Art Center East opens new show May 1

Art Center East in La Grande, Oregon, opens a solo exhibition titled “The Warmth Within My Shadow” featuring self-reflective paintings by Pendleton-based mixed-media artist Jason Hogge. The show runs from May 1 through June 27 in ACE’s Main Gallery, with a free opening reception on May 1 from 6-8 p.m., including an artist talk at 6:30 p.m. Raffle tickets for Hogge’s original acrylic painting “Emerging” (valued at $700) will be sold to support the center’s gallery programs, and a virtual tour is available online.

Local artist Shauna McChesney hosting solo art exhibition in Cranberry in June

Local artist Shauna McChesney will host a solo exhibition titled “Colors of Nature” from June 5th to June 30th at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The opening reception runs from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 5th, and McChesney is the Cranberry Artists Network’s featured artist for June. Her work draws inspiration from the colors and textures of the natural world and incorporates a variety of media.

May-June Exhibition | Sertoma Arts Center

Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, presents its May–June Exhibition from May 4 through June 21, 2026, featuring regional artists across multiple gallery spaces. The Raleigh Room highlights Adam Cooley's "Boro Land: Layered Worlds," while the Hall Gallery displays works by Natacha Sochat and Rachel Stewart, and the Lobby Gallery showcases Beverly Lovelace, Heather Lee McLelland, and Linette Knight. An opening reception is scheduled for May 16.

“Nature’s Palette” art exhibition opening at the RACC

The Rome Art and Community Center (RACC) in Rome, New York, will host an opening reception for the “Nature’s Palette” art exhibition on April 30, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. The show features 35 local artists and over 80 works, including paintings, photography, and mixed-media pieces, all celebrating the beauty and complexity of the natural world. The exhibition runs through May 22 and is available for viewing and purchase during regular business hours.

Arts Council weaves 50 years of connection through new exhibit

The Worcester County Arts Council in Berlin, Maryland, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a juried art competition and exhibition titled “Threads of Connections.” The show invites artists to submit original works exploring relationships across communities, cultures, and shared experiences, with submissions accepted in all media. Local artist and muralist Olga Deshields will serve as juror, selecting pieces for the exhibition running May 1 through June 28 at the Arts Council’s Berlin gallery. Artwork drop-off is scheduled for April 28-30, with an opening reception on May 8.

Iran will not participate in the Biennale

Iran nimmt nicht an Biennale teil

Iran has withdrawn from the Venice Biennale, according to an announcement by the Biennale organization reported in Italian media. No reasons were given for the decision. The withdrawal comes amid significant turmoil at the Biennale just days before its official opening on Saturday: the entire jury resigned over disputes regarding the treatment of Russia and Israel, the opening ceremony was canceled, and the traditional awarding of Golden Lions at the start has been postponed to the final day in November, with winners now to be decided by visitor vote rather than a jury.

Meloni on Venice Biennale: 'I've somewhat lost track'

Meloni über Venedig-Biennale: "Habe den Überblick etwas verloren"

Days before the opening of the Venice Biennale, the entire international jury resigned in protest over Russia's participation despite its war against Ukraine. The jury had previously excluded Russia and Israel from prize consideration due to International Criminal Court warrants against their leaders. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni admitted she had "lost track" of the situation, while the government sent inspectors to Venice. Biennale organizers responded by postponing the Golden Lion awards until November and introducing two audience-choice awards that will include Russian and Israeli entries.

New experimental art gallery launches in Brighton

A new experimental art gallery, the Founders Room, is launching in Brighton in May 2026 as part of the Brighton Festival. The inaugural exhibition, titled Act 0, is organized by The Adelaide Salon in collaboration with Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival. It features works by two artist couples—Isobel Smith and The Baron Gilvan, and Lucy Newman and Bob Dixon—exploring process-led, relational, and interdisciplinary practices. The exhibition questions the boundary between artist and artwork, presenting painting, drawing, and performance-led works that blur authorship and lived experience.

Accusé de viol, le directeur du Frac Bretagne est révoqué

The director of the Frac Bretagne (Regional Contemporary Art Fund of Brittany), Étienne Bernard, has been dismissed following an internal investigation into allegations of sexual violence. The case began in October 2025 when an anonymous testimony on the Instagram account #MeTooArtContemporain accused a former art professor of sexual assault; the post noted the accused had since become a Frac director. After graffiti appeared on the Frac Bretagne building, the institution hired the external consultancy Égaé to conduct an internal inquiry. Two reports submitted in February and April 2026 documented multiple serious allegations against Bernard, including harassment and assault. The board voted unanimously to revoke his position on May 4, 2026, and the public prosecutor's office in Rennes has opened a criminal investigation for moral harassment, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and aggravated rape. Bernard denies the allegations and has filed an appeal with the administrative court.

