Russia's winter bombardment puts strain on Ukrainian museum workers

UNESCO has expressed serious concern over recent Russian attacks damaging cultural heritage sites in Ukrainian cities including Odesa, Lviv, and Kyiv. The winter bombardment has targeted power grids and infrastructure, complicating the work of museums and cultural institutions. The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a World Heritage Site, suffered its first military damage since WWII, and the historic center of Odesa, already on UNESCO's endangered list, saw its Holy Dormition Monastery severely hit.

High School Art Exhibition Begins at City Hall

The High School Art Exhibition has opened at Irvine City Hall, showcasing works by student artists from the greater Irvine area. The annual survey includes pieces in digital media, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, and sculpture, with awards for categories such as best original design and innovative use of materials. This year’s guest juror is Patrick Ballesteros, a San Diego-based artist and illustrator whose clients include Netflix and DisneyTV.

US National Park Service removes slavery memorial at Philadelphia historic site

The US National Park Service has removed an outdoor exhibit titled “Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation” at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. The exhibit, which focused on nine people enslaved by George Washington and explored the paradox between slavery and freedom in the nation's founding, was dismantled following a directive from President Donald Trump to eliminate “corrosive ideology” from cultural heritage sites. The removal, captured on social media on January 22, aligns with a March 2025 executive order instructing the NPS to emphasize American achievements and avoid materials that “inappropriately disparage Americans.”

Grove Gallery to host opening reception for ‘Triptych’ exhibition on Jan. 10

Grove Gallery in Grove Street will host an opening reception on January 10 for "Triptych," a group exhibition featuring works by artists Kate Berry-Brown, Vanessa Filley, and Darren Oberto. The show runs through January 31 and brings together figurative photography, pencil-based portraits, and oil paintings, exploring themes of motherhood, belonging, place, and the cosmos through geometric abstraction and experimental mark-making.

‘Out of the public eye’: Artists accuse University Unions of unprofessionalism and censorship

Artists participating in a 'Visual History of the Unions' exhibition at the University of Michigan's Michigan Union have accused the University Unions administration of unprofessional conduct and censorship. The show, a collaboration between the Inclusive History Project, the Arts Initiative, and University Unions, was originally planned to run from October 2025 to January 2026 in high-traffic areas, but was reduced to a six-week run in a small alcove. One artist, Toby Millman, created a quilt depicting a 2024 pro-Palestine protest, and after submitting it, she and others received vague emails about delays and stakeholder concerns, leading them to believe the work was being suppressed.

'All That Remains' faculty exhibition opens Oct. 21

A faculty exhibition titled 'All That Remains' opens Oct. 21 at Tyler Art Gallery on the SUNY Oswego campus, featuring works by art faculty members Peter Cardone and Christopher McEvoy. Cardone presents a photographic series of the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse, capturing empty interior spaces and lake views that evoke presence and absence. McEvoy contributes large abstract paintings with layered organic and geometric forms that explore perception, memory, and the construction of meaning. The exhibition includes related events on Oct. 28, such as a presentation by H. Lee White Maritime Museum curator Michael Pittavino, artist talks, and a poetry reading with faculty poets.

Art exhibition preserves a moment in time using historical scientific research, microbiology and macabre curiosity

Artist Emily Mulvaney has opened her debut solo exhibition, "Preservation of Bodies," at Off-Site Art Space, exploring themes of preservation and degradation through a blend of art and science. The show features bioplastics, mold, vacuum-sealed bags, and synthetic organ-like forms, drawing on historical scientific research from the Kenneth Spencer Research Library and the Linda Hall Library. Mulvaney, who was the Lance Williams Art and Science Artist-in-Residence at the University of Kansas, uses materials like bioplastics to address ethical and environmental concerns, collaborating with PhD student Eryk Yarkosky on bacterial communication pieces.

A Curator Flees Bangkok After China Deems His Art Show Too Provocative

A curator has fled Bangkok after China deemed his art exhibition too provocative, leading to threats and pressure that forced him to leave the country. The show, which featured works critical of Chinese authorities, sparked diplomatic tensions and raised concerns about censorship across borders.

How a Bangkok art show was censored following China's anger

Burmese artist Sai and his wife have fled to the UK to seek asylum after their exhibition at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre was censored following complaints from Chinese embassy officials. The show, titled 'Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machine of Authoritarian Solidarity,' opened on 26 July 2025 and featured exiled artists from China, Russia, and Iran. Chinese representatives, accompanied by Bangkok city officials, demanded the removal of works by Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong artists, leading to the blacking out of artist names, removal of flags, and switching off of films. The couple alleges Thai police are looking for them, though police deny this.

