

Two trustees of the prestigious Djerassi Resident Artists Program, Alexander Maxwell Djerassi and Michael Molesky, were identified in recently released Department of Justice files as visitors to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2011. The pair attended the "Mindshift Conference," a gathering of academics and professionals held two years after Epstein’s first conviction. The residency program, located in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, clarified that the visit occurred years before either individual joined the board and emphasized that neither Epstein nor Ghislaine Maxwell ever had any formal ties or donor history with the institution.

New Museum Reopens in Downtown New York With OMA Expansion

The New Museum has officially reopened its downtown New York campus following a significant expansion designed by the architectural firm OMA. The renovation introduces a massive internal staircase that connects all four floors, resolving long-standing circulation issues previously caused by a reliance on elevators. To mark the reopening, the museum debuted a site-specific facade sculpture by Tschabalala Self titled "Art Lovers" and a massive inaugural group exhibition, "New Humans: Memories of the Future," featuring over 150 international contributors.

Do you remember the last negative review you read?

« Vous souvenez-vous de la dernière critique négative que vous avez lue ? »

The traditional art of negative criticism is vanishing from mainstream media, replaced by a culture of polite consensus or violent but unprincipled social media attacks. Historically, critics like Baudelaire, Zola, and Huysmans used sharp, subjective arguments to defend avant-garde movements and challenge academicism, viewing the attack on certain artists as a necessary byproduct of championing others. Today, limited editorial space and a desire to support the arts have led French journalists to focus almost exclusively on praise, resulting in a loss of discernment and comparative analysis.

Valuable Art Collection Featuring Frida Kahlo Set To Leave Mexico Sparks Concern in Art Community

The Mexican art community is voicing alarm over the relocation of the prestigious Gelman Collection to Spain, where it is slated to become the centerpiece of the new Foro Santander cultural center. Managed by Santander Bank and previously acquired by the Zambrano family, the collection includes 160 works by modern masters such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, including 18 rare paintings by Frida Kahlo. Critics and academics have signed an open letter demanding transparency from the Mexican government regarding the legality of this long-term export, given that many of these works are designated as national artistic monuments.

Virginia MOCA opens new building with bold show, 'The Pursuit of Happiness.'

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA) has inaugurated its new, expanded facility on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University. The opening is anchored by a major solo exhibition titled "The Pursuit of Happiness" by acclaimed contemporary artist Nina Chanel Abney, alongside a group show, "Seamless: Art and Design." Abney’s exhibition features her signature large-scale, vibrant, and emoji-inspired works that explore the complexities of the American Dream, identity, and power structures through a lens of both visual seduction and narrative ambiguity.

Must-See Art Exhibitions at EXPO Chicago 2026

EXPO Chicago 2026 marks its 13th edition with a robust program featuring over 130 international galleries alongside significant institutional exhibitions across the city. Highlights include Leah Ke Yi Zheng’s 64-painting installation at The Renaissance Society, which utilizes silk and natural light, and Youssef Nabil’s career-spanning survey of photography and film at Mariane Ibrahim. Additionally, the Chicago Cultural Center is hosting a cross-cultural exploration of modernism, while The Smart Museum presents a thematic study of Alma Thomas’s color theory influenced by space exploration and music.

Contemporary art exhibition to showcase work from Wales and beyond

The Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (AMOCA) is launching its second pop-up exhibition, "Dialogues Wales: New Voices from the Museum Collection," at Cardiff’s Temple of Peace. Running from April 15 to 18, the show highlights women and nonbinary artists from the private collection of co-founder Anders Hedlund, featuring over forty international and local figures including Shani Rhys James, Ewa Juszkiewicz, and Lynda Benglis.

Harn Museum to present ‘Florida in the Frame’ exhibition starting on Friday

The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida is launching a major exhibition titled "Florida in the Frame: A Century of Artists’ Reflections on the Sunshine State." Drawing from the extensive Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers Collection, the show features over 65 artists including American masters like Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and Thomas Moran alongside Florida Highwaymen painters. The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections that explore the state's natural landscapes, the development of its urban centers, and its evolution into a global tourism destination between 1850 and 1950.

What’s new this spring at the Cantor Arts Center

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University has launched two major exhibitions that challenge traditional perceptions of nature and craft. 'Animal, Vegetable, nor Mineral' features the multimedia work of Miljohn Ruperto, utilizing virtual reality, sculpture, and animation to critique how humans categorize and expand into both physical and digital landscapes. Simultaneously, 'Jeremy Frey: Woven' presents over 30 intricate baskets by the MacArthur Fellow and Passamaquoddy artist, marking the final and only West Coast stop for this career-spanning survey.

