Objekt/Object—An Order of Things and the Construction of the World

Malmö Konstmuseum has announced its annual seminar, "Objekt/Object: An Order of Things and the Construction of the World," scheduled for April 16, 2026. The event features a series of lectures and panel discussions involving international scholars, curators, and artists, including philosopher Roman Krznaric and professor Ariella Aïsha Azoulay. The seminar uses the museum's current exhibition, "An Order of Things," as a case study to examine how historical classification systems and contemporary curatorial choices shape collective memory and societal values.

Brooklyn Museum Plans $13 Million Overhaul for New African Art Galleries

The Brooklyn Museum has announced a $13 million renovation project to establish a permanent 6,400-square-foot home for its extensive African art collection. Scheduled to open in Fall 2027, the new Arts of Africa galleries will feature approximately 300 works ranging from ancient Meroitic ceramics to contemporary pieces. The architectural overhaul, led by Peterson Rich Office and Beyer Blinder Belle, will transform former storage spaces on the museum's third floor into four distinct gallery environments.

Zhang Huan’s 125 Newbury Show Is Not for the Weak

Zhang Huan has unveiled a provocative new solo exhibition at 125 Newbury in New York, featuring a series of visceral works that utilize unconventional materials like cowhide and incense ash. The show centers on the artist's career-long exploration of the body, spirituality, and the cycle of life and death, anchored by large-scale sculptural paintings that challenge the viewer's sensory boundaries.

‘A Room for Animal Intelligence’: There’s never been a SAM exhibition like it

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) has unveiled "A Room for Animal Intelligence," a landmark exhibition curated by Pam McClusky that draws almost exclusively from the institution's permanent collection. The show features a diverse array of works—some of which had never been previously unboxed or displayed—ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary sculptures. A unique narrative device is employed throughout the gallery, where the animal subjects "speak" for themselves on wall labels to foster a direct connection with visitors.

New public art biennial to take over Dallas’s urban greenbelt park

Dallas is set to launch the KTX Biennial in spring 2027, marking Texas’s first biennial dedicated exclusively to public art. Curated by Jovanna Venegas of New York’s SculptureCenter, the exhibition will feature nearly a dozen contemporary works installed along the Katy Trail, a popular 3.5-mile urban greenbelt. The inaugural edition is themed around a science-fiction story by Ursula K. Le Guin, focusing on the interconnectedness between humans and their environment.

A brush with… Martina Droth, director of the Yale Center for British Art

Martina Droth, the recently appointed director of the Yale Center for British Art, shares her personal and professional perspectives on the role of art in society. In this interview, she reflects on her formative experiences traveling in Egypt, her reading habits that range from museum leadership to human behavior, and the daily inspiration she finds working alongside 18th-century landscapes by Richard Wilson.

Venice Biennale Names 111 Artists for International Exhibition

The Venice Biennale has officially announced the 111 artists, duos, and collectives selected for the 61st International Art Exhibition, titled "In Minor Keys." The exhibition follows the vision of the late Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh, who passed away in May 2024 after conceptualizing the show and selecting the majority of its participants. The roster features a diverse global lineup including Wangechi Mutu, Kader Attia, Khaled Sabsabi, and Laurie Anderson, with a curatorial focus on quiet resistance, poetic improvisation, and the "lower frequencies" of social and psychic life.

Biennale Arte 2026: the invited artists

The Venice Biennale has officially announced the list of invited artists for its 61st edition in 2026. The selection features a diverse global cohort including established figures like Laurie Anderson, Nick Cave, and Carsten Höller, alongside influential collectives such as fierce pussy and blaxTARLINES KUMASI. The list also includes significant posthumous inclusions like Marcel Duchamp and Beverly Buchanan, signaling a curatorial approach that bridges contemporary practice with historical legacies.

UK exhibition celebrates the artisans throughout history who went to war

The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge is launching "War Craft," an exhibition dedicated to art and objects created by non-professional soldiers on or near the front lines. Curated by Richard Kelleher, the show features a diverse array of items ranging from First World War shell cases engraved by the Chinese Labour Corps to a contemporary Ukrainian ammunition tin decorated with Sharpie drawings. The collection includes scavenged battlefield materials transformed into personal mementos, alongside significant works by established artists like J.M.W. Turner, John Singer Sargent, and C.R.W. Nevinson.

Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space

The Royal West of England Academy in Bristol is hosting "Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space," an expansive exhibition curated by artist Ione Parkin. The show bridges the gap between hard science and artistic imagination, featuring works that range from Susan Derges’s lunar photography to Christopher Le Brun’s monumental 12-panel painting of the moon’s phases. By blending scientific inquiry with creative expression, the exhibition explores how celestial phenomena, NASA data, and planetary movements inspire contemporary visual art.

