Stitches in time: the artist chronicling the DRC’s blood-soaked history in tapestry

Lucie Kamusekera, an 82-year-old artist in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, creates embroidered tapestries on tobacco sacks that chronicle the country's violent history. Born in 1944 and taught sewing by Italian nuns, she began documenting contemporary conflicts after witnessing a military truck filled with corpses. Her more than 70 works depict events from the colonial Belgian Congo era to the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba and the second Congo war, as well as personal tragedies including her husband's murder by rebels. Despite ongoing danger from rebel offensives, she continues to stitch from her home studio, training her children and great-granddaughter to carry on her work.

Births, deaths and a first kiss: life near the frontline in Ukraine – in pictures

British-Iranian artist Aria Shahrokhshahi's long-term photographic project "Wet Ground" captures daily life in Ukraine during Russia's full-scale invasion, focusing on moments of youth, subculture, and fragile continuity rather than traditional war imagery. The series, developed through repeated stays and volunteering since 2019, includes scenes from teenage discos, hospital wards, a birth during a missile attack, and a first kiss near the frontline, all shot in stark black and white.

Amid Epstein Blowback, Bard President Leon Botstein Talks About Succession Plan But With No Timeline: Report

Leon Botstein, president of Bard College since 1975, has discussed retiring and transitioning to a faculty role as a historian and musician once a successor is found, following backlash over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. According to a Times Union report, no timeline has been set, and the 79-year-old appears to have no immediate plans to leave. Botstein has held multiple meetings with students and staff since February, when details of his relationship with Epstein—including over 2,800 mentions in Epstein-related files—were revealed. He has characterized his eventual departure as a consequence of age, not the controversy, and stated that a search for a successor will begin after a law firm review of his Epstein interactions concludes by the end of May.

In Milan there is an exhibition where color fascinates because it is mystical and changeable

A Milano c’è una mostra dove il colore affascina perché è mistico e mutevole

The article reports on Jason Martin's second solo exhibition at Christian Stein gallery in Milan, titled "Vertex," curated by Sergio Risaliti. Eight new large-scale works fill the Palazzo Cicogna space, showcasing Martin's signature thick oil paint surfaces that shift in color and texture, evoking the changing appearance of a wheat field. The exhibition runs until May 23, 2025.

A Napoli c’è una mostra ispirata a Emily Dickinson dove è la luce a creare le opere

Diego Perrone's exhibition "There's a certain Slant of light" opens at Galleria Umberto Di Marino in Naples, taking its title from an Emily Dickinson poem. The show features new photographic and painted works born from the artist's observation of light passing through domestic glass objects in Naples, where architecture and daily life are shaped by an interplay of light and shadow. Photographs are enclosed in hand-molded glass frames, while large surfaces created with airbrush, charcoal, and chalk present shadow fields on white backgrounds, forming a visual sequence that unfolds like a film in black and white.

Nic Nicosia: Everyday Surreal Now Open at the Nasher in Dallas

Nic Nicosia: Everyday Surreal, a survey of the last 25 years of the Dallas-born artist's work, has opened at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas and runs through August 16. The exhibition features over 70 works across media, focusing on Nicosia's shift to sculpture in the 2010s and his move from elaborate staged photography to a solitary studio practice. It includes sculptures, drawings, and photographs that explore themes of time, memory, and surreal everyday reality, with highlights such as cast metal works and drawings tracing personal experiences of distance and duration.

Young artists wanted for 10th Annual Children’s Art Exhibition

The City of Windsor is calling for young artists to participate in the 10th Annual Children’s Art Exhibition, as announced by journalist Melanie Kentner. The open call invites children to submit artwork for a community-focused show celebrating its tenth edition.

Annual Art in the West Exhibition and Auction Returns to the High Desert Museum - The Source

The High Desert Museum will host its annual Art in the West exhibition and online auction starting July 18, featuring nearly 130 works by painters, sculptors, photographers, and basket weavers inspired by the High Desert region. The 2026 edition highlights Jury's Choice winner Peter Dawson's photograph "Infinity #3363, Eastern Oregon" and Curator's Choice winner Natalie Kirk's basket "Yamash in Thunderbird of Nch’I Wana," alongside works by artists such as Arturo Garcia, Frank Buffalo Hyde, and Miguel Almeida.

