Art dealer David Schrader is launching a new secondary-market gallery in New York with partners Marc Glimcher and Emmanuel Di Donna. He argues the current market stabilization and renewed optimism, especially in the secondary sector, provide a favorable backdrop for their streamlined, focused venture that aims to avoid the overhead of historic gallery models.
Waddington Custot gallery has opened a new Paris location in Saint-Germain-des-Prés with the inaugural exhibition "The Nabi Shock." The show presents works by key figures of the late-19th-century Nabis movement, including Émile Bernard, Pierre Bonnard, and Edouard Vuillard, alongside contemporary artists like Fabienne Verdier and Pierre Knop to illustrate the movement's ongoing influence.
A New Brooklyn Art Fair With a Global Outlook Debuts This Spring
A new art fair called Conductor: Art Fair of the Global Majority will hold its inaugural edition in Brooklyn from April 30 to May 3, 2026. Organized by Powerhouse Arts, it will feature 27 galleries and 17 special projects, bringing together artists and galleries from Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Oceania, and Indigenous nations.
After nearly three decades of legal disputes and intense research, Marc Restellini has finally published his definitive catalogue raisonné of Amedeo Modigliani’s oil paintings. Released through the Institut Restellini and Yale University Press, the six-volume work utilizes forensic scientific analysis, spectrometry, and archival evidence to authenticate the artist's oeuvre. The publication includes 100 newly authenticated works while excluding 15 previously accepted paintings due to a lack of definitive evidence, marking a shift from connoisseurship to a fact-based methodology.
The city of Mérida is set to host the inaugural Bienal de Yucatán from November 2026 to February 2027, marking a significant milestone for the region's burgeoning contemporary art scene. Spearheaded by patron and curator Catherine Petitgas with artist Abraham Cruzvillegas serving as artistic director, the biennial aims to provide a formal platform for the city's dense ecosystem of over 40 galleries, international artist studios, and the Universidad de las Artes de Yucatán (UNAY). The announcement follows the successful debut of the Week of Art Yucatán (WAY), a multi-venue festival that showcased the city's unique blend of repurposed industrial spaces and traditional haciendas.
Chicago’s art week is being defined by the success of alternative, small-scale satellite fairs like Barely Fair and Neighbors, which offer an intimate counterpoint to the massive Expo Chicago. Barely Fair, located in a storefront in McKinley Park, features 32 exhibitors presenting works in 20-inch-square miniature booths. This format encourages rigorous curation and creative risk-taking from a mix of artist-run spaces and established galleries, with price points ranging from $20 to $8,000.
The 2026 edition of EXPO Chicago opened at Navy Pier with a renewed sense of energy, marking its third year under Frieze ownership and its first under the leadership of director Kate Sierzputowski. Early reports from the VIP preview suggest a successful revitalization of the fair, which has successfully re-engaged longtime Midwestern collectors while simultaneously attracting a more robust international audience.
London-based contemporary galleries Edel Assanti and Emalin have both announced significant expansions within the UK capital. Edel Assanti is opening a second, more intimate location in St. James’s to complement its larger Fitzrovia flagship, launching with a focused exhibition of works by Lonnie Holley. Simultaneously, Emalin is moving its primary operations from Shoreditch to a sprawling 5,000-square-foot space in Clerkenwell previously occupied by Modern Art, while maintaining its historic Shoreditch outpost.
The Hole, a prominent gallery with locations in New York and Los Angeles, is facing significant financial distress characterized by shuttered spaces and mounting legal disputes. Following a period of rapid expansion fueled by the 2021–2023 art market boom, the gallery has permanently closed its West Hollywood location and is currently facing multiple lawsuits from Manhattan landlords alleging over $180,000 in unpaid rent and taxes. Founder Kathy Grayson attributes the crisis to a sharp decline in sales starting in late 2023, which has left the gallery struggling to pay artists, staff, and creditors.
Poly Auction Hong Kong has announced its Spring 2026 auction series, scheduled to take place from April 6 to April 8 at the Shun Tak Centre. The sales feature a diverse array of categories including Modern and Contemporary Art, Chinese Ceramics, Chinese Paintings, and High Jewelry and Watches. Highlighting the contemporary selection is Liu Wei’s 1995 masterpiece "You Like Pork?", a rare work previously exhibited at the Venice Biennale, alongside a significant 1960s "White period" abstract canvas by Zao Wou-Ki.
Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 commenced against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension, yet the city's local scene demonstrated remarkable resilience. The week was characterized by a surge of grassroots activity, including the debut of three alternative art fairs and the opening of several new gallery outposts. Key highlights included the launch of GOLD, a cross-disciplinary salon in Wong Chuk Hang, and the expansion of Shanghai’s Antenna Space into the city, signaling a shift toward more flexible, community-oriented art spaces.
The art world saw several major developments this week, headlined by a significant legal ruling regarding Amedeo Modigliani’s 'Seated Man with a Cane' (1918). A judge ruled against a holding company controlled by billionaire dealer David Nahmad, moving the Nazi-looted masterpiece closer to reclamation. Meanwhile, institutional expansions took center stage with Kengo Kuma being selected to design a new wing for London’s National Gallery, and the Centre Pompidou Hanwha in Seoul confirming a June 4 opening date.
South Korean artist Lee Bae has opened a major solo exhibition titled "En attendant: Waiting" at Museum SAN in Wonju. The show features 39 works, including his signature "Issu du feu" charcoal sculptures and massive 10-meter-tall bronze "Brushstroke" installations placed within the museum's Stone Garden. The exhibition is designed to harmonize with the unique architecture of Tadao Ando, utilizing natural light and the surrounding mountain landscape to create a meditative experience for visitors.
Hong Kong Art Month 2026 is set to feature a packed schedule of at least 13 major exhibitions across the city's galleries and museums. The event coincides with the return of Art Basel Hong Kong and other major art fairs, drawing international galleries and collectors to the region.
Waddington Custot, a cornerstone of London’s art scene, is formalizing its leadership succession as Victor Custot joins his father, Stéphane, as board director. The younger Custot, who transitioned from a career in tech, is now spearheading the gallery’s strategic expansion. Central to this new chapter is a significant move toward Paris, reflecting a broader shift in the European art market landscape following Brexit.
Milan's art scene is currently anchored by a series of high-profile exhibitions coinciding with the Miart fair, featuring a diverse range of international talent. Highlights include Joy Labinjo’s vibrant figurative paintings at Tiwani Contemporary, which explore Black domesticity and sisterhood, and Cao Fei’s multimedia investigation into the intersection of technology and global agriculture at Pirelli HangarBicocca. Other notable presentations include Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists and historical figures, marking a significant moment for contemporary art in the city.
New York City's spring art season is bustling with a diverse array of art fairs catering to different tastes and budgets. Major events include the contemporary art-focused Frieze at The Shed, the budget-conscious Affordable Art Fair, the Outsider Art Fair showcasing self-taught artists, the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, and the IFPDA Print Fair.
Reuters has conducted an investigation that claims to have identified the famously anonymous street artist Banksy. The report's key evidence is a police report from Banksy's arrest in New York City approximately twenty years ago.
Goodman Gallery is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a high-profile collaborative exhibition at Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier in Paris. Running from April 17 to August 29, the showcase features major works by leading artists from the African continent and the diaspora, including El Anatsui, William Kentridge, and Kapwani Kiwanga. The presentation places contemporary African art in direct dialogue with the high-end furniture and interior architecture of Pierre Yovanovitch, marking the start of a series of international events for the gallery this summer.
The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) has selected several new works for its permanent collection through the Dallas Art Fair (DAF) Foundation Art Acquisition Fund. During the 2026 edition of the fair, curators and donors chose pieces by artists including Hasani Sahlehe, Caroline Monnet, Gloria Klein, Raymond Saunders, and Nicole Eisenman. The acquisitions span a variety of media, from large-scale abstract paintings and triptychs made of industrial materials to wood reliefs and works on paper.
Massachusetts-based painter John McAllister has been named the winner of the inaugural Dallas Art Prize. The award includes a $20,000 cash prize and the consideration of his work for the permanent collection of the Dallas Museum of Art. McAllister, who is represented by James Fuentes Gallery, is recognized for his vibrant, non-traditional landscapes that utilize a palette of pinks, purples, and yellows to evoke emotional responses rather than literal depictions of nature.
