Tour LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries – a radical departure

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has unveiled the first look at its new David Geffen Galleries, a radical horizontal structure designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor. Scheduled to open to the public in May 2026, the sinuous concrete and glass building is elevated thirty feet above the ground, spanning Wilshire Boulevard. The interior departs from the traditional "white cube" museum model, featuring 27 non-linear galleries that utilize natural light and custom-designed metallic curtains to showcase the museum's encyclopedic collection in a fluid, interdisciplinary environment.

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.

Artist Alexander Calder's mobiles come to life in a Paris exhibition

The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris has launched a major retrospective dedicated to the American artist Alexander Calder, featuring approximately 300 works. The exhibition showcases 139 of his signature kinetic sculptures and 33 paintings, utilizing the institution's vast internal galleries as well as its external gardens. This marks the first time the museum's outdoor spaces, designed by the late architect Frank Gehry, have been used to host such a comprehensive display of Calder's monumental works.

Review | Raphael, a master of serenity, is the artist we need right now

Art critic Philip Kennicott reflects on the profound psychological impact of Raphael’s Renaissance masterpieces, specifically citing the 'Madonna of the Meadow' in Vienna and the 'Alba Madonna' in Washington, D.C. He describes how these works possess a unique ability to cure 'museum fatigue' and mental clutter, offering a sense of serenity and clarity that feels particularly necessary in the current cultural climate.

Martin Wong’s Vast Interests Go On View at Wrightwood 659

The Wrightwood 659 museum in Chicago has launched "Martin Wong: Chinatown USA," the first major monographic exhibition of the artist's work since 2017. Featuring over 100 paintings, sculptures, and drawings, the show explores Wong’s complex relationship with his Chinese-American identity, his life in New York’s Lower East Side, and his fascination with urban landscapes, sign language, and queer intimacy. The exhibition includes significant loans such as the triptych "Tai Ping Tien Kuo" and the record-breaking "Portrait of Mikey Piñero at Ridge Street and Stanton."

Longmont Museum expansion to bring bigger galleries and experiences for all ages

The Longmont Museum in Colorado has successfully raised $10.2 million for a 7,000-square-foot expansion, surpassing its original funding goal. The project, largely funded by a $6 million gift from the Stewart Family Foundation, will introduce a dedicated children's gallery, a permanent history gallery, and a larger 4,000-square-foot space for major art exhibitions. Construction is set to begin in July 2025, with the first major art show, a photographic portrait of Frida Kahlo, scheduled for October 2026.

Top 6 arts events this week in the Sarasota area, April 19-25

The Sarasota area is set to host a diverse array of cultural programming from April 19-25, highlighted by two major exhibition openings at the Sarasota Art Museum. These include a solo presentation and a group show featuring prominent figures in modern art, alongside a series of high-profile musical performances by the Sarasota Orchestra, ensembleNewSRQ, and the Venice Symphony.

Take a walk on the wild side with the Haas Brothers' fantastical new show

The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York has opened "Uncanny Valley," a major exhibition dedicated to the Los Angeles-based duo Nikolai and Simon Haas. The show features 85 works spanning 15 years of their practice, showcasing their signature blend of art, furniture, and craft through zoomorphic sculptures and kooky forms. Organized in collaboration with the Cranbrook Art Museum, the exhibition places these physical objects against surreal, algorithmically-generated backdrops that explore the intersection of human craftsmanship and digital technology.

Dismantling Orbán's 16-Year Grip on Hungary's Art World

Following the recent electoral defeat of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition by the opposition party Tisza, the Hungarian art world faces a monumental task of institutional restoration. For 16 years, the regime’s 'System of National Cooperation' (NER) systematically co-opted cultural institutions, installing loyalists in leadership roles at major venues like the Kunsthalle and Ludwig Museum to promote an ethno-nationalist agenda. This period was marked by the exodus of independent curators, the occupation of museums by activists, and a fractured ecosystem where state funding was tied to political compliance.

Tutto Boetti 1966–1993

Tutto Boetti 1966–1993

Magazzino Italian Art has announced a major survey exhibition titled "Tutto Boetti 1966–1993," scheduled to run from April 2026 through April 2028. The show features approximately 30 works tracing Alighiero Boetti’s career from his early industrial material experiments in Turin to his later collaborative embroideries and graph paper works. The exhibition draws from the museum’s permanent collection, the Boetti estate, and private loans, and will be launched alongside a scholarly symposium organized with the Fondazione Alighiero e Boetti.

The Bennett Prize Opens Fifth Call for Entries

The Bennett Prize has launched its fifth call for entries, inviting women figurative realist painters to compete for a newly increased grand prize of $75,000. The award, established by collectors Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt, includes a two-year stipend and a traveling solo exhibition that debuts at the Muskegon Museum of Art. Applications are open through September 19, 2026, with a jury featuring prominent figures like curator Miranda Lash and artist Julie Heffernan.

