Uman’s kaleidoscopic journeys

The article profiles Somali-born, self-taught artist Uman, whose vibrant, pattern-filled paintings are currently the subject of her first institutional solo exhibition, 'Uman: After all the things…', at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The show, curated by Amy Smith-Stewart, features works like *Zam Zam Bom Bom* (2023) and *Melancholia in a Fall Breeze* (2025), alongside a large-scale mural and a sculptural streetlamp. The article also reveals Uman's plan to relocate from upstate New York to the south of France next spring, marking the end of a 20-year chapter in her adopted home.

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Sotheby’s London achieved a rare "white-glove" result during its spring modern and contemporary evening sale, with every lot finding a buyer. The auction totaled £131 million ($175 million), representing a 110 percent increase over the previous year's equivalent sale. High-profile successes included a record-breaking £5.2 million sale for Leon Kossoff’s "Children’s Swimming Pool" and strong performances for works by Andy Warhol and Josef Albers, largely driven by prestigious consignments like the Lewis Collection.

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Maria Balshaw, director of Tate in London, will step down in spring 2026 after nearly a decade leading the institution. During her tenure, she oversaw major exhibitions including "Van Gogh and Britain," "Yoko Ono," and "Sargent and Fashion," and her final project will be a Tracey Emin survey at Tate Modern. Separately, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art announced it will return three Khmer Empire sculptures—Head of Harihara, The Goddess Uma, and Prajnaparamita—to Cambodia, citing evidence they were looted during the country's civil conflict. The US Senate also unanimously approved the HEAR Act of 2025 to help heirs reclaim art looted during the Holocaust.

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Maria Balshaw, director of London’s Tate, has announced she will step down in spring 2026 after nearly a decade leading the museum network. She joined in 2017, succeeding Nicholas Serota, and previously directed the Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth Art Gallery. During her tenure, she oversaw major exhibitions including “The EY Exhibition: Van Gogh and Britain” (2019), a Yoko Ono retrospective, and “Sargent and Fashion.” Her final project will be co-curating the largest-ever survey of Tracey Emin at Tate Modern, running from February 27 to August 31, 2026.

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Steve McQueen, the Turner Prize-winning artist and Oscar-winning film director, created the soundtrack for Bottega Veneta's spring/summer 2026 runway show during Milan Fashion Week. The show, held at Fabbrica Orobia in Milan, featured McQueen's sound piece '66 – '76, which pairs vocal recordings by David Bowie and Nina Simone of the song "Wild is the Wind." This was the debut collection for new creative director Louise Trotter, who joined the Italian fashion house in December 2024.

You Can Become an Artwork at This New York Museum—Thanks to Piero Manzoni

Magazzino Italian Art in Cold Spring, New York, is reactivating Piero Manzoni’s seminal conceptual work, "Magical Base" (1961). On April 10 and 11, visitors can stand on the artist's wooden pedestal to be documented as living sculptures, receiving a photograph and record of their participation. The activation is part of the larger exhibition "Piero Manzoni: Total Space," which also features the artist's "Achromes" and immersive, unrealized environments like the "Phosphorescent Room" and "Hairy Room."

Why the Photo Market Is Moving Closer to Painting, With Unique Works Leading the Way

Artnet Auctions has launched its Spring Photographs sale, running through April 16, 2026, featuring works by blue-chip artists such as Peter Beard, Adam Fuss, and Diane Arbus. The auction highlights a significant shift in the photography market toward unique, one-of-a-kind works—including photograms, hand-painted images, and collages—that blur the lines between photography and painting. This trend is evidenced by increasing auction prices, with several works recently crossing the $1 million and $2 million thresholds.

Stolen Van Gogh Back on View at Dutch Museum After Dramatic Restoration

A Vincent van Gogh painting, 'The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring,' stolen from the Singer Laren museum in 2020, has been restored and returned to public display at the Groninger Museum. The painting was recovered in 2023 by Dutch police and art sleuth Arthur Brand, and underwent a meticulous, months-long restoration by conservator Marjan de Visser to repair damage and remove historical overpainting.

Marina Abramović Is the Unlikely Star of the New Balloon Museum

Marina Abramović Is the Unlikely Star of the New Balloon Museum

Performance artist Marina Abramović has created a large-scale inflatable installation for the new permanent New York outpost of the Balloon Museum. Titled *Snowy/Windy/Spring On The Planet Z*, the immersive work transforms the Tin Building into an imagined extraterrestrial meadow filled with balloon sculptures, light, and air currents, opening in July 2026.

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New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced plans to convert its centrally located gift shop off the Great Hall into a new gallery space dedicated to its Costume Institute, with a $50 million fundraising goal and an expected opening in 2026. The 11,500-square-foot space will replace the current Anna Wintour Costume Center, offering a more prominent location for the institute's annual blockbuster exhibitions, such as this year's "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." Anna Wintour, Condé Nast global editorial director and Vogue editor, will lead fundraising for the project, which also includes reconfiguring ground-floor dining and retail spaces and opening a new public entrance at East 83rd Street and Fifth Avenue.

