Theodoros Papagiannis: Reusing Materials For Art’s Slow Arrow, As An Antidote To Barbarism

Theodoros Papagiannis, a Greek sculptor and professor, is the subject of a tribute exhibition titled "In Praise of Sculpture" at the Sianti Gallery in Athens. The show features works by eighteen artists, all graduates of the 1st Sculpture Workshop of the Athens School of Fine Arts, honoring Papagiannis as their teacher. In an interview, Papagiannis discusses his philosophy of reusing materials, the importance of memory in art, and his belief that art must remain rooted in tradition while engaging with the present. He also reflects on Greece's sculptural heritage, the influence of ancient works like the Elgin Marbles, and his ongoing project of drawing from Greece's archaeological museums.

Dolce Vita is Over

Dolce Vita war gestern

Andrea Modica's new photobook "Italian Story" collects four decades of photographs taken in Italy, beginning with her first trip there in the late 1980s. Born in 1960 to a family with roots in Sicily and Naples, Modica received a Fulbright scholarship to travel to Sicily and photograph the origins of the Catholic imagery, gender roles, and family structures she experienced growing up in New York. The book, however, is not a documentary of her heritage; instead, it presents dreamlike, surreal images—motionless bodies in water, dead fish, figures behind mosquito nets, Madonna statues—that resist clear narrative or identity politics. Modica works with an 8x10 large-format analog camera and prints using the historic platinum-palladium process, giving the images a timeless, collaborative quality.

The appalling mediocrity of the chosen project for the 'Grande Colonnade' of the Louvre

L'effarante médiocrité du projet retenu pour la « Grande Colonnade » du Louvre

The French Ministry of Culture has announced the winning team for the 'Grande Colonnade' project at the Louvre, selecting STUDIOS Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects. The ministry's press release, described as self-congratulatory and written in trendy bureaucratic language, celebrates the choice as a major advancement. However, the article criticizes the lack of transparency, noting that only three exterior visuals have been released, and argues that the project is unfunded and threatens necessary renovations at the museum, as previously highlighted by the Cour des Comptes and parliamentary representatives.

Meet the artists behind the women’s Western art exhibition at Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center

The Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center in Dickinson, North Dakota, hosted a public artist reception on May 14 for its women’s Western art exhibition, featuring regional female artists whose work depicts the landscapes, wildlife, and culture of the Northern Plains and American West. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works centered on ranching, farming, and rural life, and will remain on display through June 12. Featured artists include Daphne Clark, Afton Ray Rossol, Barb Kalenze Kraft, Oksana Zvyagelskiy, Trish Stevenson, and Kelsey Jacobson, each sharing personal stories of how art became a creative outlet and source of healing.

New Exhibition Explores Albuquerque’s “Big I” as a Crossroads of Culture, Memory, and Movement

A new group exhibition titled 'At the East of My Past and the West of My Future' opens at the South Broadway Cultural Center Gallery in Albuquerque, running from May 28 to July 17. Curated by multidisciplinary artist Watermelon7, the show features 14 artists who reinterpret the city's iconic Big I interchange as a symbol of movement, identity, and transformation. Inspired by Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' and Route 66, the works explore personal and collective journeys through paintings, mixed-media pieces, and installations.

A Large Dalpayrat Jardinière Acquired by Orsay

Une grande jardinière de Dalpayrat acquise par Orsay

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris has acquired a large jardinière (planter) by French ceramicist Adrien Dalpayrat, along with a jewelry coffer by Henri-Auguste Fourdinois. The purchases were made from a sale at Hôtel Drouot by the Thierry de Maigret auction house, where the museum notably did not exercise preemption rights on other works by Jean-Marie Pointu, Eugène Lion, and Paul Jeanneney. The museum justified its inaction by citing the cost of these two acquisitions.

Annual Art in the West Exhibition and Auction Returns to the High Desert Museum - The Source

The High Desert Museum will host its annual Art in the West exhibition and online auction starting July 18, featuring nearly 130 works by painters, sculptors, photographers, and basket weavers inspired by the High Desert region. The 2026 edition highlights Jury's Choice winner Peter Dawson's photograph "Infinity #3363, Eastern Oregon" and Curator's Choice winner Natalie Kirk's basket "Yamash in Thunderbird of Nch’I Wana," alongside works by artists such as Arturo Garcia, Frank Buffalo Hyde, and Miguel Almeida.

Ohio State’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum to reopen Saturday with new exhibitions

Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, home to the world's largest cartoon and comic collection, will reopen on Saturday after being closed since November 10, 2025. The reopening features renovated galleries, a new permanent exhibition titled "Story of Comics" that traces 400 years of cartoon art, and the U.S. debut of cartoonist Chris Ware's major international exhibition "Life Is Complicated," on display until January 3, 2027. The museum houses 300,000 original cartoons and 2.5 million newspaper comic strip pages and clippings.

