Your Australian art guide for May 2026 is here

May 2026 brings a packed calendar of art exhibitions across Australia, with highlights including Rone's 'Another TIME' at COMA Gallery in Sydney, the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW, and solo shows by Eleanor Louise Butt, Jordan Gogos, Natalya Hughes, Patricia Piccinini, and Michaela Gleave. Regional venues like Bundanon and Ngununggula also feature major exhibitions, including a posthumous show of Rosalie Gascoigne alongside new commissions by First Nations women artists.

11 Art Shows to See in the Hudson Valley in May 2026

The article surveys 11 art exhibitions opening across the Hudson Valley in May 2026, highlighting a regional preoccupation with structure, materiality, and resistance to singular narratives. Featured shows include "Surface, Structure, String" at Hudson Hall, a textile survey curated by Richard Saja with artists like Portia Munson and Laleh Khoramian; "Jose Picayo: 35 Years in Photographs" at Robin Rice Gallery; "The Linda McCartney Retrospective: From the Light" at the Fenimore Art Museum; "Carol Seitz: Growth in Difficult Places" at Convey/er/or; and "Stephen Olivier: Hazmat" at ASK in Kingston, among others.

Islamophobia, motherhood, war and immigration: Indy artists get political

Four Indianapolis-based artists—Salma Taman, Alejandra Carrillo, Bailey Jörk, and Iryna Bondar—are creating work that directly responds to contemporary political and social crises, including the war in Gaza, immigration, and political division. Their art, ranging from Taman's Arabic calligraphy painting promoting forgiveness to Carrillo's digital drawing protesting a migrant detention center, serves as a form of personal and communal expression in a fraught global climate.

'Stray Birds': An art exhibition

Indrapramit Roy and Mark Cazalet are coming together for a duo exhibition titled 'Stray Birds' at the Shridharani Gallery in New Delhi. Curated by Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and organized by Art Magnum, the show explores the parallel trajectories of two artists who met during their formative years in Baroda under the mentorship of Gulam Mohammed Sheikh. The exhibition features works that document lived experiences, memory, and movement through drawing and painting, often rooted in their personal sketchbooks and visual journals.

Space One Eleven presents art exhibitions by El Paso artist José Villalobos and local artist Jason Tanner Young

Space One Eleven in Birmingham, Alabama, is presenting two new exhibitions: “Navegando la Masculinidad de la Frontera / Navigating the Border’s Masculinity” by El Paso artist José Villalobos and “see saw sawn” by local artist Jason Tanner Young. The opening reception with the artists takes place on February 19, 2026, and the shows run through April 17, 2026. Villalobos, a multidisciplinary artist, explores queer identity, machismo, and border culture through sculpture, performance, and installation, while Young, an associate professor at the University of Montevallo, works primarily in sculpture.

AOY Art Center’s 14th Juried Show set to open

The AOY Art Center in Yardley, Pennsylvania, is launching its 14th annual Juried Show, featuring 137 selected works from over 425 regional submissions. Curated by Amanda C. Burdan of the Brandywine Museum of Art, the exhibition spans various mediums including painting, sculpture, and photography. The show opens April 10 with a public reception and includes specialized honors such as the Frumi Cohen memorial award for wildlife art.

Derrick Adams to Install Monumental Portrait of Koyo Kouoh in Venice During the Biennale

Artist Derrick Adams will install a monumental banner version of his collage "Heavy is the head that wears the crown" (2026) on the facade of the Palazzetto dello sport Giobatta Gianquinto in Venice, near the Arsenale, during the Venice Biennale. The work features a portrait of the late curator Koyo Kouoh, artistic director of the 2026 Venice Biennale, with the word "JOY" radiating golden rays above her head. The tribute was conceived by curator Francesco Bonami, who had invited Kouoh to serve on the Golden Lion jury for his 2003 Biennale, and developed after a studio visit with Adams.

New Jersey Father and Daughter Plead Guilty to $2 M. Counterfeit Art Scheme

Two New Jersey residents, Erwin Bankowski and his daughter Karolina Bankowska, pleaded guilty to running a counterfeit art scheme that funneled over 200 fake works into the legitimate market between 2020 and 2025. The pair consigned forgeries attributed to artists including Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Banksy, and Luiseño artist Fritz Scholder to galleries and auction houses across the United States, defrauding buyers of at least $2 million. They fabricated ownership histories, forged gallery stamps and certificates of authenticity using antique books and aged paper, and now face up to 20 years in prison plus restitution.

