Joyce Pensato at the ICA Miami, FL, USA

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami) will present a major survey of Joyce Pensato (1941–2019) from December 2, 2025, to March 15, 2026. The exhibition brings together approximately 65 works spanning five decades, including rarely seen pieces from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, and traces the evolution of her recurring motifs—from early Batman drawings (1976) to enamel paintings and imagery drawn from cartoon and live-action figures like Felix the Cat and South Park.

Holbein drawings go back on show at Kunstmuseum Basel after almost 20 years

The Kunstmuseum Basel has reinstalled a collection of extremely fragile Hans Holbein drawings in a dedicated gallery as part of a major rehang of its 14th- to 19th-century galleries. The works, mostly preparatory studies by the Northern Renaissance painter, have not been publicly displayed for nearly 20 years and are so light-sensitive that the gallery's lighting system activates only when visitors enter. The museum's director, Elena Filipovic, notes that the drawings entered the collection in 1661 and have been kept undercover since the 1980s, last appearing in a major Holbein exhibition in 2006.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Host “P.S. Art” Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host "P.S. Art 2025: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of NYC Kids" from June 10 through October 19, 2025, a juried exhibition featuring 138 artworks by prekindergarten through grade 12 students from New York City public schools. The works were selected from over 950 submissions by a panel including the late artist Tony Bechara and Met staff, spanning painting, mixed-media, and sculpture. A ceremony at The Met Fifth Avenue on June 10 will coincide with the Museum Mile Festival, and the Times Square Advertising Coalition will display 43 of the works on OUTFRONT's screen, The Cube, starting June 17.

Chicago And Tokyo Artists Elevate Mosaics From Decorative Craft To Fine Art In New Exhibit

The Gallery of Contemporary Mosaics in Chicago has opened a new group exhibition titled "Perspectives from Japan," featuring works by eight Japanese artists, including master mosaicist Toyoharu Kii. Kii, known for his monochromatic white marble pieces, has taught at the Chicago Mosaic School for over a decade and traveled from Tokyo for the show, which runs through July 12. The exhibition aims to highlight the artistic sophistication of mosaic as a contemporary fine-art medium.

A truckload of F1 KitKats, a painting of fish: what is it that makes heists so delicious? | Imogen West-Knights

The article explores the curious public fascination with high-profile heists, using two recent examples as a springboard: the theft of 12 tons of Formula 1-themed KitKats from a truck in Italy and the robbery of paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse from a museum in northern Italy. The author notes that such stories reliably go viral, not due to outrage but because people find them thrilling and even amusing, especially when the victims are large corporations or when the crime feels audacious and tangible.

‘She broke the rules, fearlessly’: exhibition explores Vivienne Westwood’s revolutionary work

A major exhibition titled "Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary" has opened at the Bowes Museum in County Durham, England. The show features over 40 ensembles and numerous accessories drawn almost entirely from the private collection of Peter Smithson, a chemistry teacher and dedicated Westwood supercollector who has amassed these pieces over three decades.

Protect ya neck! Wu-Tang Clan as they’ve never been seen before – in pictures

Photographer Eddie Otchere has released a new photozine, "Wu-Tang 4 + 1 More," featuring a decade's worth of previously unseen portraits of the Wu-Tang Clan and other hip-hop artists. The images, captured between 1994 and 2004, document intimate and candid moments with members like RZA, Method Man, and Ghostface Killah, chronicling the group's early years and Otchere's determined mission to photograph each member.

‘Rethinking, Reimagining and Reinstalling’ the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has unveiled a massive $1.5 billion renovation plan titled "Rethinking, Reimagining and Reinstalling," which aims to transform approximately 25 percent of its galleries and public spaces. This ambitious capital project includes the complete overhaul of the Oscar L. and Annette de la Renta Wing for modern and contemporary art, the renovation of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing for the arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, and significant updates to the European Paintings galleries.

