Helen Frankenthaler at Kunstmuseum Basel

Kunstmuseum Basel has opened a major exhibition of Helen Frankenthaler's work, running from April 18 to August 23, 2026, featuring over 50 large-format pieces spanning six decades. The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation loaned 37 works for the show. The article also notes recent auction results, including Christie's offering of 'The Last Minute in April' (1974) for an estimated $2–3 million, and Sotheby's sales of 'St. John' (1971) for $2.1085 million and 'Perseus' (1983) for $2.804 million. Previous European exhibitions of Frankenthaler's work are listed, including shows at Museo di Palazzo Grimani, Museum Folkwang, Palazzo Strozzi, and Museum Reinhard Ernst.

Cecilia Vicuña: Minga for the Sea

Kunstnernes Hus in Oslo presents 'Minga for the Sea,' a major new commission by Chilean artist, poet, and activist Cecilia Vicuña, running from May 29 to August 9, 2026. This is Vicuña's first major presentation in Scandinavia, featuring two large horizontal quipus made from locally sourced raw wool, one dedicated to the Southern Hemisphere/Chile and the other to the Northern Hemisphere/Sápmi. The quipus incorporate contributions from Indigenous and environmental defenders, including poems, drawings, and videos, forming a polyphonic archive of cultural resistance against destructive resource extraction and pollution of marine environments.

Vancouver exhibition explores global climate futures through art

The Vancouver Art Gallery, in partnership with Canada's National Observer, will open "Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change" on May 10, 2026. The exhibition, co-created by publisher Linda Solomon Wood and curator Eva Respini, features over 35 international artists including Ed Burtynsky, Huma Bhabha, Jean Shin, Clarissa Tossin, and Josh Kline. Works explore climate change through photography, sculpture, installation, and film, avoiding a doom-and-gloom tone in favor of poetic and thought-provoking approaches.

The National Gallery of Canada, commissioner of Canada's participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, unveils the exhibition Abbas Akhavan: Entre chien et loup

The National Gallery of Canada has unveiled the exhibition "Abbas Akhavan: Entre chien et loup" for the Canada Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. The site-specific installation reimagines the pavilion's architecture as a Wardian case, a precursor to the terrarium used to transport plants across the British Empire, featuring a custom pool with giant Victoria water lilies. The artist replaced the facade with glass panels, making the plants visible from outside, and the installation is framed by additional sculptural works. The exhibition is curated by Kim Nguyen and accompanied by a fully illustrated publication.

Shoot the Shit With Jack Kerouac

An exhibition at the Grolier Club in New York City, titled "Running Through Heaven: Visions of Jack Kerouac," presents over 60 pieces of ephemera and unpublished correspondence from the Beat Generation icon's life. Curated by antiquarian collector Jacob Loewentheil, the show includes first editions, a Buddhist mala, a tobacco pouch, and a signed 1964 portrait of Kerouac, organized thematically around religion, jazz, and family. The exhibition runs through May 16 and offers an intimate look at the man behind the myth.

Mary Lovelace O’Neal, painter and activist, 1942–2026

Mary Lovelace O’Neal, the American painter, professor, and civil rights activist, has died at age 84. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, she was a co-founder of the Non-Violent Action Group while a student at Howard University, later earning an MFA from Columbia University. Known for monumental abstract works on soot-black surfaces, she developed her signature technique through the Lampblack series (1960s–70s) and continued evolving her practice through series such as Whales Fucking (1970s–80s) and Panthers In My Father’s Palace (1980s–90s). In 1985, she became the first African American woman to receive tenure in the Department of Art Practice at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught for nearly three decades and served as chair from 1999 until her retirement in 2006.

