The article describes a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Art that examines the American experience through visual art. The show brings together works from the museum's collection to explore themes of identity, history, and culture in the United States.
The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) has announced that Dr. Gail Stavitsky, its Chief Curator, will retire on July 1, 2026, after a tenure of more than 30 years. Stavitsky joined MAM in 1994 as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, was promoted to Chief Curator in 1998, and curated over 200 exhibitions, including landmark shows such as "Cézanne and American Modernism" (2009) and "Matisse and American Art" (2017). Her recent exhibitions include solo shows for vanessa german and Tom Nussbaum, and she co-curated "Shifting Terrain: Perspectives on Land in North America." She also oversaw major acquisitions and the care of the museum's collections of George Inness and Morgan Russell.
A new exhibition titled "Nervous Breakdown" at the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum in Ludwigshafen, Germany, presents the most comprehensive collection of Raymond Pettibon's album cover art to date. The show draws from over 200 works in the collection of Stefan Thull, spanning Pettibon's record, CD, and cassette covers from 1979 to the present, including iconic designs for Sonic Youth's "Goo" and Black Flag's logo. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published by the museum and David Zwirner Books.
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York will present "Jessica Lichtenstein: Rewilding," the artist's first solo museum exhibition, from May 30, 2026, through April 18, 2027. The immersive installation transforms the third-floor gallery into a lush, overgrown terrain featuring thousands of digitally rendered female nudes that coalesce into forests, ruins, and flowering canopies, exploring themes of femininity, ecological imagination, and bodily autonomy.
The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) and the Nasher Sculpture Center have jointly opened "Roy Lichtenstein in the Studio," a landmark two-venue exhibition celebrating the pop artist's centennial. Organized by curators Dr. Catherine Craft, Ade Omotosho, and Dr. Emily Friedman, the show features over 50 works gifted by the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, which is closing its operations. The exhibition marks the first collaboration between the neighboring institutions since "Matisse as Sculptor" nearly 20 years ago, and includes prints, drawings, maquettes, and sculptures that establish Dallas as a study center for Lichtenstein's work.
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York will present "Jessica Lichtenstein: Rewilding," the artist's first solo museum exhibition, from May 30, 2026, to April 18, 2027. The immersive installation transforms the third-floor gallery into a lush, overgrown terrain featuring thousands of digitally rendered female nudes that form forests, ruins, and flowering canopies. The exhibition is divided into four sections—Secret Garden, After the Fall, Leave Your Thoughts Here, and Shadow Play—and includes site-specific works like the 2026 piece "Secret Garden" and a 70-foot-long modular sculpture titled "Leave Your Thoughts Here" (2025).
The Parrish Art Museum is hosting a special panel discussion on April 18 to coincide with Earth Day and the centennial of Robert Rauschenberg. The event features Helen Hsu from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and various contemporary artists featured in the museum's current exhibition, "Regeneration: Long Island’s History of Ecological Art and Care." The conversation will explore Rauschenberg’s environmental legacy—including his design of the first Earth Day poster in 1970—alongside modern artistic approaches to ecological activism.
Tate Britain has completed the first-ever cleaning of Bridget Riley’s landmark 1964 Op art painting, 'Hesitate,' using a pioneering 'green' conservation method. Developed through the international Greenart research program, the treatment utilizes specialized hydrogels that lift dirt from the surface without the mechanical pressure of traditional swab rolling. This breakthrough allows conservators to safely clean the sensitive, unvarnished polyvinyl acetate house paints Riley favored, which were previously deemed too fragile for standard restoration techniques.
A preview of ten major art exhibitions opening across the United States in 2026, curated by art historian Emily Snow. Highlights include 'Frida: The Making of an Icon' at the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, a Mary Cassatt centenary show at the National Gallery of Art, a focused presentation of Matisse's 'Jazz' at the Art Institute of Chicago, the 82nd Whitney Biennial, and the first comprehensive Raphael exhibition ever staged in the U.S. at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other featured shows include 'America 250: Common Threads' at Crystal Bridges Museum and 'Manet & Morisot' at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The Portland Art Museum (PAM) will unveil a $116 million expansion and renovation on November 20, the largest single-organization arts investment in Oregon history. The centerpiece is the new Mark Rothko Pavilion, a multi-story glass structure designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects and Vinci Hamp Architects, which bridges the museum's 1932 building with a former Masonic Temple. The project adds 100,000 square feet of renovated space, including new plazas with sculptures by Ugo Rondinone, Roy Lichtenstein, Anthony Caro, and Clement Meadmore. The Rothko family is lending major paintings from their private collection for display over two decades, with a promised gift at the end of that period, and made a six-figure donation to the museum's $146 million capital campaign.
Sylvio Perlstein, the Belgian art collector and jeweller, died at age 94 in Antwerp, where he was born in 1931. A third-generation gem-cutter from a diamond dynasty, he fled the Nazis with his Jewish family to Brazil as an infant, reinventing himself as "Sylvio." His collecting began as an adolescent in Rio, where he bought a strange painting from a florist. Over decades, he amassed a major collection of 20th-century avant-garde art, befriending artists like Man Ray and Yves Klein, and acquiring works by René Magritte, Marcel Broodthaers, and Pablo Picasso. He was known for his discerning eye, seeking works that were "esquisito"—weird, strange, and different—rather than conventionally beautiful.
