Ten artists accuse Arusha Gallery of non-payment of nearly half a million pounds

Ten artists have accused Arusha Gallery, which operates in Edinburgh and London, of failing to pay them nearly half a million pounds for sold works, with some waiting months or years for payment. Artist Charlotte Keates claims she is owed approximately £430,000 from sales dating back to 2023, while gallery owner Bella Arusha Collins King disputes the amount and asserts the gallery is entitled to a 50% cut from a collaboration Keates entered with Hermès. The gallery acknowledges missing payments, citing a downturn in the art market and the unexpected death of co-owner Guy Rowland Maxwell Bargery in January.

Exhibition | Tang Maohong, 'Simplified' at ShanghART, Singapore

ShanghART Singapore presents 'Simplified', a solo exhibition by Chinese artist Tang Maohong opening on 16 May 2026. The show features paintings developed over the past two years since his relocation to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and marks his return to Singapore after a 2019 solo exhibition and twenty years since his participation in the first Singapore Biennale. Tang's new works explore a technique of mixing colors directly on the painting surface rather than using a palette, collapsing the image and the palette into a single pictorial space.

Free curator’s tour of Expo 86 art at Surrey gallery Thursday

Curator Jordan Strom will lead a free tour of "In the Shadows of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art" at Surrey Art Gallery on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 7 p.m. The group exhibition features original and archival work from 1986 by over 50 artists, including Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, Debra Sparrow, and Paul Wong, spanning photography, painting, film, weavings, sculpture, video, performance, and installation art. The tour will be followed by a chiptune performance by Freaky DNA (Leonard J. Paul). Additional events include a beading workshop on May 30 and a closing event on June 7.

Ashish Kushwaha paints the landscape as memory, ecology, and resistance for his Delhi solo

Artist Ashish Kushwaha presents a solo exhibition titled "Where the Sky Remembers" at Palette Art Gallery in New Delhi, running through May 29, 2026. The show features landscape paintings in watercolor and acrylic that draw on Kushwaha's childhood in Chhattisgarh and his connection to nature. His works depict fields, mountains, water bodies, and skies, with humans absent but implied through huts, settlements, or boats, while animals feature prominently to emphasize coexistence with the natural world.

Fabian Perez Gallery Showcases 20 Artists in Neo-Emotionalism Exhibition

Fabian Perez Gallery in Los Angeles is hosting the Neo-Emotionalism Group Exhibition, featuring 20 artists working in painting, photography, and sculpture. The show, running through May 23, centers on feeling and memory, with artists like Shaylen Nelson, Awadé Wade, James Smith, and Martinos Aristidou presenting works that explore personal and cultural narratives. Nelson, an Afrocentric Realism painter, uses Black figures and music to place culture within traditional painting, while Wade’s piece "Abstract Love" draws on a Prince song and uses a tree as a symbol of life and transition.

14th Kibria Printmaking Fair: Celebrating a distinct artistic tradition

The 14th Kibria Printmaking Fair concluded on May 9 at Kala Kendra in Lalmatia, Bangladesh, as part of a month-long printmaking festival running from May 1 to May 23. The fair brought together printmaking studios and institutions from across the country, alongside works by pioneering late artists Safiuddin Ahmed and Mohammad Kibria. It was inaugurated by artists Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam, with a special exhibition titled "Pioneers of Printmaking" showcasing early works by key figures who established printmaking as a distinct artistic language in Bangladesh. The festival also includes workshops, artist talks, and a forthcoming "Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition" from May 12 to May 23.

5 exhibits to see at Salem’s galleries, museums in May

Salem's galleries and museums are hosting five notable exhibitions in May, including 'Jew&' at the Salem Art Association for Jewish American Heritage Month, featuring 25 local Jewish artists; 'Courage and Compassion' at the Willamette Heritage Center, exploring Japanese-American internment through local stories; the Annual Invitational Photography Show at Elsinore Framing & Fine Art Gallery; 'Confluence – Where forms converge' at the Stefani Art Gallery, pairing geometric abstraction with woodcarving; and the third annual Keizer Riverwalk Art Fair organized by the Keizer Art Association.