Guatemala stakes claim to stone lintel by 'the Michelangelo of the pre-Columbian era' that was repatriated to Mexico

A Maya stone lintel, dating from AD600-AD900 and depicting a ritual scene associated with the ruler Cheleew Chan K'inich, was repatriated to Mexico on April 16 after being turned over to the Mexican consulate in New York by an unnamed US businessman. However, hours after the ceremony, experts determined the lintel actually originated from Guatemala's Petén Basin. Guatemala's cultural ministry, led by minister Luis Méndez Salinas, has formally requested the object's return through diplomatic channels, citing technical analysis and consultations with archaeologists.

Currents of the 61st Biennale: Inside Venice’s Flow of Art and Power

The 61st Venice Biennale jury, composed of five curators—Solange Oliveira Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi—resigned on April 30th amid internal tensions over decisions that conflicted with the late Koyo Kouoh's curatorial vision. The jury had previously stated it would refrain from considering countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. Meanwhile, Filipino artist Jon Cuyson prepares to present his installation at the Philippine Pavilion, featuring works shipped 60 days before geopolitical conflict escalated, navigating unstable maritime routes. His project includes the film series "Sea of Love (Dagat ng Pag-ibig)" and a new fourth film, "Sea of Echoes," exploring themes of migration, queer experience, and ecological resilience through mussels as non-human protagonists.

St. Mary’s College Professor Of Art Sue Johnson Reveals D.C. Gallery Exhibition

Sue Johnson, professor of art at St. Mary's College, is presenting her second solo exhibition at gallery neptune & brown in Washington, D.C., titled “Blueprint for Happiness.” The show runs from May 16 through June 20, with an opening reception on May 16. Johnson debuts a new series, “My Teenage Years,” which builds on her earlier “Symmetrical Bodies” work and examines the pressures on women to conform to ideals of happiness and perfection in body image and domestic spaces, drawing on 1960s-70s material and commercial culture.

The Death of the Art School

In a faculty meeting at Purchase College in New York, an administrator referred to students as "consumers," prompting the author to reflect on the pervasive corporatization and "administrification" of American higher education. The article argues that this language reflects a broader restructuring of universities as businesses, where students are customers, knowledge is a product, and faculty are service providers. It cites data showing that between 1976 and 2011, non-faculty professional positions grew by 369% while tenure-track faculty grew by only 23%, and at Purchase College, administrator salaries rose over 45% from 2016 to 2024 while assistant professor salaries rose just 14%, with inflation at 31%.

Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme “Prisoners of Love: Until the Sun of Freedom” at The Bell Gallery, Providence

The Bell Gallery at Brown University is presenting "Prisoners of Love: Until the Sun of Freedom," a new exhibition by internationally renowned sound, video, and installation artists Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme. The show is co-curated by Kate Kraczon, Director of Exhibitions and Chief Curator of the Brown Arts Institute (BAI) / The Bell, and Thea Quiray.

SOPAC's Herb + Milly Iris Gallery presents "INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition"

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) presents "INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition" in its Herb + Milly Iris Gallery from May 14 through August 16, 2026. Over 300 students from 20 area high schools submitted more than 1,000 original works; 70 pieces were selected for the show, spanning photography, digital art, painting, drawing, sculpture, fiber arts, and ceramics. An opening reception will be held on May 14.

Between Ritual and Institution: Andrea Canepa's Interventions in Spain

ENTRE EL RITO Y LA INSTITUCIÓN: LAS INTERVENCIONES DE ANDREA CANEPA EN ESPAÑA

Andrea Canepa, a Peruvian artist born in 1980, has installed "Fardo" at the Palacio de Cristal in Madrid's Parque del Retiro, running from January 13, 2026 to January 1, 2027. The work wraps the building's perimeter in a printed fabric bearing patterns from Paracas funerary textiles, a pre-Columbian culture from southern Peru. Created during the palace's ongoing restoration (which began in 2023), the installation challenges the building's colonial history—it was built for the 1887 Exhibition of the Philippine Islands—by introducing indigenous visual and ritual references. Canepa also presented "Entre lo profundo y lo distante" at the IVAM in Valencia until April 12, 2026, which uses Andean huacas (sacred spaces) to propose a non-linear relationship between time, body, and space. Both works transform passive contemplation into active, bodily participation, using ritual as a means to reorganize the exhibition experience.

