Fall Arts Preview

The article previews the Fall 2025-26 arts and entertainment season in Richmond, Virginia, highlighting cultural venues and events across the city and surrounding counties. Key highlights include the new Foyer Gallery, which opens with a solo exhibition by Patrick Berran titled "Burn Blue," and the Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, which closes its inaugural season with performances by James Taylor, Leon Bridges, Steve Martin and Martin Short, and Tedeschi Trucks Band. Other venues mentioned include The National, The Valentine, and Hanover Tavern, along with events like "InLight" at Abner Clay Park and a concert by Jason Mraz.

Epic Palmer Museum exhibition explores 30 years of ecology and art

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is opening "Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld" on August 30, the first survey of the two artists' work spanning three decades. The exhibition features sculptures, paintings, works on paper, and a new collaborative diorama, exploring themes of ecology, environmental collapse, invasive species, and climate change through scientific and artistic lenses. Both artists, who met in New York in the 1980s, combine intensive research, dark humor, and museum display methods to subvert traditional narratives about nature and humanity.

National Museum of Asian Art Presents “Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared”

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art will present "Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared" from November 8, 2025 to February 1, 2026, marking the first U.S. exhibition of masterpieces from the Lee Kun-Hee Collection. Featuring over 200 works including a dozen Korean National Treasures, the exhibition spans 1,500 years of Korean art—from ancient Buddhist sculptures and ceramics to Joseon dynasty furnishings and 20th-century modern paintings. The collection, donated to the Republic of Korea in 2021 by the family of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee, comprises more than 23,000 works accumulated over 70 years. The exhibition is co-organized by the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, with additional loans from the Leeum Museum of Art shown exclusively in Washington, D.C.

Artist Amy Sherald has canceled her upcoming show at the Smithsonian

Artist Amy Sherald has canceled her upcoming solo exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, scheduled to open September 19. The cancellation stems from a dispute over her painting *Trans Forming Liberty* (2024), which depicts a trans woman with pink hair and a blue gown holding a torch. Sherald stated that the museum expressed concerns about including the portrait, leading to discussions about removing it. She claims the Smithsonian planned to replace the painting with a video of people reacting to it, which she opposed as it would debate the value of trans visibility. The Smithsonian denies the painting was to be replaced, saying the video was meant to provide context. Sherald's exhibition, *Amy Sherald: American Sublime*, was organized by SFMOMA and is currently on view at the Whitney Museum.

Moving On Up: 24 Museum Curators and Art Leaders Who Took on New Appointments in First Half of 2025

Culture Type has published its annual list of new appointments among museum curators and arts leaders for the first half of 2025, highlighting two dozen hires and promotions at major institutions. Notable appointments include Deana Haggag as program director for arts and culture at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Ann Collins Smith as chief curator at the New Orleans Museum of Art (the first Black American in a full-time curatorial role there), and Vincent van Velsen as head of exhibitions at Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam. The list also features curators such as Alisa Chiles at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Brittany Webb at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Taste test: artist-made desserts will be shown (and eaten) in New York gallery’s one-night exhibition

On Saturday, June 28, the Lower East Side gallery Olympia will host CAKE, a one-night exhibition and feast featuring desserts donated by dozens of New York-based artists, including Hannah Beerman, Mie Yim, Wells Chandler, Robin F. Williams, Hein Koh, and Melissa Joseph. The event functions as a fundraiser for the gallery and a participatory performance art piece, with tickets priced at $45. The gallery's founder and director, Ali Rossi, conceived the show as a community-centric alternative to typical summer group exhibitions, and all desserts will be photographed before consumption to preserve documentation.

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART TO PRESENT FAITH RINGGOLD CHILDREN’S BOOK ART EXHIBITION

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta will present "Faith Ringgold: Seeing Children" from June 27 to October 12, 2025, the most comprehensive exhibition to date of the late artist's original paintings and drawings for her children's books. Featuring more than 100 works from a dozen titles including "Tar Beach" and "We Came to America," the show includes several never-before-exhibited artworks and is the eighth in the museum's series celebrating children's book art, presented in conjunction with a production by the Alliance Theatre.