Ionit Behar, the MCA’s Newest Curator, on Opening Windows Into Other Worlds

Dr. Ionit Behar has been appointed as the Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago, effective February 9, 2026. Born in Israel and raised in Uruguay, Behar brings a global perspective shaped by her upbringing in an academic environment and her experience as an immigrant in the United States. Her curatorial philosophy emphasizes the museum as a space for intellectual discovery and emotional resonance rather than a mere repository of information.

The Story of Art + Water

Author Dave Eggers and artist JD Beltran have launched Art + Water, a new initiative located at Pier 29 in San Francisco designed to bypass the traditional art school model. The program seeks to resurrect the historical artist-apprentice and atelier systems, providing students with practical skills and studio space without the prohibitive costs of modern higher education. By partnering with the Port of San Francisco and the Community Arts Stabilization Trust, the founders aim to revitalize the city's waterfront while offering a sustainable alternative to the current debt-heavy academic landscape.

Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds

The Jewish Museum in New York has launched "Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds," the first U.S. museum exhibition dedicated specifically to the artist’s late-period works. Featuring 100 paintings and drawings, the show focuses on the final decade of Klee’s life (1930–1940), a period marked by his dismissal from the Düsseldorf Academy by the Nazis, his exile to Switzerland, and his battle with a fatal autoimmune disease.

Major News from International Museums: London's National Gallery Expands and Pompidou Opens in Seoul

Le grandi novità dei musei internazionali: cresce la National Gallery di Londra e il Pompidou apre a Seoul

The National Gallery in London has selected a design team led by Kengo Kuma and Associates, alongside BDP and MICA, to lead its massive £750 million expansion project titled 'Project Domani.' Chosen from 65 international entries, the winning proposal will transform the St Vincent House site into a new museum wing featuring a stepped Portland stone facade, public roof gardens, and light-filled galleries. The project coincides with the institution's bicentenary and has already secured half of its required funding through private and anonymous donations.

Isa Genzken at David Zwirner

David Zwirner’s New York gallery is hosting "VACATION," a solo exhibition by the influential German artist Isa Genzken. Curated by Ebony L. Haynes, the show features a series of new works that continue Genzken’s career-long exploration of urban architecture, consumer culture, and the complexities of modern life. The presentation is supported by Galerie Daniel Buchholz, the artist's long-time representative in Cologne.

In Paris, the Catacombs reveal a transformed route after five months of work

À Paris, les Catacombes dévoilent un parcours métamorphosé après cinq mois de travaux

The Catacombs of Paris have reopened to the public following a comprehensive five-month renovation aimed at modernizing the visitor experience. The upgrades include a completely redesigned lighting scheme, a more welcoming entrance hall capable of hosting small exhibitions, and a high-tech spatialized audio guide that utilizes radio-style storytelling to narrate the site's history.

Auguste Renoir in 2 Minutes

Auguste Renoir en 2 minutes

Pierre-Auguste Renoir remains a cornerstone of Impressionism, celebrated for his transition from porcelain painting to becoming a master of figure and light. While he initially pioneered plein air techniques alongside Claude Monet, Renoir eventually pivoted toward a more classical study of 18th-century masters, focusing on portraits, domestic scenes, and nudes. His career was marked by iconic works like 'Bal du moulin de la Galette' and a persistent drive to paint even as severe rheumatism physically debilitated him in his final years at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

The INHA library will remain open in August

La bibliothèque de l’INHA restera ouverte en août

The National Institute for Art History (INHA) has announced that its library, located in the Labrouste Room in Paris, will remain open throughout the month of August. This decision breaks from the traditional summer closure common among major French academic and research institutions, ensuring uninterrupted access to one of the world's largest collections of art history resources.

Art Cologne heads to the beach with revived Mallorca edition

Art Cologne is relaunching its satellite fair in Mallorca nearly two decades after a brief, unsuccessful attempt in 2007. Scheduled for April 9–12 at the Palau de Congressos de Palma, the revived Art Cologne Palma Mallorca will feature 88 galleries, with a significant emphasis on Spanish and local Balearic participants rather than just German exports.

Tanka Fonta wins 2026 Wi Di Mimba Wi Prize

Cameroon-born artist and polymath Tanka Fonta has been named the recipient of the 2026 Wi Di Mimba Wi Prize. Awarded by SAVVY Contemporary and the AKB Stiftung, the prize includes a €30,000 grant, production funds for a new commission, and dedicated curatorial support. Fonta, whose multidisciplinary practice spans visual art, composition, and philosophy, was selected from a shortlist of five Germany-based artists by a jury of prominent curators and academics.

UWS’s American Folk Art Museum Marks Two Milestones With New Shows

The American Folk Art Museum on the Upper West Side is celebrating its 65th anniversary and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States with two major exhibitions: “Folk Nation: Crafting Patriotism in the United States” and “Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists.” These shows feature works ranging from 19th-century textiles to 20th-century paintings by self-taught icons like Morris Hirshfield and Reverend Benjamin Franklin Perkins, highlighting how marginalized and non-academic artists have historically interpreted American identity and personal narrative.