Cincinnati Goes MAD for Art Museum Exhibit

The Cincinnati Art Museum is hosting the exhibition 'What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine,' which opened in November 2025 and runs through March 2026. The show, organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, traces the history of the iconic satirical publication through original comic covers, artwork, and interactive displays, highlighting its cultural impact from its 1952 origins to modern parodies.

Parrish Art Museum Opens 'Regeneration' Exhibition

The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York, will open the exhibition 'Regeneration: Long Island’s History of Ecological Art and Care' on February 22, 2026. The show, part of the museum's yearlong 'PARRISH USA250' series, features works by eleven artists with ties to Long Island, including Sara Siestreem, Michelle Stuart, and Maya Lin, and will run through June 14.

Discover the legacy of MAD at the Cincinnati Art Museum

The Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) is hosting the exhibition “What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine,” which opened on November 21, 2025, and runs through March 1, 2026. The show features over 150 original artworks spanning MAD Magazine’s 70-year history, from its comic book origins to its satirical magazine heyday. On January 30, 2026, CAM held a special “CAM goes MAD!” event as part of its monthly “Art After Dark” series, offering free admission, live music, local food, and activities such as caricature drawing by artist Joni Fleming and tabling by local comic sellers. The exhibition was organized by Stephanie Haboush Plunkett, chief curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum, and satirical artist Steve Brodner.

‘I had all kinds of altercations’: the photographer who captures humanity at close quarters

A new book titled 'Trespass' introduces the work of photographer Mark Cohen, known for his invasive, close-quarters street photography primarily in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Cohen's method involved using flash and fast color film to capture unsuspecting subjects, often leading to physical altercations, and his images are characterized by extreme blur and sudden points of sharp focus.

From a bakery pop-up to an I.M. Pei survey: the exhibitions to see in Doha during Art Basel Qatar

A series of major exhibitions are on view in Doha, coinciding with the Art Basel Qatar event. These include Rirkrit Tiravanija's interactive bakery installation at MIA Park, two major surveys of architect I.M. Pei's work at AlRiwaq Gallery and the Museum of Islamic Art, and a group show titled "we refuse_d" at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.

UK museum directors join prime minister on diplomatic mission to China

A delegation of senior UK museum directors, including Tim Reeve of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Doug Gurr of the Natural History Museum, Keith Merrin of North East Museums, Sara Wajid of Birmingham Museums Trust, and Laura Pye of National Museums Liverpool, accompanied Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a three-day diplomatic and trade mission to China. The trip aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, with the museum leaders highlighting existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities for cultural exchange and commercial collaboration in the Chinese market.

What happens to the art market when humanity stops mattering?

The article examines the resilience of the high-end art market amid rising geopolitical tensions and shrinking public funding for culture. It notes that while sales at major auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's have rebounded, political forces in the US and Europe are increasingly prioritizing military spending and exerting pressure on cultural institutions, drawing parallels to the rise of fascism in the early 20th century.

Marina Abramović rolls into Davos with an immersive project that encourages world leaders to take a digital detox

Marina Abramović has unveiled a new immersive work titled THE BUS at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, running until 23 January. The piece, part mobile sculpture and part meditation capsule, invites world leaders and participants to step away from the forum's intense schedule for a digital detox and inner reflection using the Abramović Method. The project was curated by Mirjam Varadinis, curator-at-large at the Kunsthaus Zürich, and developed through Abramović's institute (MAI). It marks Abramović's debut at the WEF, which this year also features eco-artist Thijs Biersteker, multimedia artist Ronen Tanchum, and street artist JR.

National Air and Space Museum Announces Robert Rauschenberg Exhibition Will Open in July 2026

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has announced that its newly renovated Flight and the Arts Center will open on July 1, 2026, with two inaugural exhibitions: “The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight” and “The Art of Air and Space: Interpretations of Flight.” The Rauschenberg exhibition, timed to the artist’s centennial, will present 30 of his artworks related to flight, including the monumental lithograph “Sky Garden (Stoned Moon)” (1969), and will run for one year. The exhibition is curated by Carolyn Russo and features loans from the Hirshhorn Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Gallery of Art, and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

National Museum of African American History and Culture To Open Exhibition Featuring Collections From Five HBCUs

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will open a new traveling exhibition titled “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs” on January 16, 2026. The show features artifacts, artwork, historical documents, and multimedia from five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs): Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University. Highlights include first editions of Margaret Walker’s works, Tuskegee Institute pottery, early scientific journals, archival photographs by Doris Derby and Chester Higgins, and a rare color video of George Washington Carver.

Manhattan’s New Museum sets early spring date for reopening after $82m expansion

The New Museum on Manhattan's Lower East Side will reopen to the public on March 21, 2025, after a two-year closure for an $82 million expansion designed by OMA's Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas with executive architect Cooper Robertson. The expansion adds 61,930 square feet—including 9,600 square feet of gallery space, education facilities, artists' studios, and event spaces—bringing the total footprint to 119,600 square feet. The new building will be named after the late philanthropist and curator Toby Devan Lewis. The reopening will feature site-specific commissions by Tschabalala Self, Sarah Lucas, and Klára Hosnedlová, and a building-wide thematic exhibition, 'New Humans: Memories of the Future,' with works by over 200 modern and contemporary artists.

