Monet painting auctioned in France for more than 10 million euros

Monet-Gemälde in Frankreich für mehr als 10 Millionen Euro versteigert

A recently rediscovered landscape painting by Claude Monet, titled "Vétheuil, effet du matin" (1901), sold for €10.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in France. The sale exceeded its initial estimate of €6 million to €8 million and set a new record for a Monet work sold at auction within France. A second work, "Les îles de Port-Villez" (1883), also outperformed expectations, fetching €6.45 million during the same event.

This Years Met Gala Felt More Like an Art Exhibition Than a Red Carpet

The 2026 Met Gala, held on May 4 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, was widely described as feeling more like an art exhibition than a traditional red carpet. The theme, "Costume Art," with the dress code "Fashion Is Art," encouraged celebrities to treat their bodies as canvases. Beyoncé made a highly anticipated return after a decade, serving as a co-chair alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. Beyoncé wore a sculptural skeleton-inspired design by Olivier Rousteing, while Kiddon wore a shimmering red Chanel gown and Williams donned a Swarovski crystal gown inspired by her Smithsonian portrait. Other notable looks included Sabrina Carpenter in a Dior dress made from vintage film strips, Kendall Jenner referencing classical sculpture, Madonna channeling surrealist painter Leonora Carrington, and Heidi Klum arriving as a marble statue. Inside, live performances by Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Nicks added to the spectacle.

The 2026 Met Gala Theme and Dress Code, Explained

The 2026 Met Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is set for tonight with the theme "Costume Art" and the dress code "Fashion is Art." The event, which takes place annually on the first Monday in May, serves as a high-profile fundraiser for the Costume Institute and a fashion spectacle. Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. The theme is tied to the Met's upcoming exhibition of the same name, which will debut the Costume Institute's first permanent galleries—the Condé M. Nast Galleries—and explore "the centrality of the dressed body" by pairing garments with art spanning 5,000 years.

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art’s Artmix is a party built for repeat collectors and first-time buyers

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) is hosting its annual Artmix fundraiser on May 8, 2026, a fast-paced evening featuring a silent auction of works by 100 regional artists. The event includes a VIP preview with early access, champagne, and a guided tour, followed by a general admission party where bidding runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets range from $150 for members to $300 for VIP access, with proceeds supporting BMoCA's exhibitions and education programs.

Hospital Rooms Announces 10-Year Programme and National Artist Edition Launch

The arts and mental health charity Hospital Rooms has announced a comprehensive year-long program for 2026 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The initiative features a nationwide artist edition project titled "10 Posters for 10 Years," involving ten world-renowned artists including Antony Gormley. Key events include a launch at White Cube in July, followed by a major exhibition at Victoria Miro and a fundraising auction at Bonhams in September, all aimed at supporting the charity's Future Fund for mental health environments.

The best looks from the 2026 Met Gala

The 2026 Met Gala, themed 'Costume Art,' took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, honoring the Costume Institute's spring exhibition on the role of the dressed body in art history. Co-chaired by Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Anna Wintour, and Beyoncé, the event featured A-list celebrities, pop stars, and tech titans on the museum's grand staircase, with a dress code of 'Fashion Is Art' encouraging guests to treat the body as a canvas. Notable attendees included Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Rosé, Gigi Hadid, Katy Perry, and Charli XCX, with many wearing custom designs from houses like Marc Jacobs, Saint Laurent, Thom Browne, and Jean Paul Gaultier.

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The Henry Street Settlement, a nonprofit social-service organization on New York's Lower East Side, lost its primary annual fundraiser when the Art Dealers Association of America canceled The Art Show in July 2025. After months of uncertainty, Henry Street has partnered with Independent, the art fair that recently relocated to Pier 36, to host its 37th gala preview on May 14, 2026. The collaboration was brokered by art dealer James Fuentes, a Henry Street board member and longtime Lower East Side gallerist. The gala had raised over $38 million since 1989, and the cancellation left a budget gap that forced the organization to launch a virtual campaign raising only $600,000—half the usual amount—while federal cuts compounded the financial strain.

