Post-War & Contemporary Art

Freeman's auction house is presenting a 'Post-War & Contemporary Art' sale featuring 83 lots that span eight decades of art history. The auction includes notable works such as a Richard Mayhew landscape, an Andy Warhol text-based canvas, a Robert Rauschenberg solvent transfer, a Peter Halley abstraction, and monumental outdoor sculptures by Allan Houser. Other highlights include pieces by Caio Fonseca, Jamie Nares, Beverly Pepper, and a range of contemporary voices like Ann Craven, Bunny Rogers, and Sterling Ruby.

Expo 86-themed events and ‘A Little Art Buzz’ at Surrey Art Gallery in May

Surrey Art Gallery in British Columbia is hosting a series of events throughout May 2026, centered on the exhibition "In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art." Highlights include a Family Art Jam on May 3, an artist talk with Leah Murray on May 7, a symposium titled "Expo Lines: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art" on May 9, and a curator’s tour with Jordan Strom on May 28. The events explore the artistic legacy of Vancouver’s 1986 world’s fair, which drew 22 million visitors, and feature works by over 50 artists including Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, Debra Sparrow, and Paul Wong.

Giant glacier painting disappears from Argentina’s presidential palace after new law passes loosening protections for these icy regions

Days before Argentina’s Congress approved an amendment to the glacier law that weakens protections for glacial regions to facilitate mining, President Javier Milei’s government removed a monumental painting of the Perito Moreno Glacier from the Casa Rosada presidential palace. The work, Helmut Ditsch’s photorealist *The Triumph of Nature* (2006), had been on loan and on display since 2012. The government cited “maintenance reasons” and “structural damage,” but the artist says he was not notified and has contacted lawyers. A portrait of Juan Domingo and Evita Perón was also removed the same day, with the same vague explanation.

A Napoli c’è una mostra ispirata a Emily Dickinson dove è la luce a creare le opere

Diego Perrone's exhibition "There's a certain Slant of light" opens at Galleria Umberto Di Marino in Naples, taking its title from an Emily Dickinson poem. The show features new photographic and painted works born from the artist's observation of light passing through domestic glass objects in Naples, where architecture and daily life are shaped by an interplay of light and shadow. Photographs are enclosed in hand-molded glass frames, while large surfaces created with airbrush, charcoal, and chalk present shadow fields on white backgrounds, forming a visual sequence that unfolds like a film in black and white.

Abstract painter Tom Wilson Jones featured at Provincetown gallery

Abstract Expressionist painter Tom Wilson Jones is the subject of a new exhibition at Larkin Gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The show runs through June 9, with an opening reception on May 22. Jones, a Louisville native now living in Harwich Port, studied under Robert Henry, Bill Steeves, and at the Royal Museum of Brussels School.

Longtime art and studio complex in downtown Wilmington is for sale

Acme Art Studios, a longtime visual arts institution in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, has been listed for sale at $4.4 million. The one-acre complex at 711 N. Fifth Ave. includes a 12,000-square-foot warehouse with studio and gallery space, plus four vacant lots. Founded in 1991 by a collective of artists in a former carpet warehouse, Acme has become a vital hub for the local arts scene, renting to dozens of artists and hosting countless shows over more than three decades. The property is owned by five artists, including co-founder Pam Toll, who said the decision to sell was unanimous and that the timing is right for a number of reasons.

Through the Artist’s Eye: Art exhibition at Bikaner House | Latest News Delhi

Artist Stuart Robertson presents "Through the Artist's Eye" at Bikaner House's Centre for Contemporary Arts in New Delhi, an exhibition born from a 15-month residency at Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital. The show features cyanotypes, digital photos, bronze and iron sculptures, and multimedia collages that recreate how patients with cataracts, glaucoma, and other visual impairments perceive the world. Robertson worked with children experiencing sight for the first time, and all proceeds from sales benefit the hospital.

