Siri Aurdal, Artist Who Elevated Industrial Materials Into Visions of Shared Humanity, Dies at 88

Norwegian artist Siri Aurdal, known for her pioneering use of industrial materials to create socially-driven sculptures, has died at the age of 88 in Oslo. Born into a prominent artistic family, Aurdal rose to prominence in the late 1960s by repurposing materials like reinforced fiberglass and plexiglass—often sourced from Norway’s oil industry—into modular, interactive installations. Her work frequently bridged the gap between fine art and public utility, manifesting in monumental playground structures and politically charged pieces that responded to global events like the Vietnam War.

MCASD welcomes art exhibition from collection of Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is hosting the West Coast debut of "Giants," a major exhibition featuring the personal art collection of musical icons Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean). The show features works by nearly 40 Black American and diasporic artists, including monumental pieces by towering figures in the contemporary art world. To localize the presentation, the museum has collaborated with the Deans to launch a companion exhibition titled "Hometown Heroes," which spotlights San Diego-based artists.

All Things Art You Cannot Miss This April

The Indian art scene is set for a bustling April 2026 with a series of high-profile exhibitions across major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Key highlights include Subodh Gupta’s monumental installations at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, a photographic tribute to Bombay by Raghubir Singh at Jhaveri Contemporary, and the public viewing of Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic 'Yashoda and Krishna' at the ShowKeen exhibition. These shows span a diverse range of media, from Akanksha Patil’s introspective narratives on migration to Laila Khan Furniturewalla’s raw, expressive paintings.

Isa Genzken at Galerie Buchholz

Galerie Buchholz in New York is presenting "Projects for Outside — ISA USA," a solo exhibition by the influential German artist Isa Genzken. Running from March 11 through April 25, 2026, the show focuses on Genzken's outdoor proposals and large-scale sculptural projects, documenting her career-long engagement with public space and urban architecture through a comprehensive selection of works.

The Monumental Impact of Indian Miniature Painting

Aicon Art in New York has opened its first exhibition dedicated entirely to Indian miniature painting, titled "Courtly Visions: Indian Miniature Painting." The show features a breadth of works created between roughly 1630 and the early 19th century, showcasing the intricate detail and narrative scenes characteristic of the genre. It aims to highlight the diverse styles and themes that emerged from various royal courts across the Indian subcontinent.

Matisse, Soulages, Chagall… The most beautiful churches and chapels decorated by artists throughout France

Matisse, Soulages, Chagall… Les plus belles églises et chapelles décorées par des artistes dans toute la France

Renowned modern and contemporary artists have transformed various religious sites across France into immersive 'total works of art.' From Pierre Soulages’ translucent stained-glass windows in the Abbey of Sainte-Foy in Conques to Pablo Picasso’s monumental 'War and Peace' murals in Vallauris, these projects demonstrate how secular artists have engaged with sacred architecture. The article highlights ten specific locations where artists like Matisse, Chagall, and Cocteau integrated painting, glasswork, and furniture into historic ecclesiastical settings.

Artist Offers Haunting Meditation on the 2025 L.A. Fires for the Whitney Biennial

Artist Kelly Akashi has created a major installation for the 2026 Whitney Biennial titled 'Monument (Altadena)', a 13-foot-tall chimney and walkway made of clear glass bricks. The work is a direct response to the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, which destroyed her home and studio, leaving only the original brick chimney standing. She collaborated with mason Christian Inga to meticulously reconstruct this remnant in a new, spectral form.

CAM “Fresh Air: Inflatable Sculptures” exhibit set to open this summer

The Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, North Carolina, has announced its upcoming summer exhibition, "Fresh Air: Inflatable Sculptures." Running from June 19 through September 6, 2026, the show features large-scale, immersive works by a roster of high-profile contemporary artists including Nick Cave, Andy Warhol, and Claire Ashley. The exhibition is designed to be interactive, utilizing scale and movement to engage visitors with contemporary art in an accessible, unconventional format.

Polygon Gallery exhibition features 'one of the most important artists working in Canada'

The Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver has launched "Photolithics," a major exhibition by Secwépemc and Scottish-settler artist Tania Willard. The show features a decade of Willard’s work, including monumental recreations of historical postcards on sandpaper and photographs viewed through ulexite crystals. The exhibition utilizes innovative installation techniques, such as a traditional kekuli structure, to recontextualize archival imagery and explore the intersection of geological time and Indigenous history.