At the Tuileries, the PAD Paris Fair Celebrates Design with Elegance This Weekend

Aux Tuileries, le salon PAD Paris célèbre le design avec élégance ce week-end

The PAD Paris (Pavillon des Arts et du Design) returns to the Jardin des Tuileries, showcasing 75 French and international galleries specializing in vintage and contemporary collectible design. Highlights of the 2025 edition include the debut of Gallery Gaïa & Romeo with mid-century Italian ceramics, a contemporary reimagining of Claude Monet’s studio by Amélie du Chalard, and a strong focus on international female designers at Maria Wettergren. Parallel to the main fair, the third edition of the Sustainable Design Biennale is presenting plastic-free material innovations and eco-friendly furniture solutions.

An Art Fair for the "Global Majority" Debuts in Brooklyn

The inaugural Conductor Art Fair debuted at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, running through May 3. Co-curated by fair director Adriana Farietta and PHA president Eric Shiner, the event features 28 gallery exhibitors and 20 special projects, with a focus on representing "the global majority and Indigenous nations." Highlights include an immersive yurt installation by Vuslat and Sana Frini, works by Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar, Puerto Rican sculptor Margarita Vincenty, Venezuelan artist Esmelyn Miranda, and Bangladeshi artist Bishwajit Goswami. The fair offers affordable booth fees starting at $2,500 for nonprofits and free participation for self-representing artists with a 30% sales donation to PHA.

Your guide to free self-care: 8 L.A. wellness events you can’t miss in May

The Los Angeles Times article highlights a curated list of free wellness events in Los Angeles for May, with a focus on the first annual Sacred Music and Healing Festival at the World Stage Performance Gallery in Leimert Park on May 23. Executive Director Dwight Trible explains that the festival blends jazz, Indigenous traditions, and healing arts to offer a wellness experience rooted in culture and community, featuring music, yoga, tai chi, and presentations on herbs and meditation.

A Drawing by Hans Baldung Grien Classified as a National Treasure

Un dessin de Hans Baldung Grien classé trésor national

A 1517 silverpoint drawing by German Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien, titled 'Portrait of Susanna Pfeffinger,' has been classified as a French national treasure. The work, which was set to be auctioned at the Hôtel Drouot by Beaussant-Lefèvre, is now subject to an export ban, giving French museums like the Louvre a 30-month window to acquire it.

Conductor Launches in Brooklyn With Venice Biennale-Bound Artists and Immersive Projects

Conductor, a new art fair hosted by Powerhouse Arts, opened in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, drawing over 800 visitors within hours. The fair features 28 galleries and 20 special projects, with installations spilling out of traditional booths into shared spaces. Highlights include House of Silence, a tent-like structure by Turkish artist Vuslat and architect Sana Frini; Retorno (2022) by Juan José Barboza-Gubo, presented by Praise Shadows Gallery; and works by Beya Gille Gacha, who is set to appear in the Cameroon Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Fair director Adrianna Farietta noted that some galleries had to withdraw due to the war in Iran, but the result remains an inclusive and immersive event.

Sotheby’s Sued by Cushman & Wakefield Over $10.2 Million Commission

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Sotheby’s is facing a lawsuit from real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield over an unpaid $10.2 million commission related to the $510 million sale of its former New York headquarters at 1334 York Avenue. The brokerage claims that its work securing Weill Cornell Medicine as a tenant in 2023 paved the way for the medical school's eventual purchase of the building, triggering a contractual 2 percent fee that the auction house has allegedly refused to pay.

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Sotheby's will launch its first luxury marquee auction series in Abu Dhabi this December, called Abu Dhabi Collectors' Week. Running from December 3 to 5 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, the sales will feature cars, watches, jewelry, and real estate, alongside a museum-quality art exhibition spanning Old Masters to contemporary works. The auctions are organized in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and coincide with major regional events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Finance Week. Headline lots include The Desert Rose diamond (estimated $5–7 million), a rare Rolex Daytona watch ($500,000–$1 million), and a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera ($9.5–10.5 million).

