khaled sabsabi reinstated for venice biennale 1234746757

Creative Australia has reinstated Lebanese-born artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as the representatives for Australia's pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, following an independent review and months of public backlash. The pair were initially removed in February after a column in The Australian criticized Sabsabi's 2007 video installation "You," which includes manipulated footage of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, accusing the artist and curator of favoring boycotts of Israel. The abrupt removal prompted resignations from senior Creative Australia staff and board members, widespread condemnation from the art community, and an open letter from shortlisted pavilion candidates demanding reinstatement.

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Greece is building a cultural coalition with Italy to strengthen its campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum. Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli pledged support during a visit to Athens and announced the repatriation of 145 ancient coins. Greek culture minister Lina Mendoni is leading efforts to build international backing, and the two countries have devised joint cultural initiatives, including an exhibition of modern Greco-Italian metaphysical painters. Meanwhile, the U.K.'s Labour government has taken a neutral stance on the issue, departing from the previous Conservative government's opposition, and negotiations between Greece and the U.K. are described as "ongoing and constructive."

castle where renoir summered hits market 2650723

The Château de Wargemont, a 19th-century seaside castle in Normandy where Pierre-Auguste Renoir summered and painted, has been listed for sale by Sotheby’s International Realty for €4 million ($4.5 million). The 17-room property, set on 25 acres, is the last great Impressionist site still in private hands and retains original features including Renoir’s dining room mural The Two Hunts, the only in-situ decor by an Impressionist. Renoir was invited there by diplomat and banker Paul Bérard, and the estate appears in several of his works, including Les rosiers à Wargemont (1879), which sold for $7.5 million at Sotheby’s in 2004.

pope leo first general address van gogh sower at sunset 1234743440

Pope Leo XIV, in his first general address, referenced Vincent van Gogh's 1888 painting *The Sower at Sunset* as a metaphor for faith and divine guidance. He noted that behind the sower, van Gogh painted the grain already ripe, interpreting the sun as the central figure of the biblical parable. The address highlighted the Pope's engagement with art as a means of spiritual reflection.

smithsonian teams up with saudi arabias alula project 1234742505

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) has signed a formal partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), formalizing two years of behind-the-scenes collaboration. Signed by NMAA director Chase Robinson and RCU chief executive Abeer Al Akel, the deal covers joint archaeological research, exhibition loans, curatorial exchange, and professional development, with a focus on the ancient site of Dadan, a key stop on the Incense Road. The partnership is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to rebrand the kingdom as a global cultural destination.

will the us participate in the 2026 venice biennale 1234740594

As President Donald Trump cuts U.S. art programs and funding, questions surround the country's participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale. A Vanity Fair piece by Nate Freeman reports that the selection process is already behind schedule, with the U.S. State Department's typical 18-month lead time now reduced to just one year. The National Endowment for the Arts, which convenes the advisory committee for the pavilion, has been halted, and a key assistant secretary position is vacant. The application portal remains open but now includes new language requiring art that "reflects and promotes American values" and scrubbing references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Rirkrit Tiravanija to Assemble “A Gathering of Remarkable People” for Qatar Pavilion at Venice Biennale

Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija will headline the Qatar Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale with a collaborative project titled “Untitled (a gathering of remarkable people).” Curated by Tom Eccles and Ruba Katrib, the exhibition will be housed in a temporary tent in the Giardini on the site of Qatar’s future permanent pavilion. The presentation features a multidisciplinary roster including filmmaker Sophia Al-Maria, sound artist Tarek Atoui, sculptor Alia Farid, and chef Fadi Kattan, blending live performance, cinema, and Middle Eastern culinary traditions.

No Need to Shed a Tear for the Jury

"Man muss der Jury keine Träne nachweinen"

The entire jury of the Venice Biennale resigned shortly before the opening, prompting criticism of Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli accused Buttafuoco of pursuing a misguided "pacificist fantasy" by readmitting Russia to the six-month exhibition, calling it failed "side foreign policy." Commentators in German media, including Niklas Maak (FAZ) and Marcus Woeller (Die Welt), see the resignation as a symptom of a crisis in the art world, with the jury having acted as a "political tribunal" by pre-judging artists based on nationality, particularly regarding Israel. The Biennale leadership defended inclusion, but the standoff has caused significant "image damage." Separately, Dirk Knipphals (wochentaz) delivers a scathing review of Wolfram Weimer's first year as cultural policy commissioner, accusing him of empty rhetoric and failing to counter right-wing cultural politics. Juliane von Mittelstaedt (Der Spiegel) reports on Saudi Arabia's use of a spectacular new art museum in Riyadh as a stability narrative amid regional conflict.

