Memory, Migration, Materiality: 12 Artists to Watch During Alserkal Art Month

Alserkal Art Month (April 18–May 18, 2026) in Dubai features a district-wide initiative of exhibitions and events, anchored by the group show "Déjà Vu" at Concrete, Alserkal Avenue (April 25–May 8). Curated by Kevin Jones, Nada Raza, and Zaina Zaarour, the exhibition brings together over 50 artists from 20 UAE-based galleries, centering on themes of memory, displacement, and cultural inheritance. The article profiles 12 standout artists, including Shahpour Pouyan and Juma Al Haj, whose works translate these tensions into materially inventive and conceptually rigorous practices.

art shara hughes studio david kordansky

Brooklyn-based painter Shara Hughes is entering a major career phase with a series of high-profile exhibitions and commissions. In September 2025, her first New York solo show since 2019, “Weather Report,” opens at David Kordansky Gallery, featuring nine large-scale paintings. Two months later, a mid-career survey titled “Shara Hughes: Inside Outside” debuts at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, including both paintings and ceramics. Next year, she will unveil a large-scale mosaic floor installation at JFK International Airport’s Terminal 6, alongside works by Charline von Heyl and Candida Alvarez. The article includes an interview with Hughes, who discusses her studio routine, creative process, and the emotional depth behind her psychedelic landscapes.

steve wilson art collector 21c museum hotels

Steve Wilson, founder of 21c Museum Hotels, and his wife Laura Lee Brown share their eclectic art collection in a CULTURED interview. Wilson recounts his early start in collecting with a Picasso poster bought as a college freshman after a discouraging art teacher, and how he and Brown now live with over 100 works in their Kentucky home, including provocative pieces like Kendell Geers’s champagne glasses cast from the artist’s erect penis. The couple’s collection also spans works by Kehinde Wiley, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, and many others, displayed salon-style across their residence.

70 million giacometti flops at sothebys as demand for trophy art softens

The top lot of Sotheby's May auction season in New York, Alberto Giacometti's bronze sculpture *Grande tête mince (Grande tête de Diego)* (1955), estimated at $70 million, failed to sell on Tuesday night. The work was consigned by the Soloviev Foundation, set up by Stefan Soloviev, son of late mega-collector Sheldon Solow, and was offered without a financial guarantee, a risky strategy that backfired when no bidders emerged. Auctioneer Oliver Barker made several chandelier bids before declaring the lot unsold at $64.2 million, shocking the packed salesroom.

New York Is About to Sell $3 Billion in Art. Who’s Buying?

Vanity Fair's Nate Freeman reports on New York's spring art season, where auction houses are poised to sell at least $2.6 billion in art alongside major museum exhibitions (Raphael at the Met, Duchamp at MoMA, Matisse at Acquavella) and the opening of Frieze New York at The Shed. The article follows the social and commercial frenzy, highlighting a David Shrigley gong installation at Anton Kern Gallery's booth and the enduring dominance of New York, where nearly 90% of U.S. art sales occur.

It’s the Most Controversial Venice Biennale in Years. Can the Art Stand Up to the Noise?

The 2026 Venice Biennale is embroiled in controversy, with the US Pavilion at the center of a political storm. The Trump administration's State Department overhauled the selection process, bypassing the usual NEA panel and commissioning a nonprofit, the American Arts Conservancy, to organize the pavilion. Artist Alma Allen, who accepted the invitation despite threats from galleries and curators, presents a show that critics find politically muted. The Biennale's jury resigned days before the opening, and annual prizes were canceled, adding to the turmoil.

The Only Guide to This Year’s Venice Biennale You Will Ever Need

The 61st Venice Biennale opens amid significant turmoil. The entire jury of the International Art Exhibition resigned after a statement about withholding prizes from countries with leaders charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC, leading to the cancellation of the Golden Lion awards in favor of 'Visitors' Lions' to be given at the exhibition's end. The event has been further marred by the sudden death of artistic director Koyo Kouoh from liver cancer in early 2025, and the death of artist Henrike Naumann, who was set to debut work in the German pavilion. Additionally, the selection process for the American pavilion artist, Mexico-based sculptor Alma Allen, sparked controversy after a delayed grant application process.

