Spotlight: Local mentorship program launches careers of emerging artists

WKP Kennedy Gallery in North Bay, Ontario, has launched an open call for its 2026 Curatorial Mentorship Program, which provides emerging artists with a solo exhibition, mentorship, and professional development support. The program previously supported interdisciplinary artist Gabriel George, who went on to win 'First in Show' at Toronto's Artist Project art fair after his first solo show at the gallery. Applications are open until June 29, with the recipient notified on July 7.

Umbrella Gallery presents "Afrocentric" artist reception

The Umbrella Gallery is hosting an exhibition titled "Afrocentric," which showcases visual and mixed media art celebrating the African diaspora. The show focuses on African and Afro-descendant perspectives, exploring themes of heritage, cultural memory, identity, self-definition, migration, resistance, joy, and futurism. It aims to present history as a living presence through echoes of ancestral storytelling.

Local Artists Showcase at Jones Coffee Roasters | South Pasadena Arts & Music Crawl 2026

The South Pasadena Spring Arts and Music Crawl is set to return on April 25, 2026, featuring a significant group art exhibition at Jones Coffee Roasters. Curated by Sector Seven Contemporary Art Gallery (S7CAG), the showcase includes a mix of medium-to-large format paintings, ceramics, and woodworking from local artists such as Stephen Dudro and Elisa Quiñonez. The event transforms the city's historic downtown into a walkable festival with live music, artisan vendors, and interactive pop-up galleries.

McLean Project for the Arts to Open Spring Solo Exhibitions April 30

McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) has announced the opening of its 2026 Spring Solo Exhibitions, featuring three distinct solo presentations by Sabine Carlson, Zsudayka Nzinga, and Darlene R. Taylor. The exhibitions include Nzinga’s exploration of American labor and diaspora through mixed media, Taylor’s textile-based portraits honoring Black motherhood, and Carlson’s paintings depicting environmental rescue efforts between humans and water birds. The shows will run from April 30 through June 13, 2026, at the McLean Community Center.

Calling all creatives: Evolved Gallery opens submissions for seven deadly sins exhibit

Evolved Gallery in Ventura, California, has announced an open call for its upcoming exhibition titled "SE7EN," themed around the seven deadly sins. Founded by Christina Van Ryzin in late 2025, the gallery is seeking traditional and digital paintings or illustrations that explore these vices through modern social or political lenses. The submission deadline is April 15, with the exhibition scheduled to run from April 25 through June 28, 2024.

MedStar Health And St. Mary’s Arts Council Showcase Art Exhibition By Local Artists

MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and the St. Mary’s County Arts Council have unveiled the third installment of their rotating art exhibition in the hospital’s emergency department in Leonardtown, Maryland. The latest exhibit features handsewn art quilts by Washington, D.C. artist Andrea “Andi” Cullins, whose collection “Second Life Quilter” includes intricate fabric mosaics. The quilts will be on display through January 2026, following earlier exhibits of traditional paintings as part of a philanthropy-led initiative to create a more welcoming environment.

Group of painters to hold new exhibition at Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey

A group of amateur painters called the 'Thursday Painters' will hold an exhibition titled 'Soul Expressions' at the Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey, Isle of Man, starting June 24 through August 9, 2025. The group, led by Laura Espinosa Moon, meets weekly at Momma Moon's Art Studio in Peel and includes artists such as Kathy Craig, Cheryl Shimmin, Emma Healy, Lynn Haywood, Ali Marie Duff, Jo Lewy, Judith Booth, Ali Foster, Syl Richard, and Delia Chamberlain. A preview event will take place on June 22.

Exhibition and meet-the-artist session: Nuit Blanche 2026 at the Polish Institute in Paris

The Polish Institute in Paris is participating in the 25th edition of Nuit Blanche on June 6-7, 2026, with a program featuring photographer and war correspondent Agata Grzybowska, who will give an artist talk titled "Everyone deserves their own story," followed by a guided tour of an exhibition by Anglo-Polish photojournalist Chris Niedenthal. The event runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., offering free access to the public as part of the citywide contemporary art festival.