Pallets, not plinths: the V&A opens its vast storehouse to the public

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London will open its V&A East Storehouse on 31 May, a vast open-access working store at the 2012 Olympics site in Stratford. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the 16,000 sq. m space holds over 250,000 objects and 1,000 archives, allowing visitors to browse collections without glass cases via a self-guided route and an 'Order an Object' booking service. Deputy director Tim Reeve compares the experience to shopping at Ikea, emphasizing flexibility and public access.

Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art and Saudi Arabia strike deal to collaborate on exhibitions, conservation and more

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) has signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to collaborate on exhibitions, conservation, research, and staff exchanges. The deal, signed on May 14 by NMAA director Chase Robinson and RCU CEO Abeer AlAkel, focuses on the ancient site of Dadan, a capital of the Lihyanite and Dadanite civilizations. The partnership covers joint conservation and research projects, exhibition loans, and professional development over four years.

The Look Book Goes to Rashid Johnson’s Opening Night

Nearly a thousand people attended the opening night of Rashid Johnson's solo exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The event, covered by the Look Book, featured a diverse crowd including artists, curators, writers, and collectors, with attendees sharing their impressions of the show and personal connections to the work. Notable figures present included artist Rashid Johnson, deputy director Naomi Beckwith, and writer Kevin Young, among many others.

The best museum shows to see during Tefaf New York 2025

The article highlights several major museum exhibitions opening during Tefaf New York 2025. At the Brooklyn Museum, "Solid Gold" (through July 6) traces the material's historical and cultural significance across fine art, fashion, jewelry, and design, featuring works from ancient Coclé gold plaques to pieces by Agnes Martin, Louise Nevelson, and Alexander Calder. The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents "Sargent and Paris" (through August 3) for the centenary of John Singer Sargent's death, reuniting his scandalous "Portrait of Madame X" with preparatory sketches and exploring his formative decade in Paris. The Jewish Museum offers "The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt" (through August 10), examining the biblical story's influence on 17th-century Dutch art through works by Rembrandt and his contemporaries.

Gallery Guide

A comprehensive guide lists numerous art galleries and exhibition spaces across Virginia, primarily in the Richmond area, with some in Ashland, Hanover, and Charles City. It provides details on their locations, contact information, and artistic focuses, ranging from contemporary fine art and nonprofit spaces to specialized collections like 20th-century Russian realism.

At 1-54 New York 2026, Afro-Brazilian art takes centre stage for the first time

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in New York (May 13–17, 2026) will debut a curated section titled '1-54 Presents: Brazil Beyond Brazil,' focusing exclusively on Afro-Brazilian art and artists. Organized by Brazilian curator Igor Simões, the section features works by ten Black Brazilian artists—including Ana Claudia Almeida, Rebeca Carapiá, and Rommulo Vieira Conceição—presented by leading Brazilian galleries such as Almeida & Dale, Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, Nara Roesler, and Aura. The initiative draws on archival research, reinterprets modernist legacies, and challenges narrow narratives around Afro-Brazilian art, highlighting the cultural links between Africa and Latin America.

The National Gallery of Canada, commissioner of Canada's participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, unveils the exhibition Abbas Akhavan: Entre chien et loup

The National Gallery of Canada has unveiled the exhibition "Abbas Akhavan: Entre chien et loup" for the Canada Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. The site-specific installation reimagines the pavilion's architecture as a Wardian case, a precursor to the terrarium used to transport plants across the British Empire, featuring a custom pool with giant Victoria water lilies. The artist replaced the facade with glass panels, making the plants visible from outside, and the installation is framed by additional sculptural works. The exhibition is curated by Kim Nguyen and accompanied by a fully illustrated publication.

Explore Contemporary Art At These 3 Must-Visit Exhibitions | Grazia India

The article highlights three must-visit contemporary art exhibitions in India. The first, 'India in Dialogue: Tradition & Transformation' at Jaipur Centre for Art (May 3–June 8, 2025), is a group show curated by Noelle Kadar featuring artists like Shilpa Gupta and Jitish Kallat. The second, 'Bachpan' by Vicky Roy at Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi (May 2–30, 2025), is a solo photography exhibition capturing childhood resilience, with 30% of proceeds supporting the Barefoot Skateboarders Organisation. The third, 'A Moment in Modernity' by Haren Thakur at Art Magnum and Gallery Time and Space in New Delhi (May 4–June 30, 2025), blends tribal art with modernist aesthetics.