First Look: See What’s Inside the Met Gala’s “Costume Art” Exhibition

Vanity Fair art and style correspondents Nate Freeman and José Criales-Unzueta preview the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute spring exhibition "Costume Art," which inaugurates the Condé M. Nast Galleries. The exhibition arrives amid controversy over the Met Gala being sponsored by Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos, leading to boycott calls and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani skipping the event. Despite this, Anna Wintour and Met director Max Hollein announced the gala raised a record $42 million. Head curator Andrew Bolton presents fashion as art, pairing garments with artworks like Warhol's Skull and Sarah Lucas's Nud Cycladic 9.

New York Galleries: Openings and Closings (03/09-03/15)

New York City’s gallery scene is set for a major wave of activity between March 10 and March 15, 2026, with dozens of new exhibitions opening across Manhattan. High-profile showcases include Sam Gilliam and Chuck Close at Pace Gallery, Maria Lassnig at Petzel, and Paul Chan at Greene Naftali. The week features a diverse range of media, from David Armstrong’s portraiture at Artists Space to Bat-Ami Rivlin’s industrial installations at Management.

Huge Paris exhibition reveals David Hockney’s love of Van Gogh

A major exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, titled "David Hockney 25," showcases 400 works by the British artist, with a focus on the past 25 years of his career. The show highlights Hockney’s deep admiration for Vincent van Gogh, featuring a section called "The Great Wall" that includes 29 Van Gogh reproductions alongside works by other artists. Key pieces on display include Hockney’s portrait of his partner Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, inspired by Van Gogh’s "Sorrowing Old Man," and iPad drawings echoing Van Gogh’s sunflower still lifes. The exhibition runs until 31 August.

The Ultimate Guide to New York Art Week 2025

New York Art Week 2025 is underway as the international art world converges on the city for a series of major spring fairs. Galerie has surveyed six key fairs—Frieze New York, Independent, TEFAF New York, NADA New York, Future Fair, and Esther II—highlighting standout artworks and notable presentations. Highlights include Jeff Koons' Hulk sculptures at Gagosian, Claire Tabouret's new paintings at Perrotin, and Tuan Andrew Nguyen's kinetic sculptures at James Cohan. Independent returns to Spring Studios with its 16th edition, featuring a new curatorial initiative, Independent Debuts, showcasing 26 emerging artists including Shafei Xia, Laura Footes, and Lewis Brander.

Heffel’s spring sales, featuring rediscovered royal portrait and E.J. Hughes seascape, tally $16.2m

Heffel's spring auction in Toronto on 21 May achieved a total of C$22.4m ($16.2m), led by E.J. Hughes's seascape *Coastal Boats Near Sidney, BC (1948)*, which sold for C$5.7m ($4.1m)—more than tripling its high estimate and setting a new auction record for the artist. The painting was consigned by Emily Carr University of Art and Design, with proceeds benefiting student awards. Other highlights included works by Mary Pratt, Jean Paul Riopelle, Alex Colville, Takao Tanabe, Tom Thomson, Arthur Lismer, and A.J. Casson, with four lots crossing the million-dollar mark and a 93.75% sell-through rate.

'The museum is not a space for the elite': Portuguese building firm’s new museum puts workers first

A new museum called Muzeu—Thought and Contemporary Art DST has opened in Braga, northern Portugal, housed in a former courthouse and built by the DST Group, a Portuguese industrial conglomerate. The inaugural exhibition, titled "Let Us Be Realistic, Let Us Demand the Impossible," features over 100 works by 96 artists including Alex Katz, Francesco Clemente, Franz West, and Nan Goldin. The museum prioritizes workers, opening first exclusively for company employees on 24 April, then to the public on Freedom Day (25 April), with free admission for the first week and closure on International Workers' Day (1 May).

Old Masters Records: Gentileschi, Michelangelo, Rembrandt

old masters records gentileschi michelangelo rembrandt

Old Masters Week in New York saw a resurgence in the sector, highlighted by the Italian Ministry of Culture's $14.9 million private acquisition of a rare two-sided panel by Antonello da Messina from Sotheby’s. The week featured high-profile sales at both Sotheby’s and Christie’s, resulting in new auction records for major figures including Artemisia Gentileschi and Michelangelo, as well as a record price for a Rembrandt drawing. The success was attributed to a high level of museum participation and more realistic pricing strategies compared to previous seasons.

met opera may sell prized marc chagall paintings

New York's Metropolitan Opera is considering selling two monumental Marc Chagall murals, 'The Sources of Music' and 'The Triumphs of Music' (1966), valued at $55 million by Sotheby's, to address a severe financial crisis. The Met has already drawn $120 million from its endowment, reduced performances, and struck a controversial $100 million deal to perform in Saudi Arabia, which has drawn scrutiny over human rights abuses. The murals, which hang in the Grand Tier, would remain in place even if sold, and the Met is also exploring naming rights and theater leasing.

