‘Absolutely transformative’: Willem de Kooning exhibition uncovers raw intensity of early work

The Princeton University Art Museum is presenting "Willem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years," an exhibition revisiting the pivotal period from 1945-1950 that led to the artist's first solo show and established his reputation. The show features 18 paintings, including key works like *Black Friday* and *Dark Pond*, highlighting his intense exploration between figuration and abstraction with a restricted palette.

Ary Scheffer en 2 minutes

Ary Scheffer (1795–1858) was a Dutch-born Romantic painter who became a central figure in Parisian artistic and cultural life during the July Monarchy. He was the official portraitist of the Orléans family and created deeply melancholic, spiritual works inspired by Dante, Goethe, and the Gospels. His studio at 16 rue Chaptal, in the Nouvelle Athènes district, hosted legendary Friday gatherings attended by Chopin, Liszt, George Sand, and Dickens, and now houses the Musée de la Vie romantique. Key works include *Le Dévouement patriotique des six Bourgeois de Calais* (1819) and *Les Femmes souliotes* (1827), both acquired by the French state.

Metropolitan Opera and MoMA Together Put Kahlo at Center Stage

The Metropolitan Opera and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) have launched a rare cross-disciplinary collaboration centered on the life and work of Frida Kahlo. The project features a new operatic production at the Met, complemented by a specialized exhibition at MoMA conceived by the opera's set designer to provide visual and historical context.

Protests in Mexico Challenge Move of Frida Kahlo Trove to Spain

A heated controversy has erupted in Mexico following the decision to move a massive trove of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera artworks to Spain for a long-term loan. Protesters and cultural advocates are challenging the relocation of the Dolores Olmedo Museum collection, which includes some of Kahlo’s most iconic paintings, to a new private museum in Madrid. In response to the backlash, Mexican officials have issued public assurances that the collection remains national heritage and is legally required to return to Mexico by 2028.

Ascendant Philanthropists Make $23 Million Donation to Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has received a $23 million donation from newly elected trustee Jennifer Rubio and her husband Stewart Butterfield, made through the Rubio Butterfield Foundation. The principal gift will endow the museum's undergraduate and graduate internship program in perpetuity, which will be renamed after the couple starting September 2026. An additional donation supports the Met's new Tang Wing for modern and contemporary art, set to open in 2030.

7 Artists to Watch at the New York Fairs This Weekend

The article highlights seven artists and presentations to watch at the New York art fairs this weekend, including Frieze, TEFAF, Independent, and NADA. Key highlights include Comme des Garçons' sculptural fashion display at Independent, Danish painter Eva Helene Pade's U.S. debut at Thaddaeus Ropac's TEFAF booth, and sold-out booths for Kelly Sinnapah Mary at James Cohan and Rachel Youn at G Gallery during Frieze. The piece notes that while no single viral spectacle dominates this fair week, a quieter but compelling mix of works and sales is drawing attention across venues.

art bunker artspace queer exhibition

The Bunker Artspace in Palm Beach, Florida, has opened "Beyond the Rainbow," a major exhibition of LGBTQ+ art curated by Laura Dvorkin and Maynard Monrow, along with 19 other artists, curators, gallerists, architects, and writers. The show draws from the collection of patron Beth Rudin DeWoody and features works by Catherine Opie, Andy Warhol, Nicole Eisenman, Lyle Ashton Harris, and others, running from December 7 through May 1, 2026. The exhibition was inspired by a visit to the Centre Pompidou's "Over the Rainbow" show in Paris.

art toronto 2025 showcasing indigenous art 1234758460

Art Toronto, Canada's oldest and largest international fair for modern and contemporary art, opens to the public on Friday with a strong focus on Indigenous artists. Over half of the fair's 100-plus booths feature works by Indigenous makers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. The fair includes a mix of Canadian, European, Latin American, and US galleries, with a dedicated 'Arte Sur' section highlighting Mexican and Central and South American art. Notable exhibitors include Ceremonial Art, Fazakas, Feheley Fine Arts, and N. Smith Gallery, showcasing works by artists such as Ningiukulu Teevee, Shuvinai Ashoona, Gerardo Ramírez, and Manuel Mathieu.

