‘We’ve faced immense new pressures’: Shanghai museum director on the challenges—and benefits—of going free entry

Shanghai’s Rockbund Art Museum (RAM) became one of the only private museums in China to offer free admission in May 2025, marking its 15th anniversary. The move initially required pre-booked timed entry via WeChat, but after city-wide guidance encouraged removing barriers, the museum eliminated the booking system, leading to long wait times and visitor complaints on social media. One visitor reported receiving an inappropriate response from the museum’s official account, prompting apologies from both the museum and its executive director and chief curator, X Zhu-Nowell. A hybrid system of day-ahead reservations and same-day walk-ins was later implemented.

The Rooftop Gallery Next Door

Adam Zhu, an artist, skateboarder, and photographer, has transformed a 9-by-15-foot former storage shed on his Chinatown rooftop into Market Gallery, a tiny exhibition space. The opening of Tucker van der Wyden's "Savage Love" drew about 200 visitors who walked through Zhu's one-bedroom apartment to reach the show. Zhu, who moved into the apartment in 2015, renovated the shed with contractor Andrew Kass, adding concrete walls and folding glass doors. The gallery has hosted seven shows, featuring emerging and established artists, and has become a platform for art in an unconventional setting.

A tome accompanying the Lahore Biennale is a celebration of authenticity

The second Lahore Biennale took place in early 2020 across Lahore, Pakistan, with installations at historic sites such as the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Tollinton Market, and Bradlaugh Hall. Artists like Barbara Walker and the Pak Khawateen Painting Club presented works addressing colonial erasure, sexuality in an Islamic Republic, and water scarcity. Skira has published the "Lahore Biennale 02 Reader," edited by Sheikha Hoor al Qasimi and Iftikhar Dadi, which compiles essays and reflections from the biennial's academic forum, including contributions from the Ajam Media Collective and anthropologist Seema Golestaneh on Sufism and state power in Iran and Pakistan.

LMU Student Art Featured in Design Museum of Chicago Exhibition

Nine studio arts students from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) have their poster designs featured in the Design Museum of Chicago's 2025 "Great Ideas of Humanity" exhibition. The students—Alfonzo Dave, Nicole Dressel, Olivia Giganti, John Leary, Jestene Passolt, Leila Walker, Dezia Washington, Lucien Weber, and Eddie Young—created the works as part of Professor Garland Kirkpatrick's Typography II course. The museum selected all nine student designs for the professional exhibition, where they are displayed alongside their professor's work, rather than in the museum's student showcase.

Richard Hunt’s life is on exhibit in Chicago — and it’s a walk through Civil Rights history

A new exhibition titled “Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt” opens at the Loyola University Museum of Art in Chicago, exploring the 70-year career of the late sculptor Richard Hunt, who died in 2023 at age 88. The show includes his tools, workbench, personal books and photos, alongside key works such as “Hero’s Head” (1956), a welded bust created in response to the murder of Emmett Till, who was Hunt’s neighbor. The exhibition originated at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Museum in Springfield and was conceived in 2019, with curator Ross Stanton Jordan and director Lance Tawzer aiming to present Hunt as a young artist deeply engaged with Civil Rights history.

UK city council launches £100,000 appeal to buy rediscovered Turner painting

Bristol City Council has launched a one-week public fundraising campaign to raise £100,000 toward purchasing a newly attributed J.M.W. Turner oil painting, *The Rising Squall, Hot Wells, from St Vincent’s Rock, Bristol*, which is consigned to auction at Sotheby’s London on 2 July with an estimate of up to £300,000. The painting, made in 1792 when Turner was 17, was previously sold at Dreweatts Donnington Priory for £524.80 as a work by a follower of Julius Caesar Ibbetson. If acquired, the work would go on display at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery this summer and will also be included in the upcoming *Turner and Constable* exhibition at Tate Britain.

More than 200 galleries are signed on for The Armory Show's next edition

The Armory Show has announced over 200 galleries for its September 2025 edition at the Javits Center in New York, including more than 135 returning exhibitors and around 55 first-time participants. New features include a design-focused sector called Function, curated by Ebony L. Haynes, and a large-scale sculpture sector Platform led by the nonprofit Souls Grown Deep. The fair will also introduce a non-profit sector and honor Silke Lindner with the Gramercy International Prize.

Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art: Olympia Auctions’ Largest Sale to Date

Olympia Auctions will hold its largest-ever sale of Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art on May 7, 2025, in London. The auction features over 100 lots including works by pioneering Nigerian artists appearing at auction for the first time, Egyptian modernists from the Zulficar collection, classic South African paintings from a major collection, and Botswanan works on paper. Highlights include a portrait of Oum Kalthoum by George Bahgoury (estimate £25,000-30,000) and satirical portraits by Kingsley Obasi. Olympia Auctions expert Janet Rady, who has led the secondary market for Middle Eastern art since 2013, curated the sale.

Masterworks from Jacob Rothschild collection go to London's National Gallery and V&A under acceptance in lieu scheme

Two masterworks from the collection of the late Jacob Rothschild—Guercino's *King David* (1651) and John Deare's *Edward and Eleanor* (1790)—have been allocated to London's National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) respectively under the UK's acceptance in lieu (AIL) scheme. The Guercino painting settles £5.6 million in inheritance tax, and will be reunited with two related Guercino works already at the National Gallery. The marble relief by Deare enters the V&A's collection.

London’s Art Market Rebound: Sotheby’s Spring 2026 Recap

Sotheby’s London kicked off its Spring 2026 marquee season with a series of high-energy auctions, totaling £154 million across its Modern & Contemporary sales. The week was highlighted by a "white-glove" evening auction that achieved a 100% sell-through rate, led by Francis Bacon’s 1972 Self-Portrait which sold for £16 million. Significant records were set for British masters, most notably Leon Kossoff, whose painting "Children’s Swimming Pool" shattered estimates to reach £5.2 million.

Antony Gormley and Brian Eno donate works to auction for Gaza health workers

A coalition called Health Workers 4 Palestine has organized an art auction, Seeds of Solidarity, to support medical professionals in Gaza. Taking place on 1 February at the Savoy hotel in London, the auction features works donated by 21 visual artists including Antony Gormley, Brian Eno, Mona Hatoum, Lisa Brice, Caroline Walker, and Hassan Hajjaj. Proceeds will benefit the Gaza Medics Solidarity Fund, which provides stipends to doctors, supports mobile clinics, and helps reconstruct maternity wards in the enclave. The sale is curated by Zayna Al-Saleh, known for her Voices of Palestine auctions that have raised over $1.4 million.

More than 160 artists selling their work to raise funds for medical, humanitarian aid in Gaza

More than 160 artists have donated works to an online charity auction called "100 Artists for Gaza," with all proceeds going to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Organized by artists Mai-Thu Perret, Vidya Gastaldon, Sarah Benslimane, and art specialist Anne Lamunière, the sale features works by notable figures including Kara Walker, Wolfgang Tillmans, Peter Doig, and Olafur Eliasson. The pieces, each roughly 8 by 12 inches, have been exhibited at the organization's Geneva headquarters since November 11, with a live auction concluding on December 2.

Phillips Hosts Landmark Hong Kong Auction To Celebrate 10 Years in Asia

Phillips celebrated its 10th anniversary in Asia with a landmark auction in Hong Kong on September 27 and 28, featuring a wide range of modern and contemporary art. The sale generated $28 million across evening and day auctions, with top lots including Yoshitomo Nara's "Pinky" ($7.2 million), Zao Wou-Ki's "27.01.86" ($3.83 million), and Tom Wesselman's "Smoker #17" ($1.8 million). The auction also included works by Andy Warhol, Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, and others, with a public preview held from September 22 to 28 at Phillips' West Kowloon galleries.

Art Beat feature: A gallerist rooted in craft

Leana Hoadley has opened Hoadley Gallery West in downtown Edmonds, Washington, a boutique gallery specializing in handmade ceramics, jewelry, glass, and sculptural objects. The gallery builds on the legacy of the original Hoadley Gallery in Lenox, Massachusetts, founded over 40 years ago by her aunt and uncle, Stephanie and Thomas Hoadley. After a winding career that included studying at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and working as a creative director for an AI company, a 2023 layoff prompted Hoadley to reassess her path and pursue opening her own gallery. The space features works including porcelain vessels by Thomas Hoadley made using the ancient Japanese Nerikomi technique, which are held in collections such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

A brand-new novel is set in Renaissance Venice and its powerful Arsenal (where the Biennale is held)

Un nuovissimo romanzo è ambientato nella Venezia rinascimentale e nel suo potente Arsenale (quello dove si tiene la Biennale)

Allegra Scattaglia and Luca Josi have co-authored a new novel titled "Venetians – Il segreto dell’Arsenale," published by Sonzogno. Set in Renaissance Venice, the story follows young patrician Marcantonio Bragadin as he becomes entangled in a plot driven by the city's sophisticated and ruthless political system. The narrative highlights the Arsenal, one of the world's first proto-industrial shipbuilding complexes, which also hosts the Venice Biennale. The book weaves together art, technology, diplomacy, and intrigue, featuring historical figures such as Titian, Tintoretto, Albrecht Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci, and Aldus Manutius.

