A Time of Transition

During the preview week of the 61st Venice Biennale, escalating protests targeted the national pavilions of Israel and Russia, with demonstrations by Pussy Riot, ANGA (Art Not Genocide Alliance), and Baltic pavilions. A major protest on May 8 drew over 3,000 people in solidarity with Palestine, and 27 national pavilions—including Austria, the Netherlands, France, and Japan—staged a strike, the first at the Biennale since 1968. The Golden Lion jury resigned after declaring they would not consider countries under ICC investigation (Israel and Russia), and the Biennale administration replaced the prize with a visitors' award, from which half the artists in the main exhibition have withdrawn.

FAD News: Serpentine x FLAG Art Foundation Prize Announces Star-Studded Selection Committee

The Serpentine x FLAG Art Foundation Prize has announced its selection committee for the inaugural award, the largest contemporary art prize in the UK given to a single artist. The five-person jury includes Michelle Kuo (Chief Curator at Large and Publisher at MoMA), Venus Lau (director of Museum MACAN), Hans Ulrich Obrist, Jon Rider, and artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. The committee met in London on 23rd April to select the first recipient, who will be announced on 12th May. The prize awards £200,000 biennially over ten years, totaling £1 million across five artists, with each recipient developing a new body of work culminating in exhibitions at Serpentine in London and The FLAG Art Foundation in New York.

Brilliant Things to Do This April

April 2026 marks a significant month for global art exhibitions, featuring major retrospectives and site-specific installations across Rome, Seoul, London, and Paris. Highlights include Gagosian Rome’s exploration of Francesca Woodman’s surrealist photography, a homecoming retrospective for video-art pioneer Nam June Paik in Seoul, and Senga Nengudi’s performance-based sculptures at London’s Whitechapel Gallery. Additionally, Isaac Julien will debut a new moving-image work at The Cosmic House, while the Fondation Louis Vuitton prepares a large-scale exhibition dedicated to Alexander Calder’s kinetic sculptures.

Despite new autumn slot, Tokyo Gendai remains a largely local affair

Tokyo Gendai held its third edition from September 11-14, 2025, in Yokohama, shifting from its original July slot to an early autumn date to attract more international dealers and collectors. The fair reported mixed sales amid a slow economy, with local Japanese collectors making up the vast majority of buyers. Notable sales were reported by Pace Gallery, while other galleries like Anomaly noted a slower start but eventual sales. The fair also featured a new partnership with Art Busan, bringing Korean and Chinese galleries with subsidized booth fees.

At Baltimore Museum of Art, a new exhibition asks us to consider the connections between race, colonialism and the climate crisis

The Baltimore Museum of Art has opened "Black Earth Rising," an exhibition organized by British curator and writer Ekow Eshun. The show brings together thirteen African diasporic, Latin American, and Indigenous artists—including Frank Bowling, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Yinka Shonibare, Wangechi Mutu, Alejandro Piñeiro Bello, Firelei Baez, and Tyler Mitchell—to explore the connections between race, colonialism, and the climate crisis. Eshun also authored an accompanying book that pivots environmental debates away from a Eurocentric viewpoint, emphasizing that the Global South bears the brunt of climate change despite being least responsible for it. The exhibition critiques the term "Anthropocene" and instead promotes the concept of the "Plantationocene," which traces environmental destruction back to 15th-century European colonization and the plantation system.

Culture Type | The Month in Black Art: Here’s What Happened in May 2025

The May 2025 roundup of Black art news reports the deaths of two influential figures: international curator Koyo Kouoh and artist-curator Evangeline J. Montgomery, who died at 94. Montgomery's career spanned metalwork, fiber art, and photography, and she was a key advocate and mentor in the African American art community, later working at the U.S. Information Agency. Other highlights include historian Edda L. Fields-Black winning a Pulitzer Prize for her book on Harriet Tubman, the acquisition of Adam Pendleton's entire "Who is Queen" installation by MoMA, and Kapwani Kiwanga winning the Joan Miró Prize. The Met Gala also featured Black dandy style inspired by the Costume Institute's exhibition "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."

7 Artists Who Capture the Essence of Black Dandyism

The article highlights seven contemporary artists whose work embodies Black dandyism, timed to the 2025 Met Gala theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' and the corresponding exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. It traces the history of Black dandyism from its 18th-century European roots through its evolution during slavery and the 20th century, emphasizing its role as a defiant, empowering form of self-expression that challenges gender norms and racial stereotypes. Featured artists include Barkley L. Hendricks, Derek Fordjour, and Tyler Mitchell, among others.

