Inside the free exhibition bringing the art of the Expo '86 World's Fair back to life

Surrey Art Gallery in Bear Creek Park, Vancouver, has opened a free temporary exhibition titled "In The Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art." The show revisits the cultural legacy of Expo '86, the 1986 World's Fair that transformed Vancouver's urban and economic identity, through contemporary artworks in photography, video, installation, and archival materials. It highlights the many public artworks commissioned for the fair, the architecture of pavilions, and features an anonymous documentary slideshow of over 1,700 photographs by Michael de Courcy capturing visitors and everyday scenes.

Kettle Art Gallery presents "OG’s Return to Deep Ellum" opening reception

Kettle Art Gallery in Dallas is hosting "OG's Return to Deep Ellum," an exhibition reuniting eight pioneering visual artists who helped shape the creative identity of the Deep Ellum district. The show features works by Bill Haveron, Brad Ellis, Brad Smith, Clay Austin, Dwayne Carter, Frank Campagna, Greg "Ozone" Contestabile, and Thor Johnson, alongside tributes to the late Albert Scherbarth and David "Mosquito" Hawley. The opening reception precedes a run through August 16.

Around town: Art Garden reopens in new downtown gallery

Art Garden, a combination art gallery and plant shop in Asheville, North Carolina, reopens on May 7, 2025, at a new downtown location at 98 N. Lexington Ave. The business was displaced after its former home in Riverview Station was flooded by over 25 feet of water during Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024. The reopening includes a preview party for the ReRoot art exhibit, a fundraising gala, a theatre performance, and a Mother's Day plant sale, celebrating community support that helped rebuild the space.

Mastering the Mood: Exhibition explores emotion through light and color

American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena is launching a new exhibition titled 'Mastering the Mood: Atmospheric Emotion,' running from April 24 to June 6. The show features approximately 45 works by 25 contemporary-traditional artists, focusing on how light, color, and atmosphere in representational painting can evoke emotional responses in viewers.

New Gallery Exhibit at CU Anschutz Honors Son's Legacy

A new photo exhibition and speaker series titled "Love, Anything: 28 Expressions for 28 Luminous Years" has opened at the Fulginiti Pavilion for Bioethics and Humanities on the University of Colorado Anschutz campus. The show features 28 photographs and journal entries by the late photographer Ryyan Chacra, who died by suicide in May 2024 at age 28 while struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The opening reception on April 10 drew over 120 attendees, including family, friends, and university faculty.

Pasadena’s American Legacy Fine Arts Debuts ‘Mastering the Mood’ Exhibition

American Legacy Fine Arts, a private gallery in Pasadena, has opened a new exhibition titled 'Mastering the Mood: Atmospheric Emotion.' The show, running from April 24 to June 6, features 14 nationally recognized painters, including Peter Adams, Warren Chang, and Jean LeGassick, whose works use light, color, and atmosphere to transform landscapes and still lifes into immersive emotional experiences.

5 things to do at Indy’s new contemporary art museum

The Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis (CAMi) is set to open its doors from May 1-3 in a renovated 125-year-old dairy barn in Garfield Park. Managed by the Big Car Collaborative, the 40,000-square-foot facility features six exhibition spaces, 18 artist studios, and various community hubs including a cafe and storefronts for local creative businesses. The opening weekend will feature the main exhibition “Campo de Resonancia” by Puerto Rican painter Ivelisse Jiménez, alongside sound installations and experimental documentaries.

Artists take us down the rabbit hole in this group exhibition

The group exhibition 'Down the Rabbit Hole' at The Crypt Gallery features over 30 artists reflecting on the psychological and social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Presented by the social enterprise Katya’s Space, the show honors the legacy of the late artist Katya Kan, who passed away in 2023. The works explore themes of digital addiction, isolation, and the 'dystopian' shift in reality experienced during global lockdowns, using Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland as a metaphor for this profound transformation.

Gallery collection on display

The Naracoorte Art Gallery has launched 'ORIGIN', a retrospective exhibition showcasing the foundational pieces of its permanent public collection. The show features acquisitions made between the gallery's founding in 1968 and the early 1980s, including the institution's very first acquisition, a pencil drawing by Robert Walter Felling, alongside significant works by Australian modernists like Mervyn Smith and Judith Heidenreich.

Noni Olabisi Art Exhibit Carries Relevancy, Truth, and Power

The Laband Art Gallery at Loyola Marymount University is hosting a retrospective titled "Noni Olabisi: When Lightning Strikes," showcasing over 40 works by the late Los Angeles muralist and painter. The exhibition, curated by Karen Rapp, spans Olabisi’s career from 1984 to 2022, featuring her powerful political murals and personal canvases that document Black culture and the struggle against systemic racism. This marks the first major posthumous survey of her work since her unexpected passing in 2022.

