“La preistoria non è stata solo violenza, ma anche cura”. Intervista all’archeologa femminista Marga Sánchez Romero

Marga Sánchez Romero, a professor of Prehistory at the University of Granada and a leading voice in feminist archaeology in Spain, argues in an interview that prehistory has been misrepresented as a sequence of violence and hierarchies. She emphasizes that new questions are reshaping our understanding of the past, highlighting that care, cooperation, and solidarity were as crucial as conflict in human evolution. The conversation covers biases in archaeological interpretation, the famous Viking tomb of Birka, the origins of inequality, and the role of museums in creating more inclusive narratives.

In Piazza Navona the École française de Rome opens a space for exhibitions (all will be free admission)

A Piazza Navona l’École française de Rome apre uno spazio per le mostre (saranno tutte ad accesso gratuito)

The École française de Rome, founded in 1875 and housed at Palazzo Farnese, has opened a permanent exhibition space at Piazza Navona 62 in Rome. A current exhibition running until April 30, 2026, traces the institute's 150-year history of historical, archaeological, and social science research, highlighting its Italian and Mediterranean focus and the collaborative spirit between France and Italy. The new gallery will host a regular program of free-admission exhibitions and events dedicated to cultural heritage, archaeology, and history, starting with the show "Isole e santi – Monasteri e santuari dell’Adriatico orientale, da san Girolamo a Gregorio VII" from May 27, 2026.

A new certification has been created to improve the management and valorization of Italian cultural heritage

È nata una nuova certificazione per migliorare gestione e valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale italiano

A new certification standard called SGPI01:2024 has been launched in Italy to improve the management and valorization of cultural heritage. Developed by Certiquality and the Stati Generali del Patrimonio Italiano (SGPI), the standard was presented in Florence at Palazzo Guadagni Strozzi Sacrati, with the patronage of the Tuscany Region. It applies to all public and private entities that own or manage cultural and landscape assets, introducing a comprehensive management system that goes beyond legal compliance, focusing on conservation, economic sustainability, accessibility, and safety through independent third-party audits.

ART AFRICA to host 2nd NEW FUTURES ARTS COLLABORATIVE 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa.

ART AFRICA has announced an open call for the second edition of its NEW FUTURES ARTS COLLABORATIVE, scheduled for 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. The residency, titled "De-composition, Extraction and Regeneration," invites artists to collectively explore themes of extractivism, ecological crisis, and social justice, using artistic practice as a tool for transformation and regeneration.

Off-campus galleries in Dallas and Denton step in as UNT art students boycott school spaces

University of North Texas (UNT) art students are boycotting on-campus exhibition spaces, prompting off-campus galleries in Dallas and Denton to step in and provide alternative venues for their work. The boycott stems from student grievances over institutional policies and conditions within the university's art program, leading to a grassroots shift in where student art is displayed.

Art Exhibition to conclude this evening

A two-day art exhibition featuring 12 artists from across Karnataka is concluding this evening at Suchitra Art Gallery in Kalamandira premises. The exhibition was inaugurated by Karnataka Lalithkala Academy former Chairman Dr. M.S. Murthy, with senior artist S.M. Jambukeshwara, Dr. Vithala Reddy, Chulaki Parameshwara, and Dr. Kundagola also present at the opening.

Art by adults with learning disabilities exhibited

Artwork created by adults with learning disabilities is now on display at Hull's Streetlife Museum in an exhibition titled 'Regeneration,' running until 5 July. The show is organized by CASE Training Services, a charity that helps people with disabilities gain new skills and engage in social activities. The exhibition features sculpture, video, photography, paintings, and portraits, along with interactive 'talking tiles' that visitors can press to learn more about the pieces. Creative arts teacher Pete Vernon and museum curator Frankie Hodson both emphasized the importance of giving these artists a public platform to share their work.

“2026 DART SeniorThesis Show,” through August 30

The 2026 DART Senior Thesis Show is on display at the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Art Gallery through August 30, featuring capstone projects from four graduating digital art and design majors. The exhibition includes Ty Eggers' children's book "A Monster Under My Bed!" about OCD, Elaina Marburger's series "Psyche of the Mortal Body," and Mason Sterken's sports-media-inspired video and poster project "UNO!" alongside other works in illustration, motion design, and digital painting.