Joy Labinjo’s Women Take Their Place in the Gallery

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by a series of high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair, featuring a diverse range of international talent. Highlights include Joy Labinjo’s vibrant figurative paintings at Tiwani Contemporary, which explore Black domesticity and sisterhood, and Cao Fei’s multimedia investigation into the intersection of technology and global agriculture at Pirelli HangarBicocca. Other notable presentations include Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists and historical figures, marking a significant moment for contemporary art in the city.

In Milan, you can play for free with your band in a recording studio open to the public at HangarBicocca

A Milano puoi suonare gratis con la tua band in uno studio di registrazione aperto al pubblico all’HangarBicocca

Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan has transformed its exhibition space into a functional recording studio as part of a major retrospective for artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. Titled "A Retrospective: The House That Jack Built," the show invites local musical acts to book time slots to perform and record their music live within the gallery. This interactive installation allows the creative process to unfold in front of museum visitors, blurring the lines between a static art display and a community hub.

Spectral Birds Endemic to New Zealand Find New Life in Fiona Pardington’s Portraits

Spectral Birds Endemic to New Zealand Find New Life in Fiona Pardington’s Portraits

New Zealand artist Fiona Pardington will present her photographic series *Taharaki Skyside* in the Aotearoa New Zealand Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The large-scale, spectral portraits depict preserved specimens of endemic birds, including extinct and critically endangered species like the huia and the South Island Takahe, captured from within the country's natural history collections.

Koyo Kouoh’s Legacy Shapes the 2026 Venice Biennale

Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale, was appointed curator of the 2026 edition and began shaping the main exhibition titled 'In Minor Keys' in October 2024. She died of cancer in May 2025 at age 57, but the Biennale organizers have committed to realizing her vision. The exhibition features 111 artists, collectives, and organizations from cities including Nairobi, New Orleans, Kingston, New Delhi, Beirut, and Bangkok, many of them her longtime collaborators. Kouoh was also the founder of Raw Material Company in Dakar and executive director and chief curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town.

Exhibition | 'Goodman Gallery x Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier' at Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Goodman Gallery is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a high-profile collaborative exhibition at Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier in Paris. Running from April 17 to August 29, the showcase features major works by leading artists from the African continent and the diaspora, including El Anatsui, William Kentridge, and Kapwani Kiwanga. The presentation places contemporary African art in direct dialogue with the high-end furniture and interior architecture of Pierre Yovanovitch, marking the start of a series of international events for the gallery this summer.

At 85, Anjolie Ela Menon revisits her iconic themes in New Delhi exhibition

Veteran Indian artist Anjolie Ela Menon is currently presenting a career-spanning exhibition titled 'Revisitations' at Triveni Kala Sangam in New Delhi. Presented by Vadehra Art Gallery and curated by Uma Nair, the show features over 30 works ranging from the 1950s to new pieces created in 2025 and 2026. The exhibition highlights Menon’s steadfast commitment to figurative painting, Byzantine-inspired imagery, and recurring motifs such as the empty chair and the crow, which explore themes of presence and loss.

Lisson Gallery Artists in Venice | Exhibitions

Lisson Gallery is promoting the participation of its roster of artists in the 61st Venice Biennale and other concurrent exhibitions in Venice. The gallery's announcement highlights major presentations by artists like Anish Kapoor, Otobong Nkanga, and Ding Yi at various venues throughout the city.

Your guide to the best events of SF Art Week

SF Art Week returns with a packed schedule of events across San Francisco, including the Recology Artist in Residence exhibition featuring work made from materials sourced at the city's recycling center, a mural painting and unveiling by eL Seed in collaboration with incarcerated artists at San Quentin, and the launch of ICA SF's nomadic model with exhibitions by Tara Donovan and Lily Kwong at the Transamerica Pyramid Center. Other highlights include gallery openings at Paul Thiebaud Gallery, frame-making demonstrations at Aedicule, a new art fair at the Fairmont Hotel, and a curator-led tour at SHACK15, alongside workshops, a rave-themed reception at the Asian Art Museum, and a conversation between artist Lava Thomas and curator Key Jo Lee at MoAD.

