Sharjah Biennial 17 Assembles 109 Artists Across a Restless Global Landscape.

Russia's Venice Pavilion to Close to the Public in Compliance With Sanctions

Russia will return to the 61st Venice Biennale with its national pavilion, but the exhibition will only be physically open to the press and select guests during the vernissage dates of May 5–8. From May 9 onward, the pavilion will remain closed to the public, with multimedia documentation of performances displayed on screens at the windows. The arrangement follows leaked emails among Biennale Foundation President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, General Director Andrea Del Mercato, and Russian Pavilion Commissioner Anastasia Karneeva, revealing efforts to comply with EU sanctions while still allowing Russia's participation after two consecutive absences since its invasion of Ukraine.

nanjing museum artifacts sale corruption investigation report

A major investigation into China's Nanjing Museum has uncovered decades of systemic corruption and mismanagement that led to the secret sale of national treasures into the private art market. The scandal erupted after five paintings from a 1959 donation by the Pang family were found missing, with one, a Ming dynasty painting by Qiu Ying titled 'Spring in Jiangnan,' appearing at auction in 2025 valued at $12.7 million. The probe found that former vice-director Xu Huping authorized illegal transfers of donated works to a state-run cultural relics store for sale, where they were drastically undervalued and sold to private collectors.

bianca censori furniture design performance art

Bianca Censori, known for her revealing fashion and as Ye's wife, debuted her first performance art piece titled "BIO POP (The Origin)" on December 12-13 at Layer 41 in Seoul, South Korea. The 14-minute performance features Censori in a maroon bodysuit preparing an object at a kitchen island before revealing furniture intertwined with female contortionists styled as her duplicates, all made from discarded mobility devices. A related jewelry line inspired by medical devices also launched the same day.

the hunt sanxingdui civilization china

The article recounts the rediscovery and ongoing excavation of the ancient Sanxingdui civilization in Sichuan, China, beginning with a peasant's accidental find of jade relics in 1929. After decades of political disruption, large-scale digs resumed in the 1980s, uncovering over 50,000 artifacts—including distinctive bronze masks with gold foil—that offer the only clues to this Bronze Age city's culture, trade networks, and mysterious collapse around the 11th century B.C.E.

egyptian ceramic vessel ancient pompeii canteen

A nearly 2,000-year-old Egyptian ceramic vessel, a bucket-shaped situla, was discovered during conservation work at the Thermopolium of Regio V in Pompeii. The faience pot, decorated with Egyptian-style hunting reliefs, was found in the kitchen of a well-preserved fast-food restaurant that served the working- and middle-class residents of the Roman city before its destruction by Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The discovery was published by the Pompeii Archaeological Park’s online journal.

hard truths curator invisibility

The article, presented as an advice column by consultants Chen & Lampert in ARTnews, addresses two anonymous letters from art-world professionals. The first letter is from a curator at a major museum who feels underpaid, invisible, and constrained by an ethics policy that prevents freelance work, while colleagues at smaller institutions enjoy more freedom. The second letter is from a veteran graphic designer and illustrator, active since the 1960s, who laments losing commercial clients to younger, cheaper talent using AI and smartphones. The consultants respond with sharp, critical advice: they tell the curator to consider collective action with colleagues to push for institutional reform, and advise the designer to leverage their legacy and experience rather than accept obsolescence.

us antiques and decorative arts hit hard by trump tariffs

Import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on October 14 are causing unintended harm to the international trade of antiques and decorative arts. The executive order, signed on September 29, placed 25 percent tariffs on wood imports and products like upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets, with further increases scheduled for January 1, 2026. While painting, sculpture, and fine art are exempt under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, collectibles such as antique furniture, watches, wine, and classic cars are not protected. Dealers like Millicent Ford Creech and Michael Pashby report that the costs are unpredictable and largely absorbed by businesses, with shippers struggling to quote rates amid constant fluctuations.

sothebys institute of art under federal hcm2 finances

Sotheby's Institute of Art (SIA), a for-profit graduate school in London and New York, has been under the U.S. Department of Education's 'Heightened Cash Monitoring 2' (HCM2) designation since December 2023, a status reserved for institutions with serious financial or compliance concerns. The designation bars the school from receiving federal financial aid in advance, requiring it to front its own funds and seek reimbursement. Public records and financial filings reveal that SIA has fallen below federal 'financial responsibility' baselines, and its UK auditors noted 'material uncertainty' about the school's ability to continue as a going concern, though management asserts it has adequate resources.

These Four Filmmakers Have Never Fully Gotten Their Due. The Kitchen Wants To Change That.

The Kitchen, a New York nonprofit arts organization, held its annual spring gala at City Winery to honor four female filmmakers: Cheryl Dunye, Garrett Bradley, Shari Frilot, and Catherine Gund. The event was co-chaired by prominent figures including Ava DuVernay, Julie Mehretu, and Komal Shah, and featured performances, remarks, and a crowd of artists, curators, and collectors. The gala celebrated the filmmakers' contributions to cinema, with special recognition of their work in expanding representation and narrative boundaries.

art eloise hess young artist

Eloise Hess, a 30-year-old artist based in Los Angeles and a 2024 Yale Painting/Printmaking MFA graduate, has developed a unique image-making process that blurs the line between photography and painting. Her technique involves transferring photographs wet onto absorbent paper, embedding the print in an encaustic surface, and then painting, carving, and manipulating the image to create records of landscapes, shadows, gestures, and time. She discusses her work "Early Morning Tomorrow," a screenprint of photographs taken with her father, and reflects on themes of time, resonance, and capacity.