Indigenous Artist Honors Grandmothers at All My Relations Arts

Danielle SeeWalker, a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta artist from the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, presents her solo exhibition *Uŋči Said So* at All My Relations Arts in Minneapolis, running through June 6. The show features vibrant expressionist portraits of grandmothers and matriarchs, neon signs with Lakȟóta words, and painted buffalo-hide drum heads, all inspired by memories, stories, and the artist's own heritage. SeeWalker incorporates distinctive motifs such as obscured faces with one realistic eye, braided hair symbolizing Native identity, and censored sections representing the repression of Native voices.

The British Museum bets on 'total immersion' to display the Bayeux Tapestry, which will be presented flat

Le British Museum mise sur « l’immersion totale » pour exposer la tapisserie de Bayeux qui sera présentée à plat

The British Museum has announced plans for an exceptional exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry, which will be displayed flat for the first time in its history, rather than hung vertically as it has been for decades in Bayeux. The 70-meter-long 11th-century embroidery depicting the Norman conquest of England will be shown in London from September 10, 2026, to July 11, 2027, with tickets priced between £25 and £33. The museum promises an 'immersive' experience featuring raking light, digital devices, and loaned objects to contextualize the 58 scenes and 626 characters.

In Rome, the extension of the Galleria Borghese provokes a revolt

À Rome, l’extension de la Galerie Borghèse provoque une fronde

The Galleria Borghese in Rome has sparked controversy by initiating a feasibility study for a new building attached to its 17th-century villa. Museum director Francesca Cappelletti, in office since 2020, cites the need to increase visitor capacity, improve security, and create spaces for mediation, conferences, and temporary exhibitions. The museum, which saw nearly 630,000 visitors in 2025, operates with strict two-hour time slots capped at 180 people, often sold out in high season. Engineering firm Proger has offered to fund the study for €875,750 in exchange for institutional visibility, and Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri has declared the project of public interest.

Historic Northumberland figure inspires art exhibition

An art exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, will be held at Etal Village Hall in Northumberland on May 24. The free event features 30 finalist works—ranging from film and paintings to textiles and sculpture—submitted by artists from across northern England and the Scottish Borders. The winner will receive the Louisa Waterford Prize, and visitors can vote for the People's Prize. The exhibition is organized by The Tin Shed, a collective that supports artists and makers through online studios and pop-up events.

From Brâncuși to Neo-Constructivism: National Museum of Contemporary Art opens new exhibition season

The National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Romania will launch its new exhibition season on May 23, featuring seven exhibitions that highlight key figures in Romanian contemporary art. Central projects include "Campo Santo" by Călin Dan, a retrospective of Victoria and Marian Zidaru, and a show dedicated to neo-constructivist Roman Cotoșman. The season also includes an anniversary project marking 150 years since Constantin Brâncuși's birth, titled "BOÎTE. BOX. BRÂNCUȘI." The exhibitions span multiple floors and explore themes of memory, spirituality, abstraction, and contemporary reinterpretations of artistic heritage.

Landscape and Imagery Help MOWA Celebrate the Country’s 250th Birthday

The Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) in West Bend has opened a new exhibition titled "The American Landscape: Beyond the Horizon," celebrating the role of Wisconsin artists in capturing the state's contributions to the United States ahead of the country's 250th birthday. The show features over 60 works, 60% from the museum's permanent collection and 40% borrowed from artists and collectors, including pieces by John Stuart Curry, Lois Ireland, Georgia O'Keeffe, Native American artists like Helen Lonetree and Lila Greengrass Blackdeer, and contemporary works by incarcerated artist M. Winston. Guest curator Rafael Salas, a professor at Ripon College, also includes three of his own works.

Nei grandi capolavori della storia dell’arte si sorseggia una celebre birra belga. Il video

Stella Artois, the Belgian beer brand, has launched a campaign called "The Artois Probability" that uses an algorithm to analyze historical paintings and calculate the likelihood that the beer depicted in them is actually Stella Artois. Developed in 2023 by the agency GUT in collaboration with the Museo de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires, the campaign examines variables such as the painting's year, geographic location, glass type, and liquid color, cross-referencing them with the brand's archives. The campaign includes works by artists like Manet, Brueghel, and Brouwer, and aims to make viewers think of Stella Artois whenever they see a beer in a painting.

