Curiosities at the 2026 Venice Biennale: the Tanzania Pavilion is full of Italian artists

Curiosità alla Biennale di Venezia 2026: il Padiglione della Tanzania è pieno di artisti italiani

The Tanzania Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "Minor Frequencies: The Inner Life of a Nation," features a significant number of Italian artists alongside Tanzanian voices. Curated by Lorna Benedict Mashiba and Martina Cavallarin, the exhibition is housed across the Gervasuti Foundation, Palazzo Canova, and Supernova in Cannaregio. It includes works by 14 Italian artists such as Alice Andreoli, Christian Balzano, and Silvia Canton, as well as artists from Europe and Asia, while centering the practices of Tanzanian artists like Turakella Editha Gyindo, Lazaro Samuel, Valerie Asiimwe Amani, and Amani Abeid.

Nasce a Londra il Quentin Blake Centre: spazio creativo dedicato al disegno e all’illustrazione

The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will open in May 2026 in London's Clerkenwell district, housed in the historic New River Head waterworks complex after a £12.5 million restoration led by Tim Ronalds Architects. The centre will preserve Sir Quentin Blake's archive of over 40,000 works and feature a library, public gardens, creative labs, and three inaugural exhibitions: "Quentin Blake: Performance," "Queer as Comics" celebrating LGBTQIA+ comics, and "MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like…" by British-Sri Lankan illustrator Murugiah.

Cosmic Province. Between bar and studio, or the punk life of Jacopo Benassi

Provincia Cosmica. Tra bar e studio, ovvero la vita punk di Jacopo Benassi

Italian artist Jacopo Benassi, born in 1970 and shaped by the punk scene, discusses his return to his hometown of La Spezia after years in Milan, where he worked as a photographer for Rolling Stone. He describes his life revolving around his studio and local bars, and reflects on founding the underground club B-Tomic in 2011, which became a hub for his artistic and photographic work blending music and performance. He also mentions an upcoming book of drawings and texts by Renzo Daveti (alias Benzo), a formative figure from the Italian punk scene.

A young artist has designed exhaust pipes to be played like trumpets: A traveling concert in Milan

Un giovane artista ha progettato delle marmitte da suonare come trombe. A Milano il concerto itinerante

Emerging artist Aronne Pleuteri will debut a mobile performance titled "Mototrombe!" during Milan Art Week on April 17, 2026. The event features a parade of sound sculptures crafted from salvaged automotive exhaust pipes, which have been welded and reconfigured into hybrid instruments. Led by composer Dario Buccino, the procession will travel from Milan’s Central Station to the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where the sculptures will remain on display through April 26.

Of Testaments and Transfigurations: An Interview with Poet Silvia Righi

Di testamenti e di trasfigurazioni. Intervista alla poeta Silvia Righi

Italian poet Silvia Righi discusses her latest collection, *Ex voto suscepto*, published by Pungitopo as part of the Remedia series. The book originated from a narrative concept involving the arrival of God's daughter on Earth and features a unique interdisciplinary collaboration with artist Mattia Barbieri, who provided China ink illustrations. The interview explores the collection's focus on the decaying body, the fluidity of the lyrical 'I', and the intersection of poetic language with visual art.

Sound Archives Open in Ravenna: The Best of National and International Performing Arts Now Available

A Ravenna aprono gli Archivi Sonori: a disposizione il meglio delle arti performative nazionali e internazionali

The city of Ravenna has officially inaugurated the Archivi Sonori (Sound Archives) at Palazzo Malagola, a new international center dedicated to vocal and sonic research. Founded by actress Ermanna Montanari and scholar Enrico Pitozzi, the archives offer public access to a vast collection of audio and video materials documenting the experimental work of 33 influential Italian and international performers, including Demetrio Stratos, Joan La Barbara, and Alvin Curran. The facility features specialized listening and viewing rooms, including an immersive sonic chamber and a cinema hall, all navigated via touchscreens featuring anatomical heart motifs designed by artist Stefano Ricci.