Diego Rivera’s grandson donates more than 150,000 objects to Mexico City’s Museo Anahuacalli

Juan Rafael Coronel Rivera, grandson of Diego Rivera, has donated his private collection of 157,300 objects to Mexico City's Museo Anahuacalli. The vast donation spans ceramics, textiles, prints, photographs, archives, and a research library, with works dating from the 16th century to the present. It will be transferred in stages and is expected to be fully integrated by the end of the year.

What else is happening

Was sonst noch geht

Ahead of the Gallery Weekend Berlin (May 1–3), the city is buzzing with parallel exhibitions that extend far beyond the official gallery circuit. The fourth edition of the Sellerie Weekend opens over 75 independent Off-Spaces from April 30 to May 3, featuring performances, curated tours, and a kickoff event with artist Sophia Süßmilch at the Spoiler project space. The Paper Positions art fair returns to Tempelhof Airport (April 30–May 3) with 70 international galleries specializing in works on paper, including artists like Annegret Soltau, Una Ursprung, and Stefanie Moshammer. Meanwhile, the art initiative House presents the group show "Gravity Ease Contract" in the Berghain heating plant hall (May 1–24), curated by David Douard, with works by Susan Philipsz, Julia Scher, and others. Finally, collectors Karen and Christian Boros unveil "Berlin Bunker #5" in their bunker-turned-museum, featuring recent acquisitions by Pol Taburet, Sung Tieu, and Jill Mulleady.

Everything to know about David Geffen Galleries as a new LACMA emerges

The Los Angeles Times reports on the upcoming David Geffen Galleries, a new building that will become the centerpiece of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) as it undergoes a major transformation. Designed by architect Peter Zumthor, the structure is part of a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar renovation project that aims to modernize the museum's campus and consolidate its collection under one roof. The article details the timeline, design features, and the controversies surrounding the project's cost and scope.

art criticism lynne tillman paying attention book

Lynne Tillman celebrated the publication of her new collection, *Paying Attention: Essays on Art and Culture*, from David Zwirner Books, at an event hosted by Coco’s at Colette. The article features a conversation between Tillman and the author, in which she discusses her origin story as a critic, her background in fiction writing, and her unconventional entry into art criticism through an invitation from Craig Owens at *Art in America*. She recounts writing a Madame Realism story about a Renoir exhibition after eavesdropping on museum tours, a piece that angered some art historians.

Toronto Biennial of Art announces 2026 artists and theme

The Toronto Biennial of Art has unveiled the artist list and thematic framework for its 2026 edition, titled "Things Fall Apart." Curated by Allison Glenn, the exhibition will feature over 30 artists and collectives, including 17 new commissions that explore themes of syncopation, rupture, and the connective power of global waterways. For the first time, the biennial will expand its physical footprint beyond the Greater Toronto Area to include site-responsive projects in Detroit, New York, and Anchorage.

LACMA Unveils Ambitious David Geffen Galleries Redesign

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced the official opening date of April 19, 2026, for its new David Geffen Galleries. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the 274-meter-long concrete structure will house between 2,500 and 3,000 objects from the museum's permanent collection. The inaugural display will feature a mix of historical masterpieces by artists such as Matisse and Van Gogh alongside new contemporary commissions by Todd Gray, Lauren Halsey, and Do Ho Suh.

May Arts Calendar 2026

The May Arts Calendar 2026 highlights a wide range of visual art exhibitions and events in the Seattle area, including group and solo shows at galleries such as Gallery B612, Visual Arts Gallery No. 85, JG Art Gallery, Piano Nobile, ArtXContemporary Gallery, and Common Objects. Notable exhibitions include "Layered Being: A Celebration of AAPINH Heritage" at Gallery B612, "Moving As One" by Tetsuo Aoki, "Material Meditations" featuring woodworker Andy McConell, blacksmith Maria Cristalli, and mixed media artist Jill Kyong, and "TADAIMA: 'I'm Home'" at MOHAI, which explores Japanese American history through dolls. The calendar also features a solo show by Yaminee Patel and a group show titled "Moga" at Fresh Mochi, celebrating Japanese and Japanese American artists.

