Memorial Art Gallery raises $9 million to make admission free in 2027

The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) at the University of Rochester has raised over $9 million through its "Free for All, Forever" fundraising initiative, surpassing its original goal and timeline. The museum will now open its doors free of charge to all visitors sometime in 2027, much sooner than anticipated. Key donors include Alexander and Lucy Levitan, who contributed a $1 million capstone gift; Doug and Abby Bennett and the Sands Family Foundation, who gave a $3 million leadership gift; and Mary Ellen Burris, who donated $2 million. The announcement was celebrated at MAG's Flourish For All, Forever gala on May 9, 2026.

For the People: Lubbock’s First Friday Art Trail Engages Thousands of Art-Goers Each Month

Lubbock’s First Friday Art Trail (FFAT), now in its 22nd year, has grown from a small gathering of a few dozen attendees to regularly drawing thousands to the downtown arts district each month. In October 2025, the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) distributed 6,000 wristbands before running out. The event features exhibitions, open studios, craft vendors, music, hands-on activities, drinks, and food trucks, with streets closed to traffic and visitors moving on foot or by trolley. The trail began organically in August 2004, spearheaded by artist Steve Teeters of St. Eligius Studio, and was inspired by a First Friday event in Corpus Christi.

Vancouver Art Gallery show celebrates Emily Carr's affinity with nature

The Vancouver Art Gallery is opening a major exhibition titled 'That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature,' featuring a comprehensive survey of the Canadian Modernist's landscapes drawn primarily from the museum's own extensive collection. The show will highlight Carr's distinctive post-Impressionist and Fauvist-inspired style, her deep engagement with the British Columbia landscape, and her spiritual quest for communion with nature.

Large Emily Carr exhibit opening at Vancouver Art Gallery

The Vancouver Art Gallery is opening a major exhibition titled 'That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature' on February 6. This is the most comprehensive show of Carr's work in over two decades, focusing on her evolving vision of nature and drawing primarily from the gallery's own collection of her paintings.

Opening reception at UWAG for "i look to the skies" an installation by Jude Abu Zaineh.

The University of Waterloo Art Gallery (UWAG) opened an exhibition titled "i look to the skies," a solo installation by Palestinian-Canadian interdisciplinary artist Jude Abu Zaineh. The work centers on Maqlouba, a traditional Palestinian dish, as a metaphor for diaspora, memory, and cultural preservation. The installation incorporates bioart, video, sculpture, textiles, and petri dishes cultivated from food remnants and foraged materials, creating a contemplative sanctuary that explores themes of exile, migration, and identity under colonial violence.

Taking a Deep Dive into a Connecticut Ranch House

Artist couple Janis Provisor and Brad Davis transformed an indoor swimming pool in their Connecticut ranch house into a studio, prioritizing their creative work over leisure. The article explores how they adapted the unconventional space to suit their artistic practices.

This Professor Won the ‘Bauhaus Bathroom’ Design Competition for the Gropius House

The New York Times Art section announced the winner of a competition to design a public restroom at the historic Gropius House in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The winning design, dubbed the 'Bauhaus Bathroom,' was created by a professor whose identity has not been disclosed in the provided text. The competition aimed to add a functional, contemporary restroom that respects the iconic Bauhaus architecture of the house, which was designed by Walter Gropius in 1938.

Jewellers delve into the Dalíesque with dreamlike pieces

Jewellers are creating a new wave of sculptural, nature-themed pieces inspired by the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. These dreamlike works draw on Dalí's iconic motifs—melting clocks, fantastical creatures, and organic forms—reimagined in precious metals and gemstones by contemporary designers and luxury houses.

‘My Father’s Shadow’: Now You See Me

Clive Chijioke Nwonka reviews Akinola Davies Jr.'s film *My Father's Shadow* (2025), a semi-autobiographical story of two adolescent brothers traveling through Lagos with their estranged father during the 1993 Nigerian presidential elections. The film, selected for the Cannes Official Selection, employs a metaphysical narrative style rooted in the Nigerian oral tradition, blending literal and spiritual worlds to explore diasporic identity, memory, and cultural preservation.

The Interview: Gabrielle Goliath

Gabrielle Goliath, a South African artist, created the performance work "Elegy" in 2015 after hearing a father mourn his daughter, Ipeleng Christine Moholane, who was raped and murdered. The piece features seven operatic women sustaining a single note in relay for an hour, evolving over a decade into a series of iterations that address systemic violence and grief. In January 2026, South Africa's Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, cancelled Goliath's presentation of the latest version of "Elegy" at the 61st Venice Biennale, which was to include tributes to victims in South Africa, Namibia, and Gaza, including journalist Hiba Abu Nada. Goliath refused to alter the work, took legal action, and will now show it independently at the Chiesa di Sant'Antonin in Venice, while the official South African Pavilion will remain empty for the first time since 2011.