Riyadh continues to bet big on public art: over 100 new works to be installed in the Saudi capital in the coming years

Riyadh continua a scommettere forte sull’arte pubblica: nei prossimi anni oltre 100 nuove opere installate nella capitale saudita

Saudi Arabia is significantly expanding its Riyadh Art public art initiative, with plans to install over 100 new monumental works across the capital city in the coming years. Following the recent Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 event, which added 25 stone and metal sculptures to the permanent collection, the city has announced 12 new site-specific installations by high-profile international artists including Anselm Kiefer, El Anatsui, and Manal AlDowayan. The project aims to reach a total of 115 new commissions, building upon a collection that already features masters like Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons, and Giuseppe Penone.

Annette Messager Enters the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature with Her Entire Bestiary

Annette Messager entre avec tout son bestiaire au musée de la Chasse et de la Nature

The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris is hosting a major exhibition dedicated to the animal-themed works of Annette Messager. Titled "Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps," the show integrates Messager’s diverse practice—including drawings, sculptures, and her signature use of plush toys—into the museum’s permanent collection of taxidermy and hunting artifacts. Curated by Colin Lemoine, the exhibition spans three floors and features works ranging from a ceramic cat from the artist's own kitchen to provocative installations like a taxidermied dachshund wearing a surgical mask.

In Rodez, the haunting shadows of Sugimoto and Soulages meet in a cosmic exhibition

À Rodez, les ombres envoûtantes de Sugimoto et de Soulages se rencontrent dans une exposition cosmique

The Musée Soulages in Rodez is hosting a major exhibition titled "Hiroshi Sugimoto. Reprendre la mélodie," which creates a visual dialogue between the Japanese photographer and the late French master of black, Pierre Soulages. Curated and scenographed by Sugimoto himself, the show pairs iconic series such as "Theaters," "Seascapes," and the colorful "Opticks" with Soulages’ "Outrenoir" paintings. The exhibition highlights their shared fascination with the horizon, the origins of humanity, and the architectural presence of art within a space.

Protests in Mexico Against the Transfer of a Rare Collection to Spain

Protestations au Mexique contre le transfert en Espagne d’une rare collection

A coalition of nearly 400 art professionals in Mexico is protesting the planned transfer of the prestigious Gelman Collection to Spain. The collection, which includes iconic works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, is slated to move to the Faro Santander museum in northern Spain under a five-year management agreement with Banco Santander. Critics describe the move as a "public disaster," citing the opaque 2023 sale of the collection to the Zambrano family and the potential violation of Natasha Gelman’s original will, which stipulated the works remain in Mexico.

A young but already highly competitive profession

Un métier jeune mais déjà très concurrentiel

The museum visitor services sector in France is undergoing rapid professionalization as specialized outsourcing firms compete for lucrative contracts. Companies like Marianne International, Pénélope, and City One—originally rooted in corporate reception and event management—are now managing front-of-house operations for major institutions including the Palais de Tokyo, MuCEM, and the Musée d'Orsay. This shift reflects a broader trend of museums treating visitors as customers and seeking the high-volume staffing expertise found in the corporate world.

The Bennett Prize Just Raised Its Award to $75,000. These Artists Think You Should Apply.

The Bennett Prize, a biennial award dedicated to women figurative realist painters, has increased its grand prize from $50,000 to $75,000 for its fifth cycle. Founded by collectors Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt, the prize aims to bridge the gender gap in the art world by providing substantial financial support and institutional recognition. The current call for entries is open to artists who have not yet reached a specific commercial price ceiling, culminating in a 2027 exhibition at the Muskegon Museum of Art.

‘The extremely happy part of the crowd’: Hungarian arts figures hope for change after 16 years of Orbán rule

The 16-year tenure of Viktor Orbán has come to an end following a landslide victory for Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party in the 2026 Hungarian parliamentary election. The shift in power has sparked widespread celebration among Hungary’s progressive art community, which has long felt stifled by Orbán’s nationalist and socially conservative agenda. Figures from major Budapest galleries and the contemporary art scene report a profound sense of relief, signaling a potential departure from the "illiberal democracy" that dominated the country for nearly two decades.

Nature photography exhibit now open at Mason City art museum

The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City has opened a solo exhibition titled "Ray Colby: Nature Photographer" in its Kinney-Lindstrom Gallery. The show features digital photographs printed on canvas, focusing on three specific themes: backyard insects and arachnids of the Midwest, urban birds from Minneapolis, and migrating Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin. The works on display will be sold via auction to benefit the museum's programming.

Rare Winnie-the-Pooh Drawings Surface for the First Time

Two previously unseen preliminary drawings of Winnie-the-Pooh by illustrator E.H. Shepard have surfaced for the first time on the centenary of the children's classic. Brought forward by Shepard’s family, the pencil sketches depict scenes from A.A. Milne’s original 1926 book that were never fully realized or published. These rare works, along with several other preliminary sketches that did make it into print, are currently on display and for sale at Peter Harrington Rare Books in London before traveling to the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Cultural Institutions Warn Against AfD's Cultural Policy Plans

Kulturinstitutionen warnen vor AfD-Plänen zur Kulturpolitik

Nearly 30 cultural institutions in Saxony-Anhalt, including the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation and the Saxony-Anhalt Museum Association, have issued a joint warning against the AfD party's new government program. The political platform proposes a "patriotic cultural policy" that would prioritize funding for art contributing to "German identity" while criticizing the state's focus on modernism and the Bauhaus as a "sign of identity disorder." The institutions argue these plans threaten artistic freedom, pluralism, and the democratic culture of remembrance regarding Germany's Nazi past.

