“Double Outsider”: in the London studio of artist Pavel Otdelnov

Russian contemporary artist Pavel Otdelnov has established a home studio in London, where his domestic environment serves as an extension of his artistic practice. Following his relocation in 2022, Otdelnov has integrated Soviet-era motifs—such as wall carpets and television color grids—into his English terraced house to explore themes of memory and the 'uncanny.' His recent works, including 'Unheimlich' and 'No Signal,' utilize these familiar objects to critique how nostalgia can be weaponized and how violence often hides within the mundane.

The MEGA Fair-Exhibition Opens in a Former Milanese Factory: Photos and 5 Must-See Booths

In ex fabbrica di Milano ha aperto la mostra-fiera MEGA. Tutte le foto e 5 stand da non mancare

The third edition of MEGA Art Fair has opened in Milan, relocating to SPAZIO PROFUMO, a former perfume factory in the Barona district. Running from April 15 to 25, 2026, the event strategically bridges Milan Art Week and Design Week, featuring over 30 international exhibitors from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Eschewing traditional booth structures, the fair utilizes a cohesive curatorial layout that integrates industrial archaeology with contemporary practices, including a dedicated video program and a section titled 'City of Glass.'

A new experimental and independent art and culture bookstore is about to open in Venice

A Venezia sta per aprire una nuova libreria d’arte e cultura sperimentale e indipendente

Rupture Arts & Books is set to open a new experimental art bookstore and cultural hub in Venice’s Santa Croce district on April 29, 2026. Moving from its previous Giudecca location to the city’s "museum quarter" near Fondazione Prada, the space will function as more than a retail outlet, incorporating an independent publishing house, a record label, and a podcast production studio. Founded by Alexandre Sap and Anne-Marie Gaultier, the project aims to redefine the contemporary reading space through a multidisciplinary approach.

At the Venice Biennale, the Armenian Pavilion Transforms into an Artist's Workshop: Works Are Born in Front of the Public

Alla Biennale di Venezia il Padiglione dell’Armenia si trasforma in bottega d’artista: le opere nascono di fronte al pubblico

The Armenian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale will transform into a functioning artist's studio, where sculptor Zadik Zadikian will create works in real time before the public. Titled "The Studio," the project is curated by gallerist Tony Shafrazi and curator Tina Chakarian, and will operate daily from May 6 to November 22 at the Tesa 41 of the Arsenale. Zadikian, born in Yerevan in 1948 and now based in the US, will work with traditional Armenian plaster techniques alongside his son Aram and studio assistants, emphasizing the process of making over the finished object.

In Meyerowitz's book, all the intensity of the encounter between his photography and Morandi's painting

Nel libro di Meyerowitz tutta l’intensità dell’incontro tra la sua fotografia e la pittura di Morandi

A new edition of the book 'Morandi’s Objects' by photographer Joel Meyerowitz has been published by Damiani. The volume explores the artistic dialogue between Meyerowitz's photography and the paintings of Giorgio Morandi, featuring a series of still-life photographs inspired by Morandi's studio and objects, along with a new essay by Maggie Barrett.

Prada's Cultured Symposium on Fashion and Design Will Take Place This Year at Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan

Il colto simposio su moda&design di Prada quest’anno si svolgerà nella chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie a Milano

The fifth edition of Prada Frames, an annual multidisciplinary symposium curated by the design studio Formafantasma, is set to take place from April 19 to 21, 2026, at the historic Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. Hosted within the Renaissance sacristy attributed to Donato Bramante, the event coincides with the Salone del Mobile and features a series of lectures and discussions. This year's theme, "In Sight," explores the evolving power of images, the blurring lines between human and machine-generated content, and the material environmental impact of digital image production.

An important exhibition in Milan tells the story of the lesser-known Man Ray: interview with the curator

Una importante mostra a Milano racconta il Man Ray meno conosciuto: intervista al curatore

The Gió Marconi gallery and Fondazione Marconi in Milan have launched a major retrospective titled "Man Ray: M for Dictionary," marking fifty years since the artist's passing. Curated by Yuval Etgar and Deborah D’Ippolito, the exhibition moves beyond Man Ray’s famous photography to highlight his role as a pioneer of conceptual and multimedia art. The show is organized into five thematic sections that explore his use of visual puns, experimental "Rayographs," and the transformative power of language across painting, drawing, and sculpture.

The Artists' Foundation Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

La Fondation des artistes célèbre ses 50 ans

The Fondation des artistes, a major independent French organization supporting visual artists, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1976, it operates from the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild and the Nogent-sur-Marne estate, providing production grants, residencies, and support for elderly artists at the Maison nationale des artistes. Its anniversary program includes exhibitions, performances, and public events, with a key date on June 27 in Nogent-sur-Marne.

Urban Reflections, Daniel Melim on the City as Studio, Archive and Collective Space

Brazilian artist Daniel Melim discusses his exhibition "Urban Reflections" at São Bernardo do Campo in an interview with Brendon Bell-Roberts. Melim, who emerged from the graffiti and stencil cultures of ABC Paulista, describes how the city functions as an active collaborator in his practice, transforming the gallery into an expanded studio where boundaries between street, studio, and institution dissolve. The exhibition juxtaposes pivotal and previously unseen works, tracing his artistic evolution and layered urban memory.

