Malibu Artist Gay Summer Rick Opens Gallery Show March 22

The Malibu Arts Commission is launching "Heading Home," a solo exhibition of original paintings by local artist Gay Summer Rick at the Malibu City Gallery. The show, which opens with a public reception on March 22, features Rick’s signature atmospheric landscapes that blend impressionism with expressive abstraction. Her work focuses on capturing the luminous light and coastal beauty of the California shoreline using palette knife techniques.

New fine-art gallery to open in former Main Street Cafe building

West Winds Gallery of Fine Art is set to open in the former Main Street Cafe building in downtown Grand Junction, Colorado. Owners Cynthia Duff and Greg Tapp purchased the historic property and spent a year performing an extensive remodel to transform the space into a modern art destination. The gallery will officially launch with two grand-opening events in early March, featuring a curated selection of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and jewelry from Western Colorado’s most prominent artists.

Corban Clause Williams to debut solo show at Melbourne Art Fair 2026

Emilia Galatis Projects, a Perth-based gallery focusing on Western Australian First Nations artists, will present the first Melbourne solo exhibition by Corban Clause Williams at Melbourne Art Fair 2026, running February 19-22. The show will debut 15 new paintings and design works extending Williams' Manyjilyjarra Country and culture into sculptural and textile forms, accompanied by a Martu Wangka artist talk with Anya Judith Samson. Williams, born in 1994 and based in Parnngurr Community, has gained rapid acclaim for canvases weaving ancestral knowledge with contemporary visual language, and was named an inaugural Creative WA Fellowship recipient in late 2025.

ClearStory Arts Open Gallery Show Explores The Inexpressible Contained

ClearStory Arts in Chattanooga is hosting an exhibition titled "The Inexpressible Contained," running through January 31, 2026, featuring original works by 13 local artists inspired by anonymous unsent letters collected during citywide mailbox pop-ups. During the opening reception on January 2, 2026, artist Anna Wise was moved to tears when the author of one of the letters she illustrated purchased her watercolor painting, titled "Shadows." The exhibition includes diverse media such as paintings, mosaics, ceramics, fiber arts, and a full-size puppet, with a desk where visitors can write their own anonymous letters.

Grove Gallery to host opening reception for ‘Triptych’ exhibition on Jan. 10

Grove Gallery in Grove Street will host an opening reception on January 10 for "Triptych," a group exhibition featuring works by artists Kate Berry-Brown, Vanessa Filley, and Darren Oberto. The show runs through January 31 and brings together figurative photography, pencil-based portraits, and oil paintings, exploring themes of motherhood, belonging, place, and the cosmos through geometric abstraction and experimental mark-making.

Manchester Open exhibition to return in 2026 with ‘biggest celebration’ of local creative talent

The Manchester Open exhibition will return in 2026 for its fourth iteration, taking place at HOME Manchester from June 20 to September 6. The open-call show invites submissions from artists of all experience levels across eight categories including ceramics, painting, photography, and textiles. A new award honoring philanthropist Kate Voke will be introduced, and three artists will receive development packages managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery. The application process is now open, with the selection panel to be announced in spring 2026.

Surf’s up at annual exhibition

The annual Surf Art exhibition at Port Noarlunga’s Arts Centre in South Australia has opened, celebrating the region’s surfing culture, lifestyle, history, and coastal environment. First held in 1993, the free exhibition runs until February 2 and features works in various media—painting, jewellery, mosaics, photography, glassware, textiles, and sculpture—by local and interstate artists. Coordinator Nerissa Galloway noted pieces referencing the recent algal bloom, including a painting by Jo Headon depicting a surfer in a hazmat suit. A separate exhibition, 'The Bloom,' will follow from February 6 to March 16, inviting community reflection on the algal bloom and coastal ecology.

MedStar Health And St. Mary’s Arts Council Showcase Art Exhibition By Local Artists

MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and the St. Mary’s County Arts Council have unveiled the third installment of their rotating art exhibition in the hospital’s emergency department in Leonardtown, Maryland. The latest exhibit features handsewn art quilts by Washington, D.C. artist Andrea “Andi” Cullins, whose collection “Second Life Quilter” includes intricate fabric mosaics. The quilts will be on display through January 2026, following earlier exhibits of traditional paintings as part of a philanthropy-led initiative to create a more welcoming environment.

New National Galleries of Scotland chair to lead opening of Edinburgh’s The Art Works

Catherine Muirden has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of the National Galleries of Scotland, starting 1 November 2025 for a four-year term. Muirden brings extensive experience from the corporate sector, including roles at Barclays, Marks & Spencer, and the John Lewis Partnership, as well as over two decades of arts board service in Scotland, most recently as Vice Chair of Scottish Ballet and previously as Chair of the Fruitmarket Gallery. She succeeds Benny Higgins, who led the board through a period of significant challenges.

Court Decision Ends Dispute Over Who Actually Bought Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days for $69.3 M.

