Da Vinci’s ‘Codex Atlanticus’ is Brought Back Together With New Online Archive

A new online platform called Leonardotheka launched on Monday, reuniting for the first time in over 400 years two major collections of Leonardo da Vinci's writings and drawings: the Codex Atlanticus, held by the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan, and around 550 sheets from the Royal Collection Trust in Windsor Castle. The manuscripts were originally part of the same group created between the mid-1470s and 1519, but were separated shortly after da Vinci's death by sculptor Pompeo Leoni, who divided the folios into empirical and artistic categories. The digital archive, the result of a decade-long collaboration among the Royal Collection Trust, the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, and the Biblioteca Leonardiana in Vinci, includes fifty confirmed page reconstructions and digitally restored pages.

Julio Le Parc, Father of Interactive Art, Dies at 97

Franco-Argentinian artist Julio Le Parc, a pioneer of kinetic and Op art whose interactive works presaged contemporary participatory art, died in Paris on May 30 at age 97. The last surviving cofounder of the Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel (GRAV), Le Parc spent nearly seven decades creating works that harnessed light, color, movement, and reflection, completed by viewer participation. He won the International Grand Prize for Painting at the 1966 Venice Biennale, was expelled from France for his protest involvement, and continued experimenting with virtual reality into his nineties.

Makeda Best to Lead MoMA’s Photography Department

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has appointed Makeda Best as its new Joel and Anne Ehrenkranz Chief Curator of Photography, effective September. Best comes from the Oakland Museum of California, where she served as deputy director of curatorial affairs. She succeeds Clément Chéroux, who left in 2022, and takes over from acting chief curator Roxana Marcoci. Best previously held roles at the Harvard Art Museums, including curator of photography and interim head of the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art, where she led the ReFrame reinstallation initiative. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard and an MFA from CalArts.

Maurizio Cattelan’s Banana Stolen from Centre Pompidou-Metz

The banana from Maurizio Cattelan's artwork *Comedian* (2019) was stolen from the Centre Pompidou-Metz in Metz, France, where it was on display as part of the exhibition “Endless Sunday: A Living Exhibition in Perpetual Motion.” A photograph dated May 30 shows only a mangled strip of duct tape on the wall. The museum stated that the work's value lies in its certificate of authenticity and presentation protocol, not the perishable banana, which is replaced every three days per the artist's instructions. The institution condemned the act as undermining respect for works on display.

Cheryl Finley Wins 2026 David C. Driskell Prize

Atlanta's High Museum of Art has named Spelman College professor Cheryl Finley the winner of its 2026 David C. Driskell Prize. Finley will receive an unrestricted $50,000 cash award and be honored at a gala on September 19 at the High Museum. The prize, named after the renowned African American artist and scholar David C. Driskell, has been awarded annually since 2005 to recognize outstanding contributions to African American art. Finley is the Walton Endowed professor in the department of art and visual culture at Spelman and has directed the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective since 2019, building a pipeline for emerging Black arts professionals.

Keith Haring and Louis Vuitton collaboration launches at the Frick Collection.

Louis Vuitton debuted its Cruise 2027 collection at the Frick Collection in New York, drawing heavy inspiration from artist Keith Haring. The collection was sparked by a leather Louis Vuitton suitcase that Haring embellished in 1984, which the house acquired in 2020. Haring’s signature motifs appeared throughout the runway show, which also referenced the gritty energy of New York City’s 1980s downtown art scene.

Raque Ford ”The only one willing to to the hard part” at Fridericianum, Kassel

The article reviews Raque Ford's exhibition "The only one willing to do the hard part" at Fridericianum in Kassel. Ford, born in 1986 in Columbia, Maryland, and based in New York, presents works that blend artistically formed shapes with bold color contrasts and slogan-like text. Using plastic and industrial materials, she creates an aesthetic that oscillates between abstraction and simple visual codes, with layered compositions that challenge conventional boundaries.

È morto a 97 anni l’artista Julio Le Parc, pioniere dell’arte cinetica e instancabile sperimentatore

Julio Le Parc, the pioneering Argentine-French artist known for his contributions to kinetic and Op Art, has died at the age of 97. Born in 1928 in Palmira, Argentina, he moved to Paris in 1958 and co-founded the Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel (GRAV) in the 1960s, exploring movement, light, and optical illusion. He won the Grand Prix for Painting at the 1966 Venice Biennale, which launched his international career. His work evolved from geometric abstractions to immersive installations, industrial materials, and even AI experiments, always centered on light and viewer participation. He passed away on May 30, 2026, at the American Hospital in Paris.

