This Week at LACMA

LACMA announces a week of programming from August 18–24, headlined by the opening of *Now Showing: Youssef Nabil’s I Saved My Belly Dancer*, an exhibition featuring the artist’s 2015 video starring Tahar Rahim and Salma Hayek, alongside related photographs and Egyptian movie posters. Member previews run August 21–23 before the public opening on August 24. Other highlights include a mindful evening with Buddhist art tied to the ongoing exhibition *Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia*, plus concerts, workshops, and family programs.

Part root vegetable, part deity: Inside Everything Is Terrible’s new Meow Wolf L.A. installation

Meow Wolf's upcoming Los Angeles location, set to open later this year in a former Cinemark movie theater in West L.A., will feature a 20-foot-tall, 1,000-pound amoeba-like creature named WoWoW, created by the L.A.-based multimedia collective Everything Is Terrible. WoWoW serves as the centerpiece of "the N.E.S.T.," an EIT-designed section of the 26,000-square-foot immersive exhibition space that tells the story of the Noothies, a fictional community of former film workers who discover a god and a hidden truth about reality. The installation pays tribute to maximalist roadside attractions like Wisconsin's House on the Rock and New Mexico's Tinkertown Museum, and is one of 45 installations by local collaborating artists including Gabriela Ruiz and David Altmejd.

Mexican filmmakers to co-host Serpentine Summer Party

The Serpentine Summer Party, a major fixture in London's art calendar, will take place on 23 June, co-hosted by Mexican actress Salma Hayek Pinault and celebrated filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu. The event, an invite-only fundraiser, celebrates the Serpentine pavilion, which this year is titled 'a serpentine' and designed by Mexico City-based architecture firm Lanza Atelier. Last year's co-host was movie icon Cate Blanchett.

The Christophers review – Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel are the double act of the year

Steven Soderbergh's new film "The Christophers" is a London-set movie about contemporary art, starring Ian McKellen as Julian Sklar, a once-dominant but now outmoded English painter, and Michaela Coel as Lori Butler, a former art student hired as his assistant. The plot revolves around a series of hidden paintings called "The Christophers" that Julian's grasping adult children want to find and potentially forge for profit. The film is described as fast, literate, and funny, with McKellen and Coel delivering a compelling double act.

Did This Photographer’s Provocative Work Inspire a Key Plot Point in The Drama?

The new film *The Drama*, directed by Kristoffer Borgli and starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, features a central plot point involving a fictional photobook titled *Brainrot*. In the movie, Pattinson’s character, a museum curator, becomes obsessed with the book's provocative imagery of young women with firearms after learning of his fiancée’s past violent intentions. While *Brainrot* is a fictional creation, its aesthetic and subject matter draw significant parallels to Lindsay McCrum’s 2011 photography book, *Chicks with Guns*, which documented the diverse demographics of female gun owners in America.

Remembering Catherine O'Hara, Beetlejuice's Delia Deetz Cover Sculptor

remembering catherine ohara beetlejuice delia deetz cover sculptor

Actress and comedian Catherine O'Hara, known for her role as sculptor Delia Deetz in the 1988 film 'Beetlejuice,' has died at age 71. In the film, her character creates abstract sculptures and achieves a fictional milestone by appearing on the cover of Art in America magazine.

star wars artwork auction heritage record tom jung

A Star Wars painting by illustrator Tom Jung, used as the original half-sheet poster for *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* (1977), sold for $3.88 million at a Heritage Auctions sale of Hollywood memorabilia in Dallas. Consigned by the family of film producer Gary Kurtz, the work first appeared in national newspapers on May 13, 1977, and later became the film’s official promotional image. The sale broke the previous record for a Star Wars object, surpassing the $3.6 million paid for Darth Vader’s lightsaber prop.

