10 area artists featured in latest Charles Beck Gallery exhibit

Ten regional artists are featured in 'Second Wind,' a new exhibition opening August 19 at the Charles Beck Gallery on the M State Fergus Falls campus. The show includes paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and other works by Shirlee Daulton, Kim Embretson, Kandace Creel Falcón, Kent Kapplinger, Dan Meckle, Ken Omundson, Susan Seaborn, Sandy Thimgan, Malcolm Thompson, and Mary Jo Wentz. An artist reception will be held September 25. The exhibit was conceived by M State Ceramics Faculty Lori Charest, who was inspired by former President George W. Bush taking up painting after his political career; though Bush declined to participate, Charest pivoted to highlight local artists who found creative renewal later in life.

Awash in color: Newport Beach Art Exhibition showcases over 200 works by area artists

The 58th annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition took place on June 30, 2025, at the Newport Beach Civic Center, drawing about 2,000 attendees. The one-day event featured over 240 artworks including paintings, sculptures, photography, and mixed media, displayed in the Community Room and Civic Green. Notable participants included Joyce Cox, whose oil on linen painting "Soaking Up The Zen" attracted attention; Jeff Guzzetta, who won third place in 3-D art for a stained glass mosaic surfboard titled "Sol"; and Elena Kealy, who received the Juror's Choice Award for her oil on canvas work "Bliss." Other award winners included Kevin Avery, who took second place in Photography for "Rich Strike." The exhibition was organized by the Newport Beach Library and supported by the Newport Beach Arts Foundation.

Anxious collectors are increasingly turning to freeport havens, experts say

Rising tariffs, geopolitical instability, and extreme weather events are driving art collectors to move valuable items into secure, tax-friendly freeports, particularly in Switzerland. Experts Alexandre Ducamp of Natural le Coultre and Fritz Dietl of Delaware Freeport report a significant increase in clients over the past three years, citing the war in Ukraine, multiple ongoing conflicts, and President Trump's April 2025 'Liberation Day' tariffs as key factors. Collectors are using freeports in Geneva, Zurich, Basel, and Chiasso, as well as foreign trade zones in Delaware, to delay or avoid import duties on items like design furniture, antiques, and Chinese-origin artworks, with some purchases being cancelled due to new tariffs.

Mandarin Oriental, Macau marks 15th anniversary with new art exhibition

Mandarin Oriental, Macau launched a new contemporary Chinese art exhibition titled "Modern Vision, Timeless Technique" to mark its 15th anniversary at its current location. The exhibition, running until 31 August in the hotel's lobby and Lobby Lounge, features 15 works by local female artists Leong Kit Man and Tsang Tseng Tseng. Curated by Alice Kok, president of the Art For All Society (AFA), the show highlights how the artists blend traditional Chinese painting techniques with modern aesthetics. VIPs including government officials and cultural figures attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the hotel's executive chef created canapés inspired by the artworks.

Women artists 'take up space' at the biggest gallery in town

Hangar Art Co. in downtown Bloomington has opened "Women Taking Up Space," a group exhibition organized by local artist Lori Laughlin featuring works by nine women artists including Jenni Bateman, Deana Moore Schoolcraft, Cindy Lawson Flynn, Jane Reed Wilson, Cathie Haab, Kristine Stayton, Basha Ontiveros, and Laughlin herself. The show, inspired by Mexican artist Cesar Cruz's quote about comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable, emerged from conversations among the Plein Air of McLean County painting group following the presidential election. Works include Jane Reed Wilson's "Flowers are Lovely But I'd Prefer a Revolution" and Laughlin's portrait of Gisèle Pelicot, with a QR code linking to a Time article about Pelicot's public trial for sexual assault.

Biennale Jury Will Not Consider Countries with ICC Allegations

Biennale-Jury will Länder mit IStGH-Vorwürfen nicht berücksichtigen

The jury of the Venice Art Biennale has announced that it will not consider countries whose heads of state or government face allegations of crimes against humanity from the International Criminal Court (ICC) when awarding prizes this year. The jury, led by Brazilian art historian Solange Farkas, cited its commitment to defending human rights. While no specific countries were named, the ICC currently has arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The Biennale leadership stated the jury acted in full autonomy and independence.

US Government Submits Plans for Triumphal Arch to Commission

US-Regierung reicht Plan für Triumphbogen bei Kommission ein

President Donald Trump has submitted formal plans to the Commission of Fine Arts for a monumental triumphal arch to be located near Washington, D.C. Proposed to stand at 76 meters tall, the structure would significantly surpass the height of Paris's Arc de Triomphe. The project, which Trump describes as the "largest and most beautiful" in the world, is slated for a site near the Arlington Memorial Bridge leading to the Lincoln Memorial.