Hoffnung auf Rekorde bei Auktionen in New York

New York's major auction houses, Sotheby's and Christie's, are gearing up for their spring sales with high-value consignments from prominent collections. Sotheby's will auction Mark Rothko's "Towering Brown and Blacks in Reds" (1957), estimated at up to $100 million, from the estate of investment banker Robert Mnuchin. Christie's is offering works from the collection of the late gallerist Marian Goodman, including Gerhard Richter's "Kerze" (1982) valued at up to $50 million and "Mohn" (1995) around $15 million, alongside pieces from the estates of publisher S. I. Newhouse and collector Agnes Gund, with a Constantin Brâncuși sculpture and a Jackson Pollock painting each estimated at $100 million, and another Rothko at $80 million.

Your Go-To Guide to All the Art Fairs in Paris This Week

Paris is hosting a busy week of art fairs, headlined by Art Basel Paris returning to the Grand Palais from October 24–26, 2025, under outgoing director Clément Delépine. The fair features 206 galleries across three sections, public programs at nine iconic venues including an inflatable Kermit the Frog by Alex Da Corte and a participatory installation by Harry Nuriev, and a talks series hosted by Edward Enninful. Satellite fairs include Design Miami Paris at L’Hôtel de Maisons, the dealer-run 7 Rue Froissart co-founded by Brigitte Mulholland and Sara Maria Salamone, and others like Paris Internationale and Asia Now.

On View: 'Jack Whitten: The Messenger' at Museum of Modern Art in New York is First Full Retrospective of Pioneering Artist

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has opened "Jack Whitten: The Messenger," the first full-scale retrospective of the pioneering abstract artist Jack Whitten (1939-2018). The exhibition features over 175 works spanning six decades, including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, alongside archival materials. Whitten, known for his inventive techniques such as using squeegees, rakes, and Afro combs to manipulate paint, explored themes of race, identity, history, and technology. Key works include "Birmingham 1964," inspired by the 1963 church bombing, and "9.11.01," responding to the September 11 attacks. The show runs from March 23 to August 2, 2025, exclusively at MoMA.

Sophie Calle’s ‘Overshare’ Exhibition Takes Visitors on a Journey Through the Intimate

Sophie Calle's retrospective exhibition 'Overshare' has opened at the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) in January 2026, running through May 24. The show, which first debuted at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in October 2024, spans five decades of Calle's work, including photographs, text pieces, physical installations, and video works. It explores themes of intimacy, surveillance, and personal disclosure, featuring iconic pieces such as following strangers, inviting people to sleep in her bed, and documenting her mother's final moments.

New exhibits coming to the Norton Museum

The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach is hosting two new exhibitions through October, both part of its Recognition of Art by Women exhibition series. One is a solo show featuring 40 paintings by Danielle McKinney, an emerging artist who is also opening a show at Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York. The other exhibition is not named but continues the museum's focus on women artists. Chief Curator Rachel Gustafson discussed the shows on a local news segment, also promoting the museum's Art After Dark program on Friday nights with extended hours and reduced admission.

After the Afterparty: Berlin Art Tests Its Pulse during Gallery Weekend

Gallery Weekend Berlin took place from late April into early May, drawing large crowds despite ongoing concerns about the city's declining art-market relevance. The weekend kicked off with early previews on Wednesday, including Alex Heide's solo exhibition "the darkroom beams horizons" at the new space Klix, and continued with events at Sprüth Magers, the Between Bridges Foundation, and the hidden venue CHB Fine Arts, which featured works by Nairy Baghramian, Jack O'Brien, Sofia Duchovny, Ilya Lipkin, and Mania Godarzani-Bakhtiari. Friday, coinciding with May Day, saw gallery visits at Molitor and KOW, where Ketuta Alexi-Meskhishvili and Candice Breitz presented solo shows.

Who’s Showing What—and What They Love—at Market Art Fair

Market Art Fair in Stockholm celebrated its 20th edition, the largest to date with 150 exhibitors, after moving from Liljevalch’s to Magasin 9, a former warehouse at the city’s port. The fair, founded in 2006 as a joint Nordic initiative, expanded its scope in 2025 to include international presentations. During the preview day, Malin Ebbing captured exhibiting artists, gallerists, and notables with her Polaroid, asking about their work and favorite booths. Artists such as Arvida Byström, Hans Berg, Sigrid Soomus, and Gabriel Karlsson discussed their artistic expressions and discoveries at the fair, with many gallerists reporting significant sales.

