The Distance Between Art and Survival in Rojava

The article is a first-person dispatch from Rojava, a Kurdish-majority region in northeastern Syria, where the author meets artists and fighters living and working on the front lines against jihadist groups. It focuses on artist Diyar Hesso, who has exchanged his camera for a rifle, and YPJ fighter Hevi, who articulates the necessity of armed self-defense for women facing a genocidal enemy. Their stories illustrate the impossible choice between artistic creation and survival in a war zone.

The Phillies Owner and His Wife Collect Art’s Heavy Hitters

John Middleton, the majority owner of the Philadelphia Phillies, and his wife Leigh have publicly debuted their private collection of blue-chip American art. The couple has lent a significant selection of works for a dual-venue exhibition in Philadelphia, coinciding with the city's preparations for the 250th anniversary of the United States.

PKM gallery to open Lee Jung-jin exhibition 'Unseen/Thing' Wednesday

Photographer Lee Jung-jin has launched a major solo exhibition titled "Unseen/Thing" at PKM Gallery in Seoul, marking her first solo show in six years. The exhibition is divided into two parts: her latest "Unseen" series, captured during a 2024 trip to Iceland, and her "Thing" series from the early 2000s, which features analog still lifes printed on traditional Korean hanji paper. The new works depart from Lee’s previous focus on the static silence of deserts, instead capturing the volatile, forceful energy of the Icelandic landscape.

Foundation, a Prominent NFT Platform of the 2021 Boom, Shuts Down After Failed Sale

Foundation, a prominent Ethereum-based NFT marketplace that launched during the 2021 digital art boom, has announced it will shut down following a failed acquisition by the digital art company Blackdove. CEO Kayvon Tehranian confirmed that the platform has entered a one-year wind-down phase, urging users to migrate their assets as no other viable buyers exist in the current market. The closure follows the collapse of a deal that was intended to provide long-term stewardship for the platform, which had facilitated over $230 million in sales since its inception.

DePaul Art Museum Bids Farewell with Barbara Nessim’s Retrospective

The DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) is hosting a career-spanning retrospective for New York-based artist Barbara Nessim titled "My Compass Is the Line" before the institution permanently closes in June. The exhibition marks Nessim’s first solo show in Chicago, featuring works from the 1960s to the present that span painting, computer art, and her iconic 1982 Time magazine cover. The show highlights Nessim’s exploration of femininity and sexuality, drawing stylistic parallels to the Chicago Imagists while showcasing her technical versatility.

In upcoming thesis exhibition, Bates senior studio art students each have a seat At the Table

Eleven graduating studio art and visual culture students at Bates College are preparing to debut their year-long thesis projects in the professional exhibition "At the Table." Opening April 17 at the Bates Museum of Art, the show features a diverse range of media including charcoal drawing, photography, and sculpture. The students have spent two semesters transitioning from theoretical research and material exploration to the physical production and professional framing of their works under the guidance of faculty and museum staff.

One of Napoleon’s Sweaty Hats Was Just Rediscovered After a Century in Storage

A distinctive bicorne hat belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte, worn during his final exile on Saint Helena, has been rediscovered after more than a century in storage at the Condé Museum. Curators found the beaver pelt hat, made by his official hat-maker Poupard, while preparing for an upcoming exhibition, and its provenance has been confirmed through extensive study.

A Delightful Short Film Highlights the Remarkable Self-Taught Art of George Voronovsky

Ukrainian-born artist Jonko “George” Voronovsky transformed his modest retirement room at Miami’s Colony Hotel into a dense, vibrant sanctuary of over 5,000 artworks. After surviving the horrors of the Russian Revolution, Nazi labor camps, and permanent separation from his family, Voronovsky immigrated to the U.S. and spent his final years creating "memoryscapes." These works, crafted from found materials like pizza boxes and soda cans, depicted idyllic, colorful scenes of his youth in Ukraine, contrasting sharply with the trauma of his past.

Vittoria Matarrese new director of the Magasin in Grenoble

Vittoria Matarrese nouvelle directrice du Magasin de Grenoble

Vittoria Matarrese has been appointed as the new director of the Magasin, the National Center for Contemporary Art in Grenoble. The Italian architect and curator, who previously held positions at the Villa Medici in Rome, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, and the Bally Foundation in Lugano, and most recently led the first Art Week Riyadh, succeeds Céline Kopp. Her appointment comes as the institution seeks a new direction after a prolonged period of crisis.

Lauren Laz Appointed to the Works Department of the Beaux-Arts de Paris

Lauren Laz nommée au département des œuvres des Beaux-Arts de Paris

Lauren Laz, a 47-year-old art historian specializing in prints and director of the Musée Angladon in Avignon since 2015, has been appointed director of the collections department at the Beaux-Arts de Paris. She succeeds Kathy Alliou in overseeing the school's vast holdings of nearly 450,000 works and volumes, which carry the prestigious "Musée de France" designation.

