What Does It Feel Like to Be Called an Emerging Artist at 72? Ask Takako Yamaguchi

Takako Yamaguchi, a 72-year-old Japanese-born artist based in Los Angeles, is experiencing a career resurgence with a new series of seascapes featured in a 2023 show at Ortuzar and the 2024 Whitney Biennial. She is set to receive her first solo museum exhibition in Los Angeles at MOCA's Grand Avenue space starting June 29, where she will present 10 new works. In an interview with CULTURED, Yamaguchi discusses her ambivalent relationship with the sea, her process of drawing inspiration from other artists' seascapes rather than nature itself, and her identity as an outsider who has lived most of her life in the U.S. while retaining Japanese citizenship.

Treasure House Fair hopes to be the flagship summer event London desperately needs

Thomas Woodham-Smith and Harry Van der Hoorn are staging the third edition of the Treasure House Fair at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea, running until 1 July. The fair, which launched hastily in 2023 after the collapse of Masterpiece London, features 72 exhibitors spanning ancient to contemporary art, design, jewellery, antiques, and even a meteorite. Woodham-Smith reports a mood of optimism despite global turmoil, with strong ticket sales and a 40% share of new exhibitors, including many from outside the UK.

Sun Woo: ‘I’m interested in how the body navigates unfamiliar territory’

Sun Woo, a Korean-born artist who moved to Canada as a child, is featured in the Korean Artists Today project, which selects emerging Korean artists with global potential. Her work explores displacement, cultural hybridity, and the body's navigation of unfamiliar territories, blending digital and analogue techniques. Her paintings, sculptures, and installations often merge bodily elements with mechanical devices, referencing female exploitation and labor, as seen in her 2024 painting *Weaver's Room*.

Explore Contemporary Art At These 3 Must-Visit Exhibitions | Grazia India

The article highlights three must-visit contemporary art exhibitions in India. The first, 'India in Dialogue: Tradition & Transformation' at Jaipur Centre for Art (May 3–June 8, 2025), is a group show curated by Noelle Kadar featuring artists like Shilpa Gupta and Jitish Kallat. The second, 'Bachpan' by Vicky Roy at Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi (May 2–30, 2025), is a solo photography exhibition capturing childhood resilience, with 30% of proceeds supporting the Barefoot Skateboarders Organisation. The third, 'A Moment in Modernity' by Haren Thakur at Art Magnum and Gallery Time and Space in New Delhi (May 4–June 30, 2025), blends tribal art with modernist aesthetics.

Nelson-Atkins Museum picks architect for $160m expansion

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City has selected the New York-based firm Weiss Manfredi Architecture Landscape Urbanism to lead a $160–170 million campus expansion. The decision followed an international competition that drew 182 firms from 30 countries, with six finalists—including Kengo Kuma & Associates, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Selldorf Architects, Studio Gang, and Why Architecture—presenting concepts publicly. Weiss Manfredi's design places a new 61,000-square-foot wing to the southwest of the original 1933 Beaux-Arts building, mirroring the Steven Holl Architects addition from 2007, and features curved glass walls that open onto the sculpture park. The project aims to accommodate growing attendance, which has doubled since director Julián Zugazagoitia joined in 2010, reaching about 600,000 visitors annually.

Pioneering Pop Surrealist Gallery in Seattle Celebrates Reopening With Three Exhibitions in New Space

Roq La Rue, a pioneering gallery in Seattle's art scene known for championing Pop Surrealism and New Contemporary movements, has reopened in a new space in the Belltown neighborhood—its eighth location in 27 years. The reopening was celebrated with three simultaneous exhibitions: a solo show by Frank Gonzales titled "Frequencies," a group show of small works called "Spectacle du Petit," and a four-person exhibition "Unveiled" featuring large-scale works by Beth Cavener, Josie Morway, Carles Gomila, and Jason Puccinelli. Founder Kirsten Anderson described the renovated space as an "elevated, elegant" oasis with a book nook and coffee to encourage visitors to linger.

