“Lighting” exhibition by Mohamed Abdalla Otaybi at Swailam gallery is not to be missed

This article is a roundup of art exhibitions and cultural events in Cairo, Egypt, spanning multiple venues and dates. It highlights a photographic project titled "New Cairo, Do You Love Me?" by Judi Yassin and Tia Khalil at the American University in Cairo, which documents the disconnect between the promised luxury of New Cairo and its dehumanizing reality using 35mm black-and-white film. Other featured events include painting exhibitions by Osama Nashed and Alaa Hegazi at Dai, Mahmoud Hamdi's "Journey to the Core" at Difaf, the immersive "Beyond Van Gogh" experience at District 5, the permanent collection at Al-Fustat Centre for Ceramic, and the Empower Her Art Forum at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Emerging artists up for exhibition award

The 53rd Riversdale Mixed Media Arts Exhibition will take place in June at the Riversdale Community Centre in New Zealand, featuring a $1,000 emerging artist award for artists aged 13-25 from Southland, Queenstown-Lakes, and West Otago. The award received a record 44 entries in 2025, with judges Marcella and Jim Geddes selecting the top 10 artworks for display on opening day. Last year's winner, 18-year-old Finn Young from Southland Boys' High School, won with a woodcut printmaking piece depicting native birds and the extinction of the huia.

Bold Solos, Global Dialogues: Inside Frieze New York 2026

Frieze New York 2026 will return to The Shed from May 13–17, featuring an expansive program of solo, dual, and curated presentations. The fair brings together 33 New York galleries alongside international exhibitors, with strong solo booths by Virginia Jaramillo (Hales), Akinsanya Kambon (Ortuzar and Marc Selwyn Fine Art), and Kelly Sinnapah Mary (James Cohan). Dual presentations include mor charpentier pairing Anas Albraehe and Nohemí Pérez, and Nara Roesler showing Jonathas de Andrade with Marcelo Silveira. Blue-chip galleries like Hauser & Wirth, White Cube, and Gagosian will present works by major artists including Cindy Sherman, Tracey Emin, and Nan Goldin. The Focus section, curated by Lumi Tan, highlights 11 emerging galleries with solo presentations by Antoni Miralda, Seba Calfuqueo, Reika Takebayashi, and Aki Goto.

Chester County art exhibition at Chester County art association

The Chester County Art Association in West Chester hosted the Chester County High School Art Exhibition and PA 6th District Congressional Art Competition reception on April 15. The event featured nearly 500 student works including sculptures, oil paintings, colored pencil pieces, and photography, with awards presented for both competitions. Josiah Fung of Wilmington Friends School won first place in the congressional competition for his piece "Friends for Life," which will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The exhibition was coordinated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit and partially funded by CCRES Educational and Behavioral Health Services.

Whimsy Art Exhibitions

The House of Creatures exhibition at Milan Design Week 2026 presents a collection of sculptural works designed to represent hybrid beings through material and form. The show brings together designers who interpret creatures as symbolic figures, translating mythology and emotion into physical pieces across furniture, lighting, and collectible formats. Each work is positioned as an individual presence within a gallery setting, forming a sequence of distinct forms rather than a single unified installation, with materials including ceramics, textiles, and metal constructions.

The Relentless Avant-Garde of The Renaissance Society

The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, founded in 1915, has consistently championed avant-garde contemporary art from its modest gallery space on the fourth floor of Cobb Hall. Under the leadership of current director Myriam Ben Salah (since 2020), the institution continues its legacy of presenting visionary works by artists who later become household names, including Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Man Ray, and Félix González-Torres. The article traces the society's history through its pioneering female directors—Eva Watson Schütze, Frances Strain Biesel, and Suzanne Ghez—who shaped its forward-thinking exhibition program, from early modernist shows to local Chicago talent and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Chanel to open major Lina Lapelytė commission at Berlin’s Hamburger Bahnhof.

Lithuanian interdisciplinary artist Lina Lapelytė will present a large-scale sonic installation and performance titled "We Make Years Out of Hours (2026)" at Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof — Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, opening May 1st during Berlin Gallery Weekend 2026. The work is the second iteration of the Chanel Commission, with performances scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays through January 10, 2027, and a public preview on April 30th.

