In Savona there is a new contemporary culture festival that aims to make tradition dialogue with the most emerging research

A Savona c’è un nuovo festival di cultura contemporanea che mira a far dialogare la tradizione con le ricerche più emergenti

A new contemporary culture festival called Brucia has launched in Savona, Italy, with its zero edition running from May 9 to 17, 2026. Organized by the under-30 association Fiammiferi, founded by Teresa Raineri, the festival transforms the Fortezza del Priamàr and Teatro Chiabrera into a diffuse laboratory of artistic practices, including performances, concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and meetings. A highlight is the solo show [Çigae] by artist Gaia De Megni, curated by Gabriele Cordì, which explores themes of return and belonging through a Ligurian lens, featuring her film 'La tigre e i gabbiani' (2019).

A Roma una mostra celebra il leggendario scenografo e costumista Dante Ferretti

A new exhibition titled "Dante Ferretti. Con i miei occhi" has opened at the Musei di San Salvatore in Lauro in Rome, celebrating the legendary Italian set designer and costume designer Dante Ferretti. Curated by Raffaele Curi, the show runs until July 19, 2026, and features a collection of Ferretti's sketches, charcoal drawings, and collages that served as the foundational visual ideas for films by directors including Pier Paolo Pasolini, Martin Scorsese, Federico Fellini, and Tim Burton. The exhibition presents these preparatory works not merely as production tools but as autonomous works of art, tracing Ferretti's visual genealogy from Renaissance painters like Piero della Francesca and Caravaggio to contemporary cinema.

At the 2026 Venice Biennale, pavilions shut down for pro-Palestine strike. The map of protests

Alla Biennale di Venezia 2026 serrata dei padiglioni per sciopero pro Palestina. La mappa delle proteste

On May 8, 2026, the third VIP preview day of the 61st Venice Biennale, a massive strike shut down numerous national pavilions and disrupted the exhibition. Led by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (Anga), the protest demands Israel's exclusion from the Biennale over allegations of genocide in Palestine, and also targets poor labor conditions in the cultural sector. Pavilions closed one after another due to staff shortages, and protest posters appeared around artworks at the Giardini and Arsenale. The strike involved the Biennale Foundation itself, along with about twenty contractors managing services and national pavilions, with unions Adl Cobas, USB Lavoro privato, and Cub supporting the action. Tensions rose when the UK Pavilion reportedly replaced striking staff to remain open, and the Foundation issued a statement falsely denying that its employees were covered by the strike.

Un’importante collezione tedesca d’arte per la prima volta in mostra in Italia a Venezia

The Kelterborn Collection, a German private collection focused on video art and experimental installations, will be exhibited in Italy for the first time at Venice's Contemporary Forces platform from May 7 to September 27, 2026. The exhibition, titled "Who’s a good boy??," is curated by Anastasia Stravinsky and Mario von Kelterborn in collaboration with IKT – International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art, and features works by twelve artists including Joseph Beuys, Gary Hill, Laure Prouvost, and Ulay. The show aligns with the theme of the 61st Venice Biennale, exploring power "in minor keys."

A brand-new novel is set in Renaissance Venice and its powerful Arsenal (where the Biennale is held)

Un nuovissimo romanzo è ambientato nella Venezia rinascimentale e nel suo potente Arsenale (quello dove si tiene la Biennale)

Allegra Scattaglia and Luca Josi have co-authored a new novel titled "Venetians – Il segreto dell’Arsenale," published by Sonzogno. Set in Renaissance Venice, the story follows young patrician Marcantonio Bragadin as he becomes entangled in a plot driven by the city's sophisticated and ruthless political system. The narrative highlights the Arsenal, one of the world's first proto-industrial shipbuilding complexes, which also hosts the Venice Biennale. The book weaves together art, technology, diplomacy, and intrigue, featuring historical figures such as Titian, Tintoretto, Albrecht Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci, and Aldus Manutius.

