Nagano Prefecture 150th Anniversary / Renewal Opening 5th Anniversary: "Reorganizing – The NAM Collection Today" @ Nagano Prefectural Art Museum

長野県150周年記念／リニューアル・オープン5周年記念「再編する－NAMコレクションの現在」@ 長野県立美術館

The Nagano Prefectural Art Museum has announced a major exhibition titled "Reorganizing – The NAM Collection Today," scheduled to run from April 29 to June 7, 2026. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Nagano Prefecture and the 5th anniversary of the museum's renewal, the show features approximately 100 works from the permanent collection alongside new commissions by guest artists Naoya Hirata, Barrack, and Tomoko Sato. The exhibition is structured into three thematic sections focusing on sculpture, the layers of painting, and the re-reading of institutional history.

Amid confrontation with the US, an Iranian museum exhibits anti-war art by American artists

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.

Two Visitors’ Lions have been established for the Biennale Arte 2026

La Biennale di Venezia has announced the establishment of two Visitors' Lions for the 61st International Art Exhibition, following the resignation of the International Jury appointed by curator Koyo Kouoh. The awards ceremony, originally scheduled for May 9, has been moved to November 22, the final public day, echoing a similar shift during the 2021 Architecture Exhibition due to COVID-19. The Visitors' Lions will be voted on by ticket holders who visit both exhibition venues between May 9 and November 22, with one award for the Best Participant in the exhibition "In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh and another for the Best National Participation.

Art exhibition at Two Selves Gallery explores a journey through depression

Two Selves Gallery in Troy, New York, opened a new exhibition titled "Coming Out of Darkness: Landscapes of Presence" by artist Patricia Wood during the April Troy Night Out event. The show, on display through May, is divided into three sections: a series of acrylic paintings on black velvet depicting forest scenes from the Adirondacks, a middle section featuring reference photos, miniatures, encaustic works, and mental health resources, and a front section with oil paintings of Winnie the Pooh characters and Wood's jewelry. Wood describes the exhibition as a personal journey through depression, using light and dark to convey her struggle and recovery.

“Everything looks dark now” at Bel Ami, Los Angeles

Bel Ami gallery in Los Angeles has opened a new exhibition titled "Everything looks dark now," which takes its name and conceptual framework from Anton Chekhov's play *The Seagull*. The show features a diverse group of artists whose works collectively explore themes of melancholy, reflection, and existential uncertainty, mirroring the atmospheric and introspective mood of Chekhov's text.

A War Souvenir for Düsseldorf

Un souvenir de guerre pour Düsseldorf

The Kunstpalast museum in Düsseldorf has acquired a war-related painting by Bordeaux-born artist William Laparra, who was mobilized in 1917 into the French camouflage section during World War I. Laparra served as a brigadier-chief in the 1st group of the 10th Army at the Chantilly workshop, a unit created in 1915 by figures including Eugène Corbin, Louis Guingot, and painter Guirand de Scévola, who developed earth-toned uniforms and painted canvas to conceal artillery from German aircraft.

fashion courreges nicolas di felice anniversary

Nicolas Di Felice, creative director of Courrèges, discusses his fifth anniversary at the fashion house in a conversation with actress Juliette Binoche. Di Felice, who does not consider himself an artist, shares his process of creating cohesive runway shows that begin with a single flash of inspiration, while Binoche reflects on her own artistic journey, including her directorial debut documentary "In-I In Motion." The dialogue explores themes of trust, collaboration, and the balance between creative vision and business reality.

Eye on Art: Museums beckon with Memorial Day offerings

The article highlights Memorial Day weekend art offerings in the Concord and Fitchburg, Massachusetts area, focusing on museums and galleries as cool retreats from the summer heat. It notes International Museum Day's theme "Museums Uniting a Divided World" and promotes special membership deals at Fitchburg Art Museum, an exhibit at the Arts League of Lowell Greenwald Gallery, and the Concord Museum's upcoming Garden Tour fundraiser.

National Museum opens 'Pioneers of Omani Art' exhibition in Russia

The National Museum of Oman has opened an exhibition titled "Pioneers of Omani Art" at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia. Running until 16 August, the show features 23 works by 17 Omani artists, highlighting how they draw inspiration from their culture, heritage, history, and environment. The exhibition traces the journey of fine art in Oman, from prehistoric rock art to the modern art movement, shaped by historical commercial and cultural exchanges with European artists.