Why the inaugural Art Week Riyadh was a fair in everything but name

The inaugural Art Week Riyadh (AWR), organized by Saudi Arabia's Visual Arts Commission, took place from April 6-13 in the Jax district of Diriyah. Though officially billed as a non-commercial curated exhibition, the event functioned much like an art fair, with 32 galleries displaying available works, price lists visible on stands, and sales conducted throughout the week. The main exhibition, titled "At The Edge," was curated by Vittoria Matarrese with associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit Lelandais, featuring galleries from Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Standout presentations included works by Ayesha Sultana, Mohamed Bourouissa, Mohammed Al Resayes, and Miramar Al Nayyar, alongside a moving image section and a satellite program of open studios and gallery shows.

At the Grand Palais, the Paris Book Festival Puts Comics in the Spotlight

Au Grand Palais, le Festival du livre de Paris met la bande dessinée à l’honneur

The Festival du livre de Paris returns to the Grand Palais from April 17 to 19, 2026, marking a continued transformation from a massive trade fair into a curated cultural event. This year’s edition features 450 publishers and places a significant emphasis on comic books (BD), highlighted by two thematic exhibitions on the Balcon d’Honneur and a dedicated youth village. The program also includes a culinary-themed nocturne and the "Cabaret Extra!" performance series produced in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou.

Catherine Pégard calls on an expert for the general secretariat

Catherine Pégard fait appel à un expert pour le secrétariat général

Catherine Pégard, the president of the Palace of Versailles, has appointed Jérôme Rivoisy as the new Secretary General of the institution, effective April 7. Rivoisy, a 58-year-old high-ranking civil servant, replaces Luc Allaire and brings extensive experience from senior roles in the French government, including as director general of services at the Élysée Palace and as a master advisor at the Court of Auditors.

Banksy Erects Anti-Imperialist Monument in Central London

Banksy has installed a new sculpture in Waterloo Place, central London, depicting a suited man with his face covered by a flag walking off a plinth toward his demise. The artist confirmed his authorship via an Instagram video and left his signature on the base. The statue was covertly placed in the early hours of April 29, among existing monuments celebrating the British Empire, including King Edward VII, Florence Nightingale, and the Crimean War Memorial.

Anki King’s Nordic Noir

Anki King's solo exhibition at the Lace Mill in Kingston, New York, presents 40 works from 2015-2026 that explore themes of isolation and miscommunication through a moody, Nordic-inspired palette. The Norwegian-born, New York-based artist employs a distinctive visual language of featureless, long-limbed figures and recurring motifs like threaded ceramic heads and figures with leafless branches.

Glasgow International announces full 2026 programme

Glasgow International has revealed the complete programme for its 11th edition, scheduled for 5-21 June 2026. The biennial, now under the direction of Helen Nisbet, will feature new works by artists including Kate Cooper, Tanoa Sasraku, and Luke Fowler, and will explore themes of memory, kinship, and cultural resonance. The festival also includes the 'Gatherings' event series and a new 'Special Projects' initiative highlighting community-embedded organizations in Glasgow.

Mirna Bamieh “Sour Things: The Door” at NIKA Project Space, Paris

NIKA Project Space in Paris presents "Sour Things: The Door," a new installation by Palestinian artist Mirna Bamieh, on view from April 17 to May 23, 2026. Curated by Anne Davidian, the exhibition marks Bamieh's return to the gallery following her solo presentation that inaugurated NIKA's Paris space in 2024, and serves as the latest chapter in her ongoing "Sour" series.

Alexandra Noel “999” at Derosia, New York

Alexandra Noel has opened a solo exhibition titled "999" at Derosia gallery in New York. The show features new work created during a period of personal and conceptual transition, as suggested by the artist's reflections on ownership, space, and displacement.

