5 art exhibitions we can’t wait to see in Toronto

Toronto is set to host a diverse array of art exhibitions this winter, ranging from historical retrospectives to contemporary multimedia installations. Key highlights include a spotlight on 1940s abstract pioneer Edna Taçon at the Art Gallery of Ontario, a cross-cultural exploration of Ukrainian and Turkish identity at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, and solo showcases by local artists Tanya Besedina, Pree Rehal, and Yue Gao across various community galleries.

Twenty Billion Won for a Single Dot: Lee Ufan Masterpieces Head to Auction

South Korea’s leading auction houses, K Auction and Seoul Auction, are headlining their February sales with monumental works by Lee Ufan. Two rare, large-scale 'Dialogue' canvases featuring the artist's signature minimalist dots are expected to fetch significant sums, with estimates reaching up to 2.4 billion won. The auctions also feature major works by other Korean masters, including an early 1955 painting by Kim Tschang-yeul and a blue monochrome piece by the late Chung Sang-Hwa.

12 must-see exhibitions in and around Los Angeles during Frieze

Los Angeles is hosting a series of major exhibitions to coincide with the Frieze Los Angeles art fair, highlighting both historical activism and contemporary social critiques. Key shows include Judith F. Baca’s exploration of her iconic 'Great Wall of Los Angeles' mural at Jeffrey Deitch, a massive survey of time-based media from the Julia Stoschek Foundation at the Variety Arts Theater, and a collaborative project between MOCA and The Brick titled 'Monuments' that recontextualizes removed Confederate statues through the lens of contemporary Black artists.

Ferndale Art March: Ceramic Group Show Opening at David Klein Gallery March 14

David Klein Gallery in Ferndale is set to host a specialized ceramic group exhibition featuring works by Marie Hermann, Del Harrow, and Ebitenyefa Baralaye. Opening on March 14, the show is integrated into the broader NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) schedule, with a dedicated artist reception planned for March 27.

A Conversation with Visual Artist Nick Cave

Acclaimed visual artist Nick Cave participated in a public lecture and live conversation moderated by Rukaiyah Adams, CEO of the 1803 Fund, as part of the Miller Family Free Day. The event centered on Cave’s multidisciplinary practice, specifically highlighting his work featured in the exhibition "Conductions: Black Imaginings II" and his iconic Soundsuits, which address themes of social justice, identity, and trauma.

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The New York art scene is witnessing a shift in the Tribeca gallery landscape as 1969 Gallery, a fixture known for championing emerging painters, has shuttered its physical space at 39 White Street. Founder Quang Bao confirmed the closure following the building owner's decision to sell the property, noting that he is currently operating from Barcelona with plans to pivot toward collaborations and residencies rather than the traditional gallery model. Meanwhile, the itinerant Ward Gallery continues to gain traction by hosting pop-up symposia at institutions like the International Center for Photography, signaling a broader trend toward real-estate-free dealership.

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Rana Begum’s solo exhibition, "Reflection," is currently on view at the Gallery at Windsor in Vero Beach, Florida, following its debut at the SCAD Museum of Art. The exhibition showcases Begum’s signature style, which utilizes industrial materials like metal bars and reflectors to create elegant abstractions influenced by American Minimalism and Islamic architecture. The show traces her journey from a young immigrant in the UK to a Royal Academician, highlighting her ability to manipulate light and color through geometric forms.

London National Gallery’s deficit bombshell, Simon Schama on birds and art, Vilhelm Hammershøi—podcast

The National Gallery in London has announced unexpected and significant budget cuts, including potential staff reductions, due to a projected deficit of £8.2 million for the upcoming year. This financial crisis comes as a surprise following the recent completion of a major building project and the announcement of another ambitious expansion planned for the 2030s.

Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum Doha Review

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The Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum has opened in Doha, Qatar, dedicated to the prolific career of the late Indian modernist Maqbool Fida Husain. Commissioned by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and designed by architect Martand Khosla based on a sketch by the artist himself, the 32,300-square-foot blue-mosaiced structure houses 150 works including paintings, films, and sculptures. The museum traces Husain’s journey from the 1950s through his final years in Qatar, highlighting his cross-cultural explorations of faith, science, and history.