Why Does the “Rocky” Statue Draw Crowds? This Show Investigates.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is launching a new exhibition centered on the cultural phenomenon of the "Rocky" statue, a bronze monument originally created as a movie prop that has become one of the city's most visited landmarks. By bringing the narrative of the fictional boxer inside the museum's walls, the show investigates the public's emotional connection to populist monuments and the tension between cinematic myth and traditional art history.

M.F.A. Boston Celebrates 50 Years of Flowers and Art

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its signature "Art in Bloom" exhibition, a tradition that began in 1976. The event pairs floral arrangements created by professional designers and garden club members with specific artworks from the museum's permanent collection, transforming the galleries into a multisensory experience.

A Storied Rockefeller Art Trove Goes on View at Asia Society

The Asia Society in New York has unveiled a major exhibition drawn from the Rockefeller family's extensive collection of Asian devotional sculptures. The show, curated by the institution's own critic, spans 70 years of acquisitions and features works the critic was personally involved in installing decades ago.

Lost Page From Archimedes Palimpsest Reappears In French Museum

A researcher has identified a long-lost page from the Archimedes Palimpsest, a 10th-century manuscript containing copies of the Greek mathematician's treatises. The page, held at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Blois, France, was matched to a leaf documented in 1906 photographs and contains diagrams from "On the Sphere and the Cylinder" on one side and a later-added religious illustration on the other.

The great antique fair of Assisi has half a century of history. The interview

La grande fiera dell’antiquariato di Assisi ha mezzo secolo di storia. L’intervista

AMAB – Assisi Mostra Arte Antiquariato Bastia Umbra, the antique fair founded in Assisi in 1973 and moved to the Umbria Fiere exhibition center in 1989, celebrated its 50th edition in 2025 and will reopen from April 24 to May 3, 2026. The 10-day event features 90 exhibitors and includes special exhibitions marking the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi (at Palazzo Collicola in Spoleto and the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria in Perugia) and the centenary of the birth of artist Giorgio Ascani, known as Nuvolo, curated by Bruno Corà, as well as a project on costume designer Tita Tegano with costumes from the Renato Bruson collection. Director Emo Antinori Petrini, son of founder Mario, discusses the fair's evolution, its commitment to quality, and its new focus on contemporary art installations and performances.

Breaking Ground: The Private Collection of Marian Goodman

Marian Goodman, the legendary New York gallerist who introduced European avant-garde artists to American audiences, is selling works from her private collection through Christie's. The collection features a standout group of paintings by Gerhard Richter, including his masterpiece *Kerze*, which will lead the Richters & 21st Century Evening Sale. Additional pieces will be offered across 20th and 21st Century Art auctions in New York.

“Double Outsider”: in the London studio of artist Pavel Otdelnov

Russian contemporary artist Pavel Otdelnov has established a home studio in London, where his domestic environment serves as an extension of his artistic practice. Following his relocation in 2022, Otdelnov has integrated Soviet-era motifs—such as wall carpets and television color grids—into his English terraced house to explore themes of memory and the 'uncanny.' His recent works, including 'Unheimlich' and 'No Signal,' utilize these familiar objects to critique how nostalgia can be weaponized and how violence often hides within the mundane.

Nara's Painting Challenges Korean Auction Record

Nara's Painting Challenges Korean Auction Record

Japanese pop art sensation Yoshitomo Nara is poised to shatter the record for the most expensive artwork ever sold at a South Korean auction. His 2016 painting 'Nothing about it,' featuring his signature wide-eyed girl, carries a pre-sale estimate of 14.7 billion to 22 billion Korean won ($11M–$16.5M USD). The work will headline Seoul Auction’s 'Contemporary Art Sale' on March 31, alongside major pieces by Yayoi Kusama and Roy Lichtenstein.

Rope used to topple Colston statue to be sold

A rope used to pull down the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest, along with a Banksy T-shirt given to one of the 'Colston Four' defendants, is being auctioned by Auctioneum Ltd. The lot is expected to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000 in a specialist sale on December 29, 2025. The four protestors were acquitted of criminal damage in 2022 after a jury trial.

