Paradise Mobile Heritage Month Art Showcase

Paradise Mobile has announced the return of its Heritage Month Art Showcase, a local art exhibition running throughout May at its 24 Reid Street store in Bermuda. The exhibition features nearly 50 works from 20 Bermudian artists, selected through an open call around the theme 'For de Culture' set by the Department of Culture. Pieces span paintings, ceramics, photography, music, embroidery, woodwork, sculpture, model boats, and poetry, and are available for purchase with all proceeds going to the artists. A public opening reception will be held on May 8th with live music and refreshments, and visitors can vote for the 'Paradise People's Choice Award' winner.

RiNo Art District expands First Friday into summer festival series

RiNo Art District in Denver is expanding its monthly First Friday art walk into a free summer festival series, beginning May 1, 2026, at RiNo ArtPark at Arkins Park. The inaugural event will run from 4 to 9 p.m., featuring live music by Denver group Chouette, food vendors such as TacoNation and Black Knife Bakery, art exhibitions, and hands-on workshops led by local artists including Courtney Ozaki-Durgin. Three festivals are planned for 2026, with additional dates on August 7 and September 4, plus a partnership with the Denver Fringe Festival on June 5.

Great Neck library to host sculpture exhibition by Dr. Suzanne Posner

The Great Neck Library will host a summer sculpture exhibition titled "Swim or Fly" featuring works by local artist Dr. Suzanne Posner from May 1 through July 31 at the Main Library. The sculptures will be displayed atop bookshelves in the Reference Study Area, with a public reception on June 6. Posner, a direct carver with 30 years of experience working in stone, transitioned to full-time artistry after retiring from dentistry following a Parkinson's Disease diagnosis.

EU sanctions Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the Hermitage

L’UE sanctionne Mikhaïl Piotrovski, directeur de l’Ermitage

The European Union has added Mikhail Piotrovsky, the 81-year-old director of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, to its sanctions list as part of the 20th package of measures against Russia. Brussels accuses him of publicly supporting the war in Ukraine and of conducting archaeological excavations by the museum in occupied Crimea. His assets in the EU are frozen and he is banned from entering European territory.

Rachel Mentzer Transforms Discarded Cartons into Dusky Collagraphs

Ohio-based artist Rachel Mentzer creates collagraph prints using discarded cartons as printing plates, carving them with images of birds, trees, and energy infrastructure. Her process involves carving the cardboard, sealing it with polyurethane, inking it, and transferring the image via an etching press, often incorporating chine collé for color. Her work was recently shown at the Manhattan Graphics Center, and she will participate in the Suzanne Wilson Artist-in-Residence Program at Glen Arbor Arts Center this summer.

Brandon Artists Guild Unveils Spring Gallery Refresh And Welcomes New Artists

The Brandon Artists Guild in Vermont is hosting an opening reception on Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m. to unveil its spring gallery refresh at 7 Center St. The event introduces four new member artists: porcelain potter Aiden Rose Palmer from Williston, mixed-media and glass mosaic artist Lisa Steckler from Rutland, Margaret-Desiree Mug from Poultney, and fused glass tableware artist Susan Wacker-Donle from Pittsfield. The twice-yearly refresh rotates new collections from the cooperative's more than 35 regional artists, featuring painting, sculpture, and mixed media.

Eye opening: Artist speaks through the eyes in his artwork

Alexandre Emmanuel Henrique, a Brazilian-born artist now living in Cary, North Carolina, has a solo exhibition titled "BraFro" at the Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury. The show is part of the gallery's larger exhibit "ART from ALL Perspectives." Henrique's paintings explore his family history, particularly the story of his great-grandmother, who was enslaved in Brazil after being brought from Africa. The works use eyes as a central motif to convey emotion and narrative, ranging from sorrow to joy, with titles like "Sorrow" and "Once Upon a Time." Henrique works primarily in oils, and many pieces were created specifically for this exhibition.

