How the Milwaukee Art Museum lands exhibits like Widline Cadet's

The Milwaukee Art Museum has secured major exhibitions that might seem surprising for a regional institution, including a nationally touring retrospective of Gertrude Abercrombie that skipped Chicago and the first solo museum exhibition of Haitian-born artist Widline Cadet. Curator Kristen Gaylord explains that the museum receives nearly a pitch a day but can only curate two shows annually, requiring fierce selectivity based on logistical, thematic, and philosophical alignment between artist and institution.

2026 Sobey Art Award shortlist revealed

The National Gallery of Canada and the Sobey Art Foundation have announced the six finalists for the 2026 Sobey Art Award, Canada's most prestigious contemporary visual arts prize. The shortlisted artists are Melaw Nakehk'o (Circumpolar region), Samuel Roy-Bois (Pacific), Audie Murray (Prairies), Lotus L. Kang (Ontario), Caroline Monnet (Quebec), and Shane Perley-Dutcher (Atlantic). Their practices range from land-based pedagogy and architectural sculpture to ancestral materiality and metal basketry.

Venice Biennale 2026 Roundup

The 61st Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys" and curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, opened in May 2026 amid significant turmoil. The Austrian Pavilion features Florentina Holzinger's performance piece "Seaworld Venice," centered on a giant bell that chimes hourly. The biennale has been marked by the death of its curator, the resignation of the international jury over the inclusion of Russia and Israel, protests by Pussy Riot and the Art Not Genocide Alliance, and the cancellation of the South African Pavilion over Gabrielle Goliath's "Elegy," which honors murdered women including a Palestinian poet. The US Pavilion's state-sponsored offerings have also drawn criticism.

World record for Carla Accardi in Contemporary Art auction at Dorothem's

Dorotheum's Contemporary Art auction in Vienna on May 20, 2026, set a new world record for Italian artist Carla Accardi, whose work *Fonda notte - Pieno giorno* (1986) sold for €520,000 to a telephone bidder. The sale also saw strong results for Martha Jungwirth (€429,000), Miriam Cahn (€195,000), and top lots including Thomas Schütte's *Vater Staat* (€520,000) and works by Mikuláš Medek (up to €546,000). International participation was robust, with particular demand for female artists and Central European figures.

From the artist who painted with his feet to the splashes of Pollock: abstraction takes over the Centre Pompidou Malaga

The Centre Pompidou Malaga has opened the exhibition 'Gesture and Matter. International Abstractions (1945–1965)', running until September, featuring around 30 works by 26 artists. The show highlights abstract art as a post-World War II response, with key pieces including Jackson Pollock's 'Number 26A. Black and White' and Kazuo Shiraga's 'Planet Nature', painted with his feet while suspended from ropes. Co-curated by Anne Foucault and Christian Briend, the exhibition traces abstraction's development from Paris and New York to Asia and Europe, emphasizing painting as a full-body, performative act of freedom.

‘A watershed moment’: Major Brisbane art exhibition opens at prestigious London museum

The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) has exported a major exhibition, "Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific," to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The show, which runs until January 10, 2027, features works collected over 30 years through QAGOMA's Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, including pieces by Australian artists Michael Cook, Naomi Hobson, Shirley Macnamara, Ken Thaiday Sr, and Judy Watson, as well as artists from China, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, and beyond.

In dreamy photographs, the artist Widline Cadet tells the complex story of her family’s migration

Artist Widline Cadet, who was separated from her mother for six years as a child during her family's migration from Haiti to New York, has spent nearly a decade creating a multimedia "living archive" of photographs, video, sound, and sculpture. Her largest solo exhibition to date, "Currents 40: Widline Cadet," is now on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum, exploring themes of diaspora, memory, and familial connection through dreamlike, often fragmented imagery.

