Surrey Art Gallery spotlights Expo 86 with In the Shadow of the Pavilions, April 18 to June 7

The Surrey Art Gallery is launching "In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art," a multidisciplinary exhibition running from April 18 to June 7. Curated by Jordan Strom, the show features archival works and documentation from over 40 artists created between 1984 and 1988. It brings together official commissions from the world’s fair alongside unofficial, parallel art initiatives that emerged during Vancouver’s Centennial celebrations, covering media ranging from kinetic sculpture to performance art.

The Giants Have Arrived: Inside Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s MCASD Exhibition

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz have opened a major exhibition of their personal art collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD). Titled "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys," the show features over 100 works by prominent Black artists, including Kehinde Wiley, Amy Sherald, Barkley L. Hendricks, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Mark Milroy Sees, Remembers, and Imagines at Once

Artist Mark Milroy, an observational painter in his mid-50s who gained a following during the pandemic through Instagram and online shows at Nancy Margolis Gallery, is now holding his debut New York exhibition, "Jumbo," at JJ Murphy gallery through May 16. The show features 18 oil paintings and 12 colored pencil drawings, with subjects ranging from still lifes and portraits to a titular painting referencing the famous P.T. Barnum elephant killed in Milroy's hometown of St. Thomas, Ontario, in 1885. Milroy's work blends personal memory, art historical insight, and a deliberate gaze, drawing influences from Cedric Morris and 15th-century Florentine painting.

Satellite Galleries with Gravitas

The Gallery at Hotel Willa and the Encore Gallery at the Taos Center for the Arts have emerged as vital "satellite" exhibition spaces in Taos, New Mexico. Managed by the nonprofit Paseo Project under Executive Director Matt Thomas, the Gallery at Hotel Willa has transformed 2,000 square feet of hospitality space into a hub for local talent, featuring high-profile fashion installations by Josh Tafoya and upcoming ecological exhibitions like "Disturbance." Meanwhile, the Encore Gallery leverages the high foot traffic of the Taos Center for the Arts to provide local artists with significant community exposure alongside film and theatrical programming.

April 2026 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists

This monthly roundup highlights a diverse range of professional opportunities for artists and designers scheduled for April 2026. Key listings include the Earth 2026 Art Awards, which offers global promotion and Artsy exposure, and The Hopper Prize, which provides grants totaling $13,000. Other notable calls include the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s "American Tree" exhibition, the fiber-focused "Fiber Forward" open call for women and non-binary artists, and the prestigious Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize in Australia.

A Guide To May 2026 Photography Festivals & Exhibitions

A diverse array of international photography festivals and exhibitions are scheduled for May 2026. Key events include Bieler Fototage in Switzerland, focusing on vulnerability as a social condition; Photo London, which is relocating to the Olympia and introducing new curated sections; Hard Copy New York at the ICP, exploring photocopied imagery; Fotofestival Lenzburg, an open-air exhibition in Switzerland; and several other events across Europe and the US.

Art: Passion is Volcanic – Desire in Southeast Asian Art at National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore has opened a major exhibition titled 'Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art.' The show, which carries an unprecedented R18 rating and prohibits photography, presents a comprehensive exploration of eroticism, pleasure, and the body through a wide range of artworks from the region's collection and loans. It is curated by Dr. Patrick Flores, Dr. Adele Tan, and Dr. Kathleen Ditzig, who frame desire as a culturally specific yet universal force shaped by history and power.

The Art Galleries of New York

A visitor recounts a personal gallery crawl through New York City neighborhoods like Tribeca, Chelsea, and the Lower East Side, highlighting specific exhibitions at Andrew Kreps Gallery, James Cohen Gallery, Chapter NY, and Bortolami Gallery. The article details works by artists including Thérèse Oulton, Elias Sime, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Rosha Yaghmai, Vian Sora, and Sophie Reinhold, emphasizing the diversity of styles and materials on view.

Delhi gets its first ‘gallery district’ in Defence Colony

The Defence Colony neighborhood in Delhi has officially emerged as the city's first dedicated 'gallery district' following a collaborative effort by local art dealers. The initiative, spearheaded by Arjun Butani of Pristine Contemporary and Arjun Sawhney, saw eleven galleries coordinate their schedules to host 'Def Col Art Night' on March 17, 2026. The event featured major openings, including an S.H. Raza retrospective at Akar Prakar and a solo sculpture exhibition by Mayur Gupta at Latitude 28, drawing crowds through a synchronized gallery hop model.

A Guide To April 2026 Photo Awards & Open Calls

A curated selection of international photography awards, scholarships, and open calls has been announced for April 2026. Key opportunities include the PhMuseum Online Masterclasses scholarships, which offer fully-funded spots for artistic development and documentary photography, and the PhMuseum Days Photography Festival open call for exhibitions in Bologna, Italy. Additionally, the Hasselblad Foundation is offering significant grants to support the publication of new photobooks by professionals in the field.

