Tiffany Shlain uses trees and technology to trace Jewish history in new exhibit

Tiffany Shlain, a multidisciplinary artist and founder of the Webby Awards, has opened a new exhibition titled "Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology" at the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in San Francisco. The show, which debuted in October 2024 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles as part of a Getty Museum initiative, uses massive tree trunk slices—some weighing 10,000 pounds—to explore Jewish history, feminism, and existential questions. Shlain, known for her work blending feminism, technology, and Judaism, also co-created a video on the teenage brain with Goldie Hawn and recently screened her 2005 documentary short "The Tribe."

Holbein biography interrogates the artist's life and work from a different angle

Elizabeth Goldring’s new biography of Hans Holbein the Younger takes a documentary-focused approach, prioritizing archival evidence over visual analysis. The book examines Holbein’s life (1497/8–1543) through chronological chapters, using inventories, correspondence, and other records to correct long-held assumptions and propose new theories about his work. Goldring’s detective work includes identifying the green curtain in Holbein’s portrait of Sir Thomas More as a reference to the sitter’s role as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and suggesting that a lost painting of the More family was given to Erasmus as a gift.

National Museum of Asian Art Presents Paintings From India’s Himalayan Kingdoms in New Exhibition

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art announced a new exhibition, "Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India's Himalayan Kingdoms," on view from April 18 to July 26, 2026. Featuring 48 paintings and colored drawings, the show includes canonical masterpieces and never-before-displayed works from the renowned Benkaim Collection, acquired by the museum in 2017–2018. The exhibition explores collaboration and creativity across three key periods from 1620 to 1830, highlighting intricate details, naturalistic figures, and vivid stylizations created with materials like ground pigments, beetle wings, and gold.

Long Overdue, First Museum Retrospective of Mavis Pusey Explores Artist's Geometric Abstraction Over Five Decades

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at the University of Pennsylvania is hosting "Mavis Pusey: Mobile Images," the first museum retrospective of Jamaican-American artist Mavis Pusey (1928-2019). Curated by Hallie Ringle and Kiki Teshome, the exhibition spans five decades and features over 60 works, including seven paintings shown publicly for the first time. Pusey, who studied at the Art Students League and worked at Robert Blackburn's Printmaking Workshop, was known for her geometric abstraction at a time when many Black artists focused on figuration. The show will travel to the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and the Studio Museum in Harlem.

This Vietnam veteran lost his sight, but not his vision. Now, his art hangs in the Denver Art Museum

Jim Stevens, a Vietnam War veteran who was shot in the head and later became legally blind after a stroke in 1993, has created a new painting technique using monofilament as a canvas. His artwork, "Blues Man," now hangs in the Denver Art Museum as part of the exhibition "Beyond the Military: From Combat to Canvas," which Stevens helped organize. Stevens serves as president and director of Denver's Veterans Arts Council and has earned Veterans Affairs’ National Gold Medals for Fine Art.

Venice, Sydney, Gwangju: the most interesting biennials to visit in 2026

The article previews several major biennials scheduled for 2026, including the 61st Venice Biennale, the 25th Sydney Biennale, and the 16th Gwangju Biennale. The Venice Biennale will proceed posthumously under the vision of curator Koyo Kouoh, who died in May 2025; she was the first African woman appointed to curate the event. The Sydney Biennale, themed "Rememory" and inspired by Toni Morrison, will be directed by Hoor Al Qasimi, while the Gwangju Biennale will be led by Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen, focusing on collective artistic responses to global crises.

17th-century jewels, historic photographs focus of Kimbell museum’s 2026 exhibitions

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth has announced two major exhibitions for 2026. From March 15 to June 28, the museum will host "The Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem," featuring over 60 silver, gold, and bejeweled objects gifted by Holy Roman Emperors and European monarchs to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the fall, from October 4, 2026, to January 17, 2027, the Kimbell will present "Photography's First Century: Masterworks from the Bibliothèque nationale de France," its first-ever photography exhibition, showcasing more than 150 early images from pioneers like Henri Le Secq, Gustave Le Gray, and Félix Tournachon.

How the Sienese painter Ambrogio Lorenzetti spoke truth to power

The article examines Ambrogio Lorenzetti's frescoes "Good and Bad Government" (1338-1339) in Siena's Sala dei Nove, arguing that the painter embedded a subtle critique of the ruling oligarchy. Jules Lubbock, a professor emeritus at the University of Essex, reinterprets the murals as a warning against repressive one-party rule, challenging the traditional view of Siena under the Nine as a golden age of good governance.