The Museum of the Surrender of Reims Reopens After a Year of Renovations

Le Musée de la Reddition de Reims rouvre ses portes après un an de travaux

The Musée de la Reddition de Reims (Museum of the Surrender of Reims) reopened on May 7, the 81st anniversary of the German surrender signed in its map room, after a year-long closure. The renovation, costing approximately €2 million, focused on conservation: protective glazing, improved ventilation and lighting, and anoxic treatment of collections to halt degradation of original maps, documents, and war room objects. The museum also overhauled its scenography, designed by Belgian agency Kascen, to present a clearer chronological narrative covering the occupation, Allied presence in Reims, liberation, postwar reconstruction, and reconciliation, rather than just the surrender itself. The museum now displays 17 uniforms, 130 objects and weapons, and 65 archival documents, including the act of capitulation and General McAuliffe's jacket.

Jodi Stuart Opening Reception

The Art Base in Basalt, Colorado, opens its fall season with 'Toxic Positivity,' an installation of plastic-formed sculptures by Denver-based artist Jodi Stuart. The exhibition runs from October 2 to November 8, 2024, with an opening reception on October 4 featuring an artist talk. Stuart specializes in a process that combines weaving techniques with plastics, creating objects that are both light and saturated.

New art gallery brings fresh perspective to Madrona

A new art gallery called Dirkse/Prim has opened in Seattle's Madrona neighborhood, founded by married couple Michelle and Jeremy. Michelle works as an interior designer, while Jeremy is a painter of seascapes. Their debut exhibition features the work of another husband-and-wife duo, Mya Kerner and Zach Helenske, whose art is inspired by their 40-acre farm in Pennsylvania. The gallery aims to offer a warm, welcoming alternative to traditional white-box spaces, emphasizing community and approachability.

Logo Stuff: Art Exhibit Featuring the Artist Quire

The Imperfecta Gallery is presenting "Logo Stuff," a new exhibition featuring a series of paintings by artist Quire (aka Leah Hugon). The works depict contemporary commercial properties—some vacant, some occupied—paired with native plants that would have thrived in those locations, such as a closed pharmacy paired with medicinal Mullein. Quire draws on her religious upbringing and biblical stories to explore themes of societal choice, connection with nature, and what is lost in modern convenience. The show runs from June 4 to June 27, with an opening reception on June 4.

Brandon Artists Guild Unveils Spring Gallery Refresh And Welcomes New Artists

The Brandon Artists Guild in Vermont is hosting an opening reception on Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m. to unveil its spring gallery refresh at 7 Center St. The event introduces four new member artists: porcelain potter Aiden Rose Palmer from Williston, mixed-media and glass mosaic artist Lisa Steckler from Rutland, Margaret-Desiree Mug from Poultney, and fused glass tableware artist Susan Wacker-Donle from Pittsfield. The twice-yearly refresh rotates new collections from the cooperative's more than 35 regional artists, featuring painting, sculpture, and mixed media.

'Mayday' call from gallery looking for new home

Trapezium Arts, a community arts group in Bradford, UK, has issued a 'mayday' call for help to find a new home after being told it must vacate its current space in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre by June 18. The centre is slated for demolition to make way for a 1,000-home City Village development. The group, founded eight years ago by a collective of local artists, has been operating out of empty retail units and will open its final exhibition at 54 Kirkgate on Saturday, titled 'May Day!', running from May 2 to 30.

Eye opening: Artist speaks through the eyes in his artwork

Alexandre Emmanuel Henrique, a Brazilian-born artist now living in Cary, North Carolina, has a solo exhibition titled "BraFro" at the Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury. The show is part of the gallery's larger exhibit "ART from ALL Perspectives." Henrique's paintings explore his family history, particularly the story of his great-grandmother, who was enslaved in Brazil after being brought from Africa. The works use eyes as a central motif to convey emotion and narrative, ranging from sorrow to joy, with titles like "Sorrow" and "Once Upon a Time." Henrique works primarily in oils, and many pieces were created specifically for this exhibition.

North Carolina Museum of Art Winston-Salem will soon open new downtown gallery

The North Carolina Museum of Art Winston-Salem, formerly known as SECCA, will open a new downtown gallery on 4th Street this summer while renovations continue at its permanent location in Buena Vista. The space, located near where the museum first opened as an artist-run gallery 70 years ago, will host outdoor concerts, vinyl nights, and exhibitions. The inaugural show, titled "Unboxed," features works from 13 North Carolina artists who participated in the museum's Portable Gallery program, which commissions contemporary art for local school systems. The gallery opens July 16th.

Emporia Arts Council to host Deon Morrow exhibition, artist reception in June

The Emporia Arts Council will host a new exhibition titled "Movement" by artist Deon Morrow at the Trusler Gallery in the Emporia Arts Center, opening May 26 and running through June 27. An artist reception is scheduled for June 5 from 5 to 6 p.m., with additional viewing during Emporia's First Friday activities. Morrow's work explores memory, emotion, and the intangible movements of life—relationships, memories, and experiences—using layered color and gesture rather than literal representation.

EXHIBIT OPENING RECEPTION for "Forever Side by Side" with artists Randy & Debra Brienen

LeMoyne Arts in Tallahassee, Florida, is hosting an opening reception on July 11, 2024, for "Forever Side by Side," the third exhibition by artists Randy and Debra Brienen. The show features acrylic and oil works on canvas, with each artist interpreting the same subjects—inspired by Florida nature and landmarks—in their distinctive styles. The reception includes live music by Hot Tamale and refreshments from local vendors.

