‘As If’ by Isabel Waidner, Reviewed

Isabel Waidner’s latest novel, 'As If', follows the surreal intersection of two actors, Lewis and Korine, who share an uncanny resemblance and wives with the same name. After meeting in a Central London sublet, the pair decide to swap lives: the younger Korine takes over a high-stakes audition for the grieving Lewis, while Lewis assumes Korine’s domestic and financial burdens. Set against the brutalist backdrop of London’s Barbican and Golden Lane estate, the narrative uses this identity swap to explore the thin line between performance and reality.

Art exhibition opening reception for "Stow Wengenroth The Flacks: The Greenport Group"

The Floyd Memorial Library in Greenport, New York, is hosting an opening reception for the exhibition "Stow Wengenroth The Flacks: The Greenport Group." The show features nearly fifty rarely seen lithographs by Stow Wengenroth, a prominent 20th-century printmaker whose work is held in major institutions like the Met and MoMA. The exhibition also highlights Wengenroth’s creative circle, including doll-maker Edith Flack Ackley and children’s author Marjorie Flack, alongside contemporary commissions by puppet-maker Carmen Campos.

Graduate art and design students exhibit their work at Krannert Art Museum

The Krannert Art Museum is currently hosting the annual Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, showcasing the thesis work of eight graduate students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Art & Design. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including sculptural 3D collages by Samantha Jones that critique the hypersexualization of Black girlhood, and a mixed-media experimental classroom by Anthony Obayomi that explores social justice and educational metrics. Other works, such as Emily Tomlinson’s text-based drawings, highlight themes of cataloging and observational study.

Chicago Artist Brian Sykes draws huge crowd for emotional exhibit debut

Chicago-based artist Brian Sykes returned to the Beverly Arts Center for the opening of his multimedia exhibition, “I Heard the City Breathe.” The event drew a significant crowd and featured a unique blend of visual art, film, and live vocal performances, including a set by Sykes himself. The project explores the emotional and cultural realities of Chicago’s Black experience, utilizing an intergenerational approach to discuss identity and memory.

Noriko Okaku Solo Exhibition: "Meaning of Meaningless" @ Kanazawa ArtGummi 17th Anniversary

金沢アートグミ17周年記念個展 尾角典子「むいみのいみ」@ 金沢アートグミ

Artist Noriko Okaku will present a solo exhibition titled "Meaning of Meaningless" at Kanazawa ArtGummi to commemorate the NPO's 17th anniversary. The exhibition marks a return to Okaku's roots in animation, featuring a large-scale installation that integrates her background in collage and digital media.

Activist glues herself to museum display case

Aktivistin klebt sich an Museumsvitrine

A protester from the activist group Neue Generation glued herself to a display case in the Coin Cabinet of the Bode-Museum on Berlin's Museum Island. Dressed as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche, the activist targeted the museum to protest the minister's perceived lack of independence from corporate interests. Police were called to the scene to remove the woman, and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation confirmed that while the glass case was targeted, no historical artifacts were damaged.

Final Touches: BA Art Exhibition

Southwestern University’s Sarofim Fine Arts Gallery recently debuted the Spring 2026 B.A. Senior Art Exhibition, showcasing the final projects of seven graduating Fine Arts majors. The exhibition features a diverse range of media and themes, including Christopher Bowers’ historical-fantastical landscapes, Sophie Kinkade’s Y2K-inspired "spill art," and Trinidad Laurenzi’s exploration of Catholic iconography and body horror. Other featured artists include Maeve Lloyd, Aris Morgan, Grace Sapienza, and Isa Wilson, whose works span sculpture, anime-influenced illustration, and charcoal drawings addressing mental health.

Beaux Arts Ball part of art association's long history in community

The Art Association of Jacksonville has announced its 69th annual Beaux Arts Ball, titled "Liberty in Bloom," scheduled for April 25 at Illinois College’s Rammelkamp Chapel. As the association’s primary fundraiser, the event supports the operations, educational programming, and maintenance of the historic David Strawn Art Gallery, which has served the community since the association's founding in 1873.

The power of ‘print as protest’ in new exhibition at Chicano Park museum

Multidisciplinary artist and printmaker Irie Zepeda has curated a new group exhibition titled “Print As Protest/Grafica En Resistencia” at the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center in San Diego. The show highlights printmaking as a vital medium for solidarity and community storytelling, drawing on Zepeda’s deep roots in Barrio Logan and their work with Por La Mano Press y Arte. The exhibition features works that position the craft of printing as a tool for visibility and collective action within marginalized communities.

Inside a Black Panther Family Album

Scholar Leigh Raiford examines the personal family archives of Black Panther Party leaders Kathleen and Eldridge Cleaver, specifically focusing on photographs taken during their period of exile in the 1970s. The analysis centers on how domestic objects, such as a zebra-print carver chair and various African artifacts, transitioned from private household items to iconic symbols of Black Power and cultural nationalism in the public sphere.