art basel qatar strategic partner plans fine art storage logistics hub

Qatar is planning to build the Gulf region's largest full-service fine art storage and logistics facility, developed by QC+ (a strategic partner of Art Basel Qatar and Qatar Sports Investments) in collaboration with Gulf Warehousing Company Q.P.S.C. The facility, located near Hamad International Airport in a designated free zone, will offer art preservation, storage, conservation, and viewing rooms, allowing artworks to be stored and traded outside customs territory. The announcement follows Qatar's broader art infrastructure expansion, including a planned museum of international modern and contemporary art and the upcoming Art Basel Qatar fair.

uk art dealers fined money laundering

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a new round of fines against UK art market participants for anti-money laundering (AML) compliance failures, covering October 2024 to March 2025. Notable penalties include £158,679 levied against London-based DYS44 Art Gallery Limited, whose director is Old Masters dealer Cesare Lampronti, for procedural violations such as lacking risk assessments, policies, staff training, and due diligence. Other fines include Atlas Gallery (£28,500) for failing to report material business changes. Over 80 penalties were issued in this six-month period, compared to 61 in the previous 20 months, signaling a sharp enforcement uptick.

egypt prince waserif re tomb discovered saqqara

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered the tomb of Prince Waserif Re, son of King Userkaf, founder of the Fifth Dynasty, at the Saqqara necropolis. The multi-chamber tomb features a 15-foot-tall pink granite false door inscribed with the prince's name and titles, a red granite offering table, and statues of Third Dynasty pharaoh Djoser, his wife, and ten daughters that were moved there during the Late Period. A black granite statue with hieroglyphic inscriptions from the 26th Dynasty suggests the tomb was reused nearly 2,000 years after its original construction. The joint Egyptian mission was led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Dr. Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage.

UK Heritage Department feared ‘mass restitutions’ when Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland

Newly released UK government files reveal that in 1996, the Department of National Heritage strongly opposed Prime Minister John Major's decision to return the 13th-century Stone of Scone to Scotland. The department's cultural property unit head, Lynn Gates, warned that the return would set a 'precedent to mass restitution,' triggering claims from Greece for the Parthenon Marbles, Egypt for the Rosetta Stone and Sphinx's Beard fragment, and Nigeria for the Benin Bronzes, with fears of further demands from Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, and other nations. The internal memo criticized Major for failing to consult the department before agreeing to the transfer from Westminster Abbey.

Carleton Gallery hosting Spring Group Exhibition on May 30

Carleton Gallery is hosting a Spring Group Exhibition on May 30, as reported by the Watauga Democrat. The event will feature a curated selection of works by multiple artists, though specific participants and pieces have not been detailed in the brief announcement.

Final Ivan Wheale art exhibition and sale at Perivale Gallery attracts large crowd

The Perivale Gallery in Spring Bay, Ontario, hosted the final exhibition of renowned Manitoulin artist Ivan Wheale, titled 'THROUGH IVAN’S EYES - A NORTHERN VISION LIVES ON.' Wheale, who passed away in September, had been a fixture at the gallery for over four decades. The opening featured his last works, including 'Tranquility,' his final completed painting, which he finished from his hospice bed. An unfinished piece sat on his custom easel, marking the end of a long tradition of annual shows.

The Earth, the Fire, the Water, and the Winds: For a Museum of Errantry with Édouard Glissant

The Center for Art, Research and Alliances in New York presents "The Earth, the Fire, the Water, and the Winds: For a Museum of Errantry with Édouard Glissant," running from February 28 to May 10, 2026. The exhibition focuses on the Martinican poet and philosopher Édouard Glissant's personal art collection, tracing how his key concepts—opacity, relation, and creolization—emerged through his engagement with artworks and artists. It features works by artists such as Agustín Cárdenas, Victor Anicet, Eduardo Zamora, Gerardo Chávez, José Gamarra, and M. Emile, and travels from Instituto Tomie Ohtake in São Paulo.

London gallery cancels controversial art show over antisemitic imagery

An exhibition titled 'Drawings Against Genocide' by British artist Matthew Collings, scheduled to open at Delta House Gallery in Wandsworth, London, has been cancelled after complaints from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) about antisemitic content. The show, planned for May 2026, included graphic drawings depicting Jews with horns, devouring babies, and denying Hamas's October 7 attacks, and had previously sparked outrage at a Margate gallery. Gallery owners Pineapple Corporation and Delta House Studios Ltd confirmed the cancellation after UKLFI warned of legal risks under the Public Order Act 1986.