Opening Reception: Tallahassee Watercolor Society's 2026 Tri-State Annual Juried Water Media Exhibition

The Tallahassee Watercolor Society (TaWS) is hosting the opening reception for its 2026 Tri-State Annual Juried Water Media Exhibition on May 28, 2026, at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts in Tallahassee, Florida. The exhibition features works by local artists from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, and is juried by nationally renowned watercolor artist Don Andrews, a past board director of the American Watercolor Society whose paintings have earned multiple awards including three from the American Watercolor Society and two Best of Show awards from the New England Watercolor Society.

NHAA's Loud & Proud Opening Reception

The New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA) presents its annual regional Pride exhibition, Loud & Proud, at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH, from June 3 to 28, 2026. The show features LGBTQIA+ and allied artists from across New England, exploring themes of identity, visibility, joy, and resilience. A central component is Open Book, a collaborative project with NH Outright, where queer teens created sculptural accordion books guided by teaching artist Cara Cabral, displayed alongside the main exhibition.

PlayLab to open Saturday at Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center

PlayLab, a new hands-on learning and play space for children and families, will officially open on Saturday, May 16, at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center in Dickinson, North Dakota. Located beneath the gallery's main floor, the interactive space features 12 themed labs—including motion, discovery, building engineering, design, spark, construction, magnet, sensory, logic, space, and eco areas—each equipped with materials to foster creativity, motor skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Admission is $10 per child, and regular hours will be Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.

A long-awaited dream for local arts lovers is finally set to take center stage this weekend: The Schaap Center. 📷 by David Rodríguez Muñoz, Detroit Free Press

The Schaap Center, a long-anticipated arts venue, is finally opening this weekend, fulfilling a dream for local arts enthusiasts in the Detroit area. The center is expected to host a variety of cultural events and exhibitions, marking a significant milestone for the community's arts scene.

26th Annual North Coast Open Studios

The 26th Annual North Coast Open Studios (NCOS) will take place on weekends June 6-7 and June 13-14, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a kickoff art night on Friday, June 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event features 150 local artists opening their studios to the public between Eureka and Trinidad, and east to Willow Creek. A DreamMaker project of the Ink People, NCOS offers visitors the chance to see artists in their creative spaces, purchase art directly from makers, and enjoy the 'creative disaster' of working studios. Some artists are open by appointment year-round, and the Friday kickoff overlaps with Eureka Friday Night Markets.

Henryk Ptasiewicz, His Life, His Art

Henryk Ptasiewicz, a British-born artist who became a fixture of the St. Louis art scene, died on October 22, 2025. He moved to St. Louis in 1999, built a practice through commissions and teaching, and in 2014 was invited to paint fiberglass cake sculptures for the city's 250th birthday, featuring figures like Dred Scott and Vincent Price. He was also a founding member of the Missouri Plein Air Painters and a frequent winner on the regional plein air competition circuit.

Gallery 50 welcomes spring with “Here Comes the Sun”

Gallery 50 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, is hosting an opening reception for its new spring exhibition, “Here Comes the Sun,” on May 8 from 5:30–8 p.m. The show features 11 local artists—Jonathan Frazier, Robyn Jacobs, Sarah Maclay, Pat McCleary, Mary Moores, Judy Pyle, Jayne Shord, Anne St. John, Lindsay Tozier-School, Anita Williams, and curator Marti Yeager—presenting works in oil, acrylic, pastel, photography, watercolor, and enamel on copper. The evening also includes the unveiling of a mural by California-based artist Nigel Sussman, live music from Sons of Pitches, and new fine art and crafts for sale. The exhibition runs through August 1, 2026.

Art exhibits to open Sunday in Port Hadlock

A reception for artists Britt Greenland and Quimper Art will be held Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Bayside Art Gallery in Port Hadlock, Washington. The event celebrates the opening of two exhibits: Greenland's "Shimmering Light," featuring ten new oil paintings of Cascade and Puget Sound landscapes, and Quimper Arts' "Painted From Life," a group show of works in charcoal, pastel, and watercolor created through direct observation. All artwork is for sale, with proceeds benefiting Bayside Housing and Services, a local nonprofit supporting people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Jefferson County.

Art Beyond the Canvas: 'Anyflatsurface' opens in Callander on Saturday

The Alex Dufresne Gallery in Callander, Ontario, is presenting 'Anyflatsurface', a solo exhibition by self-taught Northern Ontario visual artist Joyce Effinger, opening on May 9, 2026. The show features paintings on both traditional canvas and unconventional materials such as paddles, saws, rocks, cloth, and found objects, transforming everyday items into vibrant celebrations of color and place.

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.

After nearly a year of renovations, MOCAD reopens with major upgrades, new exhibitions and a renewed commitment to Detroit’s contemporary art scene. See link below ⬇️ 📸 Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press

After nearly a year of renovations, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) has reopened with major upgrades to its facilities and a slate of new exhibitions. The renovations include improvements to gallery spaces, infrastructure, and accessibility, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and supporting larger, more ambitious presentations.