Morocco is for the first time with a Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale. Homage to the weaving of Amina Agueznay

Il Marocco è per la prima volta con un Padiglione alla Biennale d’Arte di Venezia. L’omaggio alla tessitura di Amina Agueznay

Morocco is participating for the first time with an official national pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale, presenting a monumental installation by artist Amina Agueznay. Titled "Asǝṭṭa" (2026), the site-specific work at the Arsenale's Artiglierie space explores ritual weaving and the transmission of traditional craftsmanship, using sewn panels to create a second skin over the 300-square-meter pavilion. Curated by Meriem Berrada, the project draws on Agueznay's two-decade-long research in dialogue with Moroccan artisan communities, including spinners, embroiderers, basket makers, and goldsmiths.

The Dutch Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is a political protest (also against the Biennale itself)

Il padiglione dei Paesi Bassi alla Biennale di Venezia è una contestazione politica (anche della Biennale stessa)

The Dutch Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "The Fortress" by artist Dries Verhoeven and curator Rieke Vos, transforms the modernist Rietveld Pavilion into a fortress-like enclosure. Inside, a rotating group of thirteen international performers will stage a series of performances throughout the Biennale, focusing on themes of geopolitical uncertainty, social disorder, and the search for stability in an unbalanced world. This marks the first time the Netherlands has used the Rietveld Pavilion for a performance-based project.

Art can officially be a form of therapy. Interview with Undersecretary of Culture Lucia Borgonzoni, godmother of the project

L’arte può essere ufficialmente una forma di cura. Intervista al Sottosegretario alla Cultura Lucia Borgonzoni madrina del progetto

The Italian Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Health have signed a formal protocol recognizing art as a form of therapy and care. The agreement, championed by Undersecretary of State for Culture Lucia Borgonzoni, mandates that museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions play a central role in developing therapeutic pathways using art to improve individual and community well-being. Borgonzoni, who has advocated for this initiative for nearly a decade, traces its origin to a 2018 study at the Sanctuary of Vicoforte that measured cortisol levels in visitors before and after viewing frescoes, showing significant stress reduction.

From the Aral Sea to Milan: Uzbekistan tells its story between craftsmanship and climate crisis

Dal Mar d’Aral a Milano: l’Uzbekistan si racconta tra artigianato e crisi climatica

Uzbekistan made its official debut at the Milan Design Week with the exhibition 'When Apricots Blossom' at Palazzo Citterio. Curated by Kulapat Yantrasast and promoted by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, the immersive show presents contemporary reinterpretations of Uzbek craft, organized around three pillars of Karakalpak culture: textiles, food, and dwelling. It features installations by international designers like Bethan Laura Wood and a deconstructed yurt by WHY Architecture.

Thirteen Monumental Sculptures in Stockholm. Italian Artist Davide Rivalta Redesigns Urban Space

Tredici sculture monumentali a Stoccolma. L’artista italiano Davide Rivalta ridisegna lo spazio urbano

Italian artist Davide Rivalta has installed thirteen monumental bronze sculptures of animals—including lions, rhinoceroses, and buffalo—across iconic public spaces in Stockholm. The project, titled 'Blowing Figures into Space,' places the life-sized, pedestal-free figures directly on the ground, allowing them to blend into and subtly disrupt the urban landscape.

Doosan Yonkang Foundation Becomes First-Time Sponsor of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale

The Doosan Yonkang Foundation, the philanthropic arm of South Korean conglomerate Doosan, is sponsoring the Korean Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale for the first time. The pavilion, titled "Liberated Space: Fortress and Nest," runs from May 9 to November 22 at the Giardini park in Venice, and explores political events and historical transitions in Korean society from 1945 to the present. Participating artist Noh Hye-ri is an alumna of the foundation's Doosan Art LAB program, and artistic director Choi Binna serves as a supervisor of the Doosan Curator Workshop, highlighting the foundation's direct investment in nurturing artistic talent.

Provincetown art exhibit celebrates 50 years of coastal studies

A new art exhibition titled "Persistent Curiosity: Charting the Rippled Fabric of the Sea" has opened at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Center for Coastal Studies. The show runs from May 15 through July 19, with an opening reception on May 22.

AKKA Venice Project: Beyond the Exhibition

Lidija Khachatourian, founder of AKKA Project, discusses her gallery's evolution from Dubai to Venice, where it remains the only gallery dedicated to African and diasporic artists. In an interview with ART AFRICA, she explains her shift from a market-driven model toward a research-led, custodial approach that prioritizes long-term relationships and slowness over high-volume programming. The gallery, established in Venice in 2019, operates with a deliberate resistance to market pressures, focusing on care, continuity, and direct material support for its artists.

Festival of Cats brings cat-inspired art to Thanet

The Festival of Cats, a community arts festival celebrating feline-themed art, is returning to Margate, Kent, from May 1-4. Featuring exhibitions, events, and workshops across fine art, poetry, film, performance, and craft, the festival showcases work from 100 local artists. Originally launched in 2018 as a satellite event for Turner Contemporary's "Journeys with The Waste Land" exhibition, it was inspired by T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and has since grown into a Thanet-wide event attracting thousands of visitors.

