"Restitutions": Parliament Ready to Give Everything Up

« Restitutions » : le Parlement prêt à tout lâcher

The French Parliament is moving forward with an accelerated legislative process to pass a framework law governing the restitution of cultural property to foreign states. This bill aims to streamline the return of artworks and artifacts deemed to have been illicitly acquired, fulfilling a long-standing promise made by President Emmanuel Macron to address colonial-era acquisitions and other contested heritage.

Minor Keys, Major Shifts: Sierra Leone’s Resonant Debut in Venice.

Sierra Leone has made its inaugural appearance at the 61st Venice Biennale with a pavilion titled 'Worlds of Today' located at the Liceo Guggenheim. Curated with a focus on "minor keys" rather than grand spectacles, the exhibition features Sierra Leonean artists Hawa-Jane Bangura, Ayesha Feisal, Hickmatu Bintu Leigh, and Abu Bakarr Mansaray alongside practitioners from other ECOWAS nations. The pavilion functions as a sensorial, porous space that prioritizes communal resilience and spiritual epistemologies over the commodification of identity.

The Practice of Liberation and Sanctuaries of Becoming.

Michaela Yearwood-Dan has unveiled her first major UK institutional exhibition, 'The Practice of Liberation,' at the Whitworth. The immersive installation integrates fourteen new paintings with ceramic vessels and soundscapes, reimagining traditional religious motifs through a contemporary, secular lens. By deconstructing elements like stained glass and the Stations of the Cross into abstract forms, the artist creates a sanctuary that explores themes of ritual, memory, and personal identity.

Collapse Finance, Part 1: Introduction

The global financial landscape is undergoing a structural shift toward "collapse finance," where institutions designed to manage risk are increasingly profiting from and accelerating systemic instability. Amid geopolitical turmoil and the abandonment of green initiatives, traditional concepts of market security are unravelling, replaced by a system that monetizes uncertainty through instruments like catastrophe bonds and volatile cryptocurrencies.

An Artist Embraces the Metaphorical Cracks of Matzah

Artist Emily Drew Miller has created a series of collograph prints titled "Matzot" by running sheets of matzah through a printing press. The resulting black-and-white impressions capture the intricate textures and cracks of the unleavened bread, transforming the traditional Passover food into a medium for her grid-based painting practice. The series began as a personal ritual around the holiday and has evolved into a decade-long exploration.

40 years of Hammersmith art on show – for FREE – at Riverside Studios

The Riverside Artists Group is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a major retrospective titled "PULL FOCUS" at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The exhibition features 48 artworks across various media—including oil paintings, sculptures, and digital prints—by 33 artists, alongside a 30-minute documentary film and an extensive archive of the group's history. Founded in 1986 following an open submission call that drew over 1,000 entrants, the collective has grown from a local community initiative into an international presence.

Bronx visual artist reveals exhibit 'Remember' that invites visitors to reconnect with their inner child

Bronx-based artist Ebony Bolt has launched her first solo exhibition, "Remember," at the Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education in Hunts Point. The show blends observational sketches of New York City subway commuters with digital designs, personal childhood photographs, and interactive elements like a crossword puzzle. By integrating positive affirmations and hidden symbolism, Bolt invites visitors to engage in a reflective process of reconnecting with their past and their inner child.

Thornbury artist will be featured in Wasaga Beach solo exhibit

Award-winning painter Harvey Bodach is set to present a solo exhibition at the Stonebridge Arts Hub in Wasaga Beach, running from April 16 to June 13. The showcase features Bodach’s signature realism style, focusing on wildlife and landscapes inspired by the natural world. A former educator who turned to full-time artistry in 2019, Bodach has since garnered 14 national and international awards for his meticulously composed works.

US-based dissident artist put on trial in China over satirical Mao sculptures, says rights group

Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, based in the US, has been tried in a closed-door court in China on charges of "defaming national heroes and martyrs" related to his satirical sculptures of former leader Mao Zedong. The one-day trial concluded without a verdict, and the artist faces up to three years in prison. His wife and young son, both US citizens, are under exit bans and unable to leave China.

Dalit History Month: Vaanam's Dalit art exhibit tells 'The Whole Story'

The Neelam Cultural Centre and Neelam Arts Collective have launched "The Whole Story," a significant Dalit art exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai. Featuring works by 36 artists from across India, the show is a cornerstone of the fifth Vaanam Art Festival held during Dalit History Month. The exhibition showcases a diverse range of visual practices—from Yuvadharani’s multidisciplinary pieces to S Venkatesan’s explorations of urban displacement—all centered on themes of caste, memory, and resistance.

