How the Arts Club of Chicago Stays Contemporary in its Second Century

The Arts Club of Chicago, founded in 1916, continues to balance its historic legacy with contemporary relevance under executive director and chief curator Janine Mileaf. The club, which gave Pablo Picasso his first solo institutional exhibition in the U.S. in 1923 and hosted figures like Gertrude Stein and John Cage, now operates as both a public space and a private membership club. Mileaf’s programming emphasizes Dada and surrealist roots while showcasing experimental, site-specific works, including a recent installation by Korean artist Haegue Yang. The club maintains a close relationship with Chicago’s arts community, aiming to expose audiences to challenging and surprising art.

PRESS RELEASE: ‘Paul Reed: A Retrospective’ closing April 12 at OKCMOA

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) has announced the final weeks of its comprehensive exhibition, ‘Paul Reed: A Retrospective,’ which is scheduled to conclude on April 12. This exhibition marks the first major museum retrospective of the Washington Color School painter since his death in 2015, featuring a wide array of works that span his career from early experiments to his signature shaped canvases and late-career explorations.

Celebrating Indigenous Vitality: MORE COLORS THAN THE EYE CAN SEE

The Portland Art Museum and SITE Santa Fe have launched "MORE COLORS THAN THE EYE CAN SEE," a national educational initiative based on Jeffrey Gibson’s historic solo exhibition for the U.S. Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale. Developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and a cohort of ten educators, the project introduces 14 interdisciplinary K-12 lesson plans. These resources integrate Indigenous contemporary art into subjects ranging from mathematics to social studies, utilizing Gibson’s vibrant aesthetic to explore themes of identity, representation, and creative sovereignty.

Profile | Pierre Rosenberg, the former Louvre president, on his long-awaited four-volume Poussin catalogue—and forthcoming museum

Pierre Rosenberg, the 89-year-old honorary president-director of the Louvre, is set to release a definitive four-volume catalogue raisonné of the works of Nicolas Poussin. This monumental publication, weighing eight kilograms, represents over sixty years of scholarship and aims to provide a comprehensive update to the field, addressing previous research by figures such as Anthony Blunt and Louis Marin.

The Crocker Art Museum’s CEO Wants the World — and People of Sacramento — to Love His Newly Adopted City

Agustín Arteaga, the new Mort and Marcy Friedman director and CEO of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, discusses his first months on the job, including extensive meetings with staff, board members, and community stakeholders. Arteaga, who previously led the Dallas Museum of Art, the Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City, and the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico, emphasizes the need to balance fundraising, donor relations, educational programming, and political transparency while maintaining the museum's relevance as the oldest art museum in the American West.

Catch of the day: Winslow Homer’s delicate watercolours get very rare outing in Boston

The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston is presenting "Of Light and Air: Winslow Homer in Watercolour," a rare exhibition of the American painter's delicate watercolors, running from November 2, 2025, to January 19, 2026. The show brings together a rich selection of Homer's work, including childhood drawings, his final unfinished painting, and dozens of watercolors that are seldom exhibited due to their fragility and light sensitivity. Highlights include "Leaping Trout" (1889), the first Homer watercolor acquired by any museum, and works that depict the rugged New England coast and English seaside. The MFA, an early supporter of Homer's career, holds one of the largest collections of his work, and this is the first time many of these watercolors have been shown together in nearly 50 years.

New documentary gives E.J. Hughes, painter of lyrical Canadian landscapes, his due

A new documentary titled *The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes*, directed by Vancouver filmmaker Jenn Strom, premieres at the Vancouver International Film Festival. The film explores the personal and professional life of the reclusive Canadian landscape painter E.J. Hughes (1913-2007), known for his dreamlike depictions of British Columbia's coastal life. It features interviews with art historians, curators, and locals, and includes footage of major works, such as *Entrance to Howe Sound* (1949), which is set for auction at Heffel with an estimate of C$1.25m–C$1.75m. The documentary was inspired by books by artist-author Robert Amos and took several years to complete due to the pandemic.

Five new art books to look out for this autumn, including publications on US monuments and Vermeer close-ups

Five new art books are set for release this autumn, covering topics from US monuments and Vermeer's techniques to post-war British culture and contemporary Pakistani-American art. Titles include 'Closer to Vermeer' (Thames & Hudson), 'Monumental: How a New Generation of Artists Is Shaping the Memorial Landscape' (MIT Press), 'British Blonde' (Paul Mellon Centre), 'Art Is: A Journey into the Light' (Yale), and 'Shahzia Sikander' (Lund Humphries), each offering fresh scholarship or monographic depth.

