Pope Francis and art, J.M.W. Turner’s 250th birthday, John Singer Sargent’s ‘Madame X’—podcast

This episode of The Art Newspaper's podcast 'The Week in Art' covers three major art stories. Host Ben Luke is joined by managing editor Louis Jebb to discuss Pope Francis's deep engagement with art and the Vatican collections following his death on Easter Monday. The podcast also marks the 250th anniversary of J.M.W. Turner's birth, featuring an interview with Tate Britain senior curator Amy Concannon about Turner's enduring appeal. The episode's 'Work of the Week' is John Singer Sargent's 'Madame X' (1883-84), discussed with co-curator Stephanie L. Herdrich ahead of a major Sargent exhibition opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and traveling to the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

Berlin Museum of Prints and Drawings Wins Award in New York

Berliner Kupferstichkabinett gewinnt Auszeichnung in New York

The Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings) in Berlin has acquired two new works from the IFPDA Fine Art Print Fair in New York. The purchases were funded by the museum winning the Richard Hamilton Acquisition Prize, which provided a $10,000 grant specifically for acquisitions at the fair. The new additions are a 2005 paper work titled "Europa" by German-American artist Kiki Smith and a 2001 lithograph titled "Pregnant Caryatid" by Louise Bourgeois.

Barbados's slavery museum and memorial faces major delays

Barbados's Heritage District at the Newton Enslaved Burial Ground, a major project including a memorial, national museum, archives, and cultural complex, is facing significant construction delays more than four years after its 2021 announcement. The site, one of the largest known burial grounds of enslaved Africans in the Western Hemisphere, is being developed under the Road (Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny) Programme led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. While a temporary pavilion for the National Performing Arts Centre opened in August 2025, the overall completion—initially slated for 2024—has been pushed back due to expanded archival digitization, supply-chain disruptions, and a fire at the Barbados Archives Department in June 2024. The memorial, designed by Adjaye Associates, is conceived as a landscape intervention using teak sourced from Ghana.

trump cuts museums funding aam report 1234761254

A new survey from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) reveals that one-third of American museums have lost government grants and contracts since President Donald Trump took office. Based on responses from 511 museum directors, the report documents funding cuts from federal agencies including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These losses have forced museums to defer infrastructure improvements, cancel programming for underserved communities, and lay off staff. Some institutions have taken legal action, and a court ruling in May halted further dismantling of the IMLS. The Mellon Foundation has offered emergency grants, but two-thirds of surveyed museums have been unable to replace lost funding, with a median grant loss of $30,000.

How LACMA Is Centering Curation Around Cross-Cultural Exchange

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) opened its new David Geffen Galleries on April 19, featuring a groundbreaking installation organized around four bodies of water—the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea—rather than by country of origin or chronological sequence. Designed by architect Peter Zumthor, the 900-foot-long single-level space holds 2,500 to 3,000 objects, with 45 curators collaborating to arrange works from vastly different cultures and centuries together, allowing visitors to meander without prescribed pathways.

Arts of Africa

This article explores the deep history and cultural significance of Africa's artistic traditions, focusing on the continent as the cradle of human creativity. It traces the development of diverse cultures south of the Sahara over 160,000 years, highlighting how artists and workshops translated worldviews into enduring creations. The text also examines Africa's Atlantic Coast engagement from 1445 onward, detailing early European contact, trade agreements along the Gold Coast, and the forced exodus of captives during the transatlantic slave trade, which deprived the region of its productive youth.

LACMA inaugurates its new building

Le Lacma inaugure son nouveau bâtiment

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has inaugurated its new David Geffen Galleries building, a massive horizontal structure spanning Wilshire Boulevard. Designed by architect Peter Zumthor, the $720 million project features 32,000 square meters of exhibition space across 90 non-hierarchical galleries, a free public park level, and a radical departure from traditional museum departmental organization.

Creativity takes the stage at fifth annual ‘Art and Autism’ exposition

Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) partnered with the City of Boynton Beach to host the fifth annual 'Art and Autism' exposition. Held at the Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center in honor of Autism Awareness Month, the event featured approximately 50 artists—a significant increase from the three or four participants at its inception in 2021. The showcase included a diverse array of media, from graphic illustrations and children's books by artists like Kiora Slate to live musical performances by Patrick Fahely, providing a public platform for neurodivergent creators to sell their work and share their personal stories.

Le Petit Salon: The Journey of an Eighteenth-Century Room from Paris to Vermont

The Middlebury College Museum of Art will reassemble Le Petit Salon, an 18th-century French neoclassical paneled room designed by Pierre-Adrien Pâris in 1776 for the duc d’Aumont’s Parisian mansion. Gifted to the college in 1959 by Susan Dwight Bliss, the room had been in storage since the 1990s. The exhibition, running from July 8 to December 6, 2025, traces the room’s journey from Paris to Manhattan—where it decorated the Bliss family’s Gilded Age mansion for fifty years—and finally to Middlebury, where it became part of Le Château, the college’s French language dormitory. The show also features Pâris’s original watercolor elevations and studies from his time in Rome and Naples, with loans from Bowdoin College, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and the Fine Arts Museum of Besançon.