EXPO Chicago 2026 marks its 13th edition with a robust program featuring over 130 international galleries alongside significant institutional exhibitions across the city. Highlights include Leah Ke Yi Zheng’s 64-painting installation at The Renaissance Society, which utilizes silk and natural light, and Youssef Nabil’s career-spanning survey of photography and film at Mariane Ibrahim. Additionally, the Chicago Cultural Center is hosting a cross-cultural exploration of modernism, while The Smart Museum presents a thematic study of Alma Thomas’s color theory influenced by space exploration and music.
The 2026 Dallas Art Fair is set to return from April 16–19 at the Fashion Industry Gallery, featuring over 90 national and international dealers. A major highlight of this edition is the introduction of the inaugural Dallas Art Prize, a $20,000 unrestricted award granted to landscape painter John McAllister. The fair is also expanding its scope with a new design crossover featuring Carpenters Workshop Gallery and Sputnik Modern, alongside the debut of the KTX Biennial, Texas’ first biennial dedicated to public art.
The estate of Irene Monat Stern has made the painting 'Untitled' (circa 1970s) available for sale, highlighting the artist’s unique contribution to the Color Field movement. A Holocaust survivor who settled in Southern California, Stern developed a signature technique of staining unprimed canvas with acrylics to create organic, blossom-like forms. Her work is characterized by a sense of weightlessness and spatial depth that distinguishes her from contemporaries like Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler.
Expo Chicago 2026 concluded with a strategic downsizing of its floor plan at Navy Pier, a move that drew praise from dealers for increasing the quality and manageability of the fair. Significant market activity was reported, including six-figure sales of works by Robert Nava and Luftwerk, alongside the distribution of the Northern Trust Purchase Prize which gifted several artworks to institutions like the Denver Art Museum and The Phillips Collection. Beyond the fair, the Illinois Arts Council announced over $325,000 in grants for public art projects commemorating the U.S. semiquincentennial.
The Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (AMOCA) is launching its second pop-up exhibition, "Dialogues Wales: New Voices from the Museum Collection," at Cardiff’s Temple of Peace. Running from April 15 to 18, the show highlights women and nonbinary artists from the private collection of co-founder Anders Hedlund, featuring over forty international and local figures including Shani Rhys James, Ewa Juszkiewicz, and Lynda Benglis.
A hand-signed original exhibition poster by the late conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner, titled "A Means to an End" (2006), has been made available for purchase through ArtWise in Brooklyn. Created for Weiner’s solo exhibition at Le Musée de Sérignan, the color offset lithograph features the artist's signature in black pen and exemplifies his career-long investigation into language as a sculptural medium. The work is priced at $700 and includes a certificate of authenticity from the gallery.
EXPO CHICAGO 2026 has launched at Navy Pier with a streamlined, highly curated format that emphasizes quality over quantity. The fair’s opening days have been defined by robust institutional engagement, with several major museums acquiring works for their permanent collections. This year’s edition features a diverse array of artists and galleries, reinforcing its position as the premier contemporary art platform in the American Midwest.
Contemporary Calgary has announced the details for its upcoming LOOK2026 auction fundraiser, featuring a prestigious selection of works by Canadian masters and contemporary stars. The auction will include pieces by Group of Seven member L.L. FitzGerald, Maxwell Bates, and Chris Cran, alongside contemporary works by artists such as Kablusiak. The event was bolstered by a significant contribution from Calgary-based philanthropist and collector John Lacey, who reached out to CEO David Leinster to support the institution's mission.
Sundaram Tagore Gallery is expanding its international footprint with the opening of a new 310-square-meter flagship space in London’s St James’s district this May. Located in a renovated Edwardian building on Pall Mall, the multi-level gallery will feature exhibition areas, a private viewing room, and dedicated spaces for live performances and screenings. The inaugural exhibition, titled "Hybridity and Belonging in Contemporary Art," will showcase a diverse roster of artists including Hiroshi Senju, Tayeba Lipi, and Sohan Qadri, focusing on themes of displacement and cross-cultural identity.