Affordable Art Fair Hampstead Returns

The Affordable Art Fair is returning to Hampstead Heath in London from May 6th to 10th, featuring over 100 galleries and more than 1,000 artworks. A key highlight is the inaugural 'Ceramics Unbound' exhibition, curated by Caroline Jackman, showcasing 27 boundary-pushing ceramic artists, including featured programme artist Sara Dodd. The fair also includes curated displays like 'Heath & Heart' and 'Finds Under £500,' outdoor painting workshops, evening 'Summer Lates' events with music, and family-friendly activities including a children's art competition.

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.

For Which It Stands...

The Fairfield University Art Museum has launched "For Which It Stands…," a landmark exhibition featuring over 70 artworks that utilize the American flag as a central motif. Curated by Carey Mack Weber, the show spans more than a century of artistic production, from World War I-era paintings by Childe Hassam to contemporary works by artists such as Julie Mehretu and Danielle Scott. The exhibition is a centerpiece of the university's America250 programming, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Artists and Gulf royalty top ArtReview Power 100 list

ArtReview has released its 2025 Power 100 list, ranking the most influential figures in the art world over the past year. Artists dominate the top ten, with Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama taking the first place for using his art profits to build institutions and community spaces in Tamale. Other top artists include Wael Shawky, Ho Tzu Nyen, Amy Sherald, Kerry James Marshall, Forensic Architecture, and Wolfgang Tillmans. Gulf royalty also feature prominently: Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar ranks second, and Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi of Sharjah ranks third, reflecting the region's growing art-world influence. The list also includes academic Saidiya Hartman as a "thinker" in eighth place.

David Hockney’s Vibrant Creations Anchor Artnet’s Contemporary Editions Auction

Artnet Auctions is staging its Contemporary Editions sale, now live for bidding through November 19, 2025, featuring three works by David Hockney: an iPad drawing titled *16th February, 2021, More Flowers in a Glass Vase* (est. $40,000–$60,000), a digitally stitched photograph *In the Studio, December 2017* (est. $50,000–$70,000), and a lithograph *Pretty Tulips* (1969) (est. $35,000–$55,000). The sale highlights Hockney’s ongoing experimentation with digital tools and printmaking, offering collectors accessible entry points into his six-decade career.

Students curate the past and look toward the future: SVAD centennial exhibition showcases 100 years of art at USC

Students at the University of South Carolina curated "Generations: 100 Years of Art at USC," a centennial exhibition at the McKissick Museum celebrating the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD). Developed in an exhibition design course taught by museum director Lana Burgess and professor Susan Felleman, the show traces the art department's history from its founding in 1925 by Katherine Heyward to its current status as the state's largest art program. Junior art history major Agostina Mercado and her classmates researched archives, conducted oral histories with former faculty like Philip Mullen, and uncovered themes of mentorship and community that have defined the school for a century.

debbie ma dmd contemporary

Debbie Ma's solo exhibition "The Language of Surface: Paintings by Debbie Ma" is on view at the Bridgehampton Museum on Long Island through December 30, 2025. The show features Ma's geometric abstractions that incorporate marble dust and impasto techniques, creating tactile surfaces that bridge visual abstraction and material investigation. Works such as "Red Between the Lines II" (2025) and "From the Earth" (2025) demonstrate her exploration of line, shape, and color while referencing Modernist movements like Abstract Expressionism and Constructivism.

Art Exhibits: What's on display in the Fort Wayne area

This article is a local arts calendar listing current and upcoming exhibitions in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. It highlights new shows such as "Grounded in Light" featuring Julie Wall at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, "Summer Selections" of student work at Purdue University Fort Wayne's Visual Arts Gallery, and "Archetypes" by printmaker Chuck Sperry at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Also listed are ongoing exhibitions including the "46th National Print Exhibition" at Artlink, a tribute to late ceramic artist Tom Sherbondy at Ruth Koomler Art Gallery, and several other shows at venues like the Orchard Gallery, Allen County Public Library, Garrett Museum of Art, and Honeywell Center.

In Venice, a new project aims to transform museums into living, participatory spaces

A Venezia un nuovo progetto punta a trasformare i musei in spazi vivi e partecipati

The Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE) has launched "Performing MUVE," a new program set to begin in spring 2026 that reimagines museums as dynamic, participatory spaces. The initiative, developed by MUVE Academy and MUVE Education, will unfold across three venues: Museo Fortuny, Casa di Carlo Goldoni, and the new MUVEC – Casa delle Contemporaneità in Mestre. The program includes four distinct projects—led by Mattia Berto, choreographer Elena Ajani, actress Sara Urban, and dancer Giulia Gemma Manfrotto—that use dance, theater, and embodied practices to transform visitors from passive observers into active participants.

