‘When you’re working with clay, you’re working with the earth’: Studio’s new exhibition offers ‘Clay as Care’

The Clay Studio in Philadelphia has opened a new exhibition titled "Clay as Care: Ceramic Art and Wellbeing," which explores the therapeutic and restorative benefits of working with ceramics. The show features four artists—Adebunmi Gbadebo, Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Ehren Tool, and Maia Chao—each using clay to address personal healing journeys, from fertility struggles to military trauma. The exhibition includes interactive elements like communal clay for visitors and is part of a research project in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Center for Neuroaesthetics, Jefferson University Art Therapy Department, and Drexel University Art Psychotherapy team, collecting data on the show's impact on wellness.

Leaning on luxury goods, Sotheby's launches auction week in Abu Dhabi

Sotheby's will hold its first auction week in Abu Dhabi this December, partnering with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). The event, which includes auctions, exhibitions, and events from October through December, focuses on luxury goods such as cars, jewelry, and watches, targeting ultra-high net worth individuals. Highlights include the sale of the 31.86-carat 'Desert Rose' diamond and a 'Triple Crown' car collection in collaboration with McLaren Racing. The move follows ADQ's $1 billion minority stake in Sotheby's in October 2024.

There Is Still A Tomorrow, Mother: An Imelda Cajipe Endaya Exhibition

Imelda Cajipe Endaya, a pioneering Filipino feminist artist, will hold her first U.S. solo exhibition in nearly two decades at Silverlens New York, opening May 8, 2025. Titled "There is Still a Tomorrow, Mother" and curated by Eugenie Tsai, the show spans works from 1982 to 2023, highlighting the overlooked roles of Filipino women through colonialism, war, and dictatorship. The exhibition features mixed-media pieces incorporating materials like cloth gloves, woven bamboo, and crocheted textiles, alongside paintings such as "Tutol ni Dolorosa" and the installation "The Wife is a DH," which address themes of erasure, migration, and resistance.

The Institutions and Collectives Putting the Gulf First

After Gulf Futurism, What Next?

Beyond Weapons: Social Strength as True Defense in the Persian Gulf

Oltre le armi. La forza sociale come vera difesa nel Golfo Persico

Journalist and observer perspectives highlight that Iran’s geopolitical resilience against international military pressure stems from its vibrant middle class and deep-rooted historical identity rather than just its arsenal. Observations from travels across Iranian cities like Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan reveal a society deeply engaged with its own culture, frequenting museums, cafes, and archaeological sites despite political isolation and a lack of foreign tourism.

My Sharjah Rent: Artist creates 'open gallery' in Dh65,000 apartment

Wael Hamadeh, a 56-year-old Lebanese artist and creative director living in Sharjah since 2013, opens his Dh65,000-a-year apartment in Emirates Tower to The National, describing it as an 'open gallery' filled with his paintings, sculptures, and art pieces. He shares the three-bedroom home with his wife and two children, using one bedroom as a workshop and store for his art, while displaying works throughout the salon and walls.

OPEN CALL – Diriyah Art Futures: Emerging New Media Artists 2026-2027 Edition.

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has opened applications for its third Emerging New Media Artists Programme, a one-year fully supported residency running from October 2026 to October 2027. Developed in collaboration with Le Fresnoy – Studio National des Arts Contemporains in France, the programme offers emerging artists aged 35 or under access to professional equipment, a production budget, mentorship by international digital artists, and multidisciplinary training in art, science, and technology. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2026, with a focus on applicants from the Middle East and North Africa.

Sunkissed and the Poetics of Repetition.

Jeddah-based artist Ahaad Alamoudi presents 'Sunkissed' at the Sharjah Art Foundation, a solo exhibition curated by Amal Al Ali that explores the rapidly shifting cultural landscape of the Gulf. Through a series of newly commissioned and recent works, including looping videos and mechanical installations, Alamoudi utilizes repetition and pop-culture symbols like falcons and fly traps to examine how collective identity is negotiated amidst accelerated urban development and technological change.