Annual Student Art Exhibitions on Display at the Zuccaire Gallery

The Zuccaire Gallery at Staller Center is hosting two annual student art exhibitions: the Senior Show (April 29 to May 22) and the URECA Art Exhibition (April 29 to May 13). The Senior Show features works by graduating studio art majors and minors and digital art minors, including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints, photographs, digital media, and mixed-media installations. The URECA Art Exhibition highlights outstanding undergraduate artwork selected by Department of Art faculty, with juried awards presented by the Division of Student Affairs and Gallery North. An artist reception is scheduled for April 29.

Red Sea Museum Hosts Contemporary Art Exhibition to Showcase Marine Biodiversity

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), an Aramco initiative, is participating in Milan Design Week 2026 (April 20-26) by presenting the exhibition “Default is Not Universal” at the Isola Design Festival. The exhibition features works by eight designers from the Middle East and North Africa, including seven interactive stations that use artificial intelligence to collect visitor data and map cognitive patterns shaped by cultural influences. After its debut in Milan, the exhibition will travel to Saudi Arabia as the anchor international exhibition of Ithra Design Week later this year.

Want a sneak peek at Springfield Art Museum's progress? Take a tour

The Springfield Art Museum, closed for over a year for renovations and expansion, is offering guided hard hat tours starting April 25, 2026. Led by Museum Director Nick Nelson and Foundation Executive Director Kate Francis, the free tours require advance registration and safety gear, and will run on select Saturdays through August and Tuesdays through September. The project includes a new special exhibition gallery, collection study room, and a naturalized creek and trail, with a second phase pending city funding.

Exhibition openings to enjoy in May

Bundaberg Regional Galleries in Queensland, Australia, will launch five new exhibitions in May 2025, with opening events spread across the month. The shows include 'Lost in Palm Springs', a national touring exhibition curated by Dr Greer Honeywill featuring 14 artists and thinkers from America and Australia exploring Palm Springs' landscape and mid-century modern architecture; 'Shifting Perspectives: the Self Reconciliation Project' by local artist Avi Amesbury, which uses ceramics and storytelling to examine settler-colonial family history; 'Post Truth' by Gureng Gureng/Gangalu artist Darren Blackburn, addressing the Australian Government's Close the Gap campaign through led-neon signs; 'The Nature of Silk: The Glad Not Sad Book', a family-friendly exhibition of silk art by children's book author Kim Michelle Toft; and 'Metal in Motion' by Kevin Dekker, a collection of sculptures that transform steel, wood, stone and ceramics into dynamic, fluid forms. Opening events will be held at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery and Childers Arts Space, with free admission and no RSVP required.

Venice Biennale Jury Resigns in the Wake of Controversial Prize Ban

The jury for the 2026 Venice Biennale has resigned just days before the public opening on May 9, after announcing on April 22 that it would not consider artists from countries accused of crimes against humanity for the Golden and Silver Lion prizes. The jury, consisting of Solange Oliveira Farks (president), Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, cited its earlier statement of intention in its resignation, which directly impacted the participation of Russia and Israel—both subject to International Criminal Court warrants. In response, the Biennale postponed the awards ceremony from May 9 to November 22 and replaced the traditional jury with a public vote for best participant and best national participation, framing the move as upholding openness and rejecting censorship.

José Dávila Makes Space the Subject in His New York Show

José Dávila's solo exhibition "The Simple Act of Positioning" opens at Sean Kelly gallery in New York, featuring sculptures that explore the relational placement of objects in space. The show includes totemic pillars of steel, concrete, volcanic rock, and automotive paint, framed by large black structures, inviting viewers to move through the gallery to fully experience the visual conversations between works. Dávila, originally from Guadalajara and trained in architecture, draws on Modernist precedents from artists like Marcel Duchamp and architects like Luis Barragán.

Displaying the gallery

The Los Medanos College Art Gallery is preparing for its spring student exhibition, which opened April 15. Gallery director Sarah Lee oversees the installation process, working with student workers and volunteers like Jordan Castro, Dasha Shevchenko, and Eric Sanchez to arrange artworks—including paintings, sculptures, and ceramics—into a cohesive display. A guest juror selected the pieces, and this year's show features an interactive element created by senior lab coordinator Cesar Reyes and Nick Nabas, inviting visitors to engage directly with the exhibit.

