London’s National Gallery announces architects for new £350m wing

The National Gallery in London has selected Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma and Associates to design a new £350m wing, scheduled to open in the early 2030s. Chosen from a shortlist of six finalists, Kuma’s design features a Portland stone exterior and will be constructed on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished St Vincent House. The extension will provide nearly double the space for temporary exhibitions and an additional 1,500 square meters for the permanent collection, connected via bridges to the existing Sainsbury Wing and Wilkins building.

Who Do Chicago’s Art Fairs Serve?

Expo Chicago and its satellite fairs serve as a complex barometer for the Midwestern arts ecosystem, highlighting both the successes of local representation and the tensions of institutional growth. While galleries like Andrew Rafacz and Corbett vs. Dempsey demonstrate viable career paths for Chicago-based artists like Melissa Leandro and Gabrielle Garland, the fair's shifting structure reveals a narrowing field for smaller nonprofits.

11 Artists Having Breakout Moments in 2026

The article profiles eleven artists poised for breakout moments in 2026, highlighting their recent achievements and upcoming projects. Featured artists include Diambe, a nonbinary Brazilian artist who will debut a major solo show at Kunsthalle Basel; Tuan Andrew Nguyen, a Vietnamese-born MacArthur fellow who will unveil a public commission for New York's High Line Plinth; and Balraj Khanna, a self-taught Indian painter who died in 2024 and is gaining posthumous recognition. Other artists on the list include Klára Hosnedlová, Kim Hankyul, Gabriel Chaile, Benni Bosetto, Pat Oleszko, Seba Calfuqueo, Tony Lewis, and Nat Faulkner, each noted for significant exhibitions, gallery representation, or awards that have built momentum toward wider acclaim.

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South African artist Gabrielle Goliath is taking legal action after her artwork was removed from the country's Venice Biennale pavilion. Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo will file an application with South Africa's High Court in Pretoria, arguing that the decision by Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is unconstitutional. They have also sent a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, demanding that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) honor the selection committee's original choice and allow the exhibition to proceed. Meanwhile, the DSAC has reportedly restarted the Biennale planning process with the collective Beyond the Frames.

Art Fund celebrates decade of lending programme with Rossetti and Surrealist loans

The Art Fund is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Weston Loan Programme by facilitating the loan of major masterpieces to 15 regional UK institutions. High-profile works, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s 'Beata Beatrix' and Joseph Wright of Derby’s 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump', will travel from national collections like the National Gallery and Tate to smaller galleries in Newcastle, Derby, and Ipswich. The program covers essential logistical costs such as insurance, transport, and security that are typically prohibitive for local museums.

An exhibition in New York reconfigures German Expressionism. The curator explains everything

Una mostra a New York riconfigura l’Espressionismo Tedesco. La curatrice ci spiega tutto

The Guggenheim Museum in New York has launched "Contours of a World," the first major U.S. retrospective of German Expressionist painter Gabriele Münter in nearly thirty years. Curated by Megan Fontanella, the exhibition features a significant selection of paintings and photographs produced between 1908 and 1920, including a rare loan from the Vatican Museums. The show follows a major 2025 retrospective in Paris and aims to present Münter as a primary figure of the avant-garde in her own right.

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South Africa withdrew its national pavilion from the Venice Biennale after Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie claimed a foreign power attempted to purchase artist Gabriele Goliath's work *Elegy*, which addresses femicide, anti-queer violence, the war in Gaza, and Germany's colonial genocide in Namibia. McKenzie deemed the financial interest a use of "proxy power." New reporting from Daily Maverick reveals that the alleged foreign party was Qatar Museums, a state-owned network, which had expressed interest in acquiring the work but never committed to a purchase. The minister's decision has sparked political backlash, with South Africa's public protector processing a formal complaint against McKenzie, and Goliath's team accusing him of censorship and deflection.