Art21 Honors Paul Pfeiffer and Charles Gaines at 2026 Spring Gala as Organization Celebrates 25 Years of Championing Access to Contemporary Art

Art21 will honor artists Paul Pfeiffer and Charles Gaines at its 2026 Spring Gala on April 14, alongside a tribute to philanthropist Agnes Gund. The event, held at Tribeca Rooftop, features a live auction of exclusive experiences and a marching band procession, and serves as the centerpiece of the organization's year-long 25th-anniversary celebration.

Spring 2026 to Feature New Documentaries, Screenings, Artist Talks, and a New Episode of Art in the Twenty-First Century

Art21 has announced its spring 2026 programming lineup, which includes new documentary premieres, film screenings, artist talks, and the second episode of the 12th season of its flagship series 'Art in the Twenty-First Century.' The season features artists such as Tomás Saraceno, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Camille Henrot, and Ragnar Kjartansson, and coincides with the series' 25th anniversary.

What to See This Spring at Museums Across the U.S.

Major museums across the United States are preparing to launch a diverse array of exhibitions for the spring season. Highlights include a comprehensive Marcel Duchamp retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, an exploration of Etruscan civilization at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, and a major fashion-focused exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Exhibitions Coming to Houston Area Art Venues In Spring 2026

A comprehensive guide details spring 2026 exhibitions at Houston-area art venues, including Blaffer Art Museum, Galveston Arts Center, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Moody Center for the Arts, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Lawndale Art Center, and Art League Houston. Key shows include "The Uncanny In-Between" (contemporary Korean ceramics), "Mud + Corn + Stone + Blue" (U.S.-Central America histories), Bruce Lee Webb's "CURIOS," "End Cash Bail" (incarceration-themed poetry and visual art), Jamie Ho's "magic mirrors" (Chinese American identity), and Hammonds + West's "The River Entered My Home" (environmental grief).

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The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) has announced the exhibitor list for its 12th New York edition, featuring over 110 galleries from around the globe. Scheduled for May 13–17, 2026, the fair returns to the Starrett-Lehigh Building in West Chelsea, showcasing a mix of 45 NADA members and 51 first-time participants. Highlights include the TD Bank Curated Spotlight, which will be organized by Anthony Elms, the artistic director of the Mattress Factory.

The Biggest Week of the Spring?

Hyperallergic's newsletter provides a comprehensive overview of a packed week in New York's art scene. Key events include the reopening of the New Museum after its OMA-designed expansion, the concurrent runs of the Affordable Art Fair and Outsider Art Fair, and the city-wide Asia Art Week. The publication also offers a critical assessment of the 2026 Whitney Biennial and a guide to upcoming spring art fairs.

Jennifer Gilbert Consigns Blue-Chip Works to Sotheby’s to Fund Detroit Arts Space

Philanthropist Jennifer Gilbert is consigning a selection of blue-chip postwar artworks to Sotheby’s this spring to fund Lumana, a new arts nonprofit in Detroit. The auction highlights include Joan Mitchell’s 'Loom II', estimated at $5 million to $7 million, and a significant target-style painting by Kenneth Noland that could set a new auction record for the artist. The collection also features works by George Rickey and Harry Bertoia, emphasizing a cohesive blend of midcentury abstraction and design.

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Artist Kara Walker has transformed a decommissioned monument of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson into a new, grotesque sculpture titled "Unmanned Drone" (2023). After curator Hamza Walker secured the bronze statue from Charlottesville, Virginia, the artist reconfigured its parts at a New York foundry to create a 12-foot horse-man hybrid that subverts traditional heroic iconography. The work is currently the centerpiece of the "Monuments" exhibition at the Brick in Los Angeles, co-presented by MOCA LA.

The North Can Do More Than Design

Der Norden kann mehr als Design

During Stockholm Art Week, the Swedish capital showcases itself as a leading Nordic art destination. Highlights include textile sculptures by Diana Orving at Millesgården Museum, two concurrent art fairs—the independent Supermarket and the 20th edition of Market Art Fair—and numerous gallery exhibitions, artist talks, and studio visits. The Market Art Fair features 54 booths and over 150 artists, with a focus on Nordic positions, including works by Ólafur Elíasson and the duo Inka & Niclas. The city's art scene is growing, with many new galleries opening and strong private institutions like Bonniers Konsthall and Fotografiska participating.

A New Brooklyn Art Fair With a Global Outlook Debuts This Spring

A New Brooklyn Art Fair With a Global Outlook Debuts This Spring

A new art fair called Conductor: Art Fair of the Global Majority will hold its inaugural edition in Brooklyn from April 30 to May 3, 2026. Organized by Powerhouse Arts, it will feature 27 galleries and 17 special projects, bringing together artists and galleries from Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Oceania, and Indigenous nations.