Venice Biennale’s jury resigns

The entire jury of the 61st Venice Biennale, presided by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas and comprising four other curators, resigned just nine days before the exhibition's scheduled opening on 9 May 2026. The jury had announced it would not award prizes to countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, a move widely understood to target Israel and Russia. In response, the Biennale's organisers cancelled the prize-giving ceremony and will instead award Golden Lions via a popular vote among ticketholders. The row escalated further when the Israeli representative, sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, accused the jury of discrimination and threatened legal action, prompting intervention from Italy's culture ministry.

27 Best Museums in the World for Art, History, and Cultural Wonders

This article from Travel + Leisure lists 27 of the best museums in the world, covering art, history, science, and culture. Featured institutions include the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Vatican Museums, the National Museum of China in Beijing, the National Gallery and Tate Modern in London, the Natural History Museum in London, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and Miraikan in Tokyo. The piece highlights iconic artworks such as the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Sistine Chapel ceiling, as well as notable architectural features like I.M. Pei's glass pyramid at the Louvre.

Here's what's happening for First Friday in May

Juneau's First Friday in May 2026 features a diverse array of events, including a storytelling project called "Tambayan at Kwentuhan" that shares oral histories from Filipino elders, an exhibition titled "Dizzy Hooligan" by Kiyana Fonua recalling Kava gatherings in Anchorage, and a retrospective of Indigenous fashion designer Dorothy Grant at the Alaska State Museum. Other offerings include a chamber music concert by Taku Winds, a "Critter Trek" exhibition at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum featuring local wildlife art, planetarium explorations, a book release by author Corinna Cook, and displays of woodworking by Phil Paramore and jewelry by Colleen Goldrich.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Appoints Essence Harden as Senior Curator

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) in San Francisco has appointed Essence Harden as senior curator, effective May 18. Harden currently serves as curator of Expo Chicago and has organized the Focus section of Frieze Los Angeles since 2024, roles they will continue with YBCA's support. An independent curator, Harden recently co-curated the 2025 Made in L.A. biennial at the Hammer Museum and previously held positions at the California African American Museum, Orange County Museum of Art, Art + Practice, Museum of the African Diaspora, and Oakland Museum of California. A Bay Area native, Harden's hiring marks a homecoming.

Ann Arbor guaranteed income program inspires ‘No Strings’ art exhibit

An art exhibition titled 'No Strings' has opened in Ann Arbor, inspired by the city's guaranteed income program. The show features works from local artists who explore themes of economic security, dignity, and community support, drawing directly from the experiences and principles of the universal basic income initiative.

​​​​Art Movements: Curators Named for El Museo's Latine Art Survey

El Museo del Barrio has announced the curatorial team for the 2027 edition of La Trienal, its landmark survey of Latine contemporary art. The show will be organized by Susanna V. Temkin, interim chief curator at the museum; Zuna Maza, assistant curator; and guest curator Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, formerly of Socrates Sculpture Park. In other biennial news, Amanda Carneiro and Raphael Fonseca were named chief curators of the 37th Bienal de São Paulo, the jury of the 61st Venice Biennale resigned after omitting Russia and Israel from awards consideration, and Marcello Dantas was appointed senior curator of the Vancouver Biennale. Hedwig Fijen will step down as director of Manifesta, with Emilia van Lynden and Catherine Nichols taking over in a new co-leadership model. Janne Sirén will resign as director of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Kate Kraczon was named chief curator at the Montclair Art Museum, and Charlie White was appointed dean of WashU’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Marina Abramović has designed wine labels for the Ornellaia estate, with limited-edition bottles to be auctioned by Bonhams to benefit the Guggenheim Pop exhibition.

Montclair Art Museum Hires Esteemed Curator Kate Kraczon After Layoffs at Brown University

The Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey has appointed Kate Kraczon as its new chief curator, effective June 15. Kraczon previously served as director of exhibitions and chief curator at the David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown University, where she was laid off in late 2024 amid a wave of cuts. She succeeds Gail Stavitsky, who held the post since 1994. The museum also recently hired Todd Caissie, an enrolled member of the Osage Nation and former director of Canada’s New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum, as its director.

50 years of art-inspired floral installations at the MFA

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its annual 'Art in Bloom' event, where floral designers and volunteers from 50 garden clubs and community organizations create arrangements inspired by artworks in the museum's collection. This year, participants were assigned to 50 objects, including John Singer Sargent's 1895 painting 'Helen Sears,' which was featured in the inaugural 1976 event. The tradition was conceived by Chuck Thomas to boost early spring attendance, and has grown from 18 arrangements drawing 4,300 visitors to becoming the museum's largest public event, attracting 29,000 visitors in 2025.

