Philadelphia museum sues Trump administration over lost federal funding

The Woodmere, a museum in Philadelphia, sued the Trump administration after an executive order revoked a $750,000 federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The museum had already received roughly $195,000 of the funds, but the order targeting "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy cut the remainder. On September 4, the IMLS reinstated the full grant, leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit, which had been scheduled for a first hearing on September 12. The grant, part of the Save America's Treasures program, was intended for conservation, catalog updates, and digitization projects.

Jazz in the Park, exhibits, events and more: THE DIGEST

A series of local cultural events in Staunton, Virginia, are announced for July and August 2025. Highlights include the unveiling of ten Black Historical Markers at Montgomery Hall Park on July 11, a solo exhibition of mosaic collages by artist Deborah O’Keeffe at the Staunton Augusta Art Center from July 11 through August 10, and the 37th annual Jazz in the Park summer concert series starting July 10 at Gypsy Hill Park. Additional events include the National Trappers Association Convention and a free healthcare clinic by Remote Area Medical.

Art in the Atrium Opens 33rd Annual Exhibit in Morris County

The 33rd annual Art in the Atrium (ATA) exhibit, titled “Another Slice of Sweet Potato Pie,” opened on June 19, 2025, at the Morris County Administration and Records Building in Morristown, New Jersey. The show features over 75 Black and Afro-Latino artists and serves as the signature event of the Juneteenth Arts Celebration, a three-day series co-organized with the Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morris Arts, and Morris Museum. Curated by Onnie Strother, the exhibit pays homage to the late Russell Murray, an original ATA curator and founding member of the Newark Art Colony, whose namesake painting greets visitors. The public reception included remarks from Morris County Commissioner John Krickus, who highlighted county support for Juneteenth as a holiday and for educational initiatives like the College Promise programs.

Mystic Seaport Museum exhibition chronicles whale oil industry's far-reaching impact

The Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut has opened a new exhibition titled "Monstrous: Whaling and Its Colossal Impact," which explores the deep connection between the US whaling industry and capitalism. Featuring objects from the museum's permanent collection—including 19th-century photographs, blubber hooks, ship models, captain's logbooks, a sperm whale jawbone, a jar of blue whale fetuses, and whale oil products—the show illustrates how whale oil lit lamps and greased machines for over a century. A giant scratchboard mural by contemporary artist Jos Sances, titled "Or, The Whale" (2019-20), dominates the space, while references to Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" permeate the exhibition, which also includes a copy of a 1930 illustrated three-volume edition.

Très Riches Heures: Chantilly exhibition offers ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to see famed medieval manuscript

The Condé Museum at the Château de Chantilly, north of Paris, has opened a special exhibition of the Très Riches Heures, the celebrated 15th-century illuminated manuscript. For the first time in decades, the public can view the 12 monthly calendar pages as independent works, detached from the manuscript after a painstaking conservation project. The exhibition, running until October, also features around 100 loaned medieval manuscripts, sculptures, and paintings to contextualize the manuscript's importance. The Très Riches Heures, commissioned by the Duc de Berry and begun by the Limbourg brothers around 1411, has been held at Chantilly since 1856 and is normally never lent out due to the conditions of the Duke d'Aumale's bequest.

BU Art Galleries Announces Summer 2025 Exhibitions

Boston University Art Galleries has announced its summer 2025 exhibitions, featuring two shows opening June 5 on BU's Charles River Campus. 'Boston Young Contemporaries 2025' is a cross-institutional exhibition showcasing work from current and recent MFA graduates of BU, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, juried by curator Selby Nimrod. The second exhibition, 'Nothing Matches Everything Shines,' presents multimedia installations by artist Loretta Park in the 808 Gallery windows, curated by Madeleine Delpha, using found objects and traditional handcraft to challenge conventional notions of beauty and value.

A Non-Speaking Autistic Artist’s Paintings Are Getting a DC Gallery Show

A non-speaking autistic artist's paintings are being featured in a gallery show in Washington, D.C. The article, published by Washingtonian, highlights the artist's unique creative expression and the upcoming exhibition that brings their work to a broader audience.

