California State Univ hosts artist Tutul’s exhibition

California State University hosted a five-day solo exhibition titled 'Lost Symbiosis' by Bangladeshi artist and graphic design professor Md Harun-ar-Rashid Tutul at its Media Art Gallery from April 27 to May 1. The exhibition featured 24 oil and acrylic paintings on recycled paper mesh and canvas, exploring the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Tutul also delivered a lecture on visual communication to students at California State University, Bakersfield, and a separate showing of the exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles Acting Academy and the local Bangladeshi community at the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles on May 3.

RISD Museum Puts Spotlight on Diversity

The RISD Museum in Providence is spotlighting diversity through a series of exhibitions and programs in spring 2026. Highlights include the third Black Biennial, titled "Please Catch Me When I Fall," organized by students Karma Johnson, Khalil McKnight, and King Meulens, featuring over 50 works by Black artists from the school and local community. Other exhibitions range from "A Shared Journey: The Barkan Contemporary Ceramic Collection" to "Natchiq | Onkeehq | Isuwiq: Indigenous Artists Honor the Seal" and "The Artistry and Reunion of Two Surimono Albums," alongside ongoing displays like "Shimmering Beauty: Kingfishers in Art and Poetry."

Bowersock Gallery opens 22nd season with new artists

Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown is opening its 22nd season with an exhibition titled "Master Builders: New Voices, New Works," running from May 22 through June 3, 2026. The show introduces three new female artists—Sally Fama Cochrane, Hillary Scott, and Jennifer Frank Rand—alongside new works by the gallery's returning stable artists, including Kevin Kusiolek, Steve Bowersock, Emma Ashby, and Jeanne McCartin. An opening reception will be held on May 22 from 7 to 9 p.m.

28 Texas Galleries to Participate in Affordable Art Fair Austin, May 14-17

The third annual Affordable Art Fair Austin will take place from May 14 to 17 at the Palmer Events Center, featuring 28 Texas galleries and a total of 55 galleries from locations as far as Sydney, Australia. Artworks are priced between $100 and $12,000, and the fair includes live painting, an interactive mural, family programming, and a raffle benefiting Dell Children’s Medical Center. Over 30% of participating galleries are Austin-based, with local names such as Art From the Streets, Davis Gallery & Framing, and Wally Workman among them.

Amyafrique Art Gallery set for debut, founder shares story of resilience and reinvention

Amyafrique Art Gallery, founded by Nigerian entrepreneur Okpara Judith Amarachi, is set to open in Lagos next month as a platform for African creativity. Amarachi, who transitioned from careers in fashion, modeling, and aviation after a life-changing visit to a Lagos gallery, launched the brand in 2021 and has since achieved milestones including the sale of a ₦10 million sculpture.

La storica discoteca Paradiso di Rimini si trasforma in un polo per l’arte. La storia

The historic Paradiso nightclub in Rimini, Italy, which opened in 1957 and became one of Europe's most famous discos, is being transformed into a cultural hub. Acquired at auction in 2018 by Filo Srl after years of abandonment, the site underwent extensive renovation beginning in 2023. The new venue, named Casa Paradiso Art Gallery, is set to open between October and November 2026. It will feature art exhibitions, fashion shows, and corporate events, housed in a sustainable building that retains symbolic elements of its past, such as the iconic entrance gate.

Goss Opera House unveils open, accessible Art Alley gallery

The Goss Opera House in Watertown has launched Art Alley, a new gallery space located in the hallway between the Goss and Mavericks. The grand opening took place on May 2 in partnership with the Downtown Collective's “ART of Downtown” event. The inaugural exhibit features local photographer Patrick “PJ” Anderson and his #JunkOnPavement series, titled “Taking Out the Trash: #JunkOnPavement,” which captures overlooked objects found in everyday spaces. The gallery will host rotating artwork by local and regional artists, with QR codes linking visitors directly to artists' online profiles.

Interview with French cartoonist Hugo Didier who draws the Cannes Film Festival 79

Intervista al fumettista francese Hugo Didier che disegna il Festival di Cannes 79

French cartoonist and illustrator Hugo Didier (Paris, 1993) has been commissioned to reinterpret and narrate the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival (May 12–23) through his drawings, which have appeared on the festival's official Instagram account. In an interview, Didier discusses how cinema influences his visual imagination, his preference for traditional drawing techniques (nib pens, Rotring technical pen, ink washes, watercolor) over digital, and his creative process that often begins with spontaneous sketches. He also reflects on the role of comics in contemporary French culture, noting their ability to explore diverse themes and reach wide audiences through a playful yet accessible medium.

The Biennale and the Weight of Flags. What Is the Point of National Pavilions?

La Biennale e il peso delle bandiere. Che senso hanno i padiglioni nazionali?

The article examines the inherent contradiction within the Venice Biennale: its historical structure of national pavilions, a legacy of 19th-century world fairs and state-sponsored art, clashes with the transnational, post-identity vision of the international exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The return of the Russia Pavilion amid geopolitical conflict and the international show titled "In Minor Keys," which rejects national belonging as an interpretive criterion, highlight this tension. The piece also addresses the controversy over the lack of Italian artists in the main exhibition, questioning whether a Biennale hosted in Italy should guarantee national representation.

