Otis College’s Annual O-Launch Exhibition Weekend Showcased Work by Graduating Artists and Designers

Otis College of Art and Design held its annual O-Launch Exhibition Weekend on May 15 and 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. The event featured a campus-wide exhibition of graduating student work across all majors, including Animation, Environmental Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Game and Entertainment Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, and Toy Design. Highlights included an industry preview for employers, an alumni reception, and the Fashion Design program's runway show, which showcased collections from junior and senior students along with mentor projects from brands such as St. John, Vince, Activision, Nike, Vuori, and Wilson Sporting Goods.

Green Island Restaurant hosts new artwork displays by local artists

Private & Public Gallery has partnered with Green Island Restaurant in Jersey to install a rotating display of works by local artists Jacques Le Breton, Charles Haydn Taylor, Claire Haithwaite, and Hazel Wynn. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including ceramics, iPad drawings, and paintings created from found coastal materials, all arranged in a traditional French Salon style.

Explore the projects of the 2024 and 2025 graduating classes of Ésad

Explorez les projets des promotions 2024 et 2025 de l’Ésad

The Ésad Saint-Étienne is presenting "recto verso," an exhibition running from April 29 to October 4, 2026, featuring projects by 84 young artists and designers who earned their DNSEP in June 2024 and June 2025. The show is designed as a non-linear, interactive space where objects, performances, and activations encourage visitors to explore both finished works and the preparatory stages behind them, including sketches, models, and archival materials. The exhibition is curated by the collective ppdesigner and Éric Jourdan, with production by the Cité du design.

Even More Drawings for Versailles

Encore d'autres dessins pour Versailles

The Palace of Versailles has acquired several drawings during the Paris Drawing Week sales in March 2026, including a rare study by Charles de La Fosse for the royal chapel's dome decoration. The drawing, depicting a reclining nude man for "The Resurrection of Christ," was purchased at the Rossini auction of Paul and Florence Vercier's collection for €3,800. This acquisition adds to Versailles' growing collection of La Fosse works, following earlier purchases of an angel study in 2016 and a ceiling project in 2023.

TEFAF 2026, an Excellent Edition

La Tefaf 2026, une excellente édition

The 2026 edition of TEFAF Maastricht (running until March 19) is noted as an excellent year, featuring a significant number of major artworks. The article highlights specific pieces of French patrimonial importance, including four 16th-century terracotta terms from the Château d'Oiron and a Sèvres porcelain cabaret dedicated to French painters from 1814.

literature kathryn scanlan audrey wollens interview

The article describes a visit to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York to see two concurrent exhibitions: Sam Contis's "Phases," featuring black-and-white motion portraits and a three-channel film of teenage girls running a five-kilometer race, and Diane Simpson's "Formal Wear," a sculptural exploration of femininity's exoskeletons using industrial materials. Literary accompaniments were commissioned for both shows—Kathryn Scanlan wrote a story for Contis's exhibition, and critic Audrey Wollen contributed an essay for Simpson's—blending visual art with prose to examine themes of adolescence, identity, and self-construction.

Ten artists accuse Arusha Gallery of non-payment of nearly half a million pounds

Ten artists have accused Arusha Gallery, which operates in Edinburgh and London, of failing to pay them nearly half a million pounds for sold works, with some waiting months or years for payment. Artist Charlotte Keates claims she is owed approximately £430,000 from sales dating back to 2023, while gallery owner Bella Arusha Collins King disputes the amount and asserts the gallery is entitled to a 50% cut from a collaboration Keates entered with Hermès. The gallery acknowledges missing payments, citing a downturn in the art market and the unexpected death of co-owner Guy Rowland Maxwell Bargery in January.

design davone tines julie dash film charleston

Opera singer Davóne Tines and filmmaker Julie Dash collaborated on the short film "HOMEGOING," commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the 2015 mass shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The film was created as part of the exhibition "MONUMENTS" at The Brick and MOCA in Los Angeles, curated by Hamza Walker, which interrogates American identity through historical relics. Tines and Dash discuss their shared Southern roots, the role of ritual in healing, and the emotional process of filming inside the historic church.

