Women animation pioneers featured this summer in new Muskegon Museum exhibition

The Muskegon Museum of Art is set to premiere a landmark exhibition titled “HerStory of Animation: Mary Blair & Beyond,” running from June 6, 2025, through September 27, 2026. Curated by animation historian Mindy Johnson, the show features production artwork, rare films, and studio artifacts from over a century of female contributions to the field. Highlights include works by early pioneers like Helena Smith Dayton and Bessie Mae Kelley, alongside modern icons such as Mary Blair and Oscar-winner Brenda Chapman.

Winemakers Pasqua Vini Bet on Art: Artist Sara Ricciardi Discusses Her Project for Verona

I produttori di vino Pasqua puntano sull’arte. L’artista Sara Ricciardi racconta il progetto per Verona

Artist Sara Ricciardi has unveiled 'Resonance,' a site-specific immersive installation at the newly restored Monastero space within Palazzo Maffei, Verona. Commissioned by Pasqua Vini, the work celebrates the creative partnership between winery CEO Riccardo Pasqua and American winemaker Charles Smith. The installation utilizes light, sound, and large-scale geode-inspired structures to translate the 'alchemy' of winemaking and the meeting of two distinct identities into a sensory ritual for visitors.

40 years of Hammersmith art on show – for FREE – at Riverside Studios

The Riverside Artists Group is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a major retrospective titled "PULL FOCUS" at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The exhibition features 48 artworks across various media—including oil paintings, sculptures, and digital prints—by 33 artists, alongside a 30-minute documentary film and an extensive archive of the group's history. Founded in 1986 following an open submission call that drew over 1,000 entrants, the collective has grown from a local community initiative into an international presence.

LeMoyne Arts's star-studded exhibition sings nature's songs

LeMoyne Arts in Tallahassee has unveiled "The Nature of Kinship and Its Artful Connections," a major group exhibition running from April 9 to May 9, 2026. The show features the work of four acclaimed painters—Mifflin Hollyday, Lilian Garcia Roig, Alexa Kleinbard, and Mark Messersmith—whose works explore the symphonic and interconnected relationships within the natural world. A unique aspect of the exhibition is its community-driven origin, organized by a group of nearly 30 local art supporters to celebrate the return of Hollyday’s work to the public eye.

Photos: Somersfield Host Visual Arts Exhibition

Somersfield Academy recently hosted its DP2 Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition at the Rock Island Café, showcasing the final portfolios of students Nico Bean, Hayden Smith, and Excell Jordan. The event marked the conclusion of a two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) creative journey, featuring a diverse range of works including acrylic pour paintings, marine-inspired dot paintings, and detailed anatomical illustrations of dinosaurs.

Ex-Sotheby’s CEO Tad Smith Banks on NFTs, Agrees to Buy Collectibles Platform Candy Digital

Tad Smith, former CEO of Sotheby's and current chairman of the NFT project Doodles, has agreed to acquire most of the assets of the digital collectibles platform Candy Digital. Upon the deal's expected closure in the coming weeks, Smith will also assume the role of CEO, signaling a significant personal and financial bet on the future of the sector.

‘How can you forget me’: show details Filipino Americans’ rich history

Antonio Somera discovered 26 steamer trunks belonging to early 20th-century Filipino migrants in a Stockton, California basement in 2005. The trunks' contents, including a pillowcase embroidered with the phrase "HOW CAN YOU FORGET ME," form the core of the exhibition "How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington DC, offering an intimate look at the lives of the Manong Generation of laborers.

Route 66, a ‘Linear Museum Stretched Across Eight States,’ Turns 100

Cultural institutions across the United States are launching a series of exhibitions and preservation projects to commemorate the centennial of Route 66. From the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to local galleries along the 2,448-mile corridor, these programs examine the highway's evolution from a vital migration artery to a kitschy symbol of Americana. The initiatives aim to provide a nuanced look at the road’s history, including the experiences of marginalized travelers who relied on the Green Book to navigate segregated landscapes.

Goldsmiths Art College Staffers Will Fight Proposed Cuts

Staff and faculty at Goldsmiths, University of London, are preparing for strike action in response to a restructuring plan titled "Future Goldsmiths." The initiative aims to save £22 million by the end of the 2026/27 academic year through significant job cuts, starting with professional services staff and extending to academic positions. The Goldsmiths University and College Union (UCU) reports that 81 percent of its members voted in favor of the strike, arguing that the proposed austerity measures will devastate the institution's educational quality and its capacity for radical creative thought.

