literature darkology rhae lynn barnes blackface minstrelsy

Rhae Lynn Barnes, a scholar at Princeton, has published a new book titled "Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment," which examines the pervasive history of amateur minstrelsy in American life from the 19th through 20th centuries. Drawing on two decades of archival research, Barnes reveals how blackface performances were not confined to professional theaters but were common in living rooms, schools, USO shows, fraternal lodges, and even Japanese internment camps, involving figures like Shirley Temple, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby.

QUISQUEYA HENRÍQUEZ: THE CENTER CAN BE EVERYWHERE

QUISQUEYA HENRÍQUEZ: EL CENTRO PUEDE ESTAR EN TODAS PARTES

A major retrospective exhibition titled "El centro puede estar en todas partes" (The Center Can Be Everywhere) for artist Quisqueya Henríquez has opened at the Centro de Arte Complutense in Madrid. Curated by René Morales with Isabella Lenzi and Alfonsina Martínez, the show presents the most comprehensive European review of Henríquez's multidisciplinary work, spanning photography, video, collage, and installation, and is organized thematically rather than chronologically.

Rika Nakajima: A New Book of the Dead, Part 3

連載 中島りか 新しい死者の書 第三回

Japanese artist Rika Nakajima reflects on the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, who assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, weaving together her own experience running the project space "Datsuisho – (a) place to be naked" in Tokyo's Yanaka district. As the space faced demolition in late 2025, Nakajima draws parallels between the trial's timing and the closure of her venue, recalling earlier events at the space that discussed the state funeral controversy and the cult issues exposed by the assassination. She describes attending the trial in Nara, observing Yamagami's demeanor, and connecting the case to broader themes of political aesthetics, fascism, and the theatricality of the judicial system.

JFK's Last Lover Was a Painter. The Story of Mary Pinchot Meyer

L’ultima amante di JFK era una pittrice. La storia di Mary Pinchot Meyer

Mary Pinchot Meyer, an American abstract painter active in the 1960s, is being rediscovered for her artistic contributions, which have long been overshadowed by her personal life. She was the last lover of President John F. Kennedy and was murdered under mysterious circumstances in 1964, a year after his assassination. Her killer was acquitted, leaving the case unsolved.

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.

New gallery offers place for up-and-coming artists

Susan Staresina, a local artist living in Sackville, New Brunswick, is opening the Shediac Art Gallery this summer to provide a dedicated space for up-and-coming artists to show and sell their work. Staresina, who moved to New Brunswick from the Toronto area during the pandemic after a Google search for quality of life, transitioned from working as a secretary to painting full-time in 2023, inspired by the landscapes and buildings of the Maritimes.

Making Rent: New York’s New Apartment Galleries and Artist-Run Spaces

A wave of new artist-run and apartment galleries is emerging in New York's outer boroughs, driven by artists and organizers seizing unconventional, often temporary, spaces. These include the Gallery in Crown Heights, a massive group show staged in a vacant office loft secured with a two-month free lease, and the more established Iowa Projects, which presents solo exhibitions in a domestic setting.

Good praxis: How a former brothel became one of Adelaide's leading arts spaces - InReview

The article profiles praxis ARTSPACE in Adelaide, Australia, which was originally a former brothel and is now a leading arts space celebrating its tenth anniversary. Founded and directed by Patty Chehade, the space offers professional exhibition facilities for emerging and established artists, featuring a mix of one-person and thematic shows. Notable artists exhibited include Liz Butler, Dianne Longley, Olga Sankey, and Margaret Ambridge.

Art is in the air this October, Go Metro during National Arts and Humanities Month

Metro Art, the public art program of Los Angeles County's transit authority, is celebrating National Arts & Humanities Month in October 2024 with a series of exhibitions and events across the Metro system. Highlights include 'Love, Leimert' at Leimert Park Station, featuring moving-image works by ten artists; 'LA on the Move' at Union Station, an exhibition exploring how people and wildlife navigate the city; and guided tours of large-scale artworks at Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill Station. The program also features a wrapped Metro Art Bus showcasing rider portrait photography.

New exhibit at Macon Museum of Arts & Science

A new exhibit has opened at the Macon Museum of Arts & Science in Georgia, featuring a collection of spectacular paintings that the reviewer found visually impressive but thematically puzzling. The exhibit departs from the museum's previous shows, which have ranged from solo artist presentations and local Macon artists to Georgia-wide showcases and even more unconventional, psychedelic-themed works.

Local Notes: Art Exhibition, Chess Club, Digital Skills

Service users from Rehab Care Castlerea and Roscommon are presenting a special art exhibition at the Roscommon Library. Running from February 18th to February 28th, the showcase features a variety of creative works produced by individuals within the care program.