Quietly in Milan, a collector has opened a new exhibition space: "Finally I can see my works"

In sordina a Milano un collezionista ha aperto un nuovo spazio espositivo: “Finalmente posso vedere le mie opere”

Collector Pier Luigi Guzzetti has quietly opened Gallerie Guzzetti, a new 300-square-meter private exhibition space in Milan's Cenisio/Mac Mahon district. The minimalist basement venue serves as a dedicated home for Guzzetti’s eclectic collection of over 300 works, which spans 20th-century masters, emerging artists, and a significant photography archive. Managed alongside Corinne Cortinovis, the space operates with a philosophy of discretion, favoring word-of-mouth over traditional press offices or social media presence.

In Rome, a festival dedicated to contemporary cinema and audiovisual experimentation: The Interview

A Roma c’è un festival dedicato al cinema contemporaneo e alle sperimentazioni audiovisive. L’intervista

The Ru-mòre Cinema and Audiovisual Experimentation Festival is launching in Rome’s San Lorenzo district from April 14 to 18. Evolving from the former Barkov Film Festival, the event features a diverse program of short films, screenwriting competitions, and a dedicated section for virtual reality. The festival utilizes multiple local venues, including Cinema Tibur and the Mercato di San Lorenzo, to host international works and industry panels.

Habib Hajallie’s Meticulous Ballpoint Pen Drawings Examine the Depths of Emotion

Habib Hajallie, a Kent-based artist of Sierra Leonean and Lebanese heritage, presents a new solo exhibition titled "Black & Blue" at Larkin Durey in London. The show features meticulous ballpoint pen drawings on found fragments of philosophical and historical texts, exploring themes of memory, connection, and loss. For this series, Hajallie switched from black to blue ink as he grapples with the stillbirth of his daughter and the loss of his sister four years ago. Works include self-portraits and depictions of Black cultural figures, conveying emotions such as despair, confusion, numbness, and care.

December First Friday 2025: 20+ art show openings, markets and concerts

LancasterOnline reports on the December First Friday 2025 event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, featuring over 20 art show openings, markets, and concerts. The monthly gallery walk and cultural celebration brings together local galleries, artists, and musicians for a night of visual art, live performances, and community commerce.

Weekend of Art, Artists and Open Studios in Riebeek Valley

Solo Studios returns to the Riebeek Valley from October 24 to 26, 2025, featuring over 60 artists opening their studios in Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West. The weekend includes curated exhibitions such as LANDscape[s] at Die Kunshuis, showcasing works from Modern Art Projects South Africa (MAPSA), and a display of Ardmore Ceramics at EcoPlace, a home built from recycled materials. Other highlights include Red Hot, Pink Spot, a group show of 13 female artists from Kommetjie, and FEAST, a Porterville artist exhibition. Talks on art collecting and live music complement the open studios.

韓国国立現代美術館 果川館で「Road movie: Art between Korea and Japan since 1945」が開幕

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Gwacheon, South Korea, opened "Road movie: Art between Korea and Japan since 1945" on May 14, 2026. This exhibition is a touring version of the collaborative show "Always by Your Side: 80 Years of Art between Japan and Korea," which was held at the Yokohama Museum of Art from December 6, 2025, to March 22, 2026. Marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea in 1965, the exhibition traces eight decades of artistic exchange from 1945 to the present. It features around 200 works by 43 artists, including Cho Yang-gyu, Kwak In-sik, Nam Hwa-yeon, Nam June Paik, Lee Ufan, Lee Bul, Takashi Murakami, and others, organized into five sections. The show also incorporates six outdoor sculptures installed at the museum's opening in 1986 and 1987, highlighting how the institution itself fostered cross-border artistic dialogue.