Limestone relief disappears from Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis

A rare limestone relief depicting the vizier Khentika painting the three seasons of the ancient Egyptian calendar has vanished from his tomb in the Saqqara necropolis. The tomb, discovered in the 1950s and used for storage until 2019, was found to be missing the relief by a British mission in May. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced the theft and referred the matter to the public prosecutor for investigation.

New app aims to improve access to Los Angeles art scene

A new mobile app called ArtWrld, founded by Josh Goldblum (CEO of Bluecadet), has launched to improve access to the Los Angeles and New York art scenes. The app provides up-to-date listings of gallery shows, museum exhibitions, talks, and events, allowing users to search by date, view editors' picks, and save shows on Google Maps. It aims to be "the AllTrails for art," making great shows more accessible and providing context for newcomers. Other projects filling the gap in local art coverage include Shana Nys Dambrot's newsletter "13 Things LA" on Substack and the anonymous Instagram account Diva Corp USA, which offers artist-on-artist criticism.

Art Gallery of Hamilton is now free to visit for the rest of the summer

The Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH) has announced free admission for all visitors during July and August 2025 as part of a new initiative called "Hamilton Strong." The program aims to support community health and wellbeing by providing a space for healing, reflection, and connection amid financial insecurity and political anxiety. Free entry is funded by a private donor and applies during regular business hours, though the gallery remains closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Current exhibitions include Helen McNicoll: An Impressionist Journey, Taking Root: Recent Acquisitions, and The Shape of Curiosity, along with the Zucker Sculpture Garden and AGH Creative Lab. Members receive a two-month extension, and new memberships purchased in July or August come with two extra months.

Photos reveal Peter Zumthor's LACMA museum ahead of opening

Photographer Iwan Baan has released images of the completed David Geffen Galleries, the long-awaited Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) expansion designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The undulating, glass-and-concrete building stretches along Wilshire Boulevard, elevated 30 feet above street level, and is set to open fully in April 2026. Major construction finished at the end of 2024, with some lower-level spaces already open. The single-level design eliminates traditional hierarchies, placing all artworks on the same plane, and the building aims for LEED Gold certification with low-carbon concrete and natural ventilation.

Holbein drawings go back on show at Kunstmuseum Basel after almost 20 years

The Kunstmuseum Basel has reinstalled a collection of extremely fragile Hans Holbein drawings in a dedicated gallery as part of a major rehang of its 14th- to 19th-century galleries. The works, mostly preparatory studies by the Northern Renaissance painter, have not been publicly displayed for nearly 20 years and are so light-sensitive that the gallery's lighting system activates only when visitors enter. The museum's director, Elena Filipovic, notes that the drawings entered the collection in 1661 and have been kept undercover since the 1980s, last appearing in a major Holbein exhibition in 2006.

Pompidou to launch outpost near Unesco heritage site of Iguaçu falls in Brazil

The Centre Pompidou has signed a five-year partnership with Brazil to open its first South American outpost near the Iguaçu falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the city of Foz do Iguaçu. Scheduled to launch in November 2027, the 10,000 sq. m. museum will be designed by Paraguayan architect Solano Benitez, with a construction budget of R$200 million ($36 million). The venue will host exhibitions, live performances, festivals, film screenings, lectures, and artist residencies focused on the cultures of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Arts of Africa

This article explores the deep history and cultural significance of Africa's artistic traditions, focusing on the continent as the cradle of human creativity. It traces the development of diverse cultures south of the Sahara over 160,000 years, highlighting how artists and workshops translated worldviews into enduring creations. The text also examines Africa's Atlantic Coast engagement from 1445 onward, detailing early European contact, trade agreements along the Gold Coast, and the forced exodus of captives during the transatlantic slave trade, which deprived the region of its productive youth.

Troy, ancient site in western Turkey, hosts expansive contemporary art exhibition

The Troy Museum in western Turkey has opened a contemporary art exhibition titled "Emanet" (meaning "trust," "legacy," or "safekeeping") by Turkish artist Vuslat. The show, running from May 25 to July 25, features sculptures, drawings, installations, and sound works placed alongside ancient artifacts in the museum's main halls and gardens, marking the first time contemporary art has been integrated into the museum's primary exhibition spaces near the legendary site of Troy.