OPINION: How the biennial staff and faculty exhibition benefits art students

Western Washington University's Western Gallery is hosting its biennial faculty and staff exhibition, featuring 20 artists from the art department. The show includes diverse works such as interactive sensory pieces, weavings, and photographic rings, offering students a rare glimpse into their professors' professional art practices outside the classroom. Students like printmaker Myrie Murphy and faculty such as fiber professor Seiko Purdue emphasize how the exhibition demystifies the art world and humanizes instructors as practicing artists.

Where Art Meets Memory: The Gallery Kalo Journey

Gallery Kalo founder Përparim Kalo discusses the origins and philosophy of his Tirana-based gallery in a Q&A. Founded in 2014, the gallery began as a personal collection shared with the public and has since grown into a cultural meeting point that promotes artistic authenticity, inclusivity, and community engagement. Its vision has expanded beyond Tirana to villages along the Vjosa and Drino rivers, connecting art with landscape and local heritage.

GSHS Amplify Art Exhibit at GCAC Gallery ‘til May 29 in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

The Gulf Coast Art Alliance (GCAA) is hosting the Gulf Shores High School Amplify Art Exhibit at its gallery in Gulf Shores, Alabama, from May 4 to May 29. The exhibition features artwork created by high school students, with cash awards and a public reception scheduled for May 14 from 4-6 p.m. at the GCAA Gallery located at 225 E 24th Ave. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

First Friday Art Walk set this weekend in Sequim

The First Friday Art Walk in Sequim, Washington, will take place this weekend from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring an aqua-themed self-guided tour of downtown venues. Highlights include a reception for "May Flowers" at Blue Whole Gallery with works by Jolene Sanborn and Rick George, a fiber arts exhibit at Sequim Museum & Arts, and new works at A. Milligan Art Studio and Gallery by Lyn Conlan and Anne Pfeiffer, along with live music and local artisan offerings at multiple participating businesses.

Indy airport exhibit features artists with disabilities

A new exhibition opened April 10 at the Indianapolis International Airport’s Civic Plaza, featuring 92 works by 90 Hoosier artists with developmental disabilities. The show was organized by the Indianapolis Airport Authority in partnership with the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Inc. (INARF) and Ability Indiana, with artists from 12 INARF member organizations contributing pieces in a variety of mediums. The airport’s arts and culture program, which rotates permanent and temporary collections, has hosted this annual showcase for several years, with some artists returning each year with new work.

New Bedford Art Museum celebrates creativity of special needs students

The New Bedford Art Museum is hosting the fifth annual SMEC exhibition, "Learning for Life," featuring artwork created by students and adults with special needs from the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative. The show, on view through June 14, includes pieces made in weekly art classes led by educator Nicole Winning, and one poignant sculpture by Ashley L. Canfield, a program participant who passed away in April.

Billions spent as art buyers smash records

Christie’s netted $US1.1 billion ($1.54 billion) in two auctions on a single evening in New York, with over half coming from 16 works sold from the estate of publishing magnate S.I. Newhouse, who died in 2017. The blockbuster sales follow years of underwhelming results in the secondary art market.

Hoelscher to exhibit art at Kalmanson Gallery

Jason Hoelscher, Gallery Director and Professor of Art at Georgia Southern University, will exhibit his work at The Kalmanson Gallery of Emanuel Arts Council in Swainsboro, Georgia, from May to June. An opening reception is scheduled for May 21, 5–7 p.m., free and open to the public. Hoelscher is a painter, writer, and professor with a PhD in aesthetic philosophy, an MFA from Pratt Institute, and extensive exhibition history across the U.S. and internationally, including airports and museums. He has also written for ARTnews and The Wall Street Journal, and authored the book "Art as Information Ecology" (Duke University Press, 2021).

Limerick Museum Sybil Connolly exhibition opens until July 31

Limerick Museum has opened 'Dressed to Impress: Sybil Connolly and the Art of Irish Elegance', an exhibition celebrating the life and work of Sybil Connolly, one of Ireland's most renowned fashion designers. Curated by Dr. Zara Power, the show features rarely seen garments, including a piece worn by Máirín Lynch, as well as maquettes, sketches, and interior design objects on loan from the Hunt Museum and Cork Public Museum. The exhibition runs until July 31, 2026, and admission is free.

Janesville Art League curator Woody Olsen has five photos accept for Fran Achen exhibition

Woody Olsen, curator of the Janesville Art League, had five of his photography submissions accepted for the 17th annual Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. The exhibition, titled “Art Through Photography’s Lens,” will be on display at the Whitewater Arts Alliance from June 4 to June 28, featuring both a traditional print salon and a digital salon. Cash prizes totaling $1,300 are available, with an awards reception scheduled for June 7.

Amarachi Okpara broadens Lagos art scene with new gallery opening

A new art gallery, Amyafrique Art Gallery, is set to open in Lagos next month, founded by Nigerian entrepreneur Amarachi Judith Okpara. The project began with a small personal collection and grew as Okpara built connections in the art community, drawing from her diverse career in events, fashion, modeling, and aviation before discovering her passion for art during a visit to a Lagos gallery.