“Tohé Commaret: Mala Onda” at ZOLLAMT MMK, Frankfurt

“Tohé Commaret: Mala Onda” at ZOLLAMT MMK, Frankfurt

Chilean artist Tohé Commaret has opened her first institutional solo exhibition in Germany, "Mala Onda," at the ZOLLAMT MMK, a project space of the Museum für Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt. The exhibition features a new body of work, including large-scale paintings and a site-specific installation, that explores themes of memory, cultural displacement, and the lingering psychological effects of political violence.

A Delightful Short Film Highlights the Remarkable Self-Taught Art of George Voronovsky

Ukrainian-born artist Jonko “George” Voronovsky transformed his modest retirement room at Miami’s Colony Hotel into a dense, vibrant sanctuary of over 5,000 artworks. After surviving the horrors of the Russian Revolution, Nazi labor camps, and permanent separation from his family, Voronovsky immigrated to the U.S. and spent his final years creating "memoryscapes." These works, crafted from found materials like pizza boxes and soda cans, depicted idyllic, colorful scenes of his youth in Ukraine, contrasting sharply with the trauma of his past.

The Biennale of Quiet Tones

Die Biennale der leisen Töne

The 61st Venice Biennale's main exhibition, titled "Gardens, Processions, Art as Expression of Lived Realities," places humanity at its center. Curators revealed minimal biographical details for the 111 participating artists, only noting the oldest (Marcel Duchamp, born 1887) and youngest (Mohammed Z Rahman, born 1997), signaling a deliberate shift away from individual fame toward collective experience.

Possible new Banksy appears in London

Möglicherweise neuer Banksy in London aufgetaucht

A life-sized statue has suddenly appeared on Waterloo Place in central London, depicting a figure stepping off a pedestal into the void with a flag blowing in its face. The base bears the signature "Banksy," leading to speculation that the anonymous street artist is behind the work. However, as of the morning, Banksy had not posted the piece on Instagram as he typically does, leaving its authenticity unconfirmed.

I Have Always Been Drawn to the Despised

"Ich habe mich schon immer zum Verachteten hingezogen gefühlt"

Irish artist Alice Maher discusses her ongoing exploration of patriarchal structures, mythology, and the symbolic power of female hair in her practice. Her current work focuses on large-scale drawings of Sibyls—ancient female prophets—whose excessive hair serves as a metaphor for identity, power, and the 'monstrous feminine.' Maher reflects on her career-long engagement with Irish history, from collecting hair during the Troubles to her collaborative textile masterpiece, "The Map," which reclaims the legacy of Mary Magdalene from Catholic institutional narratives.

The Minimalist Who Didn't Want to Be One

Die Minimalistin, die keine sein wollte

The Kunstsammlung NRW in Düsseldorf is hosting a major retrospective of American artist Anne Truitt, marking the first comprehensive survey of her work in Europe. The exhibition at K20 features approximately 120 works, including her signature hand-painted wooden columns, drawings, and the late "Pith" series, tracing her unique trajectory from the early 1960s until her death in 2004.

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.

99 Variations of a Volcano

99 Variationen eines Vulkans

Julian Charrière has released a new artist's book titled "After the Smoke Cradle," documenting a series of 99 lithographs originally exhibited at the Verein für Originalgraphik in Zurich. The project features 33 variations of three different volcanoes, created using a unique process where the artist transformed collected lava, ash, obsidian, and sulfur into printing pigments. This material-focused approach ensures that the physical essence of the volcanic sites is literally embedded into the photographic imagery.

Au musée de l’Image d’Épinal, les talents multiples de Frans Masereel, entre autres inventeur du roman graphique

The Musée de l'Image d'Épinal is presenting a comprehensive exhibition on Belgian artist Frans Masereel (1889–1972), widely credited as the inventor of the graphic novel in 1918 with his wordless narratives composed of black-and-white woodcuts. The show, curated by Samuel Dégardin, brings together loans from major institutions and a private collection to reveal the full breadth of Masereel's practice, which spanned drawing, animation, painting, theater, ceramics, tapestry, and satirical press illustration. It highlights his pacifist activism during World War I, his collaborations with writers such as Stefan Zweig and Romain Rolland, and his humanist vision of a unified Europe.

