Monopol verlost 5 × 2 Tickets für "Tirailleurs"-Ausstellung im HKW

Monopol magazine is giving away 5 × 2 tickets for the exhibition "Tirailleurs" at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin. The show, which runs under the full title "Tirailleurs: Von Kanonenfutter zu Avantgarde – Die vergessenen Soldat*innen, die Europa befreit haben," highlights the largely forgotten history of African soldiers (tirailleurs) who fought for France in both World Wars, many forcibly recruited and deployed on the front lines. Featuring over 30 international artists with new commissions, the exhibition includes installations, films, photographs, and archival materials addressing colonial violence, memory politics, and the enduring impact of imperial power structures. Artists such as Dior Thiam, Daniel Lind-Ramos, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, and Mario Pfeifer contribute works that recover names, reframe historical images, and connect past colonial dynamics to present-day conflicts like the war in Ukraine.

History Made Material

Material gewordene Geschichte

The German Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale has been transformed by artist Sung Tieu, who clad its Nazi-era facade with millions of small marble tiles to replicate the look of a prefabricated East German apartment block—specifically the Gehrenseestraße housing complex in Berlin where she spent part of her childhood. Inside, the exhibition features glass casts of her mother's limbs, aluminum beams evoking cramped living quarters, and works by the late Henrike Naumann, all curated by Kathleen Reinhardt to explore bureaucracy, migration, and systemic violence.

Treated as Cannon Fodder

"Als Kanonenfutter behandelt"

Artist Mario Pfeifer has created a new film, "Wutame / Caché," which portrays two men from Cameroon who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine before deserting. The film is currently featured in the "Tirailleurs" exhibition at Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW). Pfeifer's work focuses on the men's personal accounts of being deceived, poorly treated, and used as "cannon fodder," employing anonymized voices and altered imagery to protect their identities while allowing their stories to unfold.

Nicole Hollander, Acerbic Feminist Cartoonist, Dies at 86

Nicole Hollander, the creator of the long-running comic strip "Sylvia," has died at the age of 86. For over three decades, she wrote and illustrated the strip, which centered on a tart-tongued, witty woman who freely expressed her many opinions, becoming a staple of feminist humor in American newspapers.

Changes at Manifesta as Hedwig Fijen steps down

Hedwig Fijen, founding director of Manifesta, the European Nomadic Biennial, will step down on October 5. Emilia van Lynden and Catherine Nichols will succeed her as general director and artistic director respectively, as announced by the supervisory board of the International Foundation Manifesta. Fijen, who was commissioned by the Netherlands Office for Fine Arts in 1991 to develop a pan-European platform, has led Manifesta through editions in Palermo, Pristina, Barcelona, and the upcoming 2026 edition in the Ruhr region. Van Lynden has served as deputy director since 2019, while Nichols, a Berlin-based curator, contributed as creative mediator for the 2022 edition and artistic board member for 2026. The new leadership will begin with Manifesta 17 in Coimbra, Portugal, in 2028.

Gary Baseman fills iconic L.A. coffee shop with charming drawings on real restaurant menus

Artist Gary Baseman has opened his first hometown solo show in over a decade, titled “Off the Menu,” inside the long-shuttered Johnie’s Coffee Shop on Wilshire and Fairfax in Los Angeles. The exhibition features about 40 colored pencil drawings, mostly executed on real menus from iconic L.A. restaurants such as Musso & Frank, Canter’s Deli, and Genghis Cohen, as well as newer spots like Jon & Vinny’s. The whimsical show, which launched in conjunction with the opening of the Wilshire and Fairfax subway station, runs through June 14 and celebrates the dining culture and community of the Fairfax neighborhood.

Reba Maybury at Secession

Reba Maybury presents her solo exhibition "I Come in Peace" at Secession in Vienna, running from March 6 to May 31, 2026. The show features a press release, floor plan, and venue website, documented through 10 images and photographs by Lisa Rastl, courtesy of Secession.

