Bark Art Stuns Opening Night Crowd

The Wondai Regional Art Gallery in Queensland, Australia, opened its May 2025 exhibitions with a standout piece: a 3D bark portrait of the late actor Uncle Jack Charles by art student Charlotte Simpson, which won the People's Choice award. The show also features a rare photograph of a bee urinating, captured by Moffatdale photographer Liz Barratt, alongside works by the Tomlinson Family Collective and other local artists. The exhibitions were officially opened by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and will run through May 31.

In West Philly, “third space” Studio 34 offers healing to everyone

Studio 34, a wellness and community center located at 4522 Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia, is hosting a new solo exhibition by Lebanese multidisciplinary artist Tracy Chahwan. Titled “Alien of Extraordinary Abilities,” the show runs through the end of May and features over a decade of Chahwan's work in posters, textiles, and comics. The exhibition traces her journey from designing posters for Beirut's music scene and collaborating with the Samandal and Zeez comics collectives to arriving in Philadelphia during the pandemic, where she was stranded after a planned short visit turned into a permanent relocation.

月を射る @ KAG

KAG in Tokyo is presenting a group exhibition titled "月を射る" (Shooting the Moon), running from May 19 to August 16, 2026. The show takes its starting point from a prose poem of the same name by Korean poet Yun Dong-ju (1917–1945), who wrote it in 1939 under Japanese colonial rule and later died in a Fukuoka prison. The exhibition spans pre-war and wartime educational films, propaganda, performance, and contemporary fieldwork, featuring works by artists such as Inoue Kan (Lee Byung-woo), Choe Seung-hui, Kamei Fumio, Yoshimi Yasushi, Atsugi Taka, Fujii Hikaru, Yamamoto Seiko, T.T. Takemoto, Morita Reine, Gataro, and Shirakawa Masao. It examines the management models formed by the former empire and the spiritual structure of colonialism that underlies contemporary issues, centering on works that carry the "memory of censorship"—banned, deleted, or denied existence by national, administrative, or social norms.

Get a first look at the immersive art exhibit that takes over 80 rooms in a shuttered downtown L.A. hospital

The 'Hospital of Emotions' is an immersive art exhibition occupying 80 rooms across four floors of the shuttered St. Vincent Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles. Running from May 27 through July 31, the 45,000-square-foot show features over 70 artists whose works are organized into emotional departments such as grief, fear, hope, joy, and sadness. Installations incorporate the hospital's existing fixtures—surgical lights, beds, IV bags—transforming former medical spaces into interactive art experiences, including a life-size Twister game, ceramic egg-covered walls, and neon-lit beds.

art young photographer iva sidash

Iva Sidash, a Ukrainian photographer based in Kharkiv, has been recognized for her ongoing project "Seeing the Unseen," which documents everyday life on the frontlines of the Ukraine war. This year, she won an Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant and the Women Photograph Fellowship. Her work focuses on intimate, fragile moments—such as a woman folding laundry in a ruined apartment—rather than conventional images of destruction, aiming to preserve the humanity of those living through conflict.

NEYRA PÉREZ: RETURN TO ROEBIRI

NEYRA PÉREZ: RETORNO A ROEBIRI

Neyra Pérez, an Iskonawa artist, presents her exhibition "El retorno del Roebiri" at the Centro Cultural Ricardo Palma in Lima, Peru, running until May 9, 2026. The show features her distinctive kené designs, which she creates using natural materials like yakuchapana resin and virgin clay on raw canvas, fixed through sunlight and river washing. The works reference Roebiri, a mountain in the Amazonian Sierra del Divisor that was the ancestral territory of the Iskonawa people, from whom they were displaced in the late 1950s by missionaries and the military. Since 2018, Pérez has been part of a cultural revitalization effort led by anthropologist Carolina Rodríguez to recover these traditional designs and practices.

Celebrate Discovery at FAU’s Annual Art of Science Gallery Opening

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is hosting the opening of its annual Art of Science Gallery exhibition. The event celebrates the intersection of artistic and scientific inquiry, showcasing works that emerge from research and discovery.