“Dutch Art in a Global Age” at the Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, is presenting "Dutch Art in a Global Age," an exhibition organized by the Center of Netherlandish Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The show features over a hundred seventeenth-century Dutch paintings, including seascapes and still lifes by artists such as Ludolf Bakhuizen, Willem van Aelst, and Adriaen Coorte, alongside a Japanese woodblock book from the late eighteenth century that highlights the global reach of Dutch maritime trade.

The Big Review | Caravaggio 2025 at Palazzo Barberini, Rome ★★★

The article reviews the "Caravaggio 2025" exhibition at Palazzo Barberini in Rome, which brings together 24 paintings by the Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Curated by Francesca Cappelletti, Maria Cristina Terzaghi, and Thomas Clement Salomon, the show is accompanied by a heavy marketing campaign tied to the Catholic Church's Jubilee year. The review notes that while any gathering of Caravaggio's works guarantees a beautiful experience, the exhibition's title and scope remain unclear, and the curatorial approach—divided into four thematic sections—feels disjointed. Highlights include the reunion of three paintings from Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte's collection and the public display of the recently identified portrait of Maffeo Barberini.

London's National Gallery buys mysterious altarpiece for $20m

London's National Gallery has acquired a mysterious altarpiece, "Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret and Two Angels" (1500-10), for just over $20 million in a private sale arranged through Sotheby's. The painting, funded by the American Friends of the National Gallery London, was sold by a descendant of the Blundell family and had been kept on the Lulworth Estate in Dorset. The artist remains unknown, with proposed names including Jan Gossaert, Jean Hey, and the Master of Saint Giles, and no other works by the same hand are known. The altarpiece was last publicly exhibited in 1960 and has only recently been shown privately to specialists, who remain divided on its attribution.

Donna Distefano Recreates Centuries-Old Jewelry for the Frick Collection

Donna Distefano, a contemporary jewelry designer, has meticulously recreated 16th-century jewelry pieces for The Frick Collection's exhibition "Gold, Silver, and Rare Stones: Renaissance Jewelry in the Robert Lehman Collection." Her work involved extensive research into historical techniques and materials, resulting in wearable replicas of intricate pendants and brooches originally owned by European nobility.

Iran Will Not Participate in Venice Biennale, Organizers Say

Iran will not participate in the 61st Venice Biennale, which opens for previews this week, the Biennale Foundation announced on May 4. The decision comes two months after the United States and Israel launched strikes across Iran, and amid renewed tensions along the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian pavilion was to be commissioned by Aydin Mehdizadeh Tehrani, director general of the visual arts office in the Iranian Ministry of Culture. Iran has had inconsistent attendance at the Biennale since 1958, with a long absence between the 1960s and 2003, but has participated semi-consistently over the last two decades, most recently in 2024.

For Which It Stands...

The Fairfield University Art Museum has launched "For Which It Stands…," a landmark exhibition featuring over 70 artworks that utilize the American flag as a central motif. Curated by Carey Mack Weber, the show spans more than a century of artistic production, from World War I-era paintings by Childe Hassam to contemporary works by artists such as Julie Mehretu and Danielle Scott. The exhibition is a centerpiece of the university's America250 programming, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Mandopop Icon Jay Chou Curates Two Dazzling Sales of Art and Memorabilia

Taiwanese Mandopop superstar Jay Chou has curated two simultaneous auctions on Pharrell Williams's platform Joopiter: one featuring 14 personal memorabilia items from his three-decade career, and another titled "The Contemporary Take: A Look With Jay Chou" offering 25 paintings and prints by international artists. Highlights include works by Oscar Yi Hou, Young-il Ahn, Daniel Richter, Hajime Sorayama, Diane Dal-Pra, Ernie Barnes, and Yoshitomo Nara. Bidding closes on October 31 for the art sale and November 4 for the memorabilia. Proceeds from the memorabilia sale will support a charitable initiative backed by Chou.

The Craziest Venice Biennale Ever: One Week Before Opening, the Jury Resigns (The Public Will Decide the Lions!)

La Biennale di Venezia più pazza di sempre: a una settimana dall’apertura si dimette la giuria (I Leoni li deciderà il pubblico!)

