公募｜Hiroshima MoCA FIVE 25/26

Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (Hiroshima MoCA) has opened the call for entries for the second edition of its biennial open-call exhibition "Hiroshima MoCA FIVE 25/26." The deadline for submissions is July 25, 2025. The theme for this edition is "memory." Five artists or groups will be selected by the museum's curators and a special juror, Hattori Hiroyuki (associate professor at Tokyo University of the Arts and director of the Aomori Contemporary Art Centre), to create and exhibit new works with museum support. Each selected artist receives a 400,000 yen activity grant, and additional prizes of 200,000 yen will be awarded for the Hiroshima MoCA Prize and the Special Juror Prize. The exhibition runs from December 20, 2025 to March 1, 2026.

Brushes at the ready: entries open for Redland Art Awards

Entries have opened for the 2026 Redland Art Awards, a biennial contemporary painting prize coordinated by Redland Art Gallery in Queensland, Australia. The competition is open to all Australian artists, offering a total prize pool of $30,500, including a $20,000 acquisitive first prize. The lead judge is curator and arts writer Alison Kubler. The awards, which began in 1981 as a local prize by Redland Yurara Art Society, will culminate in a finalist exhibition from November 2026 to January 2027.

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.

South Dakota Art Museum Guild Program: Rodger Ellingson | Events and Seasons: Painting in Living Color

The South Dakota Art Museum Guild will host a program on April 28, 2026, featuring Sioux Falls artist Rodger Ellingson. Ellingson will present “Events and Seasons: Painting in Living Color,” showcasing his plein air and studio works in watercolor and acrylic, with subjects drawn from the upper Midwest and northern Rockies. The event includes coffee and social time at 9:30 a.m., followed by the program at 10 a.m. at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings.

Exhibition for a good cause | Star News

Hōhepa Canterbury, a not-for-profit organization, will host its biennial Art and Sculptural Exhibition in Christchurch next month. The event features works from over 50 established and emerging New Zealand artists, including Renata Przynoga and Gwyn Hughes, alongside pieces created by Hōhepa residents. A VIP preview and auction will be held on May 22, followed by public exhibition days on May 23-24, with proceeds funding the organization's wellness and community programs.

South Korea’s first major LGBTQ exhibition gives voice to queer artists

The Art Sonje Centre in Seoul has launched "Spectrosynthesis Seoul," the first large-scale exhibition in South Korea dedicated to LGBTQ themes and queer artists. Featuring works by 74 artists and artist groups, the project was initiated by Patrick Sun of the Sunpride Foundation and curated by Sun-jung Kim and Yong-woo Lee. The exhibition marks a significant cultural milestone in a country often characterized by its rigid social traditions and conservative values.

Aladdin artist to feature in Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition

The 2026 Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition will open at the Wyoming Capitol on February 9, featuring local artist Alexandra Hansen of Aladdin among 53 artists selected from 383 entries by 152 artists. The biennial exhibition, part of Wyoming's tribute to America's 250th anniversary, celebrates the state's landscapes, communities, and people. Hansen, a contemporary Western artist known for stylized vintage patina oil paintings, grew up on a South Dakota ranch and studied at Oklahoma State University. Kate Hlavin, Curator of the Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale, served as guest juror. A public reception and awards ceremony will be held on February 26, with a People's Choice Award vote on the Wyoming State Museum Facebook page.

Salon-style art exhibition showing at Upstairs Artspace in February

Upstairs Artspace in Tryon, North Carolina, has opened its second biennial Salon d’Upstairs exhibition. The show features over 100 works by more than 70 local artists, ranging from high school students to professionals, displayed in a dense, salon-style format. The exhibition serves as both a community engagement initiative and a fundraiser, with sales proceeds split between the artists and the gallery.

‘Digital Meets Creativity’ – Seminar & Exhibition featuring Korean Media Artists at UNESCO

UNESCO hosted a seminar and exhibition titled 'Digital Meets Creativity' on September 12, 2016, at its headquarters in Paris, featuring Korean media artists Han Ho and Byeong Sam Jeon. The exhibition, 'Technology in Contemporary Art,' showcased works that blend digital technologies with artistic practice, including Han Ho's holographic and LED installations and Jeon's interactive video and kinetic pieces. The event was part of 'KOREA-UNESCO week' and included remarks from UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, Korean Ambassador Byong Hyun Lee, and Assistant Director General Francesco Bandarin.