Une grande statue signée Banksy apparaît à Waterloo Place à Londres

On April 29, a large statue attributed to Banksy appeared on a plinth at Waterloo Place in London's St James's district. The work depicts a man in a suit stepping forward with a flag covering his face, bearing the artist's signature. Banksy later claimed the piece on Instagram, sparking crowds and speculation.

L’œuvre « indocile » du photographe Guido Guidi exposée au BAL

The article announces the exhibition of photographer Guido Guidi's work at Le BAL in Paris, curated by Simona Antonacci, Pippo Ciorra, and Antonello Frongia, with scenography by Cyril Delhomme. The show, titled "Col tempo, 1956-2024," runs from February 20 to May 24, 2026, and was previously presented in a larger version at the MAXXI museum in Rome. Guidi, now 85, is described as the last of a generation of Italian photographers—alongside Luigi Ghirri and Ugo Mulas—who radically redefined photographic language through patient, obstinate reflection on the act of seeing.

The Fruitful Dialogue Between AI, Knowledge, and Creation in a Free Festival at the BnF

Le dialogue fécond entre IA, savoir et création dans un festival gratuit à la BnF

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is hosting the inaugural edition of "Noûs," a free festival exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, archival knowledge, and artistic creation. Located in the hall of the François-Mitterrand site, the event features eight artistic projects that utilize the library's vast catalog to reveal hidden histories rather than generate falsehoods. Highlights include Audrey Large’s 3D-printed sculptures exploring suppressed female knowledge, Justine Emard’s immersive digital cave of AI-generated sirens, and the collective Obvious’s speculative botanical frescoes based on historical scientific plates.

Notre-Dame : pas de suspension pour les vitraux !

On May 19, 2026, the Paris administrative court rejected requests from heritage associations Sites & Monuments and SOS Paris to suspend the removal and replacement of the stained-glass windows at Notre-Dame Cathedral. The associations had sought to block the prefect's authorization to remove the 19th-century windows by Alfred Gérente and install six new contemporary windows designed by Claire Tabouret, arguing legal doubts about the project. The judge ruled that the operation was reversible—since the new panels are the same size as the originals and the removed windows will be restored and displayed—thus no urgent suspension was warranted.

Monet, the Great Traveler

Monet, grand voyageur

The publishing house Cinabre has launched a new book series called 'Partance' that explores the influence of travel on artists' work. The inaugural volume, 'Partance. Claude Monet,' published in 2026, marks the centenary of Claude Monet's death by comprehensively tracing all of his foreign travels for the first time and analyzing their impact on his art.

The Palais des Papes in Avignon cancels Macha Makeïeff's exhibition

Le Palais des Papes d’Avignon renonce à l’exposition de Macha Makeïeff

The Palais des Papes in Avignon has cancelled its planned summer exhibition, 'Les Choses divines – Inventaire fantaisiste,' conceived by French director, scenographer, and visual artist Macha Makeïeff. The cancellation, officially attributed to a combination of administrative, technical, and budgetary constraints, may also be linked to the recent municipal election that saw Olivier Galzi succeed Cécile Helle as mayor.

Millon Takes Over Pierre Bergé & Associés

Millon reprend Pierre Bergé & Associés

The Millon Auction Group has acquired Pierre Bergé & Associés (PBA), becoming the sole shareholder of the historic house founded in 2002. This acquisition follows a turbulent period for PBA, which was placed in receivership in 2023 and briefly owned by Alexandre Landre after being embroiled in a high-profile antiquities trafficking scandal. Under the leadership of Alexandre Millon and newly appointed Managing Director Marc Chochon, the firm plans to return to Drouot and focus on prestigious collections and rare books.