Ada: My Mother the Architect review – illuminating profile of brilliant builder balances work and family

Architect-turned-filmmaker Yael Melamede directs a documentary portrait of her mother, Israeli architect Ada Karmi-Melamede, who co-designed the Supreme Court of Israel building in Jerusalem in the early 1990s with her brother Ram Karmi and later created Ben Gurion Airport. The film explores Karmi-Melamede's architectural philosophy of "architecture of the ground and of the sky," her departure from her brother's brutalism, and a painful family split when she left her husband and children in New York after being denied tenure at Columbia University.

Expo 86-themed events and ‘A Little Art Buzz’ at Surrey Art Gallery in May

Surrey Art Gallery in British Columbia is hosting a series of events throughout May 2026, centered on the exhibition "In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art." Highlights include a Family Art Jam on May 3, an artist talk with Leah Murray on May 7, a symposium titled "Expo Lines: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art" on May 9, and a curator’s tour with Jordan Strom on May 28. The events explore the artistic legacy of Vancouver’s 1986 world’s fair, which drew 22 million visitors, and feature works by over 50 artists including Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, Debra Sparrow, and Paul Wong.

Member's Spotlight Exhibition Opening Reception: Simon Robins: Sociable

The Contemporary Dayton is hosting a Member's Spotlight Exhibition titled "Simon Robins: Sociable," running from June 5 to June 27, 2026, with an opening reception on June 5 from 6-8 PM. The exhibition features paintings by Simon Robins that draw from public domain and found photographs sourced from digital archives, which he crops, recolors, and recontextualizes to create works that feel both familiar and elusive. Robins, a collections librarian and faculty member at the University of Dayton, uses his archival expertise to explore themes of social alienation, belonging, and the power dynamics embedded in historical image collections.

Boca Raton Public Library Announces Summer Arts Exhibits

The Boca Raton Public Library in Florida will host two summer art exhibits featuring local and international artists. The first, “Fine Art Photography” by Jacoby, runs June 1–July 6, 2026, at the Downtown Library, showcasing infrared and intentional camera movement photography. The second, “Discover You” by Marina Veen, runs June 8–July 17, 2026, at the Spanish River Library, presenting layered mixed-media works exploring nature and emotion. Both exhibits are free and open to the public.

From art school to soccer pitch: Peter Robinson's six-decade career celebrated in new exhibition in Glen Ellyn

The Daily Herald reports on a new exhibition in Glen Ellyn celebrating the six-decade career of artist Peter Robinson, whose work spans from his art school training to unexpected subjects like soccer pitches. The show highlights the breadth of his practice and his enduring creative output over sixty years.

New exhibit at Macon Museum of Arts & Science

A new exhibit has opened at the Macon Museum of Arts & Science in Georgia, featuring a collection of spectacular paintings that the reviewer found visually impressive but thematically puzzling. The exhibit departs from the museum's previous shows, which have ranged from solo artist presentations and local Macon artists to Georgia-wide showcases and even more unconventional, psychedelic-themed works.

This Day in History, 1986: A Gianthropologist documents Expo 86 at new Surrey Art Gallery exhibit

The Surrey Art Gallery in British Columbia is presenting a new exhibition titled "In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art," running from April 18 to June 7, 2026. The show features over 50 artists, including a project by Michael de Courcy who took 1,700 photos of Expo 86 visitors, and works by Henri Robideau, a self-described 'Gianthropologist' who photographed giant roadside attractions across Canada in the 1980s.

