16th-Century Rome Through the Eyes of a Foreigner: The Exhibition

La Roma del Cinquecento vista con gli occhi di uno straniero. La mostra

Fabio De Chirico has been appointed as the new director of the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica in Rome, with a mission to boost research, strengthen international dialogue, and enhance the institution's collections. His tenure opens with the exhibition "Maarten van Heemskerck e il fascino di Roma: percorsi visivi della Città Eterna," curated by Tatjana Bartsch, Rita Bernini, and Giorgio Marini, running until June 7, 2026. The show features drawings by the 16th-century Dutch artist Maarten van Heemskerck, on loan from the Kupferstichkabinett of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, alongside over sixty works from the institute's own holdings—including prints, engravings, and archival photographs—plus loans from the Bibliotheca Hertziana, the Musei Capitolini, and the Istituto Archeologico Germanico di Roma.

Un nuovo centro culturale e residenza d’artista nasce in un’ex chiesa di Venezia

A 13th-century Gothic church in Venice's Cannaregio district, the former Chiesa dell'Abbazia della Misericordia, will reopen on May 5, 2026, as Etnia House of Arts. The project is promoted by Spanish eyewear brand Etnia Eyewear Culture and includes artist residencies, public events, and site-specific interventions. The restoration was led by architects Piero Vespignani and Alessia Semenzato of Studio Anfibio. The first two resident artists are Conxi Sane and Greta Pllana, who will explore themes of perception and vision, with the residency program using eyewear as a symbolic field to investigate identity and representation.

Creating Variety in Contemporary Rome: The Story of the Conventicola degli Ultramoderni on Sky Arte

Fare varietà nella Roma contemporanea: la storia della Conventicola degli Ultramoderni su Sky Arte

On Sunday, May 3, Sky Arte will premiere the documentary "Ultramoderni," which chronicles the rise of the Conventicola degli Ultramoderni, a unique artistic collective in Rome. Founded by Sior Mirkaccio and Madame de Freitas, who met in 2011, the group operates from a small hidden venue in the San Lorenzo district, blending music, cabaret, burlesque, and contemporary variety shows with a retro-futuristic aesthetic. The documentary, filmed in their Roman space, features interviews with the duo and excerpts from their performances, tracing how they built a diverse community of enthusiasts around their reinvention of past traditions.

The first of May starts a new issue of Pax. Previews of the newsletter on cultural tourism (subscribe)

Il primo maggio parte una nuova uscita di Pax. Le anticipazioni della newsletter sul turismo culturale (abbonatevi)

The article previews the upcoming May 1st issue of Pax, a newsletter by Artribune focused on cultural tourism. It highlights a feature on Italy's colorful villages, explaining how bright colors historically aided sailors and fishermen, and how white facades served hygienic purposes. The issue also covers off-the-beaten-path destinations like Bolsena, which recently opened a contemporary art space in Palazzo Cozza Caposavi, and explores slow tourism practices such as barefooting, discussed with its founder Andrea Bianchi. Additional content includes a roundup of cultural initiatives from Berlin to Naples, Budapest's Citadella reopening, and the Sussex forest's Winnie-the-Pooh centenary.

For the 2026 Venice Biennale, the RojoNegro duo brings a collective ritual to the Mexico Pavilion

Per la Biennale Arte 2026 il duo RojoNegro porta nel Padiglione del Messico un rituale collettivo

The article announces that the RojoNegro collective, formed by María Sosa and Noé Martínez, will represent Mexico at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with a project titled "Actos invisibles para sostener el universo." Curated by Jessica Berlanga Taylor, the installation combines organic materials, sound, video, and performance to create a ritualistic space that invokes invisible presences, memories, and energies. The work draws on decolonial perspectives, centering Indigenous and Afro-descendant cosmogonies as living knowledge systems, and aims to activate a dialogue between situated ritual practices and the global context of the Biennale.

Art of resistance: Immigrant children share pain and strength in Tucson exhibit

An exhibition titled "Arte de la Resistencia" (Art of Resistance) was held from May 13 to May 17 at Free Associates gallery in Tucson, Arizona. Curated by a psychologist who uses the pseudonym Rosa for safety reasons, the show featured artwork created by immigrant children aged 7 to 19, many of whom are affected by deportation, family separation, and ICE enforcement. The pieces, including works like "Adiós Tucson" and "Silencio," express pain, grief, and resilience, with identities kept anonymous to protect the young artists. Proceeds from sales of original works and prints directly benefit the children's families.