Elizabeth Catlett: “A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies”

The Art Institute of Chicago announces a major retrospective of Elizabeth Catlett, titled “A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies,” on view from August 30, 2025, through January 4, 2026. The exhibition brings together over 100 works spanning Catlett’s career as a sculptor, printmaker, feminist, and social activist, highlighting her enduring influence and her commitment to addressing poverty, racism, and imperialism through art and activism.

Mbare Art Space: a colonial beer hall in Zimbabwe has become a vibrant arts centre

Moffat Takadiwa, a leading figure in Zimbabwe's artist-run spaces movement, has transformed a former colonial-era beer hall in the Mbare township of Harare into the Mbare Art Space. Opened in 2019 under a long lease from the Harare City Council, the nonprofit hub now houses studios, an exhibition hall, a digital hub, and office space, serving as a vibrant center for artistic and community revival. The beer hall was originally built by British colonial authorities as a tool of social control and segregation, but Takadiwa has repurposed it into a site of creative freedom and empowerment, inspired by global precedents like Theaster Gates' Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago.

f v t ccucu gall art

Emerging artist F V T, the alias of American artist Alexandra Wallery (b. 2000), is set to present her abstract works at the 2026 edition of Art Palm Beach with Ccucu Gall-Art of Miami. Wallery, who holds a master's degree from Vanderbilt University and a background in biological science from the University of Miami, creates highly experimental paintings and sculptures that blend gestural abstraction, scientific curiosity, and humor. Notable works include the large-scale canvas *Busy Night in the City – Lightning* (2025) and the monumental sculpture *MIA CHEESE* (2025), a playful nod to Miami.

Contemporary art returns to center stage in Ascoli Piceno for the fifth edition of the Premio Sparti

L’arte contemporanea torna protagonista ad Ascoli Piceno per la quinta edizione del Premio Sparti

The fifth edition of the Premio Sparti, titled "Dove finisce la città" (Where the City Ends), will open on May 23 at the Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, running through June 28. Curated by Alex Urso, the exhibition features over twenty international artists exploring artistic practice outside major urban centers, with works also installed at the Frida Museum. The show is divided into three sections—"Essere oltre," "Essere qui," and "Essere altro"—highlighting artists who have chosen peripheral, rural, or marginalized locations as bases for their research, including Francesco Arena, Davide Maria Coltro, Andrea Mastrovito, and emerging talents under 35.

A Rediscovered Beato Angelico Takes Center Stage at Pandolfini's Old Masters Auctions in Florence

Un Beato Angelico riscoperto protagonista alle aste di arte antica di Pandolfini a Firenze

Pandolfini auction house in Florence will auction a rediscovered fragment of Beato Angelico's *Tebaide* on May 20, 2026, after it had been missing for fifty years. The attribution was confirmed by comparison with the version held at the Museo di San Marco and formerly at the Galleria degli Uffizi. The auction house's Old Masters department, led since 2025 by young director Nicolò Pitto, has achieved strong results, including over €5 million in total revenue for the year, with top lots such as Artemisia Gentileschi's *Cleopatra* (€595,600) and a French School *Saint Catherine of Alexandria* (€620,000).

art erin calla watson young artist

Cultured magazine profiles Los Angeles-based artist Erin Calla Watson as part of its 2025 Young Artists list. Watson, age 32, gained attention for her 2023 solo exhibition at Foxy Production in New York—the gallery's final show—where she manipulated 15 images from the iconic 1975–76 exhibition "New Topographics" by inserting the likeness of Australian supermodel Jordan Barrett. The project was critically acclaimed and sparked renewed discussion about the gallery's closure. Watson, who now shows with Ehrlich Steinberg in Los Angeles, continues to create ghostly, darkly humorous images that draw from internet subcultures like the "manosphere" to explore suburban gothic aesthetics.

art witt fetter young artist

Cultured magazine profiles 31-year-old artist Witt Fetter as part of its 2025 Young Artists list. Based in New York and originally from Los Angeles, Fetter is known for paintings that reimagine surreal American scenes—such as the White House Situation Room, a Titanic-shaped inflatable slide, and a false missile alert sign—bathed in a distinctive violet-blue haze. Her work has been featured at Fierman and Derosia galleries, and she describes her practice as motivated by grief, desire, and faith, often exploring the tension between personal mythology and broader cultural contexts. The profile includes her reflections on a self-portrait titled *Diana, 2022*, inspired by a photograph of Princess Diana, and her tribute to her grandfather, who taught her to paint and whose technique of using a violet undercoat she continues.