collectors donate art england taxes degas bill brandt

Arts Council England announced the results of the 2024-25 Cultural Gifts Scheme and Acceptance in Lieu initiatives, through which 32 artworks valued at nearly $80 million entered public collections. Highlights include Edgar Degas's pastel *Danseuses roses* (ca. 1897–1901) donated to the National Gallery, paintings by Max Liebermann and Max Pechstein given to the Ashmolean Museum, a historic desk used by Prime Ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Winston Churchill acquired by the National Trust, and 77 photographs by Bill Brandt donated to Tate. The report covers transfers from April 2024 to March 2025.

Un’isoletta tutta dedicata all’arte nel mezzo della Laguna di Venezia. Va avanti il progetto della Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo sull’Isola di San Giacomo

The Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo has opened a new art space on the island of San Giacomo in the northern Venetian lagoon, acquired in 2018 by Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and Agostino Re Rebaudengo. The island, previously abandoned, has been transformed into a laboratory for art and sustainability, with a gradual opening plan that initially aligns with the Venice Biennale. The inaugural program launched on May 7, 2026, includes a solo exhibition by Matt Copson curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, a group show titled 'Don’t have hope, be hope!', and a photographic documentation of the restoration process by Giovanna Silva and Antonio Fortugno.

National Museum of Women in the Arts Director Susan Fisher Sterling to Retire

Susan Fisher Sterling, director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C., will retire at the end of 2024 after 18 years in the role and nearly four decades at the institution. Sterling joined NMWA as an associate curator in 1988, rose through the ranks to become director in 2008, and oversaw a $67.5 million renovation completed in 2023, expansion of the collection to over 6,000 works, and partnerships with the Louvre, the State Hermitage Museum, and Tate Modern. The board of trustees has begun a search for her successor with executive search firm Howe-Lewis International.

art venice biennale gallery exhibition guide

Cultured magazine has published a guide to art exhibitions during the Venice Biennale, highlighting several major shows across the city. Featured exhibitions include "If All Time Is Eternally Present" at Palazzo Nervi-Scattolin with works by Tai Shani, Meriem Bennani & Orian Barki, and Kandis Williams; "Michael Armitage: The Promise of Change" at Palazzo Grassi; "Amoako Boafo: It doesn’t have to always make sense" at Palazzo Grimani; "Transforming Energy" by Marina Abramović at Gallerie dell’Accademia; and "Helter Skelter" by Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince at Fondazione Prada. The guide provides details on dates, locations, and curatorial themes for each show.

art armory week diary new york september

The article is a first-person diary chronicling the author's experiences during Armory Art Week in New York City in September. It begins at the Fulton Transit Center for the launch of artist Chloë Bass's public sound work "If you hear something, free something," presented by Creative Time and MTA Arts & Design, which features recorded announcements in five languages playing across 14 subway stations. The author then visits galleries in Chinatown, including Matthew Kirk's show at Fierman and Ohad Meromi's exhibition at 56 Henry, encountering notable art-world figures like Jerry Saltz, Issy Wood, and Naomi Fry along the way.

Remembering Rauschenberg’s decades in Florida

Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008), described by critic Robert Hughes as "the most important American artist of the last century," spent four decades in Florida, where materials and collaborators from the state fueled breakthroughs like his scrap-metal sculptures and the Rauschenberg Overseas Cultural Interchange (Roci). As Miami Art Week unfolds, two projects mark his centennial: "Robert Rauschenberg: Real Time" at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale (through April 2026) and the forthcoming book "Out of the Real World: Robert Rauschenberg at USF Graphicstudio." However, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation announced it will end its Captiva Island residency and sell the artist's home and studio, prompting reflection on how Florida shaped his legacy.

Black and Indigenous artists stand out in Portland Art Museum exhibition

The Portland Art Museum is currently featuring an installation by artist Christopher Myers titled *Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me* (2022), which serves as the centerpiece of the exhibition *Global Icons, Local Spotlight*. The work consists of stained glass lightboxes arranged in an octagonal structure, depicting Black life and water symbolism, including images of a Black mermaid, fire hydrant scenes, and references to the water spirit Mami Wata. The installation incorporates objects like gas cans, oars, life jackets, and votive candles, transforming the space into a shrine-like environment.