SIU’s Sharp Museum seeking cryptid-themed art for juried exhibition

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Sharp Museum is organizing a national juried exhibition titled "Spooks or Spoofs," centered on cryptid-themed art. The exhibition runs from August 11 to December 21, 2026, and welcomes all media except AI-generated images. Artists may submit up to three works, with a requested donation of $5–$10 per entry. The submission deadline is July 1, with jury results announced by July 14. The juror is Jeremy Efroymson, an artist, collector, and amateur cryptozoologist. The museum's curator of exhibits, T. Lance, highlighted local Illinois legends such as Bigfoot, the Big Muddy Monster, and the Enfield horror as inspiration.

Review: The 82nd Whitney Biennial is weird, provocative, and leaves viewers wanting more

The 82nd Whitney Biennial has opened, drawing attention for its weird, provocative nature that leaves viewers wanting more. The exhibition, held at the Whitney Museum of American Art, features a range of contemporary works that challenge conventional boundaries and spark dialogue.

Retired Canucks legend ‘King’ Richard Brodeur opens B.C. art gallery

Retired Vancouver Canucks goaltender Richard Brodeur, known as 'King Richard' for his heroics in the team's 1982 Stanley Cup run, is opening a new art gallery in downtown Parksville, British Columbia. Named Gallery 35 after his jersey number, the space will feature Brodeur's own nostalgic paintings of backyard hockey rinks, landscapes, abstracts, and contemporary works, alongside art from half a dozen other artists. Brodeur has painted professionally for over 30 years, inspired by early mentorship from artist Claude Picher, and has sold his hockey-themed works across Europe, Asia, and Australia.

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.

SOPAC's Herb + Milly Iris Gallery Presents INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition Opening Reception Thursday, May 14

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) will open the INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition in its Herb + Milly Iris Gallery on May 14, 2026, with a free public reception at 5:00 PM. Over 300 students from 20 area high schools submitted more than 1,000 original works across media including photography, digital art, painting, drawing, sculpture, fiber arts, and ceramics; 70 pieces were selected for the exhibition. The show is sponsored by the Iris Family Foundation and features professional installation, a formal reception, and opportunities for students to sell their work.

Landscape, colour and imagination celebrated at Armstrong art gallery

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum & Art Gallery in British Columbia is opening a dual exhibition on May 28, 2026, featuring the Shuswap Plein Air Troupe and artist Nancy Vince. The Main Gallery presents "Together: From There to Here," a group show by Diane Akey, Maureen Howard, and Patricia L. Smith, who paint together as the Plein Air Troupe, capturing landscapes with varied textures and emotional depth. In the Freeze Gallery, "A Touch of Whimsy" showcases Vince's high-definition metal prints filled with vibrant, playful imagery of flowers, cottages, and lakeside scenes. The exhibition runs through June 27, with a reception on opening night.

New dual exhibition at Armstrong gallery celebrates local landscapes and whimsical art

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery in British Columbia is launching a dual exhibition on May 28, 2026, running through June 27. The Main Gallery features the Shuswap Plein Air Troupe—artists Diane Akey, Maureen Howard, and Patricia L. Smith—with their show "Together: From There to Here," presenting expressive landscape paintings inspired by outdoor painting sessions. Meanwhile, the Freeze Gallery hosts Nancy Vince's "A Touch of Whimsy," a collection of high-definition metal prints filled with playful imagery like enchanted cottages and hidden creatures.

Barnard’s visual arts senior thesis exhibition spans from avant-garde to soft domesticity

Barnard College's visual arts senior thesis exhibition showcases a diverse range of works from graduating students, spanning avant-garde conceptual pieces to explorations of soft domesticity. The show features paintings, sculptures, installations, and mixed-media works that reflect the students' individual artistic journeys and technical experimentation.

Students’ creativity celebrated at Armstrong art gallery

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery in British Columbia is hosting "School Crossing," an exhibition featuring artwork from students of all ages across the Armstrong and Spallumcheen area. The show runs from April 30 to May 23, 2026, and includes works from Highland Park Elementary, Armstrong Elementary, Len Wood Middle School, Pleasant Valley Secondary, the North Okanagan Junior Academy, and local home-school families. A special reception for students, families, and teachers will be held on May 2.