Christie's Hong Kong held its 20th/21st Century Evening Sale on 26 September 2025 at The Henderson, achieving a total of HK$565,649,000 (US$73,038,183). The top lot was Pablo Picasso's *Buste de femme*, which sold for HK$196,750,000 (US$25,404,911) after over 15 minutes of bidding, setting a new auction record for the artist in Asia. Zao Wou-Ki's *17.3.63* also performed strongly, achieving HK$85,200,000. The sale saw 92% of lots sold, with the overall hammer price 116% above the low estimate, and works by Chinese, Southeast Asian, Korean, and Japanese artists all sold out.
Sotheby’s modern and contemporary evening sale in London on June 25, 2025, achieved £62.43 million ($83.97 million), led by Tamara de Lempicka’s *La Belle Rafaëla* (1927) which sold for £7.47 million ($10.05 million). Other top lots included works by Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Claude Monet, Jenny Saville, and Elizabeth Peyton, with Saville setting a new auction record for a drawing. Eight lots failed to sell, including pieces by Egon Schiele and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
The Whitney Museum of American Art has suspended its prestigious Independent Study Program (ISP) for the 2025-2026 academic year, citing a leadership gap following the 2023 retirement of longtime director Ron Clark. The decision follows accusations of censorship after the museum canceled a performance titled "No Aesthetics Outside my Freedom: Mourning, Militancy and Performance" by Fadl Fakhouri, Noel Maghathe, and Fargo Tbakhi, which addressed the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. An open letter signed by over 360 alumni, faculty, and supporters, including philosopher Judith Butler and artists Andrea Fraser and Walid Raad, condemned the cancellation as an act of censorship and expressed solidarity with the current cohort.
Sotheby's held a successful three-part evening auction in New York on May 15, 2025, achieving a total of $154.2 million in hammer sales ($186.1 million with fees), within its pre-sale estimate. The sale included 12 lots from the estate of late dealer Barbara Gladstone, which sold 100% for $15.1 million, and 15 works from the collection of Daniella Luxembourg, which brought $33.6 million. The main event, Sotheby's The Now and Contemporary evening auction, featured 41 lots—including works from the Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein collection and three deaccessioned by US museums—and achieved a 93% sell-through rate, hammering $105.4 million. A standout was Andy Warhol's 'Flowers' (1964) from the Gladstone estate, which sold for $3.1 million hammer, more than double its high estimate.
Sotheby’s will offer a rare untitled 1981 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat at its Contemporary Evening Auction in New York, estimated at $10–15 million. The work, unseen for 36 years, has been held in a private collection since 1989 and captures the raw energy of Basquiat’s breakout period. Other highlights include Lucio Fontana’s *Concetto spaziale, La Fine di Dio* (1963), Robert Rauschenberg’s *Combine Rigger* (1961), Frank Stella’s *Adelante* (1964), and Ed Ruscha’s *That Was Then This Is Now* (1989). The auction is built around three major private collections: the estate of gallerist Barbara Gladstone, the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, and the “Im Spazio” group assembled by Daniella Luxembourg.
The Hamptons art scene is entering the spring season with a diverse array of gallery openings across Montauk, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Bridgehampton. Key highlights include Timothy Tibus’s abstract retrospective at The Lucore Art, a Matisse-centered group show at The Drawing Room featuring rare etchings, and Kristy Gordon’s myth-inspired "Primavera" at Grenning Gallery. Other notable exhibitions include a showcase of artists from the Cold Castle collective at Keyes Art and a curated group show titled "Connections" at Dan Welden Studio/Gallery.
A series of new gallery and community art exhibitions are opening across the Hamptons and Montauk. Highlights include Timothy Tibus's solo painting show "Live Forever" at The Lucore Art in Montauk, the group exhibition "Echoes of Matisse" at The Drawing Room in East Hampton, Ann Pibal's solo show at Halsey McKay Gallery, and a one-week solo exhibition for Marcie Honerkamp at the Springs Community Library.
The Hamptons art scene is hosting a diverse array of exhibitions this March, ranging from intimate solo shows to expansive group surveys. Key highlights include Cait Porter’s still-life explorations of grief at Halsey McKay Gallery, Bruce Mermelstein’s photography retrospective at Southampton Town Hall, and a music-centric exhibition at ARDT Gallery featuring works by Kim Simmonds and David Edward Byrd. Other notable shows include "The Light of Awakening" at LTV Studios and a contemporary narrative group show at Slattery Gallery that pairs emerging artists with blue-chip masters like Picasso and de Kooning.
The East End's gallery scene is seeing a seasonal shift as several new exhibitions open across the Hamptons and North Fork. This week's highlights include a group show focusing on abstract landscapes at a local mainstay and a solo presentation of experimental photography that challenges traditional perspectives on coastal environments.