That Time Raphael Visited Tivoli, Transforming Antiquity into Art

Quella volta che Raffaello visitò Tivoli trasformando l’antichità in arte

In April 1516, Raphael Sanzio embarked on a historic excursion to Tivoli alongside a prestigious circle of Renaissance intellectuals, including Baldassarre Castiglione and Pietro Bembo. This journey served as a critical field study for Raphael, who had recently been appointed as Rome's prefect of antiquities. By examining the complex ruins of Hadrian's Villa and the Sanctuary of the Sibyl, the group engaged in a sophisticated blend of archaeological investigation and humanist leisure that defined the cultural climate under Pope Leo X.

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair Has Taken Off Its Training Wheels

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair (BFAPF) has returned for its second edition at Powerhouse Arts, expanding significantly from its inaugural "beta test" last year. The fair now features over 60 exhibitors, including a diverse mix of independent print shops, academic departments, self-represented artists, and established international galleries. This year's iteration emphasizes experimental mixed-media practices and a rigorous juried selection process, moving beyond traditional printmaking to include illuminated plexiglass screenprints and sculptural paper works.

Directors Chosen by Internal Call Rather Than Competition: The Great Restoration of State Museums

Direttori scelti per interpello e non per concorso. La grande restaurazione dei musei statali

The Italian state museum system is undergoing a significant reversal of the landmark 2015 Franceschini reforms, which originally opened director positions to international competition and private-sector expertise. Recent appointments at major institutions like the Reggia di Caserta and the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice indicate a shift away from global searches toward internal ministerial assignments, effectively turning museum leadership back into a closed bureaucratic career path.

Art Notes, May 20

This article, titled 'Art Notes, May 20,' is a roundup of local art events and exhibitions on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. It highlights Alexander Taylor's solo exhibit 'Washed Upon the Shore' at the Ocean County Library in Surf City, featuring his marine-life paintings created with purified ocean water. Other events include summer art classes by Jamie Jarka at multiple venues, the 'Art in Bloom' floral design event at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, and ongoing shows at the Pine Shores Art Association's galleries. The article also announces a deadline for the LBIF 'Coast' exhibition.

Art Notes, May 13

Artist and teacher Jamie Jarka, creator of the popular Milo the Seagull mascot for Long Beach Island, has expanded her merchandise to Ron Jon Surf Shop in Ship Bottom, selling prints, stickers, magnets, and nightlights. Jarka will also teach weekly summer art classes at three Island venues: Bayview Park in Brant Beach, Firefly Gallery in Surf City, and Sea Shell Resort and Beach Club in Beach Haven, with schedules and pricing detailed for each location. Additionally, the article covers the 51st annual Art in Bloom movement, with events at Pine Shores Art Association's Stafford gallery and the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences (LBIF), where garden club members create floral arrangements inspired by artworks. Other news includes the PSAA Tuckerton Art Center's "Blooming Spring" show, a "Glimpses of America" exhibition at Beach Haven Borough Gallery, and a call for South Jersey photographers to submit work for an LBIF photography exhibition and fundraiser celebrating LBI lifeguards.

Lee Jong-gu turns 'Pensive' in self-reflective solo exhibition at Hakgojae Gallery

Veteran Korean artist Lee Jong-gu, a key figure in the 1980s minjung art movement, has opened a solo exhibition titled "Pensive" at Hakgojae Gallery in Seoul. The show features 38 paintings that mark a shift from his decades-long focus on social realism toward a more contemplative approach, centering on the bangasayusang (contemplative bodhisattva figures) from the National Museum of Korea. Lee blends these sacred images with nude bodies, flames, and crowd scenes, drawing on the Buddhist concept of non-duality to explore themes of life, death, and the sacred versus the profane. The exhibition runs through June 20.