A brush with… Wolfgang Tillmans—podcast

The article is a podcast transcript featuring an in-depth conversation with Wolfgang Tillmans, the influential German photographer born in 1968. It covers his four-decade career, his experimental approach to photography—spanning portraiture, still life, landscape, political subjects, and abstraction—and his innovative installation methods that respond to specific exhibition spaces. Tillmans discusses early influences like Kurt Schwitters, Francisco de Zurbarán, Isa Genzken, Laurie Anderson, and Jiddu Krishnamurti, and reflects on his expanding practice into video, text, sound, and music. The piece also lists current and upcoming exhibitions, including a solo show at Maureen Paley in London and his participation in the 36th Bienal São Paulo.

10 Art Shows to See This Fall

This article previews ten art exhibitions opening in the San Francisco Bay Area during fall 2025. Highlights include "Object Oriented" at BAMPFA, focusing on artists' interpretations of everyday objects; "Super Flex: Powered by Alter Egos and Shadow Selves," a festival in Chinatown curated by Candace Huey, Taraneh Hemami, and Theo Lau; solo shows by Laura Figa and Fran Herndon at Et al.; Julio César Morales's "My America" at Gallery Wendi Norris, featuring a sound installation with Mexican Institute of Sound; and "Art of Manga" at the de Young Museum, showcasing original drawings by 11 manga artists including Taniguchi Jiro and Takahashi Rumiko.

Art’s hot this August and here is where to be this month

August 2025 brings a vibrant lineup of art exhibitions across India, from Chennai to New Delhi and Mumbai. Highlights include Akhil Anand's solo debut "Morphogenesis" at ArtSpace by KalpaDruma in Chennai, blending mathematics, mythology, and nature; the group show "The Personal is Mythical" at LATITUDE 28 in New Delhi, curated by Bhavna Kakar and featuring Bhajju Shyam, Neha Sahai, and Viraj Khanna; the all-women showcase "Objects May Appear Softer" at Black Cube Gallery; antique map and print sales at Nilaya Anthology's Gallery 2; and the Mumbai debut of London's Evoke and Bangalore's Kaash, hosted by Srila Chatterjee.

Culture Type | The Month in Black Art, Here’s What Happened in June 2025

The June 2025 edition of Culture Type's 'The Month in Black Art' roundup reports multiple developments: the Detroit Institute of Arts acquired Tiff Massey's installation 'Baby Bling' (2023) for its reimagined Modern and Contemporary galleries opening in 2026; Aperture magazine released a summer issue guest-edited by Tanisha C. Ford focusing on Black style and fashion; Different Leaf, a cannabis culture journal, relaunched with guest editors Nick Cave and Bob Faust; and Sean Kelly Gallery announced representation of artist Lindsay Adams in collaboration with PATRON Gallery. The article also notes updates on the Studio Museum in Harlem, a shakeup at the Afro Brazil Museum, new Art Basel Awards, and Suzanne Jackson's exhibition at SFMOMA.

Ten Museum Exhibitions Across New England Worth Seeing

Boston Art Review (BAR) has published a curated list of ten museum exhibitions across New England that are currently worth seeing. The article highlights a diverse range of shows, from contemporary art to historical surveys, taking place at various institutions throughout the region.

Tefaf New York wish list: objects and treasures to suit every collector’s taste

Tefaf New York presents a curated wish list of objects and treasures catering to diverse collector tastes. Highlights include Lee Bontecou's monumental mixed-media sculpture 'Untitled (1980-2001)' shown by Ortuzar and Marc Selwyn Fine Art, a rare René Magritte collage from 1926 offered by Di Donna Galleries, an ancient Egyptian bronze Osiris statue from David Aaron, and an Aboriginal painting by Mantua Nangala from Salon 94. Each piece is accompanied by price estimates and provenance details, reflecting the fair's focus on high-quality, historically significant works.

Activity and optimism at Expo Chicago attest to the city's 'fearless' community of collectors and patrons

Expo Chicago's 12th edition opened at Navy Pier on April 24, featuring over 170 galleries from 36 countries, with a strong South Korean contingent supported by the Galleries Association of Korea and notable participation from Canada, Latin America, and smaller US cities. Highlights include a knitted men's locker room installation by Nathan Vincent at Walter Maciel Gallery and a video project by Deborah Oropallo and Andy Rappaport at Catharine Clark Gallery, alongside a tribute to veteran gallerist Rhona Hoffman, who is closing her namesake gallery after nearly 50 years.

Across Venice, Artists Defy Censorship to Mourn and Memorialize Gaza

The 2026 Venice Biennale, titled “In Minor Keys,” features numerous artworks that mourn and memorialize the destruction of Gaza, despite censorship pressures. The main exhibition opens with a poem by slain Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, and includes works by artists such as Theo Eshetu, Mohammed Joha, Manuel Mathieu, and Avi Mograbi that directly or indirectly address the conflict. Outside the official Biennale, South African artist Gabrielle Goliath’s performance series “Elegy” was censored by her country’s culture minister after she proposed a version honoring murdered Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada, leading her to present the work independently at a church in Venice.