Spain: Oriol Vilanova and the Abolition of the Museum and the Archive

ESPANA ORIOL VILANOVA Y LA ABOLICION DEL MUSEO Y EL ARCHIVO

The Spanish Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale presents "Los restos," a project by Catalan artist Oriol Vilanova, curated by Carles Guerra. The installation transforms the pavilion into an anti-museum or pseudo-museum, featuring over twenty years of postcards collected from flea markets, arranged in a wall-based accumulation that challenges linear narrative and archival hierarchy. The project also includes a publication and a performative action titled "El fantasma de la libertad" (2026), inspired by Luis Buñuel, which will take place across the Giardini and Arsenale through unannounced encounters.

SPAIN ORIOL VILANOVA AND THE ABOLITION OF THE MUSEUM AND THE ARCHIVE

The Spanish Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale presents "Los restos," a project by Catalan artist Oriol Vilanova, curated by Carles Guerra. The installation transforms the pavilion into an anti-museum or pseudo-museum, featuring Vilanova's collection of postcards sourced from flea markets over more than twenty years. The work critiques traditional archival systems through accumulation, repetition, and fragmentation, and includes a publication and a performative action titled "El fantasma de la libertad" (2026), inspired by Luis Buñuel, which will take place across the Giardini and Arsenale.

In Turin, a Confrontation Between Masters: The Exhibition of Beato Angelico and Bartholomeus Spranger

A Torino c’è un confronto tra maestri: la mostra di Beato Angelico e Bartholomeus Spranger

The Musei Reali in Turin has unveiled a specialized study exhibition titled "Beato Angelico negli occhi di Bartholomeus Spranger," which brings together two versions of the Last Judgment. The show features the return of Beato Angelico’s "Madonna of Humility" to Turin, accompanied by his "Last Judgment" on loan from the Museo di San Marco in Florence. This masterpiece is displayed alongside a later interpretation of the same subject by the Flemish Mannerist Bartholomeus Spranger, painted over a century later.

Winemakers Pasqua Vini Bet on Art: Artist Sara Ricciardi Discusses Her Project for Verona

I produttori di vino Pasqua puntano sull’arte. L’artista Sara Ricciardi racconta il progetto per Verona

Artist Sara Ricciardi has unveiled 'Resonance,' a site-specific immersive installation at the newly restored Monastero space within Palazzo Maffei, Verona. Commissioned by Pasqua Vini, the work celebrates the creative partnership between winery CEO Riccardo Pasqua and American winemaker Charles Smith. The installation utilizes light, sound, and large-scale geode-inspired structures to translate the 'alchemy' of winemaking and the meeting of two distinct identities into a sensory ritual for visitors.

The concept of 'Italian Capital of Culture' needs a rethink

Il concetto di “Capitale Italiana della cultura” avrebbe bisogno di un ripensamento

Ancona has been named the Italian Capital of Culture for 2028, a decision that was widely anticipated but has sparked debate regarding the selection process. While Ancona’s proposal was praised for its depth and quality, critics point out that nine out of the ten shortlisted cities are led by center-right mayors, raising concerns about political influence and the independence of the evaluation commission.

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.

Cocoa’s picks: Gallery openings, mural celebrations and music competitions

The article highlights several arts events in Bellingham, Washington, including a community mural celebration led by Coast Salish artist Jason LaClair, an opening reception for Charles Villiers' solo exhibition "Untethered" at Cordata Gallery, an improvised musical called "You: The Musical" at The Upfront Theatre, and a Youth Chamber Music Competition hosted by the Harmony Chamber Music Festival. These events span visual art, theater, and classical music, with the mural project involving over 500 children and families in selecting the design.

