An exhibition in New York reconfigures German Expressionism. The curator explains everything

Una mostra a New York riconfigura l’Espressionismo Tedesco. La curatrice ci spiega tutto

The Guggenheim Museum in New York has launched "Contours of a World," the first major U.S. retrospective of German Expressionist painter Gabriele Münter in nearly thirty years. Curated by Megan Fontanella, the exhibition features a significant selection of paintings and photographs produced between 1908 and 1920, including a rare loan from the Vatican Museums. The show follows a major 2025 retrospective in Paris and aims to present Münter as a primary figure of the avant-garde in her own right.

In the Heart of the Marais in Paris, the Swiss Cultural Center (Finally) Reopens its Doors

Au cœur du Marais à Paris, le Centre culturel suisse rouvre (enfin) ses portes

The Centre Culturel Suisse (CCS) in Paris is set to reopen on March 26, 2026, following a four-year renovation of its Marais district headquarters. The architectural overhaul, led by firms ASBR and Truwant+Rodet+, features modernized modular galleries, a redesigned bookstore, and a new courtyard café. The relaunch will be celebrated with a three-day festival featuring performances by choreographer Edouard Hue and music from the Bongo Joe Records label.

$25 Million Modigliani Goes to Jewish Heir in Landmark Restitution Case

A New York Supreme Court judge has ruled that the estate of Jewish art dealer Oscar Stettiner is the rightful owner of Amedeo Modigliani’s 1918 painting "Seated Man With a Cane." The decision concludes an 11-year legal battle led by Stettiner’s grandson, Philippe Maestracci, against billionaire art dealer David Nahmad. The court found that the painting was unlawfully seized by the Nazis after Stettiner fled Paris in 1939 and that subsequent sales, including the 1996 purchase by Nahmad at Christie’s, did not extinguish the original owner's rights.

6 Objects That Capture Everything Brilliant and Strange About the Shakers

The Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia has opened a new exhibition titled "A World in the Making: The Shakers," which places the work of seven contemporary artists alongside over 100 historical Shaker objects. The show, a collaboration with the Vitra Design Museum and the Milwaukee Art Museum, draws heavily from the collection of the Shaker Museum in New York to explore the community's legacy of radical simplicity, order, and purpose.

A Radical Post-Impressionist Movement Returns to Paris

Waddington Custot gallery has opened a new Paris location in Saint-Germain-des-Prés with the inaugural exhibition "The Nabi Shock." The show presents works by key figures of the late-19th-century Nabis movement, including Émile Bernard, Pierre Bonnard, and Edouard Vuillard, alongside contemporary artists like Fabienne Verdier and Pierre Knop to illustrate the movement's ongoing influence.

The Unnameable Artists of the Canton Trade System

Art historian Winnie Wong’s new book, *The Many Names of Anonymity: Portraitists of the Canton Trade*, investigates the lives and legacies of 18th and 19th-century Chinese artists who produced works for Western traders under the Canton system. These artists, often dismissed by history as mere copyists or left anonymous in museum "tombstone" labels, created complex works that blended European techniques with Chinese traditions. Wong challenges the reductive category of "Asian export art," proposing instead the term "Canton trade painting" to better reflect the unique atmosphere of cultural exchange in Guangzhou.

Exhibition of Emirati art in Seoul becomes a relic of pre-war UAE life

An exhibition titled 'Proximities,' featuring over 110 works by 47 UAE-based artists, opened at the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) in December and closed on March 29. The show, co-curated by Maya El Khalil and SeMA's Eunju Kim, aimed to present nuanced, everyday perspectives of life in the UAE through sections organized by artist-curators like Farah Al Qasimi and Mohammed Kazem, moving beyond stereotypes of gilded excess.

Kimbell Art Museum’s free community programs this spring

The Kimbell Art Museum has announced an extensive lineup of free community programming for the Spring 2026 season. The schedule features a diverse array of events including gallery discussions, hands-on art-making workshops for children, live music performances, and scholarly lectures. A significant portion of the programming is designed to complement the special exhibition, "The Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem," through documentary screenings and expert-led talks.

Do you remember the last negative review you read?

« Vous souvenez-vous de la dernière critique négative que vous avez lue ? »

The traditional art of negative criticism is vanishing from mainstream media, replaced by a culture of polite consensus or violent but unprincipled social media attacks. Historically, critics like Baudelaire, Zola, and Huysmans used sharp, subjective arguments to defend avant-garde movements and challenge academicism, viewing the attack on certain artists as a necessary byproduct of championing others. Today, limited editorial space and a desire to support the arts have led French journalists to focus almost exclusively on praise, resulting in a loss of discernment and comparative analysis.