Gallery hopping: A new way to experience & engage with art

The article reports on the rise of gallery hopping in Delhi, particularly in neighborhoods like Lado Sarai, Defence Colony, and Okhla, where galleries cluster together. The Defence Colony Galleries Association, founded by Pristine Contemporary owners Arjun Butani and Arjun Sawhney, launched the monthly Def Col Art Night, keeping 10 galleries open until 9pm on the third Thursday with openings, music, and performances. Gallery directors and owners note that these events attract a broader audience beyond traditional collectors, making art more accessible and fostering community.

Los Angeles’s next generation of dealers forges new paths

Despite a wave of high-profile gallery closures and economic pressure from the shrinking entertainment industry, a new generation of Los Angeles art dealers is finding resilience through local community ties. While major outposts like Michael Werner and Sean Kelly have shuttered, local mainstays argue that the market is not failing but rather correcting itself against unrealistic expectations. Success in the current climate requires a physical presence and deep-rooted relationships that satellite galleries often struggle to maintain.

Karma gallery debuts representation of Yvonne Jacquette in Miami

Karma gallery has taken over representation of the estate of Yvonne Jacquette (1934-2023), the American painter known for her aerial nighttime cityscapes and unconventional perspectives. The gallery, with locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Maine, is already showing Jacquette's work in a Manhattan group exhibition and at Art Basel Miami Beach, with a solo show planned for 2026 at its Chelsea space. The decision follows nearly three decades of representation by DC Moore Gallery.

Hollis Taggart to open gallery on New York’s Lower East Side for emerging artists

New York dealer Hollis Taggart is opening a second gallery location on the Lower East Side, named Hollis Taggart Downtown, dedicated to emerging and mid-career contemporary artists. The inaugural exhibition, "Boundless," opens May 17 and features ten artists including Osamu Kobayashi, Katherine Boxall, Kelly Worman, and Joanne Greenbaum. The space, at 109 Norfolk Street, is a partnership with longtime employees Paul Efstathiou and Eleanor Flatow. The move comes as the gallery nearly doubled its Chelsea space in 2023, despite a market downturn.

Why the inaugural Art Week Riyadh was a fair in everything but name

The inaugural Art Week Riyadh (AWR), organized by Saudi Arabia's Visual Arts Commission, took place from April 6-13 in the Jax district of Diriyah. Though officially billed as a non-commercial curated exhibition, the event functioned much like an art fair, with 32 galleries displaying available works, price lists visible on stands, and sales conducted throughout the week. The main exhibition, titled "At The Edge," was curated by Vittoria Matarrese with associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit Lelandais, featuring galleries from Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Standout presentations included works by Ayesha Sultana, Mohamed Bourouissa, Mohammed Al Resayes, and Miramar Al Nayyar, alongside a moving image section and a satellite program of open studios and gallery shows.

At the Grand Palais, the Paris Book Festival Puts Comics in the Spotlight

Au Grand Palais, le Festival du livre de Paris met la bande dessinée à l’honneur

The Festival du livre de Paris returns to the Grand Palais from April 17 to 19, 2026, marking a continued transformation from a massive trade fair into a curated cultural event. This year’s edition features 450 publishers and places a significant emphasis on comic books (BD), highlighted by two thematic exhibitions on the Balcon d’Honneur and a dedicated youth village. The program also includes a culinary-themed nocturne and the "Cabaret Extra!" performance series produced in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou.

The Château de Breteuil upgrades its offering

Le château de Breteuil monte en gamme

François and Pauline de Breteuil, the son and daughter-in-law of the 10th Marquis de Breteuil, have initiated a strategic shift for the centuries-old Château de Breteuil in the Chevreuse Valley, one year after taking over the family estate. They are moving the château's positioning away from its previous focus on family tourism and Perrault's fairy tales toward a more museum-like and prestigious experience. This 'upgrading' includes the opening of a new on-site restaurant, the Café d'Achille, and the redecoration of four rooms by interior designer Jacques Garcia, creating period rooms dedicated to the 18th century, Marie Antoinette, and the Empire style.

