Pavilions of the Venice Biennale go on strike

Pavillons der Venedig-Biennale werden bestreikt

Cultural workers and participants of the Venice Biennale went on strike on Friday, protesting Israel's participation in the art exhibition. Organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) alongside several cultural groups and Italian grassroots unions, the 24-hour walkout led to the closure of several national pavilions on the final preview day. A rally was planned near the Arsenale grounds. The strike aims to oppose the "normalization of genocide in culture" and poor working conditions at the Biennale, following an earlier open letter signed by over 230 artists and curators demanding the exclusion of the Israeli pavilion. Israel is represented by sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, who opposes cultural boycotts and advocates for dialogue. The Biennale's leadership has distanced itself from the strike, emphasizing adherence to regulations and support for freedom of speech and pluralism.

Can we practice for crises in art?

"Können wir in der Kunst für die Krisen üben?"

Belgian theater director Miet Warlop is presenting her work "It never SSST" at the Belgian Pavilion during the Venice Biennale. The installation combines performance, sculpture, a radio show, and objects, featuring six performers, musicians, dancers, and a sculptor who periodically calls "Freeze" to capture movements in plaster reliefs. Warlop, known for her physically exhausting ritualistic performances like "One Song," discusses the piece's themes of ceaseless activity and the body as a resource, as well as the challenge of engaging visitors who often rush through the pavilion.

The Porn Effect

Der Porno-Effekt

Maja Malou Lyse received a bizarre phone call nearly three years ago from the CEO of the world's largest sperm bank, who offered her 20 liters of discarded sperm for artistic purposes. She accepted and created an installation for the Danish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, working with porn stars to explore how images shape bodies and desire.

Jury of the Venice Biennale Resigns

Jury der Venedig-Biennale tritt zurück

The entire jury of the Venice Biennale, appointed by artistic director Koyo Kouoh, has resigned with immediate effect. In a statement released on Thursday, the jury members—including chair Solange Oliveira Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi—cited a prior declaration from April 22 in which they announced they would not award Golden or Silver Lions to artists from countries whose political leadership is currently indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. Although no specific countries were named, the move implicitly targets Russia (President Vladimir Putin) and Israel (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu), both subject to ICC arrest warrants. The resignation comes amid escalating tensions over Russia's participation in the Biennale despite EU sanctions, which had already led to a freeze of EU funding and widespread protests.

Gitte Zschoch wird Generalsekretärin des Goethe-Instituts

Gitte Zschoch has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Goethe-Institut, taking over the role and chairmanship of the board on July 18. She succeeds Johannes Ebert, who has held the position since 2012 and will now lead the institute's regional office in Athens. Zschoch, currently Secretary General of the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa), previously worked for the Goethe-Institut in various roles, including founding director of its branch in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The appointment was confirmed by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and approved by the institute's presidium.

Berlin Museum to Return Almost 600 Skulls

Berliner Museum will fast 600 Schädel zurückgeben

The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in Berlin has announced plans to repatriate hundreds of human skulls to West African nations following a multi-year provenance investigation. The research identified the origins of 574 skulls, with 336 linked to present-day Cameroon, 151 to Togo, 23 to Ghana, and one to Nigeria, while 63 could not be precisely located. The skulls were part of a historical anthropological collection transferred from Berlin's Charité university hospital in 2011.

Under Water, We Who Are Deaf Are Freer

"Unter Wasser sind wir Gehörlosen freier"

Artists Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski have been selected to represent Poland at the upcoming Venice Biennale with their collaborative project, "Liquid Tongues." The exhibition features elaborate video works that draw parallels between the ancient, complex vocalizations of whales and the visual communication of sign language. By filming underwater, the duo explores an environment where the traditional sensory advantages of hearing people are neutralized, and the gestural fluency of the Deaf community becomes a primary mode of connection.