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Sotheby's will hold its first luxury marquee sales in Abu Dhabi from December 3 to 5 as part of Abu Dhabi Collectors' Week, featuring Formula 1 cars, an Aston Martin, diamonds, and rare Rolexes. The sales coincide with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and other major events, backed by a $1 billion investment from majority shareholder Patrick Drahi and Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ, along with support from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. The auction house is focusing on luxury goods rather than fine art, with only a non-selling exhibition of Old Masters to contemporary works.

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A new European Union law, Regulation 2019/880, aimed at preventing the sale of looted antiquities, is set to go into effect on June 28. The law imposes heightened due diligence requirements on anyone importing cultural goods from outside the EU, including fine arts, antiquities, and decorative arts. It categorizes cultural goods into three groups, with the strictest rules for archaeological items over 250 years old, which require an import license and proof of legal export. Non-compliance could lead to seizures or criminal consequences for art dealers, collectors, and professionals. While there is a partial exemption for temporary exhibitions, it primarily benefits museums outside the EU, leaving private collectors without the same protections.

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Staff at the British Museum have criticized the institution for allowing the Israeli embassy in London to host a party on its premises celebrating the 77th anniversary of Israel's founding. An internal petition signed by 250 staff members demands an end to relations with Israeli cultural institutions, citing concerns over perceived political bias and potential damage to curatorial partnerships. The event, held on May 13, featured Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely and other political figures, and was not publicly advertised. The museum defended the event as a commercial rental handled on a non-political basis, but former curator Venetia Porter and others argue it undermines impartiality amid the ongoing conflict.

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Scope Art Show is positioning itself as a site of encounters and experiences rather than purely sales driven during Miami Art Week 2025, with the theme 'Be Here Now.' The fair features a program of musical performances, wellness events, new technology, and hospitality, alongside installations and gallery presentations that invite visitors to focus on the present moment. Highlights include Connor Tingley's 'Nun Series' with Ori Gallery, MCSK's human-A.I. collaborative installation 'Replicatio: States of Collapse' at Pirovino, Desmond Beach's exploration of Black American experience at Richard Beavers Gallery, Yohannes Yamassee's ceremonial installation 'One Turtle Island' curated by Virginia Shore and Leah Kolb, and the returning Blue Floor Project showcasing 20 artists from Fuze Caribbean Art Fair.

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Two print curators from the Rijksmuseum, Huigen Leeflang and Joyce Zelen, discovered a rare 19th-century condom with an erotic print at an auction house in Haarlem, Netherlands, in November 2023. They acquired the 1830s condom for €1,000 ($1,140) with no other bidders, and it is now the centerpiece of a small exhibition titled "Safe Sex?" at the Rijksmuseum, which explores 19th-century sex work and sexual health through Dutch and French prints. The condom, likely made from sheep's appendix, features an etching of a half-naked nun with clergymen and is believed to be a souvenir from an upmarket French brothel.

American Artist at Commonwealth and Council

American Artist presents a solo exhibition at Commonwealth and Council in Los Angeles, running from April 4 to May 16, 2026. The show includes a press release and checklist, documented through 32 images provided by the artist and gallery, with photography by Paul Salveson.

Twiggy, Bella Freud and more: Steven Meisel’s masterful London portraits – in pictures

Steven Meisel, the legendary fashion photographer, has been named Master of Photography at Photo London 2026. A rare exhibition of his work, titled "Steven Meisel: Master of Photography," will be held at Olympia, London from 13 to 17 May, showcasing his iconic London portraits from the 1990s, particularly his "Anglo-Saxon Attitude" series for British Vogue. The images feature models and muses such as Twiggy, Stella Tennant, Isabella Blow, Honor Fraser, Bella Freud, and Marlon Richards, captured in locations across London and New York.