London Gallery Cancels Antisemitic Art Exhibit After Pro-Israel Lawyers Intervene

A London gallery, Delta House Gallery in Wandsworth, canceled a traveling exhibition titled "Drawings Against Genocide" by British artist Matthew Collings after UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) intervened, citing antisemitic content. The show, scheduled for May 16-24, featured drawings with swastikas, comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany, and depictions of Jewish figures with horns, among other imagery. Gallery owner Pineapple Corporation Chairman Tom Berglund confirmed the cancellation, stating the exhibition was arranged without owner consultation.

Young artists take over Slidell's city gallery

Student artists from across St. Tammany Parish participated in the 35th annual Salad Days Juried Exhibition of Student Art at the George Dunbar Gallery in Slidell. The event featured an opening reception and awards ceremony, with 80 artists submitting 174 works, of which roughly 30% were selected for display. Artist and arts advocate Joshua Wichterich served as the juror for the competitive show.

MONSTRARE - Raminta S. R. Mint SOLO SHOW

Contour Art Gallery in Vilnius is presenting 'Monstrare', a solo exhibition by emerging artist Raminta S. R. Mint. The show explores the human body through three layers—exterior, interior, and invisible—using painting to critique social media's filtered self-image, anatomical abstraction, and digital medical imaging. Influenced by Gothic literature and H. R. Giger, the works combine red, black, and white palettes in a 'Frankensteinian' visual language.

'60 Years Of The Grateful Dead' Unveils Band’s Most Comprehensive Art Exhibition Yet [Photos]

The Chambers Project Gallery in Grass Valley, CA, has opened '60 Years of the Grateful Dead,' billed as the most comprehensive exhibition of original Grateful Dead artwork ever assembled. Curated by Brian Chambers, the show features historic posters, album covers, sketches, and rare artifacts from key artists like Rick Griffin, Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, Victor Moscoso, and Wes Wilson, alongside collaborators such as Bill Walker and Owsley 'Bear' Stanley. Highlights include Bill Walker's original Anthem of the Sun mandala, stored for years in his sister's garage, and Edmund J. Sullivan's 1900 'Skeleton Amid Roses' illustration, reinterpreted for the band's iconic 1971 album cover. The opening weekend also featured a concert by the supergroup White Lightning at the Bodhi-Hive.

This is the Press Photo of the Year

Das ist das Pressefoto des Jahres

The World Press Photo competition has named Carol Guzy's photograph "Separated by ICE" as the World Press Photo of the Year. The image, taken for the Miami Herald in August 2025, shows children clinging to their father's shirt during a court hearing in New York after he was unexpectedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The jury praised the photo as a stark documentation of family separation resulting from U.S. immigration policy. Two other finalists were recognized: Saber Nuraldin's image of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Victor J. Blue's photo documenting the Achi women from Guatemala who sought justice for wartime abuses.

Press Photos of the Year Chosen

Pressefotos des Jahres gewählt

Carol Guzy won the World Press Photo competition for 2025 with her image "Separated by ICE," taken for the Miami Herald. The photograph depicts children clinging to their father's shirt during a court hearing in New York, after he was unexpectedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The jury selected the image from nearly 57,000 entries by about 3,700 photographers. Two other finalists were recognized: Saber Nuraldin for documenting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and Victor J. Blue for covering the trial of perpetrators who kidnapped and abused women during Guatemala's civil war.

The Last Living Surrealist

Der letzte lebende Surrealist

Alejandro Jodorowsky, the 97-year-old Chilean-French artist and filmmaker, is profiled in his Paris apartment as the last living Surrealist. The article reflects on his century-spanning career, from his early pantomime work with Marcel Marceau in the 1950s to his cult films like "El Topo" and "The Holy Mountain," as well as his famously unrealized adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune." Jodorowsky shares his philosophy that true art has a beginning but no end, offering a retrospective on a life lived at the intersection of performance, cinema, and visionary creativity.