Studio B Boyertown Welcomes New Gallery Director, Announces New Exhibit

Studio B Boyertown has appointed Bob Hakun as its new gallery director. Hakun, an assemblage artist who creates works from found objects, previously worked as a computer graphic designer and prepress manager after his career designing Halloween masks and costumes moved overseas. He is a 1976 graduate of Kutztown University with a BFA in painting. The gallery is also presenting the exhibition “Form & Fiber: 3-Dimensional Expression in Art,” featuring 3-D and fiber works by Hakun and fifteen other artists, running through June 21.

Gallery 50 welcomes spring with “Here Comes the Sun”

Gallery 50 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, is hosting an opening reception for its new spring exhibition, “Here Comes the Sun,” on May 8 from 5:30–8 p.m. The show features 11 local artists—Jonathan Frazier, Robyn Jacobs, Sarah Maclay, Pat McCleary, Mary Moores, Judy Pyle, Jayne Shord, Anne St. John, Lindsay Tozier-School, Anita Williams, and curator Marti Yeager—presenting works in oil, acrylic, pastel, photography, watercolor, and enamel on copper. The evening also includes the unveiling of a mural by California-based artist Nigel Sussman, live music from Sons of Pitches, and new fine art and crafts for sale. The exhibition runs through August 1, 2026.

Cumbria’s largest museum gains six new trustees

Cumbria's largest museum, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust in Carlisle, has appointed six new trustees to its board, expanding the total to 15 members. The new trustees include Lord Richard Inglewood, a former government minister; Lisa Middleton, head of marketing at National Museums Liverpool; Joanne Orr, former director of Tullie and ex-chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland; Malcolm Rogers, a banking and finance specialist; Helen Smout, chief executive of Culture Perth and Kinross; and John Stevenson, a former MP for Carlisle. The appointments were announced by Tullie chair Andrew Smith and director Andrew Mackay.

You're invited to a pop-up gallery & urban art fair in Salt Lake City's Central 9th neighborhood

A pop-up gallery and urban art fair will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, in the shared alleyway between Scion Cider and Laziz Kitchen on Jefferson Street in Salt Lake City's Central 9th neighborhood, from noon to 6 PM. The event features limited edition framed street photography, Plein Air paintings, watercolors, still life images, and mixed media pieces for sale, all depicting indoor and outdoor scenes from the neighborhood. Interactive stations include a Sip & Paint Class led by artist Ammy Foste and a pop-up photo booth by the SLC Photo Community. The event is hosted by Scion Cider, created through the city's ACE Grant Fund for Arts, Culture & Entertainment, and supported by the Intermountain Artist Society, the Utah Watercolor Society, and the SLC Photo Community.

Fairy Tales and the Power of Wonder

The CU Art Museum at the University of Colorado Boulder is presenting an exhibition titled "Fairy Tales and the Power of Wonder," running from February 6 through May 2026. The show brings together artworks, books, and maps that explore the themes and narratives of fairy tales, examining how these stories blend realms of fantasy, hybrid creatures, and liminal spaces to challenge cultural norms and offer new perspectives on human experience. The exhibition is supported by CU Boulder Student Arts and Cultural Enrichment fees and is coordinated with concurrent shows at the CU Museum of Natural History and Norlin Library.

Bowersock Gallery opens 22nd season with new artists

Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown is opening its 22nd season with an exhibition titled "Master Builders: New Voices, New Works," running from May 22 through June 3, 2026. The show introduces three new female artists—Sally Fama Cochrane, Hillary Scott, and Jennifer Frank Rand—alongside new works by the gallery's returning stable artists, including Kevin Kusiolek, Steve Bowersock, Emma Ashby, and Jeanne McCartin. An opening reception will be held on May 22 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Artscape Jamestown To Host Opening Reception May 21

ArtScape Jamestown has finalized its 2026 season, with an opening reception scheduled for May 21 from 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Chautauqua Art Gallery and Pearl City Clay House. Now in its fourth year, the program will display 59 banners featuring juried works by regional artists throughout downtown Jamestown, transforming the city into an open-air gallery. The original artwork will be exhibited indoors at both venues from May 21 through July 4, with additional summer programs including Sunday Artist Salons, interactive tent activities, and plein air sketching sessions at the Farmers Market.