Exclusive: Thai gallery removes China-focused artworks after 'pressure' from Beijing

A Thai gallery has removed artworks focused on China from its exhibition after reportedly facing pressure from Beijing. The pieces, which addressed sensitive political themes, were taken down following diplomatic or official intervention, according to the gallery's statement. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between artistic expression and geopolitical influence in Southeast Asia.

Levitation: CERN’s new temporary exhibition explores space and time through glass art

From 13 June to 24 August 2025, the Globe of Science and Innovation at CERN presents *Levitation*, a temporary exhibition featuring glass sculptures by Slovak artist Ján Zoričák. The works incorporate metal, bronze, natural materials, and even materials from CERN experiments, exploring themes of space and time. A short AI-generated film by Nina Tahy and curator Ivan Jančár accompanies the artworks, offering additional technological perspectives.

Is Contemporary Art’s Most Important Fair Losing Its Luster?

The New York Times examines whether Art Basel, widely regarded as the world's most important contemporary art fair, is experiencing a decline in influence and appeal. The article cites recent editions where attendance dipped, sales slowed, and major galleries expressed concerns about rising costs and diminishing returns, questioning the fair's continued dominance in the global art market.

Trucha RGV planning art exhibit showcasing ‘issues in the 956’

Trucha RGV, an arts organization in the Rio Grande Valley, is planning an art exhibit that will focus on social and political issues affecting the 956 area code region of South Texas. The exhibition aims to highlight local concerns through visual art, providing a platform for community dialogue and expression.

How can art fairs become greener?

Art fairs face significant sustainability challenges due to their temporary nature. Untitled Art in Miami Beach, held in a tent on the beach, works with environmental departments to ensure zero impact, reusing its tent annually. Fairs in permanent venues like Art Basel Miami Beach at the LEED Silver-rated convention center must manage temporary walls, energy use, and waste. Exhibitors struggle with high carbon emissions—art fair activities account for a third of a gallery's annual emissions—and waste from packing materials. Shipping constraints often force reliance on air freight over slower, greener options like ocean or rail, especially for last-minute, high-value consignments. The competitive, secretive atmosphere further hinders consolidated shipments and sustainable practices.

Feminist art show vandalised at French photography centre

A feminist art exhibition titled 'Cyprine Benzin' at the NegPos art and photography centre in Nîmes, France, was vandalized during the night of 25–26 April. One or more intruders destroyed over 30 of the 40 works on view, spray-painting phalluses and sexual imagery on the walls. The exhibition, by artist Kamille Lévêque Jégo, celebrated women’s pride and empowerment and had opened on 11 April. It was the second attack on the gallery, following a prior break-in that damaged one work. The centre’s director, Patrice Loubon, described the attack as part of a 'masculinist backlash,' and three professional photography networks condemned a 'growing climate of intolerance against female photographers.'

An Artist Honors Extinct Plants and Animals at New York’s Swiss Institute

The New York Times reports on an exhibition at New York's Swiss Institute where an artist pays tribute to extinct plants and animals through their work. The show features installations and artworks that memorialize species lost to extinction, blending scientific documentation with artistic expression to create a poignant reflection on biodiversity loss.

Associations Join Warning Against AfD Cultural Policy

Vereine schließen sich Warnung vor AfD-Kulturpolitik an

Nearly 30 cultural institutions in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt have issued a warning against the cultural policy proposals of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is leading in polls ahead of state elections. The state network of cultural support associations, representing around 680 member groups, has now joined this warning, stating the AfD's plans amount to a restriction of artistic freedom and the instrumentalization of culture according to nationalist guidelines.

Is Art Dying Along With Work?

Stirbt die Kunst mit der Arbeit?

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence raises a fundamental paradox for the future of creativity: while automation could theoretically free humans from labor to pursue artistic endeavors, it simultaneously threatens the economic foundations of the art world. If AI-driven job displacement leads to a widespread loss of disposable income, the commercial market that sustains professional artists could effectively collapse.

At the INHA, the summer closure of the library revives the debate

À l’INHA, la fermeture estivale de la bibliothèque ravive le sujet

The National Institute for Art History (INHA) in Paris is facing backlash over its decision to implement a permanent two-week summer closure of its library every August. Originally introduced as a temporary measure during the 2024 Olympics and subsequent renovations, the closure is now being formalized by the administration despite a change in leadership. Staff and researchers have launched a petition, arguing that August is a critical period for international scholars and students who rely on the library’s extensive collections.

Paula Punkstiņa at Kim? Contemporary Art Centre

Paula Punkstiņa's exhibition "The Arrows of Concerns" opened at Kim? Contemporary Art Centre in Riga, running from March 14 to May 19, 2026. Curated by Zane Onckule, the show presents 33 images documenting the artist's work, with photography by Ansis Starks.