Southern Utah Art Guild Showcases Spring Lineup with Gallery Openings and Community Events

The Southern Utah Art Guild is hosting a series of free public events in St. George this May, including gallery openings at Arrowhead Gallery and Red Cliff Gallery. Arrowhead Gallery will hold an open house on May 6 featuring a live demonstration by landscape painter Marilyn Rose, a 10% discount on artwork, and opportunity drawings. Red Cliff Gallery launches its “Explosion of Color” exhibit on May 8, showcasing vibrant works from contemporary Guild artists through June 18. Additional community events include CONNECT, a critique session sponsored by the Utah Arts Alliance on May 28, and MEET + MINGLE, a networking gathering on May 12.

Kyoto Art Center Exhibition Series 'FOCUS' Vol. 6: Hana Sawada Solo Exhibition 'Attentive Sideways Glances' @ Kyoto Art Center

京都芸術センター展覧会シリーズ「FOCUS」第6回 澤田華個展「まめによそ見する足」@ 京都芸術センター

The Kyoto Art Center has announced the sixth installment of its "FOCUS" exhibition series, featuring a solo exhibition by Kyoto-based artist Hana Sawada titled "Attentive Sideways Glances." Running from April to May 2026, the show highlights Sawada’s practice of deconstructing everyday actions through photography, video, and installation. Key works include a new entry in her "Floating Video" series, where she filmed the center’s grounds using only the light of a projector playing a zombie movie, and a new installation that translates visual observations into linguistic records.

New art exhibition to showcase work by 15 Forth Valley artists

An exhibition featuring around 15 local artists from the Forth Valley will take place at Elmbank Mill in Menstrie, Scotland, from June 14 to 24. Originally planned as part of the ALLT Festival, which was postponed indefinitely, the artists decided to proceed independently. The show includes paintings, printmaking, photography, mixed media, and contemporary visual art from both emerging and established artists, with free entry, an opening night celebration on June 13, and additional pop-up stalls, workshops, and artist talks.

Local artist Tom Ott featured at Lewisburg art walk

Local artist Tom Ott of Follansbee, West Virginia, was featured as a highlighted artist during the May 8 art walk at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. The event drew a strong community turnout, showcasing Ott's high-poly style that blends geometric structure, layered color, and emotional storytelling inspired by Appalachian heritage, industrial landscapes, and contemporary American culture. His exhibition remains open to the public through the end of June.

Whittemore Library to Feature 'Mandalas and More' Student Art Exhibit

The Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck, Connecticut, will host a new exhibition titled 'Mandalas and More' throughout May 2026, featuring artwork created by students of local artist and retired public school art teacher Rose-Ann Chrzanowski. The pieces were produced in Chrzanowski's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) course, which uses mandala-making and mixed-media techniques to encourage personal reflection and relaxation. The exhibit includes works using jewelry, torn handmade paper, feathers, paint, and sand, and will be displayed on the Whittemore Gallery Wall and in the library display case through June 1.

Iron Horse Arts District announces new gallery, summer events, and Executive Director search

The Iron Horse Arts District in Holdrege, Nebraska, is launching a new gallery space called the Iron Horse Art Gallery inside the First State Bank of Holdrege, with a ribbon cutting and reception on June 11 featuring artist Christy Kosmicki. The district is also hosting the 2026 Artisan Expo on May 30, installing community-painted crosswalk murals in June, launching a new Iron Horse Pop-Up Concert Series on August 29, and conducting a search for its next Executive Director.

Carmichael Artist to Exhibit Paintings in Davis Art Studio Tour

Carmichael artist Amanda Cadelago will exhibit her paintings in the Davis Art Studio Tour on May 16-17, 2026. The free, self-guided tour features 48 artists from the region opening their studios to the public, offering opportunities to view and purchase a range of artwork including sculpture, painting, printmaking, and photography. Cadelago, who rediscovered painting during the pandemic after a career in marketing and graphic design, will show her work alongside her mother, Cathie James-Robinson of Davis.

