‘A dialogue about rationality and irrationality’: Ai Weiwei to present new installation in Ukraine

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei will unveil a major new commission in Kyiv, Ukraine, this autumn. The installation, titled "Three Perfectly Proportioned Spheres and Camouflage Uniforms Painted White," is a site-specific response to global armed conflicts, housed in Pavilion 13, a renovated Soviet-era exposition hall. The work features three large spheres covered in camouflage uniforms painted white, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's illustrations, and incorporates patterns based on rescued cats. The project is commissioned by RIBBON International and supported by the Pavilion of Culture.

CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts announces touring exhibition Viaje a la luna (A trip to the moon)

CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts in San Francisco has announced a touring exhibition titled "Viaje a la luna (A trip to the moon)," inspired by the only screenplay ever written by Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. Curated by Diego Villalobos and Rodrigo Ortiz Monasterio, the exhibition runs from June 12 to October 11, 2025, before traveling to Centro Federico García Lorca in Granada starting October 30. It features historic and contemporary works that reconstruct Lorca's lost 1932 film, which was halted after his murder and later destroyed in a studio fire, leaving only a script and photographs.

The Palestinian artist channelling ‘rage, love and hope’ into her paintings

Palestinian artist Malak Mattar presents her new solo show "Falasteen" at Central Saint Martins, featuring works created during her MFA that respond to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The exhibition marks a synthesis of her earlier vibrant style and the stark monochrome she adopted after Israel's latest assault, with colors cautiously returning alongside themes of hope, resilience, and freedom. The show includes large-scale paintings, a concertina book, and new techniques like photo transfer and collage, including her 2024 painting "No Words," a black-and-white mural recalling Picasso's "Guernica." This is the first solo show by a Palestinian artist ever held at Central Saint Martins.

“Living Archive” Converge+Vertex: Traversing the Minor Gesture of Timeliness concludes exhibition at Barrett Art Gallery

Barrett Art Gallery at Santa Monica College held a closing reception for "Converge+Vertex: Traversing the Minor Gesture of Timeliness" on May 6, featuring DJ sets by artist Leah King, dinner from Alta Adams, and works by Black artists from Los Angeles. Curator Cole James described the exhibition as a "living archive" exploring positive Black representation in a post-racial environment. The show, which had been delayed after a shooting at SMC's media campus, marked the first gallery display for artist Cassidy Everage, recipient of the Otis College Charles White scholarship.

Basquiat masterpiece expected to fetch $15m at Sotheby’s auction

A rare, untitled 1981 Jean-Michel Basquiat painting, unseen for over three decades, will headline Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Auction in New York this May, with an estimate of $10–15 million. The work, created when Basquiat was 20, captures his transition from street art to international fame and has been held in the same private collection since 1989. The auction also features pieces from Barbara Gladstone’s collection, the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, and works by Lucio Fontana, Robert Rauschenberg, and Pablo Picasso.

Dismantling Orbán's 16-Year Grip on Hungary's Art World

Following the recent electoral defeat of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition by the opposition party Tisza, the Hungarian art world faces a monumental task of institutional restoration. For 16 years, the regime’s 'System of National Cooperation' (NER) systematically co-opted cultural institutions, installing loyalists in leadership roles at major venues like the Kunsthalle and Ludwig Museum to promote an ethno-nationalist agenda. This period was marked by the exodus of independent curators, the occupation of museums by activists, and a fractured ecosystem where state funding was tied to political compliance.

Lebanese Artist Ali Sbeity Reportedly Killed in Israeli Strike

Lebanese artist Ali Sbeity was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern town of Kafra. The death was confirmed by the Artists at Risk Connection and reported by local media. Sbeity was known for his vibrant portraits and landscapes of his rural hometown, which he frequently shared on social media.

DANCING OUR PROBLEMS LATIN AMERICAN PRESENCE AT MOCA S ART ON THE PLAZA 2026 AWARDS IN MIAMI

Peruvian multidisciplinary artist Joan Jiménez Suero, known as Entes, has been named one of three winners for the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami’s (MOCA) Art on the Plaza 2026. His winning installation, "Bailando Nuestros Problemas" (Dancing Our Problems), features kinetic metal sculptures inspired by Afro-Peruvian traditions and salsa culture. The work, which officially opens on April 15, 2026, transforms rigid industrial materials into fluid figures of musicians and dancers to celebrate the resilience of the Latin American diaspora.