“PAPER TIGER TELEVISION: It’s 8:30. Do you know where your brains are?” at Goldsmiths CCA, London

Goldsmiths CCA in London is hosting a retrospective exhibition dedicated to the influential US media collective Paper Tiger Television. The show features a large-scale installation of a shattered television frame as its entry point, evoking themes of media critique and technological disruption central to the collective's work.

California State Univ hosts artist Tutul’s exhibition

California State University hosted a five-day solo exhibition titled 'Lost Symbiosis' by Bangladeshi artist and graphic design professor Md Harun-ar-Rashid Tutul at its Media Art Gallery from April 27 to May 1. The exhibition featured 24 oil and acrylic paintings on recycled paper mesh and canvas, exploring the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Tutul also delivered a lecture on visual communication to students at California State University, Bakersfield, and a separate showing of the exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles Acting Academy and the local Bangladeshi community at the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles on May 3.

Venice Biennale jury excludes Russia and Israel from artist awards as EU threatens funding cut

The Venice Biennale jury has excluded Russia and Israel from eligibility for artist awards, following the EU's threat to cut funding over geopolitical concerns. The decision bars artists from these countries from being considered for official prizes at the prestigious international art exhibition.

'It's something we should all be concerned about' - Belfast studio moves to temporary hub amid rising costs

Vault Artist Studios, a Belfast-based arts collective with over 100 members including musicians, circus performers, and visual artists, has moved into a temporary hub at Bankmore House on Bedford Street after spending three years at Victoria Street and the Shankill Mission building. The collective, formed in 2017 to transform derelict buildings into affordable studio space, now provides studios for 30 artists plus a gallery and project space, with further space opening soon in a former Masonic Lodge on the lower Newtownards Road. Their first exhibition in the new space, titled 'Mayday Mayday', serves as both a distress signal and a rallying call for workers.

Golden Lions of the Biennale voted by the public? 7 reasons why they cannot work

Leoni d’Oro della Biennale votati dal pubblico? 7 motivi per cui non possono funzionare

On April 30, 2026, the International Jury of the Venice Art Biennale resigned en masse. In response, the Biennale Foundation hastily announced a new initiative called the "Visitor Lions" (Leoni dei Visitatori), where paying visitors would vote to award the Golden Lions for best artist and best national participation. The voting system would rely on ticket tracking to verify attendance at the main venues, the Giardini and the Arsenale. However, just a week before the public opening, no further details had been released, raising numerous practical concerns about the mechanism's feasibility.

fashion tom ford eyewear miami art week

Tom Ford is launching its first eyewear-only pop-up during Art Basel Miami Beach, staged on the sand facing the Miami Beach EDITION from December 4-6. The installation showcases the full Eyewear family—Core, ICON, and the Private Collection—alongside exclusive styles from Haider Ackermann's Fall/Winter 2025 runway. Visitors can try on and purchase rare frames like the Bronson and Fausto lenses in a chrome-and-marble setting designed to present eyewear as collectible design objects.

South West artists have come together for a new exhibition

A new group exhibition titled "Echoes of the Earth" has opened at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries, featuring works by 12 artists from Western Australia's South West region. The show explores the artists' personal and collective experiences with the local environment, including themes of coastal erosion, bushfire recovery, and Indigenous connection to Country.

23rd Annual Student Art Show Celebrates Students’ Connection to the Santa Barbara Channel

On May 7, the community gathered at Jodi House Gallery for a reception and awards ceremony hosted by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, celebrating the 23rd Annual Student Art Show. High school students from Carpinteria to Goleta submitted 120 pieces interpreting the Santa Barbara Channel, with 50 selected for the show. Awards were juried by Meagan Stirling, Associate Professor of Art at Westmont College. First place went to Aricin Marshall for his ceramic sculpture *Tide Bound – Hollister Ranch*, second to Josefa Olivio for *Channel Islands Fox*, and third to Jocabed Carranza for *After the Tide*. The Environmental Ethic Award was given to Maria Rojo for *Insufferable Freedom*, and the Juror’s Choice Award to Madeline Adler for *Sea Life vs. Pollution: The Ongoing Battle*. Honorable mentions included Sophia Lam, Alejandro Miranda, and Camila Sandoval.

Local artists shine in new Florida NOW exhibition, on display in Downtown St. Pete

Florida CraftArt in downtown St. Petersburg has opened 'Florida NOW,' a new exhibition showcasing contemporary craft from across the state. Curated by artist and ceramics educator Holly Hanessian, the show features works in sculptural ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, and wood that blend traditional techniques with current perspectives. The opening reception is scheduled for May 9, and the exhibition runs through June 13.

UP AND DOWN THE RIVER: Artivism: Eco Art exhibition opens at Batdorff Gallery

An exhibition titled 'Artivism: Eco Art' has opened at the Batdorff Gallery, featuring works that blend artistic expression with environmental activism. The show highlights artists who use their practice to address ecological issues and promote sustainability through visual art.