Highland Park’s North Figueroa Bookshop teams up with Homeboy Art Institute

North Figueroa Bookshop in Highland Park has partnered with Homeboy Art Academy to present an exhibition titled "Visualizing the Future" in the bookstore's expanded gallery space. The show features photography, cyanotype, and graphic arts by artists aged 18 to 25, including works depicting street scenes, landscapes, and portraits. The May 9 opening included music from Music Heals and food vendors, with artists and community members in attendance. The exhibition was curated by Sophia Cervantes, an artist and student at El Camino College, who aimed to provide a professional platform for young creators.

‘A masterclass in authentic, emotionally resonant storytelling’: The best museum exhibition in Britain to visit in 2026

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Worcestershire, UK, won the Permanent Exhibition of the Year category at the 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards for its exhibition 'Revealing the Hidden Stories of the Showmen Community'. The show centers on a 1910 showman's grand living wagon owned by Tom Clarke, and includes 38 historic fairground signs, swing boats, an oral history section with 25 showmen, and hand-painted signage by commercial fairground artist Amy Goodwin. The exhibition was developed by collections manager Steven Hearn, who discovered the wagon in 2022 and collaborated with the National Fairground and Circus Archive and the Fairground Heritage Trust.

Grohmann Museum Exhibit Focuses on Veterans and Service

The Grohmann Museum in Milwaukee has opened a new exhibition pairing two shows by contemporary American artists focusing on military service. Ohio-born Mary Whyte's "We the People: Portraits of Veterans in America" features 50 large-scale watercolor portraits of veterans from various wars and backgrounds. Milwaukee photographer Dennis Darmek's "Boots and Sand: The Marines of 29 Palms" presents two dozen color photographs taken at the Marine Corps base in California's Mojave Desert, where Darmek himself trained in 1969. The photos capture both posed and candid moments, highlighting diversity within the modern Marine Corps, including women in combat roles.

Nelson-Aktins 1975 Chinese art exhibit still resonates in Kansas City today | Opinion

In spring 1975, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City hosted the second American stop of "The Exhibition of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China," a landmark traveling show of ancient Chinese artifacts including jade, silk, and bronze sculptures. The author, then a University of Missouri-Kansas City economics student, worked behind the scenes at the museum, describing an unusual interview conducted while gardening and his task of touch-painting gallery walls with a dry brush to cover visitor smudges before opening.

‘An entertainment pavilion on bones’: new Russian museum opens in occupied Mariupol

A new museum called Pole Bitvy (Battlefield) has opened in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, glorifying Russia's full-scale invasion and linking it to the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. Russian officials, including senator Vladimir Yakushev and project head Sergei Ladochkin, presented the museum as a symbol of liberation from 'neo-Nazis,' while Ukrainian officials condemn it as an 'entertainment pavilion on bones' in a city where tens of thousands died during the 2022 siege.

Rijksmuseum to host study exploring potential benefits of art for people with Parkinson’s

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is participating in an 18-month scientific study, funded by a $200,000 research prize from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, to investigate whether viewing art can reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The study will compare three groups: people with Parkinson’s who experience the Rijksmuseum’s collection via digital tours and low-sensory evenings, those who actively make art, and a control group with no art engagement. The research builds on a pilot study showing that creative arts therapy reduced anxiety, stress, and tremors, and even decreased hospital visits.

Exhibition featuring 24 Otoe-Missouria artists to open Sept. 5

The Great Plains Art Museum at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will open “Reflections of Our People, Our Ways, Our Land” on September 5, the first-ever exhibition centered on Otoe-Missouria artists. Featuring 24 artists from the tribe, the show spans traditional to contemporary mediums and runs through December 20. The exhibition is part of the Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors project, funded by the Mellon Foundation, which aims to promote healing and reconciliation by reconnecting the tribe to its Nebraska homelands.

Power to the people: London’s National Gallery seeks public panel to help shape its future

London's National Gallery is launching NG Citizens, a citizens' assembly that will advise the museum on its future policy and direction. Starting next month, 15,000 households across the UK will receive invitations, from which 50 participants will be selected via a civic lottery, eventually narrowing to 20 individuals who will serve on the panel for five years. The gallery states the initiative places audiences at the heart of decision-making, aiming to shape programs around the needs of diverse UK communities, though the assembly will not directly choose exhibitions or acquisitions but will produce recommendations on purpose, priorities, and public value.

