New York Art Week Will Test the Market’s Momentum

New York Art Week is set to test the art market's momentum with half a dozen fairs and major auctions. Frieze New York opens at the Shed on May 13 with 68 galleries, while Sotheby's leads auction sales starting May 14, featuring a Mark Rothko painting estimated at $70–$100 million from Robert Mnuchin's collection. The total low estimate for Sotheby's week is $690.4 million, roughly 70% higher than last year's hammer total. Alternative fair Esther, co-founded by Margot Samel and Olga Temnikova, kicks off May 12 at the Estonian House for its third and final edition, emphasizing intentionality and community over scale.

Remembering Georg Baselitz, Nicole Hollander, and Doris Fisher

Hyperallergic's weekly 'In Memoriam' column honors seven figures from the art world who recently passed away, including German Neo-Expressionist painter Georg Baselitz, feminist cartoonist Nicole Hollander, and arts patron Doris F. Fisher, co-founder of The Gap. Other notable figures remembered are photographer Stephanie Chernikowski, West Coast assemblage artist George Herms, Spanish artist and designer José María Cruz Novillo, and Bay Area muralist Dan Fontes. The article provides brief biographies and highlights of their contributions to visual art, photography, comics, and public art.

Pussy Riot and FEMEN Join Forces in Punk Protest in Venice: ‘Russia Kills! Biennale Exhibits!’

On Wednesday morning, Pussy Riot and FEMEN led a protest outside the Russian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, chanting slogans like “Russia kills! Biennale exhibits!” and “Blood is Russia’s art!” Dozens of protesters, some in pink balaclavas and others bare-chested with floral crowns, gathered in the Giardini under light rain, carrying guitars and blasting punk rock and hip-hop. The action was organized by Nadya Tolokonnikova and other Pussy Riot members alongside FEMEN, a Ukrainian-founded women’s movement. They released pink, yellow, and blue smoke, and Tolokonnikova criticized the Biennale for allowing Russian participation while artists who oppose the war in Ukraine are imprisoned. She proposed an alternative exhibition, “Resistance Imprisoned,” currently on view in Strasbourg, featuring incarcerated artists.

The Carnegie International Looks Back at Itself

The 58th Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh looks back at its own 130-year history, featuring a gallery dedicated to past iterations. The exhibition includes Chris Ofili's "The Adoration of Captain Shit and the Legend of the Black Stars" (1998), which was originally shown in the 53rd International in 1999, the same year Ofili's more notorious "The Holy Virgin Mary" sparked controversy at the Brooklyn Museum. The article reviews how the current iteration captures the excitement of earlier exhibitions while providing commentary on authoritarianism and militarism.

Tania Bruguera on Why Today’s Art Must Be Political

Cuban artist and activist Tania Bruguera will stage her performance "Tatlin’s Whisper #6" in Times Square on May 1, International Workers' Day. Originally created for the 2009 Havana Biennial, the work invites participants to speak freely on a platform for one minute, highlighting the conditional nature of free expression under authoritarian rule. Bruguera discusses the performance's relevance amid rising authoritarianism in both Cuba and the United States, noting that when she attempted to restage the work in Havana, she and other participants were arrested.

The great Anselm Kiefer arrives in Valencia for an exhibition. There is a rare work for the first time in Europe

Il grande Anselm Kiefer arriva in mostra a Valencia. C’è un’opera rara per la prima volta in Europa

German artist Anselm Kiefer is coming to Valencia for the first time, inaugurating the temporary exhibition program at the CAHH – Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero. The show, curated by Javier Molins, will run from April 29 to October 25 at the Palacio de Valeriola, featuring Kiefer's works in dialogue with the permanent collection. A highlight is "Danaë," a monumental painting over 13 meters wide that depicts the interior of Berlin's Tempelhof airport and references the myth of Danaë; this work has only been shown once before, in New York in 2022, and is now on view in Europe for the first time.