goodman gallery drops artists gabrielle goliath pavilion 1234769839

Artist Gabrielle Goliath was dropped by her South African representative, Goodman Gallery, before the cancellation of her proposed Venice Biennale pavilion, according to a report by Daily Maverick. Goliath was one of around a dozen artists who exited the gallery between last fall and the present. The gallery clarified that it did not end representation because of her pavilion, citing a structural business review and market contraction. Goliath had been with the gallery for over a decade and will continue to be represented by Galleria Raffaella Cortese. After her representation ended, South African culture minister Gayton McKenzie canceled her pavilion, which was to address killings of women and queer people in South Africa, a genocide in Namibia, and Israel’s war in Gaza. McKenzie denied censorship, claiming interference by an unnamed foreign country, later reported by Ynetnews to be Qatar.

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Andres Serrano has publicly proposed to represent the United States at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with an installation expanding his ongoing project "The Game: All Things Trump," a collection of Trump-themed memorabilia acquired largely from eBay. The proposal includes a site-specific iteration of the work at the U.S. Pavilion in Venice's Giardini, potentially incorporating his controversial film "Insurrection" about the January 6 riots. The U.S. State Department is accepting submissions through July 30 and will announce its choice on September 1, leaving the winner only eight months to prepare.

beijing china gallery weekend art season recap 1234744646

Beijing concluded its inaugural "Beijing Art Season" from May 22 to June 1, comprising the long-running Gallery Weekend Beijing and two local art fairs, Beijing Dangdai and Art021 Beijing. The event took place shortly after a diplomatic breakthrough in U.S.–China tariff tensions, but amid China's economic slowdown, the atmosphere was subdued: the Visiting Sector for international galleries and the large-scale group show were scrapped, and satellite events were fewer. Despite this, collectors, curators, and institutional directors from Germany, the UK, Korea, and Japan attended, with some noting China's strategic importance due to its deep collector base. French billionaire Laurent Dassault reported better market sentiment in Beijing than in Europe, while Berlin galleries PSM and Galerie Thomas Schulte made their first appearances at Beijing Dangdai, collaborating with Hua International for a "Berlin Section." The fair grew from 32 galleries in 2018 to 87 this year, reflecting local collectors' appetite for international and experimental contemporary art.

Russia's 2026 Venice Biennale Will Not Open to the Public, and Other News.

Russia's pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale will be closed to the public for nearly the entire run of the exhibition (May 9–November 22), with access limited to a brief preview period for press and invited guests. Instead of physical access, visitors will experience the pavilion's project—titled 'The Tree Is Rooted in the Sky'—via video documentation displayed on exterior screens. The arrangement is widely seen as a compromise shaped by international sanctions and political backlash over Russia's return following its absence after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In other news, Matthieu Blazy unveiled his first Chanel cruise collection in Biarritz; San Francisco appointed Matthew Goudeau as its first-ever executive director of arts and culture; the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art received a $490 million construction grant from Diriyah Company; and online auction sales grew 8 percent in 2025, generating $423.9 million.

Two US ambassadors have displayed Van Goghs in their London residence—but Donald Trump's pick for the job seems unlikely to follow suit

Two former U.S. ambassadors to the UK, John Hay Whitney (1957-61) and Walter Annenberg (1969-74), displayed Van Gogh masterpieces from their personal collections in Winfield House, the official residence in London's Regent's Park. Whitney hung Van Gogh's *Self-portrait* (September 1889) above the mantelpiece in the family dining room, while the Annenbergs placed *La Berceuse* (February 1889) and *Olive Trees* (November 1889) in the green room, alongside works by Gauguin, Degas, Cézanne, Monet, and Renoir. Both ambassadors later donated their Van Goghs to major U.S. museums—Whitney's to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Annenbergs' to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Ha Chong-hyun's 6 decades of art head to San Francisco's Asian Art Museum

Korean artist Ha Chong-hyun, a key figure in the Dansaekhwa (monochrome painting) movement, will receive his first North American museum retrospective at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. The exhibition, opening in September, will feature approximately 50 works spanning six decades, including his recent paintings and his signature 'Conjunction' series.

Is the US about to be humiliated on the world’s most prestigious cultural stage?