Kunsthaus Paradiso is Born in Venice: Italian Art Has a Home, Despite the Biennale

Nasce a Venezia la Kunsthaus Paradiso: l’arte italiana ha una casa, malgrado la Biennale

A new project called Kunsthaus Paradiso has opened in Palazzo Molin Querini in Venice, running from May 4 to May 31 in conjunction with the Venice Biennale. Founded by curator Caroline Corbetta, the initiative evolved from her earlier Crepaccio project (2012–2016) in Milan and the Padiglione Crepaccio, which debuted at the 2013 Biennale Arte curated by Massimiliano Gioni. Kunsthaus Paradiso focuses on Italian and Venice-based artists—including Thomas Braida, Fabio De Meo, Caterina Rossato, Ornella Cardillo, Alessandro Miotti, Melania Fusco, Mauro Campagnaro, Marta Spagnoli, Barbara De Vivi, Spazio Punch, Giorgio Andreotta Calò, Mattia Sinigaglia, and the collective Scafandra—offering a platform for emerging and local talent during the Biennale.

France reopens its historic pavilion at the 2026 Venice Art Biennale after restorations with artist Yto Barrada

La Francia riapre il suo storico padiglione alla Biennale Arte 2026 dopo i restauri con l’artista Yto Barrada

France will reopen its historic pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale (May 9–November 22, 2026) after restoration, with Franco-Moroccan artist Yto Barrada (b. 1971) presenting the immersive textile-based project "Comme Saturne," curated by Myriam Ben Salah. The exhibition uses the "dévoré" technique—acid selectively corrodes fabric—as a metaphor for destruction and creation, featuring a goat-skin kite, a Room of Folds with wool drapery that fades in natural light, a Laboratory inspired by Saturnalia, and a Study Room linked to Barrada's garden of dye plants in Tangier, culminating in the Room of the Devoured where chemically attacked material fragments into an aesthetic of wear and formlessness.

Il Padiglione della Gran Bretagna alla Biennale d’Arte di Venezia 2026 spiega cos’è l’appartenenza

The British Council has selected artist Lubaina Himid to represent Great Britain at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Her exhibition, titled "Predicting History: Testing Translation," will transform the British Pavilion into a large-scale installation exploring belonging, displacement, and the recreation of home in new contexts. Created in collaboration with artist Magda Stawarska, the show features multi-panel paintings and a surreal soundscape that engages with the neoclassical architecture of the pavilion. Himid, a Turner Prize winner and pioneer of the Black British Art Movement, focuses on cultural memory and identity, challenging Eurocentric narratives and highlighting overlooked Black figures in Western history.

At the Venice Biennale, the Armenian Pavilion Transforms into an Artist's Workshop: Works Are Born in Front of the Public

Alla Biennale di Venezia il Padiglione dell’Armenia si trasforma in bottega d’artista: le opere nascono di fronte al pubblico

The Armenian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale will transform into a functioning artist's studio, where sculptor Zadik Zadikian will create works in real time before the public. Titled "The Studio," the project is curated by gallerist Tony Shafrazi and curator Tina Chakarian, and will operate daily from May 6 to November 22 at the Tesa 41 of the Arsenale. Zadikian, born in Yerevan in 1948 and now based in the US, will work with traditional Armenian plaster techniques alongside his son Aram and studio assistants, emphasizing the process of making over the finished object.

Jiaqi Wang gives a new face and a new style to Miss Chiquita for this Milan Art Week 2026

Jiaqi Wang dà un nuovo volto e un nuovo tratto a Miss Chiquita per questa Milano Art Week 2026

Chiquita has selected Chinese-born, New York-based illustrator and animator Jiaqi Wang as the third artist for its 'Pop by Nature' campaign, which connects the brand with contemporary art. Wang has reinterpreted the brand's iconic Miss Chiquita mascot with her signature vibrant colors, clean lines, and scenes of daily life. The campaign includes out-of-home installations, urban interventions like a mural in Milan, limited-edition banana stickers, and culminates with an immersive 'Miss Chiquita House' experience during Milan Art Week 2026.

