Recommissioned Rebels

The exhibition "Monuments," co-organized by The Brick and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), features ten former Confederate monuments removed from public spaces across the American South. Highlights include Kara Walker's reconfigured "Unmanned Drone" (formerly Charlottesville's Stonewall Jackson monument), Richmond's toppled Jefferson Davis statue, and a graffitied Matthew Fontaine Maury statue. Co-curator Hamza Walker explains the show began after the 2015 Charleston church shooting and gained urgency following George Floyd's murder in 2020, involving complex negotiations with city governments and stewards to secure the politically charged pieces.

Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles acquires Kara Walker sculpture made from dissected Confederate monument

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Los Angeles has acquired "Unmanned Drone" (2023), a significant bronze sculpture by Kara Walker. The work was created by dissecting and reassembling a decommissioned 1921 monument of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, which was removed from Charlottesville, Virginia, following the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally. The acquisition was announced alongside more than 150 other new additions to the museum's permanent collection, including major works by Cynthia Daignault and Paul Pfeiffer.

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art’s ‘Yes &…’ favors the process over the pretty

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) has opened a new exhibition titled 'Yes &…', inspired by the improvisational comedy rule of accepting and building on ideas. Guest curators Donald Fodness and Tobias Fike selected 18 artists whose work emphasizes process over polish, featuring visible seams, fingerprints, and evidence of human decision-making across painting, sculpture, video, installation, and performance. The exhibition includes interactive elements, such as a sculpture with hand-carved 'ice cubes' intended for viewers to take, and runs through May 3.

Jacksonville-born Whitney Oldenburg with exhibition at hometown museum

The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA) will open "Whitney Oldenburg: left behind" on November 20, 2025, the first institutional survey of the artist's paintings and drawings. The exhibition features 23 sculptures and 19 drawings exploring the complex relationship between humans and objects in contemporary culture, and will remain on view through April 19, 2026. Oldenburg, a Jacksonville-born artist now based in New York, incorporates repurposed consumer items, personal belongings, and craft materials into her work, which challenges viewers to question their attachments to material possessions.

Pussy Riot co-founder starts Los Angeles prison performance with existential scream

Nadya Tolokonnikova, co-founder of Pussy Riot, began a durational performance titled "Police State" at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles on June 5, 2025. Inside a mock prison cell at the Geffen Contemporary, she screams, plays a pink toy piano, synthesizer, and laptop, and layers live music with sampled prison noises to create an 80-hour experimental soundscape. The performance, running until June 15, references her own 2012 imprisonment in Russia for an anti-Putin protest. On the fourth day, MOCA closed due to clashes between ICE agents, the California National Guard, and protesters over immigrant raids, prompting Tolokonnikova to post: "Police State exhibit closed today due to police state."

MMoCA acquires major work of former UW professor, will hold exhibition

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) has acquired a significant work by artist and former University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, Warrington Colescott. The museum will present a solo exhibition of Colescott's work in the fall of 2025, featuring the newly acquired piece alongside other works from its collection.

Marco Island Center for the Arts and Miami museum exchange exhibitions that feature Latinx art and artists

The Marco Island Center for the Arts and the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (MoCAA) are exchanging exhibitions focused on Latinx art and artists. The Marco Island Center is currently hosting works by 15 contemporary artists from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Ivonne Ferrer, Ruben Torres Llorca, and Luis Cruz Azaceta, on view through July 1. In exchange, MoCAA will present "Marco to Miami" from June 20 to July 20, featuring 14 artists from Collier County.

MOCA Jacksonville announces new exhibition featuring international artist Amer Kobaslija

The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville announced a new exhibition featuring Jacksonville-based artist Amer Kobaslija. Titled "Outside Looking In: The Paintings of Amer Kobaslija," the show runs from April 30 to September 20 and traces his artistic journey from early works to the present. It includes series such as Florida Diaries, One Hundred Views of Kesennuma (inspired by Japan's 2011 tsunami), and his ongoing Artist Studios series. Kobaslija, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, draws on his experiences as a refugee and life across multiple countries, exploring themes of memory, displacement, and belonging.

Diana Eusebio’s 'Field of Dreams' exhibit at MOCA is rooted in culture

The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) has opened three new exhibits as part of its 30th anniversary programming, including 'Field of Dreams,' the first solo exhibition for Miami-based fashion designer and multidisciplinary artist Diana Eusebio. The 27-year-old artist presents 38 works that draw on her Indigenous Peruvian-Quechua and Afro-Dominican heritage, using textiles and fabrics sourced from Miami, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, along with ancestral dyeing techniques and materials native to Miami.

Teen artists portrayed their lives — some adults didn't want to see the full picture

Teen artists in Washington, D.C., created two exhibitions—'The Teen Experience' at the American University Museum and a mural at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival—depicting honest portrayals of their lives, including school lockdowns, protests, self-doubt, and the pandemic. The Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT), founded by teacher David Lopilato, organized both shows, but some adults objected to the full range of topics addressed, such as the 'Free Palestine' protest sign in the mural.

