The Art World This Week: Smithsonian Leader to Run Guggenheim, LACMA’s New Building to Open, Vatican's Sound-Based Venice Pavilion, and More

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, departing her long-standing role at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum. Additionally, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that its highly anticipated, $724 million David Geffen Galleries will finally open to the public on May 4, while the Vatican revealed plans for a sound-based pavilion at the Venice Biennale dedicated to Saint Hildegard of Bingen.

LACMA's David Geffen Galleries set to open next month

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that the David Geffen Galleries will officially open to the public on May 4, 2026. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the $724 million horizontal concrete and glass structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and replaces four aging buildings. The new facility features a single-story main exhibition level dedicated to the museum’s permanent collection, supported by seven ground-level pavilions housing educational spaces, a theater, and retail outlets.

LACMA New David Geffen Galleries Open 4/19... Installation of Do Ho Suh's 'Gyeongbokgung Jagyeongjeon'

LA카운티미술관(LACMA) 뉴 데이빗게펜 갤러리 4/19 오픈...서도호 작 '경복중 자경전' 설치

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced the official opening of the David Geffen Galleries on April 19, 2026. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the 900-foot-long horizontal structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and features a single elevated exhibition level for the museum’s permanent collection. The inaugural installation, curated by a collaborative team of 45 specialists, rejects traditional chronological or geographical hierarchies in favor of a thematic approach centered around global oceanic frameworks.

The National Gallery of Art Holds an Artistic Mirror Up to the United States for Its Big 250th Birthday

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., has launched "Dear America," a major exhibition commemorating the United States' 250th anniversary. Featuring over 100 prints, drawings, and photographs from the museum’s permanent collection, the show spans from the late 18th century to the present day. The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections—"Land," "Community," and "Freedom"—showcasing works by iconic artists such as Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams, and Richard Avedon alongside contemporary voices like Tom Jones of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

CAM “Fresh Air: Inflatable Sculptures” exhibit set to open this summer

The Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, North Carolina, has announced its upcoming summer exhibition, "Fresh Air: Inflatable Sculptures." Running from June 19 through September 6, 2026, the show features large-scale, immersive works by a roster of high-profile contemporary artists including Nick Cave, Andy Warhol, and Claire Ashley. The exhibition is designed to be interactive, utilizing scale and movement to engage visitors with contemporary art in an accessible, unconventional format.

A Sneak Peak Inside “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is set to open the Condé M. Nast Galleries, a new permanent home for the Costume Institute located in prime real estate adjacent to the Great Hall. The inaugural exhibition, "Costume Art," will integrate fashion with artworks from 19 of the museum’s collecting areas, featuring pieces by designers like Tory Burch and Michael Kors alongside works by artists such as Jean Arp. This move transitions the Costume Institute from its traditional basement location to the center of the museum's physical and narrative layout.

Philadelphia Museum of Art and PAFA team up for a massive American art show

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) have launched "A Nation of Artists," a massive collaborative exhibition marking the United States' 250th anniversary. Spanning 20,000 square feet across both institutions, the show features over 1,000 works ranging from 18th-century portraiture and Hudson River School landscapes to contemporary pieces by local artists. The exhibition was catalyzed by significant loans from the private collection of Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton and his wife, Leigh, which filled critical gaps in the museums' permanent holdings.

A Cartier Exhibitions Lands at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne

The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne is hosting a major exhibition of Cartier’s historic jewelry and objects, organized in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum. The showcase features over 300 items, ranging from the iconic 1917 Tank watch and the surrealist 1967 Cartier Crash to opulent commissions for figures like the Maharaja of Patiala, the Duchess of Windsor, and Grace Kelly.

Why do we like watching women die, asks Marina Abramović in Copenhagen

Marina Abramović has unveiled her latest immersive exhibition, "Seven Deaths," at Cisternerne in Copenhagen, a subterranean former reservoir. The installation features seven films where Abramović reimagines the tragic ends of famous operatic heroines—such as Tosca and Madame Butterfly—originally made famous by Maria Callas. Accompanied by actor Willem Dafoe, Abramović uses these cinematic vignettes to explore themes of heartbreak, endurance, and the cultural fascination with the "tragic feminine."

Retrospective of ‘naive’ Henri Rousseau reveals painter’s ambition

The Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris has launched a landmark retrospective titled "A Painter’s Ambition," dedicated to the self-taught artist Henri Rousseau. Featuring 50 paintings and personal correspondence, the exhibition highlights Rousseau’s relentless struggle to transcend his "naive" label and gain acceptance from the French art establishment. Key highlights include the rare grouping of his masterpieces—The Sleeping Gypsy, The Snake Charmer, and The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope—alongside evidence of his calculated efforts to market himself to government officials.