The exhibition 'Soft Reins: From Degas to Fordjour' opened at Acquavella Galleries in Palm Beach's Royal Poinciana Plaza. Curated by artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, it presents works by a range of artists, from historical figures like Edgar Degas and Pablo Picasso to contemporary names like Derek Fordjour and Sarah Miska, all exploring equestrian themes.
Artist Precious Okoyomon discusses how learning to fly a propeller plane has influenced their artistic practice, from dioramas depicting aerial perspectives to a video work reading poetry from the cockpit. Their first exhibition with Mendes Wood DM in Paris, titled 'It’s important to have ur fangs out at the end of the world' (through 17 January), features sculptures, wallpaper, a fable, and three lightbox dioramas that draw on sky studies taken while flying. Okoyomon earned their pilot’s license before their driver’s license as a teenager in Ohio, and continues to fly when visiting family, finding the experience a reset for their nervous system.
Wie Artotheken Kunst zugänglich machen
Artotheken, or art libraries, are public institutions that lend artworks to anyone with a library card, making art accessible beyond the traditional museum or gallery system. In Germany, over 100 such artotheken exist, often housed in public libraries, art associations, or museums. The Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek in Berlin, for example, has a collection of 2,000 works, with around 300 currently on loan to homes, doctors' offices, and law firms. The lending process is informal: borrowers can eat, drink, and even touch the works, and transport by bus or bike is encouraged. A jury selects up to 15 new works annually, and the collection includes major names like Roy Lichtenstein and Niki de Saint Phalle, though most users choose pieces based on personal connection rather than prestige.
The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center is launching a new exhibition titled "Artistic Generosity and the American Artist Abroad," showcasing four decades of American art commissioned for U.S. embassies worldwide. Opening April 7 at the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery, the show features site-specific commissions, prints, and photographs from the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) collection, including works by Frank Stella, Ellsworth Kelly, and Julie Mehretu.
The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center is set to launch a new exhibition titled 'Artistic Generosity and the American Artist Abroad,' showcasing four decades of American art commissioned for U.S. embassies. Opening April 7 at the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery, the show features works from the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) by renowned artists including Sam Gilliam, Ellsworth Kelly, Julie Mehretu, and Martin Puryear. Highlights include never-before-seen maquettes by Don Gummer and the late Frank Stella, alongside a replica of the Declaration of Independence donated by David M. Rubenstein.
An outdoor exhibition titled 'Pop Goes Brum!' will be held in Birmingham's Snow Hill Square from 9 to 30 June 2025, celebrating the life and work of Peter Phillips, a pioneering British pop artist who died in June 2025. Curated by art historian Ruth Millington and developed in partnership with Birmingham School of Art, the free exhibition aims to showcase Phillips' 'pioneering achievements' and his deep connection to Birmingham, where he was born in 1939 and trained at Moseley School of Art and Birmingham School of Art. Phillips, who ranked alongside David Hockney, Pauline Boty, Peter Blake, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein, was a key figure in the international pop art movement and helped launch British pop art with a 1961 exhibition.
A free outdoor exhibition titled 'Pop Goes Brum!' will honor Birmingham-born Pop artist Peter Phillips at Snow Hill Square from June 9 to June 30, 2026. Curated by art historian Ruth Millington and organized by Birmingham Colmore, the showcase features Phillips' striking artworks and photographs, alongside contemporary works by current Birmingham School of Art students. Phillips, who studied and later taught at the Birmingham School of Art, was a key figure in the international Pop art movement alongside David Hockney, Pauline Boty, Peter Blake, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein. He passed away in June 2025 at age 86.
Nara's Painting Challenges Korean Auction Record
Japanese pop art sensation Yoshitomo Nara is poised to shatter the record for the most expensive artwork ever sold at a South Korean auction. His 2016 painting 'Nothing about it,' featuring his signature wide-eyed girl, carries a pre-sale estimate of 14.7 billion to 22 billion Korean won ($11M–$16.5M USD). The work will headline Seoul Auction’s 'Contemporary Art Sale' on March 31, alongside major pieces by Yayoi Kusama and Roy Lichtenstein.
Seoul Auction is set to host its March Contemporary Art Sale, featuring Yoshitomo Nara’s 2016 painting "Nothing about it" as the centerpiece. With a low estimate of 14.7 billion won ($11 million), the work is poised to potentially shatter the record for the highest price ever achieved at an art auction in South Korea. The sale also includes high-value works by Yayoi Kusama and Roy Lichtenstein, with a total pre-sale estimate reaching up to 75 billion won.
JOOPITER, the auction platform founded to rethink collecting for a digital generation, will launch its first dedicated contemporary art sale this spring. Titled "The Contemporary Take," the online auction runs from April 28 through May 6, 2025, and is curated in collaboration with Martha Stewart. The sale features nearly fifty works by established and emerging artists, including Alex Katz, Jeff Koons, Amy Sherald, George Condo, Esther Mahlangu, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Ai Weiwei, and Damien Hirst, selected to reflect the renewal and vibrancy of the season. The auction also marks the debut of late Iranian-American artist Davood Roostaei.