National museum partnership brings major American art exhibition to West Texas

The Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa, Texas, has announced a significant partnership with the Smithsonian American Art Museum to host a major traveling exhibition. This collaboration brings a curated selection of American masterpieces to the West Texas region, featuring works that span various eras and styles of the nation's artistic heritage.

“PAPER TIGER TELEVISION: It’s 8:30. Do you know where your brains are?” at Goldsmiths CCA, London

Goldsmiths CCA in London is hosting a retrospective exhibition dedicated to the influential US media collective Paper Tiger Television. The show features a large-scale installation of a shattered television frame as its entry point, evoking themes of media critique and technological disruption central to the collective's work.

John Smith on Being John Smith

Artist-filmmaker John Smith discussed his latest autobiographical film, 'Being John Smith,' in an interview with Nataliia Serebriakova following a screening. The film explores his lifelong relationship with having one of the most common English names, a subject he was finally inspired to tackle after witnessing a Pulp concert where the crowd became a unified mass during the song "Common People." He describes the project as cathartic, addressing the daily jokes and challenges of individuality tied to his name.

See the Spectacular Winners of Smithsonian Magazine’s 23rd Annual Photography Contest

Smithsonian Magazine has announced the winners of its 23rd annual photography contest, selecting top honors from over 17,000 submissions spanning 108 countries. The Grand Prize was awarded to Jacqueline Burke, a veterinarian and photographer, for her image "The Punk Rockers," which captures three egret chicks with mohawk-like plumage at a New Jersey rookery. Other category winners highlighted diverse subjects, including an abstract portrait by Irina Denisova and a spiritual scene of a devotee in Varanasi by Arun Kumar Nalimela.

View 60 Captivating Finalists From the 23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest. Then, Vote for Your Favorite!

The 23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest has announced its 60 finalists, selected from over 17,000 submissions. The images span six categories: American Experience, Artistic, Drone/Aerial, People, Travel, and Wildlife. The magazine is now inviting the public to vote for a Readers' Choice award winner, with polls open through March 30.

Washburn student exhibition highlights diverse artistic talent

The Mulvane Art Museum recently hosted the Washburn University student exhibition reception, a juried showcase featuring a diverse range of student works selected by Kansas City artist Harold Smith. The event highlighted various artistic expressions, from oil paintings and wooden mandalas to photography, and served as a platform for announcing several honors, including the prestigious 2026 Charles and Margaret Pollak Award won by student Lauren Miller.

26 Best Museums in the U.S. for Art, Culture, and Unique Experiences

This travel guide highlights 26 of the most significant museums across the United States, ranging from massive encyclopedic institutions to niche cultural centers. The list features major art landmarks like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Getty Center alongside specialized venues such as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the immersive art experience Meow Wolf.

Dorothy Dehner | Dorothy Dehner - Drawing for Sculpture (1955) | Available for Sale

Alpha 137 Gallery has listed a unique 1955 work on paper by American modernist Dorothy Dehner titled "Drawing for Sculpture." The piece, executed in brown marker on found stationery from a New York manufacturer’s agent, represents a pivotal moment in Dehner’s career when she transitioned from painting to the abstract sculpture for which she became famous. The work is hand-signed and dated, reflecting her early exploration of three-dimensional forms through graphic media.

Art from Northwest Himalayas at Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art has unveiled "Epic of the Northwest Himalayas: Pahari Paintings from the ‘Shangri’ Ramayana," an exhibition reuniting a widely dispersed 18th-century pictorial series. The show features 40 physical paintings alongside digital animations that reconstruct the original episodic sequences of the Hindu epic. This presentation is part of a larger collaborative initiative involving the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art to study and display works from the Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim Collection.

Heron Marsh Gallery at Paul Smith's VIC calling for art

The Heron Marsh Gallery, located at the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), has issued an open call for artists to participate in an upcoming exhibition. The gallery is seeking submissions that align with the natural themes of the Adirondack region, specifically highlighting the "Fiddleheads and Ferns" feature scheduled for May at the Adirondack Artists Guild.

Celebrating ‘stars’ in student art

The Association of Student Artists is hosting its 32nd annual exhibition, titled “Among the Stars,” at Kingsford High School. The event showcases over 600 artworks from students across nine regional school districts, featuring a diverse range of mediums including oil painting, sculpture, digital art, and metal smithing. The program includes a public viewing, an awards ceremony for Merit and Best in Show honors, and portfolio reviews conducted by representatives from several major regional universities.