Brandywine Museum of Art Collaborates with Maine Museums to Highlight Overlooked Wyeth Designer

The Brandywine Museum of Art is partnering with the Colby College Museum of Art and the Farnsworth Art Museum to launch a major exhibition series titled “By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth.” Opening in June 2026, the multi-venue showcase highlights the creative legacy of Betsy James Wyeth, who was a prolific landscape designer, architectural restorer, and interior designer. The exhibition will feature archival materials and physical design elements that illustrate her profound influence on the environments that served as the primary subjects for her husband, Andrew Wyeth.

Nazir Tanbouli celebrates 35 years of exhibiting his work at Yassin art gallery

The Egyptian art scene is hosting a diverse array of exhibitions this April, headlined by the Egyptian debut of the global blockbuster "Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" at District 5 in New Cairo. This digital spectacle, directed by Mathieu Saint-Arnaud, utilizes 360-degree projections to bring over 300 of Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces to life. Simultaneously, local institutions like the Sharjah Art Gallery at AUC and the Italian Cultural Institute are showcasing contemporary talent, including the graduating class of AUC and a solo exhibition by Italian-Egyptian artist Sarah Zaki.

Princeton University Art Museum show focuses on de Kooning's explosive 'Breakthrough Years'

The Princeton University Art Museum has opened "Willem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years, 1945-50," an exhibition featuring 22 pivotal works from a transformative period in the artist's career. The show highlights de Kooning’s unique ability to balance abstraction with representational elements, showcasing masterpieces like "Gansevoort Street" and "Dark Pond." Unlike his contemporaries who moved toward pure abstraction, de Kooning’s work from this era remains anchored in the physical world, capturing the energy of mid-century Manhattan and the natural landscape through a radical use of line and gesture.

Creativity takes root

Students at Southern Methodist University (SMU) gathered at the Meadows Museum in Dallas for the inaugural 'ArtMix Thursday,' a monthly event designed to foster creativity and community through hands-on art-making. The debut session featured a mosaic-making workshop held in collaboration with the SMU Craft Club, allowing students to engage with the museum in a relaxed, non-academic setting. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the institution to integrate more deeply with student life through new programming and expanded membership benefits.

The Giants Have Arrived: Inside Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s MCASD Exhibition

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz have opened a major exhibition of their personal art collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD). Titled "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys," the show features over 100 works by prominent Black artists, including Kehinde Wiley, Amy Sherald, Barkley L. Hendricks, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Princeton University Art Museum Spotlights Willem de Kooning's Breakthrough Years

Princeton University Art Museum has opened a new exhibition, "Willem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years, 1948–1951," focusing on a pivotal three-year period in the artist's career. The show brings together approximately 25 paintings and drawings from this era, including key works like "Excavation" and "Attic," which trace his evolution from figurative elements to the dynamic, abstract style that cemented his legacy.

Strong sales and cross-market demand define Art Basel Hong Kong opening

Art Basel Hong Kong opened with robust sales and high energy, signaling a strong recovery for the Asia-Pacific art market. Blue-chip galleries reported several seven-figure transactions early on, including a $4 million Picasso at Bastian and a $3.8 million Liu Ye painting at David Zwirner. The fair's debut of the digital-focused 'Zero 10' initiative and a significant presence of regional collectors underscored a diverse appetite for both postwar masters and contemporary digital works.

Art March Hong Kong | 8 Kusama pumpkins head to auction during Basel week – here’s every one of them

Eight signature pumpkin works by Yayoi Kusama are set to headline the spring auction season in Hong Kong, coinciding with Art Basel Hong Kong. Major auction houses including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams are offering a diverse range of the artist's iconic motif, featuring everything from a massive two-meter-tall fiberglass sculpture to rare canvases in red and yellow. The sales include a unique single-owner collection at Bonhams titled "More than Red," showcasing the breadth of Kusama’s most commercially successful subject.

Art March Hong Kong | 8 Kusama pumpkins head to auction during Basel week – here’s every one of them

Eight signature pumpkin works by Yayoi Kusama are set to headline the spring auction season in Hong Kong, coinciding with Art Basel week. Major auction houses including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams are offering a diverse range of these iconic motifs, featuring everything from a massive two-meter-tall fiberglass sculpture to rare red and yellow canvases. Notable highlights include a unique 2015 sculpture at Sotheby’s with a high estimate of HK$60 million and a rare red pumpkin painting at Bonhams.

After 11 Years in Court, Heir Reclaims a Modigliani Looted by the Nazis

A French court has ordered the restitution of a 1918 Amedeo Modigliani painting, "Seated Man with a Cane," to the heir of its original Jewish owner. The artwork was looted by the Nazis in 1944 and had been held for decades by a holding company controlled by billionaire art dealer David Nahmad, who purchased it at auction in 1996.