Henrike Naumanns langer Weg in den deutschen Pavillon

Henrike Naumann, a German artist who recently passed away, is being honored with a posthumous exhibition at the German Pavilion during the Venice Biennale. Her work, which explores recent German history, state art, and the absence of East German art in the pavilion, finds its ultimate context in this historically charged Nazi-era building.

A Struggle Between Artist and Machine

Ein Ringen zwischen Künstler und Maschine

Mario Klingemann, a pioneer of AI art, presents "Conflict of Interest," a pop-up exhibition at Sleek Art Space in Berlin during Gallery Weekend. Curated by Anika Meier and produced in collaboration with Art on Tezos, the show features works that challenge the flood of AI-generated imagery. Klingemann displays mundane landscape photographs from private slides, a series called "Weapons of Mass Distraction" where he disrupts an AI algorithm's image generation, and a haunting 2020 video in which AI-generated faces morph to music. The exhibition makes visible the struggle between human control and machine logic.

The Emptiness That Will Still Be There Should the War End Tomorrow

"Die Leere, die noch da sein wird, sollte der Krieg morgen enden"

The group exhibition "Looking into the Gaps" at the Jam Factory in Lviv presents works by artists living in Ukraine or in exile, as well as by those killed on the front lines. Curated by Ukrainian artist Nikita Kadan, it is the fourth installment of a series exploring the fractures and diverse experiences within Ukrainian society, with this iteration focusing on the theme of loneliness rather than collective identity.

"Suddenly it was a completely different world"

"Es war plötzlich eine ganz andere Welt"

Margot Pilz, a pioneer of the feminist avant-garde, is reviving her historic 1982 art intervention "Kaorle" for the Klima Biennale in Vienna. Originally conceived as Europe's first urban beach, the installation transformed Vienna's Karlsplatz by depositing tons of sand and installing a palm tree, deck chairs, and a synthetic whale in a pond to create a surreal coastal escape in the city center.

Chang-Ching and Rhett Tsai’s Tricks of the Light

Artists Rhett Tsai and Chang-Ching Su have presented tandem projects at Chicago's Watershed Art & Ecology, inspired by a joint research trip to fishing villages on China's Huangqi Peninsula. Their works explore the practice of light-lure fishing, with Su creating photographic exposures using the green LED lights from squid-fishing boats and translating satellite fishing data into sculptural installations. Tsai's contributions include CGI films and a VR video that depict the rhythms and social realities of coastal communities, focusing on the Tanka boat-dwelling people.

Suzanne Perrottet with Tarren Johnson & Joel Cocks, OOR Saloon & Elaine Mitchener, New Kyd, Thibault Lac at Cabaret Voltaire

An exhibition titled "Suzanne Perrottet with Tarren Johnson & Joel Cocks, OOR Saloon & Elaine Mitchener, New Kyd, Thibault Lac" is on view at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich from December 19, 2025, to May 17, 2026. The show features works by multiple artists including Suzanne Perrottet, Tarren Johnson, Joel Cocks, OOR Saloon, Elaine Mitchener, New Kyd, and Thibault Lac, with images courtesy of the artists and the venue, and photos by Cedric Mussano, Romain Mader, and Johanna Bommer.

'Sachlichkeit' at Galerie Albrecht, Berlin, Germany on 2 May–27 Jun 2026

Galerie Albrecht in Berlin presents 'Sachlichkeit', an exhibition running from 2 May to 27 June 2026, that explores the concept of objectivity in art. The show features works by Kate Diehn-Bitt, a forgotten representative of the New Objectivity movement, alongside Michael Langner, associated with 'German Pop', as well as Rafael Cidoncha, Emese Kazár, and Sabine Herrmann. The exhibition examines how these artists portray people and objects with empathy, realism, and sometimes surreal distortion, ranging from Diehn-Bitt's empathetic portraits to Langner's automobile studies and Kazár's commentary on women's lives.

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.

EPCC holds annual gallery hosting juried student art exhibition

El Paso Community College (EPCC) hosted the grand opening of its 49th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition at the Transmountain campus Gallery of Fine Art. The event featured a wide range of visual art created by students across various disciplines and levels within the college district. Highlighting the evening was an awards ceremony judged by Michael Reyes, an EPCC alumnus and Senior Curator at the El Paso Museum of Art, who recognized top works including Camila Galindo’s "Medieval Sadness," which took home the Best of Show honors.