Tate Britain will Exhibit ‘90s Art and Fashion, and Other News.

Tate Britain will stage "The 90s: Art and Fashion" in autumn 2026, guest curated by Edward Enninful, featuring nearly 70 artists, designers, and photographers including Steve McQueen, Damien Hirst, Alexander McQueen, and Vivienne Westwood. The exhibition explores how the decade reshaped British cultural identity through art, fashion, and social commentary, highlighting DIY anti-fashion aesthetics and themes of identity, race, class, and representation. Separately, Gagosian opened a new ground-floor flagship at 980 Madison Avenue in New York, replacing its longtime sixth-floor space after 37 years. A rare 17th-century Mughal astrolabe is heading to Sotheby's London with a £1.5–2.5 million estimate. Fondazione Sozzani launched an award for emerging creative talent. A Manhattan federal jury ordered art publisher Michael McKenzie to pay $102.2 million in damages to the Morgan Art Foundation for producing unauthorized works by Robert Indiana.

Lakeland and Walter Panas High School Seniors To Exhibit Art At The Katonah Museum Of Art

The Katonah Museum of Art (KMA) will present Young Artists 2026, its annual exhibition of high school senior artwork, from May 3-24, 2026. Now in its 43rd year, the show features over 350 works from 40 high schools across New York and Connecticut. Participating students collaborate with museum professionals to plan and produce the exhibition, taking on roles as artists, curators, graphic designers, and installers. This year’s winning marketing image was created by Hailey Nazario of Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak.

Must-see Milwaukee exhibits on view in May 2026 | The Shortlist

The article highlights several art exhibitions on view in Milwaukee in May 2026, curated around themes of graduation and motherhood. Featured shows include Ahmari Benton's solo exhibition 'No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear' at Mitchell Street Arts, Cameron Clayborn's solo show 'That's When Love Swallows You Whole, Right. Now' at Experimental Sculpture Room, the group exhibition 'Mom & Art' at Milwaukee Makers Market, and a youth art exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Many of the shows honor resilience, identity, memory, and the complexities of motherhood, with some featuring works by artists who have passed away.

2026 Art Graduates Exhibition – Cal Poly Humboldt Reese Bullen Gallery

Cal Poly Humboldt's Reese Bullen Gallery will host the 2026 Art Graduates Exhibition from April 22 to May 16, 2026, showcasing work by graduating art majors and minors. The exhibition features ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, small metals, sculpture, and digital arts, with an Awards Presentation on April 30. The gallery, established in 1970 and named after a founding art professor, is located on the university campus.

Gtz Art Gallery opening soon on West Davis Street

A new art gallery, Gtz Art Gallery, is opening soon on West Davis Street in a yet-to-be-announced date in May. Founded by Josue Gutiérrez, a self-taught artist who left a corporate career in global business to pursue art, the gallery will focus on emerging artists and the convergence of art and design. The inaugural exhibit features 27 of Gutiérrez’s own works, drawn from three prior exhibitions—Metamorphosis, Bloom, and Raw—with plans to later issue an open call for local artists.

Anna-Sophie Berger, Benjamin Hirte at Shore Gallery

Shore Gallery in Vienna presents "Baader Streisand Komplex," a two-person exhibition featuring artists Anna-Sophie Berger and Benjamin Hirte, curated by Nik Geene. Running from April 1 to May 16, 2026, the show brings together their respective practices in a dialogue framed by the exhibition's title.

Sahar Khoury, RJ Messineo at The Green Gallery

The Green Gallery in Milwaukee is presenting a two-person exhibition featuring works by artists Sahar Khoury and RJ Messineo, running from April 10 to May 16, 2026. The show includes 31 images documenting the exhibition, with no videos or text descriptions provided in the press release.