Creating artistic and innovative kites: the astonishing practice of artist Victor Guerithault

Créer des cerfs-volants artistiques et innovants : l’étonnante pratique de l’artiste dans le vent Victor Guerithault

Artist Victor Guerithault is redefining the traditional craft of kite-making through geometric innovation and 3D-printing technology. Showcasing his work at the 32nd Festival du cerf-volant in Châtelaillon, Guerithault utilizes complex tetrahedral structures inspired by the aerodynamic experiments of Alexander Graham Bell. His approach moves away from traditional bamboo frames toward a modular construction system involving custom-designed 3D-printed connectors that allow for hundreds of unique, gravity-defying aerial forms.

From Micro to Mega, Jon McCormack’s Striking Photos Reveal Nature’s Patterns

Photographer Jon McCormack, who grew up in the Australian Outback and has traveled to all seven continents, has a new book titled "Patterns: Art of the Natural World," forthcoming from Damiani Books. The project emerged during the pandemic when limited travel led him to revisit local spots and develop a patient, attentive approach to capturing nature's hidden harmony and symmetry. The book features 90 images ranging from microscopic crystals to aerial views of flamingos in Kenya, along with text contributions from fellow photographers and conservationists.

Vibrant Sea Creatures Spring to Life in Lisa Stevens’ Textured Sculptures

Bristol-based artist Lisa Stevens creates vibrant ceramic sculptures inspired by marine life. Her work features sea urchins, coral, and nudibranchs, transformed into unique pieces with colorful glazes and textures that often blend aquatic forms with celestial and anatomical references.

Marvel at Manabu Kosaka’s Hyperrealistic Paper Sculptures of Retro Objects

Japanese artist Manabu Kosaka creates hyperrealistic, scale replicas of everyday and retro objects using only paper. His meticulously crafted sculptures—ranging from 35mm film cameras and vintage transistor radios to luxury wristwatches and fast food—feature functional internal components like gears, levers, and moving hatches that mimic the mechanics of the original items.

Hugo the Decorator

Hugo décorateur

An exhibition and accompanying book explore Victor Hugo's lesser-known role as an interior decorator, focusing on the elaborate interiors he created for his homes in Paris and during his exile on the island of Guernsey. Curator Gérard Audinet conducted extensive research to reconstruct these lost environments, which were filled with eclectic objects, artworks by friends, and prestigious gifts.

parties tropa tequila haas brothers carvingblock

Tropa Tequila launched its limited-edition Añejo Artist Series bottle, designed by artist Nikolai Haas of the Haas Brothers and produced by Max Block and Cam Saffle of CARVINGBLOCK. The launch event was held at the Haas Brothers’ new studio in North Hollywood, featuring an intimate dinner for Los Angeles artists, designers, and collaborators. Only 300 individually numbered bottles were released, with caps hand-beaded by artisans in South Africa.

parties peoples art panel salon afterparty

CULTURED magazine hosted a panel and cocktail reception at People's, an art salon and evening club in New York's Greenwich Village, on Tuesday evening. The event featured a discussion on the state of the art world, including social media's role in market movements and art education, moderated by advisor Anne Parke, with panelists including New Art Dealers Alliance Executive Director Heather Hubbs, AWG Art Advisory Founder Alex Glauber, artist Aglaé Bassens, and CULTURED Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson. The gathering attracted a crowd of artists, advisors, writers, and patrons, and guests received a copy of the CULTURED at Home design issue and a custom tote bag by artist Jay Miriam.

art brian oakes young artist

Cultured magazine profiles Brian Oakes, a 30-year-old New York-based artist featured in their 2025 Young Artists list. Oakes creates intricate works that resemble a mad scientist's lab, including a miniature sorting machine exhibited at Blade Study in 2024 that rhythmically sorts diorama-like tableaux. Their practice also involves circuit boards, synthetic gemstones (opals, rubies, emeralds, and now sapphires), and magnetic core memory modules, exploring themes of value, automation, desire, and divination as a systematized asset.

parties artemest apartment chelsea cultured at home

CULTURED magazine and Italian home-décor e-tailer Artemest co-hosted a cocktail party and conversation at the Artemest Galleria in New York's Chelsea neighborhood to celebrate the new CULTURED at Home magazine. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson moderated a discussion with interior designer Nicole Fuller, Artemest co-founder and CEO Marco Credendino, and Legacy Investing CEO Daniel English about shaping creative visions through design, while guests included arts leaders, architects, interior designers, an artist, an art advisor, and a jewelry designer.