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The Chanel Culture Fund has announced the 10 recipients of its 2026 Chanel Next Prize, each receiving €100,000 ($117,400). The winners, announced on January 19 in London, include visual artist Álvaro Urbano, jazz musician Ambrose Akinmusire, fashion designer Andrea Peña, artist and filmmaker Ayoung Kim, fashion designer and artist Bárbara Sánchez-Kane, sound artist Emeka Ogboh, choreographer Marco da Silva Ferreira, experimental musician Pan Daijing, filmmaker Payal Kapadia, and painter Pol Taburet. The biennial prize, now in its third edition, also includes a two-year mentorship program in collaboration with Chanel’s cultural partners, such as London’s Royal College of Art.

Milano Art Week 2026 Tops and Flops: The Best and Worst of the Art Week

Milano Art Week 2026 top e flop: il meglio e il peggio della settimana dell’arte

The 2026 edition of Milano Art Week, anchored by the 30th anniversary of the miart fair, presented a mixed bag of organizational shifts and high-quality artistic programming. Key highlights included the successful Milanese debut of Paris Internationale at Palazzo Galbani and the emergence of new cultural hubs like Mulino Factory, which continue Milan's trend of repurposing industrial heritage. However, the primary fair's relocation to the Allianz MiCo South Wing drew criticism for its labyrinthine layout and logistical hurdles despite the scenic park setting.

In Medias Res. Sofia Defino Leiby by Gabriela Acha

Berlin-based artist Sofia Defino Leiby is currently transitioning her practice between her Alt-Treptow studio and a residency at Defet House in Nürnberg. Her multidisciplinary approach integrates painting, collage, and performance, drawing heavily from a 'running narrative' of personal notes, found ephemera, and high-end materials like Schmincke paints. The work often features visceral, layered compositions that utilize everything from vintage packaging to Swiss Aura-Soma bottle imagery.

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Gabrielle Bejani, a Lebanese Palestinian artist based in South London, created a series of works responding to the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that was quickly broken by Israeli fire in Khiam. The series, exhibited as "Deliberate Dreams" at Beirut's Saleh Barakat Gallery in July 2025, uses painting, drawing, and collage to process grief, anger, and guilt over the violence. Bejani incorporates everyday cultural items like bougainvillea and 20th-century Lebanese postage stamps, reclaiming darkness as a metaphor for identity and resistance against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's characterization of Palestinians as "children of darkness."

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Gabrielle Bejani, a Lebanese Palestinian artist based in South London, created a new series of works in response to the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that was quickly broken. The series, exhibited as "Deliberate Dreams" at Beirut's Saleh Barakat Gallery in July 2025, uses painting, drawing, and collage to process grief, anger, and guilt over the violence. Bejani incorporates everyday cultural items like bougainvillea and 20th-century Lebanese postage stamps to explore themes of land, identity, and resistance, reclaiming darkness as a source of empowerment rather than a metaphor for evil.

CAM Perennial Artists Selected for 2026 Exhibition in San Antonio

Contemporary Art Month (CAM) has announced the eight artists selected for its flagship CAM Perennial exhibition in March 2026. The artists are Eva Gabriella Flynn (Las Cruces, NM), Brenda Melgoza Ciardiello (Fort Worth), Tina Linville (Waco), Adrienne Simmons (Houston), Jesselyn Gordon and Daniela Oliver de Portillo (San Antonio), and Yuliya Lanina and Matt Rebholz (Austin). In celebration of its 40th anniversary, CAM invited past Perennial curators to nominate artists from their regions. CAM board members Casie Lomeli and Leslie Moody Castro selected the finalists and will co-curate the exhibition across five San Antonio venues: Casa Pink, Outrider Gallery, Rojo Gallery, Sala Diaz, and Un Grito Gallery.

Color and Spirit: The Blue Rider at Lenbachhaus

The Lenbachhaus museum in Munich has opened a major exhibition titled "Beyond the World. The Blue Rider," running from March 10, 2026, to September 5, 2027. The show explores the cultural exchanges and historical context of the Blue Rider movement, featuring newly acquired works by Wilhelm Morgner, Emmy Klinker, and Albert Bloch, alongside iconic pieces by Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, and Gabriele Münter. The exhibition is organized chronologically, beginning with the cross-cultural inspirations behind the 1912 Blue Rider Almanac and concluding with a reflection on the Nazi suppression of German Expressionism, including inventory lists of confiscated "degenerate" art.