Art meets flowers: What to know about Ball State’s 'Art in Bloom'

Ball State University's David Owsley Museum of Art is hosting its annual 'Art in Bloom' event from May 15 to 17, 2026, in Muncie, Indiana. Regional floral designers create arrangements inspired by works from the museum's collection, with a free public preview party on May 15 featuring jazz by the Mark Buselli Trio. The weekend includes extended hours, paper flower-making workshops, live music by pianist Mikael Darmanie, and a People's Choice Award vote. This year's event is dedicated to the late David T. Owsley, the museum's namesake and main benefactor. A special exhibition, 'Nora Krug: Belonging,' organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, is also on view through June 13.

Qatar makes Venice Biennale debut with pavilion built on collaboration, food and live art

Qatar has made its debut at the Venice Biennale with an official national pavilion, marking a major cultural milestone as the first new national pavilion in the Giardini in 30 years. Led by artist Rirkrit Tiravanija, the project titled "Untitled 2026: A gathering of remarkable people" transforms the space into a living environment featuring live music, film screenings, shared meals, and ongoing performances. The pavilion brings together artists, musicians, and chefs from across the Arab world and its diasporas, emphasizing cultural exchange rather than a single national narrative.

LUCRECIA LIONTI: GRAFISMOS DESTERRADOS

Lucrecia Lionti, an Argentine textile artist from Tucumán, is the subject of a feature examining her solo exhibition "Grafismos desterrados" at Sorondo Projects in Barcelona (2026). The article details how Lionti's practice, spanning over fifteen years, merges modern art with craft, using textiles as a political and affective device. It highlights her involvement since 2018 with the feminist collective La Lola Mora – Trabajadoras de las Artes de Tucumán, and her recent exhibition at MALBA titled "Fabril la mirada." The show presents works where language becomes material—woven, knotted, and frayed—featuring illegible marks that blur writing and drawing, evoking loss and exile.

Gedi Sibony “The Invisible Point” at Greene Naftali, New York

Gedi Sibony presents "The Invisible Point" at Greene Naftali in New York, an exhibition featuring sculptures made from remnants and castoffs that aggregate toward the center of the gallery. The artist describes the process as adaptive, driven by intuitive momentum and organized through allegorical structure, with background landscapes depicting interacting beings that emerge from and create their own conditions.

Why artists' works held in storage can be seized when a gallery goes bust

The article examines a legal loophole in the UK where artists' works held in third-party storage by a gallery can be seized when the gallery goes bust. It cites recent gallery insolvencies—Stephen Friedman Gallery (2025), Blain Southern (2019), Simon Lee Gallery (2023), and Arusha Gallery (2025)—and explains that storage providers can assert a lien on artworks for unpaid fees incurred by the gallery, even though the artist owns the works and never agreed to the terms. This creates a situation where artists must pay the gallery's debts to reclaim their own property, or face costly legal battles.

Theatre Picasso at Tate Modern: A Radical Reimagining of Picasso Through the Lens of Performance

Tate Modern’s upcoming exhibition, "Theatre Picasso," offers a radical departure from traditional retrospectives by framing Pablo Picasso’s body of work through the lens of performance and drama. Curated by artist Wu Tsang and Enrique Fuenteblanca, the show centers on the centenary of the masterpiece 'The Three Dancers' (1925). The George Economou Gallery is transformed into an immersive, stage-like environment featuring over 50 works, including loans from the Musée Picasso in Paris and Antibes, many of which are making their UK debut.

Margulies Collection at the WAREhOuse - Miami, FL - Tourist Guide

The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse is a cornerstone of Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, housed in a 50,000-square-foot retrofitted industrial space. Established in 1999 by collector Martin Z. Margulies and curator Katherine Hinds, the non-profit institution is dedicated to showcasing large-scale installations, photography, and sculpture. Operating on a seasonal basis from October through April, the foundation emphasizes public education and accessibility, offering significantly discounted admission for students while supporting various charitable initiatives.

Uncategorized – greg.org

This article provides a critical commentary on several disparate intersections of art, media, and accessibility. It begins by critiquing the Gagosian Quarterly for its lack of alt-text accessibility in an interview between Wyatt Allgeier and Nancy Spector regarding the 'Helter Skelter' exhibition. The author then shifts focus to the secondary market, discussing the provenance and visual nuances of General Idea’s 'AIDS (Reinhardt) #4'—a black monochrome work once owned by Joseph Kosuth—ahead of its upcoming sale at Phillips.