Catherine Pégard calls on an expert for the general secretariat

Catherine Pégard fait appel à un expert pour le secrétariat général

Catherine Pégard, the president of the Palace of Versailles, has appointed Jérôme Rivoisy as the new Secretary General of the institution, effective April 7. Rivoisy, a 58-year-old high-ranking civil servant, replaces Luc Allaire and brings extensive experience from senior roles in the French government, including as director general of services at the Élysée Palace and as a master advisor at the Court of Auditors.

Art exhibition puts Eastbourne in the frame

The Historical Society of Eastbourne is presenting an exhibition of unseen artworks and photographs at the Hutt Art Centre in May 2025. Spanning 1847 to 2025, the show includes portraits, landscapes, seascapes, and historical scenes from the eastern harbour and Eastbourne communities, featuring works by artists such as Alan G Collins, Gordon Brown, Gregory Chaston, and Charles Cheesman. Highlights include a set of photographic negatives discovered in the cupboards of Hutt Art Centre member Iris Caulfield, believed to have been found at a garage sale in the late 1980s, and a 1932 image of then-Eastbourne mayor Sam Fisher speaking at a civic ceremony.

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.

Expo Chicago art fair returns with a ‘refined’ floor plan and Obama Center ties

Expo Chicago, the city's major international art fair, has opened its 2024 edition at Navy Pier with a redesigned floor plan intended to improve visitor flow and gallery visibility. The fair features over 170 galleries from 29 countries, with a notable contingent of Chicago-based exhibitors and a special section dedicated to art from the African diaspora.

Beijing Artists Association Holds Third Session of Seventh Council and Art Committee Work Conference

北京美术家协会召开第七届理事会第三次会议、艺委会工作会议

The Beijing Artists Association convened its Seventh Council Third Session and Art Committee Work Conference at the Beijing Conference Center. The meeting was chaired by Fan Di'an, President of both the China Artists Association and the Beijing Artists Association, with Ma Xinming, Party Secretary and Executive Vice Chairman of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, also delivering a speech. Key agenda items included reviewing the council's work report, discussing a draft five-year high-quality development action plan for the city's art sector, and announcing the membership list for a new working committee focused on new artistic groups. The afternoon featured group discussions where participants proposed recommendations on thematic creation, technology integration, talent cultivation, and rural revitalization.

LCCC student artists receive awards during exhibition opening night

The Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) held the opening night of its 2026 Communication Arts Student Art Exhibition at the Schulman Gallery on May 8. During the event, President John Yudichak and Schulman Gallery Curator Robert Husty presented the President’s Choice Awards to student artists. The exhibition will remain on display through Friday, June 5, and is open to the public weekdays.

Brixham Art Society to host nautical exhibition alongside heritage sailing regatta

Brixham Art Society will host a three-day nautical-themed art exhibition at the Brixham Conservative Club from May 22 to May 24, running alongside the town's annual Heritage Sailing Regatta. The exhibition will feature maritime-inspired paintings by local and professional artists from Torbay and Brixham, including works depicting the heritage vessel Our Daddy, and will offer affordable greeting cards and original artwork for sale. Newly elected society president Mackenzie Moulton has created a painting of one of the regatta's heritage boats to connect the exhibition directly to the sailing event.

Lotus-themed exhibition honors President Ho Chi Minh

An exhibition themed around the lotus flower has been organized to honor President Ho Chi Minh, showcasing artworks that draw symbolic connections between the lotus—a national emblem of purity and resilience—and the revolutionary leader's legacy. The event features paintings, sculptures, and installations by multiple artists, all centered on this botanical motif as a tribute to Ho Chi Minh's life and ideals.

Students Recognized At JCC Juried Art Exhibition Opening

Nine students received awards at Jamestown Community College’s Juried Student Art exhibition, which opened recently in the Weeks Gallery on the Jamestown Campus. Winners included Tala Abuhmeidan (Outstanding Achievement in Painting), Alyson Danielson (President’s Award), Nicole Ford (Excellence in Sculpture), Rachel LeRoy (Distinguished Body of Work), Jack Lingenfelter (Innovation in New Media), Jessica Olson (Juror’s Award for Excellence), Zoe Pike (Excellence in Ceramics), Olivia Reynolds (Excellence in Drawing Practices), and Courtney Runge (Distinguished Work in Photography). The exhibition features works from students at JCC’s Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses across media including painting, drawing, prints, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and digital media. Jurors included JCC Art faculty Madison LaVallee, Nathan Jeffery, Mark Kirsch, Brenna Turner, and Tom Makovitch.

