Tony Fitzpatrick, indefatigable artistic polymath from Chicago, has died, aged 66

Tony Fitzpatrick, a prolific Chicago artist known for his collages, etchings, and works on paper, died of a heart attack on 11 October at age 66. He was also a poet, author, actor, and raconteur, with his work held in major museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Fitzpatrick ran the influential gallery World Tattoo and was a vocal defender of labor unions and underdogs. He had been awaiting a double lung transplant after being diagnosed with interstitial lung disease, but continued creating until his death, including a new book and a live show at Steppenwolf Theater.

Superchief, Beloved LA Arts Hub, Fights to Stay Open

Superchief Gallery, a longtime hub for LA’s underground art and photography scene, is fighting to stay open amid mounting financial challenges. Founder Bill Dunleavy is exploring alternative revenue models like crowdfunding to save the space, which has operated since 2014 in downtown LA and later moved to a 10,000-square-foot warehouse in South LA. The gallery has faced setbacks including a fire in 2020 and declining art sales and corporate sponsorships, despite its popularity for anti-elitist, community-focused programming.

Review: “Mark Me, Too: Five Artists” at Hyde Park Art Center

The Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago presents “Mark Me, Too: Five Artists,” a group exhibition curated by Dr. Rikki Byrd, the center’s inaugural Radicle Curatorial Resident. The show features works by Lisa DeAbreu, Lex Marie, Natasha Moustache, Lola Ayisha Ogbara, and Ciarra K. Walters, each exploring mark-making as a conceptual and material practice. Highlights include Walters’ video “Eileen’s Daughters,” which uses fragile eggshell-covered suits to evoke familial intimacy and vulnerability; DeAbreu’s textile works that transform household items into visual heirlooms; Ogbara’s sculptural piece “Hopscotch (A Safe Space to Land),” combining bronze and soil to address Black beauty and West African heritage; and Marie’s reimagined American flags made from hospital blankets and beads, critiquing the nation’s relationship with Black maternity and childhood.

New Canadian art museum seeks to connect disparate disciplines and a university campus

Simon Fraser University (SFU) near Vancouver will open the Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum on September 20, its first purpose-built art museum. The inaugural exhibition, "Edge Effects," features 15 artists including Sameer Farooq, Liz Magor, Cindy Mochizuki, and Debra Sparrow, and reflects the interdisciplinary ethos of the original SFU campus designed by Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey. The 12,000-square-foot building by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Iredale Architecture includes a research laboratory, art studio, courtyard, and salon, and will be admission-free.

Peter Doig is bringing a cult classic London pub back to life—here's why it matters

Artist Peter Doig and his partner, gallerist Parinaz Mogadassi, have purchased McGlynn's, a beloved London pub in King's Cross that closed after its landlord Gerry died in 2023. They submitted a planning application to restore the Grade II listed building, preserving its original character while ensuring it remains a functioning pub. Doig, who lived near the pub in the 1980s, bought the building opposite to open a gallery, with a Merry Alpern show opening October 13 organized by Tramps.

This beloved pop culture art gallery in L.A. is closing after 20 years — is AI to blame?

Gallery 1988, a pioneering Los Angeles institution that branded itself as the world's first pop culture-focused art gallery, will cease operations at the end of April after 20 years. Founded in 2004, the gallery became a cult favorite for its tribute exhibitions dedicated to films, video games, and television, often drawing massive crowds for shows like "Crazy 4 Cult." Owner Katie Sutton cited a historically weak art market and the loss of a physical storefront as primary factors in the decision to close.

Beloved CUNY Social Practice Art Program to Shut Down

Social Practice City University of New York (SPCUNY), an artist-led initiative supporting social justice-minded art across the CUNY system, will cease operations in February 2027. Founded in 2021 by artists Chloë Bass and Gregory Sholette with support from the Mellon Foundation, the program distributed over $535,000 in fellowships to 129 faculty and student fellows. The closure is prompted by the departure of both co-directors from their academic positions at Queens College, leaving the independent project without a clear institutional pathway for leadership transition.