With sanctions on Iranian art, buyers are turning to India

The article reports a significant shift in the Islamic art market, where traditional Persianate works from Iran are declining in sales and value, while art from India and historic Arab polities is rising. At Sotheby's April 2025 sale, 14 of 27 Persian works went unsold, continuing a long-term slump. Key factors include U.S. sanctions on Iran that restrict export of Iranian-origin works, aging collectors, maturing museums, and a generational shift away from classical art toward contemporary pieces. In contrast, Mughal art from India is experiencing a steady price increase, reflecting the repositioning of the market away from Persianate mainstays.

Nicolaysen Art Museum hosting open house for Arts Council Biennial Fellowship Exhibition: Wyoming Wind

The Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper, Wyoming, is hosting an opening reception on October 9 for its new exhibition, the Arts Council Biennial Fellowship Exhibition: Wyoming Wind. The event will feature a curatorial conversation with curator Ginger Shulick Porcella and will showcase works by ten Wyoming artists selected as Visual Arts Fellowship recipients, including Aubrey Edwards, Adrianna Hinds, Wendell Field, and others. The exhibition runs from October 3 to December 19.

Coburn Gallery to open new season with unique exhibition, which used AI to capture older adults’ memories

Ashland University's Coburn Art Gallery will open its 2025-26 season with the exhibition "Transcending Barriers Beyond Time: Visual Reminiscence of Older Adults with Chronicle Illnesses Facilitated by Generative AI," running from August 25 to September 27, 2025. The show features 42 artworks created by older adults with chronic illnesses who collaborated with researchers using generative AI to visualize their memories. Co-curated by Janet Reed of Kent State University and Rebecca D. Miller of Ursuline College, the exhibition is part of the university's Symposium Against Indifference biennial series, which this year explores the theme "Thinking About Intelligence: Human and Artificial."

Turkish power plant reborn as regional cultural hub

A century-old power plant in Merzifon, northern Turkey, has been transformed into a cultural hub called Motorhane, opening late last month with a concert and an exhibition of local artists. The building retains its original generator, pressure valve, and switch room, with unplastered walls and concrete floors awaiting restoration. The project is backed by the Motorhane Culture Network (MOKA), supported by Ortaklaşa—a cultural development body administered by the Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation (İKSV)—and funded by a €3 million EU grant. Other MOKA members include the Sinop Sustainable Development Association, which runs the Sinopale biennial.

Vietnam to Debut at 2026 Venice Biennale

Vietnam will make its historic debut at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with its first-ever national pavilion titled “Viet Nam: Art in the Global Flow.” Located at the Ca’ Giustinian Faccanon palace and curated by Đỗ Tường Linh, the exhibition will feature works by ten contemporary artists, including a major immersive installation by Lê Hữu Hiếu. Hiếu’s contribution, titled "Tằm" (Silkworm), utilizes traditional materials like lacquer and jackfruit wood alongside live silkworms to explore themes of metamorphosis and memory.

RISD Museum Puts Spotlight on Diversity

The RISD Museum in Providence is spotlighting diversity through a series of exhibitions and programs in spring 2026. Highlights include the third Black Biennial, titled "Please Catch Me When I Fall," organized by students Karma Johnson, Khalil McKnight, and King Meulens, featuring over 50 works by Black artists from the school and local community. Other exhibitions range from "A Shared Journey: The Barkan Contemporary Ceramic Collection" to "Natchiq | Onkeehq | Isuwiq: Indigenous Artists Honor the Seal" and "The Artistry and Reunion of Two Surimono Albums," alongside ongoing displays like "Shimmering Beauty: Kingfishers in Art and Poetry."

Venice Biennale jury excludes Russia and Israel from artist awards as EU threatens funding cut

The Venice Biennale jury has excluded Russia and Israel from eligibility for artist awards, following the EU's threat to cut funding over geopolitical concerns. The decision bars artists from these countries from being considered for official prizes at the prestigious international art exhibition.

Traverse City exhibition highlights indigenous artists around the world (and here, too)

An exhibition titled "The Traveling Gallery of the Intercontinental Biennial of the Native American, Indigenous or Millenarian Art and Culture" is on display at The Alluvion in Traverse City, Michigan, through August 31, 2025. Featuring over 100 works from around the world, the show highlights indigenous artists from South and North America, including local Traverse City artists Paul Sinclair and Janelle Dahlberg, as well as St. Ignace artist Darryl Brown. Highlights include a portrait of Geronimo by Anderson Jahir Colcha Viñan and large oil-on-canvas rainforest paintings by Ana Piaguaje of Ecuador. The exhibition is produced and directed by Jorge Iván Cevallos and was brought to the venue by curator Jessica Kooiman Parker.

