National Museum of Asian Art Presents Paintings From India’s Himalayan Kingdoms in New Exhibition

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC, has announced a new exhibition titled “Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms,” running from April 18 to July 26, 2026. The show features 48 paintings and colored drawings, including canonical masterpieces and never-before-seen works, drawn largely from the museum’s 2017–2018 acquisitions of the Ralph Benkaim and Catherine Glynn Benkaim collection. The exhibition explores three key periods from 1620 to 1830, highlighting the collaborative creativity of artists in the small Hindu kingdoms of the Himalayan region.

“Rising Up Rocky” Exhibition In Philadelphia Museum Of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has opened the exhibition “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,” featuring the iconic bronze statue of Rocky Balboa, the fictional boxer portrayed by Sylvester Stallone. The statue, which has long stood on the museum steps, was moved inside for the show, which also includes photographs of the historic Blue Horizon Gym and a tribute to boxer Joe Frazier. The exhibition runs until August, after which the statue will return to its outdoor perch.

Glimpse the Fantastical Animated World of ‘Wildwood’

A feature-length animated film adaptation of the young adult novel *Wildwood* is in production at LAIKA Studios, directed by Travis Knight. The story follows a girl named Prue who ventures into a magical forest called the Impassable Wilderness after her baby brother is carried off by crows, accompanied by her classmate Curtis. The film is based on an original story by Colin Meloy, illustrated by Carson Ellis, and features a voice cast including Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett. A behind-the-scenes featurette highlights LAIKA's blend of hand-built puppets, sets, and CGI, with particular attention to animating the bird characters of the Avian Principality. The trailer is released, and the film is scheduled for release on October 23.

Rocky statue gets its own exhibition in museum after years of tension

The iconic Rocky statue, a symbol of Philadelphia and the beloved film franchise, is now the subject of its own dedicated exhibition at a museum after years of tension between the city, the film's creators, and local institutions. The statue, originally created as a prop for the 1976 film 'Rocky' starring Sylvester Stallone, has had a complicated history, moving from the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps to the Spectrum arena and back, with debates over its artistic merit and placement.

Philadelphia Museum of Art previews "Rocky" exhibit

The Philadelphia Museum of Art previewed a new exhibition titled "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments," timed to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the "Rocky" film. The exhibition focuses on the iconic Rocky statue at the base of the museum's steps, and a talk featured guest curator Paul Farber and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, daughter of boxing legend Joe Frazier. A statue of Joe Frazier will be moved to the base of the Art Museum steps, where the Rocky statue once stood. The exhibit opens to the public on April 25, 2026.

Mafalda meets Pimpa. In Rome, the dialogue between two authentic comic icons: interview with the curators

Mafalda incontra Pimpa. A Roma il dialogo tra due autentiche icone del fumetto: intervista ai curatori

A new exhibition in Rome titled "Mafalda & La Pimpa" brings together two iconic comic strip characters for the first time. Created by Quino (1964) and Altan (1975) respectively, Mafalda and Pimpa represent different approaches to childhood: Mafalda critically questions adult society, while Pimpa explores a gentle, wonder-filled world. The show runs from May 14 to July 11 at the Instituto Cervantes, featuring over 120 original strips and plates, and is organized in collaboration with ARF! Festival and other partners. Curators Stefano Piccoli and Daniele Bonomo designed the exhibition to highlight both the contrasts and surprising analogies between the two beloved figures.

Check Out JP First Fridays at Galleries, Studios, Art Spaces (and a Famous Bench) on May 1

Jamaica Plain First Fridays returns on May 1, 2025, from 5:30-8:30 pm, featuring six locations that showcase painting, photography, multi-media works, and a famous bench. Highlights include artist Matthew Hincman celebrating the 20th anniversary of his guerrilla-style bench on Jamaica Pond, plus exhibitions at Eliot School Annex, JP Clay, Green Street Photo Collective, Jameson & Thompson Picture Framers, and Boston Cyberarts Gallery. The event is free and walkable.

‘Shaun the Sheep’ exhibit to open at Reading Public Museum [Spotlight]

An interactive exhibit titled “Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way!” will open at the Reading Public Museum in Pennsylvania on May 16 and run through September 6. Created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum in partnership with Aardman, the hands-on experience is designed for children ages 3 to 9 and features activities inspired by the popular film and television character, including balance boards, costume play, stop-motion animation, and problem-solving challenges. The exhibit is sponsored locally by the Berks County Community Foundation.

No Regrets: Artists Decide To Sell Buffalo’s Legendary Hitching Post Gallery

Father-and-son artists William and Hugh Jennings have closed the Hitching Post Gallery in Buffalo, Wyoming, after 30 years of operation. The gallery, which opened in November 1993 on Main Street, was a longstanding fixture in the community, showcasing works from many area artists alongside gifts, books, and tobacco products. William stepped away about seven years ago, and Hugh recently decided to retire, locking the doors for the last time at the beginning of May. Hugh expressed no regrets, saying he wanted to focus more on his own art.

