Beloved CUNY Social Practice Art Program to Shut Down

Social Practice City University of New York (SPCUNY), an artist-led initiative supporting social justice-minded art across the CUNY system, will cease operations in February 2027. Founded in 2021 by artists Chloë Bass and Gregory Sholette with support from the Mellon Foundation, the program distributed over $535,000 in fellowships to 129 faculty and student fellows. The closure is prompted by the departure of both co-directors from their academic positions at Queens College, leaving the independent project without a clear institutional pathway for leadership transition.

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair Has Taken Off Its Training Wheels

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair (BFAPF) has returned for its second edition at Powerhouse Arts, expanding significantly from its inaugural "beta test" last year. The fair now features over 60 exhibitors, including a diverse mix of independent print shops, academic departments, self-represented artists, and established international galleries. This year's iteration emphasizes experimental mixed-media practices and a rigorous juried selection process, moving beyond traditional printmaking to include illuminated plexiglass screenprints and sculptural paper works.

The artist who blocked an Ice projectile with her drawing board during protests

Artist Isabelle “Izzy” Brourman narrowly escaped serious injury while documenting protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis. While sketching the scene for her project Starring America News, a masked federal agent fired pepper balls at her at point-blank range; Brourman managed to block the projectile with her wooden drawing board, which was left with a jagged hole. The incident, captured on video by her collaborators Peter Hambrecht and Jeannette Berlin, occurred on the same day a nurse was killed by federal agents during the unrest.

A new experimental and independent art and culture bookstore is about to open in Venice

A Venezia sta per aprire una nuova libreria d’arte e cultura sperimentale e indipendente

Rupture Arts & Books is set to open a new experimental art bookstore and cultural hub in Venice’s Santa Croce district on April 29, 2026. Moving from its previous Giudecca location to the city’s "museum quarter" near Fondazione Prada, the space will function as more than a retail outlet, incorporating an independent publishing house, a record label, and a podcast production studio. Founded by Alexandre Sap and Anne-Marie Gaultier, the project aims to redefine the contemporary reading space through a multidisciplinary approach.

Mungo Thomson at Further Down the Line

Artist Mungo Thomson presented a solo exhibition titled "Fireplace" at the gallery Further Down the Line in Liverpool. The show ran from March 4 to April 4, 2026, and was documented with a series of images.

Artnet Makes Significant Layoffs Following Consolidation with Artsy

Artnet has implemented sweeping layoffs following its consolidation with Artsy under a single leadership team led by CEO Jeffrey Yin. The cuts have severely impacted Artnet News, resulting in the departure of veteran senior reporters Sarah Cascone and Eileen Kinsella, while Andrew Russeth has been named interim editor. Additionally, Artnet’s German entity is being wound down, affecting the Berlin-based team responsible for the platform's online sales operations.

‘The extremely happy part of the crowd’: Hungarian arts figures hope for change after 16 years of Orbán rule

The 16-year tenure of Viktor Orbán has come to an end following a landslide victory for Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party in the 2026 Hungarian parliamentary election. The shift in power has sparked widespread celebration among Hungary’s progressive art community, which has long felt stifled by Orbán’s nationalist and socially conservative agenda. Figures from major Budapest galleries and the contemporary art scene report a profound sense of relief, signaling a potential departure from the "illiberal democracy" that dominated the country for nearly two decades.

Antwerp exhibition celebrates its homegrown fashion designers, the influential Antwerp Six

The MoMu fashion museum in Antwerp has launched a major exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the "Antwerp Six," a group of influential designers who graduated from the city's Royal Academy of Fine Arts. The show focuses on the formative years between the late 1970s and mid-1980s, culminating in the 1986 London event that launched them into the global spotlight. It highlights the distinct creative identities of Marina Yee, Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Dirk Van Saene, while also serving as a poignant tribute to Yee, who passed away in late 2024.

Ax Swings Following Artsy/Artnet Consolidation as Top Reporters Are Laid Off

Major layoffs have hit Artnet and Artsy following their consolidation under the UK-based investment firm Beowolff Capital. The staff reductions occurred just one day after the merger announcement and include the departure of veteran Artnet News reporters Sarah Cascone and Eileen Kinsella, who both served the publication for over a decade. As part of the restructuring, Artnet will also shutter its German entity, while Andrew Russeth has been tapped to serve as interim editor.

Art21 + DOC NYC Filmmaker Celebration

Art21 + DOC NYC Filmmaker Celebration

Art21 and DOC NYC co-hosted their third annual Filmmaker Celebration on November 18, 2025. The in-person event brought together over 140 independent filmmakers, producers, and other production professionals who have contributed to Art21's films over the past year, providing a social and networking opportunity at the close of a challenging year for the documentary community.

