Artists’ collective effort on display

Six artists from the Artē Collective in Luggate, New Zealand, have opened their first group exhibition titled "Collective Circles" at their newly established gallery. The show features 20mm round artworks in painting, ceramics, and sculpture, created on-site as the artists take turns staffing the gallery. Works sold before the paint was dry, according to sculptor Andi Regan. The exhibition runs from December through January, with an opening event on December 5.

‘Materials are so easily imported, but the people are not welcome’: Diana Eusebio’s show at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami tackles the realities of immigration

Diana Eusebio’s first solo museum exhibition, *Field of Dreams*, has opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, featuring over 30 works that combine hand-dyed textiles with digital prints. The artist, who grew up in Miami, uses natural dyes from materials like avocado, cochineal, and indigo to overlay portraits, family photos, and landscapes, exploring themes of identity, migration, and home. The exhibition includes a Q&A where Eusebio discusses her Peruvian Dominican heritage, the influence of baseball as a symbol of the American dream, and the current climate of fear for immigrants in the US.

With sanctions on Iranian art, buyers are turning to India

The article reports a significant shift in the Islamic art market, where traditional Persianate works from Iran are declining in sales and value, while art from India and historic Arab polities is rising. At Sotheby's April 2025 sale, 14 of 27 Persian works went unsold, continuing a long-term slump. Key factors include U.S. sanctions on Iran that restrict export of Iranian-origin works, aging collectors, maturing museums, and a generational shift away from classical art toward contemporary pieces. In contrast, Mughal art from India is experiencing a steady price increase, reflecting the repositioning of the market away from Persianate mainstays.

‘An act of solidarity’: exhibitions raising funds and awareness for Palestinians open in London

Two exhibitions raising funds and awareness for Palestinians open in London this week. The main show, titled 'GAZAGAZAGAZA', features over 400 donated works by more than 200 artists from 35 countries, organized by Studio 1.1 and the artist-led activist community Artists Supporting Palestine (ASP). Proceeds from sales, including postcard-sized works priced at £20, will benefit Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). Additional fundraising initiatives include prints by Gaza-based artists and a badges project supporting children in Gaza.

At Art Basel, the Market Hopes for a Recovery

Art Basel 2025 opens on June 19 amid economic and political uncertainty, with collectors exercising caution. The contemporary art market is still recovering from a 12% contraction in 2024, when auction sales dropped 25%. High-end transactions suffered most, while sales under $250,000 rose 17%. The fair expects 200 exhibitors, down from last year's 91,000 visitors. Sotheby’s May modern art auction in New York also posted lukewarm results, barely exceeding the low estimate.

IU Bloomington art galleries feature works from and about South Africa

Indiana University Bloomington's art galleries are presenting two exhibitions focused on South African and Indigenous visual culture. "Illusions of Identity: The Colonial Gaze," curated by student Joshua Sinnett at the Community Gallery in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, contrasts early 20th-century photographs of Native Americans by Joseph K. Dixon with images of Indigenous South Africans by Alfred Duggan-Cronin, examining colonial perspectives. Concurrently, "Coloured Pots (Izinkamba kwamaKhaladi)" at University Collections at McCalla features contemporary ceramics by artist Fileve Tlaloc, who uses amaZulu pottery forms to explore her mixed-race ancestry and challenge colonial racial categories, displayed alongside historical amaZulu vessels.

An Anthology on Time

Une anthologie sur le temps

The publishing house Citadelles & Mazenod has released a new anthology titled "Écrire le temps. De l’Antiquité à nos jours" (Writing Time: From Antiquity to the Present Day). Edited by Pascal Dethurens, the 480-page volume compiles a vast array of literary sources on the concept of time, from ancient thinkers to contemporary writers, and pairs these texts with a wide variety of artistic representations.

“Anticipation” Joint Exhibit at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville

Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville is hosting "Anticipation," a joint exhibition featuring the narrative paintings of Laura Rutherford Renner and Alla Podolsky. Running from April 9 through May 3, the show highlights Renner’s use of bold color and shadow to capture snapshots of contemporary life alongside Podolsky’s emotionally charged works that draw on her Ukrainian heritage and personal memories.

Art with a heart - High Point pet portraitist schedules benefit show

Emily Cassidy, a High Point-based pet portrait artist with a background in animal science and veterinary technology, is holding a three-day solo exhibition titled "All Things Bright & Beautiful" from May 27 to May 29 at Reynolda Village in Winston-Salem. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wake Forest University Chaplain’s Emergency Fund, which assists students, faculty, staff, and contract workers with essential expenses. Cassidy, who returned to art in 2020 after a career in cancer research, now has a two- to three-month waiting list for commissions and works in colored pencils, pastels, and oils.

Collected Gallery Brings Affordable Art to Northeast

LJ Bergren has opened Collected Gallery in Northeast Minneapolis, a small house-turned-gallery that prioritizes affordability and accessibility. The gallery sells a range of mediums including prints, ceramics, jewelry, and lithography, with artists on six-month contracts to ensure a rotating selection. Bergren, an artist and collector herself, aims to make art available to all budgets, offering shipping nationwide and planning extended summer hours as many employees are students at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. The grand opening in April drew a wide community response, with visitors praising the approachable atmosphere and accessible prices.