Interview with French cartoonist Hugo Didier who draws the Cannes Film Festival 79

Intervista al fumettista francese Hugo Didier che disegna il Festival di Cannes 79

French cartoonist and illustrator Hugo Didier (Paris, 1993) has been commissioned to reinterpret and narrate the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival (May 12–23) through his drawings, which have appeared on the festival's official Instagram account. In an interview, Didier discusses how cinema influences his visual imagination, his preference for traditional drawing techniques (nib pens, Rotring technical pen, ink washes, watercolor) over digital, and his creative process that often begins with spontaneous sketches. He also reflects on the role of comics in contemporary French culture, noting their ability to explore diverse themes and reach wide audiences through a playful yet accessible medium.

20 artisti lavoreranno in 20 paesini remoti di 20 regioni italiane. La rassegna che porta l’arte contemporanea nei borghi torna per il settimo anno

The seventh edition of "Una Boccata d'Arte," an initiative by Fondazione Elpis, will bring contemporary art to 20 remote villages across all 20 Italian regions. Twenty artists, each paired with a curator, will create site-specific projects that will be inaugurated simultaneously on June 20-21, 2026, and remain on view until October 4. A key innovation this year is that artists and curators spent extra time engaging with local communities before designing their works, fostering deeper connections. Examples include Greek artist Vasilis Papageorgiu transforming a traditional tablecloth from a resident of Tredozio, and Francesco Alberico collaborating with a socio-health facility in Bressanone to create a bird-themed installation.

The arrival of the Orient Express hotel in Venice reopens the historic Palazzo Donà Giovannelli (filling it with contemporary art)

L’arrivo dell’hotel Orient Express a Venezia riapre lo storico Palazzo Donà Giovannelli (riempiendolo di arte contemporanea)

Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, a 15th-century Venetian palace, has reopened as the flagship Orient Express hotel after an eight-year restoration led by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman. Located in the Cannaregio district, the 5-star luxury hotel features 47 rooms, suites, and residences, blending historical frescoes and neogothic details with contemporary sculptures, Murano glass chandeliers, and custom furnishings. The property, owned by Arsenale Group since 2019, includes a transformed courtyard lobby, a secret garden, and a rotating selection of contemporary artworks displayed in a passage called Calle Meraviglia.

Jury or Public? The Biennale Is Not an Algorithm, But Neither Is It a Liturgy

Giuria o pubblico? La Biennale non è un algoritmo, ma neppure una liturgia

The article critically examines the proposal for "Visitor Lions" (Leoni dei Visitatori) at the Venice Biennale, arguing that the idea is a fragile, quick-fix response to a deeper crisis. It questions whether replacing expert juries with public voting would truly improve the selection process, noting that both systems have significant flaws: juries are not necessarily neutral, often rushed and filtered, while public voting risks favoring accessible, easily consumable works and reinforcing existing hierarchies.

Cultural Observatories: Dinosaurs or Subjects Capable of Interpreting the Present?

Osservatori culturali. Dinosauri o soggetti in grado di interpretare il presente?

The Cultural Observatory of Canton Ticino has published a study on cultural observatories worldwide, including a map and list of surveyed organizations. The analysis reveals that cultural observatories are not a global phenomenon but are concentrated mainly in Europe and South America, with occasional presence in North America (especially Canada and Hispanic-oriented organizations in the US). Africa, Asia, and Oceania are almost entirely absent from the map. The study also highlights a high rate of inactive observatories: among the top 10 countries by active observatories, only Germany shows an effective activity ratio. Spain has 26 active observatories out of about 45 total, while Italy has 11 active out of over 20 inactive. The research defines observatories as non-profit organizations that combine cultural and statistical expertise to deepen and transfer knowledge about the cultural sector, and classifies as inactive those with no recent activity on web or social channels.

Veneto: In Place of a Liberty Café in Recoaro Terme, a Contemporary Art Center Opens. Interview with the Curator

Veneto: al posto di un caffè liberty di Recoaro Terme apre un centro d’arte contemporanea. Intervista alla curatrice

The historic Palazzo Caffè Nazionale in Recoaro Terme, a small spa town in the Veneto region of Italy, is being transformed into a contemporary art center called Cantiere del Contemporaneo, set to open on May 2, 2026. The project, curated by Elisabetta Bacchin, will focus on artist residencies, with the inaugural group including Romesh Bothalage, Pietro Chiarello, Francesco Pizzocchero, and Virginia Stevenin, who will work for two months in the converted spaces. The initiative is part of a broader regeneration plan funded by the National Plan for Borghi and the European Union's PNRR funds, aiming to revitalize the town's cultural and economic identity through contemporary art.

