Venice Biennale jury to avoid artists from nations with ICC-charged leaders

The jury for the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition announced on April 24, 2026, that they will not consider artists from countries whose leaders face charges at the International Criminal Court, an apparent reference to Israel and Russia. The five jury members, tasked with selecting Golden and Silver Lion winners among 110 participants, stated they felt compelled to commit to the defense of human rights. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. The decision follows criticism of the Biennale for allowing Russia to reopen its pavilion after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Northside artists sow seeds of ancestral wisdom in Arboretum exhibit

An art exhibit titled "Where the Seed Remembers: A Celebration of Earth, Lineage and Memory" opened on March 29 at the University of Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum’s Reedy Gallery in Chaska, featuring 10 artists of color. Co-curated by Northside artist Joshua Gillespie (Brotha Aśe), the show includes works by Ron Brown, Ayolanda Evans, Imani Mansfield, and Allena Sweats, among others, and opened with a libation ceremony by Vusumuzi Zulu and Mariama Imani. The exhibition runs through May 17.

UCF Alum and Fulbright scholar Mär Martinez exhibition in Maitland, FL

Contemporary painter Mär Martinez, a Fulbright scholar and UCF alum, presents her first solo museum exhibition, “A loom, a fence, a wire, a thread,” at the Art & History Museums of Maitland (A&H) in Maitland, Florida. The show features works developed during her 2024–25 Fulbright research in Istanbul and builds on ideas from her 2021–2023 Studio Artist Residency at A&H. Inspired by traditional Turkish and Middle Eastern textile practices, Martinez explores themes of urban life, surveillance, and cultural memory, using imagery from nighttime walks through Istanbul—fences, checkpoints, and barbed wire—combined with historic textile patterns. Her Cuban and Arab heritage and family’s experience of displacement inform her work, with weaving serving as a metaphor for endurance and resistance. The opening night is free to the public, with live music, food, and a cash bar.

In '27, Dallas' Katy Trail also will feature fresh art along with fresh air

Dallas's Katy Trail, a popular urban greenway, will debut new public art installations in 2027, integrating fresh artworks alongside the trail's existing recreational amenities. The project aims to enhance the trail experience by adding visual art elements to the natural and built environment.

Photos: Paul Kroner showcases latest art, sculptures in exhibit

Sculptor Paul Kroner has opened a solo exhibition titled "What Have I Done?" at his own Studio Kroner in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The show, which launched on April 16 and runs through May 23, marks the studio's fifth anniversary and is Kroner's first solo exhibition in the space since he founded it in 2021.

Artist Mär Martinez explores the threads that bind and separate us in new exhibition

Artist Mär Martinez is presenting her first solo exhibition in Orlando, titled 'a loom, a fence, a wire, a thread,' at the Art & History Museums of Maitland. The exhibition features paintings and a loom, inspired by her experiences during a Fulbright Scholar grant in Istanbul and her family's history with Syrian textiles.

Why the art market should finally be on LinkedIn

Warum der Kunstmarkt endlich auf LinkedIn sollte

The article argues that the art market's heavy reliance on Instagram for communication and sales is misguided, suggesting that LinkedIn offers far greater potential for business-to-business transactions and professional networking. It critiques the art world's preference for Instagram's visual focus, noting that LinkedIn's professional environment and targeting capabilities are better suited for discreet, high-value art sales.

Where to go in Venice?

Wohin in Venedig?

Nicoletta Fiorucci, a collector and philanthropist, shares her personal recommendations for experiencing Venice beyond the tourist crowds. She suggests quiet gardens, romantic detours, hidden islands, and the best addresses for authentic local cuisine, offering insider tips for navigating the city's bustling atmosphere.

Meloni on Venice Biennale: 'I've somewhat lost track'

Meloni über Venedig-Biennale: "Habe den Überblick etwas verloren"

Days before the opening of the Venice Biennale, the entire international jury resigned in protest over Russia's participation despite its war against Ukraine. The jury had previously excluded Russia and Israel from prize consideration due to International Criminal Court warrants against their leaders. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni admitted she had "lost track" of the situation, while the government sent inspectors to Venice. Biennale organizers responded by postponing the Golden Lion awards until November and introducing two audience-choice awards that will include Russian and Israeli entries.

Biennale Jury Will Not Consider Countries with ICC Allegations

Biennale-Jury will Länder mit IStGH-Vorwürfen nicht berücksichtigen

The jury of the Venice Art Biennale has announced that it will not consider countries whose heads of state or government face allegations of crimes against humanity from the International Criminal Court (ICC) when awarding prizes this year. The jury, led by Brazilian art historian Solange Farkas, cited its commitment to defending human rights. While no specific countries were named, the ICC currently has arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The Biennale leadership stated the jury acted in full autonomy and independence.

