Youth Empowerment Shelter Artists Celebrate Creativity and Community with Local Exhibition

Young artists from the Youth Empowerment Shelter (YES) in The Dalles, Oregon, will showcase their work in a public exhibition and reception on June 13, 2025, at Yvonne’s Art Studio. The art program, revived by artist Yvonne Pepin Wakefield with seed funding from NW Natural and additional support from the Roundhouse Foundation, has provided a safe, joyful space for youth aged 11–17 to develop skills and create deeply personal artwork. The pieces will be permanently installed at SafeSpace in Hood River, a nonprofit supporting children affected by abuse and neglect.

Village Art Gallery opens on Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Village

The Village Art Gallery has opened at 200 Brevard Avenue in historic Cocoa Village, owned by local artists Bruce Reigle and Teri Roper. The gallery represents 37 artists across multiple media including painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, and jewelry, and features a dedicated music/art room with ukuleles and hand-painted guitars, as well as a workshop for building and repairing picture frames and furniture. Reigle co-founded the Ukulele Lending Program with the Brevard County Library System, and the gallery is seeking donations to expand the program to all 17 libraries. The space also offers fine-art and drawing classes, and a Crystal Bowl Meditation event is scheduled for May 29.

Orange Art Center to present first Emerging Artist Residency exhibition this summer

The Orange Art Center in Pepper Pike, Ohio, will present its first Emerging Artist Residency exhibition this summer, featuring multi-media artist Lauren Sylvia. Her show, “The Many Hues Between Brown and Blue,” explores themes of love, loss, and remembrance inspired by her late cat Twila, using watercolor, acrylic, and experimental materials. The exhibition opens during the Orange Community Art Fest on August 16 and runs through September 30.

Southern Israel art exhibition explores trauma of Oct 7

An art exhibition in southern Israel brought together religious and secular artists to process the trauma of the October 7 Hamas-led massacre. Held at the Shafir Youth Center, the event was part of the Herzog Center for Promoting Inclusive Creativity's yearlong "Creating Space" initiative, curated by Israeli designer Zohar Yerom. Works spanned movement, poetry, painting, sculpture, and video art, with interactive installations including Avivit Shaked's "The Womb" and Avital Ora Fishwait's "The Birth Room." Audience members participated by writing pre-October 7 memories and painting images of healing.

Never ‘too much.’ Local artist celebrates reclaiming own space and voice in Bonita exhibition

Local artist Bryttney-Mischele Salvant presents "Too Much Art for One's Soul," a solo exhibition at the Bonita Museum from May 3 to 5, with an opening night on May 3. The show features a retrospective of her work, a short film, live poetry, and interactive art, exploring her journey of reclaiming her identity after being told she was "too much" as a child. Salvant, a self-taught surreal expressionist, also teaches art classes at the museum in partnership with The Arc of San Diego and runs her Poetic Artistry business.

Artist Keni Arts Transforms Altadena Fire Aftermath Into Exhibition of Hope

Local artist Keni Davis, known as Keni Arts, will present his exhibition "Beauty for Ashes" at the Altadena Main Library throughout May 2025. The show documents the aftermath of January's Eaton Fire, which destroyed over 9,000 homes and businesses in Altadena, including Davis's own home, studio, and most of his paintings. Through his watercolor works, Davis captures the destruction, renewal, and emerging hope in the community he has called home since 1977.

The auction market breathes a sigh of relief – but not everywhere

Der Auktionsmarkt atmet auf – aber nicht überall

The article reports that the auction market is showing signs of fragile recovery in 2025, with Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips all posting mid-double-digit percentage increases at their London sales in March compared to the previous year. However, the article notes that the prior year was exceptionally weak, and underlying issues such as high debt levels, aggressive commission models, and unresolved succession questions continue to threaten the stability of the major auction houses.

Aging more slowly thanks to museums? Science confirms it

Vieillir moins vite grâce aux musées ? La science le confirme

A study published on May 11 in Innovation in Aging by University College London analyzed data from 3,556 adults in the UK, measuring their cultural engagement against biological age using epigenetic clocks. Researchers found that those who visit museums, exhibitions, concerts, or libraries at least once a week age approximately 4% more slowly than those who rarely participate. Even three cultural outings per year correlate with a 2% slowdown in biological aging, with monthly visits yielding a 3% effect—comparable to the benefits of physical exercise.

Exhibition openings to enjoy in May

Bundaberg Regional Galleries in Queensland, Australia, will launch five new exhibitions in May 2025, with opening events spread across the month. The shows include 'Lost in Palm Springs', a national touring exhibition curated by Dr Greer Honeywill featuring 14 artists and thinkers from America and Australia exploring Palm Springs' landscape and mid-century modern architecture; 'Shifting Perspectives: the Self Reconciliation Project' by local artist Avi Amesbury, which uses ceramics and storytelling to examine settler-colonial family history; 'Post Truth' by Gureng Gureng/Gangalu artist Darren Blackburn, addressing the Australian Government's Close the Gap campaign through led-neon signs; 'The Nature of Silk: The Glad Not Sad Book', a family-friendly exhibition of silk art by children's book author Kim Michelle Toft; and 'Metal in Motion' by Kevin Dekker, a collection of sculptures that transform steel, wood, stone and ceramics into dynamic, fluid forms. Opening events will be held at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery and Childers Arts Space, with free admission and no RSVP required.