Arts Listings: Week of May 21, 2026

This article is a local arts listings roundup for the week of May 21, 2026, in Ventura County, California. It announces theater productions including "Firebringer," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Zapalooza," and "The Wolves," along with art exhibitions at venues such as the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Camarillo Art Center, Dama Gallery, the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, and UBS. It also includes a call for artists from the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley and an open call from Dama Gallery.

Missoula Art Museum: The Escapee (museum exhibition)

The Missoula Art Museum (MAM) in Missoula, Montana, recently exhibited a 1999 mixed media assemblage titled *The Escapee* by Stephen Glueckert. Glueckert, a sculptor and mixed media artist living in Missoula, holds a BFA from the University of Idaho and an MA in Art Education from Western Washington University. He is retired from his role as curator of the Missoula Art Museum and now works as a full-time artist. The photos of the exhibition were taken on May 15, 2026.

Member's Spotlight Exhibition Opening Reception: Simon Robins: Sociable

The Contemporary Dayton is hosting a Member's Spotlight Exhibition titled "Simon Robins: Sociable," running from June 5 to June 27, 2026, with an opening reception on June 5 from 6-8 PM. The exhibition features paintings by Simon Robins that draw from public domain and found photographs sourced from digital archives, which he crops, recolors, and recontextualizes to create works that feel both familiar and elusive. Robins, a collections librarian and faculty member at the University of Dayton, uses his archival expertise to explore themes of social alienation, belonging, and the power dynamics embedded in historical image collections.

10 Open Calls To Apply for in Summer 2026: International Opportunities Shaping the Season

The article lists ten international open calls for artists and creatives to apply for in summer 2026, including residencies, grants, and exhibition opportunities. Featured programs include the Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) Emerging New Media Artists Program in Saudi Arabia, the International Digital Art Contest at the University of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Collaborative Prototyping Lab at Medialab Matadero in Spain, among others. Each call provides details on deadlines, eligibility, application links, and support.

'Seeing, Again' at Tang Contemporary Art, Beijing, China on 16 May–27 Jun 2026

The article announces the exhibition 'Seeing, Again' at Tang Contemporary Art in Beijing, running from May 16 to June 27, 2026. The show features artists Melody Park, Goyoung, Vibeke Slyngstad, Ruo-Hsin Wu, Yasuhito Kawasaki, and Yoshikatsu Ikeuchi, whose works across painting and sculpture explore themes of perception, memory, and the recovery of Walter Benjamin's concept of 'aura' in an age of image saturation. The exhibition is structured as a continuous sensory reawakening, inviting viewers to slow down and engage with art beyond habitual consumption.

Show White: Academy of Visual Arts, University of the Arts Sharjah exhibition

The Academy of Visual Arts at the University of the Arts Sharjah is presenting a faculty exhibition titled 'Show White,' curated by Tor Seidel and assisted by Maryam AlQassimi. The show, first hosted at Rawaq Gallery (April 8–23) and currently at XVA Gallery in Al Fahidi (April 25–May 21), explores the multifaceted concept of 'white' through diverse mediums and techniques. Participating faculty artists include Georgina Abood, Dr. Mohammed Yousif Alhammadi, Muatasim Alkubaisy, Alina Erimia, Muhammad Asad Iqbal, Thaier Helal, Dr. Iman Ibrahim, and Andreea Lonhardt-Muresan, each presenting works that engage with white as a symbol of minimalism, purity, emptiness, or cultural memory.

Between here and home

Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson, NY, presents "Between here and home," a group exhibition running from May 22 through July 12, with an opening reception on May 23. The show features works by Fred Cohen, Frank DePietro, Deb Lawrence, Olan Quattro, and ransome, exploring the concept of home as an evolving construct shaped by memory, material, and experience. The exhibition draws on the Welsh idea of hiraeth—a longing for a lost or imagined home—and includes paintings, collages, and mixed media works that reflect each artist's personal engagement with place, interior space, and inherited histories.