Associations Join Warning Against AfD Cultural Policy

Vereine schließen sich Warnung vor AfD-Kulturpolitik an

Nearly 30 cultural institutions in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt have issued a warning against the cultural policy proposals of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is leading in polls ahead of state elections. The state network of cultural support associations, representing around 680 member groups, has now joined this warning, stating the AfD's plans amount to a restriction of artistic freedom and the instrumentalization of culture according to nationalist guidelines.

In Greece, the Thessalonikéon Métropolis Archaeological Museum Opens Its Doors

En Grèce, le musée archéologique Thessalonikéon Métropolis ouvre ses portes

The Thessalonikéon Métropolis archaeological museum opened on May 7 in Thessaloniki, Greece, inside the renovated Pavlos Melas barracks (Building A3). Its collection of over 300,000 objects—including ceramics, jewelry, mosaics, sarcophagi, and architectural fragments—was unearthed during the construction of the city's metro system, which began in 2006 and became the largest rescue excavation in northern Greece. The centerpiece is the Decumanus Maximus, a well-preserved Roman-Byzantine commercial street discovered at the Venizelou station, nicknamed "Byzantine Pompeii." The museum's restoration cost about €14.5 million, partly funded by European Union funds, while the total archaeological interventions cost between €75 and €203 million.

À Florence, une transformation silencieuse pour préserver son patrimoine

Florence is undertaking a major restoration of Giotto's Campanile, the first comprehensive conservation of the 14th-century bell tower since its construction. The project, budgeted at over €7 million, addresses decades of damage from pollution, acid rain, and natural aging, including detached stone slabs, darkened facades, and microfractures. The four-year scaffolding will be designed to minimize visual impact and gradually reveal restored sections. Separately, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore is executing a €60 million program to restore the Collegio Eugeniano (which will become its new headquarters) and expand the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo to 11,000 square meters by 2030. The Ponte Vecchio will also undergo summer cleaning and consolidation of its piles, funded equally by the municipality and the Antinori family.

Baumgartner Restoration Painstakingly Brings a Neglected Portrait Back to Life

Art conservator Julian Baumgartner, who runs Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration in Chicago, received an anonymous portrait that arrived severely damaged—folded inside a mangled parcel with substantial creases, tears, and worn-away paint. Using reversible, archival materials and meticulous attention to detail, Baumgartner painstakingly restored the neglected painting, giving it a second chance at life.

Rachel Mentzer Transforms Discarded Cartons into Dusky Collagraphs

Ohio-based artist Rachel Mentzer creates collagraph prints using discarded cartons as printing plates, carving them with images of birds, trees, and energy infrastructure. Her process involves carving the cardboard, sealing it with polyurethane, inking it, and transferring the image via an etching press, often incorporating chine collé for color. Her work was recently shown at the Manhattan Graphics Center, and she will participate in the Suzanne Wilson Artist-in-Residence Program at Glen Arbor Arts Center this summer.

Logo Stuff: Art Exhibit Featuring the Artist Quire

The Imperfecta Gallery is presenting "Logo Stuff," a new exhibition featuring a series of paintings by artist Quire (aka Leah Hugon). The works depict contemporary commercial properties—some vacant, some occupied—paired with native plants that would have thrived in those locations, such as a closed pharmacy paired with medicinal Mullein. Quire draws on her religious upbringing and biblical stories to explore themes of societal choice, connection with nature, and what is lost in modern convenience. The show runs from June 4 to June 27, with an opening reception on June 4.

Spring fling: Artist’s exhibition celebrates the colors of springtime

The article describes an artist's exhibition that celebrates the colors of springtime. The show is presented as a seasonal event, likely featuring vibrant, spring-themed artworks. The specific artist, venue, and location are not identifiable from the provided text due to a security verification wall that blocks access to the full article content.

MARGARET WHYTE TURNS FRAGILITY INTO LANGUAGE AT THE 2026 VENICE BIENNALE

The Uruguay Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale presents "ANTIFRAGIL," a new installation by artist Margaret Whyte, curated by Patricia Bentancur. The work combines textiles with obsolete technological objects such as old machines, motorcycle helmets, and waste fragments, embodying the concept of antifragility developed by Nassim Taleb—systems that grow stronger through disorder and instability. Whyte's practice transforms fragility and vulnerability into poetic resistance, challenging traditional hierarchies between craft and contemporary art.

London artist’s new exhibition captures quiet beauty of Southwestern Ontario’s back roads

London, Ont.-based artist Craig Guthrie has opened a new solo exhibition titled *Outskirts: Landscapes From the Road* at LAB 203 inside the TAP Centre for Creativity. The show, running from May 12 to June 6, 2026, features quiet, soft-hued paintings inspired by photographs Guthrie took while driving rural roads around the London region. Many works were shot from inside his vehicle to evoke the feeling of traveling through the landscape, capturing the overlooked beauty of fields, hydro lines, and back roads that lie between destinations.

Exhibition by Visual Artist Aly Roshdy to Open in Sofia

Visual artist Aly Roshdy will open his solo exhibition "Inside Out" at Sofia Green Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria, with a vernissage on May 7. The show runs through May 21 and features a series of paintings and collages inspired by the artist's travels, each depicting a specific place seen through a window. Roshdy describes the window as both a literal frame for observing different cultures and a symbolic lens for documenting his journeys, capturing moments of silence and contemplation.