The Biennale and the Weight of Flags. What Is the Point of National Pavilions?

La Biennale e il peso delle bandiere. Che senso hanno i padiglioni nazionali?

The article examines the inherent contradiction within the Venice Biennale: its historical structure of national pavilions, a legacy of 19th-century world fairs and state-sponsored art, clashes with the transnational, post-identity vision of the international exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The return of the Russia Pavilion amid geopolitical conflict and the international show titled "In Minor Keys," which rejects national belonging as an interpretive criterion, highlight this tension. The piece also addresses the controversy over the lack of Italian artists in the main exhibition, questioning whether a Biennale hosted in Italy should guarantee national representation.

Aumenti salariali e welfare per i lavori della cultura. È stato firmato il nuovo Contratto Nazionale di Lavoro. L’intervista

A new national labor contract for Italy's cultural sector has been signed. The Federculture National Labor Contract, finalized on April 30, 2026, includes a 7.5% increase in minimum wages (effective December 1, 2024), doubled welfare contributions for healthcare, and a simplified job classification system. The agreement was reached between Federculture and major unions including FP CGIL, CISL FP, UIL FPL, and UIL PA, with negotiations for the 2025-2027 term set to resume on May 26.

In Valcamonica il Parco archeologico di Luine ha chiuso e non si sa se e quando riaprirà: la storia

The Luine Archaeological Park in Valcamonica, Italy, closed on April 1, 2026, after the municipality of Darfo Boario Terme, led by Mayor Dario Colossi, failed to renew the management contract held by Zamenhof Art and ArchExperience. The park, which houses rock engravings dating back to the end of the Paleolithic period (about 13,000 years ago), is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a unique part of the Camunian park system. Weeks after the closure, the park remains in limbo with no clear reopening date, while multimedia installations and digital content created by the former managers are being removed. The story has received little media attention beyond local outlets.

Vacant Cincinnati warehouse to become new visual arts center

A long-vacant warehouse on Stathem Avenue in Westwood, Ohio, is being converted into the Apropos Art Society, a visual arts center. The project will include eight artist studios, a classroom for public workshops, and an art gallery, with the owners collaborating with an architect and contractor to transform the former plumbing warehouse. The center is expected to open by the end of the year.

Local blind artist shares her process for creating art for new exhibition

Visually impaired artist Charlynne 'Char' Boddie is showcasing her unique creative process ahead of a new exhibition. Despite being legally blind, Boddie utilizes specialized techniques, including tactile markers and high-contrast lighting, to produce vibrant paintings that challenge traditional perceptions of accessibility in the arts.

Fancy a One-Kilometer Walk on Water in Shandong?

Japanese architect Junya Ishigami has designed the Zaishui Art Museum in Rizhao, Shandong, China, a striking ivory-white structure built on an artificial lake. The museum features a one-kilometer-long immersive walkway that allows water to flow into the interior, blurring the boundary between architecture and nature. Currently, the museum hosts an exhibition on the history and production of chocolate, blending industrial displays with contemporary art.

New Austin museum exhibit tells stories of 27 festivals across Texas

The Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin has opened a new exhibition called "Texas Festivals," running through September 27. The show features artifacts from 27 festivals across the state, including a gown from Fiesta San Antonio, a sand sculpture from Sandfest in Port Aransas, an art car honoring Stevie Ray Vaughan from Houston's Art Car Parade, and mascots from the Texas Onion Fest, Hogeye Festival, and Texas State Forest Festival. The exhibition is divided into three sections exploring how festivals create community, and includes a short documentary, interactive activities, and a talk with historian Dr. Michaele Thurgood Haynes on May 3.

'American Contradictions' art exhibition extended for nation's 250th anniversary

The Idaho Press reports that the art exhibition 'American Contradictions' has been extended in celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary. The show, which explores themes of paradox and complexity in American identity, will remain on view longer than originally planned to accommodate increased public interest and align with the national milestone.

Watch inside the Harris ahead of the museum, art gallery and library’s re-opening

The article describes the ongoing preparations inside the Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library in Preston, UK, ahead of its highly anticipated re-opening. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the building's transformation, including the installation of new exhibitions, the restoration of historic architecture, and the final touches being applied by staff and contractors.

Modern Mexico City in Juan Guzman's Photographs at ICME

MODERN MEXICO CITY IN JUAN GUZMAN S PHOTOGRAPHS AT ICME

An exhibition titled 'En donde no cabe un alfiler, bien caben dos ruleteros' at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico en Espana (ICME) in Madrid showcases the photographic work of German-born photojournalist Juan Guzman. The show presents a selection from his personal archive, now part of the Fundación Televisa collection, focusing on his documentation of Mexico City's rapid mid-20th century transformation into a modern metropolis.