CHS art show May 22-29

Artist and curator Mary Walker presents "10 + 4 + 1: A Collaborative Art Project" at the Cannon Street Arts Center during Piccolo Spoleto from May 22 to May 29. The exhibition pairs ten visual artists—including Linda Fantuzzo, Joe Walters, Lese Corrigan, Hirona Matsuda, Kristi Ryba, Jeff Kopish, Herb Parker, Yvette Dede, and David Higginbotham—into five duos, each combining a 2D and a 3D artist to work outside their usual practice. The project also features four dance companies (Annex Dance Company, Unbound Ballet Project, Collective SC, and Georgia Schrubbe) performing over the weekend, with a family-friendly kickoff and artist reception on May 22.

Festival of Cats brings cat-inspired art to Thanet

The Festival of Cats, a community arts festival celebrating feline-themed art, is returning to Margate, Kent, from May 1-4. Featuring exhibitions, events, and workshops across fine art, poetry, film, performance, and craft, the festival showcases work from 100 local artists. Originally launched in 2018 as a satellite event for Turner Contemporary's "Journeys with The Waste Land" exhibition, it was inspired by T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and has since grown into a Thanet-wide event attracting thousands of visitors.

Philadelphia museum brings Rocky statue inside after decades of tension

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has moved the iconic Rocky statue inside its premises, ending decades of tension between the museum and the beloved film prop. The statue, originally created for the 1976 film *Rocky* and long displayed at the museum's base, was relocated indoors as part of a new exhibition.

Smithsonian Exhibition Spotlights Pahari Painting Traditions From The Himalayan Kingdoms

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., has opened "Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms," an exhibition featuring 48 paintings and colored drawings that trace the evolution of Pahari painting across three key periods between 1620 and 1830. The show highlights the genre’s ties to the region’s landscapes, courtly life, and devotional practices, with works created using opaque watercolors, beetle wings, and gold, many of which have not been publicly displayed before. The exhibition runs until July 26.

Beloved Arts Gallery In The Woodlands Wants You To Look Through Glass — Showcasing a Vital Material

Ardest Gallery in The Woodlands, Texas, is presenting "Thresholds," a juried exhibition curated by Austin-based glass artist Malina Cipleu, running through May 30. The show features kiln-formed glass works from Texas artists, with first place awarded to Deborah Ellington for "Encased in Time III," second place to Mary Torres for "Polka Dot Jungle," and third place to Sandi Neiman for "River Dreams." Gallery owner Julie Verville hosted the opening and awarded ribbons, while Cipleu's curatorial statement explores glass as a material of transition and connection.

‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ Show Opens Friday, May 1 At Fuller Lodge Art Center Gallery

The Los Alamos Arts Council and the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico present 'Let’s Go Fly A Kite', a paint-out and exhibition opening Friday, May 1 at the Fuller Lodge Art Center Gallery. The show features works created by 28 local and regional artists who painted outdoors at the 30th Annual Kite Festival and around the community, with many pieces depicting kites and their fliers at Overlook Park. A reception for LAAC members runs from 4:30-5:30 PM, followed by a public reception from 5:30-7 PM; the exhibition continues through May 29th.

Henryk Ptasiewicz, His Life, His Art

Henryk Ptasiewicz, a British-born artist who became a fixture of the St. Louis art scene, died on October 22, 2025. He moved to St. Louis in 1999, built a practice through commissions and teaching, and in 2014 was invited to paint fiberglass cake sculptures for the city's 250th birthday, featuring figures like Dred Scott and Vincent Price. He was also a founding member of the Missouri Plein Air Painters and a frequent winner on the regional plein air competition circuit.

Corning gallery to feature late artist Martin A. Poole

The West End Gallery in Corning, New York, will host a tribute exhibition for the late artist Martin A. Poole, a Corning native who passed away in late 2025. The show runs from May 15 to June 11, 2025, with an opening reception on May 15 featuring harpist Meredith Kohn Boeck and treats from Old World Cafe. Poole, who studied fine arts and printmaking at SUNY Buffalo, taught at the 717 Cedar Arts Center and other local groups, and his work has been represented by West End Gallery for 47 of its 49 years.

'Wallace and Gromit' interactive exhibit opens at Minnetrista

An interactive exhibit based on the beloved 'Wallace and Gromit' animated series has opened at Minnetrista, a museum and cultural center in Muncie, Indiana. The exhibition features hands-on activities and displays inspired by the characters created by Nick Park and Aardman Animations, allowing visitors to engage with the whimsical world of the inventor Wallace and his dog Gromit.

Star Wars Reveals Lucas Museum’s 1st Ever Cinema Exhibit With Name & Launch Date

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has announced its first-ever cinema exhibition, titled *Star Wars in Motion*, which will debut as part of the museum's opening lineup on September 22, 2026. The exhibition focuses on vehicles from the first six *Star Wars* films, including Luke Skywalker's landspeeder and General Grievous' wheel bike, highlighting how motion and transport are depicted in the saga. It is one of over 30 installations curated by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson from the museum's founding collection, featuring more than 1,200 objects across 100,000 square feet.