NEXT in the Gallery: Preview Pittsburgh summer with a 'Pity Party,' dog sculptures and so much more art

NEXTpittsburgh's May 2026 gallery preview highlights a packed month of art events leading into the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Key offerings include the 59th Carnegie International at Carnegie Museum of Art, opening May 2 with works by 61 artists from 24 countries and four new commissions at local institutions. Other featured shows include 'Down to Earth: Revealing the Natural World' at James Gallery, Jody Shell's 'Shoebox Memories,' Dominique Swift's 'Uli Awakened,' and a three-artist exhibition at Irma Freeman Center featuring Laura Jean McLaughlin, James Simon, and Robert Qualters.

Boulder County art shows, gallery events this week

This week's Boulder County art scene features a wide array of exhibitions and gallery events across multiple venues. Highlights include the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art's group show "Yes &…" running through May 3, Jordan Wolfson's "Interiors" at BMoCA at Frasier, and "Black Futures in Art" at Bus Stop Gallery. Other notable shows include "Balance" by Studio Art Quilt Associates at Collective Community Arts Center, "Jamaican Portraits" by Albert Chong at East Window, and "Camp: Queer Arts and Crafts" at Kin Studio and Gallery. The Dairy Arts Center presents "Continuum" and "Polyglot," while the Museum of Boulder features "Blazing Trail for 150 Years at CU Boulder" and "Boulder Eats!"

‘The good, the bad and the ugly’: a short history of how artists depict the female body

Art historian Amy Dempsey has published a new book, 'The Female Body in Art,' which examines the historical representation of women in Western art. The book moves from Renaissance archetypes to contemporary works, focusing on a celebratory selection of artists and images rather than critiquing the often problematic history of the female nude.

Five new art books to look out for this spring, including key artist biographies and the tale of an artistic rivalry

Five new art books are set for release this spring, including a biography of 17th-century painter Michaelina Wautier, a study of Louise Bourgeois using unpublished archival material, a dual biography exploring the rivalry between Michelangelo and Titian, a catalog accompanying the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Tate Modern, and a volume on Francis Bacon’s literary influences housed at the Hugh Lane Gallery.

16 New Auction Records Set in November 2025

New York's fall auction week in November 2025 saw major houses Sotheby's, Christie's, and Phillips collectively bring in over $2 billion, signaling renewed market confidence after an uneven spring. The top lot was Gustav Klimt's *Portrait of Elizabeth Lederer* (ca. 1914–16), which sold for $236.36 million at Sotheby's—the second-highest price ever paid at auction and a new record for the artist. Other notable records included Frida Kahlo's *El sueño (La cama)* (1940), which became the most expensive artwork by a woman artist sold at auction, fetching $54.66 million. In total, 16 new artist auction records were set during the week.

From Monet’s gardens to Kahlo’s bedroom — the best artists’ studios to visit

The article surveys several preserved or reconstructed artists' studios that are open to the public, including Francis Bacon's chaotic London workspace relocated to Dublin's Hugh Lane Gallery, Barbara Hepworth's serene Trewyn Studio in St Ives, Claude Monet's house and gardens at Giverny, and Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul. It also previews the National Gallery of Ireland's upcoming exhibition "Picasso: From the Studio" (October 2025–February 2026), which examines the key locations that shaped Picasso's life and art.

Powerful Photography Explores and Reimagines Black Identity Through Classical Art History

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C., will present "Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies," a solo exhibition of over 25 large-scale photographs by artist Tawny Chatmon, running from October 15, 2025, to March 8, 2026. The works, drawn from series dating from 2019 to the present, blend photography with hand-applied paint, gold leaf, and precious materials, depicting Black children and families in gilded frames inspired by Gustav Klimt and medieval icons. This is Chatmon's first museum exhibition in the nation's capital.

Dexter Dalwood: ‘If we want art history to change, we need to include artists in creating shows’

British artist Dexter Dalwood, known for his paintings of imagined interiors of famous figures like Kurt Cobain and Ludwig Wittgenstein, has taken on an unexpected role as co-curator of an exhibition at the National Gallery in London. The show, *José María Velasco: A View of Mexico*, runs until August 17 and highlights the 19th-century Mexican landscape painter, who documented industrialization and ecological change. Dalwood, who moved to Mexico in 2022 after a residency, brings his own artistic perspective to the curation, aiming to introduce Velasco to an international audience.