Converge 45 announces list of artists for 2026 edition

Converge 45, a city-wide triennial based in Portland, Oregon, has announced the title and list of participating artists for its 2026 edition. The 10th edition, titled 'Here, To you, Now,' will take place from August 27–30 across 16 venues. Curated by Lumi Tan, the event draws inspiration from Ursula K. Le Guin's 1985 novel 'Always Coming Home,' emphasizing impermanence and spontaneous dialogue. The exhibition will feature works by 28 artists, including Trisha Baga, Gerald Clarke, and Rose Salane, among others.

wuthering heights airbnb

Airbnb, in collaboration with Warner Bros., is offering an exclusive overnight experience themed around Emerald Fennell's new film adaptation of *Wuthering Heights*. The stay, located in West Yorkshire, features a meticulously recreated bedroom and dining hall from the movie's Thrushcross Grange set, complete with period furnishings, Yorkshire delicacies, and activities like horseback riding and a visit to the Brontë Parsonage Museum. The experience is free and available to only three couples for a limited time in late February and early March.

Racine Art Museum announces sizzling slate of summer events

The Racine Art Museum (RAM) and its Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts campus have announced a packed schedule of summer events for 2026, including new programs like the Twilight Garden Series, which combines cocktails, creativity, and themed activities. Highlights include Free First Friday, a Master Workshop with artist Liandra Skenandore on black ash plaiting, Kids Day inspired by the Handcrafted exhibition, and City Movie Night featuring a screening of Lilo & Stitch (2025). Wustum also offers one of Wisconsin's largest museum-based studio arts programs with over 60 class options in ceramics, drawing, glass, fiber, jewelry, painting, and paper arts.

Meaningful projects

Detroit-based artist Elonte Davis and Hungarian curator Kriszti Sarusi are among several creatives reflecting on the personal and social impact of their recent projects. Davis highlighted his 2026 community-centered initiatives, including his solo exhibition 'Homeroom: Detroit Taught Me First' and workshops at the Detroit Institute of Arts, while Sarusi discussed 'Floating Reality,' an exhibition series designed to provide space for underrepresented artists through a collaborative collective.

Marco Island Center for the Arts and Miami museum exchange exhibitions that feature Latinx art and artists

The Marco Island Center for the Arts and the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (MoCAA) are exchanging exhibitions focused on Latinx art and artists. The Marco Island Center is currently hosting works by 15 contemporary artists from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Ivonne Ferrer, Ruben Torres Llorca, and Luis Cruz Azaceta, on view through July 1. In exchange, MoCAA will present "Marco to Miami" from June 20 to July 20, featuring 14 artists from Collier County.

Why Does the “Rocky” Statue Draw Crowds? This Show Investigates.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is launching a new exhibition centered on the cultural phenomenon of the "Rocky" statue, a bronze monument originally created as a movie prop that has become one of the city's most visited landmarks. By bringing the narrative of the fictional boxer inside the museum's walls, the show investigates the public's emotional connection to populist monuments and the tension between cinematic myth and traditional art history.

December First Friday 2025: 20+ art show openings, markets and concerts

LancasterOnline reports on the December First Friday 2025 event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, featuring over 20 art show openings, markets, and concerts. The monthly gallery walk and cultural celebration brings together local galleries, artists, and musicians for a night of visual art, live performances, and community commerce.

Weekend of Art, Artists and Open Studios in Riebeek Valley

Solo Studios returns to the Riebeek Valley from October 24 to 26, 2025, featuring over 60 artists opening their studios in Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West. The weekend includes curated exhibitions such as LANDscape[s] at Die Kunshuis, showcasing works from Modern Art Projects South Africa (MAPSA), and a display of Ardmore Ceramics at EcoPlace, a home built from recycled materials. Other highlights include Red Hot, Pink Spot, a group show of 13 female artists from Kommetjie, and FEAST, a Porterville artist exhibition. Talks on art collecting and live music complement the open studios.