Unlearning Optimization – with Heike Geißler

Optimierung verlernen – mit Heike Geißler

Award-winning author Heike Geißler discusses the necessity of resisting constant self-optimization and embracing despair as a response to modern labor conditions. Drawing from her experiences working in an Amazon warehouse, which inspired her book "Saisonarbeit," Geißler argues that the pressure to perform often leads to a "culture of contempt" and that acknowledging systemic failures is a vital form of resistance.

Architects respond to "excess and demolition" at reuse exhibition in Mexico

Fifteen international architecture studios have created installations from reused building materials and found objects for the exhibition "Reuse: Architectures of Almost Nothing" at artspace Laguna in Mexico City during art week. The show, curated by Laguna's curatorial director María Muñoz and architect Edgar Rodríguez, features works made from windshields, tarps, barrels, and even a complete car, all arranged across the former factory space. Participating studios include Sam Chermayeff Office, Ex-Soup, Parabase, Bangkok Tokyo, and others, with each piece designed as an "architectural accessory" that resignifies a single object through redeployment.

New experimental art organisation opens in New York

Curator Summer Guthery, who left economics to found four non-profit experimental art spaces across the US, is launching a fifth venture called Times with fellow curator Francesca Sonara. Located in Manhattan’s Chinatown at 151 Lafayette Street, the 3,000-square-foot space will host up to three exhibitions simultaneously across two galleries and a screening room. The inaugural event on 12 February features Latvian performance artist Jana Jacuka, followed by a solo exhibition by Danish artist Nina Beier (21 February-9 May). Times rejects a permanent institutional model, planning a three-year obsolescence to remain nimble and responsive to artists’ needs.

A New Generation of Gallerists Is Redefining Artist Representation

A new generation of gallerists is rethinking traditional artist representation models, moving away from rigid exclusivity clauses and transactional relationships. Figures like Bryce Watanasoponwong of The Charoen AArt in Bangkok, Storm Ascher of Superposition, and Lorraine Han of Unveil Gallery are adopting flexible, collaborative approaches that reflect the realities of contemporary artists, who often juggle multiple roles and prefer non-exclusive arrangements. These gallerists emphasize open dialogue, shared responsibility, and long-term relationship-building over strict contracts, as seen in Ascher's seven-year support of artist Haleigh Nickerson, which culminated in a solo show at NADA New York 2025.

Writer Thomas Clerc casts a tender fictional gaze on Montmartre's 'daubs'

L’écrivain Thomas Clerc pose, à travers une fiction, un regard tendre sur les « croûtes » de Montmartre

French writer and essayist Thomas Clerc has published a new fiction titled "Croûtes" as the fifteenth volume in the "Fléchette" collection by éditions sun/sun. The book draws inspiration from a single autochrome image taken from the Musée Albert-Kahn's "Archives de la planète" (1909–1931), specifically a one-minute film shot in March 1927 at the Foire aux croûtes in Montmartre, Paris. Clerc's narrative tenderly and humorously explores the life of an amateur painter and the infinite possibilities of so-called "croûtes"—a French slang term for amateurish or kitsch paintings that exist outside institutional recognition.

Long threatened, the Palais de la découverte will finally reopen in 2027 after a seven-year closure

Longtemps menacé, le Palais de la découverte va finalement rouvrir en 2027 après sept ans de fermeture

The Palais de la découverte in Paris will officially reopen in March 2027 following a seven-year closure for extensive renovations. Located in the Palais d’Antin wing of the Grand Palais, the institution faced the threat of permanent closure or relocation to the Cité des sciences due to economic constraints. However, a joint decision by the French Ministries of Research and Culture has secured its future at its historic site, where it will feature a shared entrance with the Grand Palais to foster a unique dialogue between art and science.

Sheung Yiu “(Inter)faces of Predictions” at C/O Berlin

Finland-based artist researcher Sheung Yiu presents his long-term project "(Inter)faces of Predictions" at C/O Berlin, exploring how faces have been used across cultures and the implications of facial reading technologies. The exhibition examines the shift from spiritual to economic imperatives in facial interpretation, highlighting the progressive deterioration of human agency.