Chantana Tiprachart Wins Han Nefkens Foundation’s Southeast Asian Video Art Grant

Thai artist and filmmaker Chantana Tiprachart has been awarded the 2026 Southeast Asian Video Art Production Grant by the Han Nefkens Foundation. The prize provides $15,000 for the production of a new moving-image work over a nine-month period, which will subsequently tour several international institutions including the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai and Nottingham Contemporary. The jury selected Tiprachart for her ability to locate social and political narratives within quiet, everyday spaces, praising her commitment to reflection in an era of information overload.

Jewelry artist Douriean Fletcher’s exhibition opens at Walters Art Museum this weekend

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is set to open "Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture," a major exhibition featuring over 100 works by the renowned jewelry artist. Fletcher, who gained international acclaim for her costume design work on Marvel’s "Black Panther" franchise, will see her contemporary Afrofuturistic pieces displayed alongside ancient artifacts from the museum's permanent collection, including items from Ancient Egypt and Ethiopia.

Exhibit at National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago is a call to climate action

Artist Ana Teresa Fernández has launched her solo exhibition "Under Pressure" at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, presenting a multi-disciplinary call to climate action. The exhibit features oil paintings, sculptures such as a silver-feathered Quetzalcoatl made from a hose, and performance-based works that use metaphors like expanding balloons to illustrate the planet's breaking point. A central component of the project involved a community-led "social monument" at Ohio Street Beach, where hundreds of participants used mirrors to flash an S.O.S. signal in Morse code toward the horizon.

'Rooted Strong' exhibition at New Mexico Museum of Art explores visions of America from New Mexico

The New Mexico Museum of Art has launched "Rooted Strong: Visions of America from New Mexico," an exhibition timed to coincide with the United States semiquincentennial in 2026. Co-curated by Alexandra Terry and Katie Doyle, the show features 86 objects primarily drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, supplemented by key loans. The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections—Community, Land, Domestic Life, and Celebration—and exclusively features artists who have lived in the state for at least a decade, including figures like Nikesha Breeze, Sabra Moore, and Luis Tapia.

Rocky statue-inspired exhibition to open at Philadelphia Museum of Art with public event

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is launching a new exhibition centered on the cultural legacy of the 'Rocky' film franchise and its iconic statue, which stands at the foot of the museum's famous steps. The show explores the intersection of cinema, public art, and Philadelphia's local identity, featuring a public event to celebrate the opening.

LACMA to inaugurate David Geffen Galleries with gala

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is set to inaugurate its long-awaited David Geffen Galleries with a gala and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the 900-foot-long horizontal structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and features a single-level exhibition space elevated 30 feet above the ground. The inaugural installation, curated by a team of 45, moves away from traditional chronological and geographical silos in favor of thematic, interconnected narratives that reflect the diversity of modern Los Angeles.

Artist Ana Teresa Fernandez exhibit, 'Under Pressure,' now on display at National Museum of Mexican Art, a call to climate action

The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago is currently hosting "Under Pressure," a solo exhibition by Mexican-born artist Ana Teresa Fernández. The show features a diverse range of media, including oil paintings, sculptures like a silver-feathered Quetzalcoatl made from a hose, and performance-based works that use metaphors like expanding balloons to illustrate the fragility of the environment. A central component of the project involved a community-led "social monument" at Ohio Street Beach, where hundreds of participants used mirrors to signal an S.O.S. in Morse code toward the horizon.

Rowan University’s Museum of Contemporary Art hosts final exhibition focusing on black resilience

The Rowan University Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting "The Spectrum of Resilience," a solo exhibition by New Jersey-based artist and educator Jazlyne Sabree. The showcase features works that explore the tenacity and authenticity of the African Diaspora, drawing from Sabree’s extensive research and residencies in West Africa, Brazil, and Liberia. The exhibition highlights everyday moments—such as washing hair or embracing children—elevating them into profound artistic statements on ancestral lineage and survival.

Heemin Chung in AMOR EX MACHINA | Group Exhibition at Seoul Museum of Art

The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) has launched 'AMOR EX MACHINA,' a major group exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of its Nanji Residency program. Featuring over 60 works by 17 alumni, including prominent artist Heemin Chung, the show occupies two floors of the museum’s Seosomun Main Branch. The presentation includes a diverse range of media, from traditional painting and sculpture to video and installation art, highlighted by a new large-scale painting by Chung that explores the intersection of digital textures and physical landscapes.