PinchukArtCentre opens new exhibition at the Venice Biennale

The PinchukArtCentre has opened a new exhibition titled "Still Joy — From Ukraine Into the World" as part of the official parallel program of the 61st Venice Biennale. The show, which opened on May 7 at Palazzo Contarini Polignac and runs through August 1, features works by over 20 international and Ukrainian artists exploring joy as an act of resilience and humanity. Central to the exhibition are testimonies from Hlib Stryzhko, a marine veteran who returned from Russian captivity, which are transformed into sculptural elements. Notable works include a protest performance by Yurii Hruzinov at the Russian pavilion, a video installation of Kyiv rave parties by Malashchuk and Khimei, and installations by Future Generation Art Prize laureates Ashfika Rahman and Zhanna Kadyrova.

Pinta Lima Offered Curated Content–and Context–for the Curious

Pinta Lima, the 13th edition of the art fair, opened with a vibrant VIP preview and strong attendance of 16,000 visitors. The fair features around 50 booths and special presentations, with a curation-driven approach that includes sections like NEXT (curated by Juan Canela) and RADAR (curated by Ilaria Conti), as well as FORO panel discussions. The fair emphasizes Latin American art, particularly Peruvian contemporary art, and is part of the broader Pinta network that stages fairs and Art Weeks across Latin America and the U.S. Textile, fiber, and ceramic works are notably prominent, recontextualizing indigenous craft traditions.

Shiva Zahed's Istanbul gallery opens new platform for Iranian contemporary art

Shiva Zahed, an Iranian collector and former physician, has opened a new gallery in Istanbul's Pera district dedicated to Iranian contemporary art. The gallery launched with the exhibition "echos," featuring works by Shaqayeq Arabi and Fereydoun Ave, which was extended through May 10 due to strong interest. Zahed frames the space as an active platform to reposition Iranian artists within a global context, rather than a conventional exhibition venue.

'Come Closer' at Tang Contemporary Art, Hong Kong on 15 May–5 Jul 2026

Tang Contemporary Art in Hong Kong is presenting the exhibition 'Come Closer,' featuring works by artists Arik Levy and Zoé Ouvrier from May 15 to July 5, 2026. The show explores themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and the relational space between viewer and artwork, inviting audiences to engage deeply with pieces that address memory, the body, and identity.

Exhibition | Bertrand Lavier, 'Brushstroke n.7' at MASSIMODECARLO Pièce Unique, Pièce Unique, Paris, France

French artist Bertrand Lavier is presenting a solo exhibition titled 'Brushstroke n.7' at MASSIMODECARLO Pièce Unique in Paris. The exhibition centers on a single, sinuous steel sculpture that translates the traditionally flat, expressive painterly gesture into a three-dimensional physical entity. This presentation marks Lavier's sixth solo show with the gallery and continues his decades-long exploration of the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and the readymade.

'Two of Us' at Simchowitz, Hill House, Los Angeles, United States on 15 Feb–11 Apr 2026

Simchowitz Gallery is presenting "Two of Us," a dual exhibition featuring Ukrainian artists Andrey Samarin and Lera Derkach at Hill House in Pasadena. The show explores the creative dialogue between the two artists, who have lived and worked together in France for the past three years while maintaining distinct individual practices. Samarin’s work focuses on the physical gesture of painting, blending abstraction and figuration influenced by German Expressionism and medieval art, while Derkach’s canvases lean into dreamlike narratives, metamorphosis, and psychological tension.

Artist relationship between Helen Frankenthaler and Anthony Caro examined

Yares Art in New York is hosting "SIMILITUDES: Color, Form, Friendship," a landmark exhibition exploring the creative dialogue between American painter Helen Frankenthaler and British sculptor Anthony Caro. Spanning nearly five decades of friendship that began in 1959, the show juxtaposes Frankenthaler’s soak-stained canvases with Caro’s steel armatures. The presentation includes archival letters and photographs that highlight their mutual influence, including a 1972 proposal from Frankenthaler to collaborate on a sculpture.

Otobong Nkanga: ‘I Dreamt of You in Colours’

Artist Otobong Nkanga has unveiled a major new installation titled 'I Dreamt of You in Colours' at the Kunsthalle Basel. The immersive, site-specific work explores themes of memory, landscape, and the extraction of natural resources through a complex tapestry of textiles, drawings, and sculptural elements.

New and relaunched satellite fairs spread across Los Angeles during Frieze

A wave of new and relaunched satellite art fairs is debuting in Los Angeles to coincide with Frieze Los Angeles, offering lower-cost alternatives for galleries and artists. Newcomers like the Indianapolis-based Butter Art Fair, the photography-focused Show LA, and the New York-centric Enzo Art Fair are positioning themselves as intimate, artist-centric, or zero-fee options. These ventures aim to capitalize on the influx of global collectors while bypassing the high overhead costs associated with major international fairs.