Meaningful projects

Detroit-based artist Elonte Davis and Hungarian curator Kriszti Sarusi are among several creatives reflecting on the personal and social impact of their recent projects. Davis highlighted his 2026 community-centered initiatives, including his solo exhibition 'Homeroom: Detroit Taught Me First' and workshops at the Detroit Institute of Arts, while Sarusi discussed 'Floating Reality,' an exhibition series designed to provide space for underrepresented artists through a collaborative collective.

EXPO Chicago isn't just at Navy Pier this weekend

EXPO Chicago has returned to Navy Pier with a streamlined format of 130 booths, but the fair's influence is increasingly felt through satellite exhibitions across the city. A notable example is 'Neighbors,' an alternative exhibition space hosted in a Gold Coast apartment by Mirka Serrato, which provides a more affordable and intimate platform for 15 emerging galleries and artists from around the world.

Hong Kong gains new foundation for global majority

The Cheng-Lan Foundation, a new independent arts initiative, has launched in Hong Kong during the city's major art week. Founded by Brian Yue, it supports artists, curators, and writers from African, Asian, Indigenous, and Latin American backgrounds through exhibitions, residencies, and commissions, with an inaugural solo show by Manila-based artist Cian Dayrit.

Pixels and paintings: video games return to the V&A

The Victoria & Albert Museum hosted a special Friday Late event in collaboration with the London Games Festival, transforming its historic galleries into a playground for interactive and independent video games. Visitors could play titles like the Bafta-winning 'Thank Goodness You’re Here!' and the comedic 'Sex With Friends' amidst the museum's permanent collection, while live-coding music performances and participatory art projects like 'Robot Karaoke' and 'The Line is the Game' emphasized communal, performative experiences.

Top York artist opens his one-of-a-kind York home for new 5-day exhibition

Renowned York-based artist Mark Hearld is hosting an independent five-day exhibition at his private residence in The Mount. The showcase features twenty new collages and a series of prints, including works inspired by a recent trip to Jaipur and a collaborative screenprint with Penfold Press. The event is notable for being held outside the official York Open Studios program, a circuit Hearld has participated in for two decades but was not selected for this year.

Hired Amid Great Fanfare, Patricia Marroquin Norby, Met’s Inaugural Curator of Native American Art, Quietly Left

Patricia Marroquin Norby, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's inaugural full-time associate curator of Native American art, quietly left her position in December. Her departure followed independent investigations, including a 2024 report from the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds, which challenged her claims of Native American ancestry. Both Norby and the museum cited health concerns as the reason for her exit.

Gabrielle Goliath to Show Work Banned from Venice Biennale Outside Main Exhibition

South African artist Gabrielle Goliath will present her work 'Elegy' at the Chiesa di Sant’Antonin in Venice, after her government-appointed exhibition for the South African pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale was abruptly canceled. The pavilion will remain empty for the event's duration, while Goliath's project, sponsored by the Bertha Foundation and London's Ibraaz, will be shown nearby from May to July.

Greece Introduces New Law to Combat Art Forgery and Vandalism

Greece has enacted a landmark legislative framework specifically designed to combat art forgery, vandalism, and the trade of counterfeit cultural property. The new law introduces stringent criminal penalties, including prison sentences of up to ten years and fines reaching €300,000, while mandating the destruction of works confirmed as fakes. Key provisions include the creation of an independent registry of forgery experts under the culture ministry and the expansion of legal protections to include historically significant cinemas.

New York is so expensive that it is no longer possible to produce art and culture in the city

New York è così cara che ormai non è più possibile produrre arte e cultura in città

Artist and curator Josh Kline has sparked a significant industry debate with his essay, "New York Real Estate and the Ruin of American Art," which argues that the city's prohibitive real estate market is dismantling its cultural foundation. Kline posits that the financialization of property and the disappearance of affordable lofts and mid-size galleries have created an unsustainable ecosystem where only those with independent wealth can survive. This economic pressure is forcing a generation of creative workers to choose between their practice and basic survival, leading to a stagnation of innovation.

Norwich gallery hosts 'In Full Bloom' spring art show

The River Studio Gallery in Norwich is set to host a spring group exhibition titled "In Full Bloom" on April 18. The show features a diverse range of media including painting, photography, and multimedia works from seven local artists, notably featuring a posthumous tribute to Donald Vorhees alongside works by Serena Potter and gallery owner Michael David Brathwaite.

Sienna Art Gallery & Gifts Opens at 129 S. Gay Street

Sienna Art Gallery & Gifts has officially opened at 129 S. Gay Street in Knoxville’s downtown Arts District. Founded by watercolorist Gayla Seale, fiber artist Judi Gaston, and painter Blanche Nicoll, the space serves as both a working studio and a retail gallery. The venue debuted during a recent First Friday event, featuring original works, architectural cityscapes, handwoven garments, and guest artist rotations, including pieces by Cynthia Markert.