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Bonhams recently concluded a highly successful auction of the Jeremy Mason collection, featuring over 500 items related to the life and legacy of Oscar Wilde. The sale, which coincided with the 125th anniversary of the author's death, achieved a total of £1.6 million ($2.1 million). Highlighting the event were iconic 1882 cabinet card portraits by Napoleon Sarony and a poignant 1900 deathbed photograph by Gilbert Maurice, which fetched £279,800 ($376,250), far exceeding its estimates.

La Jolla museum to showcase art from Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz’s private collection

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla is set to host "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz." This major exhibition features a selection of world-class works from the private holdings of the musical power couple, highlighting their significant contributions as patrons of contemporary art.

Rocky Mount art venue celebrates exhibit with opening reception

The Tar River Art Gallery at North Carolina Wesleyan University is hosting a major exhibition opening and reception on February 22. The showcase features work from over 40 regional artists across a diverse range of mediums, including painting, ceramic sculpture, fused glass, and handcrafted jewelry. The event aims to introduce several new artists to the community while celebrating established local creators.

African Visual Art Is Distinguished By Color Expression, Dynamic Rhythm – Interview

The article features an interview exploring the unique aesthetic characteristics of African visual art, emphasizing its vibrant use of color and dynamic rhythmic compositions. It delves into how traditional heritage informs contemporary practices, highlighting the evolution of the continent's artistic identity on the global stage.

2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is hosting its 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition from March 7 to March 29 at The Art Gallery. The showcase features the culminating work of five Master of Fine Arts candidates: Diane Chen, Ashley Jeneé Collins, Caroline Holmes, Sheldon Wong, and Mia Zheng. The exhibition represents the final requirement for the terminal degree in visual arts, highlighting a diverse range of practices from personal narratives to broader contextual explorations.

Local Artists: Submit entries for the Art of Trees

The Tullahoma Fine Arts Center in Moore County, Tennessee, is calling for local and regional artists to submit entries for a juried exhibition titled 'The Art of Trees,' scheduled for April 24, 2026, to coincide with Arbor Day. The exhibition seeks tree-related artwork in various mediums, including visual art, photography, sculpture, and wood carving, with submissions due by March 16.

Must-see Chicago museum openings, exhibitions and events in 2026

Chicago's cultural institutions are preparing a diverse slate of exhibitions and openings for 2026. Highlights include the Art Institute of Chicago presenting Henri Matisse's complete 'Jazz' book of cutouts for the first time, a survey of Dominican artist Firelei Báez at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the National Museum of Mexican Art exploring the history of Mexican railroad workers, and a costume design exhibition featuring Paul Tazewell's work at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. The year also features the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center and a Barbara Nessim survey at the DePaul Art Museum.

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More than 100 Cuban artists, curators, and cultural workers, including the nation's Culture Minister and prominent intellectuals, have issued an open letter titled "Cuba is Not a Threat" appealing for international intervention. They argue the US economic embargo, particularly restrictions on oil and fuel shipments, has crippled the island's infrastructure and exacerbated a severe humanitarian crisis, making stabilization efforts impossible.

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Paul Slocum, artist and gallerist, celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Dallas-based And/Or gallery, a pioneering space dedicated to new media and digital art. The gallery, founded in 2006, has championed early internet and computer-based artists like Cory Arcangel and Petra Cortright, operating from a DIY ethos largely independent of the traditional art market.

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Artnet News has published its second annual Innovators List, highlighting 35 individuals from across the global art world who are driving change. The list, curated with input from 50 art-world leaders, features a diverse range of ages, geographies, and roles, including artists, dealers, and entrepreneurs working in areas like digital art, new market centers, and institutional reform.

introducing the 2022 artnet innovators list 2215327

Artnet News has published its second annual Innovators List, highlighting 35 individuals from across the global art world who are driving change. The list, curated with input from 50 art-world leaders, features a diverse range of ages and geographies, spotlighting pioneers in digital art, institutional reform, new sales models, and Web3.