Announcement

Air de Paris, a highly influential Parisian gallery known for representing many of the most significant contemporary artists, has become one of the earliest supporters of Contemporary Art Daily's parent organization, Contemporary Art Library. The announcement, made by Contemporary Art Daily, highlights Air de Paris's pioneering role in elevating the gallerist's activities into a form of artistic expression, and positions the gallery as a model for the entire field.

Carnegie Museums $500 million campaign will fund projects at all 4 museums

The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh have launched a $500 million comprehensive campaign, the largest in their history, to fund capital projects across all four of their institutions: the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. The campaign, which has already raised $325 million, will support renovations, new exhibitions, and expanded educational programming, including a major overhaul of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History's dinosaur hall and a new wing for the Carnegie Museum of Art.

The Etruscans Take Center Stage With the Legion of Honor’s Latest Exhibit

The Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco has opened a new exhibition titled “The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy,” running from May 2 to September 20. Curated by Renée Dreyfus, the show features over 20 objects from international institutions including the Vatican, the Louvre, and the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, highlighting the art, culture, and progressive social roles of women in Etruscan society through bronze and terracotta vessels, sculptures, and gold jewelry.

$100M Brandywine Conservancy expansion aims to ‘completely reimagine’ visitor experience

The Brandywine Conservancy in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, has announced a $100 million expansion plan aimed at transforming the visitor experience. The project will increase exhibition capacity by 80% and open 10 miles of new trails on the campus, significantly expanding the institution's footprint and public offerings.

Venue of National Centre for Contemporary Arts on Niakrasava Street to Cease Exhibition Activities in June

The National Centre for Contemporary Arts (NCCA) in Minsk, Belarus, has announced that its venue on Niakrasava Street will cease exhibition activities from June 22, 2026. The institution is set to be liquidated, with its premises and collections transferred to the National Art Museum, while the Niakrasava Street space will be taken over by the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. The closure is linked to the newly appointed chairman of the Union of Artists, Andrei Vasileuski, and reportedly supported by the Culture Ministry.

Province invests $35M to help expand Art Gallery of Ontario

The Ontario provincial government has announced a $35 million investment over two years to support the Art Gallery of Ontario's (AGO) expansion project, the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery. The funding will create at least 13 new galleries across five floors, adding 40,000 square feet of space and increasing display area by 30%. Construction is expected to be complete by fall 2027, enabling the AGO to welcome up to 120,000 additional visitors annually. This provincial contribution supplements a $35 million lead gift from Dani Reiss, $25 million from the Government of Canada, and other private donations.

Presenting the Condé M. Nast Galleries

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced the opening of the Condé M. Nast Galleries, a new exhibition space within the museum. The galleries are named after the late publishing magnate Condé Montrose Nast, founder of Condé Nast Publications.

Museum of Islamic Art Hosts Empire of Light Exhibit Through May 2026

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, is hosting the 'Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan' exhibition, running through May 30, 2026. The show features rare Afghan artifacts, illuminated manuscripts, and contemporary works, curated by Nicoletta Fazio, and is partnered with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The museum, designed by I.M. Pei and opened in 2008, also offers weekend bazaars at MIA Park, enhancing the visitor experience with local crafts and jewelry.

The 81st May Show fills Mansfield Art Center with Ohio creativity

The 81st May Show has opened at the Mansfield Art Center in Ohio, featuring over 100 works selected from nearly 600 submissions by guest juror Wendy Earle, curator of the Akron Art Museum. The exhibition, which runs through the end of May, showcases a diverse range of mediums from Ohio artists aged 16 to their late 80s. Awards include the Fred "Fritz" Culler Award for Best of Show to Bradley Wallace for "Venus 1K Views," the Mechanics Bank Award of Excellence to Barbara Morejon and Luanne Bole-Becker, and the Jeff McBride & Maura Teynor Emerging Artist Award to high school senior Katerina Prykodko.

Jury of the Venice Biennial resigns, Russia and Israel return to Award Contention

The five-member international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale, led by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas, has resigned effective April 30, 2026. The jury—comprising Solange Oliveira Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi—announced their resignation in a written statement, referencing a prior Statement of Intention issued on April 22. In response, La Biennale di Venezia postponed the Awards Ceremony from May 9 to November 22, the final public day, and introduced two new "Visitors' Lions" awards—one for the Best Participant in the main exhibition "In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh, and one for the Best National Participation—to be decided by ticket-holder vote.

Gunjan Tyagi Selected for Women’s History Month Exhibition in NYC

Gunjan Tyagi, a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Schenectady, New York, has been selected to exhibit at Pen + Brush, one of New York's oldest nonprofit galleries, during Women's History Month. Tyagi's work spans painting, sculpture, site-specific installation, nature art, video, photography, and mixed media, often incorporating unconventional materials like cow dung and found objects to explore identity, cultural exchange, and humanity's relationship with nature. She also serves as organizer of the India chapter of the Global Nomadic Art Project and as a jury member at the Biennale of Seychelles.