New art gallery opens in one of Barcelona’s most famous buildings

A new contemporary art gallery, Casa Batlló Contemporary, has opened on the previously closed second floor of Antoni Gaudí's iconic Casa Batlló building in Barcelona. The inaugural exhibition, "Beyond the Facade," is by the London-based art practice United Visual Artists, founded by Matt Clark, and runs until May 17.

Students Worked on Exhibit of Gowns Worn at La Scala by Maria Callas

Six opera gowns worn by Maria Callas onstage at La Scala in Milan are on display at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., as part of the exhibition “Callas at La Scala.” The exhibition, located within the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, features costumes from roles including Anna Bolena and Ifigenia, alongside costume sketches by designers Nicola Benois and Piero Tosi and photographs of Callas. Students from the Corcoran School, guided by assistant professor Tanya Wetenhall, contributed by researching, writing labels, and installing the show, while ambassadors from Greece and Italy spoke at the opening.

First Mvskoke-owned and operated art gallery opens in Jenks

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has opened the first Mvskoke-owned and operated art gallery in the Greater Tulsa area, Mvskoke Waters Gallery, in Jenks, Oklahoma, on December 13. The inaugural exhibition, “Mvskokvlke: Road of Strength,” features nearly two dozen Mvskoke artists from across the country, including George Alexander, Joy Harjo, and Sterlin Harjo, and includes a tribute to the late artist Mary Edward Smith. Co-curated by Bobby C. Martin and Carly Treece, the show celebrates Mvskoke resilience, strength, and cultural continuity.

Harta Space's 'A Third Eye' exhibition pays tribute to late multi-dimensional artist Askandar Unglehrt

Harta Space in Penang is hosting 'A Third Eye', an exhibition paying tribute to the late multi-dimensional artist Askandar Unglehrt. Born in Germany, Unglehrt studied at the Sorbonne in Paris during the 1960s, where he was influenced by Dadaism and surrealist poet Jean Hans Arp. He later settled in Malaysia, taught at Universiti Sains Malaysia, and developed a distinctive artistic practice rooted in collage, assemblage, and the concept of a 'third eye' that synthesizes Eastern and Western perspectives. The exhibition explores his humorous, esoteric works and his lifelong questioning of art's seriousness.

Not one but two art exhibits opening at the Anton Art Center April 26

The Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens, Michigan, will open a dual exhibition on April 26 featuring the Member’s Exhibition 2025 and the Emerging Women Artists of Metro Detroit, presented by the Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors (DSWPS). The shows will display 90 original artworks by 74 artists across the center’s first and second floors through June 14, with a juried selection process led by artist Dan Keller for the members’ show and center exhibition manager Stephanie Hazzard for the emerging artists competition.

A look at '50 Years of PUNK,' opening tonight at the Ki Smith Gallery

A new exhibition titled '50 Years of PUNK' opens tonight at the Ki Smith Gallery on the Lower East Side, celebrating the legacy of PUNK Magazine. The show features original work from artists, photographers, and contributors associated with the magazine, which helped launch bands like the Ramones and Blondie. Co-founder John Holmstrom and gallery owner Ki Smith organized the exhibit, which includes upcoming events such as a clothing sale, a script reading about the Sex Pistols' 1978 U.S. tour, and a discussion on the making of the first issue.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025: honouring strength, vision and legacy

The City of Perth (Boorloo) is celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025 from 6 to 13 July, marking 50 years of honoring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,' is highlighted through a NAIDOC Week Exhibition at Council House Foyer (7 July–15 August), featuring works from emerging and established artists, supported by Mossenson Galleries and the Janet Holmes à Court Collection. Events include an Artist in Conversation with Tyrown Waigana on 9 July, the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony on 5 July, and cultural performances by Wadumbah. Other city-wide events include the Goologoolup NAIDOC Screenings and the Wangening Bardip – Healing Stories Through First Nations Art exhibition.

Artist Day at Flanders Nature Center May 9

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust in Woodbury, Connecticut, will host Artist Day on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Van Vleck Sanctuary. Artists, craftspeople, and photographers are invited to create work en plein air on the sanctuary's 200-acre grounds, which include woodlands, meadows, ponds, and historic buildings. The event is free and requires pre-registration. Participants may later be eligible to exhibit their work in Flanders’ 5th Annual Exhibition of Art in October at the Van Vleck Gallery.

Wicked Stepmother No Longer, a Female Pharoah Gets a Reputational Makeover

A new analysis of damaged statues from ancient Egypt is reshaping the historical narrative of Queen Hatshepsut. Researchers have re-examined 3,500-year-old statuary, finding evidence that the deliberate defacement of her images occurred decades after her death, challenging the long-held belief that her successor, Thutmose III, orchestrated an immediate campaign of destruction against her legacy out of personal animosity.