Sacramento art exhibit puts a SMASH!-ing spotlight on piñata culture

A new art exhibition titled 'SMASH! A Piñata Exhibition' has opened at Prism Art Gallery in Midtown, Sacramento, curated by Bridgett Rex and Vianne De Santiago. Running through May 30, the show features piñatas created by amateurs, professional makers, and multidisciplinary artists, exploring the cultural and emotional significance of piñatas beyond their role as party decorations. The exhibition will conclude with a public smashing of selected piñatas. Artists such as Andres Alvarez and Gilbert Rangel contributed works that incorporate personal and cultural narratives, using materials like corn husks and tissue paper to reflect on heritage, memory, and community.

‘Costume Art’ Review: Fashion and the Human Form at the Met

The article reviews 'Costume Art,' an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that explores the intersection of fashion and the human form. It examines how garments and accessories are presented as sculptural objects, highlighting the dialogue between clothing and the body through historical and contemporary pieces.

Face-to-Face: Nalini Sharma Talks MFA Boston’s “Divine Color” Exhibition and the Power of Indian Art

Nalini Sharma, an art patron and honorary member of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's Board of Advisors, discusses the museum's exhibition "Divine Color: Hindu Prints from Modern Bengal" in an exclusive video interview. The show, supported by Nalini and Raj Sharma, features nearly 40 vibrant lithographs and over 100 objects including prints, paintings, sculptures, and textiles, exploring Hindu devotional prints from 19th-century Calcutta (now Kolkata). It is the first U.S. exhibition devoted to these works, which were mass-produced using lithographic technology and deeply embedded in daily life across India and the diaspora.

Review: The 82nd Whitney Biennial is weird, provocative, and leaves viewers wanting more

The 82nd Whitney Biennial has opened, drawing attention for its weird, provocative nature that leaves viewers wanting more. The exhibition, held at the Whitney Museum of American Art, features a range of contemporary works that challenge conventional boundaries and spark dialogue.

Grohmann Museum Exhibit Focuses on Veterans and Service

The Grohmann Museum in Milwaukee has opened a new exhibition pairing two shows by contemporary American artists focusing on military service. Ohio-born Mary Whyte's "We the People: Portraits of Veterans in America" features 50 large-scale watercolor portraits of veterans from various wars and backgrounds. Milwaukee photographer Dennis Darmek's "Boots and Sand: The Marines of 29 Palms" presents two dozen color photographs taken at the Marine Corps base in California's Mojave Desert, where Darmek himself trained in 1969. The photos capture both posed and candid moments, highlighting diversity within the modern Marine Corps, including women in combat roles.

National Artist Call for Juried Art Exhibition at Minneapolis Institute of Art, Allegories of a Better World

Artists nationwide are invited to submit original works to a juried exhibition titled "Allegories of a Better World," which will be held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art on June 28, 2026. The submission deadline is May 15, 2026. The exhibition is organized in conjunction with the premiere of the documentary film "The Making of America," directed by Monique Linder and produced by OMG Studios in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center. Submissions should explore themes such as virtue, moral courage, truth, justice, liberation, reconstruction, memory, history, and cultural healing. Selected works may also be featured in the film.

Paphos exhibition brings 22 artists together

A new group exhibition titled 'Beyond the Surface' opens at Ibrahim’s Khan Art Gallery in Paphos, Cyprus, from April 24 to 26, featuring 22 artists of 14 nationalities. Curated by Elham Razani, the three-day show includes paintings, sculpture, mosaic, and ceramic art, and is sponsored by Ezousa Winery. The exhibition aims to foster cultural exchange and community engagement through diverse artistic voices.

Corcoran students commemorate America’s 250th year with interactive art exhibit

Graduate students at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, part of George Washington University, have created an interactive exhibition titled “American Made” to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary. The exhibit, on view at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery until May 14, combines 21 traditional artworks from GW’s collection—including photographs, pottery, and textiles—with interactive elements such as a touchscreen map and audio components. The project was developed collaboratively by students in museum studies and interactive design programs, led by professors Laura Schiavo and Sam Shelton, as part of the school’s annual NEXT Festival. Featured works include Patricia Kennedy-Zafred’s contemporary quilt “Tagged,” which addresses the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Author Graci Harkema to visit Grand Rapids Art Museum

Author Graci Harkema will visit the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) for a free public conversation about her life journey, coinciding with the museum's photography exhibition "As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic." The event, titled "RISING: A Conversation with Graci Harkema," allows attendees to view the exhibition before the talk.

In pictures: jewellery through history and cultures on show in Hong Kong

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has sent approximately 200 pieces from its jewellery collection to Hong Kong for a major exhibition titled 'Jewels, Gems, and Treasures: Adornment in World Cultures'. The show, hosted at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, spans 5,000 years and includes items from ancient Egypt, Imperial China, Renaissance Europe, and modern designers, highlighting the universal human impulse for adornment.