Paradigm Shift and Ryoji Ikeda exhibitions at 180 Studios extended due to popular demand

180 Studios in London has extended two exhibitions—'Paradigm Shift' and Ryoji Ikeda's 'data-cosm [n°1]'—through February 1, 2026, due to popular demand. 'Paradigm Shift' presents moving-image works from the 1970s to the present by artists including Andy Warhol, Pipilotti Rist, Nan Goldin, and Arthur Jafa, exploring the evolution of screen culture across avant-garde cinema, TV, music video, and internet culture. Ikeda's 'data-cosm [n°1]' is a world-premiere, site-specific audio-visual installation commissioned by 180 Studios, charting data from particle physics to astrophysics.

Shifting the dial: new fair Echo Soho celebrates women-run galleries

Echo Soho, a new art fair dedicated to female-led galleries, launched this week in London to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within the art world. Conceived by gallerist India Rose James, the fair features 12 galleries, most of which are showing women artists, with works priced accessibly and participation costs kept low to encourage inclusivity. The fair takes place at Artists House, a Georgian townhouse owned by James's family's Soho Estates.

From street art to sculpture parks: how Dubai is becoming an open-air gallery

Dubai has transformed into an open-air gallery through initiatives by Brand Dubai, Dubai Culture, and government entities, fulfilling a 2018 vision by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The city now features murals, sculptures, and street art in neighborhoods like Karama and Satwa, alongside dedicated art zones such as Alserkal Avenue and Dubai Design District. Art festivals including Art Dubai, Sikka Art & Design Festival, Quoz Arts Fest, Dubai Design Week, and the newly launched Bluewaters Art Festival further enrich the public art landscape, making visual art accessible without tickets.

Verdy 'I Believe in Me' Exhibition at LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul

Osaka-born graphic artist VERDY will debut his first solo museum exhibition, 'I Believe in Me,' at the LOTTE Museum of Art in Seoul from April 24 to July 19, 2026. The show features over 250 works, including crayon drawings, large-scale sculptures, and neon installations, exploring his signature aesthetic rooted in punk, skateboarding, and Japan's '90s Urahara scene. Divided into four sections, the exhibition traces the evolution of his characters and typography from graphic design into immersive physical forms, with highlights including the recurring character Vick and pandemic-era figure Visty.

Two Exhibitions in Paris Galleries

Deux expositions dans les galeries parisiennes

Two notable drawing exhibitions are currently on view in Paris galleries. The first, organized by dealer Nicolas Schwed on Rue Saint-Honoré, features a strong selection of old and modern master drawings, with a surprising emphasis on 18th-century French works alongside Italian pieces. Highlights include a preparatory study by Federico Zuccaro for a Roman fresco and a rare drawing of the Trinity by Cornelis Schut, which is linked to a lost altarpiece from Cologne.

In the heart of Trastevere, an exhibition by an artist paying homage to an ancient Roman goddess

Nel cuore di Trastevere la mostra di un artista che omaggia un’antica dea romana

Diego Gualandris presents 'Floralia,' a solo exhibition at ADA gallery in Rome's Trastevere district, running until May 24, 2026. The show blends painting and music to create a modern homage to Flora, the ancient Roman goddess of spring and fertility. Gualandris displays a series of medium- and small-scale canvases from 2026 alongside a 1970s gramophone playing two original tracks—'The world in a flowerbed' improvised by the artist on piano with saxophonist Francesca Pegurri, his mother. The exhibition also references Hermann Nitsch through works like 'Prinzendorf,' and features playful, erotic botanical compositions that invite viewers to lie down and experience the space through sound and imagery.

A Piece of the Eiffel Tower Is Heading to Auction

A historic section of the original Eiffel Tower staircase is set to be auctioned by Artcurial in Paris on May 21. The nearly nine-foot-tall segment consists of 14 spiral steps that once connected the monument's second and third levels before being dismantled in 1983 to make way for elevators. Estimated to fetch between $140,000 and $175,000, the piece has been held in a private collection for over forty years.

Comment | Museums must be the leaders in a moral revolution

Dutch historian Rutger Bregman, in his 2025 BBC Reith Lectures and book 'Moral Ambition,' argues that Europe risks becoming a stagnant, museum-like relic and calls for a moral revolution to counter societal decline driven by unserious leadership. He positions museums, with their high public trust and status as democratic civic spaces, as crucial leaders in this revolution, urging them to move beyond passive neutrality and actively establish ethical standards, combat misinformation, and engage with urgent societal issues like authoritarianism and climate crisis.

Next edition of Getty's PST Art initiative will focus on Los Angeles’s connections around the Pacific Rim

Next edition of Getty's PST Art initiative will focus on Los Angeles’s connections around the Pacific Rim

The Getty Trust has announced the theme and timeline for the fourth edition of its PST Art initiative, focusing on Los Angeles's cultural and historical connections across the Pacific Rim. The program will launch in September 2030, with a research phase beginning immediately and funding applications for Southern California cultural organizations due by June 2026. The initiative will explore exchanges spanning centuries, from Chinese porcelain in Spanish missions to Japanese influences on architecture and contemporary Korean pop culture.