College launches Art exhibition to celebrate Onobrakpeya

The inaugural Gregorian Art Exhibition opened on April 25, 2026, at St. Gregory's College, Ikoyi, Lagos, organized by the Old Boys Association to honor renowned Nigerian artist Bruce Onobrakpeya. The three-day event, themed “Celebrating Legacy, Excellence and Continuity,” brought together an intergenerational mix of artists, cultural figures, and stakeholders, featuring speeches from alumni leaders Dr. Michael Omolayole and Francis Oluwole Kudayah, who announced plans for a yearly art clinic and a digital platform called the “Gregorian Art Mart.” Onobrakpeya, unable to attend in person, reflected on his decision to remain in Nigeria and credited the school for shaping his artistic identity.

Artists at work: A peek behind the canvas

The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach has opened a small exhibition titled "Artists at Work," curated by first-time curator Sarah Bass, a curatorial research associate at the museum. The show features paintings, photographs, and sculptures that focus on the creative process rather than finished works, including pieces by Charles Griffin Farr, Hiram Williams, Ben Benn, Bay Williams, Robert Bailey, and William Zorach. Highlights include a self-portrait by Farr, Williams's seemingly incomplete "Big Studio Table," and Zorach's terra-cotta sketch for "Youth" displayed alongside the final marble sculpture. Photographs of artists like Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, and Fernand Léger in their studios further emphasize the theme of the artist at work.

Inside the Inaugural Edition of Art Cologne Palma Mallorca

The inaugural edition of Art Cologne Palma Mallorca took place from April 9–12, 2026, attracting 88 galleries from 20 countries and over 10,000 visitors to the Mediterranean island. The fair, held at the Palau de Congressos Convention Centre, reported strong sales and sold-out weekend days, with Artistic Director Daniel Hug praising the high level of engagement and positive response from both exhibitors and attendees. A second edition has already been scheduled for April 1–4, 2027.

Ojai artist Pam Grau debuts solo exhibition at Santa Paula Art Museum

Ojai-based artist Pam Grau is presenting her first solo exhibition at the Santa Paula Art Museum. The show marks a milestone in her career, bringing together a body of work that reflects her artistic practice and connection to the local landscape.

In Venice, a new project aims to transform museums into living, participatory spaces

A Venezia un nuovo progetto punta a trasformare i musei in spazi vivi e partecipati

The Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE) has launched "Performing MUVE," a new program set to begin in spring 2026 that reimagines museums as dynamic, participatory spaces. The initiative, developed by MUVE Academy and MUVE Education, will unfold across three venues: Museo Fortuny, Casa di Carlo Goldoni, and the new MUVEC – Casa delle Contemporaneità in Mestre. The program includes four distinct projects—led by Mattia Berto, choreographer Elena Ajani, actress Sara Urban, and dancer Giulia Gemma Manfrotto—that use dance, theater, and embodied practices to transform visitors from passive observers into active participants.

FRC student artists present exhibition across 2 galleries

Feather River College's Studio Arts Department is holding its annual Student Art Exhibition in May across two Quincy galleries: Main Street Artists Gallery and Plumas Arts Gallery. The exhibition features student work in drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture, with an opening reception on May 1. Additionally, Main Street Artists Gallery is showcasing three resident fine jewelry creators—Robert Rose, Judy Dailey, and Michael Borofka—alongside other gallery members' work.

Robert McLaughlin Gallery Opens New Summer Exhibits in Oshawa

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, Ontario, will launch its summer exhibition season on June 13, 2026, featuring five new displays. The season includes solo shows by artists Stephen Andrews, Oliver Husain, and Austin Henderson. Andrews presents 'The sum of the parts,' a display of 125 drawings examining media coverage of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Husain offers an immersive video installation titled 'I ♥ Snail,' exploring the history of IMAX cinema. Henderson, the RBC emerging artist in residence, debuts works investigating queer history and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada through his family history. A free public event with curator remarks, artist-led tours, and a complimentary shuttle from OCAD University in Toronto will mark the opening.

Allen Arts Festival Returns With Over 100 Artists This May

The Allen Arts Festival returns from May 8–10, 2026, at Watters Creek Village in Allen, Texas, featuring over 100 local and national artists. The weekend includes artist booths, live music, a Student Showcase, a Juried Art Competition, Chalk the Walk, and a Crafter’s Corner market, with programming designed for both art enthusiasts and families around Mother’s Day.

