The Kunstverein in Hamburg is presenting "Quality of Life," the first comprehensive survey of Swedish Hungarian artist Lenke Rothman outside of Sweden. The exhibition spans Rothman's career from the 1950s until her death in 2008, showcasing her unique oeuvre that juxtaposes everyday life with her biographical and historical experiences, characterized by a radical processing of personal and collective memory.
ArtTactic's Global Art Market Outlook report indicates that the art market is entering 2026 with renewed optimism, with over half of participants expecting growth. Auction sales rose 11% year-on-year in 2025, driven by high-value trophy works and single-owner collections. Confidence is strongest at the top (works over $1 million) and bottom (under $50,000) of the market, while the mid-market remains squeezed. Modern and Post-War art lead the rebound, with painting dominating over NFTs and AI art. Geographically, the Middle East is the most bullish region, boosted by events like Art Basel Qatar, while the US and parts of Asia show improving sentiment, and Europe lags.
Somerset artist Brian Fox has created a powerful exhibit titled “In the Valley of the Shadow,” now on display at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts, through December 27th. The paintings depict the harrowing experiences of Vietnam War veterans, with Fox spending hours consulting veterans like Wayne Smith, a former combat medic, and David Jennings of the 1st Marine Division to ensure historical and emotional accuracy. The project began with a single war-themed painting and has grown into a full exhibition that Fox plans to expand by one or two paintings each year.
Malak Mattar, a 25-year-old self-taught Gazan artist, has become the first Palestinian to receive a solo exhibition at London's Central Saint Martins (CSM). After winning a scholarship for a Master's in Fine Art at CSM, she was trapped in Gaza until October 6, 2023, the day before the Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli invasion. Her show, opening May 15 at Window Galleries, features powerful works like 'No Words' (2024), a monochrome canvas likened to Picasso's Guernica, and 'Gaza's Phoenix' (2025), a colorful collage symbolizing resilience. Mattar has also faced institutional challenges, including a lack of public solidarity from the University of the Arts London (UAL) regarding Gaza and financial disparities compared to Ukrainian students.
Amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art opened an exhibition of anti-war artworks by American artists. The show features pieces by prominent American artists that critique war and violence, drawing local visitors who are engaging with the works despite the political climate of anti-American sentiment in the streets.
The National Museum “Kyiv Art Gallery” has launched a major exhibition titled “Andriy Chebykin. MASTER AND WORKSHOP” to celebrate the 80th birthday of the renowned Ukrainian graphic artist and educator. The show features a comprehensive range of Chebykin’s work, from his classic 1970s etchings and 1990s nudes to recent pieces created during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, such as “The Enemy Was Shot Down Over Tatarka.” Uniquely, the exhibition also includes works by his former students, highlighting his 55-year legacy at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture.
Fall River artist Brian Fox has completed a series of Vietnam War military paintings titled “In the Valley of the Shadow: The Cost of Walking with Death,” which will debut at the Narrows Center for the Arts from October 18 through December 27, 2025. Fox collaborated closely with U.S. military veterans, who provided technical guidance and honest critique, and the series includes about 25 pieces, mostly black-and-white paintings and sketches, with one color piece titled “Vietnam Nurse.” Notably, Fox used rusting metal sheets as canvas for paintings inspired by Agent Orange, intended to deteriorate over time like the veterans affected by the chemical.
An exhibition titled 'Dlúthpháirtíocht' (the Irish word for solidarity) is on display at Metamorphika Studio in Hackney, London, featuring over 50 works that connect Palestinian and Irish histories. The show includes pieces by Palestinian artist Nabil Abughanima, who fled Gaza two months ago, and Irish photographer Seamus Murphy, alongside works by Amal Al Nakhala, Spicebag, and Council Baby. Co-curated by Seán Óg Ó Murchú, the itinerant exhibition will travel to Dublin, Cork, and Belfast after its London run ends on 19 July.
EU plant Strafe für Biennale-Teilnahme Russlands
The European Union has threatened to cut funding for the Venice Biennale if it allows Russia to reopen its national pavilion at the upcoming exhibition. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Russia's return is "morally wrong" while the country is bombing Ukrainian museums and destroying cultural heritage. Russia, in coordination with the Biennale foundation, had announced plans to participate this year with works by Russian artists, marking its first appearance since the 2022 invasion.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has opened an exhibition titled "Return of Kherson’s Memory. Stolen Art Preserved in Museum Artprints," featuring 30 high-quality reproductions of masterpieces stolen by Russian forces from the Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko in autumn 2022. The stolen works include pieces by artists Mykola Pymonenko, Ivan Aivazovsky, and Viktor Zaretsky, among over 10,000 items illegally removed from the museum just before Kherson’s de-occupation. The exhibition was organized by the museum team and the art platform Vivid Fusion.
The Springfield News-Leader, in partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Library District, is publishing a historical photograph from its archives. The 1961 image shows Kenneth M. Shuck, director of the Springfield Art Museum, examining Civil War artifacts—including a saber, a drum, and a painting of Union General Nathaniel Lyon—in preparation for a centennial exhibition.