Local Artists Showcase at Jones Coffee Roasters | South Pasadena Arts & Music Crawl 2026

The South Pasadena Spring Arts and Music Crawl is set to return on April 25, 2026, featuring a significant group art exhibition at Jones Coffee Roasters. Curated by Sector Seven Contemporary Art Gallery (S7CAG), the showcase includes a mix of medium-to-large format paintings, ceramics, and woodworking from local artists such as Stephen Dudro and Elisa Quiñonez. The event transforms the city's historic downtown into a walkable festival with live music, artisan vendors, and interactive pop-up galleries.

New contemporary art gallery connects Austin to unexpected ski town

A new contemporary art gallery called Connelly Martin is opening with two locations: one in Austin, Texas, and another in Ketchum, Idaho, near the Sun Valley ski resort. Founded by Bailey Connelly and Lily Martin, the gallery will feature emerging and mid-career artists, with each location hosting five exhibitions annually. The Austin space opens February 13, followed by the Sun Valley location on July 11, and the gallery plans two pop-ups each year in different towns. The inaugural show in both spaces will be a group exhibition, including work by Austin textile artist Elizabeth Hohimer.

May art guide: Exhibitions in Dayton, Cincy, Columbus and more

May’s art guide highlights several exhibitions across Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, including "The Future of Female" at the Dayton Society of Artists, a juried show exploring women-identifying artists' perspectives; "At This Moment" at the Main Library's 2nd Floor Gallery, reflecting on contemporary life; "Teresa Olavarria: Lichen" at The Contemporary Dayton, featuring works in vitreous enamel and bronze; and a color-themed collaborative exhibition at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery in partnership with Dayton Collaboratory. The guide also features a 35mm film series by photographer Jake Schneider documenting Greenville’s Swinging 8’s Square Dance Club.

Regional exhibition of Ohio Collage Society opening May 29 at Coburn Art Gallery

The Coburn Art Gallery at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, will host a regional exhibition featuring 70 works by members of the Ohio Collage Society from May 29 through July 24. The free opening reception takes place on May 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., showcasing two-dimensional and three-dimensional collages that explore diverse materials and techniques. Featured artists include Anita Burgess, Nancy S. Sotka, Mary Ann Sedivy, and others.

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION: Hancock County Arts has full lineup for 2026 - The Daily Reporter

Hancock County Arts has unveiled its comprehensive schedule for 2026, featuring a diverse array of monthly exhibitions and community events at the Twenty North Gallery in Greenfield. The upcoming season includes themed showcases such as the "Black & White" exhibit, the annual "Visions of Hancock County" photography show, and specialized displays focusing on local student work and regional heritage.

Venice Biennale opens under shadow of protests over Russia and Israel

The 61st Venice Biennale opened under heavy protest as Russia returns to the event for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian feminist collective Femen and Russian punk band Pussy Riot demonstrated outside the Russian pavilion, with activists accusing Russia of using art as a weapon in a hybrid war. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Israel's pavilion, holding banners reading 'No artwashing genocide' and demanding Israel's exclusion over the war in Gaza. The Biennale's international jury resigned last month, refusing to award prizes to countries led by figures subject to ICC arrest warrants, namely Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Russia's participation 'morally wrong' and threatened to cut €2 million in funding, while culture ministers from 22 European countries urged organizers to reconsider.

Post-War & Contemporary Art

Freeman's auction house is presenting a 'Post-War & Contemporary Art' sale featuring 83 lots that span eight decades of art history. The auction includes notable works such as a Richard Mayhew landscape, an Andy Warhol text-based canvas, a Robert Rauschenberg solvent transfer, a Peter Halley abstraction, and monumental outdoor sculptures by Allan Houser. Other highlights include pieces by Caio Fonseca, Jamie Nares, Beverly Pepper, and a range of contemporary voices like Ann Craven, Bunny Rogers, and Sterling Ruby.

Newly Translated 2,000-Year-Old Graffiti Proves Presence of Indian Visitors to Egypt’s Valley of the Kings

Archaeologists have translated 2,000-year-old graffiti in Old Tamil, Sanskrit, and Kharosti script found on the walls of six tombs in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. The inscriptions, dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE, include one individual, Cikai Korran, who wrote his name eight times across five tombs, effectively 'tagging' the ancient site.

Gallery Conversation: Ideal Landscapes in Painting and Photography

The Art Institute of Chicago is hosting a gallery conversation on June 1 titled "Ideal Landscapes in Painting and Photography." The program, led by curators Yechen Zhao and Felice Graciela Robles, will examine idealized representations of nature in East Asian art, comparing painted landscapes from the Korean National Treasures exhibition with a 1938 photograph by Chinese artist Lang Jingshan. The discussion will explore the blurred boundaries between ideal and real, as well as between painting and photography.

Michener Art Museum's retired founding director returns with new exhibition

Bruce Katsiff, the founding director of the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, has returned to the institution with his first-ever exhibition at the museum, titled 'Pieces of a Life.' The retrospective showcases six decades of Katsiff's photography, including series such as 'Face Maps,' 'River Town Portraits,' and 'Nature Morte,' as well as collaborative works never before exhibited. Katsiff, who led the museum from 1989 to 2012, transformed it from an arts center into a full-fledged museum, building a collection focused on regional artists from Bucks County and overseeing the installation of iconic spaces like the Nakashima Room.