韓国国立現代美術館 果川館で「Road movie: Art between Korea and Japan since 1945」が開幕

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Gwacheon, South Korea, opened "Road movie: Art between Korea and Japan since 1945" on May 14, 2026. This exhibition is a touring version of the collaborative show "Always by Your Side: 80 Years of Art between Japan and Korea," which was held at the Yokohama Museum of Art from December 6, 2025, to March 22, 2026. Marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea in 1965, the exhibition traces eight decades of artistic exchange from 1945 to the present. It features around 200 works by 43 artists, including Cho Yang-gyu, Kwak In-sik, Nam Hwa-yeon, Nam June Paik, Lee Ufan, Lee Bul, Takashi Murakami, and others, organized into five sections. The show also incorporates six outdoor sculptures installed at the museum's opening in 1986 and 1987, highlighting how the institution itself fostered cross-border artistic dialogue.

The Sports Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg. Here’s What Else to Expect From the 2028 Olympics.

Los Angeles is preparing a comprehensive Cultural Olympiad for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, led by LA28 senior vice president Dwayne Jones and executive director Nora Halpern. The program will feature free sports movie screenings, live music, food experiences, art installations, community events, and special exhibitions at local museums. Sixteen local artists have been commissioned to create posters honoring the games, with a dedicated gallery exhibition planned for July 2027. A new digital calendar and mapping tool will help residents and visitors navigate the cultural offerings, and institutions like LACMA, the LA Philharmonic, and the Museum of Latin American Art have already expressed support.

Fade to black: inside the US’s abandoned movie theatres

Photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre have documented abandoned early 20th-century movie theatres across the United States, capturing the haunting beauty of their decline. These once-grand cinemas, converted from 1920s music halls and theatres, have been left as hybrid ruins due to the rise of television, streaming platforms, and individualized media consumption. The work is exhibited at Kyotographie 2026 in Japan until 17 May.

trailer the christophers steven soderberghs film

Director Steven Soderbergh is set to release 'The Christophers', a new film centered on the London art world starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel. The plot follows a faded 1960s Pop Art star whose estranged children hire a former art forger to secretly complete his unfinished canvases to secure a future inheritance. Following its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, the movie is scheduled for a theatrical release in April.

bad bridget movie

“Bad Bridget,” an archival research project about Irish women who emigrated to New York, Boston, and Toronto between 1838 and 1918 and engaged in criminal and sexually deviant activities, is being adapted into a Hollywood film. The project, launched by historians Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick in 2015, has already produced a podcast, a book, and a museum exhibition at the Ulster American Folk Park. The film will be produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment, directed by Rich Peppiatt, and star Daisy Edgar-Jones and Emilia Jones as two Irish sisters navigating scandal in 19th-century New York.

formula 1 memorabilia auction sothebys rm

RM Sotheby's is hosting an online auction titled "The Champions – Schumacher and F1 Legends" from July 24 to 30, featuring 280 lots of Formula 1 memorabilia. Highlights include a Cartier Automatic watch gifted by Enzo Ferrari to Fiat executive Gianni Agnelli in 1988, estimated at €10,000–€20,000, and over 150 lots related to Michael Schumacher, such as racing suits, helmets, and boots from his career. Other notable items include watches presented to Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher, as well as memorabilia from drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, and Fernando Alonso. A selection of 35 lots will be displayed at the Concours of Elegance in Tegernsee, Germany.

The Ten Best Books to Complement Your Viewing of This Year’s Oscar-Nominated Movies

Smithsonian magazine has curated a list of ten books to enhance the viewing experience of this year's Oscar-nominated films, published ahead of the 2026 Academy Awards. The selections include direct source material for nominated adaptations, such as Thomas Pynchon's *Vineland* for Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another*, as well as thematic companions like *Frankenstein* and *The Vegetarian* for other recognized movies.

Exhibition: Living Here

The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art in Las Vegas will present 'Living Here,' an exhibition running from June 20 to December 20, 2025, featuring 26 artists from the East and Southeast Asian diasporas. The show explores how food, clothing, movies, and everyday objects carry the sensory and emotional weight of diaspora, with works ranging from painting and sculpture to video and installation. Artists include Eliza O. Barrios, Ching Ching Cheng, Jiha Moon, Stephanie Shih, TT Takemoto, and Christine Wong Yap, among others. The exhibition incorporates oral histories from the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project at UNLV Libraries.