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The William Penn Foundation has awarded $7.6 million in grants to six Philadelphia-based cultural institutions to enhance accessibility for low-income families and individuals with disabilities. The funding is allocated based on the volume of visitors using the ACCESS card program, which provides deeply discounted admission to residents receiving public assistance or those with disabilities. Key recipients include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Franklin Institute, along with Art-Reach, the organization managing the program.

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Elvira Dyangani Ose is stepping down as the director of the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) in April, months before her contract was set to expire. Her resignation follows a conflict with the MACBA Consortium, which ruled that her new appointment as director of the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial was incompatible with her leadership role in Barcelona. Dyangani Ose, who became the first woman and first person of color to lead the institution in 2021, had requested to balance both positions, but the governing body denied the proposal.

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Plans for a Centre Pompidou satellite museum in Jersey City have been officially canceled. The project, first announced in 2021, would have been the Paris museum's only North American outpost, but faced years of political opposition and funding disputes, culminating in the newly elected mayor declaring the project dead.

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The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has laid off 33 employees and eliminated 23 vacant positions, a 10% overall staff reduction, to address a projected $13 million budget deficit. The cuts affect a range of roles, including three endowed curatorial positions, and have sparked renewed tensions with the museum's unionized workforce, which is seeking to bargain over the decision.

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Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case reveal the financier's intense personal interest in the Frick Collection, the museum located across from his Manhattan mansion. Epstein drafted letters opposing the museum's proposed expansion, criticizing plans as "brutish" and a "travesty," and claimed to have insider knowledge about the institution and its founder, Henry Clay Frick. He was joined in his opposition by other powerful neighbors, including billionaire Howard Lutnick.

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The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis will close on Friday, January 23, to participate in the Day of Truth and Freedom protest, a statewide general strike organized by local labor unions and community groups in response to increased ICE presence in Minnesota. The museum is the largest institution to join over 300 small businesses, cultural organizations, and nonprofits in shuttering for the day, citing its institutional values of community care and staff support. The closure follows ICE's Operation Metro Surge, which intensified enforcement in the Twin Cities, and the January 7 killing of U.S. citizen Renée Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, which sparked nationwide protests and lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security.

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British artist Henry Walsh, known for his intricate paintings of miniature worlds filled with tiny figures and narratives, has announced a series of exhibitions for 2025 and 2026. His work will be shown at Fresh Art Fair in London (January 31–February 2, 2026), the Affordable Art Fair New York and Austin editions in March and May, and a solo show titled "Changing Seasons" at Fine Art Consultancy from June 10 to July 12. The exhibitions follow a private commission inspired by the Austin City Limits Festival, which Walsh used as a starting point for his painting "Pageant" (2025), featuring music icons like Bonnie Raitt and Leon Bridges.

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Workers at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence staged a protest in the Piazzale degli Uffizi, waving flags and holding flares behind a banner reading “Basta Vite Precarie” (No More Precarious Lives). The demonstration, organized by the trade union Sudd Cobas, followed the loss of jobs by temporary workers in security, reception, ticketing, the bookshop, and the coatroom after the museum switched service providers from Opera Laboratori Fiorentini to CoopCulture. Permanent employees retained their positions, but temporary workers were not rehired, sparking outrage over working conditions and contract practices.

newly established uc irvine langson orange county museum of art names kathryn kanjo as first director 1234765963

The newly formed UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art has appointed Kathryn Kanjo as its first director. Kanjo, who currently leads the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), will assume the role in February 2026, also overseeing the UC Irvine Jack & Shanaz Langson Institute of California Art. The appointment follows the amicable merger of the University of California, Irvine, and the Orange County Museum of Art, finalized this fall, which created a new entity uniting three major California art collections—the Irvine, Buck, and OCMA collections—totaling some 9,000 works housed in a 53,000-square-foot facility at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

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The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), which operates the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor, announced the layoff of 12 staff members on July 18, 2025. Director and CEO Thomas P. Campbell cited a prolonged period of softening tourism in San Francisco, with visitor numbers down nearly 20 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, as the reason for the reduction. The layoffs primarily affect FAMSF's nonprofit side and follow a March discussion to cut city-funded positions by nearly a quarter after the mayor's office mandated a 15 percent reduction in general spending.

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Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., continued coming to work despite Donald Trump claiming on Truth Social that he had fired her for being a 'strong supporter of DEI.' The White House provided the Washington Post with a 17-point list of grievances against Sajet, including her exhibition of a Trump portrait caption referencing his impeachments and January 6 insurrection, her donations to Democratic causes, and her comments about diversifying the museum. The Smithsonian Institution has not yet responded, and legal experts note Trump lacks authority to fire Sajet, as he does not sit on the Smithsonian board, though Vice President J.D. Vance and the Chief Justice hold ex officio positions.

‘A very basic human desire to want some control’: US exhibition explores the power of magic

The Toledo Museum of Art has opened an exhibition titled 'Cursed!' that explores the widespread use of magic spells and objects in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The show features amulets, inscribed gemstones, and figurines used for purposes ranging from protecting newborns and winning lawsuits to casting coercive love spells.