The Art World This Week: Smithsonian Leader to Run Guggenheim, LACMA’s New Building to Open, Vatican's Sound-Based Venice Pavilion, and More

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, departing her long-standing role at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum. Additionally, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that its highly anticipated, $724 million David Geffen Galleries will finally open to the public on May 4, while the Vatican revealed plans for a sound-based pavilion at the Venice Biennale dedicated to Saint Hildegard of Bingen.

Philadelphia Museum of Art and PAFA team up for a massive American art show

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) have launched "A Nation of Artists," a massive collaborative exhibition marking the United States' 250th anniversary. Spanning 20,000 square feet across both institutions, the show features over 1,000 works ranging from 18th-century portraiture and Hudson River School landscapes to contemporary pieces by local artists. The exhibition was catalyzed by significant loans from the private collection of Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton and his wife, Leigh, which filled critical gaps in the museums' permanent holdings.

Nazir Tanbouli celebrates 35 years of exhibiting his work at Yassin art gallery

The Egyptian art scene is hosting a diverse array of exhibitions this April, headlined by the Egyptian debut of the global blockbuster "Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" at District 5 in New Cairo. This digital spectacle, directed by Mathieu Saint-Arnaud, utilizes 360-degree projections to bring over 300 of Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces to life. Simultaneously, local institutions like the Sharjah Art Gallery at AUC and the Italian Cultural Institute are showcasing contemporary talent, including the graduating class of AUC and a solo exhibition by Italian-Egyptian artist Sarah Zaki.

Creativity takes root

Students at Southern Methodist University (SMU) gathered at the Meadows Museum in Dallas for the inaugural 'ArtMix Thursday,' a monthly event designed to foster creativity and community through hands-on art-making. The debut session featured a mosaic-making workshop held in collaboration with the SMU Craft Club, allowing students to engage with the museum in a relaxed, non-academic setting. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the institution to integrate more deeply with student life through new programming and expanded membership benefits.

Princeton University Art Museum Spotlights Willem de Kooning's Breakthrough Years

Princeton University Art Museum has opened a new exhibition, "Willem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years, 1948–1951," focusing on a pivotal three-year period in the artist's career. The show brings together approximately 25 paintings and drawings from this era, including key works like "Excavation" and "Attic," which trace his evolution from figurative elements to the dynamic, abstract style that cemented his legacy.

Exhibitions, workshops, festivals… 7 family cultural outings in Paris to grow creativity during the holidays

Expos, ateliers, festivals… 7 sorties culturelles en famille à Paris pour faire pousser la créativité durant les vacances

Paris and the Île-de-France region are hosting a diverse array of family-oriented cultural events for the spring 2026 holiday season. Key highlights include the inauguration of the Manufacture at the Fondation Cartier, a Japanese-themed spring festival at le 19M, and the relocation of the Centre Pompidou’s Studio 13/16 for teenagers to the Gaîté Lyrique. Other notable activities include aerospace-themed workshops at the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace and the fifth anniversary of the Atelier Rodin.

The 200th RSA Annual Exhibition and Big Birthday Party

The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) has announced its 200th Annual Exhibition, a landmark event running from May 9 to June 14, 2026, in Edinburgh. This bicentenary edition features a massive survey of contemporary Scottish art and architecture, including works by Academicians and selections from an open call. To celebrate the milestone, the RSA will host a "Big Birthday Party" on May 27 and has introduced three major new prizes, including the RSA Jack Vettriano Award, bringing the total prize fund to over £25,000.

“Photography as a Way of Life” at PU Art Museum

The Princeton University Art Museum has unveiled "Photography as a Way of Life," an exhibition running from April 19 through September 7 that examines the interconnected careers of Minor White, Aaron Siskind, and Harry Callahan. Drawing heavily from the museum’s Minor White Archive, the show features unpublished color and black-and-white prints, rare slides, and archival materials that document how these three figures transitioned photography from a hobby or trade into a serious academic and artistic discipline.

A $30 Million Trove of Minimalist Masterpieces Is Heading to Christie’s

The estate of the late collector Henry S. McNeil Jr. is bringing his significant collection of Minimalist art to auction at Christie's in New York this spring. The trove, assembled over decades and lived with in a Philadelphia townhouse, includes major works by Carl Andre, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, and Sol LeWitt, and is expected to fetch around $30 million.

Sorolla and Valencia: an itinerary in the light of the master who captured the soul of the Mediterranean

The city of Valencia is actively promoting a cultural itinerary dedicated to Joaquín Sorolla, tracing the master painter's life from his birthplace in the historic center to the Mediterranean shores that inspired his most famous works. The route encompasses key biographical sites including the Church of Santa Caterina, the School of Craftsmen, and the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Carlos, where his early sketches and academic records are preserved.