Early 2026 Art Books From Yale University Press

Yale University Press has announced its early 2026 art book lineup, featuring exhibition catalogues such as "Raphael: Sublime Poetry" from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Gwen John: Strange Beauties" from the Yale Center for British Art, "Edward Steichen and the Garden" from the George Eastman Museum, and "Frederic Church: Global Artist" from Olana NY State Historic Site. New releases also include a biography of Anni Albers by Nicholas Fox Weber, a catalogue titled "Anni Albers: Constructing Textiles" accompanying a European traveling exhibition, and Alyce Mahon's "Dorothea Tanning: A Surrealist Life," named a Best New Art Book of 2026 by Christie's. The press will hold a 50% off annual sale in May.

Alice Tippit’s Mischievous Erotics

Alice Tippit's solo exhibition "Rose Obsolete" at the DePaul Art Museum in Chicago features 23 small oil paintings, three murals, a neon sign, word drawings, and a series of 46 notepad drawings. The works toggle between multiple interpretations—snakes and smiles, blouses and pears, curtains and bodies—inviting viewers to see shifting forms like a psychological test. Tippit, born in 1975 near Kansas City and based in Chicago since 2006, paints each oil work in a single day without tape, achieving sharp edges and subtle layering that reward close looking.

Gearing Up for Venice

The 2026 Venice Biennale's awards jury has announced it will not consider artists from countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, specifically naming Israel and Russia. In other news, satellite imagery confirms Azerbaijan demolished an Armenian church in Artsakh, the World Press Photo of the Year was awarded to Carol Guzy for an image of ICE detaining a father, and Argentine abstract painter Ides Kihlen died at age 108. Hyperallergic also published a guide to the Biennale by Hrag Vartanian and reported on Lynda Roscoe Hartigan's appointment as director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

What We Loved (And Didn’t) in “Greater New York”

The article presents a critical review of the 2026 "Greater New York" exhibition at MoMA PS1, a massive survey featuring over 150 works by more than 50 artists. The Hyperallergic editorial team highlights specific artists and works they loved, disliked, or found puzzling, offering a curated list of around 20 standout pieces. The review includes detailed commentary on individual works by artists like Dean Millien, the collective Red Canary Song, and Kameron Neal, capturing the diverse and often contentious reactions the show provokes.

A View From the Easel With Celia Paul

British painter Celia Paul provides an intimate look at her long-term studio and residence in London's Bloomsbury neighborhood, where she has lived and worked for 44 years. The artist describes a disciplined routine starting at 5am, emphasizing a need for silence and a pared-down environment to foster the introspection found in her seascapes and self-portraits.

40 Years Later, Houston's FotoFest Keeps Its Edge

Houston’s FotoFest is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a massive retrospective titled "Global Visions: FotoFest at 40," featuring over 450 artists from 58 countries. Founded by Wendy Watriss and Frederick Baldwin after a transformative trip to the Rencontres d'Arles, the biennial was established to combat American parochialism by introducing international photography to the U.S. The current iteration spans multiple venues, including the Sawyer Yards Galleries and Project Row Houses, showcasing the festival's history of thematic curation ranging from Russian Pictorialism to contemporary Arab media.

Damien Hirst's studio has been recreated in Seoul for a major exhibition dedicated to him (including the original floor)

Lo studio del celebre artista Damien Hirst è stato ricreato a Seoul per una grande mostra a lui dedicata (c’è pure il pavimento originale)

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul has launched "Nothing Is True But Everything Is Possible," the largest retrospective of Damien Hirst’s work ever held in Asia. Spanning 35 years of his career, the exhibition features over 50 iconic works, including his formaldehyde-preserved animals, diamond-encrusted skull, and a recreation of his Pharmacy Restaurant. A unique highlight is the meticulous reconstruction of Hirst’s London studio, complete with the original paint-stained floor transported to South Korea and 30 previously unseen unfinished canvases from his new "River" series.

‘The subject demanded a more restrained approach’: Carlos Rolón on revisiting the 1966 uprising in Chicago's Humboldt Park

Chicago-based artist Carlos Rolón has unveiled a new body of work at 65Grand titled 'The Division Street Riots,' which explores the 1966 Puerto Rican uprising in Humboldt Park. Moving away from his signature vibrant, crystal-embellished installations, Rolón utilizes graphite, charcoal, and dye sublimation prints to interpret archival imagery of the three-day unrest sparked by a police shooting. The exhibition marks a stylistic shift toward a more somber, documentary-style realism that emphasizes historical witnessing over spectacle.