Private galleries bring immersive Art Week experience

Private galleries and pop-ups are collaborating with venues and brands to bring immersive experiences during Miami Art Week 2025. Highlights include the launch of CONTRA, a private events platform, with a VIP grand opening at Wyncatcher in Wynwood featuring DJ sets and an installation by Daniel Allen Cohen. The NFL returns with an expanded Artist Replay experience, including debut artworks from active player Marco Wilson and legend Martellus Bennett. Opera Gallery Miami presents “In Dialogue with Color: Mid-20th Century to Now” with works by Roy Lichtenstein, Yayoi Kusama, and others. London-based SLAWN debuts “Heroes, Villains, and Violence” at The Art of Hip Hop, while artists Amanda Linares and Lee Pivnik install site-specific works for the City of Miami Beach’s “No Vacancy 2025” program at hotels.

From The Sheep Detectives to Rivals: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead

This week's entertainment guide from The Guardian includes a major outdoor sculpture exhibition of Henry Moore's monumental works at Kew Gardens, running from May 9, 2026 to January 31, 2027. The show features 30 of Moore's sculptures in the largest-ever presentation of outdoor works by the English modernist. Additionally, Parham Ghalamdar presents a solo exhibition of post-apocalyptic ceramic and glass works at Blenheim Walk Gallery in Leeds, and Photo London, the UK's leading photography fair, returns for its 11th year, moving to Kensington Olympia after a decade at Somerset House.

British billionaire's £200m art collection most expensive ever offered in UK

British billionaire Joe Lewis will sell a tranche of his art collection in a standalone sale at Sotheby’s in London this June, estimated at £150m–£200m. This makes it the most valuable single-owner collection ever offered in the UK, surpassing the Pauline Karpidas collection which totalled £101m. Highlights include Gustav Klimt’s *Bildnis Gertrud Loew* (est £20m–£30m), Amedeo Modigliani’s *Homme à la pipe* (est £12m–£18m), and Francis Bacon’s *Two Studies for Self-Portrait* (est £8m–£12m). The sale follows a smaller March auction of four works from the Lewis collection that focused on School of London artists.

Judd Foundation Taps Copper Hewitt Curator as New Director of Design

The Judd Foundation has appointed Alexandra Cunningham Cameron as its first director of design, a new role overseeing Donald Judd Furniture LLC. Cameron, currently a curator of contemporary design at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, will start on April 27, guiding product development, operations, and strategic growth for the foundation's furniture line, which produces over 70 designs based on Donald Judd's original specifications.

V&A exhibition honours designer Elsa Schiaparelli's unique synthesis of fine art and fashion

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has launched a major exhibition dedicated to the Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, focusing on her revolutionary integration of Surrealist art and haute couture. The show highlights her early career in Paris, specifically her 1927 breakthrough with a trompe-l’oeil knitted sweater, and explores her collaborations with avant-garde artists like Salvador Dalí. By examining her unique ability to translate Dadaist and Surrealist concepts into wearable garments, the exhibition positions her as a pivotal figure who challenged the traditional boundaries of fashion and art.

Picasso Exhibition at Burgos Cathedral Explores Artist's Biblical Roots

picasso burgos cathedral show

The Catedral de Santa María in Burgos is hosting "Picasso: Biblical Roots," an exhibition exploring the enduring influence of Christian iconography on Pablo Picasso. Featuring 44 works loaned from major institutions like the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, the show traces the artist's journey from his early academic religious paintings in Spain to the subtle theological motifs found in his later Cubist and post-war works.

whitney houston biennial

Curator and artist Christine “C.” Finley has launched the second edition of the Whitney Houston Biennial, an all-female contemporary art survey titled “Greatest Love of All.” Hosted at a chashama space in Manhattan, the exhibition features 125 women artists in a salon-style presentation. The show serves as a scrappy, inclusive alternative to the Whitney Museum’s official biennial, emphasizing female legacy by requiring each participant to submit a text honoring a woman who paved the way for them.

salvador dali largest ever painting bonhams paris auction

Salvador Dalí’s largest ever painting, a monumental 13-panel stage set created for the ballet "Bacchanale," is set to lead Bonhams’s fourth annual Surrealist sale in Paris on March 26. Measuring 65 by 100 feet, the work was originally commissioned for the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo and features Dalí's signature paranoiac-critical imagery, including a central depiction of Mount Venus. The set, which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1939, is estimated to fetch between $236,000 and $350,000.