Roar materials: the ‘uncanny’ art of dinosaur puppetry – in pictures

The Australian puppetry company Erth is preparing for a new immersive dinosaur show at the Sydney Opera House. The article provides a behind-the-scenes look at their workshop in Marrickville, where a team of artists and designers hand-craft highly realistic, large-scale dinosaur puppets using animatronics, 3D printing, and traditional craftsmanship.

Restoration of L’Aquila’s Teatro San Filippo, Damaged by Earthquake, Concludes After 17-Year Closure

Si conclude all’Aquila il recupero del Teatro San Filippo danneggiato dal terremoto. Era chiuso da 17 anni

The Teatro San Filippo in L’Aquila has officially completed a comprehensive restoration process after being shuttered for 17 years due to the devastating 2009 earthquake. The reopening ceremony, attended by Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, marks the return of a historic site that originated as a 17th-century Baroque church before being converted into a theater and artistic hub in the 1970s. The project was funded through a combination of state resources and private donations, including significant contributions from the "Artisti Uniti per l’Abruzzo" initiative.

François Ozon’s 'The Stranger': A Film Between Surface Aesthetics and Political Reinterpretation

“Lo straniero” di François Ozon. Un film tra estetica delle superfici e rilettura politica

Director François Ozon has adapted Albert Camus’s existentialist masterpiece 'The Stranger' into a new feature film, premiering at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. Shot in stark black and white by cinematographer Manuel Dacosse, the film departs from the 1967 Luchino Visconti adaptation by leaning into a cold, clinical aesthetic inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni. The narrative follows Meursault, an emotionally detached clerk in colonial Algiers, whose impassive reaction to his mother's death and the subsequent senseless murder of an Arab man leads to his legal and moral condemnation.

Bologna Prepares for the Major Children's Publishing Festival: The Director Speaks

Bologna si prepara al grande festival di editoria per l’infanzia. Parla la direttrice

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) has announced the details for its 63rd edition, scheduled to take place from April 13 to 16, 2026, at BolognaFiere. This upcoming iteration will feature Norway as the Guest of Honor under the theme "What if?" and will host 1,500 exhibitors from 90 countries. The fair continues to evolve beyond traditional publishing, integrating transmedia narratives, licensing, and discussions on artificial intelligence alongside major anniversaries for figures like Carlo Collodi, Agatha Christie, and Mitsumasa Anno.

Super Mario Galaxy is the first true video game film

Super Mario Galaxy è il primo vero film videoludico

The article analyzes the 2023 animated film 'Super Mario Galaxy – Il film,' arguing it represents a significant evolution in video game adaptations. The film, a sequel to 'Super Mario Bros. – Il film,' abandons traditional narrative concerns and instead structures itself like a video game, constantly introducing new characters, power-ups, and scenarios directly from the Super Mario game series, as if the protagonists are moving through game levels.

In Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire Abolishes the Position of Deputy for Heritage

À Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire supprime le poste d'adjoint au patrimoine

The newly elected Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, has unveiled a leadership team consisting of 36 deputy mayors covering a vast array of specific portfolios, ranging from nightlife and overseas territories to animal welfare and free media. Notably absent from this extensive list is a dedicated deputy for heritage (patrimoine), a move that marks a significant shift in the city's administrative priorities.

‘Washwasha’ (Whispers Across Water): Sonic Cartographies of the UAE at the Venice Biennale.

The National Pavilion UAE has announced its upcoming exhibition for the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026, titled ‘Washwasha’ (Whispers Across Water). Curated by Bana Kattan with assistant curator Tala Nassar, the presentation features six artists: Mays Albaik, Jawad Al Malhi, Farah Al Qasimi, Alaa Edris, Lamya Gargash, and Taus Makhacheva. The exhibition moves away from traditional visual spectacle to focus on sound, oral traditions, and 'sonic cartographies' that explore memory, migration, and the fluid identity of the UAE through an architectural environment designed by Büro Koray Duman Architects.

MAFOLOFOLO: Sonic Cartographies of Return

The South African artist collective MADEYOULOOK has unveiled 'Mafolofolo' at Hangar – Centro de Investigação Artística in Lisbon. Curated by Margarida Mendes, the installation utilizes sound, oral histories, and liberation songs to map the complex relationships between land, memory, and dispossession in northern South Africa. The work, which originally debuted at documenta fifteen, has been reconfigured for this specific research-driven setting to explore themes of extraction and survival.

Enrique López Llamas: The Visible, The Invisible

ENRIQUE LÓPEZ LLAMAS: LO VISIBLE, LO INVISIBLE

Artist Enrique López Llamas presents a solo exhibition titled "Lo visible, lo invisible" at Fundación CALOSA in Mexico, exploring the intersection of childhood fears and contemporary adult masculinity. The installation utilizes fluorescent plastic polymers that glow in the dark and video works to create a sensory dialogue between light and shadow, symbolizing the repressed memories and systemic behaviors that persist into adulthood.