Glimpse the Fantastical Animated World of ‘Wildwood’

A feature-length animated film adaptation of the young adult novel *Wildwood* is in production at LAIKA Studios, directed by Travis Knight. The story follows a girl named Prue who ventures into a magical forest called the Impassable Wilderness after her baby brother is carried off by crows, accompanied by her classmate Curtis. The film is based on an original story by Colin Meloy, illustrated by Carson Ellis, and features a voice cast including Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett. A behind-the-scenes featurette highlights LAIKA's blend of hand-built puppets, sets, and CGI, with particular attention to animating the bird characters of the Avian Principality. The trailer is released, and the film is scheduled for release on October 23.

January Exhibitions

The article lists January 2026 art exhibitions across multiple venues in Charlottesville, Virginia, including Ruffin Gallery at the University of Virginia, Crozet Artisan Depot, The Fralin Museum of Art, The Gallery at Studio IX, IX Art Park, Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, and Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. Highlights include the Ruffin Distinguished Artist-in-Residence exhibition “We Dream of Life” by Paula Wilson and iris yirei hu, featuring a monumental 56-foot textile; “Haiti’s Time” at The Fralin Museum; and “In the Beginning” at Kluge-Ruhe showcasing Spinifex Arts Project artists. Other shows include “INSTRUMENTAL” by Rich Tarbell, “The Looking Glass” immersive space, and “Finally Remembered: The Black Patriots of Central Virginia” at the Heritage Center.

Austin's HOPE Outdoor Gallery returns near the airport, offering walls for the public to paint

Austin's HOPE Outdoor Gallery, a landmark graffiti park, reopened on a 17-acre site near the airport after years of delay. The space features work from over 30 artists in a 6,000-square-foot gallery and on mural walls, along with a cafe and shop where visitors can buy spray paint to tag the outer walls. On opening day, attendees of all ages painted robots, band names, and colorful designs, with founder Andi Scull noting people were waiting to enter an hour before opening. The original gallery, which operated from 2010 to 2019 in the Clarksville neighborhood, was a temporary exhibit that became a long-term community hub.

Chico Art Center exhibit combines landscape paintings with clay sculptures

The Chico Art Center is presenting a dual exhibition featuring landscape paintings by Dayton Claudio and ceramic sculptures by the late Nora Pineda. Claudio, known for his public murals including a 3D mural on a parking garage in downtown Chico, draws inspiration from nature and urban landscapes. Pineda, who passed away in April, created clay works influenced by her Mexican heritage and studied art at Chico State. The exhibition runs until July 18, with an opening reception on June 21.

Rocky statue gets its own exhibition in museum after years of tension

The iconic Rocky statue, a symbol of Philadelphia and the beloved film franchise, is now the subject of its own dedicated exhibition at a museum after years of tension between the city, the film's creators, and local institutions. The statue, originally created as a prop for the 1976 film 'Rocky' starring Sylvester Stallone, has had a complicated history, moving from the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps to the Spectrum arena and back, with debates over its artistic merit and placement.

Philadelphia Museum of Art previews "Rocky" exhibit

The Philadelphia Museum of Art previewed a new exhibition titled "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments," timed to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the "Rocky" film. The exhibition focuses on the iconic Rocky statue at the base of the museum's steps, and a talk featured guest curator Paul Farber and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, daughter of boxing legend Joe Frazier. A statue of Joe Frazier will be moved to the base of the Art Museum steps, where the Rocky statue once stood. The exhibit opens to the public on April 25, 2026.

The Little Prince Exhibition At Bugis Has Dreamy Projections For An Immersive Storytelling Sesh

The Little Prince: The Journey of Stars, an immersive exhibition retelling Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic children's book, is now open at Parkview Square in Bugis, Singapore, hosted by the GROUNDSEESAW SINGAPORE art gallery. The experience runs through 31 July 2025 and features a film recap, interactive zones, and 3D projections of iconic characters like The Fox and The King, with sessions lasting about an hour. Tickets start at $15 for children and $22 for adults, with an early bird 50% discount available until 7 July 2025.