In the Berkshires, Installing Art, Bearing the Consequences

The New York Times reports on the challenges and physical demands of installing large-scale artworks in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts, home to institutions like Mass MoCA and the Clark Art Institute. The article profiles the specialized crews and technicians who handle complex installations, from heavy sculptures to delicate pieces, often working under tight deadlines and in unconventional spaces.

The Global Influence of Contemporary African Art

Contemporary African art has transitioned from a niche regional interest to a central pillar of the global art market and institutional landscape. Artists such as El Anatsui, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, and William Kentridge are leading this shift, utilizing diverse media to address universal themes of identity, colonialism, and technology while maintaining deep local roots.

CONTACT Inaugural Fundraising Gala and Auction

The CONTACT Photography Festival has announced its inaugural fundraising gala and auction, titled PICTURE THIS, to be held on February 24, 2026, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA). The event celebrates the festival's 30th anniversary and features a high-profile auction of works by renowned artists including Edward Burtynsky, Carrie Mae Weems, and Suzy Lake. Led by auctioneer Stephen Ranger, the evening aims to secure the financial future of North America’s largest photography festival.

Monarch Alumna to Lead Next Chapter for Art Museum

Alison Byrne, who began as an intern at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in 2000, has been named the museum's executive director as of late September 2024. Over 25 years, she rose through roles including curator of education and deputy director, and was named Museum Art Educator of the Year by the Virginia Art Education Association in 2020. Byrne will lead the museum's relocation in 2026 to a new 35,000-square-foot facility at Virginia Wesleyan University, featuring a 21% increase in gallery space. The inaugural exhibition will showcase works by contemporary artist Nina Chanel Abney.

Michael Asher at MOCA, Los Angeles

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) is presenting a major exhibition dedicated to the work of conceptual artist Michael Asher. The show focuses on his site-specific interventions that critically examined the social, economic, and institutional frameworks of the spaces he engaged with.

DANCING OUR PROBLEMS LATIN AMERICAN PRESENCE AT MOCA S ART ON THE PLAZA 2026 AWARDS IN MIAMI

Peruvian multidisciplinary artist Joan Jiménez Suero, known as Entes, has been named one of three winners for the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami’s (MOCA) Art on the Plaza 2026. His winning installation, "Bailando Nuestros Problemas" (Dancing Our Problems), features kinetic metal sculptures inspired by Afro-Peruvian traditions and salsa culture. The work, which officially opens on April 15, 2026, transforms rigid industrial materials into fluid figures of musicians and dancers to celebrate the resilience of the Latin American diaspora.

‘Materials are so easily imported, but the people are not welcome’: Diana Eusebio’s show at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami tackles the realities of immigration

Diana Eusebio’s first solo museum exhibition, *Field of Dreams*, has opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, featuring over 30 works that combine hand-dyed textiles with digital prints. The artist, who grew up in Miami, uses natural dyes from materials like avocado, cochineal, and indigo to overlay portraits, family photos, and landscapes, exploring themes of identity, migration, and home. The exhibition includes a Q&A where Eusebio discusses her Peruvian Dominican heritage, the influence of baseball as a symbol of the American dream, and the current climate of fear for immigrants in the US.

Be Seen, Be Recognised. 9 Open Calls For Artists to Apply to this Summer.

The article presents nine open calls for visual artists to apply to during summer 2025, including the Form Photo Award and the Arte Laguna Prize. The Form Photo Award, organized by Form institution, offers winners free participation in Scope Miami Beach 2025 and publication in Form Magazine, with a €35 submission fee and deadlines through July 30. The Arte Laguna Prize, now in its 20th edition, features an exhibition at the Arsenale Nord in Venice and special prizes including residencies at MoCA Art Residency, BigCi, Artorale, LITIX, and NY20+, with a €97 entry fee and a July 31 deadline.

Force History To Sweat An In Depth Interview On Su Hui Yus Performance Movie In Bogota

Taiwanese artist Su Hui-Yu premiered his performance film "A Total Story" at the Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá (MAMBO) in January. The film, shot inside the museum, intertwines the histories of Colombia and Taiwan through a narrative enacted by queer and trans performers. The exhibition "La Saga Total," his first in Latin America, also featured several of his video and installation series. The project is now set to travel to Taipei for a premiere at MOCA Taipei in April.

In Minor Keys and legacies held in common

The article reflects on the 61st Venice Biennale, curated by Koyo Kouoh, who passed away on 10 May 2025 at age 57 after a cancer diagnosis. Her curatorial concept, "In Minor Keys," will be realized posthumously by her team. The Biennale preview opens on 6 May 2026, with the public opening on 9 May. Additionally, artist Henrike Naumann, selected for the German Pavilion, died on 14 February 2025 at age 41, also from cancer; her work will be shown in her name.

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit set to re-open

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is preparing to reopen to the public after a prolonged closure. The reopening is generating significant local excitement, with a preview video offering a first look at what visitors can expect.

