Plattsburgh art exhibition spotlights intersection of art and mental health

An ongoing exhibition in downtown Plattsburgh, titled “Holding Space: A Community Exhibition on Art and Mental Health,” is on display at the Strand Center for the Arts through May 30 for Mental Health Awareness Month. The show, a collaboration between the Strand and Behavioral Health Services North (BHSN), features artwork from individuals in BHSN’s recovery programs, including pieces by Barb Guay, who runs a recovery program and creative expression therapy group at BHSN. Guay’s watercolor self-care plan, with panels like “Pink Power Suit Barbara” and “Fruit Bat Barbara,” explores her own recovery from opioid and cocaine use since 2015, as well as her chronic illness and artistic identity.

Midcoast Health Collective open house, art show during Rockland First Friday Art Walk

Midcoast Health Collective in Rockland, Maine, is hosting a free open house and art show on Friday, June 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., coinciding with the city's First Friday Art Walk. The event at 558 Main Street will feature a tour of the wellness space, light refreshments, and an exhibition of abstract mixed-media and oil paintings by practitioner and artist Erika Manning, whose work explores the spaces between landscape and consciousness. Manning's artwork will be available for viewing and purchase, and visitors can meet the collective's practitioners, including a naturopathic doctor, a holistic dentist, and massage therapists.

Art in the Multicultural Center Opening Reception: "I Am My Ancestors" by Jean Bernard Thomas

Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Haitian American Art Network, Inc. will present an exhibition titled "I Am My Ancestors" by Haitian-born painter Jean Bernard Thomas at the Orange County Multicultural Center Art Gallery in Orlando, Florida. An opening reception is scheduled for May 13, 2026, with the display running through June 16, 2026. Thomas, a co-artistic director of HAAN, creates works blending still life, abstract, and surrealist styles that explore humanity's relationship with nature and Haiti's cultural heritage.

"For me, art is less about the finished piece and more about the journey"

Rotherham-born, Sheffield-based textile artist Jodie Cooper, who specializes in free-motion embroidery, discusses her journey from completing a degree in Fine and Applied Arts at University Centre Rotherham to becoming a full-time artist. She was commissioned by ArtWorks Together International and East Midlands Railway to create a tactile tapestry installation at Sheffield Train Station, running until 15 June, which explores themes of travel anxiety, neurodiversity, and accessibility. Cooper also shares her work through ArtWorks Together International Festival at Millennium Gallery and local art markets.

Three Exhibitions To Launch At Gallery

Broken Hill City Art Gallery in New South Wales will launch three exhibitions on May 8, 2026: 'Saltbush Country,' featuring contemporary Aboriginal women artists from regional South Australia; 'ARTEXPRESS 2026,' showcasing exemplary Higher School Certificate Visual Arts works by students across the state; and 'Footsteps in the Desert,' a solo show by local artist Ann Evers using natural and found materials. The opening night is free and includes bar facilities, with exhibitions running through July 26, 2026.

Equatorial Guinea debuts at the Venice Biennale with Paraguayan artist Ingrid Seall and the theme of undergrowth

Equatorial Guinea makes its debut at the Venice Biennale with a national pavilion at Palazzo Donà dalle Rose, featuring Paraguayan artist Ingrid Seall and her work "Manar." The pavilion, titled "The Forest: The Undergrowth," runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026, and presents an immersive journey inspired by Equatorial Guinea's forests. Seall's piece uses materials like paper, cellulose, iron, and cassava paste to create a vertical, living organism that transforms waste into vital matter. The exhibition includes works by multiple international artists and is curated by Joan Abelló, with Brazilian commissioner Paulo Speller.

This solo exhibition in Mumbai by Koshy Brahmatmaj draws from pain

Koshy Brahmatmaj's debut solo exhibition, titled 'how do i make you believe,' is currently on view in Mumbai. The show presents artworks that draw from personal pain and limitation, with the artist choosing to work within constraints rather than against them. Images of the exhibition have been released by the gallery, showing pieces that reflect Brahmatmaj's engagement with themes of ecology, identity, archives, and community-based practice.

Leeum's installation art exhibition explores women-led history of genre

The Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul will open the exhibition "Inside Other Spaces" on May 5, featuring 11 installation artists from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The show reconstructs full-scale environments from 1956 to 1976, including Korean artist Jung Kang-ja's "Incorporeal Exhibition" (1970), which was forcibly dismantled by the Korean government and is being rebuilt for the first time. The exhibition previously appeared at Munich's Haus der Kunst, Rome's Maxxi, and Hong Kong's M+, with each venue expanding its scope.