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Ultimate 2026 Guide for Travelers

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is drawing record crowds in spring 2026 with its latest exhibitions, including newly restored ancient artifacts. The article, written by travel editor Elena Müller, positions The Met as a top cultural destination for American travelers, highlighting its location on Manhattan's Upper East Side, its Beaux-Arts architecture, and its proximity to Central Park. It also covers the museum's founding in 1870, its expansion into a neoclassical landmark on Museum Mile, and its role as a cornerstone of New York's cultural landscape.

A Canvas of Community at Chester County’s Art Galleries

Chester County, Pennsylvania, is home to a vibrant community of artists working across mediums like acrylic paint, watercolors, sculpture, and furniture. The article highlights five local art galleries—Church Street Gallery, Diving Cat Studio Gallery, Square Pear Fine Art Gallery, Sugartown Art and Antiques, and Werring Contemporary—each offering unique exhibitions, classes, and opportunities to purchase original works. It also promotes the upcoming Chester County Studio Tour, an annual event taking place May 16, where artists open their studios to the public.

In Rome, the extension of the Galleria Borghese provokes a revolt

À Rome, l’extension de la Galerie Borghèse provoque une fronde

The Galleria Borghese in Rome has sparked controversy by initiating a feasibility study for a new building attached to its 17th-century villa. Museum director Francesca Cappelletti, in office since 2020, cites the need to increase visitor capacity, improve security, and create spaces for mediation, conferences, and temporary exhibitions. The museum, which saw nearly 630,000 visitors in 2025, operates with strict two-hour time slots capped at 180 people, often sold out in high season. Engineering firm Proger has offered to fund the study for €875,750 in exchange for institutional visibility, and Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri has declared the project of public interest.

Un agent du Louvre devant le juge

A Louvre agent appeared before a judge. The article, published in Le Journal des Arts on May 2, 2026, covers multiple art world stories including the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, a resized project for Bourges 2028 by Yann Galut, a new contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier's emergency sales.

Condemned by Francoism, a writer rehabilitated by the Spanish Congress

Condamné par le franquisme, un écrivain réhabilité par le Congrès espagnol

The Spanish Congress has officially rehabilitated Cipriano Salvador (1894-1975), a Republican intellectual wrongly accused by the Franco regime of stealing a Renaissance painting he actually saved. During the Spanish Civil War, Salvador hid Fernando Yáñez's "La Santa Generación" (c. 1525-1532) from destruction. After Franco's victory, a priest sold the work to the Prado Museum for 15,000 pesetas, while Salvador was arrested, sentenced to death (later commuted to 30 years), and spent seven years in prison. He died in 1975 without exoneration. The rehabilitation motion passed with 32 votes in favor, 3 against, and 1 abstention, with only far-right party Vox opposing.

Sécurité dans les musées

This issue of Le Journal des Arts (No. 676, May 2, 2026) covers a range of visual art news: the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, an interview with Bourges mayor Yann Galut about scaling back the Bourges 2028 project, the opening of a contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and a profile of auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier.

L’architecte du Musée Gandur

The article covers several art news items from the May 2, 2026 issue of Le Journal des Arts, including the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, an interview with Bourges mayor Yann Galut about the resized Bourges 2028 project, the unveiling of a contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and a profile of auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier.

Historic Northumberland figure inspires art exhibition

An art exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, will be held at Etal Village Hall in Northumberland on May 24. The free event features 30 finalist works—ranging from film and paintings to textiles and sculpture—submitted by artists from across northern England and the Scottish Borders. The winner will receive the Louisa Waterford Prize, and visitors can vote for the People's Prize. The exhibition is organized by The Tin Shed, a collective that supports artists and makers through online studios and pop-up events.

