The article "Art as Memorial in Lotusland" by Aleina Grace Edwards appears in the February 2026 issue of Contemporary Art Review LA (CARLA). It is part of a larger issue exploring themes like scent in art, tarot, social urgencies in curation, and video art, positioning it within a critical discussion of contemporary art practices in Los Angeles.
Nonagenarian painter Joan Semmel is experiencing a significant career renaissance, marked by a major survey exhibition at the Jewish Museum and a concurrent solo show at Alexander Gray Associates. At 93, Semmel continues to work from her Soho studio, where she has lived for over fifty years, producing unflinching figurative paintings that explore the female body, aging, and the gaze. The article traces her trajectory from her early education at Cooper Union and a formative period in Madrid to her pivotal role in feminist art history.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has appointed Melissa Chiu as its next director, succeeding Richard Armstrong. Chiu joins the New York flagship institution after a twelve-year tenure at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., and is expected to assume her new role this coming September.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has appointed Oluremi C. Onabanjo as its new curator of photographs, bringing her expertise in African and Black diasporic histories from MoMA. This announcement leads a series of industry shifts, including Melissa Chiu’s move from the Hirshhorn to direct the Guggenheim, and the relocation of the influential gallery 47 Canal to Chelsea. Additionally, the New York Foundation for the Arts distributed nearly $500,000 in grants to 129 artists and organizations in Queens.
Materials for the Arts (MFTA), a program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, provides free art supplies and tools to over 4,500 organizations, including public schools, nonprofits, and social justice groups. By diverting millions of pounds of materials from landfills—ranging from film production sets to high-end fabrics—the organization has reallocated over $40 million worth of goods to the creative community. The program's leadership is now advocating for an expansion of this model, envisioning dedicated reuse centers in every borough to meet the growing demand for accessible creative resources.
The Hispanic Society Museum and Library has acquired Wifredo Lam’s 1927 painting "Portrait of a Boy," marking the first time a work by a Cuban artist has entered the institution's permanent collection. Purchased at a Sotheby’s auction after decades in a private collection, the portrait dates from Lam’s formative years in Cuenca, Spain. The work represents a rare, representational style from the artist's early career, predating the Afro-Cuban Surrealism for which he became globally renowned.
The article is an excerpt from the forthcoming field resource 'Curating Engagement,' featuring a first-person reflection by an arts professional. The author outlines nine lessons learned over two decades of practice, moving from engagement-focused roles to institutional leadership. Key lessons emphasize curiosity as a foundational practice, engagement as a form of service to communities rather than extraction, and the importance of site and history as collaborators in curatorial work.
Hyperallergic's April newsletter features a roundup of the best April Fools' jokes from the art world this year, compiled by staff writer Rhea Nayyar. The issue also highlights critic Aruna D'Souza's meditation on the work of abstract painter Kamrooz Aram, who is having a prominent year with appearances from Mumbai Art Week to the Whitney Biennial.
Jean-Marc Bottazzi, a Japanese bond trader and collector based in Hong Kong, discusses his philosophy of collecting in an interview with The Art Newspaper. He emphasizes deep, focused support of artists rather than acquiring a superficial variety, citing his extensive holdings of over 100 works by the 96-year-old Japanese artist A-Yo and deep collections of Abstract Expressionism, Gutai, and conceptual photography.
Le mostre da non perdere a Milano durante i giorni dell’Art Week 2026
Milan Art Week 2026 features a series of major solo exhibitions across the city's premier contemporary art institutions. Fondazione Prada is hosting site-specific installations by Mona Hatoum exploring global instability alongside Cao Fei’s multimedia investigation into the technological revolution of agriculture. Meanwhile, Pirelli HangarBicocca presents Benni Bosetto’s architectural exploration of the female body and Rirkrit Tiravanija’s interactive examination of authorship and communal space.