Leslie Powell Gallery to open multiple art exhibitions in May

The Leslie Powell Gallery in Lawton, Oklahoma, will open two art exhibitions in May 2026. "Beauteous Maximus" features paintings by New Zealand-born Polynesian artist Tania Landers, whose work explores memory, identity, and generational storytelling through vibrant colors and collage. "Between the Front Door and the Kitchen Sink" showcases artwork by Texas artist Abigail Rainey, focusing on themes of home, inheritance, and the sacred within the mundane. Both exhibitions open with a reception on May 16 and run through June 26.

Emerging and Mid-Career Craft and Design Artists Gather at KCDF Open Call Exhibition

The Korea Craft and Design Foundation (KCDF) announced the launch of its "2026 KCDF Craft and Design Open Call Exhibition" on April 27, selecting 10 emerging artists, 6 mid-career artists, and 3 groups through a professional review. The program opens with a solo exhibition by mid-career artist Seo Junghwa, titled "Ambiguity," featuring metal furniture that blurs boundaries between natural and artificial objects, running from April 29 to May 10 at KCDF Gallery. Additional window gallery shows include Jeon Young Eun's "Showcase of Extinction" (April 15–May 10) and Lee Hyungchan's "Supporting [ ]s" (May 13–June 7). Since 2018, the Foundation has supported 154 exhibitions through this initiative.

Explore a Growing City of Meticulously Crafted Miniature Paper Buildings by Charles Young

Artist Charles Young is expanding his intricate city of miniature paper buildings, with 258 structures already completed from a series inspired by Sanzo Wada's color theory book. He is currently working on the final 90 models from the first volume, which explores two-color combinations, and has also created works featuring multiple colors.

'Parallel Route 01' at Alzueta Gallery, Séneca, Barcelona, Spain on 2–30 Jun 2026

Alzueta Gallery in Barcelona is presenting the exhibition 'Parallel Route 01' from June 2 to 30, 2026. The gallery, founded by Miquel Alzueta, operates from five locations and runs a program of exhibitions, art fairs, and artist residencies.

River Arts Presents Colors of Nature by Artist Mark Christopher

River Arts in Damariscotta, Maine, presents "Colors of Nature," a solo exhibition by artist Mark Christopher. The show features his luminous oil paintings of Maine landscapes and detailed wood and stone bird carvings, running from May 14 to June 2. Christopher, a wildlife biologist and award-winning wildfowl carver, brings a scientific precision to his artistic depictions of nature.

Pocket Art exhibition at PMQ | PMQ | Art in Hong Kong

Pocket Art, Hong Kong's first art collection card exhibition, curated by local artist armechan, will run at PMQ from May 29 to June 21, 2026. The show features 10 local and overseas artists, including Li Chi Tak, Rex Koo, Lio Yeung, Erika Shiba, and Abby Lee Yan Yee, who have created nearly 200 collectable palm-sized art cards. Visitors can buy packs, swap cards, and build their own mini collections, with grading and authentication services provided by Grading Eleven Authentication. A collaboration with local fashion brand Grocery also translates the card motifs into wearable items.

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.

Rockport Center for the Arts announces summer exhibitions

The Rockport Center for the Arts has announced two summer exhibitions: "Byways," a solo show featuring Elena Rodz's work from June 13 to August 2 in the H-E-B Gallery, and "Rockport Legends," a group exhibition honoring past Master Artists of the Rockport Art Festival, running from June 12 to August 30. Elena Rodz has also been named the 2026 Rockport Art Festival Master Artist. A joint reception will be held on June 13, and both exhibitions lead into the 58th Annual Rockport Art Festival scheduled for July 4-5 at the Rockport Festival Grounds.

