Ukraine war stories captured in powerful art exhibition

Fine artist Louise Pasterfield will open her exhibition 'Colour and Courage' at St Stephen’s Church in Saltash, Cornwall, on May 28. The show features 18 watercolour portraits from her ongoing Ukraine series, which began after Russia’s 2022 invasion and now totals 295 portraits of civilians, soldiers, and families. Among the works is a tribute to Christopher Parry, a Cornish volunteer killed in Ukraine in 2023, painted from a photograph given by his parents. The exhibition also includes botanical paintings inspired by Tresco Abbey Gardens.

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.

TWiST Art Gallery opens in Naples

TWiST Art Gallery, Art Space & Artist Studios has opened in the Bayshore Arts District of Naples, Florida, as a new non-profit creative hub. The grand opening was funded primarily by two sold-out Embellished Wearable Arts Fashion Shows in 2024 and 2025, which raised over $100,000 for affordable art classes and studios. Additional support came from The Community Foundation, Jan Edwards, and the Gail Danae Kasbi Foundation. The gallery will offer affordable artist studios, a fine art gallery, community workshops, rotating exhibitions, and monthly First Friday Art Walk events. Monique Kutash has been appointed Art Director, and plans include an artist-in-residence program and a Mini Art Gallery Series featuring outdoor micro-galleries hosted by local businesses.

Local business marks 10 years of support for Martha Trust with special charity exhibition

Frames for You and the newly established New Street Gallery in Deal, Kent, are hosting a week-long charity art exhibition to celebrate a decade of partnership with Martha Trust. The event features donated artworks from acclaimed artists, including botanical illustrator Pat Joyce and painter Kate Maguire, as well as a rare World War II silk escape map. All proceeds from the donated works and gallery commissions from additional sales will be directed to the charity, which supports individuals with profound disabilities.

Lotus-themed exhibition honors President Ho Chi Minh

An exhibition themed around the lotus flower has been organized to honor President Ho Chi Minh, showcasing artworks that draw symbolic connections between the lotus—a national emblem of purity and resilience—and the revolutionary leader's legacy. The event features paintings, sculptures, and installations by multiple artists, all centered on this botanical motif as a tribute to Ho Chi Minh's life and ideals.

Cecilia Beaven Explores Mythology and Folklore in "Inflorescence"

Mexican-born artist Cecilia Beaven presents "Inflorescence" at Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, an exhibition featuring large-scale paintings, lithographs, and ceramics. The show transforms the gallery into a lush environment populated by hybrid creatures and vibrant flora, drawing heavily from Aztec mythology and Meso-American creation stories. Key works like "Inflorescence I" and "Inflorescence II" depict human figures as the literal source of blooming botanical life, blending traditional folklore with contemporary aesthetics.