Nobody Can Defeat Me: The Brazilian Pavilion in Venice Between Spirituality, History and Nature

NOBODY CAN DEFEAT ME THE BRAZILIAN PAVILION IN VENICE BETWEEN SPIRITUALITY HISTORY AND NATURE

The Fundação Bienal de São Paulo has revealed the curatorial project for the Brazilian Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. Titled 'Comigo ninguém pode' (Nobody Can Defeat Me), the exhibition is curated by Diane Lima and features a major two-person presentation of artists Rosana Paulino and Adriana Varejão, who will occupy the entire pavilion with an installation-based project designed by Daniela Thomas.

Building Through Change, Jean-David Malat, Founder of JD Malat Gallery on resilience, risk and the evolving art scene in Dubai

Jean-David Malat, founder of JD Malat Gallery, opened a new outpost in Downtown Dubai in early 2025, expanding from his established Mayfair space in London. The gallery launched with a group show, *Carte Blanche*, and has since hosted solo exhibitions, with plans for a *Made in UAE* initiative that received over 1,000 applications. Malat cites the slowing London market and growing momentum in the UAE as key factors in his decision to invest in Dubai, where he spent a month building relationships with collectors and the local community before opening.

The Forward Frame: East End Arts Holds Last Hurrah Before Gallery Relocation

East End Arts hosted a final exhibition titled "The Forward Frame" at its historic East Main Street gallery in Riverhead before the building undergoes a massive structural renovation. As part of the Riverhead Town Square redevelopment project, the 1840s-era building will be raised seven feet to escape the Peconic River floodplain and reconfigured alongside a new five-story Hilton hotel. During the farewell event, community members were invited to create ephemeral art directly on the gallery walls, marking a transition period where the organization will operate out of temporary spaces at 11 and 48 West Main Street.

Painting through trauma

Israeli artist Ilan Adar, whose Jaffa studio was a cultural hub before October 7, found himself unable to paint after the attacks as tourism and daily visitors vanished. Encouraged by collector Josh Liberman, Adar created 'Echoes of the Tribe,' an exhibition now showing in Melbourne, Australia. The works, built from red pigment and layered with emotion, explore themes of shared human connection, memory, and resilience. The exhibition was organized with the help of Alexandra Pyke to support Israeli artists facing discrimination and economic hardship post-October 7.

The Italian Way of Symbolism in the Exhibition at the Fondazione Magnani-Rocca

La via italiana del Simbolismo nella mostra alla Fondazione Magnani-Rocca

The Fondazione Magnani-Rocca in Mamiani di Traversetolo, Parma, recently made headlines due to a dramatic theft targeting its permanent collection. Despite the incident, the museum's temporary exhibition spaces remain unaffected, and the show "Simbolismo in Italia" (Symbolism in Italy), curated by Francesco Parisi, continues without disruption. The exhibition aims to update critical discourse on Symbolism, a movement that spread across Europe from the 1880s to the early 1900s and arrived in Italy with a distinct, often tradition-rooted character. It features works by artists such as Cesare Saccaggi, Giulio Aristide Sartorio, and Adolfo Wildt, organized into thematic sections exploring literary sources, mythological landscapes, and the dual nature of femininity.

From the Aral Sea to Milan: Uzbekistan tells its story between craftsmanship and climate crisis

Dal Mar d’Aral a Milano: l’Uzbekistan si racconta tra artigianato e crisi climatica

Uzbekistan made its official debut at the Milan Design Week with the exhibition 'When Apricots Blossom' at Palazzo Citterio. Curated by Kulapat Yantrasast and promoted by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, the immersive show presents contemporary reinterpretations of Uzbek craft, organized around three pillars of Karakalpak culture: textiles, food, and dwelling. It features installations by international designers like Bethan Laura Wood and a deconstructed yurt by WHY Architecture.

