Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language at Atlanta Contemporary, Atlanta

The Atlanta Contemporary is presenting the group exhibition 'Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language,' curated by Karen Comer Lowe. It features works by artists February James, Bethany Collins, Gabi Madrid, and a’driane nieves across film, painting, and mixed media, focusing on how each translates personal and embodied experience into visual and linguistic forms. Key pieces include nieves's monumental painting on grief and rage, Collins's text-based interrogation of racial identity, James's debut stop-motion film exploring stillness, and Madrid's inscribed headboards addressing healing and cultural memory.

Almost Everything in the World Depends on This Substance

"Fast alles in der Welt hängt von dieser Substanz ab"

Artist Monira Al Qadiri presents her exhibition "Hero" at the Berlinische Galerie, focusing on oil tankers as central figures. The show explores the hidden violence and scale of the petroleum industry through a large wall painting of the supertanker Hero, miniature tankers with satirical names, and a video work depicting their destruction. Al Qadiri connects this to her long-term artistic investigation of oil's imagery and materiality.

‘One simple gesture says it all’: the world in black and white – in pictures

Photographer Marina Sersale has released a new monograph titled 'Liminal Space,' published by Gost, which compiles over a decade of monochrome photography. The collection features dramatic black-and-white images captured between 2013 and 2021 across diverse locations including Italy, Japan, Iran, and the United States. Sersale, a former documentary filmmaker, focuses on the interplay of light and shadow to document fleeting, everyday moments—from sunbathers in Positano to commuters in Naples.

Love & Fury: how poster artists responded to the Aids crisis – in pictures

A new exhibition titled 'Love & Fury: New York’s Fight Against AIDS' showcases posters created by grassroots groups and artists in response to the AIDS crisis from the late 1970s to the 2000s. The show features works from collectives like the Silence=Death Project and Gay Men’s Health Crisis, as well as artists including Keith Haring and Howard Cruse, highlighting how graphic design was used to promote safe sex, demand government action, and build community resilience.

Giuditta Branconi “Cannon Fodder” at Collezione Maramotti, Reggio Emilia

Italian artist Giuditta Branconi has unveiled her first institutional solo exhibition, titled "Cannon Fodder," at the Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia. The exhibition features a series of new large-scale paintings and a site-specific installation characterized by dense, chaotic compositions where multiple narratives unfold simultaneously. Branconi describes her approach as fostering an "anarchic gaze," intentionally refusing to guide the viewer through her crowded, vibrant visual landscapes.

Ida Ekblad’s Experimental Space Where Artists Come to Play

Artist Ida Ekblad has converted a 1960s Brutalist villa in Oslo into a dynamic, non-commercial studio and project space named 'Villa Ekblad.' The space serves as her primary studio but is also designed to host spontaneous collaborations, workshops, and experimental projects with other artists, functioning as a creative laboratory removed from market pressures.

Genti Korini on Representing Albania at the 61st Venice Biennale

Artist Genti Korini will represent Albania at the 61st Venice Biennale with a new moving-image installation titled 'A Place in the Sun.' Curated by Małgorzata Ludwisiak, the project utilizes 'Zaum'—a transrational language from the Russian Futurist movement—to explore themes of performance, puppetry, and animation. The work investigates Albania’s historical position as a 'somewhere place' often defined by external exoticism and orientalist perceptions rather than its own internal voice.

Yang Fudong’s Memory Palace

Yang Fudong has opened his largest solo exhibition to date, 'Fragrant River,' at the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. The show features over 30 works and eight hours of video, including major new installations like the five-channel 'Young Man, Young Man' and the furniture-and-video piece 'Breastfeeding,' which immerse viewers in scenes from the artist's hometown of Xianghe.

Lubaina Himid on Representing Great Britain at the 61st Venice Biennale

Lubaina Himid will represent Great Britain at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. She plans to exhibit a new installation of large, multi-panel paintings and works on found objects, accompanied by a sound piece by Magda Stawarska, all inspired by her lifelong exploration of belonging. The work aims to navigate melancholy and deep remembering, inviting visitors to bring their own experiences into the pavilion.

An Urgent Call From Artists and Curators of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2026

A group of seventy-four artists and curators participating in the 61st Venice Biennale have issued an urgent letter to the institution's leadership, including director Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. The signatories are protesting the decision to relocate the Israeli Pavilion to the Arsenale, placing it in close proximity to the central exhibition, "In Minor Keys," which was conceived by the late curator Koyo Kouoh. The group argues that this relocation violates Kouoh’s curatorial vision of radical solidarity and introduces a threatening military and police presence into the exhibition space.