In post-'revolution' Bangladesh, a photography festival questions how to rebuild after ruin

The Chobi Mela, a Dhaka-based international photography festival, is taking place in Bangladesh amid political upheaval following the 2024 'Monsoon Revolution' that toppled the authoritarian government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Co-organized by photographer and curator Munem Wasif with Sarker Protick, the festival explores themes of revolution, rebuilding, and historical repetition through themed exhibitions and solo shows by international and Bangladeshi artists, including Bani Abidi, Myriam Boulos, and Mong Mong Shay. The event occurs at a tense time, with mob violence targeting arts groups in December 2024 drawing UN condemnation, yet organizers insist on addressing the region's current crises.

We’ve Been at the Tapestry Studio Since the 90s

An exhibition titled "We’ve Been at the Tapestry Studio Since the 90s" has opened at Salt Beyoğlu in Istanbul, exploring the unique pedagogical and artistic approach of the Tapestry Studio at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ). Founded in 1976–77 by painter and academic Zekai Ormancı, the studio combined carpet weaving education with contemporary art, fostering a collaborative "learning together" model. In 1992, visual artist and academic Gülçin Aksoy joined as an assistant, transforming the space into a hub of creative dissent and interdisciplinary exchange that spilled into Istanbul's broader contemporary art scene during the 2000s.

Duke Riley’s Art Exhibition at the MOCA in Virginia Beach

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Virginia Beach is presenting "O'er the Wide and Plastic Sea," an exhibition of multimedia works by Brooklyn artist Duke Riley, running through August 31. The show spans two decades of Riley's practice, with the centerpiece artwork created from beach trash—including lighters, buoy pieces, and syringes—collected largely from Virginia Beach shores. Riley's work explores tensions between individual and collective behavior, institutional power, and nature's struggle with modern problems, blending early American styles, folklore, and sea-craft aesthetics.

Turkish artist Koray Kasap debuts 3D art exhibition in US | Daily Sabah

Turkish artist Koray Kasap has opened his first 3D art exhibition in the United States, held at an outdoor gallery in Morristown, New Jersey. The mixed-media show blends painting with everyday objects and features themes from Turkish culture, including works titled "Nefsini Terbiye Eden Derviş" ("The Dervish Who Trains His Soul"), "Ayasofya" ("Hagia Sophia"), and "Filistinli Anne" ("Palestinian Mother"). Kasap, a graduate of Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts and a former photographer known for album covers in the 1990s, uses charcoal and coffee instead of traditional paints. He has pledged to donate proceeds from the Palestinian Mother painting to Palestinian children.

The Pressure to Mean Something: Inside the VCUarts’ MFA Exhibition

The article covers the MFA exhibition at VCUarts, showcasing the work of graduate students in the visual arts program. It highlights the pressure on emerging artists to imbue their work with meaning and the diverse approaches taken by the exhibitors.

Russian artist reveals portrait Putin commissioned him to make as gift for Trump

Russian artist Nikas Safronov revealed a portrait of Donald Trump commissioned by Vladimir Putin as a gift for the U.S. president. The painting depicts Trump after the July 2024 assassination attempt, with blood on his face and fist raised, against a U.S. flag and Statue of Liberty backdrop. Safronov confirmed Putin personally conveyed the importance of the order, and the portrait was delivered via Trump envoy Steven Witkoff. The Kremlin pool journalists posted the image, and Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the gift.

A Roma il popolare quartiere Quadraro ospita un festival d’arte diffuso. Il programma

The IPER Festival delle periferie returns to Rome's Quadraro neighborhood for its fifth edition, titled "Super Lieux (Super luoghi) Periferie. Storie e geografie." Running until May 31, the festival features conferences, roundtables, study days, talks, exhibitions, and performances. A highlight is "Überlagerungen," a diffuse art review curated by Spazio Y that animates the Quadraro Vecchio district on May 16 with actions, installations, and shows from 4 PM to 11 PM. Participating venues include Spazio Kina, vineria Moggio, and osteria Grandma, with works by artists such as Lucia Bricco, Giulio Cassanelli, Felice Levini, and many others.

Lament for much-loved squirrel to go on show in London exhibition

A poetic lament for a squirrel named Jack, written by James Hadfield—a patient at Bethlem Royal Hospital who attempted to assassinate King George III in 1800—will go on public display for the first time at the Bethlem Museum of the Mind in London. The work is part of a new exhibition titled "Between Sleeping and Waking: Hospital Dreams and Visions," opening August 14, which also features a major installation by contemporary artist Kate McDonnell and other previously unseen works from the hospital's historic art collection.

Tutte le ‘Sicilie’ di Armando Rotoletti all’Antiquarium di Centuripe in un viaggio tra memoria e visione

The article reports on the exhibition "Sicilia. Un’isola, tante Sicilie. Fotografia, memoria e patrimonio culturale nell’opera di Armando Rotoletti" at the Antiquarium Comunale di Centuripe in Sicily, running until September 27, 2026. The show features over thirty years of black-and-white photographic research by Armando Rotoletti (born 1958 in Messina), a photojournalist who left Sicily for London and Milan but maintained a deep connection to his homeland. His work captures the island's plural, complex identity through rituals, daily gestures, and cultural resistance to standardization, with images that blur past and present.