Venezia Comics Celebrates Paolo Ongaro at Upcoming Festival

Italian cultural association Venezia Comics has announced an exhibition dedicated to comics artist Paolo Ongaro at its upcoming festival (1st–3rd May 2026). The exhibition, titled “Paolo Ongaro, il poeta dell’avventura” (“Paolo Ongaro: The Poet of Adventure”), will feature a range of his published work, with a focus on his series Spazio Chiama Atlantide. The event is organized in partnership with Storytelling Edizioni, which is also publishing the first volume of reprints of Ongaro’s stories. Ongaro, a recognized master of Italian comics born in Mestre in 1946, has worked for publishers such as Rizzoli, Mondadori, Disney, and Bonelli, and has drawn iconic characters including Tarzan, Diabolik, Mickey Mouse, and Martin Mystère. He will be present at the festival all three days for signings and chats.

Great Neck library to host sculpture exhibition by Dr. Suzanne Posner

The Great Neck Library will host a summer sculpture exhibition titled "Swim or Fly" featuring works by local artist Dr. Suzanne Posner from May 1 through July 31 at the Main Library. The sculptures will be displayed atop bookshelves in the Reference Study Area, with a public reception on June 6. Posner, a direct carver with 30 years of experience working in stone, transitioned to full-time artistry after retiring from dentistry following a Parkinson's Disease diagnosis.

Bavarian State Police Return Saint Figures to the Czech Republic

LKA gibt Heiligenfiguren an Tschechien zurück

Bavarian state police (LKA) have returned five stolen religious sculptures—saints and angel figures—to Czech authorities. The artworks, some dating back centuries, were stolen from Czech churches as early as 1993 and later offered for online sale in Bavaria and Berlin. The handover ceremony took place in Prague, coordinated with Germany's Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM).

The world’s finest nature images are now on display at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (SMAG)

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has opened at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (SMAG) in Shropshire, UK, running until 20 June 2026. On loan from the Natural History Museum in London, the show features over 60,000 entries judged anonymously by an international panel, including a striking image of a lioness and cobra by Gabriella Comi. Alongside the main exhibition, a community photography competition highlights local Shropshire photographers focusing on 'Wildlife on your doorstep'.

Amyafrique Art Gallery set for debut, founder shares story of resilience and reinvention

Amyafrique Art Gallery, founded by Nigerian entrepreneur Okpara Judith Amarachi, is set to open in Lagos next month as a platform for African creativity. Amarachi, who transitioned from careers in fashion, modeling, and aviation after a life-changing visit to a Lagos gallery, launched the brand in 2021 and has since achieved milestones including the sale of a ₦10 million sculpture.

La storica discoteca Paradiso di Rimini si trasforma in un polo per l’arte. La storia

The historic Paradiso nightclub in Rimini, Italy, which opened in 1957 and became one of Europe's most famous discos, is being transformed into a cultural hub. Acquired at auction in 2018 by Filo Srl after years of abandonment, the site underwent extensive renovation beginning in 2023. The new venue, named Casa Paradiso Art Gallery, is set to open between October and November 2026. It will feature art exhibitions, fashion shows, and corporate events, housed in a sustainable building that retains symbolic elements of its past, such as the iconic entrance gate.

Rome: A new cultural space opens in Trastevere (there's also an art radio station)

Roma: apre a Trastevere un nuovo spazio culturale (c’è anche un radio sull’arte)

A new cultural space called ASIF has opened in Rome's Trastevere district at Via della Lungara 24, launching on May 8 with an exhibition titled "Educazione sentimentale per architetti" by artist and illustrator Chiara Carrer, running until June 20. The space is distinguished by an accompanying radio station that extends its reach through programs exploring art and the city, with a team including Yasmin Rosciglione, Arturo Zanaica, Novella Hoffer, Iacopo Taddia, Monica Dell'acqua, Edoardo Taddia, and Blanca Castro Xiques. The inaugural show, curated by Bonvini 1909 (named Artribune's gallery of the year in 2025), features over sixty works including collages, engravings, and sculptures centered on the theme of dwelling.

Reasoning beyond accounting: here is the first step for a valuation of cultural heritage

Ragionare oltre la contabilità: ecco il primo step per una valutazione del patrimonio culturale

Angelo Argento recently published an article examining the valuation of cultural heritage in light of ongoing public accounting reforms in Italy. The piece moves beyond iconic landmarks like the Colosseum or Uffizi to focus on smaller, territorial assets such as archives, civic museums, and lesser-known archaeological sites, questioning how and whether a specific economic value can be assigned to them. It explores different international approaches—from market-based valuations in Australia and France to symbolic €1 entries in the U.S.—highlighting the global trend toward quantifying cultural heritage.