Shopping Experience: How Has the Way of Experiencing Luxury Changed?

Shopping experience: com’è cambiato il modo di vivere il lusso?

Luxury retail in Milan is undergoing a significant transformation, evolving from simple commercial spaces into 'cultural brandscapes' that blend art, design, and hospitality. Major fashion houses are redesigning their flagship stores to function as urban salons and living galleries, integrating site-specific art installations, historical architecture, and high-end gastronomy to foster community and tangible experiences in an increasingly digital world.

A new Romaeuropa Festival approaches. Here is what the 2026 edition of the review will be like

Si avvicina un nuovo Romaeuropa Festival. Ecco come sarà l’edizione 2026 della rassegna

The 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival has announced its 2026 lineup, scheduled to run from September 8 to November 15 across various venues in Rome. Under the artistic direction of Fabrizio Grifasi, the multidisciplinary festival will feature a robust program of contemporary dance, theater, and music. Highlights include the Italian premiere of Sofia Nappi’s 'Chora', a world premiere of Romeo Castellucci’s 'Faust', and a special celebration of the Rome-Paris twinning anniversary featuring choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

The Milan fair dedicating an entire day to reflecting on the state of Italian art: 8 straight hours of conversations

A Milano la fiera che dedica un’intera giornata per riflettere sullo stato dell’arte italiana: 8 ore filate di conversazioni

The debut edition of Paris Internationale in Milan, scheduled for April 2026 at Palazzo Galbani, will feature a marathon eight-hour symposium titled "Aperto Italia." Organized in collaboration with the Fondazione Nicola Trussardi and curated by Massimiliano Gioni, the event brings together 35 international galleries and a significant roster of Italian artists. The program is designed as a continuous cycle of conversations to address the current state of contemporary art in Italy, paying tribute to the late Flash Art publisher Giancarlo Politi.

“The State of the World? An Act of Madness.” Interview with Ai Weiwei, Arriving in Milan with a Surprise Installation

“Lo stato del mondo? Un atto di follia”. Intervista con Ai Weiwei che arriva a Milano con un’installazione a sorpresa

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has unveiled a surprise site-specific installation in Milan, created in collaboration with the historic Venetian textile house Rubelli. Located in the Rubelli showroom for Fuorisalone 2026, the immersive work features a large-scale lampas fabric woven with silk and gold threads, depicting symbols of surveillance, censorship, and political struggle such as handcuffs, the Twitter bird, and alpacas.

An exhibition in Milan tells the story of the legendary Elisabetta Catalano, the great photographer and friend of artists

A Milano una mostra racconta la mitica Elisabetta Catalano, grande fotografa amica degli artisti

The Viasaterna gallery in Milan is hosting a comprehensive exhibition titled "Elisabetta Catalano: Cinema, Moda e Performance," curated by Laura Cherubini. The show explores the prolific career of the Roman photographer, featuring her iconic portraits of film stars on the sets of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti, her high-fashion photography for Vogue, and her deep collaborations with avant-garde artists like Fabio Mauri and Michelangelo Pistoletto.

Near Parma, the Timeless Elegance of Erté is on Display at Labirinto della Masone

Vicino a Parma c’è l’intramontabile eleganza di Erté in mostra al Labirinto della Masone

The Labirinto della Masone near Parma is hosting a comprehensive exhibition titled "Erté. Lo stile è tutto," showcasing the work of the Russian-born Art Déco master Romain de Tirtoff, known as Erté. The display features a diverse array of drawings, gouaches, models, and sketches, many of which were originally acquired by the late publisher Franco Maria Ricci. The exhibition traces Erté's journey from his aristocratic Russian roots to his rise in Paris as a collaborator of Paul Poiret and a visionary of theatrical and couture design.