New rules on importing cultural artefacts create headaches at Tefaf Maastricht

The implementation of new EU regulations on the import of cultural goods over 250 years old is causing significant disruption at TEFAF Maastricht. Dealers and collectors are facing administrative hurdles, including difficulties obtaining mandatory EORI numbers and inconsistent enforcement by customs officials. These rules, which require extensive documentation for items originating outside the EU, have led to seized shipments and a general crisis of confidence among international exhibitors.

Bark Art Stuns Opening Night Crowd

The Wondai Regional Art Gallery in Queensland, Australia, opened its May 2025 exhibitions with a standout piece: a 3D bark portrait of the late actor Uncle Jack Charles by art student Charlotte Simpson, which won the People's Choice award. The show also features a rare photograph of a bee urinating, captured by Moffatdale photographer Liz Barratt, alongside works by the Tomlinson Family Collective and other local artists. The exhibitions were officially opened by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and will run through May 31.

Researcher Announcement: 'Genre Palissy' Pottery in 19th-Century France

Annonce de chercheur : Les poteries « genre Palissy » au XIXe siècle en France

A doctoral candidate in art history, Mariette Boudgourd, has announced a public call for information to aid her research on 19th-century French ceramics in the 'genre Palissy' style. Her thesis aims to define the corpus of these works, analyzing their production techniques, market diffusion, and the construction of the myth surrounding the Renaissance potter Bernard Palissy.

music coachella outstanding in the field dinner series

Land artist Jim Denevan's Outstanding in the Field dinner series returns to the Coachella Valley during both weekends of the annual music festival, starting April 10, 2025. Held in the VIP Rose Garden overlooking the festival grounds, the family-style culinary event features a winding table and a rotating lineup of award-winning chefs, including Michael Beckman, Alan Sanz, Jonathan Harris, Charles Namba, Donnie Masterton, Christian Herrera, and Nico de Leon, who prepare dishes inspired by local produce and global cuisines.

art young photographer dali schell

Adali Schell, a photographer from Southern California with family ties to rural Ohio, is featured as a young artist nominated by Paris Chong, director of Leica Gallery LA. Schell is known for a series capturing friends with their first cars, and his work has appeared at Les Rencontres d'Arles and in publications such as The Guardian, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. The article includes Schell's personal reflection on his artistic journey, from starting with an iPod Touch camera in fifth grade to focusing on intimate portraits of family and friends.

Celebrate Discovery at FAU’s Annual Art of Science Gallery Opening

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is hosting the opening of its annual Art of Science Gallery exhibition. The event celebrates the intersection of artistic and scientific inquiry, showcasing works that emerge from research and discovery.

Columbia High School Artists on Display in Annual Art Show at the Pierro Art Gallery Through June 11

Columbia High School held the opening of its annual art show on May 19 at the Pierro Art Gallery, featuring student work in painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, and mixed media from grades nine through 12. The exhibition, titled “A Visual Feast,” runs through June 11 and highlights the contributions of art teachers including Richard Cutrona, Curtis Grayson III, Cindy Malhotra, Karen Murphy, Alexandra Paholke, and Nicole Thomas. Several teachers and student artists attended the opening with family and friends.

Three new exhibitions open at BRAF

The Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF) has opened three new exhibitions for summer, running through June 21. The shows include the Spring Members' Show featuring a wide range of media from regional artists, a solo exhibition of Maine landscape oil paintings by local artist Charles Nowell, and an Eco-Art exhibition curated by the Boothbay Region Climate Action Team that addresses environmental stewardship and climate resilience. An opening reception is scheduled for June 5.

4th Friday Art Walk

The 4th Friday Art Walk has returned to downtown Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, with participating businesses on Market, Merchant, and Main Streets open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nine art venues took part last Friday, including Music Art Love, E.KleK.Tix Studio and Gallery, Only Child Originals and Rust Artisan Shop, CJoy Art Works, Two Rivers Gallery, The Art Guild, Silver Sycamore Gallery of Fine Art, and ASL Pewter. Artists such as Christine Alexander, Jean Rissover, Sam Conlon, Christina Joy Elsen, Bryan Haynes, Charles Rhinehart, Andrew Naeger, and Tom and Pat Hooper showcased and sold their work, with live music and special exhibits featured.

