Monuments & Weapons: How Public Space Prepares Us for War Without Us Even Realizing It

Monumenti&armi. Così lo spazio pubblico ci prepara alla guerra senza che neppure ce ne rendiamo conto

Public squares and urban spaces are densely populated with war-related monuments that condition society to accept conflict as a historical inevitability. A study by Philadelphia’s Monument Lab reveals that nearly 60% of U.S. monuments focus on war themes, outnumbering themes of peace thirteen-fold, while Italy maintains over 12,000 memorials dedicated solely to World War I. These structures often prioritize military hierarchy and territorial conquest over themes of care, gender equality, or social diversity.

Near Parma, the Timeless Elegance of Erté is on Display at Labirinto della Masone

Vicino a Parma c’è l’intramontabile eleganza di Erté in mostra al Labirinto della Masone

The Labirinto della Masone near Parma is hosting a comprehensive exhibition titled "Erté. Lo stile è tutto," showcasing the work of the Russian-born Art Déco master Romain de Tirtoff, known as Erté. The display features a diverse array of drawings, gouaches, models, and sketches, many of which were originally acquired by the late publisher Franco Maria Ricci. The exhibition traces Erté's journey from his aristocratic Russian roots to his rise in Paris as a collaborator of Paul Poiret and a visionary of theatrical and couture design.

Clouds and Their Multiple Meanings Take Center Stage at an Exhibition in Piacenza

Le nuvole e i suoi molteplici significati finiscono al centro di una mostra a Piacenza

The XNL Piacenza contemporary art center has launched "Oltre le nuvole. Beyond the Clouds," a multidisciplinary exhibition running through July 5, 2026. Curated by Chiara Gatti, Paola Pedrazzini, and Gianmarco Romiti, the project explores the cloud as a symbolic and shifting element across art history, literature, cinema, and music. Featuring works by twenty contemporary artists including Piero Manzoni, Mario Schifano, and Leandro Erlich, the show integrates site-specific installations with a 3D auditory landscape and theatrical performances.

Lebanon appeals to Unesco to intervene amid fears protected citadel has been destroyed

Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture has filed an urgent complaint with Unesco following reports that Israeli military forces destroyed the 12th-century Chama’ Citadel in southern Lebanon. The site, a Crusader-era fortress, had recently been granted "enhanced protection" status under the 1954 Hague Convention, a designation intended to shield it from military targeting. Lebanese authorities are currently unable to access the site due to ongoing military occupation and have requested that Unesco utilize satellite imagery to verify the extent of the demolition.

At Centquatre, Circulation(s) Highlights the Diverse Perspectives of Young European Photographers

Au Centquatre, Circulation(s)s met en lumière la diversité de regards des jeunes photographes européens

The 16th edition of the Circulation(s) festival has opened at Centquatre-Paris, showcasing the work of 26 emerging photographers from 15 European countries. Organized by the Fetart collective, this year’s festival features Ireland as the guest country and emphasizes the hybridization of photography with other mediums, such as embroidery, tapestry, and digital installations.

Tania El Khoury’s Soothing “Revenge Art”

Lebanese artist and Bard College professor Tania El Khoury discusses her multidisciplinary practice and her recent experience living through the escalation of conflict in Beirut. The interview highlights her interactive performance piece, "The Search for Power," which uses her own 2018 wedding blackout as a jumping-off point to investigate the colonial roots of Lebanon's systemic infrastructure failures. Originally set for a Beirut run in March, the production was postponed due to the outbreak of war.

A View From the Easel

Hyperallergic's ongoing series "A View From the Easel" features two artists describing their unconventional studio practices. Georgina Arroyo works in a shared academic space at Purchase College, compartmentalizing her process-intensive mold-making and casting work around her job schedule. Linda Jacobson, based in her Venice, California studio for 17 years, works on multiple pieces simultaneously, currently focusing on a large commissioned painting.

What Future for Art Centers?