Gallery famous for Fakes and Forgeries exhibition celebrates 20-year anniversary

The Mangaweka Yellow Church Gallery in New Zealand, known for its annual Fakes and Forgeries exhibition, is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Owner and artist Richard Aslett will host a high tea on Monday to mark the milestone. The gallery opened in 2006 and has since fostered emerging and established artists, hosted live music events, and added antiques and retro-curios to its offerings. Its most famous exhibition pays tribute to Karl Sim, New Zealand’s only convicted art fraudster, who was born in Mangaweka and known for his Charles Goldie forgeries.

Hundreds attend gallery opening at historic homestead

The historic Rototāwai homestead in South Wairarapa, New Zealand, has officially opened a new public art gallery and cultural space. Facilitated by the Anna Bidwill Foundation, the site features Bidwill’s extensive private art collection housed within her restored childhood home. The opening ceremony, which included a traditional pōwhiri and an address by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith, marks the culmination of a four-year restoration project since Bidwill repurchased the estate in 2020.

A Glimpse of Summer Exhibitions in the Panhandle

Three exhibitions in the Texas Panhandle and Concho Valley showcased the work of artists Cody Arnall, Daryl Meador, and Ezra Tucker. At the Charles Adams Studio Project (CASP) Satellite Gallery in Lubbock, Arnall's show "Boredom and Failure (v.II)" featured sculptures and videos exploring imperfection, including an awning projecting a mirrored sky. In the same city, Daryl Meador's "Big Empty Blues" at Co-Opt Research + Projects presented textile art and quilts addressing labor, incorporating text from musicians and materials like waffle knit. The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts hosted "The Art of Ezra Tucker," a survey of the artist's transition from illustration to fine art, focusing on wildlife paintings with masterful light and color.

Belfast’s murals are an open-air gallery of history and art

Belfast's murals, long used as tools of political expression and territorial marking during the Troubles, are gradually changing. Research shows that three-quarters of the most intimidatory murals in the loyalist Shankill area have disappeared since 1998. Newer murals commemorate figures like Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, while non-sectarian artistic murals—including tributes to murdered journalist Lyra McKee—are appearing across the city. However, some paramilitary-linked murals persist, and a 2024 incident saw a wall in north Belfast rebuilt and its threatening imagery repainted, reflecting ongoing tensions and the complex politics of 'conflict transformation' funding.

'Father' exhibit to make US debut at Armenian Museum. When it opens

The Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, Massachusetts, will debut the exhibition “Father” by internationally acclaimed artist Diana Markosian, running from May 29 to September 13. The show uses photography, archival materials, video, and text to document Markosian’s journey to reconnect with her estranged father, exploring themes of family, memory, and identity. Curated by Anahit Gasparyan, the exhibition is co-produced by Les Rencontres d’Arles and Foam, Amsterdam, and sponsored by the JHM Charitable Foundation. A private member preview on May 28 will feature a conversation between the artist and curator.

fashion nike shoe designer wilson w smith

Wilson W. Smith III, Nike's first Black designer and a 41-year veteran of the company, retired this winter and gave one of his first interviews to CULTURED. Smith, who designed shoes for Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams, began his career as an architect at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill before moving into shoe design under Tinker Hatfield in 1985. He reflects on his journey from architecture to footwear, his early projects like the Nike factory store in North Portland, and his role in shaping iconic sneakers such as the Air More Uptempo and the Air Alarm for Agassi.