Opportunities in April 2026

Hyperallergic has published its monthly list of opportunities for artists, writers, and art workers, featuring a curated selection of upcoming deadlines for residencies, fellowships, grants, and open calls. The list includes programs from institutions like the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the Center for Craft, the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Light Work, offering financial support, studio space, and community.

Woman With Her Back to the Viewer in Gallery Photos Speaks Out

A satirical article features an exclusive interview with the fictional archetype "Woman With Her Back to the Viewer in All Those Gallery Photos." She describes her daily routine of posing ambiguously next to artworks, her artistic influences like Caspar David Friedrich, and the challenges of her unseen labor, including a lack of sales commission and the need for side hustles like making herself blurry in photos.

Juan Uslé’s Childhood Shipwrecks

The Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid has opened a major retrospective of Spanish painter Juan Uslé, titled "That Ship on the Mountain." The exhibition features approximately 100 works spanning four decades, tracing the artist's journey from his childhood in Cantabria to his established career in New York City. It notably uses the traumatic shipwreck of the Elorrio, which Uslé witnessed as a boy, as its conceptual starting point.

At Palm Beach’s Hottest Fair, Blue-Chip Meets Emerging Art

The ninth edition of the Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary (PBM+C) art fair opened with a VIP preview benefiting the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. The fair, presented by Art Miami, features 55 international galleries showcasing a mix of blue-chip modern works, contemporary art, and emerging talent, with highlights including special exhibitions dedicated to Russell Young's Marilyn Monroe centennial works and a satellite exhibition at the sculpture garden.

The Canonization of Frida Kahlo

A major exhibition, 'Frida: Making of an Icon,' at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, re-examines the legacy of Frida Kahlo. It moves beyond her iconic status by presenting her early works, influences, and, most significantly, over a hundred works by artists she inspired, demonstrating her impact across generations and cultures.

The Sartorial Is Political in “The New York Sari”

An exhibition titled "The New York Sari" is on view at the New York Historical Society, exploring the sari as a living art form, heirloom, document, and political statement for the South Asian diaspora in New York City. The show features contemporary artworks, historical materials, and personal garments, framing the sari not as a static cultural artifact but as a dynamic site of identity, labor, and community history.

Art Problems: How Do I Get Gallery Representation?

Art Problems: How Do I Get Gallery Representation?

Paddy Johnson, in a Hyperallergic advice column, demystifies the process for artists seeking gallery representation. She explains that galleries primarily seek artists with proven sales records to mitigate their own high financial risks, such as exorbitant rent and operational costs. Johnson advises artists to build this track record independently by selling work themselves or securing spots in low-pressure group shows, then aggressively promoting those exhibitions to demonstrate market potential to dealers.

Brian Eno and 200+ Artists Urge British Museum to “Stop Erasing Palestine”

Brian Eno and 200+ Artists Urge British Museum to “Stop Erasing Palestine”

Over 200 artists and cultural groups, led by musician Brian Eno, have published an open letter demanding the British Museum stop what they call the "erasure of Palestine." The letter accuses the museum of altering wall texts in its Middle East Galleries, such as replacing "Palestinian descent" with "Canaanite descent," following pressure from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel. The signatories also criticize the institution's past ties to the Israeli embassy and sponsor BP, issuing demands for an expert review of labels and an apology for hosting an Israeli embassy gala.

artists auction palestine charity london eno devlin goldin

A group of high-profile artists including Es Devlin, Brian Eno, Nan Goldin, and Grayson Perry are donating works for a London-based charity auction to support humanitarian aid in Palestine. Organized by Choose Love, Gideon Berger Studio, Hope 93 Gallery, and dealer Zayna Al-Saleh, the sale will benefit the Together For Palestine Fund. The auction features a diverse range of media, from Grayson Perry’s ceramics to Nan Goldin’s photography, and will be accompanied by a public exhibition at Hope 93 Gallery from March 26 to April 9.