Hoffman Gallery hosts works by art instructors

The Hoffman Center Gallery in Manzanita, Oregon, is hosting a May exhibition featuring works by faculty members from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland. Titled "The Goat Island project," the show includes pieces by Teresa Christiansen, Kristin Bradshaw, Emily Ginsburg, Yoshi Kitai, David Eckard, Matthew Letzelter, Michelle Ross, and Kate Copeland, opening April 30 and running through May 30, with a free public reception on May 2.

Photos: Opening reception kicks off QCC Art Gallery’s 2026 Juried Student art exhibit

Queensborough Community College Art Gallery held an opening reception for its 2026 Juried Student art exhibit on April 21. The annual show, which began in 2011, features between 87 and 100 works selected as the "best of the best" from students in the Art and Design Department, with the pieces remaining on view through May 29.

New Gallery Exhibit at CU Anschutz Honors Son's Legacy

A new photo exhibition and speaker series titled "Love, Anything: 28 Expressions for 28 Luminous Years" has opened at the Fulginiti Pavilion for Bioethics and Humanities on the University of Colorado Anschutz campus. The show features 28 photographs and journal entries by the late photographer Ryyan Chacra, who died by suicide in May 2024 at age 28 while struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The opening reception on April 10 drew over 120 attendees, including family, friends, and university faculty.

BHS Senior Art showcase at Gallery 323

Bluffton High School is set to host its annual senior art exhibition at Gallery 323, showcasing the creative achievements of its graduating class. The event kicks off with an opening reception on April 23, 2026, and will remain on public display through early May.

This Indian creative has just opened a new gallery in the UK that uses art to heal

Deep Kailey, a former Vogue India fashion editor turned artistic director, has opened a new 7,500-square-foot gallery in Slough, UK, under the not-for-profit arts platform Without Shape Without Form. The inaugural exhibition, 'Reflections – Sangat and the Self' (on view until May 2, 2026), features works by South Asian artists Jasmir Creed and Roo Dhissou, alongside participatory installations like The Whisper Box and 'Focus, Form and Repeat', all designed to encourage mindfulness, meditation, and community gathering.

Simone Venturini is the new mayor of Venice: here's what he wants to do for culture (and yes, the councilor will return)

Simone Venturini è il nuovo sindaco di Venezia ecco cosa vuole fare per la cultura (e sì, tornerà l’assessore)

Simone Venturini, a 38-year-old center-right candidate, has been elected mayor of Venice in a surprise first-round victory on May 25, 2026. Born and raised in Marghera, Venturini entered politics at 22 and is seen as the protégé of outgoing mayor Luigi Brugnaro. His campaign emphasized daily belonging and crisis management experience, from the pandemic to overtourism.

Pond Gallery in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Pond Gallery, a new artist-run exhibition space, has opened in the basement of a former flower shop on the downtown square in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Founded in May 2024 by artist-friends Taylor Loftin, Ty Barnes, and Christian Schultz, the gallery operates on a DIY model, with the founders handling construction, curation, and rent. Its programming, including recent shows by Akeylah Imani Wellington and Natalie Conway, focuses on creating a communal hub for local artists.

Artspace Gallery Announces a Juried Art Exhibition: 250 Years of Expression: Freedom, Dissent and the American Voice

Artspace Gallery in Richmond, Virginia, has announced a juried art exhibition titled "250 Years of Expression: Freedom, Dissent and the American Voice," running from May 22 to July 18, 2026. The show features over 30 artworks in video, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, selected by juror Diego Sanchez, an artist and educator. An opening reception and juror talk will take place on May 22, with a Fourth Friday reception on June 26. Concurrently, the gallery will present "Of, By, For," an exhibition of works from Artspace artists' studios in the Elisabeth Flynn Chapman Gallery.