Local artist to feature at one-day-only Calgary art gallery

Local Strathmore artist Emmeline Keeling will participate in the one-day Obsidian Art Show at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Center. She is among over 50 artists selected for the event, which is organized by the Public Display Agency to connect artists with gallery owners from Webster Galleries, The New Gallery, and Gallery Underground.

Expo 86 Exhibit at the Surrey Art Gallery

A new exhibition titled 'In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art' has opened at the Surrey Art Gallery, running from April 18 to June 7, 2026. It is the first exhibition to focus specifically on the art of Expo 86, featuring original works and archival materials from 35 artists that examine both official and unofficial art from the 1986 world's fair. The show includes photography, painting, installation, performance, and video art, and is accompanied by a symposium on May 9 and a curator's tour with Jordan Strom on May 28.

2026 Annual Group Exhibition

Craighead Green Gallery in Dallas is presenting its 2026 Annual Group Exhibition, a summer survey featuring 60 artists from its program. The show includes a diverse range of works in painting, sculpture, photography, encaustic, ceramics, and fiber, highlighting both established and emerging artists. The exhibition opens with a reception on May 2nd and runs through June 20th at the gallery's Parkhouse Street location.

In pictures: jewellery through history and cultures on show in Hong Kong

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has sent approximately 200 pieces from its jewellery collection to Hong Kong for a major exhibition titled 'Jewels, Gems, and Treasures: Adornment in World Cultures'. The show, hosted at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, spans 5,000 years and includes items from ancient Egypt, Imperial China, Renaissance Europe, and modern designers, highlighting the universal human impulse for adornment.

Wakefield artist celebrates opening up his first international exhibition in New York

Wakefield-born artist Kyle Wilkinson has opened his first international exhibition in New York through his immersive art and design studio, Haus of Thrills (HoT). Founded in Sheffield in 2024, the studio has already secured commissions from major brands including Santander and Silverstone, and designed the 60th anniversary Mustang for Ford. The new exhibition, titled 'Metropolis in Motion', is on view at the Myria gallery in Tribeca, New York.

Syrian artist Ismail Nasra explores silence and solitude in new Damascus exhibition

Syrian visual artist Ismail Nasra has opened a new exhibition at Zawaya Art Gallery in Damascus, featuring 28 medium- and large-scale works that mark a departure from his earlier dense, colorful style. The paintings, created over three years on aged and weathered fabrics, employ muted palettes, abstraction, and negative space to explore themes of silence, absence, and emotional solitude. Solitary female figures and recurring bird motifs—symbols of freedom and escape—dominate the compositions, with the natural textures and cracks of the fabric becoming integral to the artwork.

Artistic Licence: John Redmond’s New Sculpture Exhibition Beyond Form

Irish artist John Redmond presents a new collection of sculptures in his exhibition "Beyond Form" at Gormleys Gallery in Dublin, running from May 22 to June 4. The show marks a significant evolution in his practice, as he moves from abstract painting into three-dimensional works for the first time, using mixed materials such as bronze, resin, and marble, with pieces cast at a foundry in Greece.

Colourful debut for Thames artist

Jack Moskowitz, a Thames local, opened his first solo exhibition titled "Jack's Exhibition" at the Vessel Art Gallery on April 18. The show features 32 artworks including portraits, landscapes, and cars, rendered in pastels, watercolour, ink, and dye, with a strong emphasis on colour. Jack, who has been making art since age five, received tutoring from several local artists including Sue Clark and Laurie Spera, and many pieces sold quickly to the public.

Jackson Art Studio & Gallery 3rd Annual Open Studio Art Sale

Jackson Art Studio & Gallery in Jackson, New Hampshire, is hosting its 3rd annual Open Studio Art Sale from Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3. The sale features over 500 original works from award-winning New England artists, including oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, woodblock prints, and mixed media. Items such as plein air studies, demonstration pieces, older artwork, and orphaned paintings are offered at significant discounts. Featured works include "Jackson Falls" by gallery owner Melanie Levitt and "Spring Haze" by nationally recognized artist George Van Hook.

Silent Stories Solo Exhibition by Shanaka Kulathunga to Debut in India at Bikaner House

Gallery Silver Scapes will present 'Silent Stories', a solo exhibition by Sri Lankan artist Shanaka Kulathunga, at the CCA Building, Bikaner House in New Delhi from May 21 to 28, 2026. This marks the artist's first solo presentation in India, featuring acrylic and oil paintings that explore memory, everyday life, and rural Sri Lankan landscapes through figuration and narrative depth. Curated by Archana Khare-Ghose, the exhibition includes a publication launch and aims to foster cross-cultural dialogue between India and Sri Lanka.