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.

Understanding human emotions through art

An exhibition titled “Seri: Woman Perspective – Voice of Our Time” at 22Hale Street Heritage Gallery in Ipoh, Perak, brings together 10 women artists showcasing 24 paintings and six ceramic- and clay-based sculptural works. The show explores the psychology of art, emotional expression, identity, and social reflection. A parallel talk, “From Pain to Healing: The Art of Emotional Recovery,” was given by Health Ministry psychology officer Rahilah Abdul Rahim, who introduced the Art Drawing House-Tree-Person (ADHTP) technique and color-based exercises as therapeutic tools for accessing and understanding emotions.

One of Sheffield’s biggest art exhibitions to take place this weekend

Open Up Sheffield, an annual open studio event celebrating over 25 years of the city's cultural vibrancy, is holding its second leg this weekend on May 9-10. Over 140 artists across 90 venues are opening their homes and studios to the public, showcasing works from ceramics to paintings. The first leg took place over the Bank Holiday weekend, featuring artist Tom Heller, 80, who sells his work to benefit the charity Spreading Health, which trains nurses in Cameroon. The event is organized by a small committee on a not-for-profit basis and sponsored by RivelinCo.

"Ganesha" Art Exhibition: 2 Artists, 2 PerspectivesExploring Beauty of Faith through Cracks and Passage of Time

Inspiration Space in Bangkok presents "Ganesha," a dual-artist exhibition running from 9 May to 5 July 2026, curated by Kullaya Kassakul. The show features paintings by Piya Charoenmuang, who created thousands of Ganesha works daily during the COVID-19 lockdown (2021–2024), exploring faith, success, and imperfection through mixed media and texture. It also includes a ceramic Ganesha sculpture by Yonkwan Thanyaset (Paint), fired at high temperatures and repaired with Kintsugi, highlighting cracks as beauty. The exhibition unfolds in two phases: Piya's paintings from 9 May, with the full ceramic installation joining from 6 June.

Enniskillen artist unveils deeply personal exhibition

Fermanagh-born artist Rachael Johnson is set to debut her solo exhibition, "Pareidolia," at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. Running from May 1 to May 30, the show features a collection of mixed-media works that utilize paint, ink, charcoal, and organic materials to explore the psychological phenomenon of finding meaning in random patterns. The exhibition serves as a retrospective of sorts, blending new creations with selected pieces from her diverse career.

Colorado art exhibition showcases creative expressions of Long COVID, advocates for research and treatment

A new exhibition at the Artworks Center for Contemporary Art in Loveland, Colorado, titled "And Still It Remains," showcases 24 works by 15 artists living with or impacted by Long COVID. The show includes a collaborative tapestry project by artist Heather Schulte called "Stitching the Situation," which documents U.S. COVID-19 cases and deaths with blue and red stitches. The exhibition was organized by artist and nurse Sally Hartshorn, who aimed to provide a creative outlet for those affected by the condition.

Art exhibition puts Eastbourne in the frame

The Historical Society of Eastbourne is presenting an exhibition of unseen artworks and photographs at the Hutt Art Centre in May 2025. Spanning 1847 to 2025, the show includes portraits, landscapes, seascapes, and historical scenes from the eastern harbour and Eastbourne communities, featuring works by artists such as Alan G Collins, Gordon Brown, Gregory Chaston, and Charles Cheesman. Highlights include a set of photographic negatives discovered in the cupboards of Hutt Art Centre member Iris Caulfield, believed to have been found at a garage sale in the late 1980s, and a 1932 image of then-Eastbourne mayor Sam Fisher speaking at a civic ceremony.

Parkville exhibit celebrates 99-year-old artist who began drawing later in life

Nita Draut, a 99-year-old artist who began drawing at age 70, is being honored with a new exhibition at Fusion Art Gallery in Parkville. Staff at Ascend Healthcare noticed her graphite drawings and helped organize the show as she approaches her 100th birthday while receiving hospice care. Draut sketches people she encounters in everyday life, often asking strangers for permission to draw them.

Thriving Together Atlanta will transform Old Fourth Ward site into open-air art gallery

The Thriving Together Atlanta initiative is set to transform the former Atlanta Medical Center site in the Old Fourth Ward into a vibrant open-air gallery. On March 28, the project will unveil the BLVDNEXT construction art wrap, a large-scale visual installation designed to turn a construction perimeter into a public art space. The event will feature live mural painting, a Mobile Art Experience curated by NEXT and the National Black Arts Festival, and various artistic performances.