‘Art’s Selfish’: Canada Pavilion Artist Abbas Akhavan on What Comes After Venice

Abbas Akhavan, representing Canada at the 2026 Venice Biennale, has transformed the Canada Pavilion into a greenhouse-like installation titled “Abbas Akhavan: Entre chien et loup.” The pavilion’s wooden door has been replaced with glass, revealing a pond of pinkish water illuminated by sunlight and LED grow-lamps. Visitors encounter mossy boulders, a vintage fur coat sprayed with mist, sharpened bronze sticks, and frosted mirrors that blur the architecture. Three giant Bolivian water lilies, grown from seeds sent from Kew Gardens to Padua, will gradually fill the pond over the summer. Akhavan describes his role as a “custodian” rather than a controller, emphasizing the unpredictability of nature.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos unveils Met’s new exhibit amid gala backlash

Lauren Sánchez Bezos appeared alongside Anna Wintour at a press conference in New York to unveil the Metropolitan Museum of Art's new Costume Art exhibit, which opens May 10 ahead of the Met Gala. Sánchez Bezos and her husband Jeff Bezos are primary sponsors of this year's gala and exhibit, a role that has sparked backlash and a boycott campaign from the activist group Everyone Hates Elon. The exhibit explores themes of the dressed body through garments paired with ancient artifacts, featuring categories like "the naked body," "classic body," and "disabled body."

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.

Experience 'Mona Lisa' and Renaissance Art at Hong Kong Heritage Museum Exhibition Starting Tomorrow

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is launching 'The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance' exhibition from May 1 to July 27. The show offers a multimedia immersive experience centered on Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' and features Renaissance art treasures on loan from French and Italian cultural institutions, including the Musée du Louvre and the Musée national de la Renaissance. The opening ceremony on April 30 was attended by Hong Kong Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, French Consul General Christile Drulhe, and other dignitaries.

Savannah African Art Museum Celebrates Ribbon Cutting And Opening Of Two New Exhibitions

The Savannah African Art Museum will host a ribbon cutting and gallery opening on April 30th, unveiling two new exhibitions: The Liren Wei Collection, a permanent gallery of works from West and Central Africa, and “Roots and Rituals: Agriculture and Spirituality in the West African Interior,” which explores farming and spirituality in Mali and Burkina Faso. The free public event runs from 5:30 PM to 8 PM, with the ribbon cutting at 6:00 PM.

Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum Welcomes World Cup Fans in 2026

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City has introduced a new exhibition, "Personal Best," designed to welcome international visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The exhibition blends fine art and athletics, connecting the global sporting event with Kansas City's cultural scene. The museum offers free general admission, making it an accessible attraction for soccer fans attending six matches at Arrowhead Stadium starting June 16, 2026.

Sacramento Fine Arts Center Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The Sacramento Fine Arts Center (Sac Arts) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in April 2026. Founded in April 1986 by five independent regional art clubs, including Northern California Arts and Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons, the center began in a former high school building in Carmichael, California. Volunteers cleaned and renovated the space, which is owned by the Carmichael Recreation and Park District. Over the years, the center has expanded with studio spaces, galleries, and a rental gallery, supported by community donations and volunteer efforts. The anniversary year features special events, classes, and a new banner project with 130 submissions for 21 PVC mesh banners.

Robert McLaughlin Gallery Opens New Summer Exhibits in Oshawa

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, Ontario, will launch its summer exhibition season on June 13, 2026, featuring five new displays. The season includes solo shows by artists Stephen Andrews, Oliver Husain, and Austin Henderson. Andrews presents 'The sum of the parts,' a display of 125 drawings examining media coverage of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Husain offers an immersive video installation titled 'I ♥ Snail,' exploring the history of IMAX cinema. Henderson, the RBC emerging artist in residence, debuts works investigating queer history and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada through his family history. A free public event with curator remarks, artist-led tours, and a complimentary shuttle from OCAD University in Toronto will mark the opening.

Exhibitions set to open in Paris in May 2026: what's new to discover this month

A roundup of new art and cultural exhibitions opening in Paris and the Île-de-France region in May 2026 is announced. Highlights include the annual Rambolitrain toy train fair at Rambolitrain museum on May 1, free evening hours at the Bourse de Commerce on May 2, free entry to castles and museums in Yvelines and Seine-et-Marne on May 3, the Tour Auto classic car display under the Grand Palais glass roof on May 3-4, the Circle of Parisian Artists' 24th annual exhibition at Parc Floral from May 4-31, a new garden art exhibition "Jardin des Lumières" at the Grand Trianon in Versailles from May 5 to September 27, and a major Hilma af Klint exhibition at the Grand Palais.