This week in the Greater Bay Area: Where to see Monet paintings, a robotics exhibition and more

The Greater Bay Area is hosting a diverse range of cultural events this week, highlighted by the exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. This show features rare works by Claude Monet, including his iconic Water Lilies, alongside traditional Chinese garden-themed art. Other notable visual arts events include the "Fragrance of Youth" exhibition at the Guangdong Museum of Art, showcasing contemporary Lingnan female artists, and the Tap Siac Craft Market in Macao, which features over 200 artisanal stalls.

Soyinka, Obi of Onitsha for Onobrakpeya art exhibition

A major retrospective and group exhibition titled “The Gregorian Art Exhibition” is set to take place at St. Gregory’s College in Lagos, Nigeria, from April 25 to 27, 2026. The event honors the legendary Nigerian modernist Bruce Onobrakpeya and will feature works by him alongside other notable alumni and artists including the late Victor Uwaifo and David Dale. The opening is expected to draw high-profile figures such as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe.

Collaborative Brazilian Exhibitions

The rhinoceros gallery in Rome, in partnership with the Brazilian gallery A Gentil Carioca, has unveiled a solo exhibition by artist Miguel Afa titled 'O tempo que mora em mim' (The Time that Lives in Me). The collection features a series of paintings created by Afa during a residency in Rome, where he blended his Brazilian heritage with the profound influence of Italian art history and the local landscape. The works frequently utilize the motif of the courtyard to explore themes of memory, intimacy, and the intersection of different geographical identities.

U.S. Museums Reach Deep into America’s Past

Museums across the United States are launching a series of ambitious exhibitions and programming designed to re-examine American history through a more inclusive and contemporary lens. These initiatives move beyond traditional patriotic narratives, utilizing diverse collections to explore the complexities of the nation's heritage, from indigenous perspectives to the legacies of industrialization and migration.

Thelma Appel | Thelma Appel - Worlds (2010) | Available for Sale

The representational and abstract painter Thelma Appel is seeing a resurgence in market and institutional interest, highlighted by the sale of her 2010 work "Worlds." This specific piece, part of her "Journey of the Tarot" series, was a centerpiece of her 50-year career retrospective at the Brattleboro Museum and reflects her unique fusion of Kabbalistic mysticism, landscape, and abstraction.

Hamburg Gallerist Jenny Falckenberg Dies Unexpectedly

Hamburger Galeristin Jenny Falckenberg unerwartet gestorben

The Hamburg art world is mourning the sudden passing of gallery owner and art agent Jenny Falckenberg, who died in her sleep at the age of 45. The daughter of the late legendary collector Harald Falckenberg, she had established herself as a significant force in the German contemporary art scene, known for her ability to bridge the gap between established figures and emerging talent.

Teresa Vall Palou's chromatic experimentation seduces the south of Madrid

The Tomás y Valiente Art Center (CEART) in Fuenlabrada is hosting a major exhibition of Catalan artist Teresa Vall Palou titled "Chromatic Atmospheres." Featuring over sixty large-format works produced over the last decade, the show highlights Vall Palou’s experimentation with color, form, and "conscious unconsciousness" through expansive canvases and diluted glazes. Despite a sixty-year career largely spent in "opacity," this exhibition marks a significant moment of public recognition for the artist, whose abstract style draws comparisons to Pollock and Rothko.

Ruins of a ‘Unique‘ Temple Complex Discovered in Northern Sinai

An Egyptian archaeological mission has unearthed a unique temple complex at Tell el-Farama, the site of the ancient city of Pelusium in northern Sinai. The discovery features a massive circular water basin, approximately 100 feet in diameter, surrounded by drainage channels and a central plinth likely intended for a statue. Initially mistaken for a civic building when first excavated in 2019, further study has revealed the site to be a sacred water installation used for religious rituals between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD.

Alain Passard’s Art Recipe: An Island of Tastes Wrapped in the Style of Christo and Jeanne-Claude

La recette d’art d’Alain Passard : un îlot de goûts emballé façon Christo et Jeanne-Claude

Michelin-starred chef Alain Passard pays tribute to the monumental environmental installations of Christo and Jeanne-Claude through a culinary creation. The article highlights the duo's 1983 project 'Surrounded Islands,' where they encircled eleven islands in Miami's Biscayne Bay with 600,000 square meters of floating pink polypropylene fabric, a work that exemplified their commitment to self-funded, accessible, and ephemeral public art.