Artists Pay Tribute to Koyo Kouoh in Poetry Caravan at Venice Biennale

At the Venice Biennale on May 7, 2026, Cuban artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons led a poetry caravan across seven locations in the Giardini to honor Koyo Kouoh, the late curator of the Biennale's main exhibition "In Minor Keys," who died of cancer at age 57 in 2025. The procession, inspired by a 1999 voyage Kouoh took with nine African poets from Dakar to Timbuktu, featured performances by poets Natalie Diaz, Robin Coste Lewis, Batool Abu Akleen, and Anne Waldman, kora player Saliou Cissokho, and Kouoh's husband, Swiss saxophonist Philippe Mall, who played a composition dedicated to her. The event was organized by a team of Kouoh's assistants and advisers, including Marie Hélène Pereira, who served as stand-in lead of the 2026 Biennale.

Highlights and Hidden Gems at Dumbo Open Studios

DUMBO Open Studios celebrated its 10th anniversary with over 175 artists across 21 buildings participating in the weekend event. The open studios, jointly managed by Team Dumbo and real estate developer Two Trees, featured a wide range of work, with a noted highlight being works on paper from artists like Bianca Fields, Amy Cutler, and Jason Karolak. Despite rainy weather, the event fostered impromptu conversations and community, with more than half of surveyed artists reporting sales and expectations of future exhibition opportunities.

Former Sotheby's chairman recounts the birth of the London art market as we know it

James Stourton, former chairman of Sotheby's UK, has written a book titled "Rogues and Scholars" that chronicles the rise of London's art market after World War II. The article highlights key moments such as Sotheby's 1958 sale of the Goldschmidt collection of Impressionist art, which transformed auctions into glamorous evening events, and the introduction of the buyer's premium in 1975, which Stourton calls "the Big Bang of the art world." It also profiles influential dealers and galleries like Marlborough Gallery, Robert Fraser, Christopher Gibbs, and Robin Symes who shaped global tastes from London.

Possible new Banksy appears in London

Möglicherweise neuer Banksy in London aufgetaucht

A life-sized statue has suddenly appeared on Waterloo Place in central London, depicting a figure stepping off a pedestal into the void with a flag blowing in its face. The base bears the signature "Banksy," leading to speculation that the anonymous street artist is behind the work. However, as of the morning, Banksy had not posted the piece on Instagram as he typically does, leaving its authenticity unconfirmed.

harry clarke geneva window wolfsonian miami 2576058

The Wolfsonian–Florida International University in Miami Beach is exhibiting "Harry Clarke and the Geneva Window," showcasing a luminous stained glass window created by Irish artist Harry Clarke (1891–1931) for the League of Nations building in Geneva. Commissioned by the Irish Free State in 1926, the window was ultimately rejected by the Irish government due to its controversial content, including depictions of drunkenness, nudity, and Protestant writers. The exhibition explores the window's scandalous history, Clarke's life cut short by tuberculosis at age 41, and the broader context of Irish nationalism and the Celtic Revival.

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Bonhams has been consigned to sell 30 original paintings by beloved American artist and TV host Bob Ross, with an estimated total value of $850,000 to $1.4 million. The works are being sold on behalf of American Public Television (APT), which will direct all net proceeds to support APT and PBS public television stations affected by federal funding cuts. Three paintings—Winter’s Peace (1993), Home in the Valley (1993), and Cliffside (1990)—will be offered on November 11 in Los Angeles, with the remaining 27 offered in auctions next year in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.

ART AGAINST COLLAPSE 193 ARTISTS IMAGINE ALTERNATIVE FUTURES

The Nevada Museum of Art has launched 'Into the Time Horizon,' a massive, multi-year exhibition occupying its entire 120,000-square-foot building. Featuring 193 artists from across the globe, the show is organized into seven thematic sections that survey environmental art and confront the climate crisis, while proposing hopeful pathways forward grounded in care and collective responsibility. It will be on view in full until September 2026, with parts remaining until 2027.