For the People: Lubbock’s First Friday Art Trail Engages Thousands of Art-Goers Each Month

Lubbock’s First Friday Art Trail (FFAT), now in its 22nd year, has grown from a small gathering of a few dozen attendees to regularly drawing thousands to the downtown arts district each month. In October 2025, the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) distributed 6,000 wristbands before running out. The event features exhibitions, open studios, craft vendors, music, hands-on activities, drinks, and food trucks, with streets closed to traffic and visitors moving on foot or by trolley. The trail began organically in August 2004, spearheaded by artist Steve Teeters of St. Eligius Studio, and was inspired by a First Friday event in Corpus Christi.

Exhibition | Sopheap Pich, 'Works' at Axel Vervoordt Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium

Axel Vervoordt Gallery in Antwerp is presenting the first Belgian solo exhibition of Cambodian artist Sopheap Pich. The show features a new body of work, including large-scale sculptures made from bamboo, rattan, hand-forged copper, and recycled aluminum, as well as wall-based pieces. Visitors can physically enter some of the large sculptural forms.

Studio Sessions: Lauren Boilini

Seattle-based artist Lauren Boilini has reached a significant career milestone with the simultaneous opening of her first museum exhibition at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art and her first solo gallery show, "The Good Death," at J. Rinehart Gallery. Boilini’s practice is rooted in deep scientific research, including residencies at biological stations and insectariums, which she translates into large-scale, frenetic paintings of animals and ecosystems. Her current work explores the intersection of animal behavior and the human condition through dense, layered compositions that blur the lines between struggle and pattern.

Galerie Sept Sets Its Sights on a New, Expanded Vision on the Belgian Seaside

Galerie Sept, founded by Florian Araïb in Brussels in 2018, has expanded by opening a second gallery location in the Belgian seaside town of Knokke. The new, larger space features high ceilings and natural light, designed to support more ambitious presentations of its artists' work, and is launching with an exhibition by Juliette Clovis.

‘I’m not trying to make him handsome’: Polly Samson on photographing husband David Gilmour – in pictures

Polly Samson, acclaimed author and wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, presents her first solo photography exhibition at Leica Gallery London, featuring intimate images taken over two decades of Gilmour on tour and in the studio. The show, titled 'Polly Samson – Between This Breath and Then,' runs until 7 May 2026 and coincides with the release of her book 'David Gilmour: Luck and Strange – Studio/Live,' published by Thames & Hudson. Samson's photographs capture candid moments of Gilmour, their family, and the creative process behind albums including 'Luck and Strange.'

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.

Exhibition Review and Studio Visit Feature: Contemporary Color Field Painter Vanessa Johansson

Contemporary painter Vanessa Johansson recently debuted her solo exhibition at the Sky Garden Penthouse in Gramercy Park, New York. Curated by Jenny Mushkin Goldman of Agency Esta, the show featured Johansson’s large-scale acrylic on canvas works, which utilize fluid, transparent layers to evoke the spiritual and visual language of mid-20th-century Color Field abstraction. Pieces such as the triptych 'Windows' and the diptych 'Flow State' demonstrate her intuitive approach to motion, buoyancy, and orbital forms.

Abi Castillo’s Ceramic Beings Contrast Delicacy With the Natural World

Galician artist Abi Castillo has unveiled a new series of ceramic self-portraits that explore the intersection of femininity, mysticism, and the natural world. Her latest sculptures feature signature wide-eyed figures adorned with organic elements like coral, insects, and flora, which act as a form of delicate armor for the emotive personas. This new body of work was produced in Castillo’s recently acquired larger studio space, which has allowed for expanded creative freedom and scale.

A Parade of Floating Artworks Honors Hieronymus Bosch in the Netherlands

The 2026 Bosch Parade will return to the Dommel river in ’s-Hertogenbosch from June 18 to 21, featuring nineteen new floating artworks inspired by the theme "Powered by Defects." This biennial event pays tribute to the surrealist legacy of Hieronymus Bosch, the city's most famous son, by inviting international artists to create fantastical aquatic installations. The program includes the "Garden of Earthly Delights," an open-air studio at the Citadel where visitors can interact with artists as they develop their contemporary interpretations of Bosch’s fascination with human imperfection and the absurd.

Two New Exhibitions Open May 1 at Smith House Galleries

The Arts Council of the Valley is launching two concurrent solo exhibitions at the Smith House Galleries in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 'Young Warriors' by Sukenya Best features vibrant portrait paintings that explore themes of resilience and nature, while 'Water’s Journey' by Anna Freeman showcases ceramic and 2D works focused on the intertidal boundaries between land and water. The opening event on May 1 includes artist talks and a live portrait-drawing pop-up by artist Will Stroud.

