Sharjah Biennial 2027 dates, artists and theme revealed

Sharjah Art Foundation has announced details for the 17th edition of the Sharjah Biennial, titled “What remains, sits restive,” running from January 21 to June 13, 2027. The large-scale contemporary art event will feature 109 participants across multiple sites in the emirate, including Sharjah City, Al Dhaid, Khor Fakkan, and Kalba. Confirmed artists include Anri Sala, Hassan Khan, Ibrahim Mahama, Oscar Murillo, Zina Saro-Wiwa, and Angela Ferreira. The biennial will be curated by Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento, each presenting separate sections under a shared theme examining how past political and cultural histories shape present-day realities through time, memory, and space.

Reggie Burrows Hodges Debuts First European Solo Exhibition at Malta’s MICAS

The Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS) has opened "Mela," the first European solo exhibition by American artist Reggie Burrows Hodges. Running from May 9 to August 30, the show features 30 newly created works inspired by Malta, including the monumental painting "Mamajamma" (over 14 feet high and 26 feet wide), which responds to Caravaggio's "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist." Hodges relocated his studio to Malta to develop the exhibition, engaging with the island's coastline, architecture, labor traditions, and communities.

Maine Gallery Adds New Artists For 2026 Season

Maine Art Collective's (MAC) Gallery in Portland, Maine, has added five new artists to its roster for the 2026 season: Ann Tracy, Bill Elinoff, Sheri Oliva, donnersmith, and Tracy Hehmeyer. The gallery, which transitioned from a pop-up to a full-time space about a year ago, now features 17 artists total. Founder Susan Vittner, an artist herself, emphasizes the gallery's mission to support emerging artists through a cooperative model where artists retain most of their profits.

Indah Gallery Art Exhibition: Mark Russell Jones “Hearing the Quiet”

Mark Russell Jones, a Central Coast native, presents his large-scale ethereal paintings in an exhibition titled "Hearing the Quiet" at Indah Gallery, located within the Roblar Winery vineyard in a converted hay barn in Santa Ynez Valley. The artist describes his work as exploring the space between abstraction and representation through layering and reduction, evoking memory and atmosphere rather than fixed depictions.

South Coast Artists exhibition brings 112 works to Gallery X

The 2026 Members’ Invitational Exhibition organized by South Coast Artists Inc. is now on view at Gallery X in New Bedford, Massachusetts, through May 16. The show features 112 works by 61 artists selected from nearly 200 active members, spanning media such as photography, fiber, encaustic, porcelain, cyanotype, pastel, acrylic, oil, watercolor, mixed media, printmaking, digital art on metal, and found-object assemblages. Awards were presented at the opening reception on April 25, with first place going to Dot Bergen, second to Serena Parente Charlebois, and third to Robert Abele; juror’s choice awards were given to Diana Azevedo-Carns, Lindsey Epstein, and Heather Stivison, selected by independent juror Catherine Carter.

Art lovers pack the Sugar Wharf for Go Troppo opening night

The Go Troppo exhibition opened on May 18, 2026, at the historic Sugar Wharf in Port Douglas, Australia, kicking off the Carnivale 2026 festivities. Organized by Port Douglas Artists Inc., the show features contemporary art from across Far North Queensland, tied to this year's Carnivale theme, "Ancient Wonders." The free exhibition runs daily from May 19 to May 24, drawing locals and visitors to view regional talent.

Brussels Airlines launches traveling art exhibition between Africa and Europe

Brussels Airlines has announced a major traveling exhibition called AfriConnections, dedicated to contemporary African art, set to launch in 2026. The exhibition will tour museums and cultural venues in Kinshasa, Abidjan, Yaoundé, and Dakar before arriving in Brussels, featuring fifteen artists from across Africa whose works are drawn from the Ifitry artist residency collection. Admission will be free to maximize public access.

John Bellany exhibition in Haddington shines spotlight on his unknown work

A major exhibition of rarely seen works by Scottish painter John Bellany has opened at the John Gray Centre in Haddington, East Lothian. Curated by his widow Helen Bellany and Alexander Moffat RSA, the show features early and lesser-known pieces, many never publicly displayed before. It runs until September 19 as part of the Royal Scottish Academy's RSA200: Celebrating Together project, marking the RSA's 200th anniversary. Loans come from the Bellany estate, Alexander Moffat's private collection, East Lothian Council Museums Service, and the Royal Scottish Academy.

Local artist’s new exhibit captures Florida’s quiet contradictions

Painter Bill Gallagher opens his solo exhibition “The State of Florida” on May 2 at Jane’s Art Center in New Smyrna Beach, featuring a new body of realistic oil paintings that capture everyday Florida scenes—cafés, coastlines, parking lots, sidewalks, and public spaces. The works explore subtle tensions between presence and distraction, connection and isolation, using a classical realist approach to transform the state into a psychological stage. Gallagher, who began exhibiting in his 20s in New York, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Milan, left the gallery world for a successful advertising career before returning to painting two years ago, earning multiple awards including first place at the Artists’ Workshop NSB Members Show for his painting “Release.”

