The Biennale and the Weight of Flags. What Is the Point of National Pavilions?

La Biennale e il peso delle bandiere. Che senso hanno i padiglioni nazionali?

The article examines the inherent contradiction within the Venice Biennale: its historical structure of national pavilions, a legacy of 19th-century world fairs and state-sponsored art, clashes with the transnational, post-identity vision of the international exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh. The return of the Russia Pavilion amid geopolitical conflict and the international show titled "In Minor Keys," which rejects national belonging as an interpretive criterion, highlight this tension. The piece also addresses the controversy over the lack of Italian artists in the main exhibition, questioning whether a Biennale hosted in Italy should guarantee national representation.

A Fiumicino torna la open call per artisti emergenti che trasforma spazi commerciali in culturali

The WOW SIDE shopping centre in Fiumicino, Italy, has launched an open call for emerging artists as part of its PostArt project, now in its second edition. The 2026 theme is "La Voce" (The Voice), inviting artists to create works during a residency inside the shopping centre from June 26 to 28, 2026. The call is open until May 30, 2026, and selected works will be exhibited in the centre's galleries.

Near Florence there is a castle that recalls the Orient. The rebirth of the gardens begins with architect Tommaso del Buono

Vicino Firenze c’è un castello che ricorda l’Oriente. Al via la rinascita dei giardini con l’architetto Tommaso del Buono

The Castello di Sammezzano, a Moorish-style castle near Florence, Italy, is set for a major revival. Built in the 19th century by the Marquis Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona, the castle is one of Italy's most important examples of Orientalist architecture, featuring over sixty uniquely decorated rooms, a monumental park, and rare botanical species. After decades of neglect, auctions, and sporadic openings, the property was purchased in 2025 by the family of entrepreneur Giorgio Moretti, who plans a €50 million restoration. The first phase will focus on rehabilitating the historic gardens, with work beginning in June 2026.

Story of Stampé is the new social atelier in Turin: art gallery, workshop, laboratory of ideas and participation

Storia di Stampé è il nuovo atelier sociale di Torino: galleria d’arte, bottega, laboratorio di idee e di partecipazione

Stampé, a new community atelier in Turin, Italy, has opened at Via Stampatori 5, a historic street once home to printers. The space is a hybrid cultural hub combining an art gallery, a workshop, a showroom for artisanal and food products, and a social enterprise incubator. It launched with a group exhibition featuring seven cultural associations and the communication agency Hello Tomorrow, showcasing works by emerging artists and graphic artworks from past events. The initiative is part of the "Piani Generativi 2" social enterprise development project, funded by the city of Turin and the Compagnia di San Paolo foundation.

The arrival of the Orient Express hotel in Venice reopens the historic Palazzo Donà Giovannelli (filling it with contemporary art)

L’arrivo dell’hotel Orient Express a Venezia riapre lo storico Palazzo Donà Giovannelli (riempiendolo di arte contemporanea)

Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, a 15th-century Venetian palace, has reopened as the flagship Orient Express hotel after an eight-year restoration led by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman. Located in the Cannaregio district, the 5-star luxury hotel features 47 rooms, suites, and residences, blending historical frescoes and neogothic details with contemporary sculptures, Murano glass chandeliers, and custom furnishings. The property, owned by Arsenale Group since 2019, includes a transformed courtyard lobby, a secret garden, and a rotating selection of contemporary artworks displayed in a passage called Calle Meraviglia.

Here's what the much-talked-about Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale looks like. Photos and video

Ecco com’è il chiacchieratissimo Padiglione Russia della Biennale di Venezia. Foto e video

The Russian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale has opened amid intense controversy over its unauthorized participation. The pavilion, housed in a 1914 building recently restored by Italian architects 2050+, features a program of musical improvisations, ensemble performances, techno concerts, and interactive actions, including free used clothing. The space is designed as a fragrant flower shop with a chill-out room featuring a conifer grove and video installations. The exhibition, titled "L’Albero Radicato nel Cielo" (The Tree Rooted in the Sky), is organized by young poets, musicians, and philosophers who prefer to remain anonymous as a collective, coordinated by the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. However, due to sanctions, the pavilion is only open from May 5 to 8, as organizers cannot obtain the necessary permit to operate beyond the private opening.

