UAE pavilion announces Venice Biennale exhibition inspired by Arabic word for whispering

The National Pavilion UAE has unveiled details for its exhibition at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "Washwasha." Curated by Bana Kattan with assistant curator Tala Nassar, the show features six artists—Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Alaa Edris, Lamya Gargash, and Taus Makhacheva—whose works explore contemporary soundscapes, memory, and transformation in the UAE. The exhibition will be housed in a pavilion designed by Buro Koray Duman Architects, featuring a series of chambers that transition from intimate listening spaces to areas of sonic overlap.

Week in wildlife: an ostrich on the lam, a tortoise crossing a road and surfing seals

The Guardian’s weekly wildlife roundup showcases a diverse array of animal behavior captured by photographers globally. Highlights from this collection include an ostrich sprinting down a Thai highway after escaping a cafe, seals lounging on a surfboard in Ireland, and migratory birds returning to the thawing Songhua River in China.

From car parks to piers: the 2026 Australian Urban Design awards celebrate utilitarian architecture

The 2026 Australian Urban Design Awards have been announced, celebrating projects that prioritize pragmatic, community-focused design over sculptural spectacle. Winners include the Campbelltown station commuter car park in Sydney, praised for its civic dignity and greenery; the St Kilda pier redevelopment in Melbourne, which balances engineering with tourism and penguin habitat protection; and Balam Balam Place in Brunswick, a cultural landscape honoring Indigenous history.

A total hoot! Beautiful birds – in pictures

Photographer Claire Rosen has released a series of portraits featuring live birds, ranging from fluffy owlets to rosy flamingos. The project documents various avian species through a carefully composed, artistic lens.

Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige review – how two Japanese masters reinvented art

The Whitworth gallery in Manchester is presenting a major exhibition comparing the works of Japanese masters Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. The show traces the evolution of ukiyo-e prints from their origins as mass-produced, voyeuristic snapshots of Tokyo's pleasure districts to the profound, psychologically complex landscapes that would later revolutionize Western art.

The Best Portable, Rechargeable Lamps, at a Range of Prices

The article presents a curated selection of the best portable, rechargeable lamps, highlighting options across various price points. It focuses on products that combine aesthetic appeal with functional design.

The Emanent Museum

Artist and writer Farid Rakun, a member of the collective ruangrupa, offers a critical diagnosis of contemporary museums. He argues that institutions in his Indonesian context are either state-run and subject to unstable political direction, or privately owned and driven by colonialist, capital-accumulating mentalities. He laments the intertwining of these models, which prioritizes revenue and growth over genuine cultural service.

Dana Awartani Mends Ancestral Wounds

Saudi artist Dana Awartani has created a new installation, 'Listen to my Words,' for the 2024 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. The work features a large-scale geometric floor pattern made from hand-dyed silk, which visitors are invited to walk upon, deliberately fraying and damaging the intricate design over the course of the exhibition.

‘Beaming smiles’: Karachi art exhibit puts artists with Down syndrome on path to empowerment

The Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi recently hosted the fourth edition of 'Rangon Ki Lehr,' an exhibition showcasing over 90 paintings by 80 artists with Down syndrome. Organized by the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), the event featured works created by students in the 'Education for Life' program, drawing participants from Karachi, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. The exhibition serves as a professional platform where artists take full creative control of their canvases, choosing their own techniques, colors, and subjects.

Paint meets protest at this dalit art exhibition in Chennai

The fifth edition of the Dalit Aesthetics Art Show, titled ‘The Whole Story’, has opened at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai. Organized by the Neelam Art Collective as part of the annual Vaanam Festival, the exhibition features works by 36 artists that explore themes of social justice, identity, and resistance. The show highlights both the struggles of the Dalit community and their cultural contributions, featuring a dedicated gallery for B.R. Ambedkar and honoring veteran artist Savindra Sawarkar, a pioneer of the Dalit art movement.

"Psychedelic Soul: A Journey Through Rhythm and Time" exhibition

The Motown Museum in Detroit has unveiled its latest exhibition, "Psychedelic Soul: A Journey Through Rhythm and Time," hosted at the Esther Gordy Edwards Centre for Excellence. The showcase features a diverse array of artifacts from Motown’s experimental era, including Stevie Wonder’s Minimoog Model D synthesizer, vintage Neumann engineering equipment, and flamboyant stage costumes worn by members of The Miracles.