Guide to cultural festivals in Italy at the end of May 2026: Spring Attitude, Aura, Buongiorno Ceramica!, URBAPHONIA, CYFEST

Guida ai festival culturali in Italia di fine maggio 2026: Spring Attitude, Aura, Buongiorno Ceramica!, URBAPHONIA, CYFEST

A guide to cultural festivals in Italy at the end of May 2026 highlights several events across the country, including Spring Attitude in Rome (May 29-30), Aura Festival in Palermo (June 1), Hypermaremma in Maremma (through September 30), Emulsioni in Ferrania (May 22-24), and Caorle Sea Festival in Caorle (May 23-June 7). These festivals cover diverse themes such as electronic music, club culture, analog photography, ceramics, media art, street art, and outdoor practices, often set in historically or culturally significant locations like La Nuvola in Rome, the Palazzina Cinese in Palermo, and an ex-film factory in Ferrania.

F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio welcome new exhibition by Shore Collective

The F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio in Northern Ireland has opened a new exhibition titled "Threads of Time: Industry, Ecology and the River Bann," presented by Shore Collective, an artist-led group based in Lurgan. The show features work from twenty local artists across painting, textiles, photography, and performance, exploring the River Bann's historical role in Irish linen production, its agricultural significance, and its evolving environmental story. The exhibition runs until July 2026 with free admission.

The Raphaels, the Italian Gang and the Olive Oil Maker: The Spectacular Theft of 7 Paintings in Budapest During the Cold War

Les Raphaël, le gang italien et le fabricant d’huile d’olive : le spectaculaire vol de 7 tableaux à Budapest en pleine guerre froide

On November 5, 1983, thieves stole seven Renaissance masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, including two works by Raphael, two by Tiepolo, two by Tintoretto, and one by Giorgione, valued at $28 million. The heist was carried out by a small Italian gang from Reggio Emilia, who entered through a window using a scaffolding left by construction workers, leaving behind a screwdriver from the Italian brand USAG that the mastermind mistakenly thought would implicate American thieves. The operation was led by Ivano Scianti, with accomplices including Giordano Incerti, Graziano Iori, Giacomo Morini, and Carmine Palmese.

Weekend for the arts: 'Untitled' exhibition, 'Lessons Of Silence' theatre

The article covers three events in Kuala Lumpur as part of the KL Festival and Borneo Native Festival 2026. The 'Untitled' group exhibition at GMBB creative mall features 127 artists and 329 works without labels or artist names, inviting viewers to write personal reflections. Proceeds from admission and 'gift letters' go directly to participating artists, offsetting typical financial burdens for emerging creators. The theatre piece 'Lessons Of Silence' by Indonesian artist Agnes Christina is a wordless performance exploring race, class, and parent-child dynamics during a turbulent period in Indonesian history. Additionally, the Borneo Native Festival 2026 at Central Market showcases Sabah and Sarawak's arts and culture, with a highlight being Pangrok Sulap, a woodcut collective from Ranau, presenting prints, books, and socially engaged art.

Fulton County launches Nigerian art exhibition connecting Africa to Atlanta

Fulton County's Department of Arts & Culture has launched a multi-week international exhibition titled “Threads of Heritage: A Cultural Confluence Connecting Africa to Atlanta” at the Peachtree Gallery, running through the end of June. The exhibition features 14 Nigerian artists and is delivered in partnership with the Nike Art & Culture Foundation of Nigeria, Nike Art USA, and UniSpectrum Inc. Led by acclaimed artist Chief Dr Nike Monica Okundaye, the program includes masterclasses, public panels, community workshops, and live demonstrations on traditional Adire textiles, with US-based textile artist Shayee Awoyomi co-leading workshops and Nigerian painter Adeleke Akeem directing narrative painting masterclasses.

Nike Okundaye leads Nigerian artists to historic U.S. show

Nike Okundaye, founder of Nike Art Gallery, is leading 13 US-based Nigerian artists in a cultural diplomacy initiative titled "Threads of Heritage: A Cultural Confluence Connecting Africa to Atlanta." Organized by Fulton County Arts and Culture under Commissioner Robb Pitts and Director David Manuel, alongside Georgia State Representative Kim Schofield, the show opened last Friday at Fulton County Arts and Culture Downtown exhibition space in Atlanta. The event features artists including Shayee Awoyomi, Lasaki Olubunmi, Adeleke Akeem, Ola Balogun, Ajibade Awoyemi, and Bimbo Samson Adenugba, among others, and includes masquerade performances, African-American dances, and cuisines. The exhibition runs through the end of June.

“Villa Borghese è perfetta e non si tocca”. Siamo andati a vedere se è proprio così perfetta

A private company donated a design competition to the Galleria Borghese in Rome, aiming to expand the museum's exhibition spaces and services. Before any winning project was selected, associations like Italia Nostra protested, claiming the initiative would desecrate Villa Borghese. The article's author visited the park to document its current state, finding decay: a wrecked Globe Theatre, neglected ponds, graffiti, trash, dilapidated buildings, and a degraded horse-riding track. The author argues that while the park is defended as "perfect and untouchable," it is actually suffering from real neglect that goes unaddressed by the same groups opposing development.