Where did the great artist Joseph Beuys live? The comic story by Gianluca Costantini

Dove viveva il grande artista Joseph Beuys? Il racconto a fumetti di Gianluca Costantini

In the summer of 2022, the author visited Düsseldorf and discovered that Joseph Beuys's former home at Drakeplatz 4 in Oberkassel was for sale, but the city's cultural department declined to purchase it. Beuys lived and worked there from 1961 until his death in 1986, using the space as both a residence and studio. The article recounts the intimate details of family life there, including how Beuys painted the main room white for his wife Eva's photography, and how the family navigated the blend of private life and artistic practice. Two years later, the Brunhilde Moll Foundation acquired the house and opened it to the public, though it was closed for renovations when the author returned. The house now displays about sixty works from Beuys's creative period and will host artist residencies and events.

architecture frida escobedo serpentine pompidou

Frida Escobedo, a Mexican architect who founded her Mexico City studio at age 23, is profiled as part of Cultured's 2026 CULT100 honorees. She became the youngest architect to win the Serpentine Pavilion commission and is set to debut her biggest project yet in 2030: the Metropolitan Museum of Art's new modern and contemporary wing. The article presents a Q&A format covering her influences, including architect Lebbeus Woods, her views on patience and imagination, and her reflections on career challenges such as protecting her time.

Chile's leading art fair foregrounds affordable works, often with a political edge

The 16th edition of Chile Arte Contemporáneo (Chaco), Chile's only international contemporary art fair, is underway in Santiago, featuring over 50 galleries. The fair emphasizes representation of the entire country, from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, and includes galleries from 11 countries, with a focus on Chilean contemporary artists. Notable presentations include immersive installations by artists like Fernando Andreo Castro and politically engaged displays, such as a composite flag by Brazilian gallery Hermès and a stand by Mnwal, a space for artists from the Palestinian diaspora.

Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture Opening

tselinny center of contemporary culture opening

The Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture has opened in Almaty, Kazakhstan, launching its program with a powerful performance titled 'Barsakelmes.' The event, created by a collective of Kazakh artists, musicians, and poets, used traditional and contemporary elements to summon the ecological and cultural trauma of the Aral Sea's destruction under Soviet rule, framing decolonization as a process of remembrance, rethinking, and advancement.

Meriem Bennani, the artist who went viral during the pandemic

Meriem Bennani, a New York-based artist known for her shape-shifting practice of videos, installations, and immersive environments, gained viral fame during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. She co-created the animated series '2 Lizards' with fellow artist Orian Barki, which depicted surreal, humorous conversations between anthropomorphic reptiles navigating the first weeks of the pandemic in New York City. The series, posted on Instagram, resonated widely and led to eight episodes. Bennani's broader work, including 'Life on the CAPS' (2018–2022) and 'Mission Teens' (2019), blends digital animation, live-action footage, and cultural critique, often exploring themes of diaspora, post-colonialism, and migration through dystopian, supernatural narratives.

art coumba samba young artist

Coumba Samba, a 25-year-old artist based in New York, is featured in Cultured's 2025 Young Artists list. Her recent installation at Kunsthalle Basel uses 176 steel poles spaced four inches apart to evoke the U.S.-Mexico border wall, referencing policies from the George W. Bush and Trump administrations. Born in New York and partly raised in Senegal, Samba creates work about the permeability and absurdity of international borders. Her show “Red Gas” at Arcadia Missa incorporates found home radiators painted with colors from a photo of former Senegalese President Macky Sall shaking hands with Vladimir Putin at the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit, blending abstraction with global politics.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

This article announces the first comprehensive U.S. exhibition on Raphael, titled "Raphael: Sublime Poetry," which offers an immersive look at the artist's meteoric career through drawings, paintings, prints, and tapestries. It traces Raphael's journey from his birth in Urbino in 1483, through his training under his poet-painter father Giovanni Santi and later Pietro Perugino, to his rise as a peer to Leonardo and Michelangelo in Florence and his final decade as the favorite artist of the popes in Rome, where he was celebrated as the "prince of painters."

Origami dragons and a story arcade! The joy of museums aimed at children

The article profiles the Story Museum in Oxford, a family-oriented museum designed to spark curiosity in arts and culture among children. It describes the museum's interactive galleries, including Small Worlds for under-fives, the Whispering Wood filled with fables, a temporary dragon-themed exhibition co-curated with author Cressida Cowell, and the Enchanted Library that takes visitors through the history of children's literature. The author recounts her toddler's joyful engagement with the hands-on exhibits, from playing digital Pooh sticks to exploring a Narnia-inspired wardrobe.