More than 70 prominent international artists have signed an open letter demanding the exclusion of the United States, Israel, and Russia from the 2026 Venice Biennale, accusing those governments of committing war crimes and atrocities. The controversy centers on the US pavilion, which will feature Mexico-based American artist Alma Allen, whose abstract, anodyne sculptures were chosen by a last-minute commissioner with no art-world experience—a luxury pet food store owner from Florida who reportedly gained the role through connections at Mar-a-Lago. The Biennale's five-person jury has already resigned amid the furor, and Russia is returning to the event for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Art and authoritarianism in Auckland

Auckland Art Gallery is presenting 'Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now,' a major survey of Chinese contemporary art featuring 67 works by 42 artists, running from May 2 to August 23, 2026. The exhibition includes Xiao Lu's iconic 1989 work 'Dialogue,' which she famously shot with a gun hours after its opening, an act later linked to the Tiananmen Square protests. Xiao Lu comments on the political resonance of the show in New Zealand amid global shifts in democracy and US-centric world order.

Venice Biennale: South African pavilion scandal, Marian Goodman remembered, Paul Cezanne in Basel—podcast

South Africa's culture minister, Gayton McKenzie, has cancelled the country's planned pavilion at the upcoming Venice Biennale, a project by artist Gabrielle Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo. The artist and curator are fighting the decision, appealing to the nation's president and filing a case with the high court.

2025 Fall Arts Guide: The Season’s Best Visual Art Exhibits From Big Museums to Small Galleries

The 2025 Fall Arts Guide highlights three visual art exhibits in Washington, D.C. 'Arab Pop Art: Between East and West' at the Middle East Institute features 35 works by 14 Arab and diaspora artists, blending Western pop art with SWANA cultural motifs. 'Vincent Ricardel: Chasing Light' at gallery neptune & brown presents 15 photographs spanning diverse styles and locations. 'Rik Freeman: Wade in the Waters' opens Sept. 24, showcasing oil paintings.

Kiaf SEOUL

Kiaf SEOUL's 2025 edition will feature over 125 Korean galleries alongside participants from more than 20 countries, reaffirming its role as a leading platform for global engagement with Korea's art scene. The fair highlights works by celebrated Korean modernists such as Seo-Bo Park and Whanki Kim, while also spotlighting emerging Korean artists. Major galleries like Kukje Gallery present internationally acclaimed artists including Anish Kapoor, Ugo Rondinone, and Ha Chong-Hyun, while the Kiaf PLUS section focuses on material experimentation and cross-cultural exchange from emerging voices. The fair also includes the third edition of the Kiaf HIGHLIGHTS Award, themed "Resonance," and a special exhibition "Reverse Cabinet" commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan.

The Kyrgyzstan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale Builds a Bridge Between Two Cultures

Il Padiglione del Kirghizistan alla Biennale di Venezia getta un ponte tra due culture

Alexey Morosov presents "BELEK" at the Kyrgyzstan Pavilion of the 61st Venice Biennale, a project inspired by the mountainous landscapes, glaciers, and brutalist dams of Kyrgyzstan. Combining video, sculpture, painting, and sound, Morosov explores water as a key resource for the future and a deep cultural memory of Central Asia, linking the region's hydro-engineering transformations with the nomadic heritage of the Kyrgyz people. The project centers on the traditional equestrian game Kok-Börü, which Morosov describes as constitutive of Kyrgyz identity, and features centaur-like figures made from raw earth used in local dwellings.

The Carnegie International Makes Its Mark

The 59th Carnegie International opens in Pittsburgh, featuring 61 artists from around the world in the oldest survey of its kind in the United States. Critic Ed Simon reviews the exhibition, noting it captures the excitement of earlier editions while providing vital commentary on authoritarianism and militarism. In other news, activists protested Jeff Bezos's co-chair role at the Met Gala with a costumed action and guerrilla projections on his penthouse; Iran withdrew from its national pavilion at the Venice Biennale; MoMA PS1 announced the first US survey of Mexican artist Teresa Margolles; and Hakim Bishara reflects on MoMA's Marcel Duchamp exhibition.