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.

Hirshhorn Museum announces acquisitions by 8 major artists ahead of reopening.

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has acquired eight new sculptures by major contemporary artists for its renovated outdoor garden. The works by Mark Grotjahn, Raven Halfmoon, Lauren Halsey, Izumi Katō, Liz Larner, Woody De Othello, Chatchai Puipia, and Pedro Reyes will be installed ahead of the garden's reopening in October.

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.

Dallas Art Fair Returns April 16-19 with 90+ Art Dealers

The 2026 Dallas Art Fair is set to return from April 16–19 at the Fashion Industry Gallery, featuring over 90 national and international dealers. A major highlight of this edition is the introduction of the inaugural Dallas Art Prize, a $20,000 unrestricted award granted to landscape painter John McAllister. The fair is also expanding its scope with a new design crossover featuring Carpenters Workshop Gallery and Sputnik Modern, alongside the debut of the KTX Biennial, Texas’ first biennial dedicated to public art.

Exhibition | OSGEMEOS, 'The Open Window' at Lehmann Maupin, 501 West 24th Street, New York, United States

Lehmann Maupin is set to present "The Open Window," an exhibition of new works by the renowned Brazilian twin artist duo OSGEMEOS, running from April 23 to June 6, 2026, in New York. The showcase features five new paintings that continue the artists' exploration of their surreal "Tritrez" universe, characterized by their signature yellow-skinned figures and intricate patterns. These works operate at a more intimate scale than their well-known large-format murals, focusing on material sensitivity and detailed narratives inspired by hip-hop culture and Brazilian folklore.

The Met Appoints Oluremi C. Onabanjo as Curator of Photographs

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has appointed Oluremi C. Onabanjo as Curator in its Department of Photographs following an international search. Onabanjo, who joins from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), will oversee exhibitions, acquisitions, and research for 20th-century and contemporary photography, with a specific emphasis on international practices in Africa and Asia. Her role includes the stewardship of the Walther Collection, a massive gift of over 6,500 works, and the preparation of a major exhibition scheduled for 2028.

72 Hours of Art in Salt Lake City: Museum Hopping, Spiral Jetty and Sculpture on the Slopes

Billionaire Reed Hastings, the former CEO of Netflix, has transformed Utah’s Powder Mountain ski resort into a unique 'skiable outdoor art museum.' Collaborating with landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand, the resort now features major installations by artists such as Nancy Holt, James Turrell, and EJ Hill. This development positions the resort as a contemporary companion to the region's historic land art landmarks, including Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty and Holt’s Sun Tunnels.

Santa Monica Events: New Art Gallery, Kids Club & More

Santa Monica is launching its first-ever municipal art gallery at the Bergamot Station Arts Center, debuting with the inaugural exhibition "Case Study: Adapt." The opening ceremony on April 10 will feature remarks from California for the Arts Executive Director Julie Baker and a commendation for State Senator Ben Allen in recognition of Arts Month. The launch is part of a broader weekend of community programming including the Venice Street Fair and sound art workshops at the Camera Obscura Art Lab.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Appoints Oluremi C. Onabanjo as Curator in the Department of Photographs

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has appointed Oluremi C. Onabanjo as a Curator in the Department of Photographs. Joining from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Onabanjo will focus on 20th-century and contemporary photography with a specific emphasis on international practices from Africa and Asia. Her responsibilities include overseeing the stewardship of the recently acquired Walther Collection and developing a major exhibition for 2028.

Brion Gysin, the last museum: the original retrospective exhibition at the Paris Museum of Modern Art

The Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is hosting the first major Parisian retrospective of the multi-disciplinary artist Brion Gysin, running from April 10 to July 12, 2026. Titled "Brion Gysin, the Last Museum," the exhibition features over 140 works spanning the artist's career, including his pioneering "Cut-up" literary techniques, calligraphic paintings, and the immersive "Dreamachine." The show also contextualizes Gysin’s legacy by featuring works from his contemporaries and those he influenced, such as William Burroughs, Patti Smith, and Keith Haring.

Sundaram Tagore Gallery Expands to London with New St James’s Space

Sundaram Tagore Gallery is expanding its international footprint with the opening of a new 310-square-meter flagship space in London’s St James’s district this May. Located in a renovated Edwardian building on Pall Mall, the multi-level gallery will feature exhibition areas, a private viewing room, and dedicated spaces for live performances and screenings. The inaugural exhibition, titled "Hybridity and Belonging in Contemporary Art," will showcase a diverse roster of artists including Hiroshi Senju, Tayeba Lipi, and Sohan Qadri, focusing on themes of displacement and cross-cultural identity.