The exhibition of the great artist Lucy Orta in a recovered historic palace in Sansepolcro

La mostra della grande artista Lucy Orta in un palazzo storico recuperato a San Sepolcro

British artist Lucy Orta has unveiled a site-specific installation titled "Trame di Comunità" at CasermArcheologica in Sansepolcro, Tuscany, following an artist residency. The work features five tents constructed from hand-woven vintage linen and hemp, inspired by the protective imagery in Piero della Francesca’s "Polyptych of Mercy." These structures are embroidered with the faces of local residents and adorned with 99 terracotta amulets, incorporating oral testimonies and personal reflections gathered from the community during Orta's stay.

NXT Gallery Presents new work by Joey Morgan

NXT Gallery at Next Stage Arts in Putney, Vermont, presents “Forgotten Not Gone,” a new exhibition by Brattleboro-based artist Joey Morgan. The show features 12 mixed-media collage works salvaged from a previous project, “Have You Ever Loved Me?,” which was largely destroyed in a flood. An opening reception will be held on May 24, and the exhibition runs from May 8 to August 9.

Vandalised portraits of Windrush generation restored and reinstated in London square

A series of 20 photographic portraits depicting members of the Windrush Generation, displayed in Windrush Square in Brixton, south London, were vandalized on 3 July when they were slashed and daubed with green paint. The Metropolitan Police arrested a 24-year-old man on 5 July on suspicion of vandalism, stating the incident was not a hate crime. The portraits, part of the Windrush Untold Stories exhibition by photographer Amit Lennon, have since been restored with new prints produced by Photofusion and reinstalled in the square. A crowdfunding campaign has raised £7,625 of a £15,000 goal to cover costs, and the UK Home Office is in talks to display the work later.

A pink rocket ship and other sci-fi elements fuel Seattle artist’s latest exhibit

Seattle artist Tariqa Waters presents her first solo exhibition with sci-fi elements, titled "Venus is Missing," at the Seattle Art Museum from May 7, 2025 through January 5, 2026. The show features a retro-futuristic pink rocket ship and oversized glass sculptures of ball barrettes—elastic hair ties from the 1970s and '80s—arranged as constellations. Waters won the Betty Bowen Award in 2023, which led to this exhibition, and she used the extra preparation time to create an immersive narrative about vulnerability, nostalgia, and escape. The exhibition also connects to her upcoming book "WHO RAISED YOU? A Martyr Sauce Guide To Etiquette," published by Minor Matters Books.

East Dallas art exhibition is a celebration of Chicano identity and community

An exhibition titled “Chicano” at Art on Main gallery in East Dallas showcases the work of over 50 North Texas artists, featuring paintings, digital photography, and mixed media that explore Chicano identity, childhood memories, lowrider culture, immigration enforcement, and Indigenous heritage. Co-curated by artists Ariel Esquivel and Junanne Peck, the show includes pieces such as Chelsea Reyes' digital photograph “Movimiento y Orgullo,” Cease Martinez's painting “Cultura,” and Hermila Cuevas' oil on canvas “Chicomecōātl: Giver of Harvest.” The gallery owner Andrea Lamarsaude, who previously collaborated with the curators on the exhibition “Shelter,” notes the community's positive response.

Helena Samarasinghe at Camberwell Space

British-South Asian artist Helena Samarasinghe is presenting her debut solo exhibition, "Reaching, Touching, Shedding," at Camberwell Space in London. The show features a series of vibrant drawings and sculptural cut-out installations that explore the intersections of sport, power, and identity. Developed during her residency as the 2024 Vanguard Prize winner, the works utilize oil, soft pastels, and charcoal to depict brown women engaged in activities like football, wrestling, and athletics, drawing stylistic inspiration from 19th-century Bengali Kalighat painting.

At Frieze Los Angeles, Greg Ito’s bright baggage carries hope

Los Angeles-based artist Greg Ito has presented a striking installation titled "A Cautionary Tale" with Superposition Gallery at Frieze Los Angeles. The booth features stacks of neon orange suitcases and mirrored trunks alongside paintings of symbolic imagery like burning candles and ships in a bottle. The work draws directly from Ito’s family history, specifically the forced relocation of his grandparents to Japanese American internment camps during World War II, where they were restricted to bringing only what they could carry in a suitcase.