Quel avenir pour les centres d’art ?

The article examines the uncertain future of contemporary art centers in France, a category that encompasses vastly different institutions from major venues like the Palais de Tokyo to smaller regional spaces. These non-collecting institutions, dedicated to exhibiting emerging artists and experimentation, face fragility due to heavy reliance on local government funding and difficulty proving their utility to elected officials. Their core mission is further challenged by more robust regional contemporary art funds (Fracs), which have greater resources for similar goals of exhibiting ultra-contemporary art and cultural democratization.

Tender Ground exhibit explores vulnerability and environment

The Hook Experiment in Oxford is currently hosting "Tender Ground," a lens-based exhibition featuring the work of four regional women artists: Lynda Schmid, Sarah R. Bloom, Marnie Ellen Hertzler, and Jonna McKone. Curated by Constance McBride and Lisa Baird, the show utilizes photography and found objects to explore themes of environmental instability, physical vulnerability, and the fragility of place. The works range from disjointed equine photography and nude self-portraiture in decaying spaces to documentation of the disappearing Tangier Island.

‘When Crises Happen, That’s When The Arts Get To Work’: Inside The Dubai Gallery On A War Footing

The Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai has been forced to implement rigorous emergency protocols, including 'shelter in place' procedures, following a series of missile and drone strikes across the UAE. Director Antonia Carver, managing operations remotely from the UK due to travel disruptions, describes a new reality where staff must balance the physical safety of visitors with the institution's role as a sanctuary for the community. Despite a recent conditional ceasefire, the center remains on high alert while supporting a workforce deeply affected by regional instability.

Art seniors explore identity, faith and change in capstone exhibition

Four graduating seniors at Shippensburg University—Drew Weaver, Greg Schultz, Ally Richwine, and Katelyn Bard—unveiled their capstone art exhibition at the Huber Arts Center. The showcase features a diverse array of media, including surrealist paintings of liminal spaces, printmaking focused on mental health and friendship, experimental ceramics, and biblical-themed paintings exploring personal identity.

Art exhibition in Waterford City labelled ‘immoral’ according to local councillor

A local art exhibition in Waterford City, Ireland, has sparked controversy after residents labeled its content 'immoral' and pressured local officials to shut it down. The installation, which depicted a love story through various media, led to a series of complaints directed at Councillor Eamon Quinlan and other local representatives who serve on the boards of community arts organizations. Despite the public outcry, Quinlan refused to intervene, citing concerns over censorship and the role of a director.

Sotheby’s Returns to Profit as Sales Rise, Though Cash Pressures Persist

Sotheby’s has reported a return to profitability in 2025, posting a $53 million pre-tax profit following a significant $190 million loss the previous year. Driven by a 20 percent increase in sales totaling $7.1 billion, the auction house benefited from a broader 4 percent recovery in the global art market. Despite these gains, the company is navigating complex financial pressures, including a $10.2 million commission lawsuit from Cushman & Wakefield and the need to refinance $765 million in debt by 2027.

Maison Margiela Opens "Tabi: Collectors Exhibition" in Chengdu, China

Maison Margiela has launched the “Tabi: Collectors Exhibition” at The Third Avenue Art Museum in Chengdu, China, running from April 9 to April 13, 2026. This immersive showcase features the personal archives of nine global collectors, including artist Theaster Gates and musician Zion.T, alongside a curated selection of the house’s own historical footwear dating back to 1989. The event is a key component of the brand's "MaisonMargiela/folders" initiative, which includes a series of regional activations across China and a digital open-source archive.

Sotheby’s Owes Real Estate Firm $10.2 Million Commission: Lawsuit

Real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield has filed a lawsuit against Sotheby’s, alleging the auction house failed to pay a $10.2 million commission following the $510 million sale of its New York headquarters. The dispute centers on the building at 1334 York Avenue, which was sold to Weill Cornell Medicine in late 2025 after the medical institution initially leased several floors through a deal brokered by the real estate firm.