South Africa pavilion will be empty at 2026 Venice Biennale, culture ministry says

South Africa will not host a national pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale following a legal battle between the country’s Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and artist Gabrielle Goliath. The conflict began when Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie labeled Goliath’s planned project, which addressed violence in Gaza, as "highly divisive" and cancelled the exhibition after she refused to alter the content. A South African high court recently dismissed Goliath’s urgent application to overturn the cancellation, leading the government to abandon its participation in the prestigious international event entirely.

The spirit of the north: Oulu is about to begin its year as European Capital of Culture

Oulu, a port city in northern Finland just over 100 miles from the Arctic Circle, has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2026. The year-long program will feature over 3,000 events, including art exhibitions, food festivals, and performances, kicking off with an opening festival in January. Highlights include a Sámi art exhibition at the Oulu Museum of Art, a new opera by the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš, and "Climate Clock," a trail of seven permanent public artworks by international artists such as Antti Laitinen, SUPERFLEX, Rana Begum, and Gabriel Kuri. Events will also take place across 39 adjoining municipalities.

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Chanel has opened Espace Gabrielle Chanel, mainland China's first public library dedicated to contemporary art, at Shanghai's Power Station of Art (PSA). The 18,000-square-foot library, designed by Japanese architect Kazunari Sakamoto, holds over 50,000 books and audiobooks and includes an upgraded exhibition hall, a terrace overlooking the Huangpu River, and a 300-seat public theater. It will host the Archive of Chinese Contemporary Art. The library is part of Chanel's Next Cultural Producer program, launched at PSA in 2021 under the Chanel Culture Fund, which supports emerging practices in Chinese craft, architecture, and theater.

Federal President praises Emder Kunsthalle: 'Extraordinary quality'

Bundespräsident lobt Emder Kunsthalle: "Außerordentliche Qualität"

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised the Emder Kunsthalle on its 40th anniversary, calling its collection of "extraordinary quality." The museum was founded in 1986 by Henri Nannen, the late founder of Stern magazine, and his wife Eske Nannen. Steinmeier spoke at a ceremony attended by 500 guests, including his wife Elke Büdenbender and Lower Saxony's Minister President Olaf Lies. The anniversary exhibition "Bilder, die wir lieben" (Pictures We Love) showcases 200 works from the collection, which has grown to around 1,700 pieces, including pieces by Gabriele Münter, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Max Beckmann, and Franz Marc.

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South Africa’s official pavilion at the Venice Biennale will remain empty this year following the government's abrupt cancellation of artist Gabrielle Goliath’s planned exhibition. The controversy erupted when Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie pulled the project just days before the deadline, labeling Goliath’s work "highly divisive" due to its inclusion of a tribute to Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. Despite the official ban and a failed court challenge by the artist and curator, the work, titled *Elegy*, will now be staged independently at the Chiesa di Sant’Antonin nearby.

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South Africa has officially withdrawn from the 2024 Venice Biennale following a legal battle over the cancellation of its national pavilion. The controversy began when Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie pulled the plug on artist Gabrielle Goliath’s planned exhibition, which referenced the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza. Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo challenged the decision in court, alleging censorship and a violation of freedom of expression, but a South African judge recently dismissed their case without providing a specific reasoning.

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A South African high court has dismissed artist Gabrielle Goliath’s urgent application to reinstate her selection for the 61st Venice Biennale. Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie canceled Goliath’s pavilion, titled "Elegy," labeling the work "highly divisive" just days before the official submission deadline. The artist and curator Ingrid Masondo argued the cancellation was an act of censorship and a violation of constitutional freedom of expression, but the court rejected the bid without providing immediate reasons.

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Artist Gabrielle Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo are filing a court case against South African culture minister Gayton McKenzie after he canceled their planned pavilion for the Venice Biennale. McKenzie objected to a performance from Goliath's "Elegy" series that would address Israel’s war in Gaza, calling it "polarizing," a move Goliath described as censorship. McKenzie later attributed the cancellation to alleged interference by an unnamed foreign nation, with reports suggesting Qatar was involved, though the Qatar Museums ultimately did not purchase the work. The application, to be filed in the South African high court in Pretoria, seeks to have McKenzie's actions declared unconstitutional.