Early 2026 Art Books From Yale University Press

Yale University Press has announced its early 2026 art book lineup, featuring exhibition catalogues such as "Raphael: Sublime Poetry" from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Gwen John: Strange Beauties" from the Yale Center for British Art, "Edward Steichen and the Garden" from the George Eastman Museum, and "Frederic Church: Global Artist" from Olana NY State Historic Site. New releases also include a biography of Anni Albers by Nicholas Fox Weber, a catalogue titled "Anni Albers: Constructing Textiles" accompanying a European traveling exhibition, and Alyce Mahon's "Dorothea Tanning: A Surrealist Life," named a Best New Art Book of 2026 by Christie's. The press will hold a 50% off annual sale in May.

Frida-Mania Hits MoMA

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has opened the exhibition 'Frida and Diego: The Last Dream,' a collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera tied to its upcoming production of the opera 'El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego.' The show, designed by stage and costume designer Jon Bausor, transplants theatrical elements like a tree-of-life set model and blue tarp drapes into the gallery, alongside a reshuffling of key Kahlo and Rivera works from MoMA's collection.

The Canonization of Frida Kahlo

A major exhibition, 'Frida: Making of an Icon,' at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, re-examines the legacy of Frida Kahlo. It moves beyond her iconic status by presenting her early works, influences, and, most significantly, over a hundred works by artists she inspired, demonstrating her impact across generations and cultures.

"Wir wollen Rücknahme von Kürzungen"

Berlin's cultural senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson resigned on Friday after the Berlin Court of Auditors ruled that millions in funding for antisemitism prevention projects were illegal. The resignation has sparked a political debate, with CDU general secretary Ottilie Klein defending governing mayor Kai Wegner against opposition criticism, while Franziska Stoff of the Berlin Culture Conference demands stability and a reversal of budget cuts. Thomas Fehrle, director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, expressed personal regret over Wedl-Wilson's departure, praising her competence and engagement.

Immersive exhibitions and visits not to miss from spring to summer in France

Les expos et visites immersives à ne pas rater du printemps à l’été en France

The article from Beaux Arts Magazine highlights a selection of immersive art exhibitions and experiences across France for spring and summer 2026. Featured attractions include "Passion Japon" at Parc de la Villette in Paris, a journey through Japanese culture with Hokusai and Hiroshige projections; "L'Odyssée Céleste" at Église Saint-Eustache, a 3D light spectacle with live choral music; "Frissons" at the Musée d'Orsay, an interactive light installation by artist Adrien M responding to visitors' movements; and a Picasso immersive experience at Les Baux-de-Provence.

How Fatinha Ramos Channels ‘Visual Activism’ in Her Richly Layered Illustrations

Fatinha Ramos, a Portuguese artist and illustrator based in Antwerp, describes her work as 'visual activism,' creating richly layered illustrations that give voice to minorities and address social issues. She collaborates with major clients including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Tate, Scientific American, the Anne Frank Museum, and MoMA, which commissioned her to illustrate an essay about being compared to Frida Kahlo. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), Ramos spent much of her childhood in hospitals, where drawing became an escape. After 12 years as an art director in advertising and publishing, she now focuses on her own practice, which challenges stereotypes around disability, climate crisis, sexism, and racism. She is currently working on a graphic novel and a series of anatomical glass sculptures based on brittle bone disease.

Frick Inks Three-Year Partnership with Louis Vuitton, with Support for Exhibitions and Free Fridays

The Frick Collection in New York has announced a three-year partnership with Louis Vuitton, under which the fashion house will sponsor three upcoming exhibitions, a curatorial research associate position, and a year of the museum's free First Fridays program. The partnership launches with Louis Vuitton's Cruise 2027 collection show, designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, held in the Frick's first-floor galleries on May 20. The sponsored exhibitions include “Siena: The Art of Bronze, 1450–1500” (fall 2025), “Painting with Fire: Susanne de Court and the Art of Enamel” (spring 2027), and a third exhibition on 19th-century paintings (late 2027). The Louis Vuitton Curatorial Research Associate will be Yifu Liu, currently a curatorial fellow at the Frick, who will research Asian porcelain and cross-cultural exchange between Europe and China.