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.

Plum Bottom Hosts Outdoor Art Show

Plum Bottom Gallery in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, will host its annual outdoor art show on Memorial Day weekend, May 23–24, 2025, from 11 am to 4 pm. The event features sculpture, glass, painting, jewelry, and mixed media works by a roster of nationally collected artists, with featured artists Sue Pruss, Rose Kleman, and Curtis Hall appearing on Saturday. The gallery has also recently added Wisconsin-based photographer Tommy Nigbor to its artist roster, known for his minimalist landscapes and rural scenes.

Ten Local Galleries Part Of The First Friday Chattanooga Art Crawl

On the First Friday of May 2026, ten local galleries and studios in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will participate in the monthly First Friday Art Crawl, with extended evening hours from 5-8 PM. Participating venues include River Gallery, HART Gallery, In-Town Gallery, ICA @ UTC, BFA Open Studios @ UTC, Wavelength Space, Society of Work Northshore at The Velvet Lounge, ClearStory Arts, Stove Works, and AVA – Association for Visual Arts. Several galleries are hosting opening receptions and artist meet-and-greets, featuring artists such as David Boyd, Jim Felder, Steve Loucks, Rick Sanders, Angie To, and Kathleen Thum.

Infectious creativity

CIMA Gallery in Kolkata is hosting an exhibition titled "Outsider Art," on view until May 2, featuring works by a diverse group of individuals without formal artistic training. Participants include entrepreneur Dilip De, chartered accountant Amartya Mukherjee, danseuse Amala Shankar, musician Ayaan Ali Bangash, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, among others. The show highlights a wide range of media, from digital paintings and watercolors to photography and stoneware, all united by a raw, instinctive creativity.

Studio Sessions: Raili Jänese

Artist Raili Jänese, an Estonian-born painter now based in Kirkland, Washington, creates colorful acrylic works that capture everyday human and animal behaviors with humor and tenderness. Her practice, which began after a corporate career, focuses on observation of mundane moments—people eating, drinking coffee, riding transit, and animals in urban settings. Her upcoming solo exhibition, "E.L.U," will be on view at Ryan James Fine Arts from May 1–31, 2025, with a Gallery Night on May 22. Jänese has shown work regionally at venues including Happy Time Studio Gallery, Oxbow Montlake, and the Seattle Art Fair, and has completed public art projects in Bellevue, Kent, Kirkland, and Seattle.

2026 Annual Group Exhibition

Craighead Green Gallery in Dallas is presenting its 2026 Annual Group Exhibition, a summer survey featuring 60 artists from its program. The show includes a diverse range of works in painting, sculpture, photography, encaustic, ceramics, and fiber, highlighting both established and emerging artists. The exhibition opens with a reception on May 2nd and runs through June 20th at the gallery's Parkhouse Street location.

Dubai's DIFC transforms into open-air art gallery with over 50 sculptures

Dubai's Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has been transformed into an open-air sculpture park featuring over 50 artworks placed across walkways, plazas, and open spaces. The exhibition, titled 'Enduring Forms,' includes notable pieces such as Jerzy Kędziora's 'Pearl’s Guardian,' Elena Rede's 'We The Future,' and works by Unus Safardiar, Anna Chekh, Mert Ege Kose, and Ayla Turan. The sculptures are integrated into the daily environment of offices, cafes, and restaurants, creating a seamless blend of art and urban life. The park is free to visit and will remain on display until May 2026.

Fayetteville seeks Arkansas artists for inaugural City Hall art exhibition

Fayetteville, Arkansas, is calling on artists with ties to the state to submit work for a new year-long exhibition at City Hall. The show opens June 27 and runs through May 29, 2026, featuring selected works on the second floor. Artists may submit up to three pieces, with a $250 honorarium per selected artist. Submissions are judged on artistic quality, originality, and suitability for public display, with a committee including members of the Fayetteville Arts Council and city staff. Applications close May 16.