Artists and Gulf royalty top ArtReview Power 100 list

ArtReview has released its 2025 Power 100 list, ranking the most influential figures in the art world over the past year. Artists dominate the top ten, with Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama taking the first place for using his art profits to build institutions and community spaces in Tamale. Other top artists include Wael Shawky, Ho Tzu Nyen, Amy Sherald, Kerry James Marshall, Forensic Architecture, and Wolfgang Tillmans. Gulf royalty also feature prominently: Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar ranks second, and Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi of Sharjah ranks third, reflecting the region's growing art-world influence. The list also includes academic Saidiya Hartman as a "thinker" in eighth place.

Kim Whan-Ki's 19-VI-71 #206 to be Auctioned at Christie's New York 20th Century Evening Sale - Christie's

Christie's New York will auction Kim Whan-Ki's 1971 painting *19-VI-71 #206* (estimate $7.5–10 million) on 17 November 2025 as part of its prestigious 20th Century Evening Sale. This marks the first time a Korean artwork has been included in this marquee sale, placing the piece alongside works by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Joan Mitchell, and David Hockney. The painting, from the artist's New York period, is one of only 30 large-scale 'dot paintings' exceeding 200 cm and was created in the same year as his record-setting *05-IV-71 #200 (Universe)*, which sold at Christie's Hong Kong in 2019 for over HK$100 million.

David Hockney’s Vibrant Creations Anchor Artnet’s Contemporary Editions Auction

Artnet Auctions is staging its Contemporary Editions sale, now live for bidding through November 19, 2025, featuring three works by David Hockney: an iPad drawing titled *16th February, 2021, More Flowers in a Glass Vase* (est. $40,000–$60,000), a digitally stitched photograph *In the Studio, December 2017* (est. $50,000–$70,000), and a lithograph *Pretty Tulips* (1969) (est. $35,000–$55,000). The sale highlights Hockney’s ongoing experimentation with digital tools and printmaking, offering collectors accessible entry points into his six-decade career.

India Phillips Appointed Managing Director, Modern & Contemporary Art, Europe at Phillips

Phillips has appointed India Phillips as Managing Director, Modern & Contemporary Art, Europe, effective February 2026. Based in London and reporting directly to the CEO, she will focus on expanding the auction house's presence across Europe. Phillips joins after a decade at Bonhams, where she most recently served as Managing Director, EMEA. The announcement also includes promotions for Marianne Hoet to Chairman, Modern and Contemporary Art Europe, Olivia Thornton to Deputy Chairwoman, and Matt Langton to Deputy Chairman, Modern and Contemporary Art, Europe.

UC Irvine finalizes acquisition of Orange County Museum of Art

The University of California, Irvine has finalized its acquisition of the Orange County Museum of Art, creating a new unified institution named the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art. The merger combines OCMA's 53,000-square-foot, $98 million facility in Costa Mesa with UC Irvine's academic resources, bringing together over 9,000 works of art. The museum will also showcase UC Irvine's Gerald Buck Collection and Irvine Museum Collection, while the Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art continues operating on campus. OCMA staff have joined UC Irvine, and a national search for an executive director is underway.

‘Momentous’: Italy to slash art VAT to 5%, the lowest rate in the EU

Italian lawmakers have approved a reduction of VAT on art sales from 22% to 5%, the lowest rate in the European Union. The decision, announced by culture minister Alessandro Giuli after a cabinet meeting on June 20, is expected to take effect this week. The reform follows intense lobbying by art market groups and a letter signed by 500 art world figures, including artists Maurizio Cattelan and Michelangelo Pistoletto, who warned the high rate was turning Italy into a "cultural desert." The tax cut must be passed by parliament within 60 days to remain in force, and may also apply to import VAT, potentially making Italy the most competitive art market in Europe from a tax standpoint.