National Museum of Korea names new director as part of post-election reshuffle

You Hong-jun, a Myongji University art historian and author, has been appointed director of the National Museum of Korea and its 13 provincial affiliates. This appointment is part of a broader reshuffle following South Korea's snap presidential election in June, which brought Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party to power. Other key appointments include Youn Bummo as president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, and Amal Khalaf and Evelyn Simons as co-curators of the 2026 Busan Biennale, marking the first female duo to curate that event.

Submissions invited for the Young Artist Open exhibition

The Ferens Art Gallery in Hull is inviting submissions for its annual Young Artist Open exhibition, formerly known as the Junior Open. Open to individuals, schools, and community groups, the competition is for artists aged 15 and under, with artworks accepted until July 13. Prizes are awarded in three age categories, and selected works will be displayed in a gallery exhibition from October 10, 2025, to January 11, 2026.

In a new exhibition, the British Museum traces the shared roots of three ancient Indian religions

The British Museum has opened a new exhibition, "Ancient India: Living Traditions," curated by Sushma Jansari, which presents devotional art from three of India's major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The show highlights shared roots and commonalities among these faiths, tracing their origins back to ancient nature spirits like the Yakshas, and features objects ranging from a second-century BC carving of Gaja-Lakṣmī to an 18th-century painting from Rajasthan. The exhibition also addresses colonial history and provenance, with detailed labels explaining how key objects were removed from their original sites, including the Amarāvati Stupa.

Chico State Museum of Anthropology exhibition centered on protest art

An exhibition titled "Celebrate People's History: Latin America and the Art of Protest" has opened at the Chico State Museum of Anthropology in Chico, California. Housed in the Meriam Library Building, the show features protest art from Latin America and Latinx communities in the U.S., addressing topics such as Dolores Huerta, ICE raids, and local issues like the killing of Desmond Phillips. The exhibition includes works from Pedal Press, a Chico-based organization, and offers interactive print materials for K-12 and college students, with free field trips available for school groups.

MEXICAN CURATOR ANNOUNCED FOR LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL 2027

The Liverpool Biennial has appointed Lucía Sanromán and Aimee Harrison as Co-curators for its 2027 edition. Sanromán, Chief Curator at Mexico City's MUAC, brings an international perspective on socially engaged art, while Harrison, a long-time Biennial staffer, provides deep local knowledge and experience in community-focused projects. The festival will run from June 5 to September 12, 2027, utilizing historic buildings, galleries, and unexpected spaces across the city.

Madras’ Art Adventure Gallery is celebrating 40 years of business

Art Adventure Gallery in Madras, Oregon, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gathering of over 30 people. The event featured ice cream in handpainted ceramic bowls by Jozil Ceramics and showcased a new multi-medium exhibit highlighting artists from Jefferson County. Board members Mia Kelsay and John Scheideman, along with artist Diana Krugel and gallery director Coralee Popp, spoke about the gallery's role in supporting local talent and the challenges of sustaining a nonprofit art space.

Neosho Valley Spring Art Exhibit opens at Chanute Art Gallery

The Neosho Valley Spring Art Exhibit has opened at the Chanute Art Gallery in Chanute, Kansas, showcasing original works by artists from the Four-State area. The exhibition features a variety of mediums including paintings, photography, sculpture, and ceramics, and will run through the end of the month. A reception is scheduled for May 23, with awards including a $200 best of show prize, first- and second-place prizes in each category, and a people’s choice award.

Art galleries book rooms at Austin's Loren Hotel for free Friends Fair this weekend

Friends Fair returns to Austin this weekend, transforming hotel rooms at The Loren Lady Bird Lake into temporary exhibition spaces for art galleries from across the country. Organized by Phillip Niemeyer of Northern-Southern, Meredith Williams of Martha’s Gallery, and others including McLennon Pen Co. and Ivester Contemporary, the fair will occupy 19 rooms on the hotel’s second floor, with each invited gallery creating a unique installation. The event is free to attend with an RSVP and runs Friday and Saturday.