Kickpigeon Kids

The Grackle Art Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas, will host "BLANK," the fourth curated installation by the Kickpigeon Kids, from May 2 to May 31, 2026. The exhibition explores the concept of blankness as a prerequisite for new beginnings and limitless potential, inviting selected artists to submit work interpreting the theme, often starting from the idea of a "blank canvas."

On Showing My Paintings in Auschwitz

Artist and Holocaust survivor Yehudis Barmatz-Harris has installed a series of paintings within the barracks of Auschwitz-Birkenau, marking a profound personal and artistic return to the site of her family's trauma. The works, which utilize materials like salt and organic textures, are placed directly on the wooden bunks where prisoners once slept, creating a visceral dialogue between contemporary Jewish life and the void left by the Shoah.

Graduate art and design students exhibit their work at Krannert Art Museum

The Krannert Art Museum is currently hosting the annual Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, showcasing the thesis work of eight graduate students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Art & Design. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including sculptural 3D collages by Samantha Jones that critique the hypersexualization of Black girlhood, and a mixed-media experimental classroom by Anthony Obayomi that explores social justice and educational metrics. Other works, such as Emily Tomlinson’s text-based drawings, highlight themes of cataloging and observational study.

Things To Do In Singapore For The Culturally Curious

Singapore's art scene is hosting several diverse exhibitions this April, ranging from a cat-themed group show at Tokonoma to Chok Si Xuan’s solo exploration of technological materials at Starch. Other highlights include a collaborative exhibition at Fluxus House Gallery featuring emerging artists Tay Ying, Zhixin Sheng, and Winnie Chua, which examines the nuances of early adulthood through personal correspondence and imagery.

A Nation of Artists Exhibit At The Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has launched a new exhibition titled "A Nation of Artists," which showcases a diverse range of works highlighting the creative spirit and historical narratives of American artistry. The exhibit, previewed by local media, offers a comprehensive look at how various artists have shaped the national identity through their unique visual languages.

Mapped by Tide and Time art exhibition in Mumbai

The solo exhibition "Mapped by Tide and Time" has opened in Mumbai, showcasing over three decades of work by Indian artist Vishakha Apte. Curated by Ina Puri, the show features a diverse range of mediums including painting, printmaking, paper constructions, and ceramics. The collection highlights Apte’s career-long investigation into tactile depth and material dialogue, moving away from artistic spectacle in favor of quiet, process-led inquiry.

Hammer Museum's 'Several Eternities' Exhibit Features 100+ 'Living' Pieces By Brown & Indigenous Artists

The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles has opened a major exhibition titled 'Several Eternities,' showcasing over 100 works by contemporary Brown and Indigenous artists. The exhibition is described as featuring 'living' pieces, suggesting works that are dynamic, process-based, or engage with ongoing cultural practices.

‘From Above’: New Church History Museum exhibit features Australian Aboriginal Latter-day Saint art

The Church History Museum in Salt Lake City has opened a new exhibition titled “From Above: Aboriginal Australian Art From the Bird Family.” The show features works by Indigenous Australian artists from the Anmatyerr culture who are also members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The artists, including Gary Bird Mpetyane, Maggie Bird Mpetyane, and Rose Coleena Wallace Nungari, traveled from Australia to attend the opening of the exhibit, which runs through August 1, 2026.

Black Artists in America, Installation Three Wraps at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens has concluded the third and final installment of its ambitious "Black Artists in America" exhibition series. This concluding chapter focused on the late 20th century, showcasing how African American artists navigated the Civil Rights Movement and the subsequent shift toward contemporary abstraction and conceptualism while maintaining a dialogue with social justice.

Dishman Art Museum exhibit draws on immigrant voices

The Dishman Art Museum is hosting a new exhibition that centers on the experiences and perspectives of immigrants, drawing on their voices to shape the show's narrative and artworks. The exhibit features contributions from artists who explore themes of migration, identity, and belonging through various media.

Santa Maria’s Betteravia Gallery seeking art submissions

The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, has announced an open call for local artists to submit works for "Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century," a juried exhibition at the Betteravia Art Gallery in Santa Maria. The online submission window runs from January 19 to February 15, 2026, with no application fee; selected artists will be notified in early March, and a public opening reception is scheduled for May 21. The exhibition seeks small-format works across mediums—including traditional and digital art, photography, and conceptual pieces—that address themes of environmental change, urbanization, and human impact on natural spaces.