Jury or Public? The Biennale Is Not an Algorithm, But Neither Is It a Liturgy

Giuria o pubblico? La Biennale non è un algoritmo, ma neppure una liturgia

The article critically examines the proposal for "Visitor Lions" (Leoni dei Visitatori) at the Venice Biennale, arguing that the idea is a fragile, quick-fix response to a deeper crisis. It questions whether replacing expert juries with public voting would truly improve the selection process, noting that both systems have significant flaws: juries are not necessarily neutral, often rushed and filtered, while public voting risks favoring accessible, easily consumable works and reinforcing existing hierarchies.

Golden Lions of the Biennale voted by the public? 7 reasons why they cannot work

Leoni d’Oro della Biennale votati dal pubblico? 7 motivi per cui non possono funzionare

On April 30, 2026, the International Jury of the Venice Art Biennale resigned en masse. In response, the Biennale Foundation hastily announced a new initiative called the "Visitor Lions" (Leoni dei Visitatori), where paying visitors would vote to award the Golden Lions for best artist and best national participation. The voting system would rely on ticket tracking to verify attendance at the main venues, the Giardini and the Arsenale. However, just a week before the public opening, no further details had been released, raising numerous practical concerns about the mechanism's feasibility.

Veneto: In Place of a Liberty Café in Recoaro Terme, a Contemporary Art Center Opens. Interview with the Curator

Veneto: al posto di un caffè liberty di Recoaro Terme apre un centro d’arte contemporanea. Intervista alla curatrice

The historic Palazzo Caffè Nazionale in Recoaro Terme, a small spa town in the Veneto region of Italy, is being transformed into a contemporary art center called Cantiere del Contemporaneo, set to open on May 2, 2026. The project, curated by Elisabetta Bacchin, will focus on artist residencies, with the inaugural group including Romesh Bothalage, Pietro Chiarello, Francesco Pizzocchero, and Virginia Stevenin, who will work for two months in the converted spaces. The initiative is part of a broader regeneration plan funded by the National Plan for Borghi and the European Union's PNRR funds, aiming to revitalize the town's cultural and economic identity through contemporary art.

“La preistoria non è stata solo violenza, ma anche cura”. Intervista all’archeologa femminista Marga Sánchez Romero

Marga Sánchez Romero, a professor of Prehistory at the University of Granada and a leading voice in feminist archaeology in Spain, argues in an interview that prehistory has been misrepresented as a sequence of violence and hierarchies. She emphasizes that new questions are reshaping our understanding of the past, highlighting that care, cooperation, and solidarity were as crucial as conflict in human evolution. The conversation covers biases in archaeological interpretation, the famous Viking tomb of Birka, the origins of inequality, and the role of museums in creating more inclusive narratives.

The process for awarding the title of Italian Capital of Culture should be rethought. Here's why.

Il processo per assegnare il titolo di Capitale Italiana della Cultura andrebbe ripensato. Ecco perché

An analysis of the selection process for Italy's "Capital of Culture" title reveals a consistent pattern: cities chosen for the prestigious designation are almost exclusively administered by political coalitions aligned with the national government in power at the time of selection. The sole exceptions were Bergamo and Brescia, which were jointly awarded the title via a special parliamentary decree in recognition of their suffering during the pandemic, bypassing the standard procedure. This political alignment has persisted across different legislatures and changes in government.

Former Farmers building 'leading candidate' for art gallery

A feasibility study commissioned by the Invercargill City Council has identified the former Farmers department store building on Dee Street as the leading candidate for a new public art gallery in Invercargill, New Zealand. The study, prepared by Rebecca McElrea of McElrea Consulting, assessed multiple location options—including the H&J Smith building, an extension of the Te Unua Museum site, and incorporation into the new Te Unua museum—but concluded that the Farmers building offers the best alignment with investment objectives due to its size, configuration, central city location, and preliminary cost certainty. The council will consider proceeding with a detailed business case for this option at a committee meeting on Tuesday.