The Center Announces Community Art Gallery for HopeFest 2026

The Center for Counseling & Consultation in Great Bend, Kansas, has announced a community art gallery titled "Because Every Story Deserves to Be Seen" as part of HopeFest 2026. The gallery invites local artists, community members, and classrooms of all ages to submit artwork exploring themes of mental health, healing, resilience, and hope. Submissions in various mediums including painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture, poetry, and fiber art will be accepted through August 1, 2026, with selected works displayed at the event on September 19 and some pieces potentially shown for an extended period afterward.

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.

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.

What are therapeutic gardens and how are they designed? An expert explains

Cosa sono i giardini terapeutici e come si progettano. Ce lo spiega l’esperta

Landscape architect Monica Botta discusses the resurgence and design principles of healing gardens, specialized green spaces designed to promote physical and psychological well-being. While the therapeutic value of nature was largely ignored in mid-20th-century clinical architecture, a modern shift is reintegrating 'nature therapy' into healthcare facilities to combat stress, depression, and chronic illnesses.

Seeing the world through the eyes of twenty-somethings: IED students' photos recount the urgencies of our time at Gallerie d’Italia in Turin

Vedere il mondo con gli occhi dei ventenni. Alle Gallerie d’Italia di Torino le foto degli studenti IED raccontano le urgenze del nostro tempo

The Gallerie d’Italia in Turin is hosting "The Searchlights," a public portfolio review and exhibition featuring the work of 18 photography students from the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED). Part of the EXPOSED Torino Photo Festival, the event showcases photographic projects that tackle urgent contemporary issues including the climate crisis, mental health, and digital memory. Each student presents their work in custom-designed boxes on communal tables, facilitating direct dialogue between the young artists and the public.

Bread, Wine, and Fish: How the Archaeology of Food Tells the Story of Life in Herculaneum

Pane, vino e pesce. Tutta l’archeologia del cibo racconta che vita si faceva a Ercolano: l’itinerario gratuito

The Herculaneum Archaeological Park has launched a new thematic itinerary titled "I luoghi del cibo a Ercolano" (The Places of Food in Herculaneum), offering visitors a deep dive into the gastronomic culture of the Roman city buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD. The guided path leads through ancient street food stalls known as thermopolia, specialized wine shops, and the bakery of Sextus Patulcius Felix, where stone mills and ovens remain intact. The experience extends to the Casa dei Cervi to illustrate the social rituals of elite banqueting and includes a supplementary exhibition at Villa Campolieto featuring organic remains preserved by the eruption.

‘Eudaimonic well-being’ — the impact of art in healthcare - The Island News

The article discusses the growing recognition of art's role in healthcare settings, citing research that visual art enhances 'eudaimonic well-being'—a sense of meaning, growth, and purpose—which aids patient healing. Studies, including a 2025 review in The Journal of Positive Psychology, show that incorporating art in hospitals reduces stress and anxiety for patients and staff, improves communication, and even reduces patient aggression in high-stress areas like emergency rooms.

Art exhibit brings mental health into focus

A touring exhibition featuring work by well-established and up-and-coming Saskatchewan artists has opened at a church-turned-art gallery in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan, just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month. The show focuses on mental health themes and brings together diverse artistic voices in a small town 60 kilometres east of the Alberta border.

Mooresville Arts announces winners of 48th SpringFest Judged Show & Competition

Mooresville Arts has revealed the winners of its 48th annual SpringFest Judged Show & Competition, featuring 123 works by 66 regional artists. Tina Vincent of Charlotte secured first place for her collage titled "Black Tea," while Vanessa Thorman and Chelsea Demarest took second and third place, respectively. The exhibition, judged by Shain Gallery owner Sybil Wornall, showcases a diverse range of media including pottery, watercolor, and oil paintings.

NCI ARTworks to showcase local artists at April 10 reception

NCI ARTworks is set to host a major group exhibition featuring 25 prominent local artists from the Ottawa Art League. Opening with a public reception on April 10 at the historic Westclox building in Peru, Illinois, the showcase will feature a diverse array of mediums including woodworking, watercolor, mixed media, and ceramics. The exhibition will remain on view through late May, with all featured works available for purchase.

SWOON, the Studio Encourages Dallasites to 'Touch Grass' With Its New Multi-Sensory Art Experience

SWOON, the Studio has opened a multi-sensory art experience called "Touch Grass" at Shop SWOON inside The Joule Hotel in Dallas. The immersive installation features rolling turf hills, a projected sky ceiling, grass-covered headphones, and the scent of fresh-cut grass, inviting visitors to disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature. The exhibition runs through October 12, with proceeds supporting The Preston Project and the Grant Halliburton Foundation, a mental health nonprofit. Admission is free for visitors under 18.

Shropshire art exhibition to boost county cancer services

A new art exhibition is being organized in Shropshire, England, with the specific aim of raising funds for local cancer services. The event will feature works from artists across the county, and proceeds from sales will be donated to support healthcare provision for cancer patients in the region.