Gearing Up for Venice

The 2026 Venice Biennale's awards jury has announced it will not consider artists from countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, specifically naming Israel and Russia. In other news, satellite imagery confirms Azerbaijan demolished an Armenian church in Artsakh, the World Press Photo of the Year was awarded to Carol Guzy for an image of ICE detaining a father, and Argentine abstract painter Ides Kihlen died at age 108. Hyperallergic also published a guide to the Biennale by Hrag Vartanian and reported on Lynda Roscoe Hartigan's appointment as director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Five shows to see during Singapore Art Week

Singapore Art Week features five notable exhibitions, including a retrospective of Basoeki Abdullah at the National Gallery Singapore, which explores his role as a high-society painter and cultural diplomat during his time in Singapore from 1958 to 1960. Other highlights include STPI's The Print Show, a new platform for printmaking featuring 27 artists and international publishers, and a collaborative project between Rockbund Art Museum and Art SG titled Wan Hai Hotel: Singapore Strait, which presents maritime-themed works by artists across Asia.

The Centre Pompidou will inaugurate its South Korean branch in a former Seoul aquarium in early June

Le Centre Pompidou inaugurera début juin son antenne sud-coréenne dans un ancien aquarium de Séoul

The Centre Pompidou has announced the official opening date for its new South Korean satellite, the Centre Pompidou Hanwha, scheduled for June 4, 2026. Located in a former aquarium within Seoul’s financial district, the 11,000-square-meter space was redesigned by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and will launch with a major cubism exhibition featuring 90 works by masters such as Picasso and Braque. The inauguration was recently marked by a site visit from French President Emmanuel Macron and key cultural officials.

Defying Soft Power: “Proximities” at SeMA

The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is hosting "Proximities: Contemporary Art from the United Arab Emirates," a major survey featuring over 110 works by 47 artists. Co-curated by Maya El Khalil and Eunju Kim in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), the exhibition eschews traditional chronological narratives in favor of a dense, non-linear exploration of Emirati identity. The show is organized into thematic chapters led by artist-curators, featuring works ranging from Shaikha Al Mazrou’s precarious sculptures to Raja’a Khalid’s olfactory installations.

The Bahamas returns to the Venice Biennale with a joy-filled posthumous collaboration

The Bahamas will return to the Venice Biennale in 2026 after a 13-year absence with a posthumous exhibition for artist John Beadle, who died in 2024 at age 60. Beadle was originally selected to represent the country in 2015 but the government withdrew funding. The exhibition, titled "In Another Man’s Yard," will feature Beadle’s work alongside that of his mentee, Lavar Munroe, using materials from Beadle’s studio including sails from Haitian migrant sloops. The pavilion is organized by commissioner Amanda Coulson and curator Krista Thompson, who raised private funds after the government declined to support the project.

The art of politics: how global conflicts are playing out in this year's Venice Biennale

Israel is making a controversial return to the 2025 Venice Art Biennale after its pavilion was locked in 2024 with a note demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. The artist representing Israel, Belu-Simion Fainaru, will present his project "Rose of Nothingness" in the Arsenale, while Russia also returns to the Biennale after its Giardini pavilion was reassigned to Bolivia in 2024. The Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) has renewed calls for a boycott and is organizing strike action to disrupt the event, accusing Israel of genocide.

The Multibillion-Dollar Maneuvers Behind the Met’s Raphael Show

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened “Raphael: Sublime Poetry,” the largest survey dedicated to the Renaissance master in the U.S., featuring 33 paintings and 142 works on paper. The exhibition includes loans from 60 public institutions across 11 countries, as well as private loans from billionaire Leon Black, and the estimated aggregate value of the art on view is in the billions of dollars. Curated by Carmen Bambach, the show took eight years to organize and follows her previous triumphs on Leonardo and Michelangelo.

Seoul’s Centre Pompidou, Three Years in the Making, Will Open in June

The Centre Pompidou Hanwha is scheduled to open in Seoul on June 4, coinciding with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and South Korea. Housed in the iconic Tower 63 and designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the new institution is a partnership with the Hanwha Foundation of Culture. The agreement includes a four-year brand licensing deal and a schedule of eight monographic exhibitions drawn from the Pompidou’s permanent collection.

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Tristram Hunt, director of London's Victoria & Albert Museum, has been knighted by King Charles III on the UK's 2026 New Year Honors list for his "services to museums." Hunt, a former Member of Parliament and shadow education secretary, has led the V&A since 2017, overseeing major exhibitions and expanding the museum's international presence through initiatives like V&A East. Other arts figures recognized include Ekow Eshun (OBE), art historian Marcia Pointon (OBE), Jo Quinton-Tulloch (OBE), Janet Blake (OBE), Susan Bowers (MBE), and Hilary McGrady (CBE).