Boyne Arts Center seeks artists for new installation honoring donors

The Boyne Arts Center in Boyne City, Michigan, is calling for artists to submit proposals for a commissioned installation that will honor donors at its new gallery at 211 Water Street. The permanent piece will initially feature 50 to 100 donor names and be expandable. Artists may propose designs for one of three locations: an exterior courtyard, a gallery window, or a moveable interior piece. Proposals are due May 26, with selection by June 15 and installation by September 7, ahead of an October ribbon-cutting ceremony.

New Leamington Spa art gallery to spotlight South Asian artists

A new art gallery in Leamington Spa is set to open with a focus on South Asian artists. The inaugural exhibition will feature paintings and works from eight local and national artists, including Amrit Singh Sandhu, Simran Kaur Panesar, and Rati Devi Sivyer. Sandhu, who also appears as an expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, has worked in the art industry for 12 years and previously exhibited in London, New York, Paris, and Mumbai.

Between Here and Elsewhere: A New Generation Steps Forward

The Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria will host 'Between Here and Elsewhere,' an exhibition featuring the Top 10 artists from the 2025/26 Tlhagella Incubation Programme. Curated by Puleng Plessie, the show opens on 1 May 2026 and presents works that explore themes of presence, memory, and belonging through a polyphonic, multi-perspectival approach.

Lights, Funding, Action – Film Grant Open Call

The Sharjah Art Foundation has launched the ninth cycle of its Short Film Production Grant 2026, issuing an open call for applications from filmmakers worldwide. The grant provides financial support, with a total fund of AED 120,000 (approx. USD 30,000), for the completion of short films of 50 minutes or less across all genres. Selected projects may also premiere at a future edition of the Sharjah Film Platform festival.

ART CRITICISM: CLARITY OR MORAL AUTHORITARIANISM?

CRÍTICA DE ARTE: ¿CLARIDAD O AUTORITARISMO MORAL?

The article is a critical essay examining the state of contemporary art production in Mexico, arguing it has become a privatized field designed to please wealthy elites and foreign collectors. It contends that art has shifted from being partly publicly funded to being driven by the market and private initiative, leading to a culture of self-censorship, precarity, and a desperate ambition for visibility and sales.

film mohammad gorjestani iran even odd

Filmmaker Mohammad Gorjestani, director of the SXSW Grand Jury Award-winning documentary short *Exit 12*, is preparing for the fall release of his feature debut *From the Mat*, which explores wrestling in Iran. He is also continuing to tour the installation “1-800 Happy Birthday,” dedicated to Black and Brown individuals killed by police. In an interview, Gorjestani reflects on diaspora, double consciousness, and his creative process, emphasizing the importance of making work free from dominant cultural interference.

Local artists wanted for CK Queer Portraits art exhibit

Thames Art Gallery in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, is organizing an exhibition titled "Queer Portraits" that celebrates the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The gallery is now accepting submissions from artists, with entries required to show a meaningful connection to Chatham-Kent, be created from the perspective of or in allyship with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and portray a specific person or their defining characteristics. A jury will review submissions, which are due by 4 p.m. on May 29, with up to two pieces per artist accepted across various media.

Fairborn Art gallery to open to public

The article, sourced from Beavercreek News Current, reports that the Fairborn Art Gallery is preparing to open its doors to the public. The specific details of the gallery's location, opening date, and featured exhibitions are not available due to the article being blocked by a security verification page.

SouthSide Works lands pop-up gallery focused on manufacturing and art

A new pop-up gallery focused on the intersection of manufacturing and art will open at SouthSide Works on May 21 and operate throughout the summer. The space complements an existing gallery in the Hill District, aiming to bridge industrial heritage with contemporary artistic expression.