Future cultural professionals in Africa will be trained by six Italian museums

I futuri professionisti della cultura in Africa saranno formati da sei musei italiani

The fourth edition of the International School of Cultural Heritage (Scuola Internazionale del Patrimonio Culturale) is underway, with 23 cultural professionals from 12 African nations participating in a hands-on training program hosted by six Italian museums. After online modules and a week of lectures in Rome, the residential phase runs from April 27 to May 22, 2025, placing participants at the Museo delle Civiltà (MUCIV), the Archaeological Parks of Praeneste and Gabii, the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MArTA), the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN), the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria (MArRC), and the National Archaeological Museum of Agro Falisco and Forte Sangallo in Civita Castellana. The program, titled "Managing Art Collections: from ancient to contemporary," focuses on collection management, conservation, and public programming, linking archaeological heritage with contemporary practices.

Medium Art Center Celebrates Five Year Anniversary

Medium Art Center in Ukiah, California, celebrates its five-year anniversary. Founded during the pandemic by a small team of local artists and community members including Chris Pugh and Lillian Rubie, the center began as an online exhibition series called "Dear America" before securing a vacant storefront at the Pear Tree Center in 2021. Run entirely by volunteers for its first three years, the center has hosted in-person exhibits, traditional Chinese brush painting workshops with artist William Shi, and outreach programs to support local artists. Recently, it received a grant from the RISE program administered through Redwood Coast Regional Center to support people with disabilities or neurodivergence.

Exhibition | Su Meng-Hung, 'The Flowers of Coromandel' at Tina Keng Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

The article describes an exhibition titled 'The Flowers of Coromandel' by artist Su Meng-Hung, held at Tina Keng Gallery in Taipei, Taiwan. The exhibition showcases Su Meng-Hung's works, likely exploring themes related to the historical Coromandel Coast and its cultural intersections, presented through the artist's unique visual language.

Provincetown art exhibit celebrates 50 years of coastal studies

A new art exhibition titled "Persistent Curiosity: Charting the Rippled Fabric of the Sea" has opened at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Center for Coastal Studies. The show runs from May 15 through July 19, with an opening reception on May 22.

New exhibit illuminates Black families' summer haven on Cape Cod

A new exhibition at the Cahoon Museum of American Art in Cotuit, Massachusetts, titled "From Borough to Bay: A Legacy Illuminated," highlights the stories of seven Black families from Brooklyn who spent their summers in Osterville on Cape Cod during the 1960s and 1970s. Created by Cape Cod artist Dawn McKenzie, the show is on view through June 14, 2026.

Catch a wave to RAM for new exhibit

The Bakersfield Museum of Art (RAM) has opened a new exhibition titled "Catch a Wave," featuring works that explore themes of water, movement, and coastal culture. The show includes paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces by regional and national artists, aiming to evoke the sensory experience of being near the ocean.

Art of Manga Exhibition Heads to Brooklyn Museum in October

The "Art of Manga" exhibition, organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, will make its East Coast debut at the Brooklyn Museum in New York from October 3, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Featuring over 600 pieces of art, the show highlights works from renowned manga artists including Hirohiko Araki, Rumiko Takahashi, Gengoroh Tagame, Jiro Taniguchi, Kazumi Yamashita, and Fumi Yoshinaga. The exhibition previously ran at the de Young Museum in San Francisco from September 2025 to January 2026.

Get Happy at Casa Ramos Art Gallery

Casa Ramos Art Gallery in Los Osos, California, will open a group exhibition titled “Happy” on May 2, featuring new works by eight Central Coast artists: John Ramos, Mike Golling, Phillip Lopez, George Jercich, Jon Miller, Adrianne Jenkins, Dan Rider, and Elena Ramos Peffly. The show is curated around themes of happiness, color, and optimism, with pieces spanning painting, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. John Ramos will also debut three new prints at the opening reception, which runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at 1034 Los Osos Valley Road and is free to the public.

Bailey Art Gallery Exhibit Celebrates Life on the Water

The Bailey Art Gallery in Hobe Sound, Florida, will open a new exhibition on April 24 featuring works by local painter Dan Mackin and photographer M.E. Gruber. Mackin’s highly stylized paintings—created with airbrush and traditional techniques—depict idyllic coastal scenes on canvas, navigation maps, surfboards, and a guitar, and include collaborations with Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Gruber’s mid-century Kodachrome transparencies, drawn from an archive of over 5,000 images, document the emerging surf culture of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. The exhibition will display 50 full-frame prints from this collection.

A Walk in the Cypress: Evolving at Cypress Art Gallery in May

The Cypress Art Gallery, operated by the Lompoc Valley Art Association, is presenting a new exhibition titled "A Walk in the Cypress: Evolving" during May. The show features works by local member artists and reflects the gallery's ongoing commitment to community engagement and artistic growth in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley region.