Portland Art Museum unveils major Hockney show

The Portland Art Museum has opened a major retrospective of David Hockney's work, featuring over 200 pieces spanning six decades. The exhibition, drawn from the collection of philanthropist Jordan Schnitzer, includes iconic series like the swimming pool paintings, iPad drawings, and photographic collages, and is designed with immersive, perspective-shifting gallery spaces.

Cincinnati Goes MAD for Art Museum Exhibit

The Cincinnati Art Museum is hosting the exhibition 'What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine,' which opened in November 2025 and runs through March 2026. The show, organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, traces the history of the iconic satirical publication through original comic covers, artwork, and interactive displays, highlighting its cultural impact from its 1952 origins to modern parodies.

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The British Museum has revised labels for ancient Middle Eastern artifacts in its Levant and Egypt galleries, removing the term 'Palestine' from descriptions of ancient civilizations. The institution states the changes are part of an ongoing review, driven by audience feedback and a recognition that the term is no longer historically neutral due to contemporary political sensitivities.

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This week's art industry news covers significant developments across fairs, auctions, galleries, and museums. Frieze New York announced its exhibitor list for May, highlighting a strong Central and South American gallery presence. The India Art Fair reported robust sales, with works selling for up to $1.3 million. Sotheby's will auction a major Francis Bacon self-portrait from the Joe Lewis collection, while Christie's is set to sell three masterpieces from Agnes Gund's collection, including a Mark Rothko. Gallery news includes Federica Beretta's return to Opera Gallery and David Zwirner's new representation of painter Louis Fratino. French authorities arrested nine individuals in a ticketing fraud scheme targeting the Louvre and Versailles.

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David Hockney will create a monumental 22-by-32-foot window installation for the Sunley Gallery at Turner Contemporary in Margate, UK. The work, based on a 2020 iPad painting of a Normandy sunrise, will be illuminated at night and is scheduled to be on view from April 1 to November 1 as part of the gallery's 15th-anniversary celebrations.

david hockney to paint 32 foot window installation for turner contemporary in margate 1234773520

David Hockney will create a monumental 22-by-32-foot window installation for the Sunley Gallery at Turner Contemporary in Margate, UK. The work, based on a 2020 iPad painting of a sunrise in Normandy, will be illuminated at night and will be on view from April 1 to November 1 as part of the gallery's 15th-anniversary celebrations.

Michael Joo: Sweat Models 1991–2026

Space ZeroOne in New York will present "Michael Joo: Sweat Models 1991–2026," a solo exhibition of early and newly realized works by Korean American multimedia artist Michael Joo, organized by guest curator Christopher Y. Lew. The show focuses on Joo's 1990s works, which engaged with issues like the AIDS crisis and information technology, and will feature a newly realized large-scale installation, *Concatenations*, first conceived in 1990.

David Hockney to create ten metre-long window installation for Turner Contemporary

Artist David Hockney will create a monumental, ten-meter-long window installation for the Sunley Gallery at Turner Contemporary in Margate, UK. The work, based on a 2020 iPad painting of a Normandy sunrise, will be illuminated at night and installed from April to November as part of the gallery's 15th anniversary celebrations.

David Hockney to create ten metre-long window installation for Turner Contemporary

Artist David Hockney will create a monumental, ten-meter-long window installation for the Sunley Gallery at Turner Contemporary in Margate, UK. The work, based on a 2020 iPad painting of a sunrise in Normandy, will be illuminated at night and will be on view from April to November as part of the gallery's 15th-anniversary celebrations.

A ‘showstopper’ of an exhibition at WAM: ‘Alex Katz: Theater and Dance’

The Wichita Art Museum (WAM) has opened a major exhibition titled 'Alex Katz: Theater and Dance,' focusing on the celebrated American artist's decades-long engagement with performing arts subjects. The show features over 50 works, including paintings, collages, and prints that capture the energy and aesthetics of theater and dance, highlighting a significant but less-explored facet of Katz's prolific career.