Whitney Biennial Between Cuteness and Panic

Whitney-Biennale zwischen Niedlichkeit und Panik

The Whitney Museum of American Art has unveiled its latest Biennial, a sprawling survey of contemporary art that navigates the tension between playful aesthetics and existential dread. Curators have embraced an expanded definition of American art, incorporating global perspectives and diverse media to reflect a nation grappling with political instability and social change. The exhibition oscillates between moments of "cuteness" and "panic," utilizing strong visual narratives to address the complexities of the current era.

British Museums Escape Penalizing Law on Memberships

Les musées britanniques échappent à une loi pénalisante sur les adhésions

The British government has officially exempted charitable museum memberships from the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA). Originally designed to target predatory subscription models like those used by streaming services, the law would have granted members a 14-day cooling-off period both at sign-up and upon annual renewal. Major institutions like the Tate and the Victoria & Albert Museum feared this would allow visitors to attend major exhibitions for free before canceling their memberships for a full refund.

Vittoria Matarrese new director of the Magasin in Grenoble

Vittoria Matarrese nouvelle directrice du Magasin de Grenoble

Vittoria Matarrese has been appointed as the new director of the Magasin, the National Center for Contemporary Art in Grenoble. The Italian architect and curator, who previously held positions at the Villa Medici in Rome, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, and the Bally Foundation in Lugano, and most recently led the first Art Week Riyadh, succeeds Céline Kopp. Her appointment comes as the institution seeks a new direction after a prolonged period of crisis.

Art Dubai Postpones 2026 Fair Amid Iran War Fears

Art Dubai has postponed its 2026 fair from April to May 14–17, shifting to an "adapted format" at its usual venue, the Madinat Jumeirah resort. The fair, a cornerstone of the Middle Eastern art scene, will proceed with a more focused model, featuring galleries from over thirty-five countries but altering its financial structure, with participating galleries paying a percentage of sales instead of standard booth fees.

New School Faculty React to Plans to Lay Off 15% of Workforce

The New School announced plans to lay off 15% of its full-time faculty and staff by mid-June, a move driven by a projected $48 million deficit and a 20% enrollment decline since 2021. The cuts are part of a broader workforce reduction strategy that has already included voluntary buyouts. The restructuring will disproportionately affect the New School for Social Research and Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, which are undergoing major mergers and program discontinuations, while the Parsons School of Design faces fewer cuts.

Collapse Finance, Part 1: Introduction

The global financial landscape is undergoing a structural shift toward "collapse finance," where institutions designed to manage risk are increasingly profiting from and accelerating systemic instability. Amid geopolitical turmoil and the abandonment of green initiatives, traditional concepts of market security are unravelling, replaced by a system that monetizes uncertainty through instruments like catastrophe bonds and volatile cryptocurrencies.

The Procession as a Form of World: Latin American Artists at the Diriyah Biennale

LA PROCESIÓN COMO FORMA DE MUNDO: ARTISTAS LATINOAMERICANOS EN LA BIENAL DE DIRIYAH

The third Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, titled 'In Interludes and Transitions,' is open until May 2nd in Saudi Arabia's historic Diriyah district. Curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, the exhibition features 68 artists from over 37 countries and frames the world as a multitude of processions, using movement as its central theme and methodology. The exhibition design by Formafantasma encourages a fluid, nomadic journey through four thematic movements and site-specific 'arenas' within the repurposed industrial halls of the JAX creative district.

One of the fairs during Milan Art Week will be open until midnight (and you can even have dinner there)

Una delle fiere in corso a Milano durante questa Art Week sarà visitabile fino a mezzanotte (e ci puoi anche cenare)

MEGA Art Fair has announced an unconventional schedule for its third edition during Milan Art Week 2026, extending its opening hours until midnight. Located in the former Esperis perfume factory known as PROFUMO, the fair will occupy over 3,000 square meters of industrial space. The event features a multidisciplinary public program and a unique "sensory dinner" titled The Perfume Table, which translates the olfactory structure of perfumes into a gastronomic experience set among artworks.