Maurizio Cattelan opens a hotline to absolve us of our sins via WhatsApp

Maurizio Cattelan ouvre une hotline pour nous absoudre de nos péchés par WhatsApp

Italian provocateur Maurizio Cattelan has launched "The Confessional," an international hotline allowing participants to confess their sins via WhatsApp, SMS, or voice notes from April 2 to April 22, 2026. This participatory performance culminates in a livestream on April 23, where Cattelan will personally grant absolution to selected participants. The project coincides with the release of a limited edition of 666 miniature replicas of his infamous 1999 sculpture, "La Nona Ora," which depicts Pope John Paul II being struck by a meteorite.

After Farce: Ubu, the Imperialist

The article examines the cultural and artistic response to Donald Trump's presidency, tracing how artists and critics initially invoked Alfred Jarry's absurdist character Ubu to make sense of Trump's first term. It argues that the second term has moved beyond farce into a normalized, active remaking of the international political order, with Trump pursuing overt imperial ambitions that exceed Jarry's original satire.

Researchers Link Two Unattributed Works To Michelangelo

Researchers have attributed two previously unattributed works to Michelangelo. The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage of Belgium used radiocarbon dating, pigment analysis, and infrared reflectography to link a 16th-century oil-on-canvas Pietà to the master, finding monograms and a date consistent with his work. Separately, Italian researcher Valentina Salerno published a decade-long study using archival documents and stylistic analysis to attribute a marble bust of Christ in a Roman basilica to Michelangelo.

Frame of Reference

Memphis is undergoing a significant transformation of its cultural landscape as the city's major art institutions evolve to meet modern community needs. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is preparing for a landmark move to a new riverfront location where it will be renamed the Memphis Art Museum, offering 50 percent more gallery space. This expansion follows decades of growth for the city's "big three" institutions—the Brooks, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, and the Metal Museum—which have anchored the local scene since the mid-1970s.

[Interview] Scenes of Memory and Modern Life: Sun Yitian x Samsung Art Store

Chinese artist Sun Yitian has partnered with the Samsung Art Store to feature her large-scale painting "Ken" (2023) as part of the Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 digital collection. The work, which depicts Barbie’s male counterpart at a massive three-meter scale, explores themes of mass production, the male gaze, and the hollow nature of modern plastic icons. The collaboration marks a bridge between Sun's physical painterly practice and the digital accessibility of contemporary art on domestic screens.

In 2026, DeviantArt Is Helping Artists Cut Through The Noise and Fuel Sustainable Careers

DeviantArt has undergone a significant resurgence, reaching over 108 million users by 2026 following a multi-year modernization effort. The platform has pivoted away from traditional advertising models to a creator-centric ecosystem that prioritizes artist monetization through subscriptions, digital tip jars, and low-fee sales. By removing third-party ads and implementing advanced image protection technology, the site has positioned itself as a secure alternative to mainstream social media for digital creators.

Walker Art Center Restaurant Cuts Front-of-House Staff as QR Codes Take Over

Cardamom, the in-house restaurant at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, is laying off sixteen front-of-house staff members as it transitions to a QR-code-based ordering system. The restaurant’s operator, DDP Restaurant Group, cited fluctuating museum traffic and rising operational costs as the primary drivers for the shift to a counter-service model. While kitchen staff and bartenders will remain, the move effectively replaces traditional table service with digital automation.

A Piece of the Eiffel Tower Is Heading to Auction

A historic section of the original Eiffel Tower staircase is set to be auctioned by Artcurial in Paris on May 21. The nearly nine-foot-tall segment consists of 14 spiral steps that once connected the monument's second and third levels before being dismantled in 1983 to make way for elevators. Estimated to fetch between $140,000 and $175,000, the piece has been held in a private collection for over forty years.

Rare Complete Triceratops Skeleton Snags $5.5 Million at Auction

A 66-million-year-old Triceratops skeleton, nicknamed Trey, sold for $5.55 million at the online auction platform Joopiter. The fossil, excavated in 1993, had been on continuous public display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center for three decades and represents the first dinosaur skeleton sold by Joopiter, a platform founded by Pharrell Williams.

In Paris, the unRepresented fair brings together artists without galleries in a private mansion

À Paris, le salon unRepresented réunit dans un hôtel particulier des artistes sans galerie

The unRepresented art fair returns to Paris for its fourth edition, taking place from April 10 to 12 at the Hôtel Molière. Founded by Emilia Genuardi, the salon provides a platform for fifteen independent artists who are not currently represented by galleries, allowing them to showcase their work during the busy Art Paris week. This year's selection focuses on artists who "experiment with the image," featuring diverse practices ranging from Regina Anzenberger’s painted photographs to Tania Arancia’s textile-based archival works.