Summer at the Pearl Fincher Museum: Fun for the whole family starts June 13

The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts announces its 2026 summer programming, including Summer Art Camps for ages 5 to 13 running June 16 through July 31, with weekly themes such as "Color World" and "Kinetic Canvas." The museum will also open two exhibitions on June 13: "Chromatica: A World in Color" in the Main Gallery, organized like a color wheel with works from Texas and beyond, and "Fragments, Remnants, and Remains" by artist Curtis Gannon in the Cole Gallery. Additional activities include a Maker Space, Wild Art Wednesdays, and a free artist talk by children's author and illustrator Steven Weinberg on June 19.

An art gallery on Route 66 in New Mexico is working to support local art and culture

Double Six Gallery, operated by the Cibola Arts Council in Grants, New Mexico, is showcasing southwestern art on Route 66 ahead of the Mother Road's centennial celebration. Gallery director Debbie Doggett notes that visitors are often surprised to find such high-quality local artists in Grants. The gallery rotates artists every few months and currently features Gary Yazzie, John Boomer, Jonnie Head, and Joan Sheski.

Summer 2026 Santa Fe gallery shows are awash in new works

Santa Fe galleries are presenting a wave of new summer 2026 exhibitions, featuring works by artists such as Kate Rivers, Rick Stevens, and Guillermo Galindo. Shows range from Rivers' book-based explorations of human connection at Kay Contemporary to Stevens' landscape-inspired abstract paintings and Galindo's multimedia, border-dissolving photographic works at Aurelia Gallery. The exhibitions run from May through September, with openings and receptions scheduled across the city's historic Canyon Road and Plaza districts.

Five-Minute Tours: Helmut Barnett at Wally Workman Gallery, Austin

Glasstire's Five-Minute Tours series features a video walk-through of Helmut Barnett's solo exhibition "Surfaces" at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, Texas. The show runs from April 11 to May 3, 2026, and presents Barnett's paintings, collages, and drawings that blend geometric and organic forms, created over his 50-year career.

Artistree Gallery hosts Unbound Vol. XIV exhibition

Artistree Gallery in South Pomfret, Vermont, is hosting "Unbound Vol. XIV," an annual exhibition of book art coinciding with the Bookstock literary festival. The show features works by artists including Andre Lee Bassuet, Carole McNamee, Larry Clifford, and Dorsey Hogg, who transform discarded books into sculptures, quilts, and wearable pieces. Notable works include Bassuet's "A Thin Veil," a shawl made from pages of Soviet writer Ilia Ehrenburg's collected works, and "Women in the Field," a cyanotype cloak honoring pioneering women naturalists.

National Geographic photographer captures beauty of wolves in new James Museum exhibit

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, Florida, has opened a new traveling exhibition titled "Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan." Curated by the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the National Geographic Society, the show features stunning photographs and videos by National Geographic photographer Ronan Donovan, documenting wild wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. The exhibition aims to challenge fear-based stereotypes about wolves, highlighting their intelligence, social structures, and family bonds. Accompanying programs include a Family Day on May 16 with puppet shows and scavenger hunts, and the fourth annual Menagerie at the Museum on August 15, featuring live animal encounters with local rescue organizations.

Boca Raton Public Library Announces Summer Arts Exhibits

The Boca Raton Public Library in Florida will host two summer art exhibits featuring local and international artists. The first, “Fine Art Photography” by Jacoby, runs June 1–July 6, 2026, at the Downtown Library, showcasing infrared and intentional camera movement photography. The second, “Discover You” by Marina Veen, runs June 8–July 17, 2026, at the Spanish River Library, presenting layered mixed-media works exploring nature and emotion. Both exhibits are free and open to the public.

Q&A: Laura Pass Barry

Laura Pass Barry has been appointed the Carlisle H. Humelsine chief curator at Colonial Williamsburg, a role that expands her responsibilities to include leadership of Collections, Conservation and Museums as vice president. Barry began her career at Colonial Williamsburg over 30 years ago as a curatorial intern in folk art, later working as assistant curator to Margaret Pritchard and eventually overseeing the graphics, paintings, and folk art collections. She holds degrees from the College of Wooster and the College of William & Mary.