Interview with French cartoonist Hugo Didier who draws the Cannes Film Festival 79

Intervista al fumettista francese Hugo Didier che disegna il Festival di Cannes 79

French cartoonist and illustrator Hugo Didier (Paris, 1993) has been commissioned to reinterpret and narrate the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival (May 12–23) through his drawings, which have appeared on the festival's official Instagram account. In an interview, Didier discusses how cinema influences his visual imagination, his preference for traditional drawing techniques (nib pens, Rotring technical pen, ink washes, watercolor) over digital, and his creative process that often begins with spontaneous sketches. He also reflects on the role of comics in contemporary French culture, noting their ability to explore diverse themes and reach wide audiences through a playful yet accessible medium.

Chiamata aperta ad artisti e architetti under 35 a Roma. Obiettivo? Progettare un’opera in dialogo col Gazometro

A new open call for artists and architects under 35 has been launched in Rome, inviting proposals for a public artwork in dialogue with the iconic Gazometro (gasometer) in the Ostiense district. The initiative is promoted by Spazio Taverna in collaboration with Eni and ROAD – Rome Advanced District, and was announced on May 21 during the event "ON THE ROAD – Distretti di Innovazione." Participants are asked to design a monument, pavilion, or installation that engages with the former industrial complex, now a creative hub hosting the cultural program Arte al Gazometro since 2024. A jury including Marco Bassan, Ludovico Pratesi, Mattia Voltaggio, Claudio Quaternato, and Lorenza Baroncelli will select the winner, who will receive a €3,000 prize; the ten finalists will be published on Artribune and gain access to a Masterclass at the School of Vision. Submissions are open from May 21 to July 31, 2026, with results announced in September.

Buongiorno Ceramica! 2026 is underway. All the unmissable events of the twelfth edition

Al via Buongiorno Ceramica! 2026. Tutti gli eventi da non perdere della dodicesima edizione

The twelfth edition of "Buongiorno Ceramica!" will take place on May 23-24, 2026, transforming historic centers, museums, and workshops across Italy into open-air laboratories. The event spans from Piedmont to Sicily, featuring exhibitions, installations, guided tours, performances, tastings, and gastronomic events. Highlights include the Ceramiche Sonore competition in Castellamonte, the Museo della Ceramica's tribute to Marco Levi in Mondovì, and open studios in Montelupo Fiorentino, with participation from 60 cities organized by the Associazione Italiana Città della Ceramica.

Le dimore storiche sono il più vasto e straordinario museo diffuso d’Italia. Una giornata per celebrarle

On Sunday, May 24, 2026, Italian historic homes will open their doors free to the public as part of the 16th National Day promoted by ADSI – Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane. The 2025 edition involved over 500 properties and more than 250,000 visitors, highlighting the widespread cultural heritage across Italy. The article argues that this event is not merely cultural or tourist-oriented but raises broader questions about the future of Italy's fragile territories and the need for a cohesive national strategy for territorial rebalancing.

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.

Santarcangelo Festival 2026: The Village Fills with Performances, Speaking of the Body as a Political Space Under Pressure

Santarcangelo Festival 2026, il borgo che si riempie di performance parlando di corpo come spazio politico sotto pressione

The 56th edition of the Santarcangelo Festival, titled "Deep Pressures," will take place from July 3 to 12, 2026, in the historic town of Santarcangelo, Italy. Curated by Tomasz Kirenczuk in his final year as artistic director, the festival transforms the town into a "city-festival" with over 100 events including performances, concerts, and participatory practices. The program explores the body as a political space under pressure—from geopolitical conflict and colonial legacies to emotional and social tensions. Key works include "In relation to whom?" by Palestinian artists Marah Haj Hussein and Nur Garabli, "When I Saw the Sea" by Lebanese choreographer Ali Chahrour, and "Homem Novo" by Mozambican artist Yuck Miranda, among others. The festival was presented at Mambo in Bologna, with Kirenczuk emphasizing that the role of the festival is to be unsettling, not reassuring.

In Pompeii, an immersive experience is born that takes visitors back to 79 AD. Here's how it works

A Pompei nasce un’esperienza immersiva che riporta i visitatori proprio al 79 d.C. Ecco come funziona

A new immersive experience called Discovery Pompeii Alive is set to open in June 2026 at the MaxiMall Pompeii, just steps from the archaeological site of Pompeii. Developed by 3DBA and managed by Irgenre Group in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, the project uses multisensory technology, spatial sound design, and interactive devices to transport visitors back to the hours before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The experience aims to reconstruct daily life in ancient Pompeii—its villas, public spaces, and homes—culminating in the eruption itself, blending historical reconstruction with emotional engagement.