Rocky Balboa statue takes up a new home inside Philly art museum

The iconic bronze statue of Rocky Balboa, the fictional boxer portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, is moving inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the first time starting Saturday, as part of the museum's new exhibition "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments." The exhibition, which marks the 50th anniversary of the original film, features over 150 artworks and ancient artifacts, and explores how monuments are created and reinterpreted by artists and communities. The statue had stood outside the museum for more than 20 years and was originally a prop from the 1982 film "Rocky III."

Danny McBride's company is partnering with Hed Hi Studio on a new project. Here's what to expect.

Danny McBride’s production company, Rough House Pictures, has announced a partnership with Charleston-based art space Hed Hi Studio to launch a series of unconventional, short-lived art exhibitions throughout 2026. The collaboration kicks off in April with a showcase of hand-painted Ghanaian movie posters from Deadly Prey Gallery, followed by exhibitions featuring Brooklyn artist Jake Plissken and animator Jay Howell. These events are designed as "ephemeral" experiences, often lasting only four hours to emphasize the beauty of impermanence.

Union Theatre exhibit at arts museum raises more than $1,000 toward revival of the Attleboro landmark

The Attleboro Arts Museum held an exhibition titled “Staging a Comeback” that raised over $1,000 to support the revival of the historic Union Theatre in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The theater, which opened in 1928 as a vaudeville house and later became a movie theater, has been closed since 2002 and is owned by the Friedman family. The exhibit featured items on loan from the theater, including vintage Gold Metal brand popcorn boxes, and a popcorn-themed artwork by local artist Billie Klegraefe.

At the Walters: Douriean Fletcher’s jewelry for the ‘Black Panther’ movies

The Walters Art Museum is showcasing the intricate jewelry designs of Douriean Fletcher, the specialty jeweler responsible for the iconic adornments in the 'Black Panther' film franchise. The exhibition highlights Fletcher's craftsmanship and her ability to blend Afrofuturist aesthetics with traditional African metalworking techniques, bringing cinematic artifacts into a fine art museum context.

Meet at Mia: How One Museum Reimagined Summer Without a Blockbuster Exhibition

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) faced summer 2024 without a major blockbuster exhibition, a significant challenge since special exhibitions typically drive up to 30% of annual attendance. Programming manager Anna Dilliard responded by launching "Meet at Mia," a 16-week outdoor series of Thursday night events including concerts, film screenings, and community rides in the museum's courtyard. The initiative built on a successful pilot event in August 2023 and grew from 700 attendees to 1,500 at its first official event, transforming a potential attendance slump into a season of community engagement.

Museum of the Moving Image announces record attendance

Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in Astoria, New York, announced record attendance of 311,000 visitors in 2025, a 105% increase from 2024 and a 147% increase from 2023. The opening day of the exhibition 'Stories and Set Design for the Sopranos' on February 14, 2026, marked the highest single-day attendance in the museum's history, with 3,600 visitors. Growth was driven by special programs like the 'Open Worlds' initiative, community events such as Lunar New Year and Iftar celebrations, and popular exhibitions including 'Mission: Impossible—Story and Spectacle,' which drew over 81,500 guests. The museum also hosted more than 500 screenings in its upgraded Sumner M. Redstone Theater.

Man Ray: When Objects Dream

The article presents an extensive list of artworks by the avant-garde artist Man Ray, spanning from 1914 to the mid-1940s. It includes paintings, sculptures, photographs, and readymades such as "Cadeau (Gift)" (1921), "The Rope Dancer Accompanies Herself with Her Shadows" (1916), and "L’énigme d’Isidore Ducasse" (1920). Many entries are marked "Returned to lender," indicating these works were part of a loan exhibition that has now concluded, with pieces being sent back to their respective owners.