Niverville Foundation Returns with Art Exhibit Showcasing Local Talent

The Niverville Foundation is hosting its annual spring art show on May 7, 2026, at the Golden Friendship Centre, combined with the foundation's annual general meeting. The event features four local emerging artists: returning talents Jolene Pauls and Jenn Lundy, along with Joey Dean and international award-winning artist Margaret Switala. Tickets are $25, available at the Niverville Credit Union or at the door, with wine and charcuterie served during the exhibition.

Step Inside Mariem Akmal's 'Visual Diaries' Exhibit at Samak Laban

Cairo-based artist Mariem Akmal opened her second solo exhibition, 'Visual Diaries', at Samak Laban Creative Studio in Downtown Cairo. The show features 16 works in oil, acrylics, pastels, spray paint, and glass, capturing emotional snapshots from the past four years of her life, including her graduation from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek. The exhibition runs until May 25th, 2026.

Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair Returns May 7–10

Printed Matter's LA Art Book Fair (LAABF) returns to ArtCenter South Campus in Pasadena, California, from May 7 to 10, 2026. The fair will feature 250 exhibitors, including international artists, publishers, and booksellers, alongside programs such as talks and panels in The Classroom, music and performances on The Stage, and special Project Spaces presentations by groups like Archivos Desviados, Bread & Puppet Press, and Getty. An Opening Night celebration on May 7, co-organized with Orange Radio & Homebody, will include live music by sonrisita and Mia Carucci, a limited edition ticket by Amia Yokoyama for the first 500 guests, and a new collaborative artist edition by Deanna Templeton and Ed Templeton.

6 Black-owned Galleries Placing Artists in Major Museum Collections

Six Black-owned galleries—Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, Gallery Guichard, Galerie Myrtis, Richard Beavers Gallery, and Jenkins Johnson Gallery—are profiled for their success in placing artists into major museum collections. Each gallery has built institutional relationships that lead to acquisitions by museums such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Bronx Museum, often retaining artists through the placement stage to capture long-term market value.

Artspace111 Opens Call for 2026 Texas Juried Exhibition

Artspace111 in Fort Worth, Texas, has opened the call for its 2026 Texas Juried Exhibition, organized by the nonprofit Love Texas Art Foundation. The annual show invites artists from across the state to apply by June 1, with juror Terri Provencal, publisher of the Dallas Arts District Guide and Patron magazine, selecting participants. Prizes include the $10,000 Edmund Craig Memorial Award, a solo or group exhibition opportunity in 2027, and cash awards totaling thousands of dollars, with every selected artist receiving a $150 honorarium.

Kunsthaus Paradiso is Born in Venice: Italian Art Has a Home, Despite the Biennale

Nasce a Venezia la Kunsthaus Paradiso: l’arte italiana ha una casa, malgrado la Biennale

A new project called Kunsthaus Paradiso has opened in Palazzo Molin Querini in Venice, running from May 4 to May 31 in conjunction with the Venice Biennale. Founded by curator Caroline Corbetta, the initiative evolved from her earlier Crepaccio project (2012–2016) in Milan and the Padiglione Crepaccio, which debuted at the 2013 Biennale Arte curated by Massimiliano Gioni. Kunsthaus Paradiso focuses on Italian and Venice-based artists—including Thomas Braida, Fabio De Meo, Caterina Rossato, Ornella Cardillo, Alessandro Miotti, Melania Fusco, Mauro Campagnaro, Marta Spagnoli, Barbara De Vivi, Spazio Punch, Giorgio Andreotta Calò, Mattia Sinigaglia, and the collective Scafandra—offering a platform for emerging and local talent during the Biennale.

Art Center East opens new show May 1

Art Center East in La Grande, Oregon, opens a solo exhibition titled “The Warmth Within My Shadow” featuring self-reflective paintings by Pendleton-based mixed-media artist Jason Hogge. The show runs from May 1 through June 27 in ACE’s Main Gallery, with a free opening reception on May 1 from 6-8 p.m., including an artist talk at 6:30 p.m. Raffle tickets for Hogge’s original acrylic painting “Emerging” (valued at $700) will be sold to support the center’s gallery programs, and a virtual tour is available online.

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.