In Turin, fashion photography is the protagonist of The Phair 2026. All the news of the seventh edition of the fair

A Torino la fotografia di moda è protagonista di The Phair 2026. Tutte le novità della settima edizione della fiera

The Phair, a photography fair in Turin, returns for its seventh edition from May 22 to 24, 2026, at the OGR – Officine Grandi Riparazioni. This year's edition focuses on fashion photography as an autonomous art form, featuring works by photographers such as Nanda Lanfranco, Giovanni Gastel, Françoise Huguier, Marco Glaviano, and Michelangelo Di Battista. Participating galleries include Photo & Contemporary, Ira Leonis, Deodato Arte, Jaeger Art, and many others. The fair also expands its curatorial committee with figures like Umberto Benappi, Emilio Bordoli, and Brandei Estes.

Abbiamo visto tutte le mostre del Roma Gallery Weekend: ecco le 10 migliori

The third edition of the Roma Gallery Weekend has concluded, with around thirty galleries forming an official association with legal status and a dedicated budget. The event featured a VIP program of breakfasts, guided tours, and performances, aiming to attract collectors, curators, and local audiences. While the quality of exhibitions was high—28 out of 33 shows were reviewed—logistical challenges remain, including Rome's sprawling layout, limited public transport, and taxi availability. The article highlights 10 standout shows, such as Petra Feriancová's archaeological-inspired installation at Gilda Lavia and Elisa Montessori's exhibition at Monitor.

Interview with the great sculptor Charles Ray who shows in two different galleries in Los Angeles

Intervista al grande scultore Charles Ray che a Los Angeles si mostra in due diverse gallerie

Charles Ray, the renowned American sculptor, opened two simultaneous solo exhibitions in Los Angeles on April 18, one at Matthew Marks Gallery and the other at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, located about a mile apart. The Matthew Marks show features three new works, including "Junk 2" (2026) and "The Animation of Pandora" (2026), while the Deitch exhibition presents three older iconic pieces such as "Firetruck" (1993), "Pepto-Bismol in a Marble Box" (1988), and "Table" (1990). Ray, who has lived in Los Angeles for four decades, is known for his meticulous, slow-working process and his exploration of the human body and everyday objects at altered scales.

French Artists Call for Boycott of Centre Pompidou Hanwha

More than 100 French artists, researchers, and art professionals have signed an open letter calling for a boycott of Centre Pompidou Hanwha in Seoul, a joint initiative between Centre Pompidou and the Hanwha Foundation of Culture set to open June 4. The protest targets Hanwha Group's ties to Israeli defense contractors Elbit Systems and Elta Systems, which supply arms to the Israel Defense Forces, with signatories denouncing the project as "art-washing" and demanding an end to the collaboration.

Art Time, Life Time: Tehching Hsieh at Dia Beacon

Taiwanese American artist Tehching Hsieh's retrospective "Tehching Hsieh: Lifeworks 1978–1999" opened at Dia Beacon in New York, running from October 4, 2025, to October 11, 2027. The exhibition presents all five of Hsieh's seminal One Year Performances in archival entirety, including works such as *Cage Piece* (1978–79) and *Time Clock Piece* (1980–81), displayed across five identically sized galleries arranged in a linear sequence. The opening weekend featured a panel where the 75-year-old artist received a prolonged, ecstatic ovation from a crowd of young attendees, reflecting his enduring influence and elusive public image.

Valie Export, Avant-Garde Icon and Feminist Trailblazer, Dies at 85

Valie Export, the Austrian avant-garde artist known for her radical feminist performances, films, and sculptures, has died at age 85. Her gallery, Thaddaeus Ropac, announced her death, noting her groundbreaking work in the 1960s and 1970s introduced a new form of embodied feminism to Europe. Export, born Waltraud Lehner in Linz, Austria, changed her name in 1967 and became known for provocative works such as "Aktionshose: Genitalpanik" (1969) and "Tap and Touch Cinema" (1968–1971), which challenged voyeurism and the sexualization of women's bodies. She also co-founded the Austrian Filmmakers Cooperative in 1968 and was commissioned by the Austrian Broadcast Corporation for her film "Facing the Family" (1971).

Gabrielle Goliath’s "Elegy" Comes to Venice

South African artist Gabrielle Goliath’s installation "Elegy" was initially censored by South Africa’s Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, who blocked it from the country’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale over its focus on Palestinian grief. After public outcry and support from several organizations, the work was instead installed in a Venice church, where critic Aruna D’Souza describes it as "hauntingly beautiful and achingly tender." The article also covers related news: a smear campaign against British-Nigerian photographer Misan Harriman for his Palestinian solidarity, and a list of summer art books.