Korean Cultural Center New York Presents the Major Exhibition "Lee Kang So: A Field of Becoming"

The Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY) presents the major exhibition "Lee Kang So: A Field of Becoming," on view from May 13 to June 20, 2026. The show features the work of pioneering Korean contemporary artist Lee Kang So (b. 1943), who since the 1970s has worked across photography, painting, sculpture, installation, and performance, resisting fixed forms to explore how art emerges through process, material, and context. The exhibition includes key works from his 1970s performances and installations, as well as later sculptures and paintings that foreground gravity, chance, and bodily gesture. Lee, who was active in New York in the 1980s and participated in MoMA PS1's Studio Artist Program, returns to the city with this exhibition at KCCNY's expanded venue.

Harper’s Bangkok Gallery Opens its Doors, Bringing Western Artists to Thailand

Harper's Bangkok, a new outpost of the New York-based gallery group founded by Harper Levine, opened in late March 2026 on the ground floor of the Siam Pathumwan House building. Its debut exhibition, 'Lost and Found', is a solo show by American artist Joel Mesler featuring 18 new vibrantly colored works, marking his first presentation in Southeast Asia. The gallery is the first major Western commercial gallery to establish a permanent space in Bangkok, joining a rapidly maturing local art ecosystem.

First UK Ken Price solo exhibition in nearly 10 years to open at Lisson.

Lisson Gallery, in collaboration with Matthew Marks Gallery, will present the first solo exhibition of Ken Price's work in the UK in nearly a decade. The show brings together sculptures and drawings, several shown in London for the first time, spanning the late American artist's five-decade career. Best known for expanding the possibilities of ceramics, Price created intimate yet monumental works that blend abstraction and figuration, with richly layered surfaces achieved through painstaking pigment and sanding processes. The exhibition includes iconic pieces such as 'Prone' (1997), 'Itself' (2003), 'Yin' (2009), and 'Amazon' (2003), alongside rarely seen works on paper that reveal his imaginative, dreamlike landscapes.

East Boulder County Artists studio tours on tap; plus Boulder County’s latest art exhibits

The East Boulder County Artists spring studio tour returns this weekend, offering a self-guided tour of 54 artists across 37 locations in Longmont, Niwot, Gunbarrel, Louisville, and Lafayette. The tour features demonstrations in painting, ceramics, glass, jewelry, mixed media, encaustic, fiber, wood, and sculpture, with free maps available at local businesses and libraries. Additionally, the article lists numerous current and upcoming art exhibitions in the Boulder area, including shows at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 15th Street Gallery, Ana's Art Gallery, and several other venues.

Bones in the Canal and Other Photographs

David Kordansky Gallery in New York is presenting 'Bones in the Canal and Other Photographs,' a solo exhibition of new work by Norwegian artist Torbjørn Rødland. This marks his first New York gallery show in nearly a decade. The exhibition features two distinct series, including a significant new body of smaller-format 35mm photographs that represent a major shift in his 30-year practice. The show runs from March 12 to April 25, 2026, at the gallery's West 20th Street location.

Exhibition | Everlyn Nicodemus, 'Without History' at Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

Everlyn Nicodemus presents 'Without History' at Goodman Gallery in Cape Town, marking her first solo exhibition with the gallery and a rare return to the African continent since the 1980s. The show, organized in partnership with Richard Saltoun Gallery, features major bodies of work including the 'Woman in the World' cycle and the 'Wedding' series. These works, created while Nicodemus lived across Europe, explore themes of trauma, gender, and spiritual survival through a practice that blends painting with deep archival research and social anthropology.

Week in art: 0417

The Boulder area is hosting a diverse array of art exhibitions and events across various local institutions and galleries. Highlights include Rodney Carswell’s lithographs at 15th Street Gallery, Jorge Vinent’s eco-conscious works at Ana’s Art Gallery, and the group exhibition "Yes &…" at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Other notable shows include a historical examination of racism at the Lafayette Swimming Pool and a student showcase from the Boulder Valley School District at the Canyon Gallery.