Ndidi Dike “Rare Earth Rare Justice” at Secession, Vienna

Ndidi Dike, a British-Nigerian sculptor and multi-disciplinary artist, presents her first major solo exhibition at an Austrian institution, titled "Rare Earth Rare Justice," at Secession in Vienna. The show features works across mixed media, painting, sculpture, collage, photography, video, and installation, addressing social, political, and economic conditions of the modern world.

Alex Thake “I Know This Much is True” at Triangolo, Cremona

Alex Thake presents a solo exhibition titled "I Know This Much is True" at Triangolo gallery in Cremona. The show features new works by the artist, continuing his exploration of material and conceptual themes.

“Plenty more” at Cherry Hill, Cologne

The exhibition "Plenty more" has opened at the Cherry Hill gallery in Cologne, featuring works by artists Asta Lynge, Jakob Ohrt, and Eleanor Ivory Weber. The show is a reinterpretation of their previous 2024 exhibition "Plenty," held at Astrid Noacks Atelier in Copenhagen, with the curatorial decision to remove or reinterpret existing works rather than add new ones. The exhibition will run until April 18, 2026.

12,000 Years Ago, Native Americans Were Playing Games of Chance with Handmade Dice

Archaeologists have discovered that Native Americans were engaging in games of chance using handmade dice as far back as 12,000 years ago, during the Late Pleistocene. A new study by researcher Robert Madden reveals that these artifacts, found in sites across Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, predate the previously oldest known dice from Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley by over 6,000 years. These early dice, often made of bone and decorated with pigments, were used by the hunter-gatherer Folsom culture.

NAFRICA–MASCHERE: The Mask Strikes Back

Curator Simon Njami discusses his exhibition 'NAFRICA–MASCHERE' at the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, which juxtaposes the fascist anthropological archives of Lidio Cipriani with contemporary artworks. The show utilizes the metaphor of the mask to explore the tension between how individuals are perceived and how they project themselves, specifically addressing the persistence of colonial logic in the modern world. By including artists from Africa, America, and Italy, Njami seeks to move beyond a binary 'colonizer vs. colonized' narrative toward a broader inquiry into human representation and power.

Diane Victor at Académie des Beaux-Arts.

South African artist Diane Victor has been awarded the 10th Mario Avati Engraving Prize 2025 by the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. Her work is currently the subject of an exhibition at the Académie des Beaux-Arts, which runs until May 31, 2026.

Experimental Funding Schemes and Militant Analysis: The Experience of CERFI

The Center for Institutional Studies, Research, and Training (CERFI), a research cooperative co-founded by Félix Guattari in the wake of May 1968, sought to merge militant political practice with institutional psychotherapy. By adopting a model of 'analytical self-management,' the group utilized rotational roles and collective research to avoid the hierarchies and alienation typical of traditional academic and political organizations. This experimental structure was heavily influenced by the 'grid' system used at the La Borde psychiatric clinic, aiming to turn administrative labor into a tool for subjective liberation.

New gallery celebrating craftmanship and art opens

The historic Hopton Hall Estate has opened a new gallery in Ashbourne, England, called the Hopton Hall Gallery. The gallery, housed in an 18th-century building that previously served as a butcher's, clockmaker's, and draper's shop, is the creation of estate owners Chris and Andi Harvey. Its inaugural exhibition, 'Brushed Light: Atmospheric Watercolours,' features works by local artists, and the gallery will host a rotating program of exhibitions and events through at least May 2027.

Experience Western’s 2026 art biennial

Western Washington University’s art department has opened its 2026 faculty and staff biennial, featuring 20 artists with works spanning painting, photography, sculpture, video, and installation. The exhibition is held in the Fine Arts Building, room 124, and runs Monday through Saturday until May 2, with free admission. New gallery director Kelly Lindner curated the show, which includes interactive pieces and collaborative works. Featured artist Jennifer Anable contributed three works inspired by Skagit Valley and dark humor, emphasizing the importance of students seeing their teachers’ professional practice.