Hopkins Bloomberg Center exhibition to explore American art as cultural diplomacy

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.

China’s Tech Capital Wants to Be an Art Hub, Too

Shenzhen, China's major technology hub, is making a concerted push to become a significant player in the art world. The city began 2025 with major announcements from tech giants JD.com and Tencent, which are establishing new art museums in the city, appointing prominent directors Robin Peckham and Pi Li to lead them. This follows years of building cultural infrastructure, including the OCAT museum, the Sea World Culture and Arts Center, and the growth of local art fairs like Art Shenzhen.

May First Friday: 8 shows to see this month around Missoula

Missoula artist Julia LaTray presents a solo exhibition titled "Animal Pleasures" at Bob's Your Uncle gallery in May, featuring paintings of animals on glitchy, digitized backgrounds alongside lighting and other works. The gallery is only open to the public on dedicated nights, so the exhibition is paired with performances, comedy, and readings on May 1, 8, 15, and 29. Separately, Hanis Coos artist Sara Siestreem brings her major exhibition "Acts of Love, Refusal and Resistance" to the Missoula Art Museum, filling the museum's main galleries with large-scale mixed-media paintings and sculpture, including handmade baskets and ceramic molded versions with gilded flourishes. The museum hosts a First Friday reception on May 1 and a "Coffee and Conversation" with the artist on May 2.

National Museum of Asian Art Presents Paintings From India’s Himalayan Kingdoms in New Exhibition

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC, has announced a new exhibition titled “Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms,” running from April 18 to July 26, 2026. The show features 48 paintings and colored drawings, including canonical masterpieces and never-before-seen works, drawn largely from the museum’s 2017–2018 acquisitions of the Ralph Benkaim and Catherine Glynn Benkaim collection. The exhibition explores three key periods from 1620 to 1830, highlighting the collaborative creativity of artists in the small Hindu kingdoms of the Himalayan region.

Denver Art Museum Luncheon by Design, a fundraiser event for DIVA exhibition, opening fall 2026

The Denver Art Museum (DAM) held its annual Luncheon by Design fundraiser, celebrating the 60-year career of costume designer Bob Mackie as a prelude to the upcoming DIVA exhibition opening in fall 2026. The event featured a conversation between Joe McFate, Mackie's long-time design director, and Jill D'Alessandro, DAM's director and curator of the Avenir Institute of Textile Arts, sharing stories behind Mackie's iconic costumes worn by Cher, Tina Turner, and P!NK. Funds raised support the DIVA exhibition, which will run from October 4, 2026, to January 31, 2027, at the museum.

Ngununggula art gallery unveils exhibition of works from Tangentyere and Yarrenyty Arltere women artists

Ngununggula, the Southern Highlands regional art gallery, has opened a major all-women exhibition titled 'Old Days, New Days | Arlta-imankinya, Arlta-errama.' The show features works from artists associated with Tangentyere Artists and Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, alongside celebrated artist Thea Anamara Perkins. It includes paintings, sculptures, video, textiles, and works on paper, exploring the role of women in family and community life across generations, and will be on view until June 14.

Must-See Museum Exhibits in New Orleans This April

New Orleans is highlighting its vibrant visual arts scene this April with two major museum exhibitions that offer deep dives into Southern identity and local art history. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art has launched "I Am the Face," a comprehensive survey of Southern photography and portraiture from the early 20th century to today. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) is preparing to open a significant retrospective of Louisiana native Robert Gordy, marking the first major presentation of his multidisciplinary work at the institution in over forty years.

Wisconsin Artists Biennial exhibition opens at MOWA on Feb. 7

The Wisconsin Artists Biennial exhibition opens at the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) in West Bend from February 7 to April 19, featuring 52 works by 50 Wisconsin artists. Selected from nearly 500 artists who submitted over 1,200 entries, the show was juried by Nicole Jacquard, Taylor Jasper, and Melissa Oresky. The biennial awards $10,000 in cash prizes, including the MOWA Prize of $5,000 and a solo museum exhibition. An opening party on February 7 includes a reception, juror talk, and award presentation.