Hal Marcus Gallery marks 30th anniversary as cornerstone of El Paso arts scene

The Hal Marcus Gallery is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades as a vital cultural hub for the El Paso-Juarez border region. Founded in 1996 by local artist Hal Marcus alongside his daughter Leilainia Marcus and wife Patricia Medici, the gallery has remained a steadfast physical space for regional talent, ranging from early El Paso masters to contemporary folk artists. The milestone comes at a poignant time for the founder, who is currently navigating a terminal cancer diagnosis while continuing to produce new creative work.

In Surprising Twist, ADAA Art Fair Will Now Benefit the Whitney Museum

The Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) has named the Whitney Museum of American Art as the new philanthropic beneficiary of its annual fair at the Park Avenue Armory. This decision follows the ADAA's abrupt termination of a 30-year partnership with the Henry Street Settlement, a social services nonprofit that relied on the fair's preview gala for approximately $1 million in annual unrestricted funding. The new event, rebranded simply as the ADAA Fair, will direct its gala proceeds toward the Whitney’s educational and artistic programming.

Hunter Foster at Good Weather

Hunter Foster presents a solo exhibition titled "Involition" at Good Weather in Chicago. Running from February 6 through April 4, 2026, the show features a new body of work documented through an extensive series of installation views and a detailed works list.

1-54 New York Lines-Up More Than 20 Exhibitors, with a Special Focus on Brazil

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has announced its exhibitor lineup for its New York edition, set for May 13–17 at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea. More than 20 galleries will participate, including a mix of returning and first-time exhibitors from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas, with the fair running concurrently with Frieze New York and NADA New York.

Social Malpractice in the Age of Cultural Compliance

Artist Ed Woodham reflects on the evolution and co-option of socially engaged art, using his own projects like 'The Keepers' protests and the Art in Odd Places initiative as examples. He describes a troubling trend where the language and strategies of social practice art, once used to challenge systems, are now being adopted by developers, corporations, and institutions for branding, place-making, and community engagement initiatives that often operate within the very economic structures driving displacement and eroding public space.

Bologna's Most Vibrant Artist Collective Turns 10 and Launches Crowdfunding

Il collettivo di artisti più vivace di Bologna compie 10 anni e lancia un crowdfunding

The Bologna-based artist-run space Gelateria Sogni di Ghiaccio is celebrating its 10th anniversary by transitioning into a broader collective and launching a crowdfunding campaign. Founded in 2016 by artists Filippo Marzocchi, Mattia Pajè, and Marco Casella, the space has hosted nearly 150 artists and over 50 solo exhibitions, filling a critical gap between art education and professional practice in Italy.

A major traveling event arrives in Verona where books are bought by the kilo: an interview

A Verona arriva un grande evento itinerante dove i libri si acquistano un tot al chilo: intervista

The traveling literary event Librokilo is set to arrive in Verona on April 11–12, 2026, hosted at the independent cultural space Habitat 83. This initiative allows attendees to purchase second-hand and rare books at a fixed price of 10€ per kilogram, aiming to rescue titles that would otherwise be sent to landfills. Since its inception in 2022, the project has recirculated over 120,000 books across Italy, addressing the systemic issue of overproduction in the publishing industry.

Milan provides spaces to open 10 new neighborhood bookstores: the tender to open one

Milano mette a disposizione spazi per aprire 10 nuove librerie di quartiere. Il bando per aprirne una

The City of Milan has launched a public tender to open ten new neighborhood bookstores by repurposing vacant municipal properties. Part of the "Sefémm" program, the initiative offers spaces ranging from 30 to 190 square meters across various districts, including central and peripheral areas. The selection process will heavily prioritize the social and cultural impact of the proposals over financial bids, favoring micro-enterprises and independent operators who commit to creating community hubs.

In Florence, Art Creates Community and Dialogue in the Bagasseria Space: An Interview with its Founder

A Firenze l’arte crea comunità e confronto nello spazio Bagasseria. Intervista al suo fondatore

Painter Samuele Alfani has launched Bagasseria, a new independent art space and studio in the Sant’Ambrogio district of Florence. Named after the Catalan word for a house of prostitution as a gesture of reclamation and freedom, the venue functions as a porous community hub that blends artistic production with public engagement. Its inaugural exhibition, "Bau Bau Baby," is a group show curated by Luigi Presicce and Anna Capolupo featuring artists such as Francesco Lauretta, Davide Serpetti, and Thomas Berra.