Winfred Gaul | May (1969) | For Sale

A screenprint titled "May (1969)" by German Abstract artist Winfred Gaul is being offered for sale through RoGallery Auctions on Artsy. The work, edition 6/100, was originally featured as the image for May in the 1969 Domberger calendar, which included screenprints by 12 prominent artists. The print is signed and numbered in pencil, with an estimated value of $600–$900 and a starting bid of $250. The listing includes a biography of Gaul, noting his studies at the University of Cologne and the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, his first solo exhibition in 1956 at Gurlitt Gallery in Munich, and his participation in Documenta 2 in 1959. His work is held in major museum collections including MoMA, the National Gallery of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

St. Mary’s College Professor Of Art Sue Johnson Reveals D.C. Gallery Exhibition

Sue Johnson, professor of art at St. Mary's College, is presenting her second solo exhibition at gallery neptune & brown in Washington, D.C., titled “Blueprint for Happiness.” The show runs from May 16 through June 20, with an opening reception on May 16. Johnson debuts a new series, “My Teenage Years,” which builds on her earlier “Symmetrical Bodies” work and examines the pressures on women to conform to ideals of happiness and perfection in body image and domestic spaces, drawing on 1960s-70s material and commercial culture.

Santa Monicas 1st Municipal Art Gallery To Open Soon

The City of Santa Monica is launching its first municipal art gallery, the Santa Monica City Gallery, located within the Bergamot Station Arts Center. The space will debut on April 10 with an inaugural exhibition titled “Case Study: Adapt,” which features architectural models developed by USC Architecture students in collaboration with professional firms. The opening event will include remarks from California for the Arts Executive Director Julie Baker and a commendation for State Senator Ben Allen.

Cultural workers at Venice Biennale to strike over Israel’s participation

Cultural workers and participants at the Venice Biennale plan to strike on 8 May during the opening week of the 61st edition, protesting Israel’s participation in the event. The strike, organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) and supported by Italian trade unions, includes a rally near the Arsenale site. ANGA previously sent a letter signed by over 230 artists and curators demanding the cancellation of the Israeli pavilion, citing opposition to "genocide normalisation in culture" and precarious labor conditions. Israel is represented this year by sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, who opposes cultural boycotts.

The Death of the Art School

In a faculty meeting at Purchase College in New York, an administrator referred to students as "consumers," prompting the author to reflect on the pervasive corporatization and "administrification" of American higher education. The article argues that this language reflects a broader restructuring of universities as businesses, where students are customers, knowledge is a product, and faculty are service providers. It cites data showing that between 1976 and 2011, non-faculty professional positions grew by 369% while tenure-track faculty grew by only 23%, and at Purchase College, administrator salaries rose over 45% from 2016 to 2024 while assistant professor salaries rose just 14%, with inflation at 31%.

A Venezia sta aprendo un nuovo Palazzo delle Arti e delle Culture grazie alla Fondazione Giancarlo Ligabue. L’intervista

A new Palazzo delle Arti e delle Culture – Collecto is opening in Venice at Palazzo Erizzo Ligabue, a 15th-century palace on the Grand Canal. The initiative, spearheaded by Inti Ligabue (45), son of the late paleontologist and entrepreneur Giancarlo Ligabue, will open to the public from May 7 to May 24, 2026, offering guided tours of a collection of over 400 pieces spanning from 4.5-billion-year-old fossils to contemporary works by artists such as Arcangelo Sassolino, Nico Vascellari, and Giorgio Andreotta Calò. The project builds on the Fondazione Giancarlo Ligabue, established in 2016 from the original Centro Studi founded in 1973, and will feature a residency by artist Marta Spagnoli.

Sands and Rituals from the Antipodes: To Be Discovered in a Former Church in Venice

Sabbie e riti dagli antipodi. Da scoprire in una ex chiesa di Venezia

The Church of San Lorenzo in Venice, home to Ocean Space, is hosting "Tide of Returns," an exhibition by the Repatriates Collective. The installation transforms the historic nave with sand dunes populated by thousands of decorated shells known as Dadikwakwa-kwa, or shell dolls, from the Anindilyakwa people of Australia. The show also features a tripartite installation of video, textiles, and braids by German-Bolivian artist Verena Melgarejo Weinandt, exploring themes of ancestral connection and the universal significance of water.

“The State of the World? An Act of Madness.” Interview with Ai Weiwei, Arriving in Milan with a Surprise Installation

“Lo stato del mondo? Un atto di follia”. Intervista con Ai Weiwei che arriva a Milano con un’installazione a sorpresa

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has unveiled a surprise site-specific installation in Milan, created in collaboration with the historic Venetian textile house Rubelli. Located in the Rubelli showroom for Fuorisalone 2026, the immersive work features a large-scale lampas fabric woven with silk and gold threads, depicting symbols of surveillance, censorship, and political struggle such as handcuffs, the Twitter bird, and alpacas.