Margaret Whyte on Representing Uruguay at the 61st Venice Biennale

Margaret Whyte, an artist from Uruguay, is set to represent her country at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026, with her pavilion located in the Giardini. In an interview with ArtReview, Whyte discusses her exhibition, which builds on her earlier show "Tiempo de Escuchar" at the National Museum of Visual Arts in Uruguay, curated by Patricia Bentancur. Her work is inspired by Nassim N. Taleb's book "Antifragile" (2012), exploring themes of chaos, uncertainty, and resilience. She sees her antifragile approach as complementary to the Biennale's theme, "In Minor Keys," curated by Koyo Kouoh, emphasizing emotional depth, silence, and healing.

Marina Xenofontos on Representing Cyprus at the 61st Venice Biennale

Artist Marina Xenofontos will represent Cyprus at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026. Her exhibition, centered on an animatronic sparrow titled 'Passer' and incorporating folk songs recorded by her grandmother and great-aunts, explores themes of memory, endurance, and the quiet persistence of culture.

Five Artists on Representing India at the 61st Venice Biennale

India has announced its artist lineup for the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring Alwar Balasubramaniam, Sumakshi Singh, Ranjani Shettar, Asim Waqif, and Skarma Sonam Tashi. The national pavilion, located in the Arsenale, will showcase a diverse range of installations that explore themes of architectural memory, environmental sustainability, and the physical processes of nature. From Tashi’s recreations of Ladakhi homes using recycled materials to Singh’s spectral thread-based architectural fragments, the works collectively examine the fragility of heritage and the shifting relationship between humans and their environments.

Somali Cultural Organizations Unhappy With Somalia Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

Somali artists and cultural organizations are protesting the Somalia pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, arguing it excludes artists based in Somalia and relies on diaspora figures and an Italian co-curator, which they view as colonial. The Somali Arts Foundation issued a statement condemning the lack of consultation, while the queer arts collective Warbixinta Cidda criticized the appointment of Italian curator Fabio Scrivanti. Somali American poet Ladan Osman boycotted the pavilion, calling it "anti-indigenous."

The other side of the art world

Isabel Adair recounts her visits to commercial art galleries in London and Cambridge, describing the experience of viewing Eva Pade's exhibition at Galerie Thaddeus Ropac in Mayfair and the abstract works at Byard Art near King's College. She highlights the contrast between the polished, elite atmosphere of a high-end Mayfair gallery and the more accessible, profit-driven local gallery, while noting the freedom and openness of these spaces to the public.

Nikita Kadan Questions Whether War Ever Ends

Ukrainian artist Nikita Kadan, in an interview with Frieze, reflects on his practice and the ongoing psychological and physical toll of war, questioning whether conflict ever truly ends. He discusses his recent works, which grapple with the persistent state of war in Ukraine, the transformation of urban spaces, and the collective trauma that outlasts active hostilities.

Santa Monica City Gallery Opens At Bergamot Station

The City of Santa Monica has officially opened the Santa Monica City Gallery, its first municipal art space, located within the Bergamot Station Arts Center. The gallery launched with the inaugural exhibition "Case Study: Adapt," which showcases architectural models designed by students and professional firms to address housing needs for families displaced by the 2025 California wildfires. The venue is designed to host a rotating schedule of exhibitions, artist residencies, and selections from the city’s permanent Art Bank collection.

Next Episode of Art21’s Art in the Twenty-First Century to Premiere in June

Art21 has announced the premiere of "Human Nature," the next episode of its documentary series *Art in the Twenty-First Century*, set to air on PBS on June 10, 2026. The episode features artists Lenka Clayton, Josh Kline, Delcy Morelos, and Sin Wai Kin, and explores themes of humanity's impact on the environment, social and economic systems, and interpersonal relationships. Directed by Ian Forster and produced by Andrea Chung, the episode will also be available on Art21.org, YouTube, and PBS Digital Platforms, with an advance screening on May 28 at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center in Manhattan.

Director’s Notes with Adam Golfer | “Camille Henrot: In Movement”

Adam Golfer, the director of the short film "Camille Henrot: In Movement," reflects on the process of creating the documentary. He describes following the artist Camille Henrot over a full year in New York and Paris, capturing her wide-ranging creative process from sketches to paintings, model-making to large-scale sculptures, and the evolution of her film work.

New Art21 Documentary Follows Camille Henrot as She Completes New Work for the New Museum’s Reopening

Art21 has announced the premiere of a new documentary titled "Camille Henrot: In Movement," scheduled for release on April 22, 2026. Directed by Adam Golfer, the film tracks the multidisciplinary artist over the course of a year as she prepares a new body of work, including paintings, bronze sculptures, and a new film titled "In the Veins" (2026). The production follows Henrot from her New York studio to a foundry in Paris, capturing her creative process leading up to a major presentation at the newly reopened New Museum.

Art21 + DOC NYC Filmmaker Celebration

Art21 + DOC NYC Filmmaker Celebration

Art21 and DOC NYC co-hosted their third annual Filmmaker Celebration on November 18, 2025. The in-person event brought together over 140 independent filmmakers, producers, and other production professionals who have contributed to Art21's films over the past year, providing a social and networking opportunity at the close of a challenging year for the documentary community.