Art Paris 2026 : 10 stands pour faire de belles découvertes
The 28th edition of Art Paris has opened at the Grand Palais, marked by a vibrant and optimistic atmosphere. The fair features a diverse array of works ranging from Fabrice Hyber’s monumental inflatable bears at the entrance to a curated selection of contemporary ceramics, textiles, and innovative paintings. A central highlight is the "Reparation" thematic itinerary curated by Alexia Fabre, which connects various artists through the concept of healing and transformation.
Au Grand Palais, la foire Art Paris 2026 riche de belles promesses
The Art Paris 2026 fair is set to return to the Grand Palais, solidifying its reputation as a vibrant, French-focused alternative to the more elite Art Basel Paris. Under the long-term leadership of artistic director Guillaume Piens, the edition will feature 165 exhibitors, with a deliberate 60% representation of French galleries. The fair's structure includes the "Promesses" sector for emerging galleries curated by Marc Donnadieu, alongside two major thematic paths: "Babel – Art and Language in France" curated by Loïc Le Gall, and "Reparation" curated by Alexia Fabre.
Seventy-three artists and curators participating in the main exhibition of the 2024 Venice Biennale have issued an open letter objecting to the organizers' decision to relocate the Israeli national pavilion to the Arsenale. They argue this move creates an intimidating atmosphere contrary to the late curator Koyo Kouoh's vision of "radical solidarity" and will necessitate a heightened security presence. The signatories, which include key curators tasked with realizing Kouoh's exhibition, also call for the exclusion of Israel, Russia, and the United States from the event, citing their governments' alleged commission of war crimes.
Artist François-Xavier Gbré's photographic series "Radio Ballast" made its US debut in a duo exhibition at the International Center of Photography in late January. The work documents the century-old railroad system in Côte d'Ivoire, built by French colonizers, exploring the country's colonial history, independence, and modernization through landscapes, train stations, and the communities shaped by the railway.
German art dealers are increasingly pivoting toward regional strategies as the national market faces a period of stagnation. While the broader European Union saw a modest rise in dealer sales, Germany’s market contracted by 4 percent between 2024 and 2025, hampered by high interest rates and a sluggish post-pandemic recovery. In response, major fairs like Art Cologne are launching satellite editions in locations like Mallorca to follow wealthy German collectors on vacation, while Art Düsseldorf prepares for a record-breaking edition despite the economic downturn.
The Hopi-Tewa artist Nampeyo (1859–1942) is being celebrated as a foundational figure in modern ceramics for her role in the Sikyátki Revival. By studying ancestral pottery shards from archaeological excavations, Nampeyo revitalized centuries-old techniques and motifs, transforming Pueblo pottery into a globally recognized art form. Her career spanned from selling works at regional trading posts to becoming a celebrated figure who demonstrated her craft at the Grand Canyon and exhibited at major fairs in Chicago.
The National Gallery in London has selected Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma and Associates to design a new £350m wing, scheduled to open in the early 2030s. Chosen from a shortlist of six finalists, Kuma’s design features a Portland stone exterior and will be constructed on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished St Vincent House. The extension will provide nearly double the space for temporary exhibitions and an additional 1,500 square meters for the permanent collection, connected via bridges to the existing Sainsbury Wing and Wilkins building.
The legendary British sci-fi hero Dan Dare is returning in a new graphic novel titled 'Dan Dare: First Contact,' published by B7 Comics. Written by Alex de Campi and illustrated by Marc Laming, the project marks a 21st-century reboot of the character originally created by Frank Hampson for the Eagle magazine in 1950. The new iteration modernizes the cast, transforming Professor Peabody into a character of Indian descent and reimagining the sidekick Digby as a young working-class engineer, while maintaining the core conflict against the villainous Mekon.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has appointed Oluremi C. Onabanjo as a curator in the Department of Photographs, poaching her from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Onabanjo, formerly the Peter Schub Curator at MoMA, will be tasked with managing the landmark gift of over 6,500 photographs from the Walther Family Foundation and curating exhibitions with a focus on twentieth-century media.