Warsaw’s Neon Museum sparks revival of interest in cold war signs and aesthetic

Warsaw is experiencing a significant revival of interest in its Cold War-era neon signs, a movement spearheaded by the city’s Neon Museum. Founded in 2012 by photographer Ilona Karwińska and designer David Hill, the museum has rescued hundreds of historic illuminations that were once discarded as worthless relics of the communist past. Originally commissioned by Soviet-era authorities as a form of "socialist modernization," these signs were designed by leading artists of the Polish Poster School and have now transitioned from propaganda tools to beloved cultural icons.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art receives Oaxacan artwork to honor local teacher

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art has received a collection of Oaxacan prints donated in memory of Ellen Barth, a longtime art teacher at St. Pius Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The donation was organized by her husband, Chuck Barth, a local artist and former Mount Mercy University instructor, who worked with museum staff and Oaxacan artists to select works reflecting the culture of Oaxaca, Mexico, where the couple spent part of each year. The museum plans to feature the collection in an exhibition, though it is booked through 2027, and will also use the works in future displays and educational programs.

Japan’s favourite puffed corn snack was just sold at auction for ¥1.15 million

A limited-edition artwork by Japanese contemporary artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, titled 'Umaibo: Contemporary Art Flavour', sold at auction for ¥1.15 million (approximately $7,600 USD). The piece reimagines the iconic ¥15 Umaibo corn puff snack, a beloved cheap candy in Japan. Originally released in 2025 as a run of 50 sticks priced at ¥100,000 each, the work was first shown at Matsuyama's solo exhibition 'Tomokazu Matsuyama: First Last' at Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo. The auction result represents over ten times the original retail price.

HOPE Outdoor Gallery Sets Opening Date

The HOPE Outdoor Gallery in Austin, Texas, will open its new purpose-built location at 741 Dalton Lane near the airport on November 28, following a six-year closure after its original site off Lamar Boulevard shut down. The 8-acre space, sponsored by the Nouns DAO Community, features over 30 street artists including Miles Starkey, Emily Ding, and Kimie Flores, and is designed as a free, accessible laboratory for both budding and established artists. The opening weekend includes a special limited-edition print by Shepard Fairey for the first 50 daily visitors.

“Soy de Tejas” & Cheech Marin: Showcasing Texas Latinx Art in California

The third edition of "Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art" opened at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in Riverside, California. Curated by Rigoberto Luna, the exhibition brings together Texas Latinx artists, including Tina Medina, Karla Garcia, Cande Aguilar, and Joe Peña, showcasing their work on a national stage after previous iterations in San Antonio and Fort Worth. The opening weekend highlighted the significance of presenting Texas artists outside their home state, with Cheech Marin himself engaging with the artists and their families.

We All Know Grandma Moses, Right? But Not Fully, It Seems

A New York Times article reexamines the life and legacy of the beloved American folk artist Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses), suggesting that the public's understanding of her is incomplete. It delves into lesser-known aspects of her biography and artistic practice, challenging the simplistic, sentimental image often associated with her work.

Mafalda meets Pimpa. In Rome, the dialogue between two authentic comic icons: interview with the curators

Mafalda incontra Pimpa. A Roma il dialogo tra due autentiche icone del fumetto: intervista ai curatori

A new exhibition in Rome titled "Mafalda & La Pimpa" brings together two iconic comic strip characters for the first time. Created by Quino (1964) and Altan (1975) respectively, Mafalda and Pimpa represent different approaches to childhood: Mafalda critically questions adult society, while Pimpa explores a gentle, wonder-filled world. The show runs from May 14 to July 11 at the Instituto Cervantes, featuring over 120 original strips and plates, and is organized in collaboration with ARF! Festival and other partners. Curators Stefano Piccoli and Daniele Bonomo designed the exhibition to highlight both the contrasts and surprising analogies between the two beloved figures.

See What’s on View in NOLA This March

New Orleans is set to host several major art exhibitions this March, highlighting the city's diverse cultural landscape. Key openings include Alexis McGrigg’s "In the Beloved" at the Ogden Museum, which explores Blackness and spirituality through fluid abstraction, and an augmented reality exhibition on the American Revolution at The Historic New Orleans Collection. Additionally, the New Orleans Museum of Art will debut a significant collection of 18th-century French Sèvres porcelain.