24 Hours with Jewel at the 2026 Venice Biennale Festival

Singer-songwriter Jewel has transformed into a multimedia artist, presenting a solo exhibition titled '24 Hours with Jewel' at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The show features 34 new works, including paintings, sculptures, and kinetic installations, with the centerpiece 'Heart of the Ocean'—an eight-foot kinetic sculpture created in collaboration with scientists from NASA, NOAA, Stanford, and UC Berkeley that translates real-time oceanographic data into light and sound. V Magazine followed Jewel for 24 hours as she prepared for her Biennale debut, documenting her day from rooftop meditations and water taxi rides with her son to private patron tours and an opening night performance in a custom Schiaparelli dress.

Why We Need Corporate Art Collections

The article traces the history and significance of corporate art collections, beginning with Deutsche Bank's acquisition of 57 early drawings by Joseph Beuys in the late 1970s, which led to the formal launch of its collection in 1980. Today, the Deutsche Bank Collection comprises over 57,000 objects displayed in 500 locations across 40 countries, and the bank sponsors events like the Frieze Art Fair. The piece also highlights the role of American banker David Rockefeller, who inaugurated Chase Manhattan Bank's Art at Work program in 1959, and notes that corporate collecting has deep roots in Renaissance banking, with institutions like Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena commissioning art for their offices.

Tehran exhibition gives voice to war’s silent burden through modern art

An exhibition titled "Art and War" opened on May 11, 2026, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Antoni Tapies, Robert Motherwell, and Juan Gris that explore the impact of conflict on modern art. The show includes Spanish anti-war artists from the post-WWII era, such as Juan Genoves, and aims to give voice to those suffering under war's burden. Visitors like student-artist Kiyana Niknam described the paintings as a universal language expressing personal pain and resilience, while project adviser Fuad Necmeddin noted that museums in Iran had reopened after wartime closures due to cultural demand.

Five Scottish museum collections awarded national significance status

Five museum collections in Scotland have been awarded national significance status on International Museum Day, bringing the total number of recognized collections in Scotland to 56. The newly designated collections are the Linoleum Collection (managed by OnFife), the Photographic Collection (University of St Andrews), the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design Collection (University of Dundee Museums), the Oakbank Collection (Scottish Crannog Centre), and the Art Collection (University of Stirling). The Recognition Scheme, managed by Museums Galleries Scotland, highlights collections beyond those held in national museums and galleries, spanning from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway.

PRESS RELEASE: OK Arts Council announces historic gift of artworks for the Oklahoma State Art Collection

The Oklahoma Arts Council has announced a historic gift of artworks for the Oklahoma State Art Collection. The donation, described as one of the largest in the collection's history, includes a significant number of works by Oklahoma artists and will be formally added to the state's holdings.

SMoCA Will Present DESERT PERSPECTIVES Exhibition on Southwest Landscape

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) will present an exhibition titled "Desert Perspectives" focusing on the Southwest landscape. The show will explore artistic interpretations of the desert environment through works by various contemporary artists.

“Working the West” Art Exhibition Opens At The Legacy, Celebrating The Real Story Of Western Life

An art exhibition titled “Working the West” has opened at The Legacy, showcasing works that depict the authentic experiences of Western life. The show aims to counter romanticized or stereotypical portrayals of the American West by featuring artists who capture the real, working aspects of ranch life, cowboy culture, and the Western landscape.

Art News: A Preview Of The Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art and A Roberta Flack Auction at Julien’s

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a 300,000-square-foot institution designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec, will open in Los Angeles' Exposition Park on September 22. The 11-acre campus includes a park by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA and will feature over 1,200 objects across 30 galleries, showcasing narrative art from ancient sculptures to modern cinema, drawn from the museum's founding collection. Separately, Julien's Auctions will host "Roberta Flack: Style, Art & Music," a no-reserve auction celebrating the singer's life and cultural impact, including her Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand Piano.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Adds ‘Star Wars in Motion’ Exhibit to Opening Lineup

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has announced a new exhibition titled "Star Wars in Motion" as part of its inaugural lineup, set to open on September 22, 2026, in Los Angeles's Exposition Park. The showcase will feature vehicle designs, props, costumes, and illustrations from the first six Star Wars films, including iconic items like Luke's Landspeeder and General Grievous's Wheel Bike. The museum, co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, will open with over 30 exhibitions and more than 1,200 objects spanning visual storytelling from ancient sculptures to modern cinema.