UK’s Brighton & Hove Museums to return 45 artefacts to Botswana

Brighton & Hove Museums in southern England will return 45 artefacts to Botswana. The objects, including clothing, accessories and hunting implements, were acquired by English reverend William Charles Willoughby in the 1890s and will be housed at the Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe, where they will form part of a permanent exhibition opening on 27 May. A team from Brighton & Hove Museums is working with Botswanan curators on the return, which is scheduled for April.

director eisenhower library fired trump sword king charles

President Donald Trump sought a gift for King Charles during a state visit last month, prompting his administration to request a sword from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home in Abilene, Kansas. The library refused to release the sword—a 1947 gift from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands—citing federal law that requires preserving original artifacts for the American public. Trump instead gave King Charles a replica of Eisenhower’s West Point Officer’s Sabre. Subsequently, library director Todd Arrington was forced to resign after being told he could no longer be trusted with confidential information, a move he believes may have been linked to his refusal to hand over the artifact.

Fort Worth African American Museum to officially open in June with joint exhibition

The Fort Worth African American Museum and Cultural Center will officially open on June 12 with its inaugural exhibition, "All ’N All: Artists Embracing Community," in partnership with Kinfolk House and the National Juneteenth Museum. The show features paintings, photographs, and mixed-media works by 11 North Texas artists exploring memory, culture, and the Black experience, and is part of the larger Freedom Vibes festival running June 11-20. The museum, which has been in development since 2020, secured its final funding from the Fort Worth City Council in January and purchased a 5,000-square-foot building on East Rosedale Street last summer.

Arts Council News – Fine Art Exhibition Awards

New exhibit at Macon Museum of Arts & Science

A new exhibit has opened at the Macon Museum of Arts & Science in Georgia, featuring a collection of spectacular paintings that the reviewer found visually impressive but thematically puzzling. The exhibit departs from the museum's previous shows, which have ranged from solo artist presentations and local Macon artists to Georgia-wide showcases and even more unconventional, psychedelic-themed works.

May Events at Lynden Sculpture Garden

The Lynden Sculpture Garden in Milwaukee announces its May 2026 events, including exhibitions, workshops, and outdoor installations. Featured exhibitions include Faythe Levine's "Time is Running Out," which explores the legacy of Charlotte Partridge and Miriam Frink, co-founders of the Layton School of Art, and "Slow Growing in the Time of Trees" by the mycology-focused collective mycollective. A bonsai exhibit opens on World Bonsai Day in collaboration with the Milwaukee Bonsai Society and Milwaukee Bonsai Foundation, alongside free community events like Knit @ Lynden with Sara Caron.

‘Ojai Mystique’ exhibition returns to Ojai Valley Museum

The Ojai Valley Museum has opened its annual 'Ojai Mystique' exhibition, featuring 19 invited artists from California and beyond. Each artist created two paintings inspired by the Ojai Valley—a large masterwork and a smaller companion piece—resulting in 38 works that explore the region's landscape, atmosphere, and light. The exhibition runs through August 9 and includes a series of Sunday Town Talks with artists and a master framer.

Dallas' African American Museum reopens with iconic Sepia photo exhibit

The African American Museum in Dallas reopens on May 1 after temporary renovations, featuring the exhibition "People Who Make the World Go ‘Round: The Legacy of Sepia Magazine." The show highlights influential Black icons such as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Maya Angelou, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Thurgood Marshall through photographs from the museum's archive of over 40,000 images. Sepia magazine, founded in Fort Worth in 1946, chronicled Black life and culture for nearly four decades, offering a Southern perspective that rivaled national publications like Ebony and Jet.

Sound Minds: The Artists Decoding the Noise That Dominates Our Contemporary World

The exhibition "état bruit" at Konschthal Esch explores the concept of noise as a form of interference, cultural signal, and political tool. Featuring works by seven contemporary artists, including Nik Nowak’s Indonesian-inspired sound truck and Open Group’s haunting video installation of refugees mimicking artillery, the show investigates how sound reflects both community identity and the trauma of conflict.