South Fork Bakery Holds Spring Benefit At The Parrish Art Museum

South Fork Bakery held its spring benefit at the Parrish Art Museum on Saturday, May 9. Guests enjoyed music, bites, and signature cocktails while funds were raised to support the bakery's mission of providing meaningful employment for adults with disabilities. The event featured attendees including local officials, board members, and supporters, with photography by Lisa Tamburini.

Hyderabad galleries host long-duration exhibitions this summer

Two Hyderabad galleries are hosting long-duration summer exhibitions this year, breaking from the city's traditional lean season. Kalakriti Art Gallery in Banjara Hills opened "Prakriti: A Quiet Continuum," a group show of contemporary artists including Lal Bahadur Singh and Sumanto Chowdhury, alongside "Living Lineages," featuring folk and indigenous artists such as Bhuri Bai and Venkat Raman Shyam. Meanwhile, Srishti Art Gallery in Jubilee Hills is presenting the fifth edition of its annual exhibition "Triloka," with works by Moumita Basak, Nayanjyoti Barman, and Nirmal Mondal that explore everyday materials and social change.

Kathryn Williams lights a new creative spark

Kathryn Williams, a Liverpool-born singer-songwriter and visual artist based in Newcastle, opens her first solo North East exhibition, "Striking Image," at The Biscuit Factory in Ouseburn on May 8. The show features tiny, expressive portraits painted on matchboxes, reimagining historical miniatures on humble household objects. Williams, who has released 17 albums, written a novel, and hosted a podcast, approaches this exhibition as another strand of her lifelong creative practice, emphasizing freedom and process over product.

Art and Design seniors exhibit their work at Krannert Art Museum

More than 100 seniors from the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will showcase their final projects at Krannert Art Museum from May 9 to May 16. The Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition features work across all disciplines, including art education, art history, graphic design, industrial design, and studio art. Graphic design students Rinnell Borges and Natalie Mora created the exhibition's branding and catalog under the theme "Myth of Originality," drawing inspiration from fellow students' work and university archives. Individual projects include Borges's syrup packaging concept, Mora's communication guide for Latino communities, Caroline Dorion's charcoal drawings of draped female figures, and Sylvie Leyerle's children's book about her adoption from China.

Arts Listings: Week of May 7, 2026

This article is a local arts listings roundup for the week of May 7, 2026, in Ventura County, California. It includes opening theater productions such as "¡Ay Chihuahua! A Mariachi Musical" at California State University, Channel Islands, "Eleanor" at Rubicon Theatre Company, and "It's a Trip, Man: An Evening with a Hollywood Has-Been" at Ojai Art Center Theatre. Art openings feature the Camarillo Art Center's gourd class and exhibition "May I Have Your Attention!," Canvas and Paper's show of work by L.S. Lowry, and the Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation's "r/evolve: celebrating the circular" by Christopher Noxon. The piece also lists auditions for "The Importance of Being Earnest" at Moorpark College and a call for submissions to the Ojai Art Center Theater's 2027 season.

Art: Amanda Heng’s ‘A Pause’ opens at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia to represent Singapore

Amanda Heng Liang Ngim's exhibition 'A Pause' has opened at the Singapore Pavilion of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. The installation transforms the historic Sale d’Armi into a contemplative space using larch wood platforms, photographs, and a dual-channel video that observes everyday gestures of rest and renewal in Venice and Singapore. The presentation also includes a reprint of her 1990 series 'Parts of My Body' and is accompanied by a comprehensive monograph, 'Amanda Heng: On and On'.

The Met's Costume Exhibit Finally Made This Obvious Change To Mannequins And Its Exhibit After Years

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has made a historic shift toward disability and body inclusivity in its annual exhibition, titled "Costume Art." For the first time, the exhibit includes a section called "The Disabled Body," featuring mannequins modeled on disabled bodies, such as those of activist Aimee Mullins, model Aariana Rose Philip, and accessibility consultant Sinéad Burke. Burke and her team at Tilting the Lens consulted on the exhibit for 18 months, suggesting disabled designers like Sugandha Gupta and Helen Cookman, and donated pieces to the permanent collection. The Met Gala also became accessible for the first time since 1948, with wheelchair user Aariana Rose Philip attending as the first ever.