Thomasville Center for the Arts announces signature early summer events

Thomasville Center for the Arts has announced two signature early summer events. On June 1, the Center will host "A Seat at the Table," a quarterly community dinner featuring welcome drinks, a shared meal in the Main Gallery, and dessert in the Founder's Gallery, with catering by local favorite Woodstack BBQ. On June 4, the opening reception of "200 for 200: The Collective Exhibition" will take place, a juried show featuring 200 works by members of The Collective, honoring Thomas County's bicentennial and the Center's 40th anniversary. The exhibition runs through August 8, 2026, and is guest juried by Amber Moore, Curator at The Arts Center of Moultrie.

Local Artists Bring Interactive Art And Creativity To Southern Maryland

The Color & Light Society of Southern Maryland, a nonprofit organization of over 30 professional visual artists, is bringing interactive art and creative programming to communities across Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties. Operating as a "Gallery Without Walls," the society participates in exhibitions, public events, and workshops rather than a traditional gallery space. Upcoming events include Uncorked & Unveiled: Island Edition on May 21, 2026, hosted by the St. Mary's County Arts Council at Port of Leonardtown Winery, where member Cindy Martin-Brennan's artwork will be featured on a wine label, and Raining Cats & Dogs — A Community Art Show on June 5, 2026, where pottery artist Barbara Hak and others created animal figures for attendees to paint.

The Returning Artists Guild

The Blue House Gallery in Dayton, Ohio, will host "Imagining Abolition: State Blues," a group exhibition presented by The Returning Artists Guild (RAG), an abolitionist collective of directly-impacted practicing artists from Ohio and beyond. The exhibition opens on June 13, 2026, with a reception from 6-9pm, and runs through July 13, 2026, with open hours on Fridays from 4-6pm or by appointment.

Oshawa seeking artists for temporary exhibition at Convergence Music and Art Festival

The city of Oshawa has opened a call for artists to submit artworks for a temporary exhibition at the Convergence Music and Art Festival, taking place September 19–20 at Veterans Square. Up to five artists will be selected to have a reproduction of their work displayed, with submissions due by June 12. The exhibition celebrates the installation of Oshawa’s first independent sculpture commission, Kaleidoscope by Nicholas Crombach, under the theme “We Gather, We Remember, We Belong.”

Old Forge Library calls for artists for “Local ART” exhibit

The Old Forge Library in Old Forge, New York, is calling for artists to participate in "Local ART," a community-wide open exhibition celebrating two-dimensional artwork. The exhibit runs from July 2 through August 1, with an opening reception on July 2. Open to all ages and skill levels, submissions in media such as photography, painting, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, collage, printmaking, quilting, and drawing are welcome with no entry fee. The submission deadline is June 23, and artists may donate a portion of sales to support library programming.

Midcoast Health Collective open house, art show during Rockland First Friday Art Walk

Midcoast Health Collective in Rockland, Maine, is hosting a free open house and art show on Friday, June 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., coinciding with the city's First Friday Art Walk. The event at 558 Main Street will feature a tour of the wellness space, light refreshments, and an exhibition of abstract mixed-media and oil paintings by practitioner and artist Erika Manning, whose work explores the spaces between landscape and consciousness. Manning's artwork will be available for viewing and purchase, and visitors can meet the collective's practitioners, including a naturopathic doctor, a holistic dentist, and massage therapists.

Cannabis Art Exhibition Comes to Fort Collins

A traveling art exhibition called Hear/Say, part of the Tea on THC campaign, will open May 27 at the Center for Creativity in Fort Collins, Colorado, and run through May 31. The exhibition combines scientific research with visual art—including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and installation—to spark public conversations about the health impacts of high-potency cannabis. It is organized by the Colorado School of Public Health and Initium Health following Colorado House Bill 1317, which mandated research and public outreach on high-potency THC products. A free opening reception is scheduled for May 29, with additional events planned in Colorado Springs in June.