The New Victoria & Albert Museum Opens in April: Once Again in East London

Ad aprile inaugura il nuovo museo del Victoria&Albert. Ancora una volta nell’East London

The Victoria & Albert Museum has announced the official opening date for the V&A East Museum, a new five-story cultural landmark in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Designed by architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, the museum will debut on April 18, 2026, featuring two permanent galleries titled "Why We Make" that showcase over 500 objects ranging from Renaissance paintings to contemporary fashion by Vivienne Westwood. The entrance will be anchored by a monumental bronze sculpture by Thomas J Price, marking the start of a robust contemporary commission program.

An Important Urbino Maiolica Basin for the Clark

Un important bassin en majolique d'Urbino pour le Clark

The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown has acquired a significant 16th-century Urbino maiolica basin from the gallery Camille Leprince following its display at TEFAF. Attributed to the workshop of Orazio or Flaminio Fontana, the trilobed basin features intricate historiated scenes from the life of Joseph and elaborate grotesque decorations. The piece was a highlight of the fair and is accompanied by extensive research regarding its complex provenance.

Artist LR Vandy on Sculpting the ‘Knotted Histories’ of Power

London-based artist LR Vandy has opened her first solo museum exhibition, titled "Rise," at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The show, produced in partnership with London's October Gallery, features a new body of site-specific work installed both indoors and on the park's grounds, including a monumental outdoor sculpture. The exhibition creates an immersive environment where Vandy uses materials like rope and found objects to investigate themes of power, trade, and colonialism.

A Look Back at Newport’s Historic 1974 Sculpture Show

The Preservation Society of Newport County is hosting "Full Circle" at the Rosecliff mansion, an exhibition that revisits the landmark 1974 outdoor sculpture show "Monumenta." The current display features scale models, preparatory drawings, and archival photographs of works by modern masters such as Claes Oldenburg, Alexander Calder, and Willem de Kooning. A significant portion of the show is dedicated to Richard Fleischner, whose site-specific earthwork "Sod Maze" remains the only original piece from the 1974 project still standing in its original Newport location.

'I’m interested in breaking binaries, barriers and boundaries': Sarah Rosalena on her new LACMA commission

Artist Sarah Rosalena has completed a monumental 27-foot tapestry titled "Threading the Boundless: Omnidirectional Terrain" (2025), commissioned for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) new David Geffen Galleries. The work utilizes an industrial-scale jacquard-rapier loom to weave complex patterns that distort NASA satellite imagery of Earth and Mars. By blending her Wixárika maternal weaving traditions with computational craft, Rosalena transforms scientific data into a tactile, atmospheric landscape that challenges traditional methods of planetary mapping.

More than 200 cultural figures sign statement criticising international response to destruction of Iran’s heritage

More than 200 international scholars and cultural heritage professionals have signed a joint statement condemning the United States and Israel for inflicting "irreversible damage" on Iran’s cultural heritage. The group, which includes academics from leading global institutions, alleges that recent military strikes have damaged over 130 UNESCO-registered monuments and museums, including the Senate Palace in Tehran and sites in Isfahan. They argue these actions violate the 1954 Hague Convention and criticize international bodies like UNESCO for failing to issue a sufficiently forceful response.

Derrick Adams: Glimpses of Black Leisure

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, is hosting 'Derrick Adams: View Master,' the first mid-career survey dedicated to the multidisciplinary artist. Featuring over 100 works spanning two decades, the exhibition includes painting, collage, sculpture, video, and performance that highlight Adams's unique visual language of pattern and color.

Rocky statue moved inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art for new show.

The iconic bronze statue of Rocky Balboa has been relocated from its outdoor spot at the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's steps into the museum building itself. This move is in preparation for a major new exhibition titled 'Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,' which opens in late April.

Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language at Atlanta Contemporary, Atlanta

The Atlanta Contemporary is presenting the group exhibition 'Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language,' curated by Karen Comer Lowe. It features works by artists February James, Bethany Collins, Gabi Madrid, and a’driane nieves across film, painting, and mixed media, focusing on how each translates personal and embodied experience into visual and linguistic forms. Key pieces include nieves's monumental painting on grief and rage, Collins's text-based interrogation of racial identity, James's debut stop-motion film exploring stillness, and Madrid's inscribed headboards addressing healing and cultural memory.