‘Different Strokes’ returns with vibrant contemporary expressions

The fifth edition of the contemporary art exhibition "Different Strokes" has opened at La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka. Curated by artist Alamgir Kabir, the show features 40 artworks from a diverse group of eight Bangladeshi artists, including both emerging and established figures. The collection spans various mediums and subjects, ranging from abstract compositions and portraits to scenes of the Padma River and nature studies.

GALLERY: Creepy crawlies and plant characters at Okotoks Art Gallery

The Okotoks Art Gallery recently launched two solo exhibitions by artists Neil McClelland and Beany Dootjes, marked by an opening reception on April 11. McClelland’s exhibition, "Earthly Delights," utilizes a multi-layered process of photography, digitization, and painting to personify plants as characters. In the adjacent small gallery, Dootjes presents "Ruin & Reclamation: Re-iterated," featuring oversized sculptures of insects like lice and bed bugs meticulously crafted from repurposed men’s business attire.

Parted Light opening at Wynter Gallery; artist talk set

The Wynter Gallery in Lambertville, New Jersey, is debuting "Parted Light," a solo exhibition by Detroit-based photographer Tejasvir. The collection features photographs taken in Pakistan that explore the memory, legacy, and cultural identity of a once-unified Punjab. The exhibition opens on April 10, followed by an intimate artist talk on April 12 where Tejasvir will discuss his personal journey and the existential themes behind the work.

MEMORY MOURNING AND REBELLION BETTINI AT DA2

DA2 Domus Artium in Salamanca has opened the first Spanish retrospective of Gabriela Bettini, titled "Cierta tarde, la más bella de las tardes de mi vida." The exhibition surveys the Spanish-Argentine artist's career, centering on themes of memory, exile, and the trauma of the Argentine military dictatorship. A focal point is the work "Memoria del agua," inspired by an unfinished poem found in a book belonging to her grandfather, who was disappeared during the regime.

Above Lake Maggiore sits Italy's highest bookstore, fighting mountain depopulation

Sopra il Lago Maggiore c’è la libreria più in altitudine d’Italia che combatte lo spopolamento delle montagne

The Libreria Alpe Colle, located in the Lepontine Alps overlooking Lake Maggiore, has become Italy's highest-altitude bookstore. Established in 2014, this unique cultural hub is accessible only by a hike through beech forests and historical WWI fortifications. It houses thousands of rare, out-of-print, and antique volumes, attracting a diverse mix of serious collectors and casual hikers who visit for both literature and local artisanal products.

Embodying Code: Artist Alida Sun and the physical craft of code art

Berlin-based artist Alida Sun has reached a milestone of 2,500 consecutive days of creating digital art, using a custom-built system that translates physical movement into light and sound. Her recent exhibition, "RITES" at Method Delhi, bridges the gap between digital code and physical craft by transforming her generative algorithms into hand-woven tapestries. This collaboration with women artisans from the Swami Sivananda Memorial Institute of Fine Arts & Crafts (SSMI) highlights the historical and technical links between textile weaving and computer programming.

Lamentation and Celebration

Quilt artist Lois Klassen presents her first Manitoba exhibition, "Lamentation and Celebration," featuring a series of collaged textile works that explore the duality of grief and beauty. The exhibition showcases Klassen’s signature style of juxtaposing found, recycled, and commercial fabrics with traditional needlework fragments to create complex visual patterns and textures.

Dittmar Gallery presents community art exhibition ‘I was here’

The Dittmar Gallery at Northwestern University is hosting a community art exhibition titled “I was here,” featuring works by 24 local artists. Curated by Jasmine Ametovski and Clare Kirwan, the show highlights diverse mediums ranging from photography of the Berlin Wall to beeswax sculptures and multimedia installations. The exhibition focuses on how personal perspectives can redefine traditional art spaces and reclaim cultural identities through creative practice.

Nature in Art invites visitors to 'be still, be quiet' at poignant exhibition from internationally acclaimed artist Darrell Warner

Acclaimed artist and illustrator Darrell Warner is set to debut a poignant solo exhibition titled 'Crucifixion' at the Nature in Art museum near Gloucester. Running from May 12 to June 21, 2026, the show features a series of striking watercolours depicting Britain's native birds—ranging from common blackbirds to elusive water rails—that have been killed by human interventions such as vehicle strikes and window collisions.