A Canvas of Community at Chester County’s Art Galleries

Chester County, Pennsylvania, is home to a vibrant community of artists working across mediums like acrylic paint, watercolors, sculpture, and furniture. The article highlights five local art galleries—Church Street Gallery, Diving Cat Studio Gallery, Square Pear Fine Art Gallery, Sugartown Art and Antiques, and Werring Contemporary—each offering unique exhibitions, classes, and opportunities to purchase original works. It also promotes the upcoming Chester County Studio Tour, an annual event taking place May 16, where artists open their studios to the public.

MarfaMUST & Martha Invitational Return for Arts Weekend May 29-30

The Marfa Untitled Studio Tour (MarfaMUST) has announced an arts weekend on May 29-30, featuring a tour of local artist studios, the return of the Martha Invitational at Rule Gallery, and a pop-up group exhibition titled "Homecoming" at New Star Marfa. The Martha Invitational, a spoof of the larger Marfa Invitational, will showcase works by co-founders Martha Hughes, Leslie Wilkes, and Diana Simard, along with Bettina Landgrebe. The weekend also includes tintype portraits by Carolyn Macartney and other Marfa artists.

Paul Kroner showcased in first solo exhibit, 'What Have I Done?'

Paul Kroner, an award-winning contemporary visual artist and gallerist, is presenting his first solo exhibition, "What Have I Done?," at his artist-run gallery, Studio Kroner. The show marks his 25th exhibition at the space and coincides with the gallery's fifth anniversary. Featuring nearly 50 works, some begun as early as 2020, the exhibition reflects on themes of creation, responsibility, and inner life. Kroner purchased the studio in 2021 after it was previously owned by Dick Waller, and the exhibition represents a full-circle moment following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 protests in Over-the-Rhine.

Martha Invitational x MarfaMUST

The Martha Invitational and MarfaMUST are collaborating on a two-day arts weekend in Marfa, Texas, from May 29-30, 2026. The event, themed 'Home Coming,' features a pop-up opening at Rule Gallery for the Martha Invitational, a closing event for MarfaMUST, and open studios throughout the town, all free to the public. It reunites the founding organizers of the Martha Invitational and incorporates new participants, celebrating the local artist community across generations.

Sertoma Arts Center Gallery Exhibitions

The Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, is hosting a series of exhibitions throughout 2025 and 2026, featuring a wide array of local and regional artists. The current exhibition is the 47th annual Sertoma Parks Artists Association (SPAA) show, featuring over 30 artists, running from February to April 2026. Upcoming shows include a May-June 2026 exhibition highlighting artists like Adam Cooley and Natacha Sochat, and the center regularly presents themed exhibits such as its annual Student, Instructor, and Patron exhibition.

Graduates’ artwork showcased at Tarble during studio art exhibition

The Tarble Arts Center hosted the opening reception for the 2026 Master of Arts in Studio Art Exhibition, featuring thesis projects from 11 graduate students. The exhibition showcased a diverse range of mediums, including an immersive installation by Vitória Kazanovski that recreated her grandmother’s Brazilian kitchen using audio and textured cookbooks, and a ceramic series by Wendy Peters that highlighted the technical mistakes and evolution of her craft.

MassMu to spotlight Akron artist's work

The Massillon Museum is currently hosting "Isabelle Crawford: Pure Potentiality," a solo exhibition in its Studio M space featuring paintings and drawings by the Akron-based artist. Crawford’s work explores the intersection of human connection and perception, reflecting her commitment to using art as a tool for community engagement and social change. The exhibition, which runs through April 26, will be supplemented by a featured interview with the artist on the museum’s "MassMusings" podcast.

'We matter; we're important': Disabled artists centrestage in new show

The Bathurst Regional Art Gallery has launched "Acts of Inheritance," a major exhibition featuring 17 disabled artists from the Western Sydney collective We Are Studios. Curated by Jordan Valageorgiou, the show presents a diverse array of mediums—including music videos, installations, and interactive paper dolls—to explore themes of identity, wrestling culture, and the nuances of living with invisible illnesses.

In upcoming thesis exhibition, Bates senior studio art students each have a seat At the Table

Eleven graduating studio art and visual culture students at Bates College are preparing to debut their year-long thesis projects in the professional exhibition "At the Table." Opening April 17 at the Bates Museum of Art, the show features a diverse range of media including charcoal drawing, photography, and sculpture. The students have spent two semesters transitioning from theoretical research and material exploration to the physical production and professional framing of their works under the guidance of faculty and museum staff.

58th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition showcases WCU student artists

The WCU Fine Art Museum recently hosted its 58th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, featuring works by 25 student artists across various media including video, sculpture, and photography. Juried by artist Tracy Templeton, the showcase highlighted technical skill and personal expression, with top honors going to James Wood Boone for his time-based media piece "The Caretaker" and Valeria Enid Ramos for her portraiture.

Thompsons to exhibit together at Stover Mill Gallery

Artists Emily and George Thompson are set to debut a joint exhibition titled “Double Feature: A Two-Person Show” at the historic Stover Mill Gallery in Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The exhibition juxtaposes Emily’s contemporary urban landscapes and architectural forms with George’s traditional landscape paintings, showcasing the creative dialogue between the couple who share a studio.