Ethical Managers Make Their Own Rules at Bodenrader

Bodenrader in Chicago is currently hosting a group exhibition titled "Ethical Managers Make Their Own Rules," featuring works by Jessica Diamond, Hélène Fauquet, and Jason Hirata. The exhibition, which runs from March 21 through May 2, 2026, presents a curated selection of contemporary works documented through an extensive digital archive of installation views.

Hisae Ikenaga ”Anatomies of Use” at KIOSK, Ghent

From April 4, KIOSK in Ghent presents a new solo exhibition by Hisae Ikenaga titled "Anatomies of Use." The Mexican-Japanese artist brings together sculptures, assemblages, and collages that rework industrial materials and everyday objects into hybrid forms, blending ceramic fragments with a visual language that balances functionality and abstraction.

Marko Tadić “Funga Robo” at Trotoar, Zagreb

Marko Tadić presents his solo exhibition "Funga Robo" at Trotoar in Zagreb, showcasing recent works that explore speculative futures of cities through the lens of artistic ecologies. The exhibition title merges references to fungal mycelia and robotics, establishing a dialogue between biological systems and technological development.

Creative Thought Is Essential: A Letter from Our Editor

Jackie Andres, online editor of Colossal, writes an open letter to readers reflecting on Virginia Woolf's assertion that "thinking is my fighting." Andres connects this to contemporary concerns about declining literacy rates, the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, doomscrolling, and "brain rot" that undermine critical thinking. She positions Colossal as a free, accessible resource for art education, noting that the publication has remained entirely free for 15 years, and highlights how educators and students use the site for lesson plans and learning.

A Parade of Floating Artworks Honors Hieronymus Bosch in the Netherlands

The 2026 Bosch Parade will return to the Dommel river in ’s-Hertogenbosch from June 18 to 21, featuring nineteen new floating artworks inspired by the theme "Powered by Defects." This biennial event pays tribute to the surrealist legacy of Hieronymus Bosch, the city's most famous son, by inviting international artists to create fantastical aquatic installations. The program includes the "Garden of Earthly Delights," an open-air studio at the Citadel where visitors can interact with artists as they develop their contemporary interpretations of Bosch’s fascination with human imperfection and the absurd.

May Exhibitions

The article lists May art exhibitions and events in Charlottesville, Virginia, including the grand opening of Milkweed Clay Studio, a new creative space offering pottery demonstrations and workshops. Other highlights include "Spring Bouquets in Oils" at Atlas Coffee, "Artful Gardens Bouquet Display" at The Center at Belvedere, and shows at Chroma Projects, Create Gallery, Crozet Artisan Depot, C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery, and Fairhaven Guesthouse. The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA presents multiple exhibitions featuring works by Joan Mitchell, Jody Folwell, and African American artists, among others.

Who Are the Custom Mannequins in “Costume Art” Based On? We’re So Glad You Asked

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2025 Costume Institute exhibition, "Costume Art," features 25 mannequins modeled after nine real people with diverse body types and mobilities. Curator Andrew Bolton collaborated with artist Samar Hejazi, who created mirrored faceless heads for the mannequins, and artist Tanda Francis, who modeled features after historical figures like André Grenard Matswa. The mannequins are distributed across two thematic sections: "Disabled Body," featuring individuals such as writer Sinéad Burke, athlete Aimee Mullins, and models Aariana Rose Philip, Antwan Tolliver, and Sonia Vera, along with imagery of the late drag performer Goddess Bunny; and "Corpulent Body," featuring models Jade O'Belle, Charlie Reynolds, artist Michaela Stark, and singer Yseult. The living subjects underwent 3D photogrammetry scanning to recreate their likenesses.

JoEllen Brydon explores her late mother’s work as an advice columnist in Art Gallery of Peterborough exhibition

The Art Gallery of Peterborough is set to host "Elizabeth Thompson Advises," a multimedia exhibition by Cavan-based artist JoEllen Brydon running from April to June 2026. The show centers on the work of Brydon’s late mother, Jean Armstrong Brydon, who wrote a progressive advice column for The Globe and Mail under the pseudonym Elizabeth Thompson between 1966 and 1978. The exhibition integrates original letters and columns with JoEllen’s bold paintings, audio recordings, and short films to bring these mid-century narratives to life.