Latin American Art: Structural Growth between Market and Institutions

Latin American Art: Structural Growth between Market and Institutions

Latin American contemporary art is experiencing structural growth and increased global visibility between 2024 and 2026, moving beyond speculative trends toward deep-seated institutional legitimacy. This shift is highlighted by the prominent inclusion of regional artists in major international platforms, most notably the 2026 Venice Biennale and the Pinault Collection. Key figures such as Rosanna Paulino, Adriana Varejão, and Paulo Nazareth are leading this movement, utilizing diverse media to explore themes of post-colonialism, racial violence, and ecological memory.

Peter Blake’s studio brought to life at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in West London has announced a major retrospective of Sir Peter Blake, scheduled to open in November 2026. The exhibition, titled 'Peter Blake: In the Studio,' features a full-scale reconstruction of the artist's Hammersmith workspace, providing an immersive look at the environment where his seven-decade career unfolded. The show will display a wide range of media, including his iconic Pop Art paintings, sculptures, and recent collages that respond to the works of William Hogarth.

Sir Peter Blake’s Studio Comes to Pitzhanger Manor in a Landmark West London Exhibition

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in West London has announced a major exhibition, "Peter Blake: In the Studio," scheduled to run from November 2026 to April 2027. The landmark show will feature a full-scale recreation of the artist’s Hammersmith workspace, providing an immersive look at the environment where the 'Godfather of British Pop Art' conceived his most famous works. The exhibition will span seven decades of Blake's career, showcasing paintings, collages, and sculptures alongside his personal collection of curiosities and memorabilia.

Lebanese Artist Ali Cherri Files War Crimes Complaint Against Israel After 2024 Beirut Bombing

Lebanese artist Ali Cherri, with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has filed a civil complaint in France seeking an investigation into an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut residential building in November 2024. The strike killed seven civilians, including Cherri's parents. The complaint, supported by forensic analysis from Forensic Architecture and Amnesty International, alleges the attack used munitions documented as being employed by the Israeli air force and targeted a civilian object, potentially constituting a war crime.

Art Fund Launches ‘Empowering Curators’ Program for Global Majority Professionals

Art Fund, a British charity, launched the Empowering Curators program, a five-year initiative creating twenty multi-year curatorial roles for senior to mid-career professionals from global majority backgrounds. Ten initial fellows have been announced, with placements at major institutions including Tate Liverpool, the Whitworth Art Gallery, and Royal Museums Greenwich, where they will develop exhibitions, installations, and academic programs.

Islamic Futurism Here and Now

Hyperallergic's daily newsletter highlights several key art world stories, including a protest by nearly 200 artists, curators, and staff at the 61st Venice Biennale calling for Israel's exclusion from the event. It also features a guide to New York's spring art fairs, a new exhibition on Frida Kahlo, a campaign against a Palestinian artist in Germany, and a profile on artists advancing Islamic Futurism through calligraphy and installation.

Jones Walker of Taos: Where art feels like home

Interior designers Tony Walker and Max Jones have established Jones Walker of Taos, a gallery on Bent Street that emphasizes a welcoming, domestic atmosphere. After relocating from Dallas in 2018, the duo transitioned from award-winning interior design careers to gallerists, curating a diverse collection of local talent that includes descendants of Taos Pueblo and Spanish carving families. The gallery showcases a mix of modern and traditional paintings, carvings, pottery, and weaving, focusing on authentic regional craftsmanship that appeals to both local residents and international collectors.

Ashland University senior art exhibition opens April 9

Ashland University is set to host its annual Senior Art and Design Exhibition at the Coburn Gallery, running from April 9 through May 9, 2026. The showcase features the capstone projects of graduating seniors and kicks off with an opening reception where student awards will be officially announced.

Madrid: Hypnotic Laugh Track by Manga Ngcobo

Writer Manga Ngcobo reflects on the architectural and cultural landscape of Madrid in early 2025, juxtaposing the city's historic art institutions with its rapid technological and commercial evolution. Drawing on Ben Lerner’s novel 'Leaving the Atocha Station', the piece explores the growing disconnect between the profound emotional experiences promised by masters like Velázquez and Goya and the reality of a city increasingly designed for content creation, retail aesthetics, and digital consumption.

Exhibition | Merlin James, 'See Through' at P420, Bologna, Italy

The gallery P420 in Bologna has opened "See Through," the second solo exhibition by Welsh artist Merlin James. The show features a non-linear curation that blends works from different decades, ranging from landscapes and interiors to erotic scenes and near-abstract compositions. James’s approach treats the exhibition as a "jam session," where visual and thematic repetitions provide a structure for diverse painterly explorations.