Senior Spring Art Exhibits

Asbury University is launching its Senior Spring Art Exhibits on March 2, a semesterly tradition that serves as a capstone for graduating art majors. The exhibitions will be spread across multiple campus venues, including the Blue, Kinlaw, Purple, and Red Galleries, as well as the Reasoner Hallway Gallery. Featured students include Vanessa Fischer, Ella Nelson, Hope Eland, Joshua Owen, and Kaja Jaques, showcasing a diverse range of media such as sculpture, graphic design, photography, and fabric arts installations.

‘Fully Immersive’ Beeple Survey Lands in Silicon Valley

Digital artist Mike Winkelmann, known as Beeple, is launching a major mid-career survey titled "BEEPLE: / INFINITE_LOOP" at Node, a new non-profit art space in Silicon Valley. The exhibition features immersive installations including the kinetic sculpture "Human One," the multi-screen tower "Diffuse Control," and a comprehensive presentation of his long-running "Everydays" project. This survey marks a significant moment for the artist as he transitions from the viral NFT boom into large-scale physical and generative museum-style installations.

Hidden Oaks to host 'Big Helpers: Mutualism Magnified' art exhibit

Contemporary painter Elizabeth Schnura is set to debut her first solo exhibition, "Big Helpers: Mutualism Magnified," at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook. Running from April 15 through July 19, the showcase features large-scale, vibrant oil paintings that document the symbiotic relationships between plants and animals found within the Will County forest preserves. Schnura’s work utilizes contemporary realism to transform her own nature photography into detailed compositions that highlight often-overlooked creatures like spiders and insects.

Inside a Black Panther Family Album

Scholar Leigh Raiford examines the personal family archives of Black Panther Party leaders Kathleen and Eldridge Cleaver, specifically focusing on photographs taken during their period of exile in the 1970s. The analysis centers on how domestic objects, such as a zebra-print carver chair and various African artifacts, transitioned from private household items to iconic symbols of Black Power and cultural nationalism in the public sphere.

Warsaw’s Neon Museum sparks revival of interest in cold war signs and aesthetic

Warsaw is experiencing a significant revival of interest in its Cold War-era neon signs, a movement spearheaded by the city’s Neon Museum. Founded in 2012 by photographer Ilona Karwińska and designer David Hill, the museum has rescued hundreds of historic illuminations that were once discarded as worthless relics of the communist past. Originally commissioned by Soviet-era authorities as a form of "socialist modernization," these signs were designed by leading artists of the Polish Poster School and have now transitioned from propaganda tools to beloved cultural icons.

Could Colorado Create the Country's First Artist Corporation?

Colorado legislators are considering a bipartisan bill to establish the nation's first Artist Corporation (A-Corp), a specialized limited liability company exclusively for artists. This legal framework aims to simplify incorporation, protect intellectual property rights, and allow artists to secure investors without ceding ownership of their creative output.

Unesco-protected monastery in Lviv damaged by Russian drone strike

A Russian drone strike on the historic center of Lviv, Ukraine, on March 24 damaged multiple buildings, including the 17th-century Bernardine Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At least 27 people were injured in the attack, which saw drones hit the area of St. Andrew's Church, part of the monastery complex.

The week around the world in 20 pictures

The Guardian's weekly photo feature presents a global visual summary of the past seven days, compiled by leading photojournalists. The selection includes powerful and sometimes distressing images covering major international events, from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and a Russian drone attack in Kharkiv to a Saharan dust storm in Crete and the launch of NASA's Artemis II mission.

Marvel at Manabu Kosaka’s Hyperrealistic Paper Sculptures of Retro Objects

Japanese artist Manabu Kosaka creates hyperrealistic, scale replicas of everyday and retro objects using only paper. His meticulously crafted sculptures—ranging from 35mm film cameras and vintage transistor radios to luxury wristwatches and fast food—feature functional internal components like gears, levers, and moving hatches that mimic the mechanics of the original items.

NEVERCREW Explores Our Tenuous Relationship with Nature in Huge Murals

The artist duo NEVERCREW, composed of Christian Rebecchi and Pablo Togni, has unveiled a series of large-scale murals across Europe that confront the deteriorating relationship between humanity and the natural world. Their recent works, including the mural "Souvenir" in Vienna and "Switch" in Wuppertal, utilize surrealist imagery—such as polar bears merged with plastic toy components or whales encased in architectural structures—to illustrate how nature is increasingly viewed as an artificial, distant object rather than an integrated system.