Art and words unite like yin and yang in Guelph exhibition

Artworks Gallery Guelph is hosting a new exhibition titled “Vision & Verse,” which explores the interplay between visual art and poetry. The show features works by gallery members Patti Collins, Diana Scott, Sharyn Seibert, Deb Stocker, and Suzanne Wakefield, with Katie Elliott-Stoyles as the featured artist. A grand opening is scheduled for Mother's Day, May 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the gallery located at 404 York Road in Guelph.

Landscape, colour and imagination celebrated at Armstrong art gallery

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum & Art Gallery in British Columbia is opening a dual exhibition on May 28, 2026, featuring the Shuswap Plein Air Troupe and artist Nancy Vince. The Main Gallery presents "Together: From There to Here," a group show by Diane Akey, Maureen Howard, and Patricia L. Smith, who paint together as the Plein Air Troupe, capturing landscapes with varied textures and emotional depth. In the Freeze Gallery, "A Touch of Whimsy" showcases Vince's high-definition metal prints filled with vibrant, playful imagery of flowers, cottages, and lakeside scenes. The exhibition runs through June 27, with a reception on opening night.

First Friday Art Walk set this weekend in Sequim

The First Friday Art Walk in Sequim, Washington, will take place this weekend from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring an aqua-themed self-guided tour of downtown venues. Highlights include a reception for "May Flowers" at Blue Whole Gallery with works by Jolene Sanborn and Rick George, a fiber arts exhibit at Sequim Museum & Arts, and new works at A. Milligan Art Studio and Gallery by Lyn Conlan and Anne Pfeiffer, along with live music and local artisan offerings at multiple participating businesses.

Hannah Powell: Pushing the University Art Gallery forward

Hannah Powell, a University of Pittsburgh alumna, has been appointed as the first official coordinator of the University Art Gallery (UAG) at Pitt. After earning a degree in anthropology and a minor in museum studies from Pitt in 2016, she pursued a master's in museum studies from the University of Glasgow, then worked at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and later at Pittsburgh institutions like the Heinz History Center and Carnegie Science Center. Since starting her role at the UAG in 2024, Powell coordinates exhibitions, plans educational programming, and improves accessibility to a collection of over 3,000 pieces, working alongside one other full-time employee.

New Tower District art gallery is putting Fresno artists first

Arts Annex Fresno, a new art gallery in Fresno's Tower District, is set to celebrate its grand opening on Saturday night. The gallery aims to prioritize local Fresno artists by providing them with a dedicated space to showcase and sell their work, filling a gap in the city's art scene for artist-first venues.

New Bedford Art Museum celebrates creativity of special needs students

The New Bedford Art Museum is hosting the fifth annual SMEC exhibition, "Learning for Life," featuring artwork created by students and adults with special needs from the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative. The show, on view through June 14, includes pieces made in weekly art classes led by educator Nicole Winning, and one poignant sculpture by Ashley L. Canfield, a program participant who passed away in April.

Submit Entries for Young Generation Art Award

FundsforNGOs has announced an open call for submissions for the Young Generation Art Award, a prize aimed at emerging artists. The award invites young creatives to submit their work for consideration, with details on eligibility and deadlines presumably available through the organizer's channels.

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.

Autumn Wunderkammer Auction - 2nd Session: Contemporary Decorative Art

Russell Kaplan Auctioneers is holding the second session of its Autumn Wunderkammer Auction on May 15, 2026, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The session, titled "Contemporary Decorative Art," will feature lots 700 through 1499, with approximately 60 lots sold per hour from 09:00 to 18:00.

AAM 2026 | a guide to this year's event

The article previews the 2026 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, scheduled for May in Philadelphia. It highlights key sessions, speakers, and events planned for the gathering of museum professionals, focusing on trends in audience engagement, digital innovation, and institutional resilience.