A historic section of the Eiffel Tower's original staircase is set to go up for auction

Un tronçon historique de l’escalier d’origine de la tour Eiffel s’apprête à s’envoler aux enchères

The auction house Artcurial is set to auction a 2.75-meter-tall section of the original spiral staircase from the Eiffel Tower on May 21. This specific segment, consisting of fourteen riveted steel steps, was part of the structure connecting the second and third floors until it was dismantled in 1983 to make way for modern elevators. Estimated between €120,000 and €150,000, the piece holds significant historical value as it is the inaugural 'Lot No. 1' from the original 1983 dispersal sale.

Gangnam styles: South Korea’s brutalist gems – in pictures

Photographer Paul Tulett has captured the stark, concrete landscapes of South Korea in his new book, *Brutalist Korea*, published by Prestel. The photo series highlights a range of architectural landmarks, from Tadao Ando’s minimalist Jeju Glass House and Zaha Hadid’s futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza to the playful geometry of the Paju Kindergarten. Tulett’s work documents how the raw, monumental aesthetic of Brutalism has evolved from the country’s postwar industrialization into a sophisticated tool for modern urban experimentation.

Marsha Pels Presents a Material Memorandum on Grief

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by a series of high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair, ranging from Cao Fei’s exploration of global agriculture to Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists. Marsha Pels stands out with a deeply personal presentation that utilizes industrial materials to navigate the complexities of grief and memory.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

New York: An Artist’s City

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by several major exhibitions, ranging from Cao Fei’s exploration of global agricultural shifts at Pirelli HangarBicocca to Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists. Other highlights include solo presentations by emerging and established artists across the city's commercial galleries and institutional spaces, coinciding with the Miart fair.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by several high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair. Key highlights include Cao Fei’s exploration of global farming and technology at Pirelli HangarBicocca, alongside Anselm Kiefer’s monumental portraits of female alchemists. The city's galleries and institutions are showcasing a diverse range of media, from immersive installations to historical retrospectives, positioning Milan as a critical hub for contemporary art during this peak seasonal moment.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

Gallery Applications Open for Frieze Abu Dhabi

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by several high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair. Key highlights include Cao Fei’s exploration of global farming and technology at Pirelli HangarBicocca, alongside Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists. Other notable shows feature historical and contemporary dialogues, ranging from Italian post-war masters to experimental multimedia installations.

Can Textile Art Challenge the Status Quo?

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by a series of high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair. Key highlights include Cao Fei’s exploration of global agricultural shifts at Pirelli HangarBicocca and Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists at Palazzo Reale. The city's galleries and institutions are showcasing a diverse range of media, from intricate textile works that challenge traditional hierarchies to immersive digital installations.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

Could ‘The Antwerp Six’ Thrive in Today’s Fashion Industry?

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by a series of high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair, ranging from Cao Fei’s exploration of global agriculture to Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists. Key highlights include solo presentations by established figures like Liliana Moro and emerging voices, alongside thematic shows that bridge the gap between industrial history and contemporary digital aesthetics.

The Violent Weather of Roger Brown’s Paintings

A curated selection of seven essential exhibitions in Milan highlights the city's vibrant art scene during the Miart fair. The guide features a diverse range of artists, including Cao Fei’s exploration of global farming practices and Anselm Kiefer’s monumental portraits of female alchemists, showcasing both international heavyweights and emerging voices across the city's premier institutions and galleries.

Isa Genzken Asks What Stories Buildings Tell Us

Milan's art scene is currently anchored by a series of high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair. Highlights include Isa Genzken’s architectural investigations at the Triennale Milano, Cao Fei’s exploration of global agriculture at Pirelli HangarBicocca, and Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists. These shows span the city's major institutions, offering a diverse look at how contemporary artists engage with history, technology, and the built environment.

Harry Bertoia Gets His Moment

The city of Detroit is experiencing a significant Harry Bertoia revival, centered around the rediscovery and restoration of a massive 26-foot suspended sculpture. Originally commissioned in 1970 for a Michigan mall and long presumed lost or destroyed during building demolitions, the steel-wire and brass work was found languishing in a basement in 2017. Following an extensive restoration process, the monumental piece has been installed in General Motors' new global headquarters at the historic Hudson’s site, a feat that required complex engineering and a five-story opening in the building's facade.

Biggest ever exhibition of work by major British artist coming to Williamson Art Gallery

The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in Birkenhead has announced the largest-ever retrospective of the influential 20th-century British artist Leonard McComb. Titled "Leonard McComb: Nature and Humanity," the exhibition will feature over 60 works, including the monumental 10-meter drawing "Rock and Sea Anglesey" on loan from Oriel Môn, alongside pieces from Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Academy.