In the countryside on the outskirts of Milan, a series of artistic performances will take place in a wheat field

Nella campagna alla periferia di Milano ci saranno una serie di performance artistiche in un campo di grano

The Biblioteca del Grano, an experimental agricultural and cultural site on the outskirts of Milan, is hosting a series of artistic performances and workshops led by artist Edoardo Mozzanega. Scheduled to coincide with Milan Art Week and Design Week, the program includes 'Tiger’s Nap,' a collective public sleeping performance, and 'A House Full of Tigers,' a workshop based on Social Dreaming. These events are part of the broader 'Learning Landscapes' initiative, which brings together international researchers and artists to explore food and land as cultural infrastructure.

A Fountain of Creativity from Arid Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has launched a significant design exhibition in Milan, showcasing a collection that blends the nation's ancient cultural traditions with contemporary aesthetics. The showcase features works inspired by the arid landscapes and rich artisanal history of the Central Asian republic, marking a deliberate effort to export its unique creative identity to a global audience during a major international design moment.

Texas' First Modern Art Museum Is In A Gorgeous San Antonio Colonial Mansion

The McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, is highlighted as the state's first modern art museum, uniquely housed in a 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival-style mansion. Founded in 1954 by collector Marion Koogler McNay, the institution manages a collection of over 20,000 objects, including masterworks by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O'Keeffe, set across 25 acres of landscaped gardens.

Gallery opening reception for Samuel Baltes May 8 at Yes Arts

Kentucky-based painter Samuel Baltes will be featured in a solo exhibition opening May 8 at Yes Arts in Frankfort. The showcase highlights Baltes’ plein air landscape paintings, which draw heavily from Realist and Impressionist traditions to capture the subtle shifts of light and atmosphere in everyday environments.

In Bologna, an exhibition combines pictorial traditions and contemporary perfumes

A Bologna una mostra mette assieme tradizioni pittoriche e profumi contemporanei

The exhibition "Sogni di natura" (Dreams of Nature) has opened at the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte in Bologna’s Palazzo d’Accursio, coinciding with the 57th edition of Cosmoprof Worldwide. The show transforms the historic Sala Boschereccia into a multisensory "imagined garden" where 18th-century landscape paintings by Vincenzo Martinelli and Giuseppe Valiani are paired with contemporary fragrances. Students from the Italian Perfumery Institute developed these scents by analyzing the historical and symbolic identity of the room’s original decorations.

Museums have a duty to inspire the creatives of the future. At V&A East, I’ve made that my mission | Gus Casely-Hayford

Gus Casely-Hayford, the director of V&A East, outlines his vision for the new museum as a collaborative space designed specifically to re-engage young audiences. Highlighting a new commission by Cuban artist Tania Bruguera created with local youth, Casely-Hayford argues that museums must move beyond Victorian-era paternalism toward a model of co-creation. The institution has consulted over 30,000 young people to ensure its galleries, such as the "Why We Make" space, reflect contemporary concerns and community needs.

How is ethical knitwear made? The founder of Milanese brand Vitelli explains

Come si fa maglieria etica? Il fondatore del brand milanese Vitelli ci spiega

Mauro Simionato, founder of the Milanese brand Vitelli, discusses the evolution of his label as it returns from a year-long hiatus. Known for its 'Doomboh' regenerative process, Vitelli utilizes recovered yarns and vintage 1980s machinery to transform knitwear into a medium for aesthetic and cultural experimentation. The brand draws heavy inspiration from the 'Gioventù Cosmica' counterculture scene, blending music, material culture, and inclusive community-building into its production model.

Art exhibition showcasing Hampshire countryside opens this May

CPRE Hampshire is launching a special art exhibition this May at the Amanda Aldous Fine Art Gallery in Winchester to commemorate the organization’s 100th anniversary. The showcase features works by local artists, including Katie Rockley, Maggie Martin, and Susan Colyer, whose paintings capture the landscapes and heritage of the Hampshire countryside. The event includes a ticketed private viewing followed by several days of public access and guided countryside walks designed to connect the artworks with the physical locations that inspired them.

Should Wine Also Become UNESCO Heritage? Yes, But New Certification Criteria Must Be Imagined

Anche il vino diventa Patrimonio Unesco? Ok, ma si dovrebbero immaginare nuovi criteri di certificazione

EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen has proposed that the culture of wine and vine be officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage, citing its deep roots in European and Italian tradition. While wine-related practices like Pantelleria’s 'vite ad alberello' and various vineyard landscapes are already protected, this new proposal seeks a broader, more unified cultural designation for the industry.