Now we open a Palestinian Pavilion at the Biennale. Interview with Tomaso Montanari

“Ora apriamo un Padiglione Palestina in Biennale”. Intervista a Tomaso Montanari

Tomaso Montanari, a member of the scientific committee for the exhibition "Gaza, il futuro ha un cuore antico. Materie e memorie del Mediterraneo" at Fondazione Merz in Turin, discusses the show's aim to highlight Gaza's 5,000-year history beyond the current war imagery. The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Museo Egizio and the MAH – Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève, juxtaposes ancient artifacts with contemporary artworks to assert the cultural and historical significance of Palestine. Montanari also addresses the upcoming Venice Biennale, criticizing the lack of a Palestinian pavilion and suggesting that the Turin exhibition itself serves as a de facto Palestinian pavilion, while calling for accountability for Israel's actions.

Andreas Angelidakis on Representing Greece at the 61st Venice Biennale

Artist Andreas Angelidakis will represent Greece at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with a project titled 'Escape Room'. He plans to split the Greek Pavilion in two, referencing the National Schism in Greek history, and will create an immersive experience that explores the building's dual identities as a national symbol and an exhibition space, set to the soundtrack of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'Relax'.

Cultural Institutions Warn Against AfD's Cultural Policy Plans

Kulturinstitutionen warnen vor AfD-Plänen zur Kulturpolitik

Nearly 30 cultural institutions in Saxony-Anhalt, including the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation and the Saxony-Anhalt Museum Association, have issued a joint warning against the AfD party's new government program. The political platform proposes a "patriotic cultural policy" that would prioritize funding for art contributing to "German identity" while criticizing the state's focus on modernism and the Bauhaus as a "sign of identity disorder." The institutions argue these plans threaten artistic freedom, pluralism, and the democratic culture of remembrance regarding Germany's Nazi past.

In Paris, the unRepresented fair brings together artists without galleries in a private mansion

À Paris, le salon unRepresented réunit dans un hôtel particulier des artistes sans galerie

The unRepresented art fair returns to Paris for its fourth edition, taking place from April 10 to 12 at the Hôtel Molière. Founded by Emilia Genuardi, the salon provides a platform for fifteen independent artists who are not currently represented by galleries, allowing them to showcase their work during the busy Art Paris week. This year's selection focuses on artists who "experiment with the image," featuring diverse practices ranging from Regina Anzenberger’s painted photographs to Tania Arancia’s textile-based archival works.

Alexey Morosov to Represent Kyrgyzstan at 2026 Venice Biennale

Kyrgyzstan has chosen artist Alexey Morosov to represent the country at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. His pavilion, curated by Geraldine Leardi, will feature a large-scale installation titled BELEK, which explores Kyrgyz nomadic heritage, water as a sacred resource, and the impact of Soviet-era hydro-engineering on the landscape.

Kunsthalle Mainz Facing the End?

Kunsthalle Mainz vor dem Aus?

The Kunsthalle Mainz is facing potential closure by the end of the year following the withdrawal of funding by the Mainzer Stadtwerke. The crisis is compounded by the departure of director Stefanie Böttcher, who is moving to the Kunsthalle Kiel, and the fact that her position has not been advertised for replacement. Despite its international reputation and successful recent exhibitions, such as the current Britta Marakatt-Labba retrospective, the institution lacks a secured financial future and a leadership succession plan.

Nairy Baghramian and Ibrahim Mahama to create major new commissions for Art Basel 2026.

Art Basel has announced that Nairy Baghramian and Ibrahim Mahama will create major new site-specific sculptures for the 2026 edition of its flagship fair in Switzerland. Baghramian will present "Modèle vivant (S’empilant)" (2026), an elaborate installation designed for the Messeplatz fountain, while Mahama's commission details are yet to be fully disclosed. Both artists are part of Art Basel's inaugural class of Gold Awardees, with the commissions first revealed in February 2026.

Willem de Rooij at Lumiar Cité

Artist Willem de Rooij presents a new exhibition titled "Hut Hut" at Lumiar Cité in Lisbon. The show, curated by Jürgen Bock, runs from February 21 to May 17, 2026, and is documented with 11 images on the Contemporary Art Daily platform.

“Human Being Human” at The Private Museum

The Private Museum in Singapore presents "Human Being Human: Selections from the Collection of John and Cheryl Chia," an exhibition running from January 19 to April 26, 2026. Organized into four chapters—"Stateless," "State," "Statehood," and "Rebirth"—the show features works by artists including Joseph Beuys, Lee Wen, Eadweard Muybridge, Sherman Ong, John Clang, Sun Xun, and Green Zeng, exploring the body as a central site of inquiry into identity, vulnerability, and societal conditioning. The collection, amassed over 25 years by doctors John and Cheryl Chia, uses the body to examine themes of statelessness, state control, collective ideology, and rebirth, with works that challenge linear narratives and embrace conceptual loops.