Kazuhito Kawai & Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka "Tsuitayo: Becoming by Making" @ KOTARO NUKAGA (Roppongi)

川井雄仁&アレクサ・クミコ・ハタナカ「ついたよ：Becoming by Making」@ KOTARO NUKAGA（六本木）

Artists Kazuhito Kawai and Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka are presenting a joint exhibition titled "Tsuitayo: Becoming by Making" at KOTARO NUKAGA in Roppongi, Tokyo. Running from March 14 to April 10, 2026, the show features Kawai’s expressive ceramic sculptures alongside Hatanaka’s textile-based works, including her signature "Noren" and "Tabi" pieces. The exhibition highlights a dialogue between Kawai’s tactile, often grotesque ceramic forms and Hatanaka’s exploration of heritage and craft through traditional Japanese materials.

Gold by Serakai Studio’s ‘Certainly’ exhibition leans into unpredictability

Serakai Studio has launched its inaugural exhibition, "Certainly," at its new Wong Chuk Hang space, Gold, in Hong Kong. Curated by Tobias Berger, the show features 50 works by 11 international artists and takes its conceptual cue from La Monte Young’s 1960 Fluxus score, "Draw a straight line and follow it." The exhibition explores the impossibility of perfection and the necessity of embracing unpredictability and experimentation in a volatile global climate.

WAYS OF REMEMBERING YAHUARCANI AND MUNOZ AT MASP

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) is currently presenting two distinct exhibitions that explore memory, identity, and historical violence in Latin America. 'Santiago Yahuarcani: The Beginning of Knowledge' features 35 works by the Peruvian artist that weave together Uitoto cosmology with the traumatic history of the Amazon rubber boom, while 'Video Room: Oscar Muñoz' showcases three video works by the Colombian artist that use ephemeral materials to reflect on political disappearance and the instability of the image.

We had to make difficult decisions

"Wir mussten schwierige Entscheidungen treffen"

Investor Andrew E. Wolff has stepped down as CEO of Artnet after orchestrating a merger of the company's US operations with Artsy, another major art market platform he recently acquired. Jeffrey Yin, previously the interim head of Artsy, has been appointed as the permanent CEO of the combined entity. The restructuring involves significant layoffs, the closure of Artnet's Berlin office, and a consolidation of management teams, though both brands will continue to operate with distinct editorial voices.

Details on French museum works in Abu Dhabi

Des précisions sur les œuvres des musées français à Abu Dhabi

French museums and cultural institutions, including the Louvre, Versailles, the Centre Pompidou (Beaubourg), and the Musée d'Orsay, are refusing to disclose which specific artworks from their collections are currently on loan and on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. This lack of transparency occurs despite heightened regional security risks, including the threat of Iranian strikes. The French Ministry of Culture claims it is in close contact with UAE authorities to ensure the protection of the loaned works.

FLESH, FREQUENCY, FLIGHT: Acra’s Angels descend on the ICA

The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London is hosting 'Angels', a new exhibition of paintings by the multidisciplinary Venezuelan artist Arca. Returning to the venue where she gave her first live vocal performance over a decade ago, Arca presents a series of works created with paint, marker, and mixed media. These pieces explore themes of instability and transformation, featuring fluid forms that hover between figuration and abstraction.

Why Aguirre's works remained out of the public eye

Two Madrid galleries, Malvin Gallery and Espacio Jovellanos, have launched a dual exhibition titled 'Mi perro tiene memoria' to showcase the long-overlooked work of Spanish artist Luis Fernando Aguirre. Following his death in 2021, Aguirre’s family worked to bring his extensive archive out of his studio and into the public eye, featuring both his courtroom illustrations for El País and his evolution through expressionism and figurative painting.