Jazlyne Sabree at Rowan University Museum of Contemporary Art

Philadelphia-based artist Jazlyne Sabree has debuted her solo exhibition, "The Spectrum of Resilience," at the newly rebranded Rowan University Museum of Contemporary Art (RUMOCA) in Glassboro, New Jersey. The show features large-scale, textured collages that utilize paint, paper, and found materials to portray members of the African Diaspora as spiritual figures and vessels of memory. The exhibition includes three new works and is scheduled to run through July 30, 2026.

Persian miniatures and mermaids: Hiba Schahbaz’s garden of delights at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami

The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami has opened "Hiba Schahbaz: The Garden," the first major retrospective of Karachi-born, Brooklyn-based artist Hiba Schahbaz. Curated by Jasmine Wahi, the exhibition spans 15 years of Schahbaz's practice, including loans from private collections, studio works, and new commissions. Anchored by the concept of the jannat (Paradise Garden) rooted in Islamic tradition and Sufi poetry, the show is organized around the elements of earth, water, fire, and air. Schahbaz, trained in the Indo-Persian miniature tradition, works with water-based pigments and tea on handmade paper, and her practice has evolved from small formats to large-scale works, including a 45-foot-by-14-foot mermaid painting commissioned for the Miami show.

Soul Basel 2025 turns historic Overtown into a Miami Art Week stage

Soul Basel, a signature cultural showcase rooted in Miami's Historic Overtown, returns December 2–7, 2025, spotlighting the art and heritage of the African diaspora. The event features exhibitions, performances, and community activations across multiple locations including the 9th Street Pedestrian Mall, Black Archives Lyric Plaza, and Brightline MiamiCentral, with highlights such as the Miami MoCAAD 10th Anniversary Exhibition and the Everyday People Exhibit.

MOCA focus. Takako Yamaguchi

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles has opened "MOCA focus: Takako Yamaguchi," the third exhibition in its relaunched MOCA focus series, running from June 29, 2025, to January 4, 2026. The show presents the first solo museum exhibition in Los Angeles for the 72-year-old Japanese-born artist, featuring a series of oil-and-bronze-leaf seascapes that synthesize motifs she has developed over four decades, blending influences from Mexican muralism, Renaissance art, Japanese Nihonga, and Art Nouveau.

Duke Riley’s Art Exhibition at the MOCA in Virginia Beach

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Virginia Beach is presenting "O'er the Wide and Plastic Sea," an exhibition of multimedia works by Brooklyn artist Duke Riley, running through August 31. The show spans two decades of Riley's practice, with the centerpiece artwork created from beach trash—including lighters, buoy pieces, and syringes—collected largely from Virginia Beach shores. Riley's work explores tensions between individual and collective behavior, institutional power, and nature's struggle with modern problems, blending early American styles, folklore, and sea-craft aesthetics.

Seeing with Heat: 5 Works Against the Thermal Camera's Gaze in Pavia

Vedere con il calore: a Pavia 5 opere contro lo sguardo della termocamera

The University of Pavia is hosting a specialized study day and exhibition on April 30, 2026, titled "Thermal Imaging and Visual Culture." The event explores how artists are reclaiming thermal imaging—a technology originally developed for military surveillance and pandemic control—to transform it into a medium for creative expression. By showcasing five specific works, the program examines the tension between the camera's role as a tool for dehumanized monitoring and its potential as a vehicle for artistic resistance.

公募｜Hiroshima MoCA FIVE 25/26

Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (Hiroshima MoCA) has opened the call for entries for the second edition of its biennial open-call exhibition "Hiroshima MoCA FIVE 25/26." The deadline for submissions is July 25, 2025. The theme for this edition is "memory." Five artists or groups will be selected by the museum's curators and a special juror, Hattori Hiroyuki (associate professor at Tokyo University of the Arts and director of the Aomori Contemporary Art Centre), to create and exhibit new works with museum support. Each selected artist receives a 400,000 yen activity grant, and additional prizes of 200,000 yen will be awarded for the Hiroshima MoCA Prize and the Special Juror Prize. The exhibition runs from December 20, 2025 to March 1, 2026.

Mayor Mary Sheffield visits the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, or MOCAD

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield toured the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) on April 23, 2026, accompanied by Co-Directors Marie Madison-Patton and Jova Lynne, and Board Chair Charles Boyd. The renovation includes the renamed Julia Reyes Taubman Building, new large windows, an HVAC system, and a bar area, with exhibitions featuring works by Olayami Dabls, Carole Harris, and Martha Mysko.

Abstract works by Local artist Frank Herrmann featured in new display at Elsmere's Gallery 506

A new abstract art exhibition titled 'Dimensions' has opened at Gallery 506 in Elsmere, Kentucky, featuring works by local artist Frank Herrmann. The show, running through December 20, 2025, includes paintings, drawings, watercolors, and sculptures characterized by bright colors, organic shapes, and playful forms. Herrmann, a professor emeritus of fine arts at the University of Cincinnati who earned his MFA there in 1972, works primarily in acrylic on stretched canvas but also experiments with mixed media such as sand, brick dust, and soot. His career includes exhibitions across the U.S., residencies at MASS MoCA and the Foundation for Contemporary Art in the Czech Republic, and pieces held in corporate and private collections.