Elsa James’s exhibition in my home county, Essex, is a potent rejection of the erasure of history

Elsa James's exhibition "It Should Not Be Forgotten" at Firstsite in Colchester, UK, confronts Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade through immersive installations. The show features a floor covered with larger-than-life photographs of the artist, recalling the diagram of enslaved Africans on the slave ship Brooks, accompanied by a cello soundscape by Kirke Gross. Other works give voice to enslaved women Phibbah and Molia, documented in the journals of their 18th-century owner Thomas Thistlewood, subverting historical narratives. The exhibition builds on James's earlier "Black Girl Essex" residency, which challenged the racist and sexist "Essex Girl" stereotype.

In "Dancing the Revolution," Puerto Rico Pushes Back

The article reviews "Dancing the Revolution," a multi-genre collective exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago that explores the music of dancehall and reggaetón, their roots, history, and evolution, and their inextricable link to colonial oppression. The show is inspired by the massive 2019 protests in Puerto Rico against then-Governor Ricardo Rosselló, where music and dance were used as forms of resistance, drawing on centuries of Black Atlantic protest in the Caribbean.

Serpentine Galleries and FLAG Art Foundation launch U.K.’s biggest contemporary art prize.

Serpentine Galleries in London and the FLAG Art Foundation in New York have announced a new biennial artist prize that will award £200,000 ($264,700) to five artists, one selected every two years, making it the largest single-artist prize in the United Kingdom. The total payout over the next decade is £1 million ($1.32 million). Each winner will receive a solo exhibition at Serpentine, which will then travel to the FLAG Art Foundation in New York. The prize launches in 2026, with the first exhibition scheduled for fall 2027 in London and spring 2028 in New York. Eligible artists must be actively working, have a strong exhibition record, and no more than 10 years of professional show history. A jury of art historians, curators, and artists will select winners from nominations.

Remembering Sylvio Perlstein, the Belgian art collector and jeweller, who died aged 94

Sylvio Perlstein, the Belgian art collector and jeweller, died at age 94 in Antwerp, where he was born in 1931. A third-generation gem-cutter from a diamond dynasty, he fled the Nazis with his Jewish family to Brazil as an infant, reinventing himself as "Sylvio." His collecting began as an adolescent in Rio, where he bought a strange painting from a florist. Over decades, he amassed a major collection of 20th-century avant-garde art, befriending artists like Man Ray and Yves Klein, and acquiring works by René Magritte, Marcel Broodthaers, and Pablo Picasso. He was known for his discerning eye, seeking works that were "esquisito"—weird, strange, and different—rather than conventionally beautiful.

“The Endless Garment: Atlantic Basin” at Pioneer Works, New York

Pioneer Works in New York presents "The Endless Garment: Atlantic Basin," a transnational exhibition curated by Jeppe Ugelvig. The show features work by artists and collectives including Serena Chang, Chang Yuchen, CFGNY, Huang Po-Chih, and Shanzhai Lyric, examining representations of Asian fashion production. It builds upon a prior 2021 exhibition at Beijing's X Museum and a related publication.

337 œuvres et objets volés récupérés : la vaste opération italienne de lutte contre le trafic de biens culturels aux États-Unis

On April 29, Italy's carabinieri dedicated to cultural heritage protection announced the recovery of 337 looted or stolen artworks and objects repatriated from the United States between December 2025 and April 2026. The haul includes archaeological artifacts, archival documents, and other artworks, such as a marble head of Alexander the Great from the 1st century AD, a bronze sculpture stolen from Herculaneum, and two Egyptian basalt sculptures. The objects were dispersed through international markets using forged provenance documents, and their return involved U.S. agencies including the FBI.

Gê Viana: Afterlives of the African Diaspora

Artist Gê Viana's monumental sound system installation, 'A colheita de Dan (The Harvest of Dan, 2025)', was a standout work at the most recent Bienal de São Paulo. The piece, a towering radiola painted in black, white, and red, combines photomontages of Black reggae parties, Afro-Indigenous religious shrines, and medicinal plants, while playing a loop of Brazilian reggae and songs from Maranhão's quilombo communities.

florida atlantic university art history professor suspended charlie kirk 1234752702

Karen Leader, an associate professor of art history at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), was placed on administrative leave after sharing critical comments on social media about Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist who was shot dead in Utah. FAU President Adam Hasner announced the leave pending an investigation, citing repeated comments regarding Kirk's assassination. Two other FAU professors—finance professor Rebel Cole and English professor Kate Polak—were also placed on leave. Leader's posts did not include her own words or directly reference Kirk's murder, but shared others' critiques of Kirk's statements.

FAU gallery opens exhibition marking America’s 250th anniversary

Florida Atlantic University’s University Galleries opened a new exhibition titled “America 250: We Hold These Truths: We Walk These Grounds” at the Schmidt Art Gallery on its Boca Raton campus, marking the United States’ 250th anniversary. The show features work by six contemporary American artists—Carlos Betancourt, Daesha Harris, Doug Mills, John Hitchcock, Melissa Sclafani, and Yves Gabriel—and runs through March 29, 2026. The exhibition reinterprets familiar American symbols such as apple trees, wild horses, and presidential portraits, using objects and materials to explore themes of patriotism and American history.