A secret, invitation-only auction for a single Andy Warhol portrait of Brigitte Bardot was held at a private bar in New York on November 19, 2025, during the major public auction week. Organized by the online platform Fair Warning and presided over by former Christie's auctioneer Jussi Pylkkänen, the event attracted elite collectors and resulted in a $16.7 million sale, making it the most expensive Warhol of the season.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has appointed Melissa Chiu as its new director, effective September 1. Chiu joins the New York flagship after a 12-year tenure at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, where she was credited with doubling attendance and significantly increasing fundraising. Her appointment is part of a leadership restructuring by Guggenheim Foundation Director and CEO Mariët Westermann, who will shift her focus toward the foundation's international outposts, including the upcoming Abu Dhabi location.
On Curating Carnage
The Berlin-based art journal *OnCurating* published a September 2025 issue titled "Let’s Talk About… Anti-Democratic, Anti-Queer, Misogynist, Antisemitic, Right-Wing Spaces and Their Counter-Movements." The article critiques this publication, arguing it uses the language of feminism, anti-racism, and anti-Semitism as a political tool to unconditionally support Israel and demonize the Palestinian cause, thereby aligning with German state policy and a specific strain of leftist thought known as Antideutsch.
Joan Mitchell’s diptych "La Grande Vallée VII" sold for HK$137 million (US$17.6 million) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, setting a new record for the most expensive work by a female artist ever sold at auction in Asia. The 1983 masterpiece, part of a celebrated 21-painting cycle dedicated to a grieving friend, led a successful Modern and Contemporary Evening Auction that saw a 100% sell-through rate for its 54 lots. Other notable results included a Mark Rothko canvas that more than doubled its low estimate and significant sales for works by Sanyu and Zao Wou-Ki.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosted a high-profile opening gala for its new David Geffen Galleries, drawing a massive crowd of celebrities, industry titans, and art world figures. The guest list spanned various sectors of influence, including Disney CEO Bob Iger, artist Jeff Koons, and director Alejandro González Iñárritu, all gathered to celebrate the completion of the museum's new centerpiece.
The New Museum in Manhattan reopens to the public after a two-year closure, marked by a major expansion and a new building. Its inaugural exhibition explores themes of humanity amid technological change, though the architectural redesign has drawn some criticism from New Yorkers for its perceived corporate and hostile aesthetic.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has unveiled its new David Geffen Galleries, featuring an unconventional open-plan design that encourages non-linear exploration. The building's layout, which eschews traditional chronological narratives in favor of free-floating associations, has sparked debate among critics regarding its navigability and the restoration of key works like Alexander Calder’s "Three Quintains (Hello Girls)."
Brian Eno and 200+ Artists Urge British Museum to “Stop Erasing Palestine”
Over 200 artists and cultural groups, led by musician Brian Eno, have published an open letter demanding the British Museum stop what they call the "erasure of Palestine." The letter accuses the museum of altering wall texts in its Middle East Galleries, such as replacing "Palestinian descent" with "Canaanite descent," following pressure from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel. The signatories also criticize the institution's past ties to the Israeli embassy and sponsor BP, issuing demands for an expert review of labels and an apology for hosting an Israeli embassy gala.
Cristopher Canizares, a longtime partner at mega-gallery Hauser & Wirth, is departing after 16 years to launch his own venture, the Artist Legacy Bureau. This new agency will function as an artist management firm, with Canizares working directly for and being paid by a select group of five or six artists to advise on long-term career strategy across their gallery, institutional, and collector relationships.
A rare 1875 letter from Claude Monet, up for auction on March 25, reveals the artist secured a 1,000-franc loan by pledging 35 of his paintings as collateral. The document details his agreement to repay the loan from the proceeds of a future sale, listing specific works including the later-famous 'La Japonaise,' and highlights his persistent financial desperation during this period.
During Singapore Art Week, the merger of the boutique fair S.E.A. Focus into the larger Art SG fair sparked quiet concern among some participants. Dealers worry the move is a precursor to S.E.A. Focus being absorbed entirely, potentially sidelining its regional focus and making participation more expensive for Southeast Asian galleries. The future of the Singapore Biennale was also debated after a local newspaper article called for its termination.