Wicked Stepmother No Longer, a Female Pharoah Gets a Reputational Makeover

A new analysis of damaged statues from ancient Egypt is reshaping the historical narrative of Queen Hatshepsut. Researchers have re-examined 3,500-year-old statuary, finding evidence that the deliberate defacement of her images occurred decades after her death, challenging the long-held belief that her successor, Thutmose III, orchestrated an immediate campaign of destruction against her legacy out of personal animosity.

The Nicéphore-Niépce Museum is Standing Still

Le Musée Nicéphore-Niépce fait du surplace

The Musée Nicéphore-Niépce in Chalon-sur-Saône remains in a state of stagnation as long-promised modernization plans continue to stall. Despite over twenty-five years of proposals for a new facility or a "Cité de l'image," the project has become a political "sea serpent," hampered by budget cuts, staff reductions, and shifting municipal priorities. Most recently, the city declined to renew the contract of Fannie Escoulen, a former Ministry of Culture official hired to steer the project, further signaling a lack of progress.

Jean-Gabriel Peyre (1941-2026)

Jean-Gabriel Peyre (1941-2026)

Jean-Gabriel Peyre, a distinguished French art dealer and expert in antique ceramics, passed away on March 27 at the age of 85. Originally a fashion professional who worked for Jacques Esterel, Peyre transitioned to the art world in the late 1960s, establishing himself as a preeminent specialist in European ceramics from the 16th to 18th centuries. Based in Paris and later Aix-en-Provence, he was particularly renowned for his expertise in French faience and his significant personal collection of Apt ceramics.

More Drawings Put Up for Sale in Paris

Encore des dessins mis en vente à Paris

An album containing fifty-two drawings by the Van Blarenberghe family of painters and miniaturists is being auctioned in Paris on March 31, 2026, by Wattebled & Portay at Drouot. The collection includes three watercolor studies by Louis-Nicolas Van Blarenberghe directly related to the celebrated Choiseul snuffbox, a major acquisition by the Louvre in 2022.

The Cost of Love: Rugby Art Museum and Gallery presents joint exhibition by artists Charlie Kirkham and Robert Walker

Artists Charlie Kirkham and Robert Walker are set to debut a joint exhibition titled "The Cost of Love" at the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum this May. The showcase features contemporary paintings that reimagine classical mythological figures—such as Narcissus, Apollo, and Adonis—to explore psychological themes of desire, transformation, and vulnerability. While both artists maintain a focus on technical rigor and the human figure, the works shift away from traditional storytelling to focus on the emotional tensions of modern life.

Cultural Council Opens Sports-Themed Art Exhibit Ahead of World Cup

The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has launched "Kinetic Energy: A Celebration of Sport in Palm Beach County," a multi-media exhibition timed to coincide with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Featuring 14 local artists, the show explores the intersection of athletics and artistry through diverse mediums including upcycled sculpture by Mike Silverman, realistic portraiture by Anna Villa, and a painting of soccer star Lionel Messi by Kyle Lucks.

La Cloche Art Show announces its 2026 Featured Artist Robert Potvin

The organizers of the 47th La Cloche Art Show have named Robert Potvin as the Artist of Distinction for the 2026 exhibition. Potvin, a self-taught acrylic painter and elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists, is recognized for his depictions of Northern Ontario landscapes and vanishing ways of life. The announcement comes as the community prepares for the 2025 edition of the juried show, which remains a staple of the regional art scene in Whitefish Falls.

Santa Fe College Student Juried Art Exhibition on tap for Friday

Santa Fe College is set to launch its annual Student Juried Art Exhibition this Friday, April 17, at the college’s Art Gallery in Gainesville. The showcase features between 70 and 100 selected works across various mediums, including painting, photography, and ceramics, culled from over 300 student submissions. Guest juror Carly Shooster from the Sequential Artists’ Workshop will select the top prize winners, who will receive cash awards during the opening reception.

Jennie Jieun Lee Transforms Community-Sourced Kilns into Sculptural Installations

Artist Jennie Jieun Lee has unveiled a series of new sculptural installations that utilize community-sourced kilns as their primary medium. By repurposing these industrial tools into expressive, ceramic-based works, Lee explores the intersection of domestic labor, communal history, and the physical transformation of clay.

MoA+L to Present Career-Spanning Daniel Rozin Exhibition Exploring Interactive Art and Perception

The Museum of Art + Light (MoA+L) has announced a major career-spanning exhibition of Daniel Rozin’s interactive installations, titled "Interference: The Interactive Art of Daniel Rozin." Running from April 15 through September 27, 2026, the show features over three decades of work, including iconic pieces like "Wooden Mirror" and "RGB Peg Mirror No. 5." These works utilize motion-sensing technology and mechanical grids to transform the viewer’s physical presence into real-time visual data.