An open-air art gallery: Hogan Park at Highlands Creek

Hogan Park at Highlands Creek in Aurora, Colorado, is a 100-acre public park that doubles as an open-air art gallery, featuring around two dozen sculptures and painted installations along a two-mile trail. Curated by Carla Ferreira, CEO of the development, and her father, the park includes works by artists such as Michael Benisty, Hunter Brown, Daniel Popper, and Olivia Steele, with pieces designed to withstand Colorado's extreme weather. Notable installations include the 25-foot steel sculpture "Broken but Together," the viral fiberglass-reinforced concrete figure "Umi" by Daniel Popper, and a bronze bench honoring Dr. Justina Ford, part of the Statues for Equality initiative.

Art4you Gallery’s tribute exhibition to women closes at Art Smiley Art Gallery

Art4you Gallery hosted 'Her Story – A Tribute to Women, Edition 2' at Art Smiley Art Gallery in Dubai from May 10–15. The international group exhibition featured 21 artists from 16 countries, presenting works in canvas, installation, and mixed media that explored themes of identity, strength, memory, and womanhood. Curated by Jesno Jackson, the show aimed to create a living archive of women's stories, with participating artists including Cristina Gabriela, Seungeun Cho, Vasilisa Eliseeva, Natasha Boshoff, and others from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Pop-up art gallery “Class C” rolls into Irvine Barclay Theater plaza

Artist Ruben Ochoa has returned to the UC Irvine campus with "Class C," a mobile art gallery housed inside a converted 1985 Chevy delivery van. The pop-up exhibition features works by UCI-affiliated artists Sean Duffy, Beatrice von Rague Schleyer, and André Woodward, showcasing contemporary art within a space that mimics a traditional white-cube gallery. The project is presented in coordination with the exhibition "Breakdown/Breakthrough: Art and Infrastructure" at the Langson IMCA.

A Look Back at Newport’s Historic 1974 Sculpture Show

The Preservation Society of Newport County is hosting "Full Circle" at the Rosecliff mansion, an exhibition that revisits the landmark 1974 outdoor sculpture show "Monumenta." The current display features scale models, preparatory drawings, and archival photographs of works by modern masters such as Claes Oldenburg, Alexander Calder, and Willem de Kooning. A significant portion of the show is dedicated to Richard Fleischner, whose site-specific earthwork "Sod Maze" remains the only original piece from the 1974 project still standing in its original Newport location.

Art a path to conservation

Art a path to conservation

Dunedin-based artist Clare Reilly is celebrating her 50th year of exhibiting with a practice that merges vibrant depictions of New Zealand’s native flora and fauna with active environmental advocacy. Her work, which frequently features birds in flight as symbols of spiritual uplift, serves as both a tribute to the natural world and a warning about habitat loss. Through her career, she has collaborated with her late husband Max Podstolski under the Primitive Bird Group banner and participated in hands-on conservation efforts, such as the tūī relocation project to Banks Peninsula.

Penang’s turtle-shaped art gallery officially opens its doors

The Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery, designed in the shape of a turtle, has officially opened at The Light Waterfront in Gelugor, Penang. The eight-storey museum houses a collection of over 1,000 artworks, with more than 400 on display through rotating exhibitions. It features an art education centre, permanent and special exhibition halls, and a sixth-floor global exhibition platform. The opening ceremony included remarks from Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and founder Prof Lin Xiang Xiong, who emphasized the gallery's mission of 'Art for Peace.' A special inaugural exhibition, 'Picasso and Lin Xiang Xiong: A Dialogue Across Time,' explores themes of anti-war, anti-poverty, and environmental awareness.

What Future for Art Centers?

Quel avenir pour les centres d’art ?

The article examines the uncertain future of contemporary art centers in France, a category that encompasses vastly different institutions from major venues like the Palais de Tokyo to smaller regional spaces. These non-collecting institutions, dedicated to exhibiting emerging artists and experimentation, face fragility due to heavy reliance on local government funding and difficulty proving their utility to elected officials. Their core mission is further challenged by more robust regional contemporary art funds (Fracs), which have greater resources for similar goals of exhibiting ultra-contemporary art and cultural democratization.