Ellsworth Kelly: Eight Decades at Parrish Art Museum

The Parrish Art Museum is hosting "Ellsworth Kelly: Eight Decades," a comprehensive retrospective celebrating the centennial of the legendary American abstractionist. The exhibition spans Kelly’s prolific career, featuring a diverse array of works including his signature shaped canvases, wood sculptures, and precise drawings. By bringing together pieces from various stages of his life, the show highlights Kelly's unwavering commitment to exploring the relationships between color, form, and space.

Berlin Art: What Exhibitions Are on Now?

Berlin’s spring art season features a diverse array of exhibitions ranging from established international names to local prize winners. Key highlights include Yalda Afsah’s spiritual film installation at CCA Berlin, Jim Lambie’s psychedelic vinyl floor works at Konrad Fischer Galerie, and the 10th Neukölln Art Prize exhibition at Galerie im Saalbau, which honors artists like Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi. The city's programming spans non-profit institutions, commercial galleries, and experimental spaces, covering themes from folk traditions to gender identity.

The Story of Art + Water

Author Dave Eggers and artist JD Beltran have launched Art + Water, a new initiative located at Pier 29 in San Francisco designed to bypass the traditional art school model. The program seeks to resurrect the historical artist-apprentice and atelier systems, providing students with practical skills and studio space without the prohibitive costs of modern higher education. By partnering with the Port of San Francisco and the Community Arts Stabilization Trust, the founders aim to revitalize the city's waterfront while offering a sustainable alternative to the current debt-heavy academic landscape.

Prominent German Art Foundation Accuses Top Culture Official of ‘Attempted Intimidation’

Jurors from the Kunstfonds Foundation, a major German contemporary art funding body, have accused Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer of attempted intimidation and political interference. The conflict erupted after Weimer requested the names of the independent jury members, a move the foundation views as a threat to artistic freedom. This follows a separate controversy where Weimer reportedly consulted domestic intelligence to exclude bookstores with left-wing leanings from a national award.

A Data Analysis of the 2026 Venice Biennale Signals a Shift to the Present

The 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys," marks a significant pivot from the historical revisionism of recent editions toward a focus on contemporary, mid-career artists. Posthumously realized based on the vision of the late Koyo Kouoh, the exhibition features 111 participants, including a notable inclusion of artist-led organizations from Africa. Data analysis reveals a balanced demographic split between the Global North and South, moving away from the retrospective focus of predecessors like Adriano Pedrosa and Cecilia Alemani to prioritize living artists and subtler, emotional themes.

Pete Davidson’s Pop-Filled Art Collection Revealed in Westchester Home Listing

Actor and comedian Pete Davidson has listed his Westchester County home for $2.2 million, revealing a vibrant art collection rooted in pop culture and nostalgia. The 2,300-square-foot residence features a diverse array of works ranging from Peter Max prints and Al Hirschfeld caricatures to contemporary design pieces like the Gufram x Paul Smith 'Sunset Cactus.' The interior reflects Davidson's 'man cave' aesthetic, blending high-end collectibles with whimsical references to television, film, and his native Staten Island.

The Art Consultancy Firm Saying No to the Attention Economy

Approximately Blue (AB), a contemporary art consultancy and brokerage, is deliberately operating without a public-facing brand, social media presence, or physical address. Founded by François-Luc Giraldeau and Emily Johnson, the firm focuses exclusively on primary market fine art prints and multiples, prioritizing deep research and direct, substantive relationships with collectors over visibility and hype.

The Unbearable Strangeness of Being

South African artist Cinga Samson makes his New York debut at White Cube with "Ukuphuthelwa," an exhibition of haunting, large-scale oil paintings. The works feature figures with distinctive white pupils engaged in enigmatic rituals within dark, crepuscular landscapes. Drawing from the isiXhosa concept of spiritual alertness during sleeplessness, Samson’s compositions blend the palpable with the unearthly, often depicting scenes that feel choreographed yet remain stubbornly illegible to the Western gaze.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Rebrands Again as "PhArt"

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has announced a rebranding to "PhArt," following the discovery of a long-lost Marcel Duchamp readymade—an early prototype of a whoopee cushion titled "Le rire"—in its archives. The institution is dropping "Museum" from its name to signal a commitment to art that transcends traditional boundaries, and the new branding will be featured prominently on social media.

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.