Walk & Talk: ‘Jewelry of the Afrofuture’ at The Walters with Baltimore Jewelry Center

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore has debuted "Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture," a major exhibition dedicated to the self-taught metalsmith known for her costume designs in the film Black Panther. The showcase features large-scale gold and brass pieces alongside a recreation of Fletcher’s original workbench and personal ephemera, such as family photos and her mother’s Bible. The exhibition highlights her journey from working at a social justice nonprofit to becoming an international figure in narrative jewelry.

Two New Exhibitions Open May 1 at Smith House Galleries

The Arts Council of the Valley is launching two concurrent solo exhibitions at the Smith House Galleries in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 'Young Warriors' by Sukenya Best features vibrant portrait paintings that explore themes of resilience and nature, while 'Water’s Journey' by Anna Freeman showcases ceramic and 2D works focused on the intertidal boundaries between land and water. The opening event on May 1 includes artist talks and a live portrait-drawing pop-up by artist Will Stroud.

Conroe artist debuts paintings containing Titanic coal at anniversary exhibition

Conroe-based artist Dirk Strangely is set to debut a new series of portraits titled "Souls of the Titanic" during a commemorative exhibition and dinner in Texas. The artworks are created using a unique process the artist calls "Artifactism," which incorporates authenticated coal recovered from the Titanic wreckage in 1994. By grinding the coal into a pigment through levigation, Strangely has produced watercolor paintings of notable figures such as Captain Edward John Smith and Molly Brown, accented with 24k gold leaf and 1912-era paper.

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President Donald Trump’s return to office has triggered a sweeping overhaul of the American cultural landscape through executive orders and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Key actions include the dissolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at the Smithsonian, the cancellation of thousands of National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants, and the removal of high-profile Biden appointees from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board. These measures are accompanied by new tariffs and immigration policies that threaten the international art trade and cross-border collaborations.

A landmark exhibition of Jean-Michel Basquiat's early works is coming to Brooklyn this May

The Bishop Gallery in Brooklyn will host a landmark exhibition titled "Our Friend, Jean: Early Works of Jean-Michel Basquiat" during New York Art Week this May. The show features rare early pieces and intimate photographs from the collection of Alexis Adler, who lived with Basquiat between 1979 and 1980. The exhibition focuses on the artist's formative years, showcasing works created on unconventional surfaces like doors and furniture before his rise to global stardom.

Gallery collection on display

The Naracoorte Art Gallery has launched 'ORIGIN', a retrospective exhibition showcasing the foundational pieces of its permanent public collection. The show features acquisitions made between the gallery's founding in 1968 and the early 1980s, including the institution's very first acquisition, a pencil drawing by Robert Walter Felling, alongside significant works by Australian modernists like Mervyn Smith and Judith Heidenreich.

How Caravaggio’s Dark Masterpieces Mirror the Crimes in Netflix’s Ripley

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The Netflix series Ripley, an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, utilizes the works of Caravaggio as a central narrative and aesthetic device. The show follows Tom Ripley, a grifter who travels to Italy and eventually adopts the identity of a wealthy acquaintance after committing murder. Throughout the series, Ripley encounters several of Caravaggio's masterpieces, including The Seven Acts of Mercy and David with the Head of Goliath, which serve as dark mirrors to his own descent into violence.

the hunt edmonia lewis death of cleopatra statue 2564366

Edmonia Lewis’s monumental marble sculpture, 'The Death of Cleopatra', debuted to massive acclaim at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia before vanishing into a bizarre century-long obscurity. After failing to sell, the two-ton masterpiece transitioned from Chicago saloons to a racetrack—where it served as a grave marker for a horse—and eventually sat neglected at a shopping mall construction site, exposed to vandalism and the elements.

In Memoriam: Melvin Edwards (1937–2026)

Renowned sculptor Melvin Edwards, a pioneer of the Black Art Movement who transformed welded steel into powerful explorations of African American identity, has passed away at the age of 88. Edwards was best known for his "Lynch Fragments," a series of over 300 compact, wall-mounted assemblages that utilized industrial materials like chains, meathooks, and barbed wire to evoke the history of racial violence and the struggle for civil rights. His career spanned over six decades, beginning with a breakout solo show at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art in 1965 and a landmark exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1970.

Hundreds attend gallery opening at historic homestead

The historic Rototāwai homestead in South Wairarapa, New Zealand, has officially opened a new public art gallery and cultural space. Facilitated by the Anna Bidwill Foundation, the site features Bidwill’s extensive private art collection housed within her restored childhood home. The opening ceremony, which included a traditional pōwhiri and an address by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith, marks the culmination of a four-year restoration project since Bidwill repurchased the estate in 2020.