Andrew Christopher Green at Galerie Khoshbakht

Andrew Christopher Green presents a solo exhibition titled "Catkins" at Galerie Khoshbakht in Cologne, running from April 17 to May 23, 2026. The show features a selection of works documented through 9 images and 1 video on the gallery's exhibition page, with photography by Mareike Tocha.

Racheal Crowther “Liquid Trust” at Chisenhale Gallery, London

Chisenhale Gallery in London is hosting the first institutional solo exhibition by artist Racheal Crowther, titled "Liquid Trust." The show explores themes of governance, surveillance, and institutional power, examining how these systems intertwine with structures of care. Crowther repurposes technical apparatus and industrial objects that carry memories of their institutional past, highlighting the enduring influence of bureaucracy on everyday life.

Daniel Sackheim Traverses Los Angeles’ Noir Side in ‘The City Unseen’

Emmy Award-winning director and photographer Daniel Sackheim is set to release a new photography book titled 'The City Unseen,' which explores the noir aesthetic of Los Angeles. Moving away from the city's sunny stereotypes, Sackheim utilizes high-contrast black-and-white photography to capture a gritty, cinematic underbelly inspired by hardboiled detective novels and historic urban architecture. The project features dramatic silhouettes and deep shadows that create a sense of timeless mystery across iconic L.A. locales.

Art House Productions Unveils "In The Wind" Public Art Installation

Art House Productions has unveiled "In The Wind," a large-scale public art installation in Lincoln Park, Jersey City, featuring artist-designed flags with original works by Hudson County artists. Curated by Tina Maneca, the exhibition celebrates the organization's 25th anniversary and includes over 80 artists who live, work, or maintain studios in Hudson County. The flags are installed around Edgewood Lake, moving with the wind to create a dynamic, ever-changing exhibition. All flags are priced at $500 and available for purchase. The installation runs from June through November 2026, with an opening reception on June 5, 2026, during ACCESS JC Fridays.

Five-Minute Tours: "Blank" at the Grackle Art Gallery, Fort Worth

The Grackle Art Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas, is hosting "Blank," a group exhibition curated by the artist duo Kickpigeon Kids (Cosmo Jones and Max Marshall) from May 2–30, 2026. The show features works by twelve artists including Amber Zora & Lee Strubinger, Carmen Menza, and Elizabeth Sciore-Jones, who were asked to submit artwork alongside an object representing "blankness" as a metaphor for possibility. The curators transform the exhibition into a collaborative installation, blending the artists' pieces with their chosen objects and ephemera.

Public art exhibit coming to Rideau Heights Community Centre

Later this month, the interactive art installation "The Clearing" by Kingston artists Marney McDiarmid and Clelia Scala will be displayed outside the Rideau Heights Community Centre. The installation, housed in a transformed shipping container, offers a calm, nature-inspired space for reflection and includes a poem by Sadiqa de Meijer, sound design by Matt Rogalsky, and an exterior mural by Lee Stewart. Visitors are invited to contribute personal papers to a shredder, allowing the exhibition to evolve over time. The installation runs from May 20 to May 31, 2026, with scheduled hours including an open house with the artists on May 29.

Zurbarán review: Even the godless will be enraptured by this drama

The article reviews a major exhibition of 17th-century Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán, highlighting his dramatic religious works such as a stark crucifixion, a depiction of St. Peter crucified upside down, and a series of saintly princesses. It notes the exhibition's effective hanging, the artist's use of vivid color and theatrical lighting, and includes recently attributed works like a mysterious giant head. The review emphasizes the blend of high drama, emotion, and Catholic piety in Zurbarán's paintings, as well as his still lifes that rival those of Velázquez.

Street art festival transforms Morocco's capital into open-air gallery

The 11th JIDAR Rabat Street Art Festival has transformed Morocco's capital into an open-air gallery, with artists from Ecuador, South Africa, Peru, Russia, and Morocco painting large-scale murals on buildings. Works include Oscar Medina's bird clutching the sun and moon, Keya Tama's lion with Arabic script, and Mohamed Roshdi's portrait of a woman holding fish. The festival runs until 27 April.