In this L’Aquila High School, there is a Contemporary Art Collection Created by Students and Artists

In questo liceo dell’Aquila c’è una collezione d’arte contemporanea realizzata dagli studenti con gli artisti

The Liceo Bafile in L’Aquila has established a permanent collection of contemporary art featuring over 60 site-specific works created through collaborations between professional artists and students. Initiated by artist and professor Licia Galizia following the devastating 2009 earthquake, the project integrates art into the educational environment as a tool for cultural rebirth. In 2026, the collection will expand further with seven new installations created by artists including Elena Bellantoni and Marco Nereo Rotelli in partnership with the Academy of Fine Arts of L’Aquila.

Philippe Halsman's Portraits Feature the Entire 20th-Century Cultural Elite: The Exhibition in Veneto

Nei ritratti di Philippe Halsman c’è tutta l’élite culturale del Novecento. La mostra in Veneto

The Palazzo Pinato Valeri in Piove di Sacco, Italy, is hosting a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the legendary photographer Philippe Halsman. The show traces his career from his early 1930s Parisian portraits to his iconic American period, featuring his surrealist collaborations with Salvador Dalí and his famous "Jumpology" series. The collection includes intimate and experimental portraits of 20th-century icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, Alfred Hitchcock, and Sophia Loren.

Linda Lach, Diane Severin Nguyen at Gunia Nowik Gallery

Gunia Nowik Gallery in Warsaw presents a two-person exhibition featuring artists Linda Lach and Diane Severin Nguyen, running from April 10 to May 23, 2026. The show is organized in collaboration with Galerie Molitor and includes a bilingual guide in English and Polish. Documentation of the exhibition comprises 18 images, photographed by Katarzyna Legendź.

'L.A. has changed me,' says architect of LACMA's divisive David Geffen Galleries

Peter Zumthor, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, discusses the making of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA) new David Geffen Galleries in an interview. He explains his rejection of overly slick, corporate architecture in favor of a raw, handmade concrete structure, describing the building as a "concrete sculpture." Zumthor details his collaboration with LACMA director Michael Govan, who encouraged him to incorporate "American roughness" into the design, a lesson Zumthor says he has brought back to his European practice.

New art exhibition to open this summer as part of Glasgow International 2026

A new two-person exhibition titled "Painting, our mutual friend" will open at Glasgow Print Studio on June 4, 2026, as part of Glasgow International 2026. Featuring artists Lorna Robertson and Andrew Cranston, who are life partners, the show runs through August 1 and includes etchings, monoprints, watercolours, and oil paintings that explore their individual and shared experiences. The works were developed through experimental residencies at the studio between 2025 and 2026.

Kiss Me, Beneath the Milky Twilight

The article reviews the exhibition "Ahhh! Beije-me" (Ahhh! Kiss me) at Martins & Montero gallery in São Paulo, featuring the late Brazilian artist Hudinilson Jr. (1957-2013). The show presents works from the 1970s and 1980s, including photocopies, stencils, paintings, and personal objects from the artist's apartment, which was closed by his family for twelve years after his death. Highlights include a billboard artwork "Zona de tensão," newly discovered gouache and pastel works on photocopies of Michelangelo's "David," and stencil matrices made from laundry detergent boxes used in street graffiti. The exhibition also incorporates furniture, decorative objects, and photographs by Mauro Restiffe documenting the apartment before its dismantling.

Paolo Roversi on Getting a Permanent Gallery Space in His Italian Hometown

Italian photographer Paolo Roversi, based in Paris since 1973, has opened a permanent gallery space in his hometown of Ravenna. The Paolo Roversi Gallery officially opened at the Art Museum of the City of Ravenna (Mar), featuring a recreation of his Paris studio, an archive room, and a muses' room with portraits of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and others. The gallery was curated by Chiara Bardelli Nonino and designed by longtime collaborator Ania Martchenko, building on a previous exhibition at the museum.