Reston Art Gallery Presents its May Exhibit “ Down the Shore ” by Pat Macintyre

Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS) in Reston, Virginia, is presenting its May exhibition titled “Down the Shore,” featuring acrylic paintings by gallery director and artist Pat Macintyre. The show depicts coastal scenes from the Eastern Shore, Isle of Wight Bay, and Ocean City, including images of rural villages and large shells on pale canvases. A reception will be held on May 10 from 2-4pm, and the exhibit runs through May 31.

Cocoa’s picks: Gallery openings, mural celebrations and music competitions

The article highlights several arts events in Bellingham, Washington, including a community mural celebration led by Coast Salish artist Jason LaClair, an opening reception for Charles Villiers' solo exhibition "Untethered" at Cordata Gallery, an improvised musical called "You: The Musical" at The Upfront Theatre, and a Youth Chamber Music Competition hosted by the Harmony Chamber Music Festival. These events span visual art, theater, and classical music, with the mural project involving over 500 children and families in selecting the design.

Arts Foundation of Cape Cod offers grants for artists

The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is now accepting applications for its annual grant program, which funds arts-related projects across Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Applications must be submitted by May 29, and the program is open to both individual artists and organizations, with a focus on innovative projects that increase access to the arts and enhance community engagement.

Midcoast Health Collective open house, art show during Rockland First Friday Art Walk

Midcoast Health Collective in Rockland, Maine, is hosting a free open house and art show on Friday, June 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., coinciding with the city's First Friday Art Walk. The event at 558 Main Street will feature a tour of the wellness space, light refreshments, and an exhibition of abstract mixed-media and oil paintings by practitioner and artist Erika Manning, whose work explores the spaces between landscape and consciousness. Manning's artwork will be available for viewing and purchase, and visitors can meet the collective's practitioners, including a naturopathic doctor, a holistic dentist, and massage therapists.

New exhibition created by three talented artists comes to Waterford amid major success

A joint painting exhibition titled 'Creations of a Colourful Mind' by three artists—Marja van Kampen, Olivia O’Keeffe, and Martina Furlong—has opened at The Old Market House Arts Centre in Dungarvan, Waterford. The national touring exhibition, which previously appeared in counties Cork, Clare, Tipperary, Wicklow, Wexford, and Laois, marks the trio's tenth collaborative show, following their success at the Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre last spring.

New art show opens and Tea Cosy Festival on the way

Walkerville artist Sarah Saridis is currently exhibiting her paintings at Little Oberon gallery in Fish Creek, Australia. Her third solo show at the gallery features coastal landscapes inspired by the rugged beauty of her home region, created en plein air. The exhibition coincides with the town's Tea Cosy Festival, running from May 16 to May 24, 2026, which includes participation from local cafes.

Get out: Here's what's happening in Madison County

Mooneyham Art Gallery in Alton, Illinois, will host a dual-artist exhibition titled "Nature Framed and Authenticity Is the New Gimmick" on May 9, featuring new works by professional wrestler and painter Devin "Itchy" Gable alongside wildlife photographer Carol Bock. The event includes dessert from Dolci's Cafe and Bakery and music by Psychedelic Symphony, and is free and open to the public.

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.

Prairie Arts Council May Exhibit: Mixed-media artist Jennifer Eustis

The Prairie Arts Council in Princeton, Illinois, is hosting a May exhibition featuring mixed-media artist Jennifer Eustis. The show runs weekends in May 2026, with an opening reception on May 1. Eustis, based in Peru, Illinois, works across 2D and 3D sculpture, silversmithing, and textile arts, often described as "Modern Folk." Her work reimagines historical influences like Santos Cage Dolls through contemporary techniques, including copper etching. Her pieces have been exhibited across the Midwest and East Coast and are held in private collections internationally.

You Can Help Create Art at This Free Providence Event

The Providence Chalk Art Festival will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Providence Rink in Rhode Island. For one day, the rink's concrete surface becomes an open-air gallery where artists of all ages and skill levels create chalk artworks in designated squares. Visitors can watch professional chalk artists at work, walk among the colorful street art, and even participate by creating their own chalk designs in special areas set aside for kids and amateurs. The event also features live music, food vendors, and family-friendly activities, all free to attend.

Art Safari exhibitions open at Constanța Casino, Art Gallery for May 1 seaside holiday

Art Safari has opened two exhibitions at the Constanța Casino and the Constanța Art Gallery on Romania's Black Sea coast, timed for the May 1 holiday. At the Casino, the show 'She: The Queen and the Sea' explores Queen Marie of Romania's connection to the Black Sea through personal objects, jewelry, clothing, and artworks, running until September 20. At the Art Gallery, 'Sea Sisters. Stories by the Sea' features Romanian female artists linked to the Dobrogea region, marking the gallery's reopening after renovation.