A federal judge in New York has approved a final settlement in a lawsuit between the two pseudonymous figures behind the record-breaking $69.3 million purchase of Beeple's NFT "Everydays: The First 5000 Days." The agreement legally prohibits Anand Venkateswaran (Twobadour) from claiming any involvement in the 2021 Christie's purchase, confirming that Vignesh Sundaresan (Metakovan) was the sole buyer. Venkateswaran must also pay an undisclosed sum, dissociate from related online profiles, and correct third-party biographical information.

New York art museum showcases Raphael's rare prints

The Murray Hill Art Museum in New York has opened an exhibition featuring 100 rare prints of works by Italian Renaissance master Raphael. The show includes engravings and lithographs from the museum's own collection as well as loans from private collectors across the United States, and was attended by local artists and collectors at its opening ceremony on April 25, 2026.

Wicked Stepmother No Longer, a Female Pharoah Gets a Reputational Makeover

A new analysis of damaged statues from ancient Egypt is reshaping the historical narrative of Queen Hatshepsut. Researchers have re-examined 3,500-year-old statuary, finding evidence that the deliberate defacement of her images occurred decades after her death, challenging the long-held belief that her successor, Thutmose III, orchestrated an immediate campaign of destruction against her legacy out of personal animosity.

Gê Viana: Afterlives of the African Diaspora

Artist Gê Viana's monumental sound system installation, 'A colheita de Dan (The Harvest of Dan, 2025)', was a standout work at the most recent Bienal de São Paulo. The piece, a towering radiola painted in black, white, and red, combines photomontages of Black reggae parties, Afro-Indigenous religious shrines, and medicinal plants, while playing a loop of Brazilian reggae and songs from Maranhão's quilombo communities.

“Everything looks dark now” at Bel Ami, Los Angeles

Bel Ami gallery in Los Angeles has opened a new exhibition titled "Everything looks dark now," which takes its name and conceptual framework from Anton Chekhov's play *The Seagull*. The show features a diverse group of artists whose works collectively explore themes of melancholy, reflection, and existential uncertainty, mirroring the atmospheric and introspective mood of Chekhov's text.

Façade collapse and vandalism at the Saint-Roch church in Paris

Effondrement de façade et vandalisme à l'église Saint-Roch de Paris

A significant portion of the cornice on the right side of the façade of the historic Saint-Roch church in Paris collapsed on March 9, 2026. Fortunately, no one was injured. The incident follows a pattern of similar structural failures at Parisian churches like Saint-Paul, Saint-Merry, and Saint-Augustin. Almost simultaneously, the church was targeted by vandals who severely damaged a gilded wooden altar in the shape of the Ark of the Covenant, a work from 1840 designed by architect Charles Lelong, just before its planned restoration was set to begin.

Archaeologists Discover 6,000-Year-Old ‘Megastructure’ in Romania

Archaeologists in northeastern Romania have unearthed a 6,000-year-old 'megastructure' at the Stăuceni-"Holm" site, attributed to the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture. Measuring approximately 350 square meters, the building is significantly larger than typical dwellings of the period and was strategically positioned near the settlement's entrance. The absence of domestic tools or ritual statuettes suggests the space served as a communal assembly hall or administrative center rather than a private residence.

German Provocateur Artist Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Prison in Russia After Mocking Putin

German carnival float artist Jacques Tilly has been sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in a Russian prison. A Moscow court convicted him on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military and insulting religious feelings due to his satirical floats depicting President Vladimir Putin, including one showing Putin in a blood-filled bathtub painted like the Ukrainian flag.

Ex-Sotheby’s CEO Tad Smith Banks on NFTs, Agrees to Buy Collectibles Platform Candy Digital

Tad Smith, former CEO of Sotheby's and current chairman of the NFT project Doodles, has agreed to acquire most of the assets of the digital collectibles platform Candy Digital. Upon the deal's expected closure in the coming weeks, Smith will also assume the role of CEO, signaling a significant personal and financial bet on the future of the sector.

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A new report by the art industry network First Thursday reveals that 84 percent of commercial galleries are now using artificial intelligence in their daily operations. Despite this widespread adoption for tasks like drafting press releases, translation, and market research, only 8 percent of these institutions have formal policies governing AI use. The study, which surveyed 103 gallery professionals globally, highlights that most AI integration is happening informally through staff using personal accounts rather than through leadership-driven strategy.

abortion nonprofit claims artwork in malta biennale was censored 1234777129

The second edition of the Malta Biennale is facing accusations of censorship from the abortion rights nonprofit Women on Waves. The organization claims that organizers first demanded the removal of the word "pills" from a banner reading "Need Abortion Pills?" before ultimately attempting to dismantle the installation entirely, citing a failure to meet "aesthetic quality standards." While the Biennale's communications director maintains the work remains in place and frames the dispute as a matter of "curatorial direction," activists provided video evidence of an attempted removal and argue the intervention is a suppression of critical health information.

bard college to launch independent review of presidents ties to jeffrey epstein 1234774074