LIKE A DUET. In Conversation with Anne Imhof by Tyler Mitchell

Artists Anne Imhof and Tyler Mitchell engage in a cross-disciplinary dialogue reflecting on their recent solo exhibitions, "Wish You Were Gay" at Kunsthaus Bregenz and "Wish This Was Real" at C/O Berlin. The conversation explores the intersection of performance, photography, and the choreography of space, with both artists discussing how they manipulate the viewer's physical and emotional presence within an installation.

Urgent Request from Participating Artists and Curators of the 61st Venice Biennale

第61回ヴェネツィア・ビエンナーレ参加アーティストおよびキュレーターによる緊急要請

A group of 73 artists and curators participating in the 61st Venice Biennale, including Yoshiko Shimada and Bubu de la Madeleine, have issued an urgent demand to the Biennale's board to revoke Israel's participation. The collective specifically objects to the decision to relocate the Israeli pavilion to the Arsenale, arguing that its presence contradicts the curatorial vision of Artistic Director Koyo Kouoh, which emphasizes the dignity of all life. They contend that the military and police presence required for the pavilion introduces an atmosphere of violence and fear that undermines the exhibition's integrity.

Polygon Gallery exhibition features 'one of the most important artists working in Canada'

The Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver has launched "Photolithics," a major exhibition by Secwépemc and Scottish-settler artist Tania Willard. The show features a decade of Willard’s work, including monumental recreations of historical postcards on sandpaper and photographs viewed through ulexite crystals. The exhibition utilizes innovative installation techniques, such as a traditional kekuli structure, to recontextualize archival imagery and explore the intersection of geological time and Indigenous history.

Exhibitions, workshops, festivals… 7 family cultural outings in Paris to grow creativity during the holidays

Expos, ateliers, festivals… 7 sorties culturelles en famille à Paris pour faire pousser la créativité durant les vacances

Paris and the Île-de-France region are hosting a diverse array of family-oriented cultural events for the spring 2026 holiday season. Key highlights include the inauguration of the Manufacture at the Fondation Cartier, a Japanese-themed spring festival at le 19M, and the relocation of the Centre Pompidou’s Studio 13/16 for teenagers to the Gaîté Lyrique. Other notable activities include aerospace-themed workshops at the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace and the fifth anniversary of the Atelier Rodin.

Miriam Cahn “STILL LEBEN” at Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Paris

Miriam Cahn presents a new exhibition, "STILL LEBEN," at Galerie Jocelyn Wolff in Paris. The show features a recent body of work, produced largely in the past few months, which marks a distinct shift from her previous focus on the human body and overt brutality. The new pieces center on objects, everyday domestic situations, and interiors, exploring what the artist terms 'le ménage' (housekeeping).

At the Galleries for April 9, 2026

The Hamptons art scene is entering the spring season with a diverse array of gallery openings across Montauk, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Bridgehampton. Key highlights include Timothy Tibus’s abstract retrospective at The Lucore Art, a Matisse-centered group show at The Drawing Room featuring rare etchings, and Kristy Gordon’s myth-inspired "Primavera" at Grenning Gallery. Other notable exhibitions include a showcase of artists from the Cold Castle collective at Keyes Art and a curated group show titled "Connections" at Dan Welden Studio/Gallery.

Pinakothek in Munich Returns Nazi-Looted Painting by Lesser Ury to Jewish Heirs

The Pinakothek museums in Munich have restituted a painting by German-Jewish Impressionist Lesser Ury to the heirs of its original owner, Berlin banker Curt Goldschmidt. The work, 'Interior with Children (The Siblings),' was sold at a forced auction in the 1930s after the Goldschmidt family bank collapsed under Nazi economic policies.

Required Reading

This week’s roundup of essential art reading highlights a diverse range of global initiatives, from the development of a new arts center in Compton by formerly incarcerated painter Mr. Wash to a mural project for displaced children in Lebanon led by artist Abed Al Kadiri. The report also covers a guerrilla projection protest at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where activists criticized the institution for laying off staff members of color despite a massive endowment, and a poignant look at medical students graduating amidst the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

From ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Downton Abbey’—Iconic Costumes Go on View in Scotland

An exhibition titled "Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop" is opening at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, featuring over 80 iconic costumes from major film and television productions such as 'Game of Thrones,' 'Downton Abbey,' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' The show, which premiered last year in London, celebrates the six-decade legacy of the renowned costume house Cosprop, founded by Oscar-winning designer John Bright.

Alserkal Art Month 2026: The ultimate opening weekend guide

Alserkal Avenue in Dubai has launched its 2026 Art Month, expanding its traditional week-long celebration into a five-week program. The opening weekend features 18 participating galleries debuting flagship exhibitions, including a solo show by Anthony Akinbola at Carbon 12 and a 20th-anniversary group exhibition at Gallery Isabelle. Key highlights include interactive screen-printing workshops with Shilpa Gupta and the unveiling of her public art installation, "Still A Sky We Hold," alongside curated tours and artist talks.