Who Are These People? A Conversation with Kai Althoff by Carlo Antonelli

In an intimate interview with Carlo Antonelli, German artist Kai Althoff discusses the psychological origins of the figures that populate his paintings and his collaborative history with Isa Genzken. Althoff describes his characters as a mix of imagined friends, despicable archetypes, and spirits that emerge subconsciously to outshine his own perceived mediocrity. He also reflects on his early influences, ranging from German-localized Marvel horror comics to the improvisational 'home video' skits he produced with Genzken, which he characterizes as a film about love.

lisbeth sachs switzerland pavilion venice architecture biennale 2652948

The Swiss Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale pays tribute to Lisbeth Sachs (1914–2002), one of Switzerland's first licensed women architects, by recreating her 1958 kunsthalle design inside the pavilion originally built by Bruno Giacometti. The exhibition, titled "Endgültige Form wird von der Architektin am Bau bestimmt," is curated by an all-woman team—Elena Chiavi, Kathrin Füglister, Amy Perkins, Axelle Stiefel, and Myriam Uzor—and resurrects a structure Sachs built for the 1958 Swiss Exhibition for Women's Work (SAFFA) in Zürich, of which almost no trace remains today.

What if the Polaroid had existed in Biblical times? Photographer Mishka Henner asks this in a show in Modena

E se la Polaroid fosse esistita ai tempi della Bibbia? Se lo chiede il fotografo Mishka Henner in mostra a Modena

Belgian photographer Mishka Henner has opened his first solo exhibition in Italy, titled 'Seeing Is Believing,' at Palazzo Santa Margherita in Modena, presented by the Fondazione Ago. The show features 25 new works that explore the nature of photography in the age of artificial intelligence, including AI-generated images of biblical scenes presented as if they were historical Polaroids.

The MEGA Fair-Exhibition Opens in a Former Milanese Factory: Photos and 5 Must-See Booths

In ex fabbrica di Milano ha aperto la mostra-fiera MEGA. Tutte le foto e 5 stand da non mancare

The third edition of MEGA Art Fair has opened in Milan, relocating to SPAZIO PROFUMO, a former perfume factory in the Barona district. Running from April 15 to 25, 2026, the event strategically bridges Milan Art Week and Design Week, featuring over 30 international exhibitors from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Eschewing traditional booth structures, the fair utilizes a cohesive curatorial layout that integrates industrial archaeology with contemporary practices, including a dedicated video program and a section titled 'City of Glass.'

WHO ARE THE CURATORS THAT WILL LEAD THE NEXT BIENAL DE SAO PAULO

The Fundação Bienal de São Paulo has appointed Amanda Carneiro and Raphael Fonseca as chief curators for the 37th Bienal de São Paulo, scheduled for 2027 at the Pavilhão Ciccillo Matarazzo in Ibirapuera Park. Carneiro, a curator at MASP since 2018 and an artistic organizer for the 2024 Venice Biennale, and Fonseca, a visual arts curator at Culturgest and curator-at-large at the Denver Art Museum, will lead the largest visual arts event in Latin America.

OSCAR SANTILLAN TO REPRESENT ECUADOR AT THE 61ST VENICE BIENNALE

Ecuador has selected artist Oscar Santillán to represent the nation at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. Curated by Manuela Moscoso and organized by the Museum of Anthropological and Contemporary Art (MAAC), the pavilion will feature a collaboration between Santillán and the collective Tawna. The exhibition, titled after the collective, will explore Andean-Amazonian contexts through a dialogue on territory, indigenous knowledge systems, and coexistence.

Historic Monument Honors New York's First Arabic-Speaking Community

New York City unveiled its first commemorative public artwork under Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration on April 30, honoring the historic "Little Syria" neighborhood in Manhattan's Financial District. The monument, titled "Al Qalam (The Pen): Poets in the Park," is a mosaic installation and sculpture by French-Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou, created over the past decade. It celebrates nine members of the enclave's literary community, including Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran, who co-founded the writers' association Pen Bond in 1920. The $1.6 million artwork sits in Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza, within the blocks where immigrants from Greater Syria settled in the late 19th century before being displaced by tunnel construction in the 1940s.