Bard College has initiated an independent review of President Leon Botstein’s relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the release of Department of Justice emails. While Botstein previously characterized the connection as purely philanthropic, the new correspondence suggests a more personal friendship, including frequent visits to Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and a 2012 trip to Epstein’s private island. The college's board of trustees has hired the law firm WilmerHale to investigate the extent of these communications and any financial contributions.

zapotec tomb unearthed oaxaca mexico 600 ce 1234771635

Archaeologists in Oaxaca, Mexico, have discovered a remarkably well-preserved Zapotec tomb dating to around 600 CE. The tomb, found in San Pablo Huitzo, features intricate carvings, including a sculpture of an owl with a human head in its beak, and multicolored murals depicting a procession of figures.

humans not glaciers moved stonehenge rocks geological study 1234771264

Researchers at Curtin University in Australia have published a study in Communications Earth and Environment providing geological evidence that humans, not glaciers, transported the massive stones used to build Stonehenge. The team tested sediments from streams near the monument and found no signs of glacial activity during the Pleistocene, ruling out the theory that ice sheets carried the megaliths. The stones, including sandstone boulders from the Marlborough Downs and bluestones from Wales, weigh up to 40 tons, but exactly how ancient peoples moved them remains unknown.

nifty gateway nft platform shutters 1234771081

Nifty Gateway, one of the earliest and most prominent NFT marketplaces, announced it will shut down on February 23, 2026, citing sharply declining activity. The platform, founded in 2018 by twins Duncan and Griffin Cock Foster and acquired by Gemini in 2019, has entered withdrawal-only mode, advising users to move their assets before the deadline. At its peak in 2021, Nifty Gateway reported $300 million in gross merchandise value, boosted by a Sotheby's partnership for a $17 million NFT drop by the artist Pak. The closure follows the collapse of the NFT boom, with trading volumes plummeting and other platforms like Async Art, KnownOrigin, and MakersPlace already shuttered.

arttactic art market outlook 2026 1234770801

ArtTactic's Global Art Market Outlook report indicates that the art market is entering 2026 with renewed optimism, with over half of participants expecting growth. Auction sales rose 11% year-on-year in 2025, driven by high-value trophy works and single-owner collections. Confidence is strongest at the top (works over $1 million) and bottom (under $50,000) of the market, while the mid-market remains squeezed. Modern and Post-War art lead the rebound, with painting dominating over NFTs and AI art. Geographically, the Middle East is the most bullish region, boosted by events like Art Basel Qatar, while the US and parts of Asia show improving sentiment, and Europe lags.

rome tour well preserved underground dwelling livestream 1234769884

Rome is offering livestream tours of the House of the Griffins, an ancient Roman home on the Palatine Hill that has never been open to the public. Dating to the 2nd-1st century BCE, the dwelling features well-preserved frescoes, mosaics, and two stucco griffins. Starting March 3, after years of restoration, small groups of up to 12 visitors can watch a guide with a head-mounted camera explore the underground structure, with narration in English or Italian.

national trust largest donation 1234769706

The UK's National Trust has received the largest donation in its 131-year history: a £10 million ($13.4 million) no-strings-attached gift from private-equity investor and philanthropist Humphrey Battcock. Unlike most major donations, which come with stipulations on how funds must be used, this gift is unconditional, allowing the Trust to allocate the money as it sees fit. Battcock stated he trusts the organization to know best how to use the funds, inspired by visits to Trust properties including Osterley Park and House and Trust-owned farms in north Devon.

ceo canadian national museum departs 1234766691

Marie Chapman, CEO of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, stepped down on Thursday after a special commissioner's investigation found she had mistreated staff throughout her decade-long tenure. The report, released by the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, accused Chapman of serious code of conduct breaches, including using slurs and misogynistic language—such as referring to the senior leadership team as "sluts"—ranking female employees by age, and fostering a culture of fear that left some staff contemplating self-harm. Chapman was appointed under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and reappointed by the Trudeau government in 2016 and 2021; her contract expired in October but she had been granted a 90-day transitional term.

ubs report billionaires spend more art antiques 1234765643

UBS's eleventh Billionaire Ambitions Report reveals that global billionaire wealth hit a record $15.8 trillion in 2025, with the number of billionaires rising 8.8% to nearly 3,000. The report, based on a survey of 87 ultra-wealthy clients, found that 27% plan to increase their investment in art and antiques, while 65% intend to maintain current levels—totaling 92% of respondents. Enthusiasm is strongest in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (35% planning increases), followed by Asia-Pacific (25%), and weakest in the Americas (15%).

police recover james bond diamond encrusted faberge egg swallowed by thief 1234765508

New Zealand police recovered a diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg pendant from a 32-year-old thief who allegedly swallowed it after stealing it from Partridge Jewellers in Auckland. The suspect was detained within minutes of the theft, and officers monitored him for six days until the pendant was naturally passed. The special-edition locket, valued at $33,585, is a tribute to the Fabergé egg featured in the James Bond film Octopussy, featuring a green guilloché enamel shell and an 18-karat yellow gold octopus set with diamonds and sapphires.