Shaohua Nong | Shaohua Nong Animal Original Oil On Canvas "Twain II… (2015) | For Sale

Chinese artist Shaohua Nong (b. 1960, Linfen, Shanxi) is offering an original oil on canvas titled "Twain II" (2015) for sale at US$1,300 through the gallery Sojourner in New York. The 25 × 37 inch painting is hand-signed, includes a certificate of authenticity, and is listed on Artsy with a money-back and authenticity guarantee. Nong, a member of the Shanxi Branch of Chinese Artists Association, has exhibited widely in China and internationally, including at Hong Kong ART CENTRAL Art Fair, Shangshang Art Museum in Beijing, and the Nanjing International Art Exhibition.

Local creatives weave together art and action with month-long Orozco Gallery exhibit

Curator Yen Ospina has organized "We Are La Voz II," a month-long pop-up exhibition at Orozco Gallery on The Commons in Ithaca, running from April 3 to May 2. The nomadic gallery highlights Latine fiber artists, featuring works that evolve over time and include textiles, embroidery, and fiber paintings. The exhibition serves as a tribute to Debra Castillo, a Cornell professor who co-founded the first Orozco Gallery exhibit in 2024 and passed away in October 2025. Artists like Sarah Lopez and Carolina Osorio Gil contribute pieces that explore themes of identity, memory, and resilience, with Ospina using the project to process her grief and counter rising anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Salt Lake Art Show Debuts, Bringing a Community-Centric Vision to the Rapidly Growing Western Art Market

The inaugural Salt Lake Art Show will debut May 14–17, 2026 at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah. Founded by father-daughter team Kevin O’Keefe and Briana Dolan of Peaks Art Fairs and the Reno Tahoe International Art Show, the fair features nearly 200 exhibitors from 20 U.S. states and five countries, organized into six segments including Galleries, Studios & Collectives, Utah Treasures, Bespoke Furniture, Sculpture Walk, and First Nations, Indigenous Peoples. The show emphasizes accessibility, interdisciplinary programming, and community engagement, building on the Reno Tahoe model that has doubled in size twice and generated millions in art sales.

Bondi exhibition ‘Holding Light’ turns grief into collective response

Four months after the Bondi Beach terror attack that killed 15 people during a Chanukah celebration, a major exhibition titled 'Holding Light' has opened at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery. Curated by Shalom Collective and supported by Waverley Council, the show brings together 29 artists and 28 works selected through a community call-out, spanning visual art, installation, and digital media. Artists including Ella Dreyfus, Munganbana Norman Miller, Beck Feiner, Bibi Solimani, and David Solomons respond to themes of loss, memory, courage, and hope, with works such as Dreyfus's 'Nature Morte – Zikaron' documenting the spontaneous memorial near the beachfront.

GA Watercolor Society’s National Exhibition Comes to Arts Center

The Georgia Watercolor Society’s National Exhibition is returning to the Carrollton Center for the Arts from April 15 to May 22. This year’s juried showcase features 80 watercolor paintings selected from artists across the United States, ranging from highly detailed still lifes to impressionistic landscapes. The exhibition will kick off with a series of public events on April 18, including an artist demonstration by Carol Carter, an opening reception, and the society's annual meeting.

Chatham-Kent - Thames Art Gallery Celebrates Local High School Artists and Ukrainian artist Lana Matskiv

The Thames Art Gallery in Chatham-Kent is launching two concurrent exhibitions on April 17, 2026, featuring a blend of professional and student work. Ukrainian artist Lana Matskiv presents "Hyphenated," a solo exhibition of over forty pieces including paintings and installations that explore the intersection of cultural histories and personal narratives. Alongside this, the gallery hosts "Here I Am," a juried showcase of artwork by local high school students from grades 9 through 12, culminating in a public reception and awards ceremony.

Local students participate in NAA Art Show

Elementary, middle, and high school students from the Carson City School District participated in the annual Nevada Artists Association (NAA) Art Show, displaying their artwork at the NAA Gallery. The event featured a wide range of student-created pieces, celebrating the artistic talents of young people within the community.