Exhibition | Fran Siegel, 'Arrábida' at Wilding Cran Gallery, Los Angeles, United States

Artist Fran Siegel presents 'Arrábida' at Wilding Cran Gallery, a body of work developed during a Fulbright fellowship in Portugal. The exhibition features multi-panel compositions, cyanotypes, and drawings that investigate the botanical motifs of traditional Portuguese azulejo tiles. By layering organic plant impressions with rigid geometric patterns, Siegel explores how these ceramic surfaces function as a 'visual cartography' that encodes histories of trade, colonial expansion, and cultural identity.

At the Venice Biennale, the Cuba Pavilion presents "Hombres Libres" by Roberto Diago

The Republic of Cuba has announced its participation in the 61st Venice Biennale with a solo exhibition by artist Roberto Diago titled "Hombres Libres" (Free Man). Curated by Nelson Ramirez de Arellano Conde and located at Il Giardino Bianco, the installation features a series of sculptural heads crafted from salvaged materials like oxidized metal, wood, and plastic. These works, characterized by prominent surface scars, are designed to confront viewers and provoke a dialogue about the enduring nature of memory and dignity.

Narsiso Martinez at Catalina Museum for Art & History

The Catalina Museum for Art & History has announced a solo exhibition by artist Narsiso Martinez titled "Witnesses of Labor — Portraits of Essential Workers," running from April 11 through October 11, 2026. The show features approximately 15 works, including large-scale installations and mixed-media portraits painted directly onto discarded produce boxes. Martinez, a former farmworker himself, utilizes these found materials to elevate the visibility of migrant laborers and agricultural workers who sustain the American food system.

Lia & Dan Perjovschi: DRAFT for a Joint Retrospective

The ARCUB Cultural Center in Bucharest has announced a major joint retrospective for Lia and Dan Perjovschi, scheduled to run from April 3 to July 26, 2026. Titled "DRAFT for a Joint Retrospective," the exhibition marks 40 years of artistic practice for the duo, who are among Romania's most influential contemporary artists. The show will span three levels of the Hanul Gabroveni, juxtaposing Dan’s satirical, politically charged drawings with Lia’s research-based conceptual archives and installations.

Julia Stoschek Foundation to Close in Berlin

The Julia Stoschek Foundation will close its Berlin outpost at the end of October 2025, after a decade of operation. The Düsseldorf-based nonprofit, which holds one of the world's largest collections of time-based art, opened the Berlin space in 2016 and welcomed over 450,000 visitors across 22 exhibitions, including solo shows by Meriem Bennani, Stan Douglas, Arthur Jafa, and Mark Leckey. The foundation cited a "strategic realignment" that will shift focus to projects elsewhere in Germany and abroad. Its Düsseldorf space is currently closed for renovations and expected to reopen next year.

‘We refuse_d’: rehearsing refusal as method, memory, and possibility.

Marking the fifteenth anniversary of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the traveling exhibition ‘we refuse_d’ has opened at M HKA in Antwerp. Curated by Nadia Radwan and Vasif Kortun, the project draws on the intellectual lineage of Hannah Arendt’s reflections on displacement and the historical precedent of the Salon des Refusés. The exhibition features a constellation of works by artists including Khalil Rabah, Barış Doğrusöz, and Nour Shantout, exploring refusal not as a simple negation, but as a complex strategy for survival, dignity, and the preservation of memory.

Un grand dessin de Beckmann pour Stuttgart

The Staatsgalerie Stuttgart has acquired a monumental drawing by Max Beckmann titled *Resurrection*, measuring nearly five meters long and three and a half meters high. Executed between 1916 and 1918, it is the largest painting by the artist and a key work in his oeuvre, created after his traumatic experience as a volunteer medical orderly in World War I. Beckmann described the piece as expressing 'the terrifying cry of pain of deceived poor humanity,' marking a shift toward a new formal vocabulary influenced by the war.

Quatre Moreau le Jeune pour Versailles

The French state has preempted four drawings by Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune at a Christie's Paris auction, securing them for the Palace of Versailles. The works, sold in two lots, depict the festivities in Paris following the birth of the Dauphin Louis Joseph in autumn 1781, including the arrival of the Queen at the Hôtel de Ville and a fireworks display. The drawings were commissioned by the City of Paris and were intended to be engraved, marking a high point of public commissions under the ancien régime. The preemption was made possible through the support of the Friends of the Louvre, echoing a similar acquisition of Hubert Robert works from the same Veil-Picard sale.