Michaelina Wautier: a ‘compelling’ and revealing exhibition

The exhibition of Michaelina Wautier’s work introduces audiences to a long-overlooked master of the 17th-century Baroque period. Born in Mons around 1614, Wautier operated within the elite circles of the Spanish Netherlands, sharing a studio with her brother Charles and securing patronage from the court of the Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. Despite her technical brilliance and ability to navigate complex historical and religious subjects, her name remained largely absent from the art historical canon until this recent reappraisal.

30th annual Prison Creative Arts Project exhibition showcases work by incarcerated artists

The Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) at the University of Michigan has launched its 30th annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons at the Duderstadt Center Gallery. The landmark show features 872 artworks created by 613 incarcerated individuals across 26 Michigan correctional facilities, making it the largest and longest-running program of its kind in the United States. The opening event included a celebration program with performances and testimonials from artists who credit the program with providing vital creative direction and personal transformation.

All Florida Exhibition selections explore identity, history and place

The Alliance for the Arts has launched its 40th Annual All Florida Exhibition, featuring 43 artworks selected from over 450 submissions across the state. Juried by Tim Jaeger, the director and chief curator of galleries at Ringling College, the exhibition showcases a diverse range of media including hyper-realist paintings, abstract works, and free-standing sculptures. The selected pieces by 39 different artists explore cohesive themes of identity, history, and place.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Bellarmine Hall Galleries at Fairfield University Art Museum will host an exhibition from September 18 to December 12, 2026, exploring 'Egyptomania'—the 19th-century European fascination with ancient Egyptian art and culture. The show features paintings, prints, photographs, and decorative art from the early 19th century to the present, including works like Charles-Théodore Frère's *Along the Nile* (ca. 1870). Curated by Megan Paqua, the exhibition examines how Egyptian symbols and motifs were adopted, exoticized, and commercialized, often erasing the ancient Egyptian people themselves. It aims to contrast simplified or stereotypical narratives with current archaeological understanding.

Perkins Center in Collingswood Opens Winter Gallery Season With Dual E...

Perkins Center for the Arts in Collingswood, New Jersey, opens its winter gallery season with a joint artists' reception on January 10, 2026, featuring two exhibitions. In the Main Gallery, 'Room For My Lens' surveys the first 20 years of photographer Liz Wuillermin's career, pairing images with personal stories. Upstairs in the Loft Gallery, 'The Untitled Art Exhibition' presents oil, acrylic, and mixed-media works by Anthony Charles Christopher Johnson and special guest artist Jamil Ameer Cobb, exploring freedom of expression, transformation, and truth through layered surfaces and reimagined found objects. Both shows run from January 5 through February 27, 2026.

New Ferndale Gallery Opens Its Doors as a Hub for LGBTQ+ Creativity

The Tacon-Heaslip Gallery, a new 4,100-square-foot space at 22100 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Michigan, opened its doors on November 15 with a crowded grand opening. Founded by queer artist Jarrad Tacon-Heaslip, the gallery previously operated from a small studio on Hilton. Tacon-Heaslip intends the larger venue to serve as a visible, supportive hub for the LGBTQ+ community, with plans for Pride Month programming, artist collaborations, and community-centered initiatives. The gallery currently features Tacon-Heaslip's bold abstract expressionist works, which involve meticulous taping and layering processes, and aims to uplift a broader roster of artists.

Heffel’s autumn sales, including auction of art from collection of Canada’s oldest company, tally $22.1m

Heffel Fine Art Auction House held its marquee autumn sales in Toronto on November 19, featuring four auctions that included works from the collection of the Hudson's Bay Company, North America's oldest company, which declared bankruptcy earlier this year. The marathon series of sales also included a single-owner auction of the late collector Lillian Mayland McKimm's holdings and two multi-owner sales of Canadian, Impressionist, modern, post-war, and contemporary art. Over 16 artists' secondary market records were broken, with total sales reaching C$31 million ($22.1 million). Notable highlights included E.J. Hughes' 'Entrance to Howe Sound' selling for C$4.8 million, more than doubling his previous record, and Winston Churchill's painting 'Marrakech' fetching C$1.5 million.