The Journal of Antiquarians and Galleries No. 10 Has Just Been Published

Le Journal des Antiquaires et Galeries n°10 vient de paraître

The tenth issue of Le Journal des Antiquaires et Galeries has been released, focusing on the resilience of the art market amidst geopolitical and economic headwinds. The publication highlights major spring events including Art Paris, Art Brussels, and the Paris Gallery Weekend, while introducing the newly formed Federation of Art Market Actors (FAM’Art).

From Micro to Mega, Jon McCormack’s Striking Photos Reveal Nature’s Patterns

Photographer Jon McCormack, who grew up in the Australian Outback and has traveled to all seven continents, has a new book titled "Patterns: Art of the Natural World," forthcoming from Damiani Books. The project emerged during the pandemic when limited travel led him to revisit local spots and develop a patient, attentive approach to capturing nature's hidden harmony and symmetry. The book features 90 images ranging from microscopic crystals to aerial views of flamingos in Kenya, along with text contributions from fellow photographers and conservationists.

Statues Also Breathe: A Chorus of Clay and Memory, Where the Missing Return as Form.

The exhibition 'Statues Also Breathe' has opened at the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech. Curated by Meriem Berrada, the installation features 108 terracotta heads created by artist Prune Nourry in collaboration with artisans and students. The work draws inspiration from the historic sculptural tradition of Ife in Nigeria while directly addressing the ongoing trauma of the 2014 kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls, using portraiture to represent the missing.

Due giovani artisti in una mostra a Matera si confrontano sulle tracce della memoria

The article reports on "Remain(s)," a dual exhibition at Momart Gallery in Matera, Italy, featuring young artists Luca Granato and Michela Rondinone. Curated by Antonella Marino, the show explores the aesthetics of fragments and memory through installations, sculptures, and video works. Granato's pieces address loss, migration, and climate change, while Rondinone's works focus on childhood, play, and relational practices. The exhibition runs until May 26, 2026.

Joy Machine’s Feel Free Examines Order, Change, and the Limits of Control

Joy Machine's exhibition 'Feel Free' explores themes of order, change, and the limits of control through a series of artworks. The show presents a visual dialogue between structured systems and the unpredictable forces that disrupt them, inviting viewers to reflect on the tension between stability and transformation.

Louisiana artists travel to world’s oldest, biggest, most prestigious art show

A group of Louisiana artists from Orleans Gallery on Julia Street in New Orleans is preparing to travel to the Venice Biennale, the world's oldest, largest, and most prestigious art exhibition, which has been held since 1895. The artists, led by coach Cayman Clevenger, will show their work at the Biennale from May through November, marking a major milestone for the gallery, which has been open for less than a year.

New Exhibition: The Gallery of Impossible Dreams

Chauvet Arts in downtown Nashville has opened a new exhibition titled "The Gallery of Impossible Dreams," running from December 13, 2025, to January 23, 2026. The show features works by new artists Andy Llanes Busto and Lisyanet Rodriguez, alongside long-time gallery artists Carlos Gamez de Francisco, Brandon Jones, Greer Wilkins, and Jorge Yances, with a special collection of photography, field and audio recordings by Philip Holsinger.

Downtown Canton art expansion. Patina Arts Centre being reborn as Second April Studios

Tim Carmany, owner of The Hub Art Factory, is transforming the former Patina Arts Centre in downtown Canton into a new creative hub called Second April Studios. The space, which had recently closed, is already being populated by resident artists and vendors such as Uncle Archie's Oddity Emporium, signaling a swift revival of the venue.

Around town: Art Garden reopens in new downtown gallery

Art Garden, a combination art gallery and plant shop in Asheville, North Carolina, reopens on May 7, 2025, at a new downtown location at 98 N. Lexington Ave. The business was displaced after its former home in Riverview Station was flooded by over 25 feet of water during Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024. The reopening includes a preview party for the ReRoot art exhibit, a fundraising gala, a theatre performance, and a Mother's Day plant sale, celebrating community support that helped rebuild the space.