Miller Art Museum Announces Student Award-Winners

The Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, announced the award winners of the 52nd-annual Salon of Door County High School Art at a free public reception on April 6. The exhibition features original artwork by 105 students from five local high schools—Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island. Awards of Excellence were given to Abigail DeMeuse, Lilian Saltou, Audrie Schley, Rowan Ploor, and Thomas Pratt, while honorable mentions went to Molly Virlee, Lola Georgenson, Angelina LeCloux Herrera, Ryan Felhofer, and Teagan McGrane. Gianna Roman of Sevastopol won the fourth-annual Jim Rericha Legacy Award, named after a longtime art teacher, which included a $100 cash prize. The museum also announced a Potter’s Panel on May 9 featuring master potters discussing the legacy of Abraham Cohn, and the return of its Art and Treasures fundraiser starting May 30.

Une grande statue signée Banksy apparaît à Waterloo Place à Londres

On April 29, a large statue attributed to Banksy appeared on a plinth at Waterloo Place in London's St James's district. The work depicts a man in a suit stepping forward with a flag covering his face, bearing the artist's signature. Banksy later claimed the piece on Instagram, sparking crowds and speculation.

Historic Downtown Pocatello to hold Art Walk on Friday

Historic Downtown Pocatello will host its May First Friday Art Walk on Friday, May 1, from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring local and regional art, music, food, and fashion. Participating venues include the Pocatello Art Center with its Shared Perspectives Exhibition, White Owl Books & Imports, Knotty Twist inside Elwen Cottage hosting Indiana Morris of Firefly Designs, Walrus & Carpenter Books with an open mic, Enchantments offering aura photos and tarot readings, Salty's True Tattoo, Mitera Made, Purpose Tea, The Martlet Brewery with live music by Cat Daddy, The Hygge Place hosting author Daniel Miller, Old Town Alley Outdoor Gallery, Bluebird Country Boutique, Cottonwood Junction, The Not So Starving Artist gallery owned by Jim Bacigalupi, Main Street Mercantile & Antiques featuring Annie Oakley Design Co., Wysteriasage & The Vintage Menagerie, and Brick 243 Gastropub.

Venice Biennale Jury Resigns En Masse, Organizers to Award “Visitors’ Lions” in November

The jury for the 2026 Venice Biennale has resigned en masse, announcing the decision via e-flux's Instagram account on April 30 without providing a reason. The five-member jury, including president Solange Oliveira Farks, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, had previously stated they would not consider national pavilions from countries charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, directly affecting Israel and Russia. In response, the Biennale postponed the awards ceremony from May to November 22 and replaced the Golden Lions with two "Visitors' Lions" voted on by the public.

Somerville brings art into City Hall with new Community Collections exhibits

Somerville is launching a new rotating art exhibit series called Community Collections inside City Hall, starting April 29 with the RE-discovering Somerville Open Studios show. The inaugural exhibit features artwork by Somerville Open Studios (SOS) artists, photographs of artists in their studios by Aram Comjean, and vintage SOS posters. The series is hosted by the Somerville Arts Council and co-curated by City Art Coordinator Heather Balchunas and SOS President Hilary Scott, with an art reception scheduled for May 18.

2026 Art Walk Series to transform Downtown Traverse City into gallery

Downtown Traverse City will host the 2026 Art Walk Series on two Friday evenings, May 29 and June 5, from 5-7 p.m. Organized by the Downtown Traverse City Association, the event pairs local artists with downtown merchants, turning shops and restaurants into temporary galleries. Art forms include painting, fiber, and wood, with live demonstrations, extended merchant hours, refreshments, and interactive activities. Additional programming includes hands-on activities at the J. Smith Walkway hosted by Crooked Tree Arts Center, live music at Horizon Books, and opportunities to view the city's permanent public art collection.

Art Beat

A roundup of current art exhibitions and calls for work in Taos, New Mexico, highlights shows such as "Nicolai Fechin: Figures, Nature, and Expression" at the Taos Art Museum, "Taos Reimagined: Modernist Experiments in the High Desert," and "Rag Made Quilts" at the Taos Public Library. Other featured venues include 203 Fine Art, Stables Gallery, Revolt Gallery, and the Wheaton Museum of World Artifacts, with openings and deadlines spanning through fall 2026.