Since 1968, Protests Have Revealed the Real Impact of the Venice Biennale

The article recounts the 1968 protests at the Venice Biennale, where artists, students, and activists clashed with police over the event's perceived ties to bourgeois power and capitalist commodification. It draws parallels to the 2024 Biennale, where groups like Art Not Genocide Alliance, Pussy Riot, and Femen demonstrated against the participation of Russia and Israel, while artists staged strikes and performances like the Solidarity Drone Chorus to highlight the Gaza conflict.

Biggs Museum spotlights the art and influence of Elizabeth Catlett

The Biggs Museum of American Art is presenting "The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis," on view through June 21, 2026. The exhibition features Catlett's prints and sculptures, drawn from the collection of her former student and lifelong friend Samella Lewis, and also includes works by Lewis and Catlett's husband, Francisco Mora. Catlett, who studied with Grant Wood and worked with the Taller de Gráfica Popular in Mexico City, focused her art on the lives of Black women, addressing themes of identity, equity, labor, family, and freedom.

Ocean County Artists' Guild presents "Proof I Was Here" by Conni Freestone

Conni Freestone's solo exhibition "Proof I Was Here" opens June 1, 2026 at the Ocean County Artists' Guild in Island Heights, New Jersey, running through the end of the month. The show spans three interconnected spaces and explores themes of existence, memory, and identity through photography, featuring images of Bruce Springsteen, Asbury Park cars, Havana's aging vehicles, and Route 66 remnants, alongside self-portraiture. An opening reception on June 7 includes live music by Johnny Kasun and Timmy Basskidd Douglas, and a RiverJAM event on June 16 features additional performances.

Contemporary Gallery Debut Events

Hearts Gallery made its debut on May 2, 2026, in Los Angeles with an exclusive group exhibition at Modern Multiples, a historic print studio in Chinatown. The opening attracted artists, collectors, celebrities, and style leaders from fashion, film, and contemporary art, featuring works by Richard Duardo, Erika Galvez, Julian Prolman, Shepard Fairey, Ed Ruscha, Chaz Bojorquez, Estevan Oriol, and others, while celebrating Modern Multiples' legacy with icons like Diana Ross, Madonna, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and RuPaul.

'Cunningham Capsule' at Knust Kunz Gallery Editions, Munich, Germany on 15 May–6 Jun 2026

Knust Kunz Gallery Editions in Munich, Germany, will host 'Cunningham Capsule,' an exhibition running from 15 May to 6 Jun 2026. The gallery, founded in 1982 as Galerie Sabine Knust, has a long history of collaborating with major artists such as Georg Baselitz, Per Kirkeby, A.R. Penck, Markus Lüpertz, Jörg Immendorff, and Imi Knoebel, focusing on their print and graphic works. Matthias Kunz joined as a partner in 1998.

Aria Dean, Sandra Mujinga and Tschabalala Self

Galerie Eva Presenhuber is hosting a group exhibition featuring the works of Aria Dean, Sandra Mujinga, and Tschabalala Self. The show explores the construction and erasure of the human body through diverse mediums, including Aria Dean’s 3D-animated film of an empty slaughterhouse and Sandra Mujinga’s spectral, fabric-based sculptures. By focusing on the architectures of violence and the labor of repair, the artists move away from traditional representation toward conceptual and structural critiques of subjecthood.

It Requires Getting Lost: Castlefield Gallery hosts opening night

Castlefield Gallery in Manchester hosted the opening night of "It Requires Getting Lost" on October 30, 2025, an exhibition running from November 1, 2025 to February 22, 2026. The show features projections, sound-works, and sculptural installations by three northern UK-based artists—Gregory Herbert, Malik Jama, and Jocelyn McGregor—alongside major works from the Roberts Institute of Art (RIA)/Indrė Roberts Collection, including pieces by Magdalena Abakanowicz, Noemie Goudal, Pierre Huyghe, Leon Kossoff, and Wolfgang Tillmans. The opening included a live activation in McGregor's sculptural installation, where performers used foot-pumps to push water through transparent tubes, while Jama's projections transformed the gallery's corridors into immersive zones.