Padraig McCaul brings his Christmas art exhibition to Mullingar

Artist Padraig McCaul will hold a 'Christmas Studio Exhibition' at the Mullingar Park Hotel in Mullingar, Ireland, on December 6 and 7. The show features new original oil paintings, limited edition prints, art cards, and wax print hurricane lanterns, offering Christmas gift ideas. This is McCaul's final exhibition of 2025, following a successful show at Art Source in the RDS, Dublin, and solo exhibitions at The Doorway Gallery, Dublin, and Lahinch Art Gallery. McCaul, an award-winning artist based in Mullingar with studios there and in Achill, has exhibited internationally in London, New York, and Australia.

Author Graci Harkema to visit Grand Rapids Art Museum

Author Graci Harkema will visit the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) for a free public conversation about her life journey, coinciding with the museum's photography exhibition "As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic." The event, titled "RISING: A Conversation with Graci Harkema," allows attendees to view the exhibition before the talk.

McLean Project for the Arts to Open Spring Solo Exhibitions April 30

McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) has announced the opening of its 2026 Spring Solo Exhibitions, featuring three distinct solo presentations by Sabine Carlson, Zsudayka Nzinga, and Darlene R. Taylor. The exhibitions include Nzinga’s exploration of American labor and diaspora through mixed media, Taylor’s textile-based portraits honoring Black motherhood, and Carlson’s paintings depicting environmental rescue efforts between humans and water birds. The shows will run from April 30 through June 13, 2026, at the McLean Community Center.

Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum Hosts Exhibition Marking Anniversary of Florida-Wakayama Sister State Agreement

The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University is hosting the exhibition “Harmony of Nature and Art” to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the sister-state agreement between Florida and Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The traveling exhibition, which previously appeared at the Florida Capitol’s 22nd Floor Art Gallery and the Atlantic Center for the Arts, features traditional Noh masks by master carver Hakuzan Kubo, netsuke miniature sculptures from the Frost Art Museum collection, and paintings by the Florida Highwaymen. It is organized by the Florida Department of State Division of Arts and Culture with loans from multiple institutions and private collectors.

New Art Exhibition: Into The Wild Opens In Kilkee

Artist Gina O'Connor has opened a new exhibition titled 'Into the Wild' in Kilkee, Ireland. The exhibition features her latest collection of works, which are inspired by the Atlantic landscape of the west coast, focusing on its colour, movement, and energy.

Six artists reflect on the Azores in a new DATMA exhibition downtown

The Massachusetts Design Art Technology Institute (DATMA) is launching "The Same Sea," an exhibition featuring six artists from the South Coast region who participated in the inaugural Hotel Papel artist residency on Faial Island in the Azores. Opening April 30 in New Bedford, the show presents a diverse range of media—including painting, ceramics, film, and photography—created during a 10-day immersive experience earlier this year.

Into the Wild - Art exhibition by Gina O’Connor

Artist Gina O’Connor has launched her latest solo exhibition, "Into the Wild," at Cultúrlann Sweeney in Kilkee. This collection marks her second show at the venue and her seventh solo exhibition overall, featuring a series of semi-abstract paintings inspired by the landscapes of the Wild Atlantic Way. The works, including titles such as "Blown Away" and "Atlantic Bliss," utilize bold, spontaneous mark-making to represent natural elements like mountains, seas, and flora.

Celebrate Discovery at FAU’s Annual Art of Science Gallery Opening

Florida Atlantic University's Division of Research is opening its seventh annual Art of Science gallery with a reception and awards presentation on March 31 at the Ritter Art Gallery on the Boca Raton campus. The event celebrates the winning entries from a photography and video competition that highlights the intersection of scientific research and artistic expression, featuring over 200 submissions from faculty, students, staff, and postdoctoral fellows.

Celebrate Discovery at FAU’s Annual Art of Science Gallery Opening

Florida Atlantic University’s Division of Research is launching its seventh annual Art of Science exhibition at the Ritter Art Gallery in Boca Raton. The competition features photography and video submitted by FAU faculty, students, and staff that capture aesthetic moments encountered during scientific research. This year’s top honors go to Chelsea Bennice for her photograph of an octopus and Aleksandra Nedovic for her abstract visualization of drug development research.

Dancing the Revolution: The Exhibition

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago has opened 'Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón,' a major exhibition exploring dance as a political language. It features over forty artists working across installation, video, sculpture, and sound, tracing the cultural trajectories of dancehall and reggaetón from the Caribbean diaspora to global contexts.

Celebrate Discovery at FAU’s Annual Art of Science Gallery Opening

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is hosting the opening of its annual Art of Science Gallery exhibition. The event celebrates the intersection of artistic and scientific inquiry, showcasing works that emerge from research and discovery.

Visit the Art of Science Gallery

Florida Atlantic University is opening its 7th Annual Art of Science gallery exhibition, featuring visual art created by university researchers from their scientific work. The images were selected from a university-wide contest and will be on display at the Ritter Art Gallery on the Boca Raton campus from March 31 to April 20.