Warsaw’s Neon Museum sparks revival of interest in cold war signs and aesthetic

Warsaw is experiencing a significant revival of interest in its Cold War-era neon signs, a movement spearheaded by the city’s Neon Museum. Founded in 2012 by photographer Ilona Karwińska and designer David Hill, the museum has rescued hundreds of historic illuminations that were once discarded as worthless relics of the communist past. Originally commissioned by Soviet-era authorities as a form of "socialist modernization," these signs were designed by leading artists of the Polish Poster School and have now transitioned from propaganda tools to beloved cultural icons.

More Drawings Put Up for Sale in Paris

Encore des dessins mis en vente à Paris

An album containing fifty-two drawings by the Van Blarenberghe family of painters and miniaturists is being auctioned in Paris on March 31, 2026, by Wattebled & Portay at Drouot. The collection includes three watercolor studies by Louis-Nicolas Van Blarenberghe directly related to the celebrated Choiseul snuffbox, a major acquisition by the Louvre in 2022.

Freshwater skatepark fundraiser launches with packed opening night and skate deck art auction

Freshwater Parish Council has launched a community-driven fundraiser featuring a skate deck art auction to support the development of a new skatepark and pump track on the Isle of Wight. The initiative kicked off with an opening night at the Newport and Carisbrooke Community Centre, showcasing custom-designed decks by local artists alongside historical displays of the island's skating culture. The event also secured a significant financial boost through a donation from High Sheriff Jacqueline Gazzard.

La Cloche Art Show announces its 2026 Featured Artist Robert Potvin

The organizers of the 47th La Cloche Art Show have named Robert Potvin as the Artist of Distinction for the 2026 exhibition. Potvin, a self-taught acrylic painter and elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists, is recognized for his depictions of Northern Ontario landscapes and vanishing ways of life. The announcement comes as the community prepares for the 2025 edition of the juried show, which remains a staple of the regional art scene in Whitefish Falls.

First and final

The COMO Museum of Art is hosting "Traces: Drawing Practices Now," a major group exhibition curated by Hassan Sheikh featuring 19 artists. The show explores the evolution of drawing from a preparatory medium into an independent, sophisticated art form. Notable participants include Ali Kazim, Muhammad Ali Talpur, and Ghulam Mohammad, whose works range from meticulous mark-making and subverted scripts to expressive, intuitive compositions that challenge traditional linguistic and visual codes.

residual heat: FSU Student Exhibition

The Gadsden Arts Center & Museum is hosting "residual heat," a comprehensive exhibition featuring works by MFA, BFA, and BA students from Florida State University’s Department of Art. Curated by Professor Carrie Ann Baade alongside students Audrey Lendvay and Stephanie Rowe, the show includes a diverse array of media such as painting, sculpture, and photography. The collection specifically explores thematic concerns regarding memory, temporal change, and the concept of what persists over time.

Metro Detroit billboards feature pop art in 'open air museum'

International Outdoor, a Farmington Hills-based advertising firm, has launched an "open-air museum" across Metro Detroit featuring the work of French pop-street artist Jisbar. The initiative utilizes over 57 billboards and digital panels across three counties, displaying vibrant mashups of art history icons like the Mona Lisa with pop culture figures such as Bart Simpson and SpongeBob SquarePants. The exhibition, which runs through mid-June 2026, aims to transform the regional landscape into a public gallery accessible to commuters.

Rutland art center prepares for opening of new miniatures exhibit

The Chaffee Arts Center in Rutland, Vermont, is launching a new exhibition dedicated to the art of miniatures. Opening this Friday and running through May 22, the showcase is a collaborative effort featuring works from the Festival of Miniatures in Brattleboro, the Dollhouse and Toy Museum of Vermont, and approximately ten local artists, including watercolorist Lorraine Dewey.

Donald Trump Endorses Steve Hilton for California Governor

99CENT art exhibition

President Donald Trump has officially endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton for the California governorship. Hilton, who previously served as an advisor to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is campaigning on a platform of repairing the state's relationship with the federal government and has adopted the "Make California Great Again" slogan. This endorsement positions Hilton as a primary front-runner among Republican voters, potentially consolidating the GOP base in a crowded field that includes Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and several prominent Democrats.

ACME Opens Artist Call for City Hall and Airport Exhibitions Showcasing Austin’s Creative Talent

The Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) department has launched open calls for two major public art initiatives: the 2026–28 People’s Gallery at Austin City Hall and the 2026 Changing Exhibits Program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Local artists and organizations from the Austin area are invited to submit 2-D and 3-D works for the City Hall exhibition, while the airport program seeks multi-disciplinary proposals under the theme "Vestiges of the Future." Applications are open until May 31, 2026, with no submission fees required.

Arts organisation enlists celebrities in fight to save Manhattan church

West Park Presbyterian Church on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a designated landmark, is seeking permission from the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission to demolish its building, citing financial hardship due to an estimated $26.6 million in repair costs. The church's sole tenant, the arts nonprofit The Center at West Park, was evicted last year and is now leading a fierce opposition campaign, arguing the building is financially viable through leasing and air rights sales.