Detroit’s Cass Café reopens for art exhibit honoring Detroit artists Jim and Lucille Nawara

Detroit's Cass Café, a beloved cultural hub that closed in 2022 after nearly 30 years, is temporarily reopening for a summer art exhibition honoring artists Jim and Lucille Nawara. The show, titled "Retrospective: A Life in Art," opens June 21 at the original location on Cass Avenue, presented by the gallery detroit contemporary. The Nawaras, central figures in Detroit's creative community for over 50 years, will attend the opening; their work spans paintings, prints, and drawings rooted in nature and memory, and has been exhibited at major institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Check Out JP First Fridays at Galleries, Studios, Art Spaces (and a Famous Bench) on May 1

Jamaica Plain First Fridays returns on May 1, 2025, from 5:30-8:30 pm, featuring six locations that showcase painting, photography, multi-media works, and a famous bench. Highlights include artist Matthew Hincman celebrating the 20th anniversary of his guerrilla-style bench on Jamaica Pond, plus exhibitions at Eliot School Annex, JP Clay, Green Street Photo Collective, Jameson & Thompson Picture Framers, and Boston Cyberarts Gallery. The event is free and walkable.

Linden Gardens gets a curated seasonal art gallery

Prominent local artist Renee Matheson, owner and curator of Aurora Matheson Fine Art Gallery in downtown Penticton, has opened a seasonal satellite gallery at Frog City Café inside Linden Gardens in Kaleden, British Columbia. The Aurora Matheson Satellite Gallery at Frog City Café launched on July 30 with over 200 artworks from 35 artists, including Ron Gladdish, Siya Ghaffari, and Kindrie Grove. Matheson spent six weeks curating the space, which features moveable walls built by café co-owner David, and offers a range of styles from Impressionism to Indigenous work, with prices from under $100 to thousands of dollars. The gallery will remain on site through October.

Austin's graffiti wall returns: HOPE Outdoor Gallery opens 18-acre site

Austin's iconic graffiti wall has returned with the grand opening of the HOPE Outdoor Gallery's new 18-acre site in Southeast Austin on December 17, 2025. The original wall near Lamar Boulevard was removed six years ago, and the new location near Austin Bergstrom International Airport features a 6,000-square-foot open-air gallery, community art park, murals by local artists, a cafe, rooftop bar, art supply shop, and spaces for programming and vendors. The space is free, open to the public, and all-ages, with a ribbon-cutting attended by District 2 City Council member Vanessa Fuentes.

nazi bullet holes marseille madonna

A restoration of the Madonna and Child statue atop Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille has revealed seven bullet holes from Nazi gunfire during World War II. The 37-foot-tall copper and iron statue, known as the Bonne Mère, was shot after the city's liberation in 1944, when German artillery units fired on the church, piercing the bell tower, breaking stained-glass windows, and destroying the ceiling mosaic. The bullet holes were discovered near the end of a five-year restoration that included re-gilding and the installation of a new crown via helicopter.

‘Shaun the Sheep’ exhibit to open at Reading Public Museum [Spotlight]

An interactive exhibit titled “Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way!” will open at the Reading Public Museum in Pennsylvania on May 16 and run through September 6. Created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum in partnership with Aardman, the hands-on experience is designed for children ages 3 to 9 and features activities inspired by the popular film and television character, including balance boards, costume play, stop-motion animation, and problem-solving challenges. The exhibit is sponsored locally by the Berks County Community Foundation.

Tony Hart Centenary: A Celebration at Creative Maidstone

An exhibition celebrating the centenary of British artist and television personality Tony Hart has opened at Creative Maidstone Community Arts Hub in Maidstone, Kent. Curated by his daughter Carolyn Ross, the retrospective features original sketches, watercolours, television pieces, and portraits—including a study of Carolyn painted when she was eight. The free show opened on what would have been Hart's 100th birthday, 15 October 2025, and runs until 8 November 2025.

Arboretum poppies, a tribute to late Wyndmoor artist

The Morris Arboretum & Gardens in Philadelphia recently displayed supersized red poppies at its entrance, reproductions of the colossal sculptures "Papaver Rubrum Giganteum" created by the late artist Gary G. Miller. Originally installed at the arboretum in May 2008, the installation featured 300 handmade aluminum poppies with 20-inch flower heads on 10-foot stems. Miller, a sculpture and photography teacher at Germantown Friends School and a facilitator at Woodmere Art Museum, was killed by a drunk driver in 2013. To commemorate his work, the Chestnut Hill Community Association organized an exhibition titled "Papaver Rubrum Giganteum Redux," featuring photographs of the poppies in a pop-up space from September 27 to October 4.