Controversial UK exhibit accused of antisemitic imagery

A contemporary art exhibition in the United Kingdom has sparked significant controversy and accusations of antisemitism. Critics, including prominent Jewish organizations, allege that specific artworks and imagery within the show perpetuate harmful stereotypes and tropes about Jewish people, leading to calls for its closure or modification.

Inside LACMA’s Eye-Popping New Home, How Do You Find the Art?

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has opened its new David Geffen Galleries building, a major architectural project designed to be a glamorous cultural beacon. The building itself is a striking landmark, but the exhibition spaces within present significant challenges for the display of art, creating a complex, maze-like environment for visitors.

Lack of accountability after crush of crowds at Haiti’s Citadelle Laferrière kills 25

A crowd crush at Haiti's historic Citadelle Laferrière fortress on April 11 resulted in at least 25 deaths, including a pregnant woman and children. The tragedy occurred during an unauthorized event promoted by TikTok influencers, which drew over 3,000 people to the site. Heavy rain and a stampede at the narrow entrance exacerbated the overcrowding.

Islamophobia, motherhood, war and immigration: Indy artists get political

Four Indianapolis-based artists—Salma Taman, Alejandra Carrillo, Bailey Jörk, and Iryna Bondar—are creating work that directly responds to contemporary political and social crises, including the war in Gaza, immigration, and political division. Their art, ranging from Taman's Arabic calligraphy painting promoting forgiveness to Carrillo's digital drawing protesting a migrant detention center, serves as a form of personal and communal expression in a fraught global climate.

David Bowie: You’re Not Alone review – Ziggy glam and Berlin grime in a bum-shaking yet sanitised immersion

A new immersive film exhibition titled 'David Bowie: You’re Not Alone' has opened at London's Lightroom. Directed by Mark Grimmer, who previously designed the V&A's 2013 Bowie exhibition, the hour-long 360-degree film focuses on the artist's most-streamed hits and features unseen performance footage, including from his 1978 Earls Court show. It aims to appeal to both die-hard fans and a younger audience.

AT THE ART GALLERIES

Jag Gallery in Key West has announced an open call for its 7th annual "Poolside" juried exhibition, seeking 2D and 3D original artwork with swimming pools as the subject. The show opens with a reception on August 5, and selected artists will be notified by July 12, with an entry fee of $35 per artwork and a 50/50 commission split. The article also highlights current shows at other local Key West venues: Harrison Gallery is featuring vibrant paintings by Santa Fe artist Melinda K. Hall, Shade Ceramics and Shutter Photography is displaying pottery by Mark Klammer and landscape photography by Sarah Carleton, and it notes the legacy of the late textile artist Suzie dePoo.

'Frank Gehry' at Gagosian, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, United States on 14 May–27 Jun 2026

Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills is presenting a posthumous exhibition of works by architect Frank Gehry, opening on May 14, 2026. The show, realized in collaboration with Gehry's family and studio, features animal-themed sculptures and works on paper, including the life-size stainless steel 'Bear with Us' (2014), 'Fish on Fire' (2023), and the early 'A Pair of Snake Lamps' (1989).

A flaming locomotive and the future stars: RSA200 celebrates a bicentenary for Scottish Art

The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) has launched RSA200, a nationwide initiative involving over 100 partners to celebrate its 200th anniversary. The program highlights Scotland's art history and contemporary practice, kicking off with the New Scottish Contemporaries exhibition featuring recent graduates like Daye Allan, Malachy McCrimmon, and Poppy Gannon.

Italian-American DJ Anyma Transforms the Coachella Desert with His Spectacle

Il dj italo-americano Anyma trasforma il deserto di Coachella col suo spettacolo

Italian-American DJ and producer Anyma, also known as Matteo Milleri, debuted his immersive audio-visual spectacle "ÆDEN" at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The performance utilized massive LED screens and architectural-scale visuals to blend electronic music with digital art, featuring appearances by artists like Matt Bellamy and LISA who transitioned from digital avatars to physical presences on stage.

LensCulture portrait awards 2026 – in pictures

The LensCulture Portrait Awards 2026 have announced their winning and shortlisted photographers, showcasing a diverse range of styles from documentary realism to conceptual invention. Highlights include an Australian photographer's winning portrait of a 'barefoot volcanologist' and poignant series documenting the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the reclamation of identity in post-colonial contexts.