Nikyle Begay Resurrects Century-Old Diné Weavings

Nikyle Begay, a Diné shepherd and weaver based in the Navajo Nation, is revitalizing ancestral weaving techniques that were historically marginalized by the colonial trading-post economy. By breeding Navajo Churro sheep and mastering complex twill patterns once used for functional saddle blankets, Begay bridges the gap between traditional agricultural practice and contemporary fine art. Their work involves the entire lifecycle of the medium, from shearing and processing wool to reconstructing intricate designs that fell out of favor when commercial markets prioritized specific regional styles for non-Native buyers.

Mooresville Arts announces winners of 48th SpringFest Judged Show & Competition

Mooresville Arts has revealed the winners of its 48th annual SpringFest Judged Show & Competition, featuring 123 works by 66 regional artists. Tina Vincent of Charlotte secured first place for her collage titled "Black Tea," while Vanessa Thorman and Chelsea Demarest took second and third place, respectively. The exhibition, judged by Shain Gallery owner Sybil Wornall, showcases a diverse range of media including pottery, watercolor, and oil paintings.

Mexico faces sales of pre-Columbian art

Le Mexique face aux ventes d’art précolombien

The Mexican government is facing ongoing legal and diplomatic hurdles in its attempts to halt the sale of pre-Columbian artifacts in Paris. Despite formal protests from the Mexican embassy citing national heritage laws from 1827, auction houses like Millon continue to proceed with sales, generating millions in revenue. French authorities and legal experts maintain that Mexican national laws do not supersede French jurisdiction, which largely adheres to the 1970 UNESCO Convention regarding the illicit import and export of cultural property.

The Nicéphore-Niépce Museum is Standing Still

Le Musée Nicéphore-Niépce fait du surplace

The Musée Nicéphore-Niépce in Chalon-sur-Saône remains in a state of stagnation as long-promised modernization plans continue to stall. Despite over twenty-five years of proposals for a new facility or a "Cité de l'image," the project has become a political "sea serpent," hampered by budget cuts, staff reductions, and shifting municipal priorities. Most recently, the city declined to renew the contract of Fannie Escoulen, a former Ministry of Culture official hired to steer the project, further signaling a lack of progress.

Gilles Bloch: "The Museum needs 1.1 billion euros"

Gilles Bloch : « Le Muséum a besoin de 1,1 milliard d’euros »

Gilles Bloch, president of the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle in Paris, has issued an urgent call for €1.1 billion in funding to address the critical state of the institution's infrastructure. Ahead of its 400th anniversary in 2026, a diagnostic report reveals that 74% of the museum's 120 buildings are in poor condition, with several galleries currently closed to the public or suffering from inadequate climate control. The requested funds would cover €500 million in emergency repairs to stabilize decaying structures and a further €600 million for long-term modernization and energy efficiency upgrades.

Vietnam to Debut at 2026 Venice Biennale

Vietnam will make its historic debut at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with its first-ever national pavilion titled “Viet Nam: Art in the Global Flow.” Located at the Ca’ Giustinian Faccanon palace and curated by Đỗ Tường Linh, the exhibition will feature works by ten contemporary artists, including a major immersive installation by Lê Hữu Hiếu. Hiếu’s contribution, titled "Tằm" (Silkworm), utilizes traditional materials like lacquer and jackfruit wood alongside live silkworms to explore themes of metamorphosis and memory.

700 square meters of a luminous street-art exhibition! The Colors Festival is back in Paris.

The Colors Festival has returned to Paris with a new immersive exhibition titled "Colors Light," located in the 15th arrondissement. Running from April 16 to July 26, 2026, the show features over 35 artists who have transformed a 700-square-meter building into a sensory playground using blacklight, fluorescence, and phosphorescence. The works are designed to shift and reveal hidden compositions as visitors move through the darkened space, marking a technical evolution for the festival toward light-based urban art.

Call out to artists for upcoming Women in Art exhibition

The Nambucca Valley Women’s Business Network (NVWBN) has issued a call for entries for its fourth annual 'Women in Art' exhibition, scheduled to open at the Matilda Street Gallery in Macksville on May 16. Local female artists from the Nambucca, Macleay, Hastings, and Bellinger valleys are invited to submit expressions of interest by May 7 to participate in the showcase, which featured nearly 100 works from 44 artists in its previous iteration.

Freshwater skatepark fundraiser launches with packed opening night and skate deck art auction

Freshwater Parish Council has launched a community-driven fundraiser featuring a skate deck art auction to support the development of a new skatepark and pump track on the Isle of Wight. The initiative kicked off with an opening night at the Newport and Carisbrooke Community Centre, showcasing custom-designed decks by local artists alongside historical displays of the island's skating culture. The event also secured a significant financial boost through a donation from High Sheriff Jacqueline Gazzard.