Visitors invited behind the scenes with return of Welsh art trail

Crickhowell Open Studios returns from 23 to 25 May 2026, inviting visitors to explore 26 venues across Crickhowell and Abergavenny. The free-entry trail includes artists' studios, galleries, and creative spaces showcasing paintings, printmaking, textiles, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, and glass. Organized by the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre (CRiC), which celebrates twenty years of community support, the event features the Open Art Competition Exhibition at Oriel CRiC Gallery, a residency by portrait artist Oriane Pierrepont, and participation from artists such as Nadia Epping, Lucy Corbett, and Lee Wright. Venues range from St Edmund’s Church to Antur Brew Co. and The Welsh Academy of Art.

Here’s what’s happening at Art in the Loft

Art in the Loft in Alpena is preparing for its SummerView 2026 exhibit, featuring roughly 30 local and regional artists in its 7,000-square-foot space. The exhibit has a soft opening on May 26 and an opening reception on June 2, showcasing original works in multiple mediums and techniques, all available for purchase. The gallery is also celebrating its 25th anniversary with a gala on November 7.

Exhibition celebrating local artists to be unveiled

Five artists on the Isle of Portland will open their studios to the public as part of Dorset Art Weeks, running from May 23 to June 7 at St George’s Art Studios. The event features encaustic wax artist Lyn Kirkland, printmaker Caro Lester, jeweller Kate Arbon, mixed-media artist Georgie Moore, and multimedia artist Yollande Posthumus. Visitors can view finished works, explore workspaces, and participate in taster workshops on May 30.

Slow Rot at Method Delhi Explores Human Fragility and Psychological Unrest Through Art

Method Delhi is presenting 'Slow Rot', a group exhibition featuring ten contemporary Indian artists whose works explore human fragility, psychological unrest, and the grotesque. The show runs from May 9 to July 3, 2026, at Method's New Delhi space in Defence Colony, with free entry. Participating artists include Aditya Dhabhai, Dhruvi Jain, M. Imran Ahamed, Milan Sharma, Mitali Das, Priyesh T., Revant Dasgupta, Riya Chandwani, Sajid Wajid Shaikh, and Tithi Das, working across painting, sculpture, and mixed media.

KU students, teachers to show off form-defying ceramics at Off-Site Art Gallery exhibition

University of Kansas students and teachers are showcasing ceramics that defy gravity and traditional form at Off-Site Art Space in Lawrence. The exhibition, titled “Almost a Body: Not Quite a Thing,” features works by artists-in-residence Seuil Chung and SunYoung Park alongside their students, including pieces like Natalie Slutsky’s “Vital Exchange,” an anatomical heart with arteries forming a Möbius strip. The show highlights innovative techniques such as using sand-filled brick boxes for firing, French cleat mounting systems, and beeswax finishes inspired by natural forms from the McGregor Herbarium.

Artist explores shifting perspective on family story

Artist Avi Amesbury has opened her new exhibition, 'Shifting Perspectives: The Self Reconciliation Project', at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery in Australia. The show combines ceramics, mixed media, and sound to explore her personal family history as a descendant of white settler colonists in Western Australia. Over three years, Amesbury traveled across the country for residencies at Fremantle Arts Centre and Central Craft in Alice Springs, collecting wild clays and collaborating with composer MJ from Those Who Ride With Giants to incorporate poems, writings, and landscape sounds into the installation.

Abbeydale Road art space opens with exhibition celebrating local talent

A new independent art space called The Shop has opened on Abbeydale Road in Sheffield, England, with a debut group exhibition titled Bee Sting Cake featuring 19 South Yorkshire artists. The venue, founded by Sheffield artist Nick Grindrod, combines a studio and exhibition space in a former retail unit. Grindrod, who turned fully to painting during the pandemic and gained traction through the Artist Support Pledge initiative on Instagram, curated the show alongside artists Sean Williams and Kate Jacob. The exhibition runs from 14–28 May 2026, and the space aims to offer original artworks for sale in a relaxed, accessible setting.

Art Hive Celebrates Third Anniversary

The Art Hive in Prescott, Arizona, is celebrating its third anniversary with a disco-themed party on Friday, May 22, from 5:00 pm to midnight. Founded in 2023 by artist Cloud Oakes, the venue houses 36 artist studios and a fine arts gallery, and the event will feature the Tenant Spring Exhibition, open studios, art booths, live music, a no-host bar, and a '70s Disco DJ bash, with a people's choice award for best costume and best in show.