Applications open for the 8th edition of the Future Generation Art Prize

The PinchukArtCentre has officially opened applications for the 8th edition of the Future Generation Art Prize, a biannual global initiative established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. Open to artists worldwide aged 35 or younger, the prize accepts submissions across all media until June 28, 2026. A selection committee will shortlist 21 artists—including the winner of the PinchukArtCentre Prize—to commission new works for an exhibition in Kyiv, with the main winner receiving a total of $100,000 in cash and practice investment.

Christie's presents Beyond Ordinary - Then. Now. Next. Works from the Zabludowicz Collection

Christie's has announced a major two-part auction titled 'Beyond Ordinary - Then. Now. Next.', featuring 106 lots from the renowned Zabludowicz Collection. Scheduled for June 2026 in London, the sale includes a live auction and a concurrent online session with a combined estimate of approximately £15 million. The selection highlights the collection's deep roots in the 1990s British art scene and its commitment to contemporary innovation, featuring blue-chip works by artists such as Philip Guston, Damien Hirst, and Richard Prince, many of which are appearing at auction for the first time.

Opening of JR's La Caverne du Pont-Neuf, Damaged by Bad Weather, Postponed

L’ouverture de La Caverne du Pont-Neuf de JR, victime des intempéries, est reportée

The opening of JR's monumental installation 'La Caverne du Pont-Neuf' on Paris's oldest bridge, scheduled for June 6, has been postponed after severe weather damaged the inflatable structure on June 2. Strong winds tore sections of the printed polyester canvas covering the 120-meter-long, 20-meter-wide, and 18-meter-high grotto-like artwork, exposing the air bladders that give it volume. No injuries were reported. The project, a tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 1985 'The Pont Neuf Wrapped,' was to be free and accessible 24/7 until June 28. Technical experts are assessing the damage, and a new opening date will be announced after repairs.

Alioune Diagne - En galerie

Alioune Diagne, following his success at the 2024 Venice Biennale, presents his new series "Saytu" at Galerie Templon in Paris. The series documents endangered rites and traditions of minority communities in Senegal, rendered through his signature "signes inconscients" that blend abstraction and figuration. The works capture the spiritual energy of ceremonies and explore themes of knowledge transmission, women's roles, and cultural heritage preservation.

At Mac Val, artist-researcher SMITH invites an experience at the edges of consciousness

Au Mac Val, l’artiste-chercheur SMITH invite à une expérience aux confins de la conscience

French artist SMITH, born in Paris in 1985, presents a twenty-year survey titled "Ici grand ouvert" at the Mac Val (Musée d'art contemporain du Val-de-Marne). The exhibition, described as a "rétro-prospective" rather than a traditional retrospective, features photographs, videos, installations, and performances that explore altered states of consciousness, fluidity, and metamorphosis. Works range from the photographic journal "Löyly" (2007–2012) to the ongoing series "Dami" (2022–), and the show includes a relocated studio where the artist will create new pieces during the nine-month run. The display eschews conventional labels and walls, inviting visitors to lie on beds for an immersive experience, and monthly "Mues collectives" events involve scientists such as cosmologist Jean-Philip.

“José de Jesús Rodríguez’s Back & Forth” New Art21 Film to Premiere May 27, 2026

Art21 has announced the release of a new documentary film titled “José de Jesús Rodríguez’s Back & Forth,” premiering online on May 27, 2026. Directed by Andrea Yu-Chieh Chung, the film follows painter José de Jesús Rodríguez as he transitions into new techniques like mosaic and relief sculpture, exploring themes of personal and collective identity through references ranging from Mexican muralists to popular culture. The film will be available on Art21.org and YouTube as part of Art21's ongoing series documenting contemporary artists.