A season of colour: Coimbatore gallery showcases works by Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu

An exhibition at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery in Coimbatore showcases around 70 works by five artists of the Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu: V. Rajendhran, Kumanan, Murugesan, Ramamoorthy, and Govindarajulu. The show features a wide range of styles—from realistic animal portraits and textured floral canvases to charcoal sketches of crows and Rajasthani-themed paintings—employing techniques such as knife work, spray painting, and texture painting with clay. Rajendhran’s works focus on textile design, Kumanan presents acrylics and seed-covered sculptures, and Ramamoorthy offers a series of crow sketches. The exhibition is part of the AURORA Series 2026 and runs through May 17.

Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum Hosts Exhibition Marking Anniversary of Florida-Wakayama Sister State Agreement

The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University is hosting the exhibition “Harmony of Nature and Art” to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the sister-state agreement between Florida and Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The traveling exhibition, which previously appeared at the Florida Capitol’s 22nd Floor Art Gallery and the Atlantic Center for the Arts, features traditional Noh masks by master carver Hakuzan Kubo, netsuke miniature sculptures from the Frost Art Museum collection, and paintings by the Florida Highwaymen. It is organized by the Florida Department of State Division of Arts and Culture with loans from multiple institutions and private collectors.

Katara opens Contemporary Graphic Art Exhibition featuring 29 artists| Gulf Times

Katara Cultural Village Foundation has opened a Contemporary Graphic Art Exhibition featuring 29 artists from Qatar and abroad, displaying over 170 works that explore modern printmaking techniques. The exhibition runs until May 18 at Hall 18 in Katara, bringing together diverse generations and styles, with participating artists including Abdulrahman al-Muttawa, Haifa al-Khuzai, and Lina al-Ali, whose works draw on Qatari women's identity and heritage.

The Gallery: “Open House” by Area C Projects

The City of Tampa has added the monumental sculpture “Open House” by Area C Projects to its Public Art Collection, installed at the City Center at Hanna Avenue. Created by Rhode Island-based husband-and-wife team Erik Carlson and Ericka Carpenter, the piece features house silhouettes in vibrant sunset-inspired panels and illuminated street-name inscriptions.

Frank Relle’s Photos Revel in Louisiana’s Otherworldly Swampland

Photographer Frank Relle continues his long-term artistic exploration of Louisiana's swamps, capturing the ethereal transition between day and night in his series 'Until the Water'. Based in New Orleans, Relle uses submerged lights to illuminate cypress trees and Spanish moss, creating serene, otherworldly images that convey a sense of timelessness and connection to a primordial landscape.

GSHS Amplify Art Exhibit at GCAC Gallery ‘til May 29 in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

The Gulf Coast Art Alliance (GCAA) is hosting the Gulf Shores High School Amplify Art Exhibit at its gallery in Gulf Shores, Alabama, from May 4 to May 29. The exhibition features artwork created by high school students, with cash awards and a public reception scheduled for May 14 from 4-6 p.m. at the GCAA Gallery located at 225 E 24th Ave. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Design Miami will expand to Dubai

Design Miami has announced plans to launch a new edition in Dubai in early 2027, in partnership with the Dubai-based cultural enterprise Alserkal. The fair, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary in Miami Beach, also runs an annual edition in Paris, while its Basel show was suspended earlier this year. The inaugural Design Miami Dubai will be led by Vilma Jurkute, executive director of Alserkal, Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Design Miami, and Jesse Lee, chairman of Design Miami and founder of Basic.Space, which acquired the fair in 2023. Beyond the annual event, the collaboration will establish a year-round programme of design talks and educational initiatives.

Katara launches 'Mada from letter to colour'| Gulf Times

Katara Cultural Village in Qatar is launching a new exhibition titled 'Mada... From letter to colour' on Tuesday, featuring works by students from the Fine Arts Programme at Qatar University’s College of Arts and Sciences. The show blends Arabic calligraphy with modern visual arts, showcasing a range of experimental and traditional paintings that explore the evolution from lettering to color innovation.