The delirious teaser by the creators of 'Panique au village' for the reopening of the Musée de la Figurine in Compiègne

Le teaser délirant des créateurs de « Panique au village » pour la réouverture du musée de la Figurine à Compiègne

The Musée de la Figurine in Compiègne, France, is set to reopen on May 23, 2026, after a major renovation. To promote the reopening, the museum commissioned Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar, the creators of the cult stop-motion series "Panique au village" (known for its absurd plastic figurines), to produce a teaser video. The museum, which holds a rare collection of nearly 155,000 figurines spanning from prehistory to the present, has been redesigned with a 1,000-square-meter space, six thematic areas, interactive displays, and a monumental diorama of the Battle of Waterloo featuring 12,000 figurines, now enhanced with augmented reality. Admission will be free for all from May 23 to August 16, 2026.

'Father' exhibit to make US debut at Armenian Museum. When it opens

The Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, Massachusetts, will debut the exhibition “Father” by internationally acclaimed artist Diana Markosian, running from May 29 to September 13. The show uses photography, archival materials, video, and text to document Markosian’s journey to reconnect with her estranged father, exploring themes of family, memory, and identity. Curated by Anahit Gasparyan, the exhibition is co-produced by Les Rencontres d’Arles and Foam, Amsterdam, and sponsored by the JHM Charitable Foundation. A private member preview on May 28 will feature a conversation between the artist and curator.

İrem Günaydın at thepill

İrem Günaydın is presenting a solo exhibition at thepill gallery in Istanbul, running from March 7 to May 23, 2026. The show features 46 images documenting the exhibition, with press releases available in both English and Turkish.

Patricia Fernandez at Whistle

Artist Patricia Fernandez presents a solo exhibition titled "A constellation of its other" at Whistle in Seoul. The exhibition, which runs from March 20 to May 2, 2026, features a body of work documented through extensive installation photography by Ian Yang and is supported by Commonwealth and Council in Los Angeles.

The papal residence of Castel Gandolfo had been opened to museum visits by Pope Francis, now Pope Leo closes it again

La residenza papale di Castel Gandolfo era stata aperta a visite museali da Papa Francesco, ora Papa Leone la chiude di nuovo

Pope Leo XIV is closing the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo to the public as of July 2026, ending nearly a decade of museum access initiated by Pope Francis. Online ticket sales stop on June 30, and the palace will revert to its original function as the pope's summer residence. The decision follows preparatory works begun in May 2025 and is partly motivated by security concerns, as the current temporary lodging at Villa Barberini has logistical and access-control issues.

Young Cham artist revives fading Muslim traditions through first solo exhibition

Young Cham artist Kaeu Sreypeou has opened her first solo exhibition, titled "Remembering," at SNA Arts Management in Phnom Penh, running from May 21 to August 8. The show features 18 acrylic paintings that depict traditional Cham Muslim ceremonies, such as the Mawlid Festival and the Tolak bala cleansing ritual, which are now practiced by only a few communities in Cambodia. Sreypeou, a 2023 graduate of the Royal University of Fine Arts, draws on her own memories and participation in these rituals to document and preserve Cham cultural identity.

Guild Hall Presents Exhibition Walkthrough & Artist Talk With Artist Claire Watson

Guild Hall in East Hampton will host an exhibition walkthrough and artist talk with artist Claire Watson on Thursday, May 21, from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. The event accompanies her exhibition “Claire Watson: Re-Paired,” which runs through July 19 and features sculptures and mixed-media assemblages made from salvaged leather garments, deconstructed and reconfigured using traditional sewing and pattern-making techniques. The exhibition includes over fifteen works spanning from 2012 to the present, and the talk will be led by Melanie Crader, museum director and curator of visual arts at Guild Hall.