The Victoria & Albert Museum has opened V&A East, a new $180 million outpost in east London designed by architects O'Donnell + Tuomey. Its mission is to engage young and local audiences by presenting over 500 objects from its 2.8 million-strong collection in thematic, non-chronological displays that connect historical artifacts to contemporary issues like identity, social justice, and environmental responsibility.
Arch Hades will hold a breakfast conversation with ArtReview editor Fi Churchman on May 8, 2026, at the Scoletta Battioro e Tiraoro di Venezia in Venice. The event coincides with the opening of Hades's solo exhibition 'Return | Ritorno,' a major presentation of large-scale paintings, immersive sculptures, and installations supported by the Erarta Foundation during the Venice Biennale preview week.
Litavie Art Gallery in Glendale presented a solo exhibition titled 'Where Motion Becomes Memory' by artist Zareh from April 2 to 11. The opening night featured remarks from artist Seta Injeyan, who analyzed Zareh's work, and the event was documented with photos of Zareh alongside Injeyan and art critic Peter Frank.
The historic Hopton Hall Estate has opened a new gallery in Ashbourne, England, called the Hopton Hall Gallery. The gallery, housed in an 18th-century building that previously served as a butcher's, clockmaker's, and draper's shop, is the creation of estate owners Chris and Andi Harvey. Its inaugural exhibition, 'Brushed Light: Atmospheric Watercolours,' features works by local artists, and the gallery will host a rotating program of exhibitions and events through at least May 2027.
Chris and Andi Harvey, owners of the Hopton Hall Estate, have opened the Hopton Hall Gallery in Ashbourne. The gallery, housed in a renovated 18th-century building, launched with the exhibition 'Brushed Light: Atmospheric Watercolours' featuring local artists and will host a rotating program of shows through May 2027.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has opened its new David Geffen Galleries, a major building designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor. The structure, which replaces four older buildings on the museum's campus, is a single-story, concrete-and-glass pavilion spanning Wilshire Boulevard, designed to create a more unified and accessible visitor experience.
The V&A East Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum's second site in East London, opened to the public on April 18. The inaugural presentation features new site-specific commissions by artists Rene Matić, Carrie Mae Weems, and Tania Bruguera, with Thomas J. Price's monumental sculpture serving as a key anchor piece for the new institution.
A Milano in questi giorni di Design Week è possibile visitare la mitica Villa Pestarini di Franco Albini. Le immagini
Villa Pestarini, the only private residence ever designed by the renowned Italian architect and designer Franco Albini, has opened to the public for the first time in 87 years. The opening is an exceptional event timed with the 2026 Milan Design Week, where the villa serves as one of the venues for the itinerant design platform Alcova.
A major retrospective and group exhibition titled “The Gregorian Art Exhibition” is set to take place at St. Gregory’s College in Lagos, Nigeria, from April 25 to 27, 2026. The event honors the legendary Nigerian modernist Bruce Onobrakpeya and will feature works by him alongside other notable alumni and artists including the late Victor Uwaifo and David Dale. The opening is expected to draw high-profile figures such as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe.
The Coliseum Museum in Oregon hosted the opening reception for its third annual Focus on Photography art exhibit, where Judge Danielle Koenig announced the competition winners. Glenn Bodish received the Best of Show award for his work “Pakistani Elder Making Lassi,” leading a group of winners that included Bob Cholke, Stephonie A. Schmitz, and Steve Toole. The exhibition features 59 works by 29 different artists, showcasing a range of techniques from traditional film to digital and mixed media.
A new commercial art gallery, Nissarana Galleries Bangalow, has opened in the former newsagency building on the main street of Bangalow, a town in New South Wales, Australia. The gallery is the third location for the Nissarana Galleries network, joining existing spaces in Noosa and Richmond, Melbourne, and showcases contemporary and Indigenous art from established and emerging artists.
A new commercial art gallery, Nissarana Galleries Bangalow, has opened in the former newsagency space on the main street of Bangalow, a town in New South Wales, Australia. The gallery is the third location for the Nissarana Galleries network, joining existing spaces in Noosa and Richmond, Melbourne, and showcases contemporary and Indigenous artists.
KidSTREAM, a new $7 million children's museum, has launched in Camarillo, California, transforming a former library site into an interactive educational hub. Founded by Kristie Akl, a former teacher, the museum focuses on hands-on learning across science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) to engage young learners through play.
London’s art scene prepares for a major influx of high-profile exhibitions in May 2026, headlined by a comprehensive survey of Francisco de Zurbarán at the National Gallery and the grand opening of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration in Clerkenwell. Other significant highlights include a sprawling outdoor installation of Henry Moore’s monumental bronzes at Kew Gardens, the debut of the 'Rising Voices' contemporary art exhibition at the newly opened V&A East, and a rare European retrospective of James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain featuring the iconic 'Whistler's Mother'.
The Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis (CAMi) is set to open its doors from May 1-3 in a renovated 125-year-old dairy barn in Garfield Park. Managed by the Big Car Collaborative, the 40,000-square-foot facility features six exhibition spaces, 18 artist studios, and various community hubs including a cafe and storefronts for local creative businesses. The opening weekend will feature the main exhibition “Campo de Resonancia” by Puerto Rican painter Ivelisse Jiménez, alongside sound installations and experimental documentaries.
Outpost 512, a gallery located in Tyler, Texas, is launching a major group exhibition on May 1st dedicated to the cinematic legacies of horror directors John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, and Sam Raimi. The show features a diverse array of media—including paintings, sculptures, and prints—from over 50 artists such as Tula Lotay, Gary Pullin, and Sara Deck. The opening night festivities include a secret screening at the adjacent historic Howard Theater, where attendees will receive an exclusive mystery poster by artist Bruno Vergauwen.
The Arts Council of the Valley is launching two concurrent solo exhibitions at the Smith House Galleries in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 'Young Warriors' by Sukenya Best features vibrant portrait paintings that explore themes of resilience and nature, while 'Water’s Journey' by Anna Freeman showcases ceramic and 2D works focused on the intertidal boundaries between land and water. The opening event on May 1 includes artist talks and a live portrait-drawing pop-up by artist Will Stroud.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosted a star-studded gala on April 16 to celebrate the opening of the David Geffen Galleries. The event drew a massive crowd of A-list celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Tom Hanks, Alicia Keys, and George Lucas, alongside city officials and museum leadership. Attendees gathered to preview the museum’s massive new exhibition space, designed by architect Peter Zumthor.
McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) has announced the opening of its 2026 Spring Solo Exhibitions, featuring three distinct solo presentations by Sabine Carlson, Zsudayka Nzinga, and Darlene R. Taylor. The exhibitions include Nzinga’s exploration of American labor and diaspora through mixed media, Taylor’s textile-based portraits honoring Black motherhood, and Carlson’s paintings depicting environmental rescue efforts between humans and water birds. The shows will run from April 30 through June 13, 2026, at the McLean Community Center.