Next Episode of Art21’s Art in the Twenty-First Century to Premiere in June

Art21 has announced the premiere of "Human Nature," the next episode of its documentary series *Art in the Twenty-First Century*, set to air on PBS on June 10, 2026. The episode features artists Lenka Clayton, Josh Kline, Delcy Morelos, and Sin Wai Kin, and explores themes of humanity's impact on the environment, social and economic systems, and interpersonal relationships. Directed by Ian Forster and produced by Andrea Chung, the episode will also be available on Art21.org, YouTube, and PBS Digital Platforms, with an advance screening on May 28 at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center in Manhattan.

Hanna Hur at Antenna Space

Hanna Hur is the subject of a solo exhibition at Antenna Space, as documented by Contemporary Art Daily. The page features 28 images of the exhibition, with no videos or text descriptions accompanying the visual documentation.

Liza Lacroix at Galerie Gisela Capitain

Liza Lacroix is the subject of a solo exhibition at Galerie Gisela Capitain in Cologne, as documented by Contemporary Art Daily. The article presents 29 images of the exhibition, with no accompanying text descriptions or videos, offering a visual record of the show.

Greg Parma Smith at Hoffman Donahue

Greg Parma Smith presents a solo exhibition at Hoffman Donahue gallery, featuring a series of new paintings. The show includes 18 documented images of the works, which explore themes of abstraction and materiality through layered surfaces and vibrant color palettes.

Diego Marcon at Le Consortium

Diego Marcon presents his solo exhibition "Forza Cani" at Le Consortium in Dijon, running from December 5, 2025 to May 24, 2026. The show features the artist's works, with images courtesy of the artist, Sadie Coles HQ in London, and Le Consortium, Dijon, photographed by Katie Morrison.

Wildfires and War Rage in Shawn Huckins’ Theatrical Paintings

Shawn Huckins, a New Hampshire-based painter, presents a new series titled "Slow Burn" that juxtaposes catastrophic scenes of war and wildfires with domestic curtains and floral drapery. The paintings, such as "War Cloud and Floral Blue Curtain" (2026) and "Wildfire Sunset Behind Sheer Curtain" (2026), use theatrical framing to depict destruction as both a distant spectacle and an encroaching reality. The exhibition runs from July 11 to August 22 at K Contemporary in Denver.

Queer Figures Commune with Nature in J Carino’s Dynamic Paintings

J Carino creates dynamic paintings that blend earth and jewel tones to depict nude queer figures in intimate communion with nature. His compositions, characterized by blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes, incorporate source materials ranging from live model studies and self-recorded videos to plein air pastel drawings. Carino researches historical and cultural symbols tied to organic forms, weaving them into collage-like narratives that explore themes of desire, paradise, and resilience. He recently relocated to London and will begin a master's program at the Royal College of Art this fall; his work will be featured in a group exhibition at Albertz Benda in Los Angeles in early June.

In ‘Piercing the Veil,’ Marina Kappos Gets to Know the Spectre of Grief

Artist Marina Kappos opens her solo exhibition 'Piercing the Veil' at SHRINE gallery in New York City, running from May 15 to June 27. The show features her signature acrylic-on-wood-panel paintings that use thin layers of pigment to create gauzy, prismatic effects. Inspired by the sculptural figures of grieving women she encountered at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, Kappos explores themes of loss, memory, presence and absence, and the threshold between life and death. Works like 'Veil Study (Eclipse)' (2026) and 'Quantum Study (Green Entanglement)' (2025) depict hazy landscapes and keyhole-shaped portals that invite viewers to contemplate the unknown and the spiritual.

Markus Brunetti’s Monumental Photos Venerate European Ecclesiastical Landmarks

Bavarian photographer Markus Brunetti, working with collaborator Betty Schöner, has spent over two decades traveling across Europe in a converted firetruck photo lab to capture monumental composite photographs of basilicas, cathedrals, and other ecclesiastical landmarks. Their process involves taking thousands of meter-by-meter shots of each structure over several years, then meticulously layering and arranging them into high-resolution images that correct perspective to create a striking one-point view. Brunetti's current solo exhibition, "Facades IV" at Yossi Milo gallery in New York City, features recent works including "Roma, Basilica di San Pietro" (2007-2026), which required seven visits over nineteen years to complete.