Doosan Yonkang Foundation Joins as Sponsor of Korean Pavilion at Venice International Art Exhibition

The Doosan Yonkang Foundation has joined as a sponsor of the Korean Pavilion at the 61st Venice International Art Exhibition, held at Giardini Park in Italy until November 22. The pavilion, themed "Haebang Space," explores political and social changes in Korean society since liberation in 1945. Artistic Director Choi Bitna oversees the exhibition, featuring artists Noh Hyeri and Choi Goeun, along with fellows Han Kang, Kim Hoojoo, Lee Rang, Hwang Yeji, and Christian Nyampeta. This marks the foundation's first sponsorship of the Korean Pavilion as part of its visual arts support program.

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.

AMP art walk: making art more accessible

Western Washington University's Arts & Music Productions (AMP) launched a monthly art walk on the first Friday of October, continuing the tradition each month after the closure of the Viking Union Gallery. The event, conceived by AMP supervisor Casey Hayden, aims to introduce students to Bellingham's art scene in a guided, social setting. Skylar Cooney, AMP's visual arts coordinator, leads tours to smaller venues like Bay Street Studios, and the walks have drawn a diverse academic crowd. Participating galleries, such as Voxel Gallery, report increased foot traffic and community engagement, while local artists and professors like Garth Amundson emphasize the importance of free, accessible events for fostering inclusion.

Alton's Elysian Gallery to close, reopen as art cafe and cultural hub

Elysian Gallery in Alton, Illinois, is closing its original location at Mineral Springs Mall on May 10, 2026, to relocate and expand into a new concept called Elysian Gallery and Cafe at 419 E. Broadway. Owner Jeff Bohnert, a photographer, is transforming the 500-square-foot gallery into a larger, pet-friendly cultural hub featuring a cafe serving Goshen Coffee, a book nook, workspaces, and art exhibitions. The new space will open with a soft launch on May 30 during Alton Main Street's Pup Crawl, followed by a grand reopening on June 6. Bohnert and his girlfriend Janel Freeman originally opened the gallery in August 2025.

Studio 34 Announces Open Studio Weekend + Opening of Collective Pulse Art Exhibition in LIC

Studio 34 Gallery in Long Island City, New York, announces its annual Open Studio Weekend on May 16–17, 2026, from 12:00–6:00 PM, alongside the opening reception of a group exhibition titled 'Collective Pulse' on May 16 from 6:30–9:30 PM. The free event invites the public to explore working artist studios, meet the creators, and experience the artistic process, with live music by Sunshine Music. The exhibition, curated by Alice Lipping and Tina Glavan, features 14 Studio 34 artists and 11 guest artists, and runs through June 7, 2026.

Stilllive Documents 2019–2025 @ The 5th Floor

The 5th Floor in Tokyo is hosting "Stilllive Documents 2019–2025," a retrospective exhibition running from May 14 to June 7, 2026, that reviews the activities of the performance platform Stilllive. The show features unpublished photographs and video materials from 2019 to 2025, presenting them not as mere traces of events but as records of relationships, tensions, and responses that emerged in each moment. Stilllive was founded in 2016 by Yuki Kobayashi and graduates of the Royal College of Art's Performance program, and has held annual events since 2019 at venues including the Goethe-Institut Tokyo. A new performance, "Stilllive 2026," will take place on May 16–17 at BUoY in Senju Nakamachi, Tokyo, connecting past accumulations to future practice.

Amid confrontation with the US, an Iranian museum exhibits anti-war art by American artists

Amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art opened an exhibition of anti-war artworks by American artists. The show features pieces by prominent American artists that critique war and violence, drawing local visitors who are engaging with the works despite the political climate of anti-American sentiment in the streets.

Two Visitors’ Lions have been established for the Biennale Arte 2026

La Biennale di Venezia has announced the establishment of two Visitors' Lions for the 61st International Art Exhibition, following the resignation of the International Jury appointed by curator Koyo Kouoh. The awards ceremony, originally scheduled for May 9, has been moved to November 22, the final public day, echoing a similar shift during the 2021 Architecture Exhibition due to COVID-19. The Visitors' Lions will be voted on by ticket holders who visit both exhibition venues between May 9 and November 22, with one award for the Best Participant in the exhibition "In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh and another for the Best National Participation.

