Un ciclo di mostre è allestito sotto terra in un ipogeo del quartiere Pigneto a Roma

A family of entrepreneurs acquired an ancient bar in Rome's Pigneto neighborhood in 2020, inheriting a Roman-era hypogeum dating back to the 1st century BC. Originally a pozzolana quarry, later a wine cellar and WWII air-raid shelter, the space beneath the historic bar Necci dal 1924 reopened to the public on March 12 as an exhibition venue. It now hosts "Sottoforma," a cycle of three exhibitions curated by Donatella Giordano and Agatha Jaubourg that explore the theme of the invisible through contemporary art. The first exhibition features works by Eva Marisaldi, Enrico Serotti, and Luca Vitone, running until March 31, followed by shows with Iginio De Luca and Liliana Moro in April, and José Angelino and Elena Bellantoni in May 2026.

The Daughters of Sound. Hildegard of Bingen and Patti Smith are at the Vatican Pavilion at the Biennale

Le figlie del suono. Ildegarda di Bingen e Patti Smith sono al Padiglione Vaticano alla Biennale

The article profiles a meeting between the author and Patti Smith, exploring her new memoir "Bread of Angels" and her connection to the 12th-century Benedictine abbess and mystic Hildegard of Bingen. Both women are presented as figures who see music as a living resonance that can awaken a primordial, sacred vibration within humanity. The piece also notes that Smith wrote the preface to the author's book "A passo d'uomo" and that both she and Hildegard are featured at the Vatican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

The Biomorphic Sculptures of Alma Allen in the U.S. Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Art Biennale (Amid Controversy)

Le sculture biomorfiche di Alma Allen nel Padiglione USA alla Biennale d’Arte di Venezia 2026 (tra le polemiche)

Alma Allen, a self-taught American sculptor, has been selected to represent the United States at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with the exhibition "Call Me the Breeze." The pavilion, curated by Jeffrey Uslip, will feature site-specific biomorphic sculptures that explore the concept of "elevation" through a hybrid creative process combining pre-industrial carving and hand-modeling with advanced robotic sculpting. Works will incorporate local American materials such as walnut burl, Cantera green volcanic rock, and Yule marble from Colorado, and the pavilion is tied to America250, the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Jiaqi Wang gives a new face and a new style to Miss Chiquita for this Milan Art Week 2026

Jiaqi Wang dà un nuovo volto e un nuovo tratto a Miss Chiquita per questa Milano Art Week 2026

Chiquita has selected Chinese-born, New York-based illustrator and animator Jiaqi Wang as the third artist for its 'Pop by Nature' campaign, which connects the brand with contemporary art. Wang has reinterpreted the brand's iconic Miss Chiquita mascot with her signature vibrant colors, clean lines, and scenes of daily life. The campaign includes out-of-home installations, urban interventions like a mural in Milan, limited-edition banana stickers, and culminates with an immersive 'Miss Chiquita House' experience during Milan Art Week 2026.

What are these 'art clubs' that Alessandro Benetton is opening around Italy? The story.

Cosa sono questi “art club” che Alessandro Benetton sta aprendo in giro per l’Italia? Il racconto

21Art, a company founded by Alessandro Benetton based on a project by entrepreneur Davide Vanin, is expanding its network of gallery spaces and affiliated 'Art Clubs' across Italy and into Monaco. This spring, a new location in Montecarlo will join existing galleries in Rome, Padua, and Treviso, with plans for further openings in Milan, Cortina, and Jesolo by 2027. The expansion is accompanied by a spring 2026 exhibition program featuring shows by Mario Ceroli in Treviso, Ahmet Güneştekin in Rome, and Jan Fabre in Montecarlo.

One of Milan's most unique and peculiar museums is full of works that are not beautiful

Uno dei musei più unici e particolari di Milano è pieno di opere che non sono belle

The Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano in Milan, housed in a building designed by Piero Portaluppi, showcases a massive collection of 20th-century Italian art donated by Antonio Boschi and Marieda Di Stefano. The apartment displays approximately 300 works by masters such as Lucio Fontana, Giorgio de Chirico, and Mario Sironi, arranged in the intimate domestic setting where the collectors once lived.

A new Romaeuropa Festival approaches. Here is what the 2026 edition of the review will be like

Si avvicina un nuovo Romaeuropa Festival. Ecco come sarà l’edizione 2026 della rassegna

The 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival has announced its 2026 lineup, scheduled to run from September 8 to November 15 across various venues in Rome. Under the artistic direction of Fabrizio Grifasi, the multidisciplinary festival will feature a robust program of contemporary dance, theater, and music. Highlights include the Italian premiere of Sofia Nappi’s 'Chora', a world premiere of Romeo Castellucci’s 'Faust', and a special celebration of the Rome-Paris twinning anniversary featuring choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

Artist and former boxer Omar Hassan exhibits his powerful gestures in Rome

L’artista ed ex pugile Omar Hassan che è in mostra a Roma coi suoi gesti forti

Artist and former boxer Omar Hassan has debuted his first solo exhibition in Rome, titled "Tempo al Tempo," at Galleria Latina. The showcase features large-scale works from his "Breaking Through" series, where Hassan uses boxing gloves to strike canvases, alongside a massive map of Rome constructed from nearly 9,000 hand-painted spray can caps. The exhibition emphasizes the physical trace of time and action, blending street art aesthetics with the energy of action painting.