Craig Jun Li: Scrapping the Camera

Artist Craig Jun Li's solo exhibition features collagist wall-works and installations that deconstruct photographic technology. Works like the 2025 silicone sheets incorporate altered dye-transfer prints, Polaroids, and actual camera parts like SX-70 film cartridge springs, redirecting focus from pictorial representation to the mechanical apparatus of image-making.

16 Of The Best Free Art Exhibitions In London - Spring 2026

Harriet Cooper's guide highlights 16 free art exhibitions in London for spring 2026, including David Hockney's inaugural show at Serpentine North Gallery, a solo display by designer Simone Brewster at the Design Museum, and Somerset House's 'Holy Pop!' exploring modern idolatry. Other featured shows range from Paula Rego drawings to Gilbert & George works, all accessible without admission charges.

A Spring Journey Through the Season’s Standout Exhibitions

This article highlights a curated spring journey through major exhibitions across Europe and the US, focusing on artists represented in the UBS Art Collection. Featured shows include Catherine Opie at the National Portrait Gallery in London, Yin Xiuzhen at the Hayward Gallery, Tracey Emin at Tate Modern, Lorna Simpson at Palazzo Grassi in Venice, and Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark. Each exhibition offers fresh perspectives on the artists' practices, from photography and installation to painting and works on paper.

Last chance! Four excellent London exhibitions close this weekend

Four major art exhibitions are scheduled to conclude their London runs on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The closing shows include the high-profile 'Turner & Constable: Rivals and Originals' at Tate Britain, the 'Theatre Picasso' centenary celebration at Tate Modern, and the 'New Contemporaries' showcase of emerging talent at the South London Gallery.

NEXT in the Gallery: April art includes baseballs, ambiguous boundaries and scraposaurs

Pittsburgh’s art scene is preparing for a busy spring season with a diverse array of exhibitions opening across the city’s galleries and public spaces. Highlights include Hugh Watkins’ multi-disciplinary retrospective at Christine Fréchard Gallery, Dale Lewis’s massive "Scraposaurs" sculptures made from recycled metal at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and a unique exhibition of hand-painted baseballs by the late umpire George Sosnak. These shows serve as a creative prelude to major upcoming regional events like the 59th Carnegie International and the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Spring Arts Guide 2026: The Visual Art Exhibitions Making a Splash This Season

The Spring Arts Guide 2026 highlights several major exhibitions opening in the Washington D.C. area, ranging from local photography to expansive collection surveys. Alan Sislen’s 'AMBIGUITY' at Multiple Exposures Gallery explores architectural abstraction, while the National Museum of Women in the Arts hosts 'Making Their Mark,' a traveling exhibition of the Shah Garg Collection featuring luminaries like Howardena Pindell and Joan Semmel. Additionally, the National Museum of African Art presents 'Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,' a landmark show centering queer voices within the African diaspora.

School of London Masterworks Drive Sotheby’s £131M Modern & Contemporary Sale

Sotheby’s kicked off the spring auction season in London with a Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale that generated £131 million ($177.4 million) including fees. The auction saw a high 98 percent sell-through rate, bolstered by the sale of four significant works from the collection of financier Joe Lewis. The top lot was Francis Bacon’s 1972 "Self-Portrait," which fetched £16.03 million, while a new auction record was established for Leon Kossoff.

Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale Springs To Life

Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale in London achieved a robust total of £131 million, more than doubling the results of the previous year's equivalent auction. The event was characterized by a high 98% sell-through rate and was anchored by significant single-owner collections, most notably works from billionaire Joe Lewis. Highlights included a Francis Bacon self-portrait that fetched £16 million and a record-breaking sale for Leon Kossoff, whose "Children’s Swimming Pool, Autumn Afternoon" sold for £5.2 million, nearly four times his previous auction record.

New York Galleries: Openings and Closings (03/03-03/08)

The New York City gallery scene is experiencing a significant surge of activity for the first week of March 2026, with dozens of new exhibitions scheduled to open across Manhattan. Major highlights include a survey of Edouard Vuillard’s early interiors at Skarstedt, Sigmar Polke at VeneKlasen, and a comprehensive Robert Mapplethorpe presentation at Gladstone. The week also features high-profile institutional and blue-chip gallery shows, including Carol Bove at the Guggenheim and new works by Daniel Arsham and Gelitin at Perrotin.

Six London Art Exhibitions Opening In February 2026

Six major art exhibitions are opening in London public galleries in February 2026, running through at least May. Highlights include Lucian Freud: Drawing Into Painting at the National Portrait Gallery (12 Feb–4 May), Seurat and the Sea at The Courtauld Gallery (13 Feb–17 May), Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life at the Hayward Gallery (17 Feb–3 May), Beatriz González at the Barbican Art Gallery (25 Feb–10 May), and Tracey Emin at Tate Modern (26 Feb–31 Aug). These shows span modern masters, contemporary installation, and international voices.