From war zones to the White House: Christopher Anderson’s photography

Christopher Anderson, a photographer known for his work in war zones, has shifted his focus to capturing intimate and emotional moments, including assignments at the White House. His approach emphasizes connecting viewers with feelings that transcend factual data, reflecting a broader evolution in his photographic practice.

NYA Collective: Bonnie Keren He Opens Solo Exhibition INNA BEAUTI at Flushing Town Hall Gallery

Bonnie Keren He, a 17-year-old artist born in New York and raised between Suzhou, China, and New York, opened her solo exhibition "INNA BEAUTI" at Flushing Town Hall Gallery in New York City on April 19, 2026. The exhibition, curated by Dr. Hao Qingsong, Cindy Jiang, and Grace Jiang, features works across media including colored pencil, acrylic, oil painting, embroidery, and performance art, exploring themes of cultural identity, memory, and inner reflection. Notable attendees included political figures Jimmy Meng and Ron Kim, and the opening was hosted by Ge Chen of Global Cloud Media.

Hopkinton Gallery Opening Show Features New England Landscapes

Two Villages Art Society in Contoocook, New Hampshire, is opening a new exhibition titled "Somewhere to Remember" featuring New England landscape paintings by Campton artist Lizzy Berube. The show opens on Saturday, August 10, 2024, with a free public reception from 12 to 2 PM, and runs through September 7, 2024. Gallery hours are Thursdays through Sundays from 12 to 4 PM.

Photos: "Towers and Flowers" art exhibit at Valencia Town Center

Naomi Young's art exhibit "Towers and Flowers" is on display until mid-June at the Valencia Town Center in Valencia, California. The show, which opened on May 17, 2026, features works inspired by Young's upbringing in Jerusalem, reflecting her enduring connection to the city's spirit.

Five-Minute Tours: Ana Stapleton at Red & White Gallery, Fayetteville

Ana Stapleton's exhibition "Persona" is on view at Red & White Gallery in Fayetteville, Texas, from March 7 to May 3, 2026. The show features recent paintings by the Austin-based artist that explore the tension between cultural expectations and authentic self-expression, particularly around growing up Mexican female.

NHAA's Loud & Proud Opening Reception

The New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA) presents its annual regional Pride exhibition, Loud & Proud, at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH, from June 3 to 28, 2026. The show features LGBTQIA+ and allied artists from across New England, exploring themes of identity, visibility, joy, and resilience. A central component is Open Book, a collaborative project with NH Outright, where queer teens created sculptural accordion books guided by teaching artist Cara Cabral, displayed alongside the main exhibition.

Marin resident returns to art after retiring from police department

Donna Loftus, a Marin County resident, retired from a 33-year career with the San Francisco Police Department in 2012 and has since returned to her lifelong passion for art. She took classes at the College of Marin, joined the Marin Society of Artists and the art group Marin 6, and has exhibited her work at venues including Fred's retail store in Mill Valley, Locati Mediterranean restaurant, and Coit Tower in San Francisco. Currently, she is the guest artist in the exhibition "Embracing Art" at the Arts Guild of Sonoma, running through June 1. Loftus, who is pursuing a fine arts degree, paints landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts inspired by nature and her travels.

A long-awaited dream for local arts lovers is finally set to take center stage this weekend: The Schaap Center. 📷 by David Rodríguez Muñoz, Detroit Free Press

The Schaap Center, a long-anticipated arts venue, is finally opening this weekend, fulfilling a dream for local arts enthusiasts in the Detroit area. The center is expected to host a variety of cultural events and exhibitions, marking a significant milestone for the community's arts scene.

Malibu’s downtown park will become an art gallery this summer

Malibu’s downtown Legacy Park will transform into an open-air art gallery this summer through a series of free monthly Art Walk events. Organized by the Malibu Arts Association and hosted by the City of Malibu Arts Commission, the pop-up market runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on five Sundays (May 17, June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, and Sept. 13), featuring local artists selling original works including oil paintings, watercolors, photography, sculpture, and prints inspired by the seaside city. Some proceeds benefit local high school students.

Gallery 50 welcomes spring with “Here Comes the Sun”

Gallery 50 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, is hosting an opening reception for its new spring exhibition, “Here Comes the Sun,” on May 8 from 5:30–8 p.m. The show features 11 local artists—Jonathan Frazier, Robyn Jacobs, Sarah Maclay, Pat McCleary, Mary Moores, Judy Pyle, Jayne Shord, Anne St. John, Lindsay Tozier-School, Anita Williams, and curator Marti Yeager—presenting works in oil, acrylic, pastel, photography, watercolor, and enamel on copper. The evening also includes the unveiling of a mural by California-based artist Nigel Sussman, live music from Sons of Pitches, and new fine art and crafts for sale. The exhibition runs through August 1, 2026.