Exhibition by textile artist Kadi Pajupuu to be opened at the Riigikogu

Textile artist Kadi Pajupuu has opened a solo exhibition titled "Sinane" (This Very) at the Art Gallery of Toompea Castle, the seat of the Estonian Parliament. Inaugurated by Riigikogu President Lauri Hussar, the showcase features experimental works that blend archaic Estonian linguistic themes with modern material technologies. The exhibition highlights Pajupuu’s innovative weaving techniques, including her patented RailReed and MultiWeave systems, which allow for adjustable warp density and three-dimensional textile structures.

Art exhibition in Daegu shut down over satire of ex-President Yoon

An art exhibition in Daegu, South Korea, was shut down after featuring works by artist Hong Sung-dam that satirize former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The exhibition, titled "Art for the Future: Daegu, Art, Answer the Zeitgeist," was held at the district-run Bongsan Cultural Center and organized by the Daekyung Art Research Institute. Three paintings—"Donghak-uiguk," "Ddong-gwang," and "Pal-gwang"—depicted Yoon in provocative contexts, including nudity and references to political controversies such as the doctors' strike and his wife Kim Keon Hee. On the first day, the center requested removal of the works; after the institute refused, the center required artists to sign a liability pledge. Ultimately, Ryu Kyu Ha, head of Daegu's Jung-gu District Office, ordered the exhibition hall closed, citing regulations against political works. Two other galleries remain open with about 50 works by 19 artists.

Syria, Ukraine and Gaza among countries to receive heritage funds from Aliph

ALIPH, the Geneva-based cultural heritage protection agency, has announced over $16 million in its latest funding round, with support directed to Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and a new focus on climate change impacts on heritage, primarily in Africa. Nearly a third of the funding ($5 million) goes to Syria, where the newly appointed Director General of Antiquities and Museums, Dr. Anas Haj Zeidan, aims to restore sites damaged during the war under former president Bashar al-Assad. ALIPH executive director Valéry Freland reported extensive damage from 14 years of war, the 2023 earthquake, and economic crises, but noted strong local determination to rehabilitate heritage, including Palmyra. The agency also committed $9 million to address climate threats, supporting 28 projects—22 in Africa—focused on earthen architecture, sacred forests, and local knowledge preservation.

Unesco raises ‘grave concerns’ for Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral after Russian drone strike

Unesco has raised grave concerns for Kyiv's 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after its facade was damaged by a Russian drone strike on Tuesday. Ukraine's culture minister Mykola Tochytskyi reported that the plastered cornice of the central apse was hit, and while the interior survived intact, vibration from explosions threatens the monument's structural integrity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, and UNESCO officials have visited to assess damage and discuss emergency conservation. The cathedral, known for its mosaics and frescoes, was added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger in 2023.

Art Basel exhibitors will show ‘the most ambitious works’ despite economic headwinds

Art Basel will host nearly 290 galleries from around the world in Basel, Switzerland, from June 19-22, 2025. Director Maike Cruse expresses confidence in the art market's resilience despite a 12% decline in global art sales last year, citing an uptick in transactions in the middle and low market segments and a surge of new, younger collectors. The fair introduces a new section called Premiere, dedicated to ultra-contemporary works made within the past five years, featuring ten galleries and two first-time Art Basel participants. New EU tax breaks on art purchases, including Germany's VAT reduction from 19% to 7%, could boost sales for the roughly half of exhibitors based in the bloc, though the threat of US tariffs under President Donald Trump creates uncertainty.

Communication Arts Student Art Exhibition open at Schulman Gallery

The 2025 Communication Arts Student Art Exhibition is on display through June 6 at the Schulman Gallery on the campus of Luzerne County Community College (LCCC). The opening night on May 9 drew a large crowd to celebrate student talent, highlighted by the President’s Choice Awards presented by LCCC President John Yudichak and Schulman Gallery Curator Robert Husty. Awards were given in categories including Mixed Media, Sculpture/3-Dimensional Art, Illustration, Photography, Painting, Music Recording Technology, Best Portfolio, and Best of Show, with winners such as Karla Richiez, Jenna Tutorow, Antonio Solis Jr., Amber Jones, Sydney Ogle, Evan Wenner, and Ashley Duran. The awards were sponsored by Marquis Art & Frame.