Lucas Museum Announces "Star Wars in Motion" Inaugural Exhibition as Founding Members Can Now Sign Up

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to open in Los Angeles on September 22, has announced its inaugural Cinema Exhibition will be "Star Wars in Motion," focusing on vehicle designs, props, costumes, and illustrations from the first six Star Wars films. The museum is now accepting founding member sign-ups at LucasMuseum.org, with four membership tiers ranging from $140 to $600, offering benefits such as priority access, preview events, limited-edition products, and lifetime recognition as a Founding Member. Founding memberships last one year from the museum's opening through September 2027.

Heard Museum to open exhibition pairing artists’ work with letters to their younger selves

The Heard Museum in Phoenix has opened a new exhibition titled "Wisdom from the Future," which pairs artwork by 28 Indigenous artists aged 55 and older with personal letters they wrote to their younger selves. The letters offer reflections on creativity, identity, and lived experience, with participating artists including Kay WalkingStick, Norbert Peshlakai, Preston Singletary, and others. The exhibition was developed in connection with the museum's Creative Aging program, which supports older adults in developing artistic skills.

Guntersville Museum Welcomes ARTS Works

The Guntersville Museum hosted a recognition ceremony for the 18th annual ARTS Works All-County Student Art Exhibit, organized by the nonprofit Artists Responding to Students (ARTS). The exhibit featured around 100 artworks from K-12 students across Marshall County, including Boaz, Grant, Guntersville, and Albertville. For the second year, the show included special needs artists, with the Kamryn HeART Award presented in memory of a young artist. Additionally, the Lakeview Community Civic Organization displayed posters from its Black History Month contest. Winners were announced across multiple grade categories, judged by two National Board Certified Teachers from Decatur.

"Consequences of being" at The FLAG Art Foundation by Daniel Belasco

Deborah Roberts presents her newest body of work in the exhibition "Consequences of being" at The FLAG Art Foundation, featuring eight canvases and nine mixed-media works on paper that blend collage, painting, and drawing. The works explore the postcolonial landscape of Europe and Africa, using fragmented imagery of Black children against stark-white backgrounds to address themes of colonialism, commerce, and identity. Key pieces include "Have a seat, this may take a while" (2025), which incorporates miniature sailing ships and a collaged tiara from Queen Elizabeth II, and "Hands in the air," which critiques racist packaging from a German ice cream company. The exhibition also includes a series of eight collages titled "Many thousands gone" and a sculptural edition, "Zuri," a ceramic bust with metallic glaze.

A big moment for a city that loves art

Geelong Gallery in Australia is preparing to host "Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel, art dealer among the artists," its most ambitious international exhibition ever, running from 20 June to 11 October. The show features over 70 paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and second-generation Impressionists, with most works from a private French collection never before seen in Australia. The exhibition marks the gallery's 130th anniversary and is supported by the Geelong Major Events committee. Separately, the genU artX Regional 2026 exhibition at Rachinger Gallery showcases over 130 works by artists with disabilities or mental illness, on view until 22 May.

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Announces First Exhibitions Curated by George Lucas

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to open on September 22, 2026, in Los Angeles's Exposition Park, has announced its inaugural exhibition schedule curated by George Lucas. The museum will showcase a wide range of narrative art, from Americana works by Thomas Hart Benton and Norman Rockwell to documentary photography by Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange, and Robert Capa, as well as public murals by Diego Rivera and Judith F. Baca. The collection also includes production designs, props, and costumes from the Lucas Archives, alongside illustrations by Frank Frazetta, Maxfield Parrish, and N.C. Wyeth, children's literature art by Beatrix Potter and Jacob Lawrence, and comics and manga by Jack Kirby, Alison Bechdel, and Mœbius.