carolina herrera fall 2026 wes gordon artists

Wes Gordon, creative director of Carolina Herrera, presented the brand's Fall 2026 collection in New York. The runway show featured a cast of prominent artists and art-world figures, including photographer Ming Smith, painter Amy Sherald, gallerist Hannah Traore, and artists Anh Duong, Eliza Douglas, and Rachel Feinstein, who modeled the collection. The presentation venue was adorned with murals by artist Sarah Oliphant, creating a cohesive, studio-like environment.

edgar davids art collection theft

A London court heard that Edgar Davids, the former Netherlands soccer star known as “the Pitbull,” was defrauded by a trusted friend who allegedly stole his $255,000 art collection. Nabila Habiby, who had keys to Davids’ mansion, removed 37 artworks—including 33 pieces by Paul Insect and two by Ron English—and pawned them for loans totaling just $42,800. When she failed to repay, pawnbrokers sold the works at auction. Davids only discovered the theft in 2017 after a buyer in Hong Kong contacted him via Instagram. Habiby admitted to two counts of fraud and faces up to 34 months in prison.

ben schonzeit imaginary friends louis k meisel

American artist Ben Schonzeit, a pioneer of Photorealism, presents his current solo exhibition "Ben Schonzeit: Imaginary Friends" at Louis K. Meisel Gallery in New York, on view through May 3, 2025. The show marks a significant evolution in his practice, bringing sculpture to the forefront alongside his paintings, and features imaginary characters that depart from his earlier still-life Photorealism. In an interview, Schonzeit discusses how his process has shifted from predetermined goals to intuitive exploration, influenced by New York City's street life and fashion.

our fresh spring picks 5 artists to watch from the artnet gallery network

Artnet News has published a spring roundup of five artists to watch from its Gallery Network, featuring Julian Charrière, Xiangjie Rebecca Wu, Michael Abel, Nathan Myhrvold, and Lulu Varona. The article highlights each artist's recent work and unique approach, from Charrière's cross-media exploration of time and nature to Varona's hand-embroidered botanical pieces. The artists are represented by galleries including Sies + Höke Galerie, LATITUDE Gallery, YVEYANG Gallery, Modernist Cuisine Gallery, and TW Fine Art.

agustina ferreyra joins mexico city gallery omr

Agustina Ferreyra, a prominent Mexico City-based dealer known for championing young Latin American artists, has been appointed director of OMR, a leading gallery in Mexico City. Ferreyra founded her own gallery in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2013 before relocating it to Mexico City, and will shutter that eponymous space on April 30. She previously collaborated with OMR during Mexico City Art Week in February through Bodega, a joint initiative that featured a solo exhibition by Argentine artist Ad Minoliti. In her new role, Ferreyra will continue to lead Bodega as artistic director.

Sarah Lucas Unveils VENUS VICTORIA at the New Museum’s Bowery Plaza

The New Museum has unveiled "VENUS VICTORIA," a new public sculpture by British artist Sarah Lucas, inaugurating the museum's outdoor plaza at the junction of Bowery and Prince Street in downtown Manhattan. The sculpture, which features Lucas's signature Bunny figure seated atop a giant washing machine, was selected by an all-artist jury including Teresita Fernández, Joan Jonas, Julie Mehretu, Cindy Sherman, and Kiki Smith. It opens on May 12, 2026, and will remain on view for two years as the first of five commissions dedicated to public sculpture by women artists.

34 Of The Best London Art Exhibitions To See In May 2026

The article highlights 34 of the best London art exhibitions to see in May 2026, focusing on three major shows: the V&A's 'Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art', the first UK exhibition dedicated to designer Elsa Schiaparelli; Tate Modern's 'Tracey Emin: A Second Life', the largest retrospective of the YBA artist's 40-year career; and the Design Museum's 'NIGO: From Japan with Love', a retrospective of Japanese creative NIGO spanning over 700 objects. These exhibitions showcase fashion, contemporary art, and street culture, with the V&A show running until November, Tate Modern until August, and the Design Museum until October.