Ashe Arts Center hosting opening reception for new exhibit this Friday

The Ashe Arts Center in Lansing, North Carolina, is hosting an opening reception for "Shadow of the Hills," a new exhibit featuring artwork created by the Blue Ridge Art Clan (BRAC). The reception will take place on Friday, May 8, from 5-7 p.m., and the exhibit will remain on display through June 6. BRAC, founded by Florence Thomas in 1978, promotes fine arts and supports artistic excellence, with members including professional and hobby artists from Ashe County and the surrounding High Country. The 2026 exhibit features 28 participating artists, including Scott Ballard, Lynn Baranowski, and Pete Benda, among others.

Tatiana Malinovscaia | 130x100cm-Blue Distance in Quiet Light (2026) | For Sale

Tatiana Malinovscaia's painting "Blue Distance in Quiet Light" (2026) is being offered for sale by Artseeker Gallery. The 100x130 cm acrylic on canvas work features a restrained abstract composition with muted blues, ivories, beiges, and charcoals, built through layered textures and tonal contrasts. Malinovscaia, a self-taught Moldovan artist, explores the interplay between architectural clarity and atmospheric abstraction, with light acting as a central structural element that reveals nuanced variations across the textured surface throughout the day.

New İstanbul art exhibition questions the meaning of animal shelters

The exhibition "Barı-n/m-ak" has opened at Müze Gazhane in Istanbul, curated by Hicran Aksöz as a social responsibility project that merges contemporary art with animal rights advocacy. Featuring works by 27 Turkish contemporary artists, the show uses a typographic play on the title to question the concepts of shelter and sheltering, prompting reflection on cohabitation in the city, the right to shelter, and interspecies solidarity. Alongside the artworks, the program includes artist talks and workshops on animal rights-themed art, and at the exhibition's close, artists will connect with collectors to generate funds that will directly purchase supplies for Beşiktaş Municipality Shelters and Angels Farm.

An exhibition of works by Mykhailo Riasnianskyi, People’s Artist of Ukraine, is currently being held in Mykolaiv

An exhibition of works by Mykhailo Riasnianskyi, People’s Artist of Ukraine, is currently on display at the V. Vereshchahin Art Museum in Mykolaiv, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. The show features paintings from the museum’s collection and opened with speeches from local officials and artists, including Yevhen Horburov and Dmytro Artym. Riasnianskyi, who died in 2001, was a veteran of World War II, a longtime teacher, and the first artist from the Mykolaiv region to receive the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine.

Student art show inspires creative spark

Los Medanos College held the opening reception for its 2026 student art exhibition on April 22, showcasing works selected by guest juror Jennifer Lugris. Awards and scholarships were presented in partnership with the Concord Art Association and the Art Guild of the Delta, with first place for drawing going to "Welcome to the World" by Gigi Centeno. The event featured an interactive art wall and drew students, families, and community members to celebrate emerging artists.

We’ve Been at the Tapestry Studio Since the 90s

An exhibition at Salt Beyoğlu titled 'We’ve Been at the Tapestry Studio Since the 90s' explores the art education practices of the Tapestry Studio, part of the Painting Department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ). The show presents a collage of collective productions, individual works, archival materials, and personal testimonies from artists who have passed through the studio, tracing its physical and conceptual evolution since its founding in the early 1990s. It highlights the studio's unique pedagogical approach, which combines tapestry weaving with contemporary art, collaborative learning, and open programs that challenge academic hierarchies and gendered norms.

Exhibition by textile artist Kadi Pajupuu to be opened at the Riigikogu

Textile artist Kadi Pajupuu has opened a solo exhibition titled "Sinane" (This Very) at the Art Gallery of Toompea Castle, the seat of the Estonian Parliament. Inaugurated by Riigikogu President Lauri Hussar, the showcase features experimental works that blend archaic Estonian linguistic themes with modern material technologies. The exhibition highlights Pajupuu’s innovative weaving techniques, including her patented RailReed and MultiWeave systems, which allow for adjustable warp density and three-dimensional textile structures.

Türkiye Pastel artists open ‘Dust and Light’ exhibition in Istanbul | Daily Sabah

The Türkiye Pastel Sanatçıları Topluluğu (Community of Pastel Artists), led by Javad Soleimanpour, has opened its fifth edition of the “Dust and Light” pastel painting exhibition at Mete Plaza/Mete Art in Istanbul. The show features 120 artists and 120 works, with an opening ceremony attended by art enthusiasts and guests. Honorary guest professor Sinan Canan delivered a keynote on the relationship between science and art, while painters Olga Abramova and Remzi Iren served as honorary guests and jury members. Three works received prizes, and the exhibition is free and runs through May 25.