From Comics to TV: Quino's Legendary Mafalda Becomes an Animated Series

Dal fumetto alla tv: la mitica Mafalda di Quino diventa una serie animata

Netflix has announced a new animated series based on the iconic comic strip Mafalda, directed by Academy Award-winner Juan José Campanella. Produced by Mundoloco CGI, the project coincides with the 60th anniversary of the character's debut and marks a transition from the traditional black-and-white print medium to a dynamic, colorized digital format. The series aims to preserve the sharp social commentary and rebellious spirit of the original illustrations created by the late Argentine cartoonist Quino.

Fragments of Belonging in ‘Black Bricolage’.

Photographer and writer Johny Pitts presents 'Black Bricolage' at MEP Studio, a visual essay spanning two decades of work documenting Black life across European cities like Paris, Lisbon, and Berlin. The exhibition utilizes a mix of photography, personal notes, and lived encounters to map the 'Afropean' experience, focusing on the quiet textures of daily life rather than grand spectacles.

Two Weeks, Full Access: Brooklyn’s Hello New York! Artist Programme.

The Curatorial Program for Research (CPR) has announced an open call for its 'Hello New York!' artist residency, an intensive two-week professional development program based in Brooklyn. Scheduled for April 2026, the residency will select up to 20 local and international artists to engage with the New York art ecosystem through workshops, studio visits, and mentorship from industry professionals. The program is tuition-free and prioritizes artists from underrepresented backgrounds or those addressing critical social and environmental themes.

Three Years, One City: Tulsa’s Transformative Artist Fellowship.

The Tulsa Artist Fellowship has announced an open call for its 2027–2029 award cycle, seeking ten artists and arts workers for a three-year residency in Oklahoma. Selected fellows receive a comprehensive financial package totaling over $150,000 in stipends, plus housing and relocation support, in exchange for committing to live and work in Tulsa. The program, established by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, emphasizes long-term community engagement and the development of ambitious, site-specific projects.

Takeshi Yasura: HAK HACK @ CADAN Otemachi

保良雄：ハクハック @ CADAN大手町

Artist Takeshi Yasura is presenting a solo exhibition titled "HAK HACK" at CADAN Yurakucho (Otemachi) in Tokyo, scheduled to run from April 1 to April 18, 2026. Organized by the gallery KOTARO NUKAGA, the exhibition showcases Yasura's latest installation work within the collaborative space of the Contemporary Art Dealers Association Nippon (CADAN).

On Showing My Paintings in Auschwitz

Artist and Holocaust survivor Yehudis Barmatz-Harris has installed a series of paintings within the barracks of Auschwitz-Birkenau, marking a profound personal and artistic return to the site of her family's trauma. The works, which utilize materials like salt and organic textures, are placed directly on the wooden bunks where prisoners once slept, creating a visceral dialogue between contemporary Jewish life and the void left by the Shoah.

Gina Blickenstaff Brings Bold Color Home To Fort Collins

Artist Gina Blickenstaff is set to present her second annual solo exhibition, "The Method and the Madness," at the Center for Creativity in Fort Collins. Spanning all three of the venue's galleries, the five-day event coincides with Fort Collins Art Week and features an artist talk alongside a showcase of her vibrant, color-focused paintings. Blickenstaff, a recipient of the Dame JaCkie Erickson Creative Catalyst Award, is transitioning from a primarily digital presence to deeper local engagement through this immersive physical installation.

Dittmar Gallery presents community art exhibition ‘I was here’

The Dittmar Gallery at Northwestern University is hosting a community art exhibition titled “I was here,” featuring works by 24 local artists. Curated by Jasmine Ametovski and Clare Kirwan, the show highlights diverse mediums ranging from photography of the Berlin Wall to beeswax sculptures and multimedia installations. The exhibition focuses on how personal perspectives can redefine traditional art spaces and reclaim cultural identities through creative practice.

Washburn student exhibition highlights diverse artistic talent

The Mulvane Art Museum recently hosted the Washburn University student exhibition reception, a juried showcase featuring a diverse range of student works selected by Kansas City artist Harold Smith. The event highlighted various artistic expressions, from oil paintings and wooden mandalas to photography, and served as a platform for announcing several honors, including the prestigious 2026 Charles and Margaret Pollak Award won by student Lauren Miller.

Amid Iran war, Paterson Middle East art show carries layered meaning

Tehran-born artist and human rights lawyer Sanam Ghandehari is presenting a new body of work in Paterson, New Jersey, against the backdrop of escalating military conflict in Iran. Her multi-layered pieces reflect the duality of the current crisis, juxtaposing the hope for democratic liberation with the immediate trauma of seeing her childhood home bombarded.

Government gives East of England culture and arts venues £6.6m

The UK government has announced a £6.6 million investment in arts and culture venues across the East of England to support essential infrastructure upgrades and renovations. Key beneficiaries include Firstsite in Colchester and Snape Maltings in Suffolk, which are receiving significant grants for building repairs and environmental control systems. Other recipients range from the Natural History Museum in Colchester to the Wysing Arts Centre, with funds earmarked for everything from HVAC improvements to restoring Grade II listed structures.