(Video) Kazakhstani artist bridges ancient and modern worlds with textile exhibition in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is hosting 'Dowry of the Soul,' a solo exhibition by Kazakhstani artist Gulnur Mukazhanova at the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT). The show blends ancient Central Asian textile traditions with contemporary abstraction, featuring large-scale felt works and a textile collage created during the artist's 2022 residency using fabrics sourced from local Hong Kong markets and Central Asia.

The papal residence of Castel Gandolfo had been opened to museum visits by Pope Francis, now Pope Leo closes it again

La residenza papale di Castel Gandolfo era stata aperta a visite museali da Papa Francesco, ora Papa Leone la chiude di nuovo

Pope Leo XIV is closing the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo to the public as of July 2026, ending nearly a decade of museum access initiated by Pope Francis. Online ticket sales stop on June 30, and the palace will revert to its original function as the pope's summer residence. The decision follows preparatory works begun in May 2025 and is partly motivated by security concerns, as the current temporary lodging at Villa Barberini has logistical and access-control issues.

Long-Lost 17th-Century Altarpiece Paintings Recovered After Nearly 100 Years

Spanish police have recovered two long-lost 17th-century altarpiece paintings by Baroque painter Lucas Valdés, which disappeared after being shown at the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition of Seville. The works, depicting Old Testament scenes, were identified in an auction house catalog in September 2025, authenticated by the Spanish Historical Heritage Brigade, and returned to the Hospital of the Venerable Priests in Seville on May 20, 2026, after a mediation process with the consignors.

Jaime Vallardo Chavez Announces International Exhibitions

Jaime Vallardo Chavez, known as 'El Artista de las Monedas Mundiales,' has announced a series of international exhibitions across Peru, France, Italy, and Colombia, alongside the launch of his traveling museum initiative 'Cruzada y museo itinerante del Continente Americano el Bicentenario de America.' The exhibitions include venues such as Museo Amano in Lima, the Bienal de Biarco in Colombia, the Salon d'Automne in Paris, the MAXXI National Museum in Rome, the Naval Museum of the Caribbean in Cartagena, and the Carrousel du Louvre. The traveling museum project, developed during the pandemic, commemorates bicentennial anniversaries of independence across the Americas and has gathered over 600 participating artists.

Heritage Fine Arts Guild’s “Best of Heritage” returns to Bemis Public Library

The Heritage Fine Arts Guild is bringing back its annual "Best of Heritage" art show to the Bemis Public Library in Littleton, Colorado, from June 1 to June 30. The exhibition features nearly 50 paintings by 24 guild artists, centered on the theme "Our Vision: Our Joy," chosen collectively by members to reflect finding joy in community, art, and life. A juried awards reception will be held on June 10, with juror Mary Williams, a Colorado-based artist and curator for the Healing Arts Program at several local hospitals, selecting top prizes and offering critiques to participating artists.

Inside Show of Strength: Women Artists Reimagine Goa’s Historic Aguad Port and Jail

Over 30 women artists have transformed Goa's historic Aguad Port and Jail complex into a large-scale exhibition titled 'Show of Strength: Contemporary Women Artists at Aguad.' Curated by Samira Sheth, the show features 37 women artists from Goa working across painting, sculpture, textile, photography, installation, and digital media. The exhibition, which opened in March to coincide with Women's History Month, uses the 17th-century heritage site—once a place of control and confinement—as an integral part of the artistic experience, with works exploring themes of feminine power, resilience, memory, and healing.

Lélia Demoisy at Domaine de Chamarande: an exhibition exploring forest narratives — our photos

French artist Lélia Demoisy presents a solo exhibition titled 'Récits de forêts' at the Domaine départemental de Chamarande in Essonne, running from May 10 to August 30, 2026. The show features sculptures, installations, and landscape interventions across the estate's orangery, park, and grounds, exploring the memory of forests, natural materials, and the interactions between species. Works such as 'Laissés sur la rive,' 'Le Foyer,' and 'Cedrus deodara – Forêts futures' use wood, fibers, charcoal, and animal tracks to probe themes of repair, regeneration, and the boundary between life and endurance.

Mark Seidenfeld Sets Sail Into “Uncharted Waters” With New Art Exhibition

Hamptons-based abstract painter Mark Seidenfeld presents *Uncharted Waters*, a solo exhibition of paintings inaugurating the newly renovated Corwith Homestead Tractor Barn at the Bridgehampton Museum. The show runs from June 4 through June 21, 2026, and features works that transition from representational to fully abstract, exploring themes of depth, gesture, and the unknown through layered, revised compositions.