A Contemporary Art Haven Just a PATH Ride Away

Luis Emilio Romero, a Jersey City native, moved from Bushwick to the Monira Foundation's residency at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, where he now paints intricate, textile-influenced patterns in a calm basement studio. Mana Contemporary, a 2 million-square-foot former tobacco warehouse converted in 2011 by Moishe Mana, Eugene Lemay, and Yigal Ozeri, hosted its Spring Open Studios on May 17, with over one-third of its 300 artists participating—the largest turnout in years. The event featured installations by TLaloC, sculptures by John Chamberlain, and an exhibition of artist books, "Open Book(s): Observations," presented by Pierogi Gallery, Mana, and the Monira Foundation. Pierogi co-owners Joe Amrhein and Susan Swenson also brought their Flat Files containing nearly 4,000 works to Mana for six months to a year.

Thousands Decry Right-Wing “Smear Campaign” Against Misan Harriman

Over 97,000 people have filed complaints with the UK's Independent Press Standards Organisation against right-wing news outlets, including the Telegraph, for articles characterizing Misan Harriman's social media posts as antisemitic. Harriman, a photographer, human rights activist, and chair of London's Southbank Centre, has rejected the accusations, stating he has long championed marginalized communities and that the backlash stems from his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. An open letter supporting Harriman has been signed by 245 figures, including Tracey Emin, Greta Thunberg, and Mark Ruffalo, while the Telegraph published two articles scrutinizing his Instagram activity, prompting calls from Labour MP David Taylor for his removal from the board.

Still in Sound

The Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, Colorado, has opened a new exhibition titled "Still in Sound," which pairs abstract paintings by Clyfford Still with original sonic interpretations by contemporary sound artists. Co-curated by Bailey Placzek, the museum's curator of collections, and British multidisciplinary artist Ben Coleman, the exhibition features works by artists Maria Chávez, Maya Dunietz, Kalyn Heffernan, Matana Roberts, and Michael Schumacher. Each artist selected a Still painting and composed a sound piece in response, with the compositions playing in shuffled order to create a non-linear, immersive experience. A digital guide offers full recordings, and Denver artist Phillip David Stearns designed an interactive component based on Still's pastel drawings. The exhibition runs through February 2027.

How to: Nuit Blanche 2026 in 5 must-see walks

Mode d’emploi : la Nuit blanche 2026 en 5 balades incontournables

The article outlines the program for Nuit Blanche 2026 in Paris, curated by DJ Barbara Butch, who focuses on the city center and right bank, including venues such as the Hôtel de Ville, Carreau du Temple, Petit and Grand Palais, place Stalingrad, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Highlights include a giant DJ set and video mapping at the Hôtel de Ville, Annette Messager transforming the Piscine Château-Landon into a mythological aquatic landscape, Marinella Senatore's luminous installation at place Stalingrad, and a boat-installation by studio Mr. & Mr. arriving from Sète. The event also features performances, music, dance, a sports class, and a central theme of love.

Artist Danielle Mckinney Explains the Story Behind Her Painting on CULTURED’s Cover

Artist Danielle Mckinney discusses her painting *Recess* (2026), featured on the cover of CULTURED magazine's Indulgence issue. The work depicts a woman reclining on a couch under a glowing light, wearing a face mask, and is part of Mckinney's ongoing exploration of private, restorative moments. The article includes Mckinney's reflections on motherhood, emotional labor, and the act of painting as a space for unorganized feeling. It also notes that her exhibitions "Forest for the Trees" is on view at Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York through June 13, and "Shelter" is on view at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach through October 4.

Farm Equipment on the Lower East Side? Our Critic Investigates a Few Unexpected Art Shows

Art critic Emily Watlington investigates two unexpected exhibitions on New York's Lower East Side. At Hoffman Donahue gallery, Altoon Sultan presents 13 small egg tempera paintings of agricultural machinery on parchment-covered panels, zooming in on mechanical details with a luminous, almost devotional treatment of light. At Company gallery, Hayden Dunham's third solo show "NEVER IS OVER" transforms a dark basement into a multisensory installation with video projections, ambient whale sounds, and sculptural egg- or stone-shaped forms that evoke 1990s installation art.

Does Artist Emmi Whitehorse Have the Best-Curated Studio Fridge in the Game?

Emmi Whitehorse, a Navajo artist and co-founder of the Indigenous art collective the Grey Canyon Group, is featured in a studio visit interview by Cultured. She discusses her large-scale abstract paintings rooted in the Navajo concept of Hózhó, her creative process, and her upcoming diptych 'Reseeding Chaco (2026)' unveiled on June 4 at the Parrish Art Museum as part of its FRESH PAINT exhibition series. The article includes her answers to questions about her studio playlist, fridge contents, tools, mishaps, and advice from other artists.

Harmony Hammond Wrote the Book on Lesbian Art 20 Years Ago. Here’s What Comes Next.