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.

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.

Here's what the much-talked-about Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale looks like. Photos and video

Ecco com’è il chiacchieratissimo Padiglione Russia della Biennale di Venezia. Foto e video

The Russian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale has opened amid intense controversy over its unauthorized participation. The pavilion, housed in a 1914 building recently restored by Italian architects 2050+, features a program of musical improvisations, ensemble performances, techno concerts, and interactive actions, including free used clothing. The space is designed as a fragrant flower shop with a chill-out room featuring a conifer grove and video installations. The exhibition, titled "L’Albero Radicato nel Cielo" (The Tree Rooted in the Sky), is organized by young poets, musicians, and philosophers who prefer to remain anonymous as a collective, coordinated by the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. However, due to sanctions, the pavilion is only open from May 5 to 8, as organizers cannot obtain the necessary permit to operate beyond the private opening.

OPINION: How the biennial staff and faculty exhibition benefits art students

Western Washington University's Western Gallery is hosting its biennial faculty and staff exhibition, featuring 20 artists from the art department. The show includes diverse works such as interactive sensory pieces, weavings, and photographic rings, offering students a rare glimpse into their professors' professional art practices outside the classroom. Students like printmaker Myrie Murphy and faculty such as fiber professor Seiko Purdue emphasize how the exhibition demystifies the art world and humanizes instructors as practicing artists.

Artists’ Strike Closes Pavilions at Venice Biennale, Adding to Upheaval

Several national pavilions at the Venice Biennale were shut down after artists staged a strike, protesting working conditions, funding disparities, and the event's relationship with sponsors linked to geopolitical conflicts. The closures disrupted the opening week of the prestigious international exhibition, with participating artists and curators withdrawing their work or locking pavilion doors in solidarity.

Without Its Expert Jury, Venice Biennale Lets the Public Choose Its Prize Winners

The Venice Biennale has announced that for its 2026 edition, it will eliminate the traditional expert jury and instead allow the general public to vote for the prize winners. This marks a radical departure from the event's century-old practice of relying on a panel of art-world professionals to select the Golden Lion and other awards. The decision aims to democratize the selection process and engage a broader audience beyond the art establishment.

Artcube 2R2 to Hold Oh Ji-yoon Solo Show in Seoul After Back-to-Back Venice Biennale Invitations

Seoul-based gallery Artcube 2R2 is launching a solo exhibition titled "Dignity: Accumulated Time" featuring the work of artist Oh Ji-yoon. The show focuses on her "Dignity" series, which utilizes a labor-intensive process of layering charcoal, gold, hanji paper, and pearls to explore themes of human existence and reflection. The exhibition is designed to coincide with the artist's consecutive invitations to the Venice Biennale, bringing the same body of work shown on the international stage to a domestic audience.

Olive Hyde Art Gallery’s open biennial returns

The Olive Hyde Art Gallery in Fremont, California, has announced the return of its Open Biennial exhibition. The show is open to all artists living or working in the Bay Area, with submissions accepted through July 20. The exhibition itself will run from August 17 to September 28, 2024.

11 Unmissable Exhibition Openings in 2026

Frieze magazine has published a curated list of 11 unmissable exhibition openings scheduled for 2026, highlighting major institutional shows and biennials around the world. The selection spans diverse venues and artists, reflecting the global scope of contemporary art programming for the coming year.

Artists invited to submit work for biennial arts exhibition

The Salina Art Center has issued a call for entries for the 2026 Mountain Plains Contemporary Art Biennial, a juried exhibition open to visual artists from ten U.S. states: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Submissions must be made via CaFÉ by January 20, 2026, with a $35 entry fee for up to three artworks completed in 2024 or 2025. The exhibition encourages themes of identity, place, belonging, and transformation ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. Awards totaling up to $5,000 will be given, including a $2,250 first prize, and the juror is Hesse McGraw.

Sharjah Art Foundation launches Studio and Residency Programmes

Sharjah Art Foundation has launched two new programmes: a Studio Programme offering long-term and free workspace for artists, recent graduates, and PhD candidates, and a Residency Programme providing flights, accommodation, and a monthly stipend for visual artists, performers, writers, and other creatives. The programmes will be hosted across multiple venues in Sharjah, including the Collections Building, Bait Obaid Al Shamsi, Bait Al Serkal, Al Hamriyah Studios, and Kalba Ice Factory, each with distinct histories and architectural features.