Barber Osgerby, a British Design Team, Is Honored in Milan

The Triennale Milano is hosting a dedicated exhibition celebrating the prolific output of the British design duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. The showcase highlights the studio's influential career, featuring a range of industrial design projects that have defined modern British aesthetics over the past two decades.

DC Getaway: Exploring Toronto’s art scene, from galleries to murals

Toronto's visual arts landscape is highlighted as a premier destination for travelers, featuring a mix of massive institutional collections and specialized local galleries. Key attractions include the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), known for its vast natural history and ancient civilization galleries, and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), which houses over 120,000 works ranging from Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary installations like Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room.

Enniskillen artist unveils deeply personal exhibition

Fermanagh-born artist Rachael Johnson is set to debut her solo exhibition, "Pareidolia," at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. Running from May 1 to May 30, the show features a collection of mixed-media works that utilize paint, ink, charcoal, and organic materials to explore the psychological phenomenon of finding meaning in random patterns. The exhibition serves as a retrospective of sorts, blending new creations with selected pieces from her diverse career.

What are therapeutic gardens and how are they designed? An expert explains

Cosa sono i giardini terapeutici e come si progettano. Ce lo spiega l’esperta

Landscape architect Monica Botta discusses the resurgence and design principles of healing gardens, specialized green spaces designed to promote physical and psychological well-being. While the therapeutic value of nature was largely ignored in mid-20th-century clinical architecture, a modern shift is reintegrating 'nature therapy' into healthcare facilities to combat stress, depression, and chronic illnesses.

sothebys debt delays 2766303

Sotheby’s is navigating a complex financial landscape marked by a major debt refinancing effort and the introduction of a controversial delayed-payment program. The auction house is seeking to raise $825 million through five-year bonds to address existing debt due in 2027, while simultaneously facing a $10.2 million lawsuit over real estate commissions. To manage liquidity, the firm has codified a scheme offering sellers a 7 percent interest rate if they agree to wait six months for their payout, a significant departure from the industry standard of 35 to 45 days.

Artist Mark Di Vincenzo Set to Unveil Exhibition at Eleven Twenty Gallery

Buffalo-based artist Mark Di Vincenzo is set to debut a new exhibition of paintings at Eleven Twenty Gallery, running from April 17th through May 16th. The showcase features a collection of 19 large-scale oil paintings and 12 gouache works, many of which were inspired by a residency at The Park School of Buffalo where the artist focused on capturing the natural landscape.

Artist Proof Studio’s 35 years of David and Goliath arts education

Artist Proof Studio (APS) is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a showcase of works that highlight its long-standing commitment to printmaking and arts education in South Africa. The studio continues to serve as a vital hub for emerging and established artists, fostering a community centered on technical excellence and creative collaboration.

Light on the water

The Victoria Art Gallery in Bath has announced 'The Transience of Light,' the first posthumous exhibition dedicated to the celebrated British printmaker Norman Ackroyd CBE RA. Opening on May 22, the retrospective features over five decades of etchings, ranging from his early 1980s works to his final pieces. Co-curated by the gallery’s senior curator Nathalie Levi alongside Ackroyd’s family and studio manager, the show includes archival material and a diverse range of subjects including his iconic remote coastal landscapes, cityscapes, and interiors.

Which of these five museums is the best in the UK?

The Art Fund has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Museum of the Year award, featuring the National Gallery, V&A East Storehouse, The Box in Plymouth, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery. The finalists represent a diverse cross-section of British heritage, ranging from London’s "Goliath" institutions celebrating bicentenaries to regional hubs undergoing major architectural transformations. The winner, to be announced on June 25, will receive a £120,000 prize, while runners-up each receive £20,000.

Local blind artist shares her process for creating art for new exhibition

Visually impaired artist Charlynne 'Char' Boddie is showcasing her unique creative process ahead of a new exhibition. Despite being legally blind, Boddie utilizes specialized techniques, including tactile markers and high-contrast lighting, to produce vibrant paintings that challenge traditional perceptions of accessibility in the arts.

Green Island Restaurant hosts new artwork displays by local artists

Private & Public Gallery has partnered with Green Island Restaurant in Jersey to install a rotating display of works by local artists Jacques Le Breton, Charles Haydn Taylor, Claire Haithwaite, and Hazel Wynn. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including ceramics, iPad drawings, and paintings created from found coastal materials, all arranged in a traditional French Salon style.