Fall 2025 Festival Season

Art21 successfully concluded its Fall 2025 festival season, with its films being screened at multiple international festivals including Artecinema in Italy, Bushwick Film Festival in New York, and others in Massachusetts, New Mexico, and North Carolina. The organization also participated as a sponsor and panelist at DOC NYC, and several of its recent films featuring artists like Sophie Calle, Dyani White Hawk, and Guadalupe Maravilla received recognition.

This illustrator is the best Nova Scotian folk artist you’ve never heard of

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS) has opened "On the Matter of Memory: The Drawings of Harold Cromwell," the first solo exhibition dedicated to the late African Nova Scotian folk artist. Cromwell (1919–2008) created intricate ballpoint-pen drawings on everyday surfaces like cupboard doors and paper plates, chronicling working-class rural life. His works were sold for a few dollars at the Annapolis Farmer’s Market and were largely overlooked during his lifetime, despite his regional popularity. The exhibition runs until September 13, 2026, and aims to elevate his legacy alongside better-known Nova Scotian folk artists like Maud Lewis.

15 Top Artists Showcase the Power of Textile Art in Stunning Group Exhibition

The Saatchi Gallery in London is hosting "Textile Art Redefined," a group exhibition featuring 15 artists from the UK and around the world, including Ian Berry, Kaffe Fassett, Magda Sayeg, and Jakkai Siributr. Curated by Helen Adams based on her book "Textile Fine Art," the show presents a wide range of techniques such as embroidery, quilting, weaving, knitting, and crochet, with works like Fassett's "Geometric Sampler" and Berry's "Secret Garden" made from recycled denim. The exhibition runs from April 10 to May 10, 2026.

Textile Artist Ian Berry on Denim and the Ever-Evolving Art World

British artist Ian Berry, known for creating photorealistic works from recycled denim, is participating in the group exhibition "Textile Art Redefined" at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The show, curated by Helen Adams and inspired by her book "Fine Art Textiles," features 15 visionary textile artists from the U.K. and around the world, running through May 10. Berry's installation "Secret Garden" is made entirely from denim scraps, and he discusses the significance of showing in his hometown and alongside peers he admires.

Gabrielle Goliath Sounds a Call to Action in Venice

Gabrielle Goliath’s exhibition "Elegy" is presented as South Africa’s unofficial pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, after the country’s Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie overrode an independent committee’s selection of Goliath, citing her proposed inclusion of a memorial for Palestinians killed in Gaza. The installation features three video works in which singers sound a single note in tribute to victims of violence: a South African femicide victim, two women killed in Germany’s colonial genocide in Namibia, and Palestinian poet Heba Abunada. The show occupies the Chiesa di Sant'Antonin in Venice, curated with Ingrid Masondo, after a legal challenge against McKenzie was dismissed.

Air de Paris, a Radical Stalwart of the French Gallery Scene, Is Closing

After 36 years and over 400 exhibitions, the radical Parisian gallery Air de Paris is closing due to bankruptcy. Co-founders Florence Bonnefous and Edouard Merino decided to shutter the gallery after its financial situation became fragile, compounded by Bonnefous's health issues (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and their refusal to adapt to the increasingly profit-driven, corporatist art market. The gallery's final show, titled “Oh What a Time,” in Romainville featured works by artists including Joseph Grigely, Amy Vogel, Allen Ruppersberg, Pierre Joseph, Mona Varichon, Pati Hill, Lily van der Stokker, and Trisha Donnelly.

parties ifpda christies annual benefit

The IFPDA Foundation held its annual benefit at Christie's, celebrating printmaking with an evening of conversation and the second annual Studio Visit initiative. The event featured a discussion between artist Ana Benaroya and Leslie-Lohman Museum Associate Director Judy Giera on printmaking and queer contributions to the medium, with attendees including artists, curators, and collectors. The Studio Visit sale, offering access to artists' studios, runs through October 24.

john gachot shelter island studio

John Gachot, a Manhattan-based designer, has transformed a shed on his Shelter Island property into a studio where he can finally pursue drawing and painting after decades of relegating his practice to notebooks and bar napkins. The space also houses sculptures by his late father, Richard Gachot, an artist who worked out of an ice house on the family's Long Island estate and created animated, politically charged works. The article, structured as an interview, explores how the shed became a creative sanctuary for John and a continuation of his father's artistic legacy.

dalmore artist on artist panel san francisco

The Dalmore whisky distillery hosted a private panel discussion in San Francisco, featuring architect Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners and artist Sarah Meyohas, moderated by CULTURED Executive Editor Mara Veitch. The event, held at Studio at Mission Rock, brought together local gallerists, designers, and art enthusiasts to explore the intersection of fine art, architecture, and commercial practice. Dobbin was recently selected for the third iteration of The Dalmore's Luminary series, collaborating with master distillers to create limited edition whiskies housed in his custom bronze sculpture and bespoke case.