Venice Biennale Jury Says It Won’t Consider Countries Charged with Crimes Against Humanity, Including Israel and Russia

The Venice Biennale's jury announced it will not consider nations whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, effectively excluding Israel and Russia from competing for top honors. The jury, led by Videobrasil founder Solange Farkas, stated this decision aligns with curator Koyo Kouoh's vision and the Biennale's historical role as a platform connecting art to urgent issues. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while other indicted leaders like Sudan's Omar al-Bashir and Afghan officials lack Biennale pavilions.

The Bennett Prize Just Raised Its Award to $75,000. These Artists Think You Should Apply.

The Bennett Prize, a biennial award dedicated to women figurative realist painters, has increased its grand prize from $50,000 to $75,000 for its fifth cycle. Founded by collectors Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt, the prize aims to bridge the gender gap in the art world by providing substantial financial support and institutional recognition. The current call for entries is open to artists who have not yet reached a specific commercial price ceiling, culminating in a 2027 exhibition at the Muskegon Museum of Art.

How Pussy Riot Is Challenging Russia’s Return to the Venice Biennale

The feminist art collective Pussy Riot is campaigning to replace the official Russian exhibition at the 2024 Venice Biennale with their own show, "Resistance Imprisoned." The alternative exhibition features art created by nearly 30 current and former political prisoners in Russia, using improvised materials like envelopes, bedding, and blood. The collective's founder, Nadya Tolokonnikova, aims to expose the country's repressive system, drawing from her own experience in a penal colony.

World Press Photo 2026 winners – in pictures

The World Press Photo 2026 winners have been announced, with Carol Guzy awarded the top honor for her image of distraught girls clinging to their father as ICE agents detain him after an immigration hearing in New York City. Finalists include Saber Nuraldin’s photograph of Palestinians scrambling for aid in Gaza, Victor J Blue’s image of Achi women outside a Guatemala City court, and other powerful works documenting climate displacement in Mexico, a wedding during a typhoon in the Philippines, police detaining a priest at a pensioners’ protest in Argentina, and a social robot in Europe.

A festival of young European photography

The 16th edition of the Circulation(s) festival has launched at the Centquatre-Paris, showcasing the work of 26 emerging European photographers. Running from March 21 to May 17, 2026, the exhibition highlights contemporary projects that reflect the current intuitions, social commitments, and creative challenges facing the next generation of lens-based artists.

Arts Listings: Week of April 9, 2026

The Ventura County arts community is launching a series of local exhibitions and theater productions for the week of April 9, 2026. Highlights include the opening of the political comedy "The Outsider" at the Santa Paula Theater Center and the "Rediscovering" exhibition at Fox Fine Jewelry featuring Lisa Sachs and Thomas Hoerber. Additionally, the Camarillo Art Center is hosting a themed exhibition titled "I dream my paintings, then I paint my dream," alongside various technical workshops in watercolor and gourd art.

Museum of Nebraska Art hosts Brian Corr solo exhibition through Sept. 20

The Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) is currently presenting a solo exhibition of works by artist Brian Corr, which will remain on view through September 20. The exhibition showcases Corr’s specialized approach to glass sculpture, highlighting his technical mastery and exploration of light and space within the medium.

Faig Ahmed on Representing Azerbaijan at the 61st Venice Biennale

Artist Faig Ahmed will represent Azerbaijan at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with a project exploring the intersections of mystical poetry and quantum physics. Located in the Campo de la Tana, the pavilion aims to create a contemplative space where technology and ancient oral traditions facilitate a personal dialogue for the viewer. Ahmed’s presentation responds to the Biennale’s overarching theme, 'In Minor Keys,' by focusing on subtle, often overlooked phenomena.

Five Artists on Representing India at the 61st Venice Biennale

India has announced its artist lineup for the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring Alwar Balasubramaniam, Sumakshi Singh, Ranjani Shettar, Asim Waqif, and Skarma Sonam Tashi. The national pavilion, located in the Arsenale, will showcase a diverse range of installations that explore themes of architectural memory, environmental sustainability, and the physical processes of nature. From Tashi’s recreations of Ladakhi homes using recycled materials to Singh’s spectral thread-based architectural fragments, the works collectively examine the fragility of heritage and the shifting relationship between humans and their environments.

EU Cuts Venice Biennale Funding Over Russia Involvement

The European Commission has withdrawn a $2.3 million grant from the Venice Biennale, following through on a threat made last week. The funding cut is a direct response to the Biennale's decision to readmit Russian artists as a government-funded delegation for its 2026 edition, which the EU argues violates sanctions and provides Russia a cultural platform during its war against Ukraine.

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair Has Taken Off Its Training Wheels

The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair (BFAPF) has returned for its second edition at Powerhouse Arts, expanding significantly from its inaugural "beta test" last year. The fair now features over 60 exhibitors, including a diverse mix of independent print shops, academic departments, self-represented artists, and established international galleries. This year's iteration emphasizes experimental mixed-media practices and a rigorous juried selection process, moving beyond traditional printmaking to include illuminated plexiglass screenprints and sculptural paper works.