How an unsuspecting couple found £11,000 worth of cat paintings in a skip

An unsuspecting couple in their sixties from Pembrokeshire, South Wales, discovered two paintings by 19th-century cat artist Louis Wain in a skip while walking their dog. The works—'Blue Cat Among the Flowers' (estimated at £5,000) and 'Psychedelic Cats' (a double-sided piece valued at £6,000)—were initially considered as a gift for their cat-loving daughter-in-law. The paintings are now being auctioned by Rogers Jones Auctioneers & Co as part of the British and European Fine Art Sale in Cardiff on May 21.

Celebrate Discovery at FAU’s Annual Art of Science Gallery Opening

Florida Atlantic University's Division of Research is opening its seventh annual Art of Science gallery with a reception and awards presentation on March 31 at the Ritter Art Gallery on the Boca Raton campus. The event celebrates the winning entries from a photography and video competition that highlights the intersection of scientific research and artistic expression, featuring over 200 submissions from faculty, students, staff, and postdoctoral fellows.

Celebrate Discovery at FAU’s Annual Art of Science Gallery Opening

Florida Atlantic University’s Division of Research is launching its seventh annual Art of Science exhibition at the Ritter Art Gallery in Boca Raton. The competition features photography and video submitted by FAU faculty, students, and staff that capture aesthetic moments encountered during scientific research. This year’s top honors go to Chelsea Bennice for her photograph of an octopus and Aleksandra Nedovic for her abstract visualization of drug development research.

Native-owned gallery and retail store to open in Downtown Las Vegas Arts District

The nonprofit IndigenousAF, founded by artist Fawn Douglas and UNLV professor A.B. Wilkinson, announced plans to open a Native-owned retail store and gallery in Downtown Las Vegas Arts District. The venue will feature 700 square feet of retail space, 1,600 square feet of gallery space, and 1,500 square feet of mixed-use space, located near Charleston Boulevard and 3rd Street. The organization has already met one-third of its three-year fundraising goal, and the store, also named IndigenousAF, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. A pop-up sale previewing items will take place on Black Friday, November 28, at Nuwu Art Gallery.

CHS art show May 22-29

Artist and curator Mary Walker presents "10 + 4 + 1: A Collaborative Art Project" at the Cannon Street Arts Center during Piccolo Spoleto from May 22 to May 29. The exhibition pairs ten visual artists—including Linda Fantuzzo, Joe Walters, Lese Corrigan, Hirona Matsuda, Kristi Ryba, Jeff Kopish, Herb Parker, Yvette Dede, and David Higginbotham—into five duos, each combining a 2D and a 3D artist to work outside their usual practice. The project also features four dance companies (Annex Dance Company, Unbound Ballet Project, Collective SC, and Georgia Schrubbe) performing over the weekend, with a family-friendly kickoff and artist reception on May 22.

'Mayday' call from gallery looking for new home

Trapezium Arts, a community arts group in Bradford, UK, has issued a 'mayday' call for help to find a new home after being told it must vacate its current space in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre by June 18. The centre is slated for demolition to make way for a 1,000-home City Village development. The group, founded eight years ago by a collective of local artists, has been operating out of empty retail units and will open its final exhibition at 54 Kirkgate on Saturday, titled 'May Day!', running from May 2 to 30.

New 808 Gallery Exhibition Showcases Faculty, Alumni Artwork

Boston University Art Galleries' 808 Gallery is presenting "Hidden in the Layers," a monthlong exhibition featuring printmaking and photography works by BU faculty and alumni. Originally shown at the 2024 Venice Biennale, the show includes pieces from artists Lynne Allen, Deborah Cornell, Toni Pepe, Joshua Brennan, and Charles Suggs, curated by Lissa Cramer, director of BU Art Galleries. The exhibition explores physical and conceptual layering across varied printmaking techniques.