New York is so expensive that it is no longer possible to produce art and culture in the city

New York è così cara che ormai non è più possibile produrre arte e cultura in città

Artist and curator Josh Kline has sparked a significant industry debate with his essay, "New York Real Estate and the Ruin of American Art," which argues that the city's prohibitive real estate market is dismantling its cultural foundation. Kline posits that the financialization of property and the disappearance of affordable lofts and mid-size galleries have created an unsustainable ecosystem where only those with independent wealth can survive. This economic pressure is forcing a generation of creative workers to choose between their practice and basic survival, leading to a stagnation of innovation.

Even exhibition catalogues can become manga: The case of Yuko Mohri

Pure i cataloghi delle mostre possono diventare manga. Il caso Yuko Mohri

The Pirelli HangarBicocca has released a unique exhibition catalogue for Japanese artist Yuko Mohri following her solo show, 'Entanglements,' in Milan. The publication distinguishes itself by including a 24-page manga titled 'Yuko and the Unnamed' by artist Ran Kurumi, tucked into the book's jacket. This graphic insert serves as a biographical narrative, tracing Mohri’s journey from her formative years in Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district to her recent representation of Japan at the 2024 Venice Biennale.

April 2026 at the Theater: A Guide to Must-See Events in Italy (Including Dance)

Aprile 2026 a teatro: guida agli appuntamenti da non perdere in Italia (anche sulla danza)

Italy’s April 2026 performing arts season features a diverse lineup of major theatrical premieres and experimental adaptations. Highlights include the Italian debut of Annie Baker’s Pulitzer-winning 'Circle Mirror Transformation' directed by Valerio Binasco, and a dark comedy by Ariel Dorfman titled 'The Other Side' exploring the absurdity of war. Other notable productions include Armando Punzo’s non-traditional 'Cenerentola' (Cinderella) moving from a high-security prison setting to the Teatro della Pergola, and a dedicated retrospective for Daria Deflorian at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro.

Art Historian Paolo Baldacci Has Died; His Studies on Giorgio de Chirico and Metaphysical Art Were Fundamental

È morto lo storico dell’arte Paolo Baldacci. Fondamentali i suoi studi su Giorgio de Chirico e sulla Metafisica

Renowned art historian, critic, and professor Paolo Baldacci has passed away in Milan at the age of 81. Originally a scholar of ancient history and Roman epigraphy, Baldacci transitioned into a leading authority on 20th-century Italian art, specifically focusing on Futurism and Metaphysical painting. He was widely recognized for his monumental 1997 monograph and catalogue raisonné on Giorgio de Chirico, as well as his extensive research into the work of Alberto Savinio.

In this L’Aquila High School, there is a Contemporary Art Collection Created by Students and Artists

In questo liceo dell’Aquila c’è una collezione d’arte contemporanea realizzata dagli studenti con gli artisti

The Liceo Bafile in L’Aquila has established a permanent collection of contemporary art featuring over 60 site-specific works created through collaborations between professional artists and students. Initiated by artist and professor Licia Galizia following the devastating 2009 earthquake, the project integrates art into the educational environment as a tool for cultural rebirth. In 2026, the collection will expand further with seven new installations created by artists including Elena Bellantoni and Marco Nereo Rotelli in partnership with the Academy of Fine Arts of L’Aquila.

75 Years of Making Art in Ardsley

The Ardsley Art Commission is presenting a unique exhibition featuring the works of mother-and-son artists Valda Hancock Wagner and Rich Wagner, spanning 75 years of artistic creation. The show includes oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, drawings, etchings, and wood block prints, ranging from traditional realism to abstraction. Valda studied with notable artists such as Reginald Marsh, Robert Rauschenberg, and Robert Beverly Hale, and later taught art in inner-city New York. Rich studied at the Art Students League, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the Royal Drawing School, and has participated in over 80 exhibitions. The exhibition is on view at Ardsley Village Hall through October 1.

SOPAC's Herb + Milly Iris Gallery presents "INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition"

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) presents "INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition" in its Herb + Milly Iris Gallery from May 14 through August 16, 2026. Over 300 students from 20 area high schools submitted more than 1,000 original works; 70 pieces were selected for the show, spanning photography, digital art, painting, drawing, sculpture, fiber arts, and ceramics. An opening reception will be held on May 14.