Marti’s art gallery in Albion kicks off new season with expanded calendar

Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion has officially launched its 16th season, unveiling an ambitious schedule that expands from six to eight exhibitions for 2026. The season opener features stone sculptures by George Graham and Richard Bannister, alongside a dedicated showcase of works by Albion High School art teacher Dr. Athena Nichols and five of her senior students.

"JAWS" & GARDEN OF EDEN ART SHOWS TOP WEEKEND PICKS

Two art openings are taking place this weekend in Red Bank, New Jersey, within walking distance of each other. On Saturday from 5-8pm, the Art Alliance Studio and Gallery hosts an officially licensed exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's film "Jaws," featuring works by artists including Chris Austin and DULK, presented in conjunction with CODA, Popcore, Universal Studios, and Amblin Entertainment. Simultaneously, from 6-8pm, Galerie Lucida opens its summer group exhibition "Echoes of Eden," which focuses on environmental themes and features over twenty artists including Lisa Bagwell, Kristian Battell, and Michael Flomen. A preview of the summer Street Life Music Series will provide live music between the two venues.

Full circle creativity: Courtney Saunders finds artistic community

Courtney Saunders, a graphic designer and digital artist, has returned to Tallahassee after accepting a position with Grova Creative in early 2025. Her digital painting "Watch Us" earned Third Place in COCA's 2026 Creative Tallahassee exhibition, currently on view at City Hall Gallery through June 8. Saunders, who attended the School of Arts and Sciences in Tallahassee during middle school, credits the city's creative community and her supportive teachers for nurturing her artistic voice. She holds a BFA in graphic design from Andrews University and works across multiple mediums including acrylic, watercolor, collage, and digital illustration.

Kettle Art Gallery presents "OG’s Return to Deep Ellum" opening reception

Kettle Art Gallery in Dallas is hosting "OG's Return to Deep Ellum," an exhibition reuniting eight pioneering visual artists who helped shape the creative identity of the Deep Ellum district. The show features works by Bill Haveron, Brad Ellis, Brad Smith, Clay Austin, Dwayne Carter, Frank Campagna, Greg "Ozone" Contestabile, and Thor Johnson, alongside tributes to the late Albert Scherbarth and David "Mosquito" Hawley. The opening reception precedes a run through August 16.

‘Breeders’ is a collaborative Lawrence art show on parenthood that took a village

A group of 17 Lawrence-based artists with children have collaborated on a new exhibition titled 'Breeders' at Cider Gallery, opening April 24. Organized by local artist and teacher John Sebelius, the show explores the joys and challenges of parenthood through diverse media, including paintings, collages, and ceramics. A sister show, 'Offspring,' featuring works by the artists' children, will open simultaneously at Seedco Studios. Participating artists include Mona Cliff, Stan Herd, Angie Pickman, Kevin Willmott, Megan Embers, and Katie Winter, among others.

Reception for Resilience Exhibit

The Ucross Art Gallery hosted an artists’ reception for its latest exhibition, "Resilience," which showcases the work of the 2025 Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists recipients. Curated by Marwin Begaye, the show features a diverse range of media including sculpture by Gina Herrera, mixed-media works by Wade Patton, and visual and performance art by Sarah Ortegon HighWalking, alongside photography and poetry by writer Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle. The event was highlighted by a collaborative performance involving the Jingle Dress Dance and live woodblock printing.

The Masure Gallery of Photography and Spazio Morandi Open in North Texas

The Dallas-Fort Worth art scene has expanded with the debut of two new exhibition spaces: The Masure Gallery of Photography in Fort Worth and Spazio Morandi in East Dallas. The Masure Gallery, an extension of Fort Worth Camera, launched with a group exhibition titled "RED" featuring ten North Texas photographers, while Spazio Morandi opened with a solo exhibition by Austin-based artist Brad Tucker titled "Hospitality Suite."