Fabio Adani investigates the perception of reality in his exhibition at Salamon Fine Art

Salamon Fine Art gallery in Milan is hosting Fabio Adani's solo exhibition 'Silentium fin che parli' from May 16 to June 4, 2026. The show explores the perceptual transformation of reality through painting, graphite, and the written word, emphasizing allusion over direct representation. The exhibition includes a critical text by Beatrice Gardella and prose and poetry by Elisabetta Amaini, featuring works inspired by natural environments that invite viewers to engage in an open-ended process of interpretation.

Immersive Art Exhibition Coming to Porsche Studio Portland

Porsche Studio Portland in the Pearl District is hosting a summer-long immersive art exhibition titled 'Shifting Realities,' running from June 4 to August 31. Created by Kelly Max and Aleks Davidovich of Portland's OWOW Inc., the exhibition features interactive rooms where visitors can paint a Porsche 911 with gestures, visualize engine sounds, and race in a simulator, with a robot arm serving Porsche-themed macarons at a flavor bar. The experience takes about 100 minutes and is open to all ages.

Albany Center Gallery seeks artists, vendors for Summer Art Fest

Albany Center Gallery is seeking artists and vendors for its third annual Summer Art Fest, a free outdoor art festival taking place July 18 at Quackenbush Square and Clinton Market Collective in downtown Albany. The event features a curated pop-up gallery, a new vendor market, a kids' art corner, interactive activities, and live artmaking. Submissions are free, with a deadline of June 10, and guidelines are available on the gallery's website. Last year's festival drew over 1,000 attendees from the Capital Region.

Art exhibition at Power Plant Gallery

The Power Plant Gallery in Toronto is hosting an art exhibition, as reported in a brief video segment. The coverage focuses on the exhibition's opening or ongoing presentation at the contemporary art venue.

2026 Artist Cohort exhibition from Hammerspace Gallery opens with "Still, I try"

Hammerspace Gallery in Grand Rapids is opening a new pop-up exhibition titled "Still, I try" on May 9, 2026, at Do Not Start's space on Godfrey Avenue. This marks the first show in the gallery's 2026 Artist Cohort Showcase, a year-long program supporting emerging and mid-career artists through community feedback and professional development. The family-friendly event includes hands-on art activities and light snacks, with free admission and suggested donations.

New gallery highlighting artists from South Asian diaspora opens in Leamington

Runjeet Singh Gallery, a new commercial gallery focusing on artists from the South Asian diaspora, has opened in Leamington at 37 Chandos Street. The gallery launched with an opening exhibition from April 24 to 26, featuring work by 11 emerging and established contemporary artists. Founder Runjeet Singh, who has 26 years of experience in antiques and contemporary art collecting, aims to provide a platform for UK-based South Asian diasporic artists and those whose practices are informed by South Asian narratives and traditions.

How the Brothers Behind Manhattan’s Aicon Art Gallery Found Themselves in Infinite Feuds

The New York Times reports on the ongoing legal and personal disputes between the brothers who co-founded Manhattan’s Aicon Art Gallery, which specializes in modern and contemporary South Asian art. The article details how sibling rivalry and disagreements over business decisions have led to a series of lawsuits and fractured relationships, threatening the gallery's stability and reputation.

New art gallery to open in Leamington this coming weekend

A new commercial gallery called the Runjeet Singh Gallery is opening in Leamington town centre at 37 Chandos Street. Its inaugural weekend runs from April 24 to 26, 2026, and it plans to present a rotating program of solo and group exhibitions focusing on artists from the South Asian diaspora.

Vacant Cincinnati warehouse to become new visual arts center

A long-vacant warehouse on Stathem Avenue in Westwood, Ohio, is being converted into the Apropos Art Society, a visual arts center. The project will include eight artist studios, a classroom for public workshops, and an art gallery, with the owners collaborating with an architect and contractor to transform the former plumbing warehouse. The center is expected to open by the end of the year.