The entire international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale has resigned en masse just one week before the opening. The jury, chaired by Solange Oliveira Farkas and including Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, had publicly announced they would not consider countries whose leaders are accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court—effectively excluding Russia and Israel from the Golden Lion competition. This decision came amid ongoing tensions between Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli and Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco over Russia's participation, as well as controversy surrounding Israel's presence. After a meeting with Buttafuoco, the jury resigned, leaving the Biennale without a key body to award its top prizes.

In Venice, a new project aims to transform museums into living, participatory spaces

A Venezia un nuovo progetto punta a trasformare i musei in spazi vivi e partecipati

The Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE) has launched "Performing MUVE," a new program set to begin in spring 2026 that reimagines museums as dynamic, participatory spaces. The initiative, developed by MUVE Academy and MUVE Education, will unfold across three venues: Museo Fortuny, Casa di Carlo Goldoni, and the new MUVEC – Casa delle Contemporaneità in Mestre. The program includes four distinct projects—led by Mattia Berto, choreographer Elena Ajani, actress Sara Urban, and dancer Giulia Gemma Manfrotto—that use dance, theater, and embodied practices to transform visitors from passive observers into active participants.

Venice Biennale jury quits amid row over participation of Russia

The entire jury of the Venice Biennale resigned just days before the 61st international art exhibition's opening on May 9, following a dispute over the decision to allow Russia to participate. The five-member panel, led by Solange Farkas and including Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, had previously stated it would not award prizes to artists from countries whose leaders face charges of crimes against humanity, a move seen as targeting Russia and Israel. The Biennale responded by postponing the award ceremony to November 22 and announcing it would give two awards, including one that could go to any national participation, citing its founding principles of openness and rejection of censorship.

unesco launches museum looted cultural objects

UNESCO has launched the world's first virtual museum of stolen cultural objects, featuring thousands of artifacts viewable in 3D. The initiative was announced at UNESCO's World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Barcelona, designed by architect Francis Kéré in collaboration with Interpol, with funding from Saudi Arabia. The museum is organized by geographic region and includes sections like the "stolen cultural objects gallery" and a "return and restitution room" that highlights recovered items, such as a bronze Buddha statue from China's Ming Dynasty and a Syrian gold pendant looted from the Palmyra Museum.

The great artist who designed precious rings for an Italian brand inspired by crabs

La grande artista che ha disegnato preziosissimi anelli per un brand italiano ispirandosi ai granchi

American multidisciplinary artist Pae White has collaborated with Milanese jewelry house Maison Vhernier to create a limited-edition ring collection inspired by crabs and marine life. The collection was unveiled in Venice during the launch days of the Venice Biennale, following a preview in Los Angeles at collector Eugenio Lopez's home. White drew inspiration from crab exoskeletons and shells found on the California coast, working with Vhernier's master artisans in Valenza to produce ten ring designs—each limited to two pieces—featuring abalone mother-of-pearl, jade, rock crystal, sapphires, and diamonds set in white gold.

Il grande artista Michelangelo Pistoletto apre un hotel d’arte a Biella

Michelangelo Pistoletto has opened Hotel Cittadellarte in Biella, Italy, within his Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto. The 31-room hotel houses the exhibition "L'ospite inatteso" by Giuseppe Stampone, curated by Ilaria Bernardi, with each room containing a unique artwork designed to be lived with rather than quickly viewed. The exhibition includes Stampone's "Fotocopie intelligenti" and large tapestries from the Brioni manufactory, addressing themes of migration, belonging, memory, and coexistence. The building was sustainably renovated with PNRR funds.

The Biennale releases the rules for voting on the Visitors' Lions while many artists and pavilions renounce competing for the prizes

La Biennale diffonde il regolamento per votare i Leoni dei Visitatori mentre molti artisti e padiglioni rinunciano a concorrere ai premi

The 61st Venice Biennale has opened to the public, introducing a controversial new voting system for the Golden Lions. After the entire jury resigned en masse on April 30, the Biennale decided to let the public decide the winners of the so-called "Leoni dei Visitatori" (Visitors' Lions). Voting is open from May 9 to November 22, 2026, and requires ticket holders to visit both main venues (Giardini and Arsenale) to receive a voting link. One vote per person is allowed for each of two categories: an artist in the main international exhibition "In Minor Keys" curated by Koyo Kouoh, and a national pavilion.