A Very American Controversy on the Art World’s Biggest Stage

The article examines a controversy that erupted at the Venice Biennale, centered on a work by an American artist that critics say appropriates Indigenous imagery without proper consultation or credit. The dispute has drawn sharp reactions from Native American artists and activists, who accuse the organizers of perpetuating colonial attitudes in the art world.

Josephy Center for Arts & Culture invites artists to apply for the 43rd Annual Wallowa Valley Arts Festival

The Josephy Center for Arts & Culture has opened submissions for the 43rd Annual Wallowa Valley Arts Festival, a juried fine art exhibition in Joseph, Oregon, scheduled for September 18–20, 2026. The festival offers over $7,500 in awards across media including painting, sculpture, photography, and digital art, with a submission deadline of July 31, 2026.

Western Spirit Museum highlights student artists during Youth Art Month exhibit

Western Spirit Museum, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, partnered with the Arizona Art Education Association to present a Youth Art Month exhibition from March 15 to March 28, 2025. The show featured 109 original works by students in kindergarten through 12th grade from 22 schools across Arizona, spanning multiple mediums and styles. The exhibit concluded with a student artist reception on March 28, drawing families, educators, and community members. Teachers submitted student artwork, which was reviewed and selected by the Arizona Art Education Association Youth Art Month board.

Taylor County Arts Council announces winners of 28th Annual Thea Porter Memorial Day Juried Art Exhibit in Grafton

The Taylor County Arts Council has announced the winners of its 28th Annual Thea Porter Memorial Day Juried Art Exhibit, now on display at Gallery 62 West in Grafton, West Virginia, through June 2. Top honors in the adult division went to Kristen Colebank for her watercolor "First Light," with Charlie Cowger and others also receiving awards; in the youth division, Katherine DeMos took first place for "Rad Grandad." The exhibit features diverse mediums including drawings, paintings, and sculptures, with a People's Choice Award still open for public voting until the closing reception on May 30.

WAC's new 'The Art of Jazz' exhibit now open

The Watauga Arts Council (WAC) has opened a new exhibition titled "The Art of Jazz" in its main gallery in Boone, North Carolina, running through June 30. The show features works by local and regional artists who interpret jazz music's energy, improvisation, and cultural roots through 2D mediums, translating sound into color, movement, and form. A special reception will be held at the Appalachian Theatre on June 11, where pieces will be transported for the event, offering a cash bar and opportunities to meet the artists. The exhibition coincides with the 5th annual High Country Jazz Festival, providing a visual counterpart to the music events in downtown Boone.

Mount Wachusett Community College hosts 40th art exhibition

Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) held its 40th Annual Regional Exhibition of High School Art in the East Wing Gallery, featuring works from students at eight area high schools. The exhibition displayed ceramics, paintings, drawings, and mixed media, with 10 students receiving cash awards for outstanding artistic achievement. The college also highlighted its expanding art program, driven by free community college initiatives, and its community outreach through the Summer Art Program for Youth and free public exhibitions.

Sustainability at heart of new art exhibit in downtown Aurora

Aurora Public Art has opened a new exhibition titled "Re-Imagined: The Art of Sustainability" at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center in downtown Aurora, running through May 23. The show features works from adult artists like Jennifer Joiner, who creates art from trash collected on Lake Michigan beaches, and Ann Marie Greenberg, who repurposes household plastics and metal. It also includes submissions from students at East Aurora School District's Early Childhood Center, who used milk cartons, cereal boxes, and other recyclables. Curator Sangeeta Pande organized the open call, which drew 15 adult artists and numerous young participants, all exploring themes of environmental stewardship and creative reuse.

Martin Artisans Guild’s Tropical Temptations Exhibition, Opening Teception and Meet the Artists Events

The Martin Artisans Guild is hosting its 'Tropical Temptations' exhibition at the Palm Room Gallery in Stuart, Florida, with an opening reception on May 6, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The event features new artwork from guild artists, a cash bar with appetizers, and an artisan boutique selling handmade jewelry, clothing, and home decor. A 'Meet the Artists' event is scheduled for June 3, and the exhibition runs through June 27, 2026.

Sadequain’s Legacy Comes Alive in Canada with Three Day Art Exhibition

Pakistan’s High Commission in Canada launched a three-day art exhibition in Mississauga celebrating the legacy of renowned artist Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi. Inaugurated by High Commissioner Muhammad Saleem, the exhibition features Sadequain’s paintings, murals, drawings, and Urdu poetry, organized by the Sadequain Foundation with local partners. Attendees include students from the Aga Khan Foundation Academy Toronto, and scholar Ashfaq Hussain will deliver a talk on the artist’s multifaceted legacy.

First Fridays at the Pulitzer

The Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis is hosting its monthly First Fridays event on May 1, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. During this time, museums and galleries in the Grand Center Arts District offer free admission and extended hours, with the Pulitzer featuring its current exhibition "Dialogues & Conversations" and a cash bar on the Mezzanine. The event is free and open to the public, with accommodations available upon request.