Artist-led walk by K. S. Radhakrishnan at Chawla Art Gallery

Sculptor K. S. Radhakrishnan personally led an exclusive walkthrough of his exhibition "Once Upon a Sculptor" at Chawla Art Gallery. The event offered attendees an intimate look at his artistic evolution, from early works to his iconic Maiya and Musui figures, with the artist sharing insights into his ideas and processes.

Walk through UAE’s first contemporary art exhibition dedicated to the Urdu language

The Ishara Art Foundation in the UAE has launched 'Urdu Worlds,' the region's first contemporary art exhibition dedicated to the Urdu language. Curated by Hammad Nasar, the show features a visual dialogue between the late Indian-born artist Zarina and Pakistani multimedia artist Ali Kazim. The exhibition showcases Zarina’s delicate woodcut prints, including her seminal 'Home is a Foreign Place,' alongside an expansive survey of Kazim’s paintings, sculptures, and his new 'Alphabets' series, marking his institutional debut in West Asia.

Chawla Art Gallery Hosts Artist-Led Walkthrough for “Once Upon a Sculptor” Exhibition

Chawla Art Gallery in New Delhi hosted an artist-led walkthrough for the exhibition “Once Upon a Sculptor,” featuring the renowned Indian sculptor K. S. Radhakrishnan. The event allowed visitors to engage directly with the artist as he discussed his creative evolution, the development of his visual language, and the philosophical layers behind his iconic bronze figures, Musui and Maiya.

Ferndale Art March: Ceramic Group Show Opening at David Klein Gallery March 14

David Klein Gallery in Ferndale is set to host a specialized ceramic group exhibition featuring works by Marie Hermann, Del Harrow, and Ebitenyefa Baralaye. Opening on March 14, the show is integrated into the broader NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) schedule, with a dedicated artist reception planned for March 27.

Painting our neighborhoods: Storefront art at Tribeca gallery

Brooklyn-based artist Charis Ammon presents "Pedestrian," an exhibition of oil paintings depicting storefronts from her Bushwick neighborhood and other parts of New York City, at Sargent's Daughters Gallery in Tribeca. The works, inspired by photographs taken during her daily walks, feature scenes of Chinese takeout places, bodegas, dry cleaners, and laundromats, often incorporating reflections of buildings across the street. The exhibition runs through January 24 and is Ammon's second with the gallery, which is owned by Allegra LaViola.

Late Night Art Returns to DUMBO This Fall

DUMBO's First Thursday Gallery Walk returns on October 2, offering free late-night access to galleries and cultural spaces across the neighborhood. The event features live music, artist talks, exhibitions, and a free Insider's Tour from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, with stops at Platform Project Space, Lucky Risograph, A.I.R. Gallery, and Loop of the Loom. Participating venues include A.I.R. Gallery, AMR Art DUMBO, Center for Cuban Studies, Smack Mellon, and many others, showcasing works by artists such as Abbey Williams, Elizabeth Bick, Samuel E. Vázquez, and Chang Yuchen.

Artists in charge

A roundup of artist-run galleries in Kansas City highlights the rise of spaces like Vulpes Bastille and 100,000,000, which are reshaping the local art scene. These venues, operated by artists and volunteers, offer exhibition opportunities, studios, and community support, exemplified by Andrew Johnson's intimate multimedia installation "In The Presence of an Absence" at Vulpes Bastille.

judy baca los angeles other art fair 2611411

Judy Baca, a pioneering Los Angeles muralist known for her socially engaged public art, is participating in the Other Art Fair for the first time. She is showcasing a new 10-by-22-foot painting, *The 1968 East L.A. Walkouts*, which is the latest addition to her monumental, decades-long project *The Great Wall of Los Angeles*. The fair has commissioned a printed reproduction of the work for exhibition and will donate it to a community center afterward.

unusual medusa carving discovered archaeological site turkey 1234769506

Archaeologists excavating a Roman forum near the ancient city of Amastris (modern-day Amasra) in Turkey have uncovered a marble Medusa carving with an unusual smiling expression. The relief was found atop decorative columns that once formed a covered walkway (stoa) in the forum. Excavations began three years ago after historical remains were discovered during school construction in 2017. The project, overseen by Bartin University’s Archaeology Application and Research Center and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture’s “Heritage of the Future” initiative, has so far reconstructed three columns across the 30,000-square-foot site.