Harmony Hammond, the 82-year-old artist and writer, is preparing for her seventh solo exhibition with Alexander Gray Associates, titled "Rust Never Sleeps," opening June 5 in the gallery's new Tribeca space. A new volume dedicated to her writings, *Still Dangerous! The Harmony Hammond Reader*, will be published this fall by Duke University Press. In an interview, Hammond discusses her ongoing textile-based abstraction practice, her frustration with being pigeonholed to the 1970s, and the recent surge of interest in textile art as seen in exhibitions like "Woven Histories" and "Unravel."

Sex Dreams, Piss Takes, and Fake Trends: A Week in the NY Art World With Domenick Ammirati

Domenick Ammirati returns to New York after a year-long writing residency in Siena and Provincetown to cover the spring art fairs, including Frieze New York 2026. He observes a notably calm art week, attributing the subdued atmosphere to the fair's proximity to the Venice Biennale, which left key players exhausted. Highlights include a Rei Kawakubo installation at Independent, Gucci's Cruise show in Times Square, and MoMA PS1's 50th anniversary gala, where he mingles with curator Jody Graf and spots Klaus Biesenbach.

Sift Through the Hundreds of Pacifiers, Graphic Tees, and Spoons in This NYC Couple’s Collection

Multidisciplinary artists Bobbi Salvör Menuez and quori theodor, a couple living in New York City, have built an extensive collection of everyday objects including T-shirts, cassette tapes, spoons, pacifiers, and playing cards sourced from sidewalks, thrift stores, and shoot sets. Their collecting practice is intuitive and deeply personal, driven by nostalgia, childhood memories, and their bond with each other, treating each object as a talisman or treasure rather than a financial investment.

Here’s What You Missed at MoMA PS1’s 50th Birthday Bash

MoMA PS1 held its annual gala on Tuesday night, celebrating the institution's 50th anniversary and honoring founding director Alanna Heiss and former MoMA Director Glenn D. Lowry. More than 500 guests attended the Surrealist-themed event, which featured artistic direction by the fashion and art collective Women’s History Museum, with stilt walkers, custom posters, performances, and DJ sets. Notable attendees included artists Wolfgang Tillmans and Camille Henrot, dealers Jeffrey Deitch, and musicians Swizz Beatz, along with museum leadership and collectors.

How Artist Iréne Norén Used Painting to Reclaim Her Relationship to Her Body

Artist Iréne Norén, who began painting just three years ago after a personal crisis, is now mounting her first solo gallery show in New York. Titled "Reliquary of the Body: Returning to Eden," the exhibition opens at Harper’s Chelsea and explores themes of shame, self-acceptance, and the female body, drawing on Catholic art historical imagery and Renaissance altarpiece structures. Norén started painting after an abortion while living in New York without a work visa, using art as a tool for emotional expression and confidence.

Fred Tomaselli Turns Newspaper Headlines Into Mulch at His New Show at James Cohan

Fred Tomaselli presents his new exhibition “Blooms Disrupted,” opening May 15 at James Cohan’s 48 Walker Street location in New York. The show features his signature densely layered resin paintings embedded with organic matter like leaves and pharmaceutical pills, alongside a new series of collages constructed from New York Times front pages. The anchor piece, *Month of August (evening)*, combines a geometric spiral of headlines with a photographic Mexican sunflower, while other works reference art-historical gardens such as Frederic Edwin Church’s estate. Tomaselli, a Brooklyn-based artist born in 1956, uses the garden as both subject and metaphor throughout the exhibition.

Difaf gallery’s trio exhibition “Fabric of Time” is not to be missed

The article highlights a series of art exhibitions opening in Cairo, Egypt, in June and July 2025. Key shows include Difaf gallery's trio exhibition "Fabric of Time" featuring Fatma Abu-Doma, Sara Alfazayry, and Ahmed Lesi; a retrospective "Echoes of Time" by Magdy Abdel-Aziz at Dai; and the Egyptian debut of the immersive digital experience "Beyond Van Gogh" at District 5 by Marakez. Other notable exhibitions include "Her Realm" by Ahmed Dafrawy at Art Linx Karma, "Lightings" by Ruairí O'Brien at Arcade, "Generations of Art" at Duroub, and photography exhibitions at the French Institute in Egypt by Randa Shaath and by Noria Tesson and Samar Bayoumi.

Almine Rech now represent Keita Morimoto

Almine Rech has announced representation of Japanese artist Keita Morimoto in New York and Paris. Morimoto, born in Osaka in 1990, immigrated to Canada in 2006 and earned his BFA from OCAD University. Now based in Tokyo, he is known for night cityscapes and portraits that blend Baroque lighting, American Realism, and pre-modern Genre Painting. His inaugural solo exhibition with the gallery took place in New York in 2025, and his work will be shown at Art Basel in Switzerland in June 2025, with a solo exhibition planned for Almine Rech Paris in 2027. The gallery also noted recent institutional acquisitions of his work.