National Museum of African Art Announces “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art”

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art has announced “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,” an exhibition opening January 23 through August 23, 2026. Featuring nearly 60 works by LGBTQ+ artists from Africa and its diaspora—including Zanele Muholi, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Leilah Babirye, Jim Chuchu, and Ṣọlá Olúlòde—the show spans painting, photography, sculpture, installation, video, and digital art. Co-curated by Serubiri Moses and Kevin D. Dumouchelle, the exhibition is built on years of dialogue with artists and communities, centering their voices and lived experiences.

The Year Ahead 2026: the big exhibitions and the key museum openings—podcast

In the first episode of 2026, Ben Luke, Jane Morris, and Gareth Harris preview the year's major art events, including museum openings, biennials, and exhibitions. Highlights include the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, V&A East, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, along with the Venice Biennale, Whitney Biennial, and shows dedicated to artists like Gainsborough, Raphael, Zurbarán, and Matisse.

Cincinnati Art Museum Exhibit Explores the Artistry of Iconic Satire Publication MAD Magazine

The Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) has opened "What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine," an exhibition exploring the seven-decade history and artistic impact of the iconic satirical publication. Originating from the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the show features over 150 pieces, including original artwork from MAD artists, process drawings, and a spoof of Norman Rockwell's "Triple Self-Portrait" by Richard Williams placed alongside the original. The exhibition, curated by Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and Steve Brodner, runs through March 1 and was brought to CAM after director Cameron Kitchin visited the Rockwell Museum. Emily Agricola Holtrop, CAM's director of learning & interpretation, served as onsite curator.

Georgia Museum of Art reaches for the stars with new exhibition

The Georgia Museum of Art has opened a new exhibition titled "We, Too, Are Made of Wonders," on view from January 24 to June 28, 2026. Inspired by Ada Limón's poem "In Praise of Mystery," the show brings together poetry, astronomy, science, and visual art to explore humanity's fascination with the cosmos. It features historic, modern, and contemporary works from the museum's permanent collection, including pieces by Dorothy Hood, Mildred Thompson, Lamar Dodd, Robert McCall, and others. Poems guide visitors through themes of wonder, science, mythology, and space exploration, with several works on view for the first time.

In a ‘K-shaped’ economy, the art market's recovery could rely on the super-rich

Sotheby's and Christie's held a series of high-profile auctions in New York in late 2025, generating a combined $2.2 billion from major collections including the Leonard A. Lauder collection, the Cindy and Jay Pritzker collection, and the Robert F. and Patricia G. Ross Weis collection. Star lots included Gustav Klimt's portrait of Elisabeth Lederer ($236.4m), a Vincent van Gogh still life ($62.7m), a Frida Kahlo self-portrait ($54.7m), and a Mark Rothko abstract ($62.2m). Despite these strong results, the total was still 30% below the equivalent sales in 2022, and the article notes a growing number of contemporary gallery closures in 2025.

New York Galleries: Openings and Closings of the Week (12/15—12/21)

The art world pays tribute to Martin Parr, an ‘extraordinary photographer of people and life in the UK’

Martin Parr, the renowned British photographer known for his vivid, satirical documentation of British life and class, has died at age 73 at his home in Bristol, as announced by the Martin Parr Foundation on 7 November. Tributes have poured in from across the art and photography worlds, including from the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and fellow artists such as Grayson Perry and Joel Meyerowitz. Parr's major projects include *The Last Resort* (1983-85) and *The Cost of Living* (1987-89), and an exhibition of his work, *Global Warning*, is scheduled to open at Jeu de Paume in Paris in January 2026.

Museum Friends Tour of Pissarro's Impressionism

The Denver Art Museum and the Museum Barberini in Potsdam have co-organized "The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro's Impressionism," an exhibition dedicated to the work of the pioneering Impressionist painter. The show is presented by a wide array of donors including Jana and Fred Bartlit, Barbara Bridges, Bridget and John Grier, the Kristin and Charles Lohmiller Exhibitions Fund, and Craig Ponzio, with additional support from foundations, corporate sponsors, and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

Immersive institution could replace South Beach cinema

A shuttered Regal Cinema on Miami Beach's Lincoln Road may be transformed into the Superhuman Museum, an immersive institution led by Steve Berke, a comedian, cannabis entrepreneur, and former mayoral candidate. The Miami Beach Planning Board has approved a change-of-use permit for the project, which has backing from the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District. The museum is designed as a guided journey combining elements of theme parks, art museums, and experiential venues, featuring facial scans, timed rooms, wireless wristbands, and a mix of tech-forward installations and traditional artworks by artists like Keith Haring and Yaacov Agam. A soft launch is targeted for November 2026, with a grand opening during Miami Art Week.