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Gabrielle Goliath's planned South African pavilion at the Venice Biennale was abruptly canceled by South African culture minister Gayton McKenzie. McKenzie claimed the cancellation was not due to the pavilion's focus on Israel's war in Gaza, but because a foreign nation attempted to purchase the work after the show. The Daily Maverick reported that the foreign entity was actually Qatar Museums, which had expressed interest in acquiring a video recording of Goliath's performance piece 'Elegy,' which addressed violence against women and queer people in South Africa and a genocide in Namibia. McKenzie's statement contradicted earlier reports that he had privately called the pavilion 'polarizing.'

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South Africa has canceled its pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which was to feature a performance by artist Gabrielle Goliath addressing the killings of women and queer people in South Africa, a German-led genocide in Namibia, and Israel’s war in Gaza. The performance would have included readings of poetry by Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2023. South African Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie blamed an unidentified foreign nation for seeking to use the pavilion for "proxy power," and Israeli publication Ynetnews reported that nation is Qatar. McKenzie denied censorship, claiming a rift with the nonprofit Art Periodic South Africa over a foreign nation's offer to purchase artworks after the Biennale.

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The South African Ministry of Sport, Arts, and Culture has denied censoring its 2026 Venice Biennale pavilion after canceling a proposed artwork by artist Gabrielle Goliath on December 2. The work, part of Goliath's "Elegy" series curated by Ingrid Masondo, addressed sexual assault, femicide, the killings of women and queer people in South Africa, colonial-era genocide in Namibia, and included a tribute to Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. Culture minister Gayton McKenzie initially called the piece "highly divisive" and linked to a polarizing international conflict, but a January 10 statement reframed the cancellation as a safeguard against foreign interference, alleging a foreign country attempted to fund or purchase the work to use the pavilion as a proxy for a geopolitical message about Israel's actions in Gaza.

Pre-Raphaelite exhibition explores LGBT+ stories

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford has launched a new exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces paired with contemporary reflections from the local LGBT+ community. Members of the Equity Partnership charity collaborated with museum staff to reinterpret 19th-century works by artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown, and John Collier through the lens of lived queer experience.

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South Africa will not participate in the 61st Venice Biennale following a High Court ruling that dismissed an urgent application by artist Gabrielle Goliath. The dispute began in January when Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie canceled the planned exhibition, "Elegy," citing concerns over its references to Gaza and the killing of Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. The court's decision, delivered just hours before the biennial's submission deadline, effectively leaves the South African pavilion empty for the 2024 edition.

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South Africa's culture minister Gayton McKenzie canceled artist Gabrielle Goliath's selected presentation for the country's national pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, prompting Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo to file a constitutional court challenge on January 22. The artist's work, *Elegy*, commemorates victims of injustice including women, queer people, and victims of the Herero and Nama genocide, and was to address deaths of Gazan women and children since October 2023. McKenzie described the work as "highly divisive" and canceled the exhibition on January 2, despite an independent committee's binding selection. The minister now plans to replace it with a project by the collective Beyond the Frames titled "Shameless Rebellions: a South African Chorus."

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South Africa has canceled its submission for the 2024 Venice Biennale, a performance piece titled *Elegy* by artist Gabrielle Goliath, because the work planned to commemorate the deaths of women and children in Gaza. Culture minister Gayton McKenzie withdrew financial support and terminated the partnership with the organizing nonprofit Art Periodic, calling the project "highly divisive" and related to a polarizing international conflict. Goliath, curator Ingrid Masondo, and their colleague James Macdonald have condemned the decision as censorship, while the selection committee that unanimously chose Goliath described it as an abuse of executive authority.

9 Art Shows to Catch Before They Close This Spring

Several major art exhibitions are concluding their runs this spring, offering a final chance for public viewing. Highlights include a rare Caravaggio painting on display, immersive installations featuring streetscapes covered in orchids, and a showcase of colorful figurative works by German Expressionist Gabriele Münter.