A Milano c’è la prima mostra omaggio all’artista Giovanni Campus dopo la morte

BUILDING Gallery in Milan has opened "Tempo e passione," the first posthumous exhibition dedicated to Giovanni Campus (1929–2025), who died less than five months ago at nearly 100 years old. Curated by Marco Meneguzzo, the two-floor show spans Campus’s career from his Sardinian roots to his Milanese performances, featuring works that measure space using materials like springs and cords, alongside vintage video documentation of his actions in Piazza Palazzo Reale and Sardinia.

design formafantasma andrea trimarchi simone farresin

Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin of Milan-based design studio Formafantasma have become fashion and art's go-to design duo. In the past year, they designed runways for Meryll Rogge's Marni debut, scenography for the new Fondation Cartier, and a radical take on the Shaker legacy for a show at the Vitra Design Museum. In an interview, they discuss their critical approach to design, the gap between design's progressive claims and its environmental and labor impacts, and their commitment to using design as a tool for inquiry rather than mere form-making.

Looking for art, culture? See the latest Central Illinois exhibits

Central Illinois is hosting a diverse array of art and cultural exhibitions across several key institutions and galleries this spring. Highlights include the "Art on the Offense" group show at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, the "Lights, Camera, Fashion!" exhibition featuring the Lois Jett Historical Fashion Collection, and multiple annual student showcases at University Galleries and Merwin & Wakeley Galleries. Local spaces like the McLean County Arts Center and Eaton Studio Gallery are also actively engaging the community through regional artist spotlights and educational outreach for local students.

New film about forgers is ‘Miami Vice’ for the art-world crowd

The article reviews 'Forge', a new crime thriller directed by Jing Ai Ng, which follows Chinese American siblings Coco and Raymond Zhang who forge early 20th-century landscape paintings and sell them as authentic works in South Florida. The film features FBI agent Emily (Kelly Marie Tran) investigating the scheme, while the forgers navigate a world of wealthy collectors, a hurricane-destroyed art collection, and a family legacy of deception. The movie is described as 'Miami Vice' for the art-world crowd, with a dusky palette and pulsing soundtrack set against the backdrop of Art Basel Miami Beach's booming art market.

Was This Anne Boleyn’s Seat? Rare 500-Year-Old Chair Linked to Tudor Queen

A rare, intricately carved wooden chair, potentially used by Anne Boleyn during her time in the French courts between 1510 and 1520, has been acquired and is now on display at Hever Castle. The chair was purchased by antiques dealer Paul Fitzsimmons from an online American auction in 2022, and its carvings—featuring dolphins, a Tudor rose, and the initials "AB" intertwined with a cordelière emblem of Queen Claude—suggest a strong link to the Tudor queen's early life.

trump unveils latest plans for proposed 250 foot tall triumphal arch

The Trump administration has unveiled designs for a massive 250-foot triumphal arch to be situated at the end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, facing the Lincoln Memorial. Submitted to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the proposal features a classical design with eagles and a golden angel, intended to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary and the president's legacy. The project is part of a broader suite of architectural interventions, including a new $400 million White House ballroom and the proposed National Garden of Heroes.

One of Napoleon’s Sweaty Hats Was Just Rediscovered After a Century in Storage

A distinctive bicorne hat belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte, worn during his final exile on Saint Helena, has been rediscovered after more than a century in storage at the Condé Museum. Curators found the beaver pelt hat, made by his official hat-maker Poupard, while preparing for an upcoming exhibition, and its provenance has been confirmed through extensive study.

Egyptian Tour Guide Arrested for Drawing on Pyramid in Viral Video

egyptian tour guide pyramid drawing arrest video

Egyptian authorities arrested a tour guide after a viral video showed him sketching a stick figure onto the 24th-century BCE Pyramid of Unas in Saqqara. The guide was reportedly using the drawing as a visual aid to explain the site's history to a group of tourists before attempting to wipe the mark away with his hands. Following a report from an antiquities inspector, the man confessed to the act, and the Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the drawing has since been removed.

grolier club

The Grolier Club, a private members-only society for bibliophiles on New York's Upper East Side, has opened a free public exhibition titled "Paper Jane: 250 Years of Austen," tracing Jane Austen's legacy through rare books, letters, and archival material. Organized over three years by three club members—Mary Crawford, Janine Barchas, and Sandra Clark—the show draws entirely from their personal collections, charting Austen's rise from relative anonymity to literary canonization.

san francisco art institute will stay open

The San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), a 149-year-old institution, announced last month that it would shut down its degree programs and stop enrolling new students after the current semester, signaling what many believed was the end of the school. However, the board of trustees has now voted to keep the school open in a limited capacity, suspending degree programs but offering studio art classes, public education programs, and grant-funded exhibitions while launching a campaign to reinvent its business model and raise philanthropic funds.

rare mellon blue diamond 2025 sale christies

A rare blue diamond pendant known as the Mellon Blue, owned by art collector Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon, sold for $25.5 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on Tuesday. The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue, internally flawless pear-shaped diamond had a pre-sale estimate of $20–30 million. This price is 22 percent less than the $32.6 million it achieved at Sotheby’s in 2014 as part of Mellon’s collection sale, and nearly 60 percent less when adjusted for inflation. The buyer was not disclosed.