Numerous Venice Biennale Pavilions and Artists Go on Strike in Protest over Israel’s Participation

Thousands of protesters marched through Venice on the eve of the Venice Biennale's public opening, organized by Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), to demand Israel's exclusion from the event. At least 18 national pavilions—including Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Ukraine—participated in a 24-hour strike, shutting down completely or partially. Protesters chanted slogans, waved Palestinian flags, and carried banners reading "no genocide pavilions," while ANGA released a statement with 236 signatories calling for Israel's removal, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

​​​​Art Movements: Curators Named for El Museo's Latine Art Survey

El Museo del Barrio has announced the curatorial team for the 2027 edition of La Trienal, its landmark survey of Latine contemporary art. The show will be organized by Susanna V. Temkin, interim chief curator at the museum; Zuna Maza, assistant curator; and guest curator Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, formerly of Socrates Sculpture Park. In other biennial news, Amanda Carneiro and Raphael Fonseca were named chief curators of the 37th Bienal de São Paulo, the jury of the 61st Venice Biennale resigned after omitting Russia and Israel from awards consideration, and Marcello Dantas was appointed senior curator of the Vancouver Biennale. Hedwig Fijen will step down as director of Manifesta, with Emilia van Lynden and Catherine Nichols taking over in a new co-leadership model. Janne Sirén will resign as director of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Kate Kraczon was named chief curator at the Montclair Art Museum, and Charlie White was appointed dean of WashU’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Marina Abramović has designed wine labels for the Ornellaia estate, with limited-edition bottles to be auctioned by Bonhams to benefit the Guggenheim Pop exhibition.

‘We put our heads above the parapet’: Lubaina Himid on winning her 40-year battle to storm the Venice Biennale

Lubaina Himid, the 71-year-old British artist, is representing Britain at the Venice Biennale with a solo exhibition in the British Pavilion. Known for her decades-long career addressing Black identity and colonial history through paintings, textiles, and cut-out figures, Himid installed her work early and even got married in the lead-up to the biennale. She follows fellow Black British artists John Akomfrah and Sonia Boyce in recent years, completing a trio of artists from the same generation to take over the pavilion.

Andy Warhol | Kiku Flowers (with hardback exhibition book, “edition club” order forms) (1984) | Available for Sale

APC ART has announced the exclusive sale of a rare 1984 Andy Warhol screenprint titled "Kiku Flowers." The work originates from a limited edition of 1,500 produced for a landmark exhibition at the Gendai Hanga Center in Tokyo and is being offered as a comprehensive historical package. The sale includes the original cloth-bound exhibition catalog and primary source documents, such as the original "edition club" order forms used for the Kiku suite.

Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Jim Jarmusch Among Sound Artists Commissioned for Vatican Pavilion at Venice Biennale

The Vatican has announced a star-studded lineup of musicians and artists for its pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "The Ear Is the Eye of the Soul." Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, the exhibition features commissioned sound works from figures including Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Patti Smith, and the late Alexander Kluge. The project is inspired by the 12th-century mystic Saint Hildegard of Bingen and will be staged across two historic Venetian locations: the Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelites and the Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice.

Which exhibitions and museums to visit in the evening this May in Paris?

Quels expos et musées voir en nocturne en ce mois de mai à Paris ?

Paris museums and galleries are extending their hours for evening visits in May, with many offering late-night openings on specific weekdays. The Palais de Tokyo is open until 10pm daily except Tuesday, the Musée du Luxembourg stays open until 10pm on Mondays, and the BnF Richelieu site is open until 8pm on Tuesdays. The Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, newly relocated near the Louvre, welcomes visitors until 10pm on Tuesdays, while the Jeu de Paume stays open until 9pm on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, the Musée du Louvre extends its hours until 9pm, alongside other museums. Current exhibitions include shows dedicated to Leonora Carrington, Martin Parr, and Nan Goldin, among others.

Who are the members of the Venice Biennale jury?

Qui sont les membres du jury de la Biennale de Venise ?

The 61st Venice Biennale, opening May 9, 2026, has announced its international jury, which is composed entirely of women. The five members are Solange Oliveira Farkas (president), Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, hailing from Brazil, Thailand, Spain, the United States, and Switzerland. Their backgrounds span the Global South, feminist studies, and transnational curatorial practices.