Get a first look at the immersive art exhibit that takes over 80 rooms in a shuttered downtown L.A. hospital

The 'Hospital of Emotions' is an immersive art exhibition occupying 80 rooms across four floors of the shuttered St. Vincent Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles. Running from May 27 through July 31, the 45,000-square-foot show features over 70 artists whose works are organized into emotional departments such as grief, fear, hope, joy, and sadness. Installations incorporate the hospital's existing fixtures—surgical lights, beds, IV bags—transforming former medical spaces into interactive art experiences, including a life-size Twister game, ceramic egg-covered walls, and neon-lit beds.

Double vandalism on the Place de la Concorde

Double vandalisme place de la Concorde

During the PSG Champions League semi-final victory celebrations last Wednesday, vandals destroyed an exhibition by Yann Arthus-Bertrand on the theme of 'Living Together' on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The article describes this as a double vandalism: the physical destruction by rioters compounded what the author considers the original vandalism—the exhibition itself, which was supported by the French government, the Paris city hall, and several other entities.

‘What My Mother Gave Me’: Monuments of Flesh

Nona Faustine’s first retrospective, ‘What My Mother Gave Me,’ is on view at the Center for Photography at Woodstock until 10 May 2026. The exhibition gathers nearly three decades of the artist’s work, spanning series such as *Young Mothers*, *Mitochondria*, and *White Shoes*, to explore themes of matrilineal memory, the Black female body, and the afterlives of slavery in urban spaces. Faustine’s photographs range from intimate depictions of young motherhood to defiant nude self-portraits that transform sites of erasure into counter-monuments of presence.

Four Latin American Voices Around the Montevideo Curatorial Intensive

CUATRO VOCES LATINOAMERICANAS EN TORNO AL INTENSIVO CURATORIAL DE MONTEVIDEO

Independent Curators International (ICI) held the Montevideo Curatorial Intensive in March 2026, in partnership with the ESTE ARTE fair and the Faculty of Arts at the University of the Republic (Udelar). This was the first time the program took place in Uruguay, bringing together twelve emerging curators from Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and the United States for eight days of seminars, debates, and mentorship. Led by independent curator Marina Reyes Franco, the intensive included visits to local cultural spaces such as CasaMario, SUBTE, and the Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo, as well as a trip to Punta del Este to tour galleries and artist studios. The program featured presentations by international faculty including Ionit Behar, Victoria Noorthoorn, Maya Juracán, and Keyna Eleison, and concluded with a public symposium at the Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales (MNAV).

Art exhibition at Two Selves Gallery explores a journey through depression

Two Selves Gallery in Troy, New York, opened a new exhibition titled "Coming Out of Darkness: Landscapes of Presence" by artist Patricia Wood during the April Troy Night Out event. The show, on display through May, is divided into three sections: a series of acrylic paintings on black velvet depicting forest scenes from the Adirondacks, a middle section featuring reference photos, miniatures, encaustic works, and mental health resources, and a front section with oil paintings of Winnie the Pooh characters and Wood's jewelry. Wood describes the exhibition as a personal journey through depression, using light and dark to convey her struggle and recovery.

Off-campus galleries in Dallas and Denton step in as UNT art students boycott school spaces

University of North Texas (UNT) art students are boycotting on-campus exhibition spaces, prompting off-campus galleries in Dallas and Denton to step in and provide alternative venues for their work. The boycott stems from student grievances over institutional policies and conditions within the university's art program, leading to a grassroots shift in where student art is displayed.

Stunning art exhibition reveals textured takes on local landscapes

Local artist Mirabela Varga's exhibition 'Coherence' is on display at Byron Spaces Gallery in the Byron Community Centre, featuring bright, textured artworks inspired by the landscapes and flowers of the Northern Rivers region. Varga, known for her palette knife technique and contemporary impressionism, aims to convey emotional depth and spontaneity through her work. The exhibition runs until June 1, with free entry.

Indah Gallery Art Exhibition: Mark Russell Jones “Hearing the Quiet”

Mark Russell Jones, a Central Coast native, presents his large-scale ethereal paintings in an exhibition titled "Hearing the Quiet" at Indah Gallery, located within the Roblar Winery vineyard in a converted hay barn in Santa Ynez Valley. The artist describes his work as exploring the space between abstraction and representation through layering and reduction, evoking memory and atmosphere rather than fixed depictions.