C’è un museo di Torino che cerca 100 lampade per realizzare una grande installazione. Ecco come partecipare

The MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale in Turin has launched an open call titled "We need your light," inviting the public to lend up to three lamps each for a large-scale collective installation. Participants can deliver their lamps on May 17-18, 2026, by booking a time slot via Eventbrite; the museum will collect the objects, rewire them for safety, and incorporate them into a site-specific artwork debuting during Turin's Art Week in October 2026. The museum also encourages lenders to share the story behind their lamp, which will be filmed and included in the exhibition.

The Biennale and the Weight of Flags. What Is the Point of National Pavilions?

La Biennale e il peso delle bandiere. Che senso hanno i padiglioni nazionali?

The article examines the inherent contradiction within the Venice Biennale: its historical structure of national pavilions, a legacy of 19th-century world fairs and state-sponsored art, clashes with the transnational, post-identity vision of the international exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The return of the Russia Pavilion amid geopolitical conflict and the international show titled "In Minor Keys," which rejects national belonging as an interpretive criterion, highlight this tension. The piece also addresses the controversy over the lack of Italian artists in the main exhibition, questioning whether a Biennale hosted in Italy should guarantee national representation.

A Fiumicino torna la open call per artisti emergenti che trasforma spazi commerciali in culturali

The WOW SIDE shopping centre in Fiumicino, Italy, has launched an open call for emerging artists as part of its PostArt project, now in its second edition. The 2026 theme is "La Voce" (The Voice), inviting artists to create works during a residency inside the shopping centre from June 26 to 28, 2026. The call is open until May 30, 2026, and selected works will be exhibited in the centre's galleries.

The church, the village, the park. FAI's 'Places of the Heart' returns to save ruins

La chiesa, il borgo, il parco. Tornano i Luoghi del Cuore del FAI per salvare i beni in rovina

The Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (FAI) has launched the 13th edition of its "Luoghi del Cuore" (Places of the Heart) initiative, a biennial census that invites Italians to vote for cultural heritage sites most in need of restoration. Since 2003, the campaign has collected over 13.5 million votes, with the 2024 edition alone receiving more than 2.3 million votes for over 41,000 sites across 6,508 municipalities. The initiative has funded 180 recovery projects, 40% of which involve churches, followed by environmental, architectural, and archaeological assets. Notable successes include the Church of San Pietro dei Samari in Gallipoli, the Oratorio del Sasso in Orasso, and the Complesso di Sant’Angelo Magno in Ascoli Piceno.

Stefano Boeri designs a new monastery that will be born in Milan in the district where Expo 2015 was held

Stefano Boeri progetta un nuovo monastero che nascerà a Milano nel quartiere dove si fece l’Expo2015

Stefano Boeri Architetti has designed a new monastery, the Monastero Ambrosiano, to be built by 2029 in the Mind – Milano Innovation District, the tech hub developed on the site of Expo 2015 in Milan. Presented at the Abbey of Chiaravalle, the project is commissioned by the Diocese of Milan and includes a church for 300-350 worshippers, a Cloister of Religions, a Garden of Religions, and a Library of Religions, blending contemporary architecture with monastic tradition and interfaith dialogue.

The Story of Alexey Shor: From Mathematician to Contemporary Classical Composer. The Interview

La storia di Alexey Shor: da matematico a compositore classico contemporaneo. L’intervista

Alexey Shor, a 1970-born Ukrainian-American composer who originally earned a PhD in mathematics and worked in finance, has transitioned to a full-time career in contemporary classical music. From April 28 to 30, 2026, his neo-romantic compositions were performed at the Auditorium RAI "Arturo Toscanini" in Turin, Italy, by the RAI National Symphony Orchestra under Estonian conductor Anu Tali, alongside works by Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and Grieg. The concerts featured renowned musicians including Russian conductor Mikhail Pletnev, violinist Giuseppe Gibboni, violinist Daniel Lozakovich, and pianist Arsenii Moon. In an interview with Artribune, Shor discussed his dual career, his emotional connection to audiences, and his openness to having his music used in films.

During the Venice Biennale there is also the Ibiza Pavilion, inside a takeaway pizzeria

Durante la Biennale di Venezia c’è anche il Padiglione Ibiza, dentro una pizzeria da asporto

During the Venice Art Biennale, an independent project called the Ibiza Pavilion opens from May 7 to 9, 2026, inside Pizza al Volo, a popular takeaway pizzeria in Campo Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro. Conceived and curated by Margherita Chiarva with support from Victoria Genzini and Gabriele Della Maddalena, the three-day initiative features a group exhibition, performances, collective embroidery, tarot readings, and somatic practices by international artists connected to Ibiza through experience or collaboration, including Noemi Manser, Beatrice Dettori, Liz Kueneke, COSIMA, and Maria Giulia Alvigini.