‘Africa in the Spotlight’ exhibition in Lisbon

An exhibition titled 'Africa in the Spotlight' has opened at the Lisbon Alliance Française, curated by Tatyana Jolivet. The show features seven contemporary African artists from Burkina Faso, Angola, and São Tomé e Príncipe, including Casimir Bationo (CasziB), SDZabila, Flore Kaboré, and Valdemar Dória. Jolivet, a Russian-born curator based in Lisbon who runs the online Jolie Art Gallery, organized the exhibition to promote cultural diversity and dialogue, highlighting the deep-rooted African presence in Portugal dating back five centuries.

75 Years of Making Art in Ardsley

The Ardsley Art Commission is presenting a unique exhibition featuring the works of mother-and-son artists Valda Hancock Wagner and Rich Wagner, spanning 75 years of artistic creation. The show includes oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, drawings, etchings, and wood block prints, ranging from traditional realism to abstraction. Valda studied with notable artists such as Reginald Marsh, Robert Rauschenberg, and Robert Beverly Hale, and later taught art in inner-city New York. Rich studied at the Art Students League, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the Royal Drawing School, and has participated in over 80 exhibitions. The exhibition is on view at Ardsley Village Hall through October 1.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography features two members and a guest artist

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell, New Jersey, will host a group exhibition from May 16 through June 14, featuring two member artists and one guest artist. The show includes John Stritzinger's series 'Trees Find A Way,' which captures trees in urban and rural settings; Dutch Bagley's 'What In The World,' a self-taught photographic exploration of environment and diversity; and guest artist Elvira Peretsman's 'The Fractured Perspective,' which uses experimental in-camera techniques to reveal abstract geometric forms. A meet-the-artists reception is scheduled for Sunday, May 17 from 1 to 3 p.m.

SOPAC's Herb + Milly Iris Gallery presents "INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition"

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) presents "INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition" in its Herb + Milly Iris Gallery from May 14 through August 16, 2026. Over 300 students from 20 area high schools submitted more than 1,000 original works; 70 pieces were selected for the show, spanning photography, digital art, painting, drawing, sculpture, fiber arts, and ceramics. An opening reception will be held on May 14.

Biggs Museum spotlights the art and influence of Elizabeth Catlett

The Biggs Museum of American Art is presenting "The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis," on view through June 21, 2026. The exhibition features Catlett's prints and sculptures, drawn from the collection of her former student and lifelong friend Samella Lewis, and also includes works by Lewis and Catlett's husband, Francisco Mora. Catlett, who studied with Grant Wood and worked with the Taller de Gráfica Popular in Mexico City, focused her art on the lives of Black women, addressing themes of identity, equity, labor, family, and freedom.

From gunshots to gilded plates: Who are the real hooligans of the art world?

Alex Burchmore reviews 'The Hooligans,' an exhibition that explores the Maoist concept of hooliganism in the context of contemporary Chinese art. The show features works by artists like Xiao Lu, who famously fired a gun at her installation during the 1989 'China/Avant-Garde' exhibition, as well as Zhu Yu and He Yunchang, known for incorporating human body parts and surgical procedures into their art. The exhibition contrasts these transgressive acts with more market-friendly works, such as Zhu Yu's gilded plate paintings and Hu Yinping's commercial-style figurines, highlighting the tension between artistic rebellion and commercial success.

Visit the Art of Science Gallery

Florida Atlantic University is opening its 7th Annual Art of Science gallery exhibition, featuring visual art created by university researchers from their scientific work. The images were selected from a university-wide contest and will be on display at the Ritter Art Gallery on the Boca Raton campus from March 31 to April 20.

Skylands Museum of Art presents Spotlight on the Artist: Massimo Rao

The Skylands Museum of Art in Lafayette, New Jersey, has opened a new exhibition titled "Spotlight on the Artist: Massimo Rao," featuring eight works by the late Italian artist from the museum's permanent collection. The display includes oil and tempera paintings, lithographs, and drawings, such as "Portrait" and "Shelter Made of Ashes & Recollections," and will run through October 2025 in the museum's Sanctuary Gallery. Rao, known for his classic yet mysterious style blending Renaissance influences with Nordic Mannerism and pre-Raphaelite approaches, often depicted surreal, moonlit figures and was called "the Painter of the Moon." Born in 1950 near Naples, he studied art history and architecture, exhibited internationally, and died in 1996 at age 46; his hometown opened a museum dedicated to him in 2012.

Studio Art MFAs Present Thesis Exhibition “TRANSIT”

American University's 2025 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, titled “TRANSIT,” is on view at the AU Art Museum from April 19 to May 18. The show features the culminating works of six graduating Studio Art MFA students: Phaedra Askarinam, Pooja Campbell, Patricia Edwine Poku, Connor Gagne, Andrés Izquierdo, and Julia Cheng Zhang. Their diverse practices span painting, ceramics, installation, and performance, unified by the theme of transit—interpreted as acts of passage, transformation, and self-discovery. Curated around this shared concept, the exhibition explores life transitions such as grief and parenthood, as described by Professorial Lecturer Molly Springfield.

Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata win Oscar for “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” a short film.

Artist Alexandre Singh and art historian Natalie Musteata won an Academy Award for their short film "Two People Exchanging Saliva" at the 2026 Oscars. The film tied for first place in the live action short category with Sam Davis's "The Singers," marking a rare seventh tie in Oscar history.

Pilvi Takala at Kunsthall Trondheim

Finnish artist Pilvi Takala has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Breaking Ranks' at Kunsthall Trondheim in Norway. The show, which runs from February 19 to May 10, 2026, is documented with 28 images and is accompanied by guides in both English and Norwegian.

A "National Treasure" Enters the Louvre

Un « trésor national » entre au Louvre

The Musée du Louvre has quietly acquired and installed a major masterpiece of French decorative arts: a commode adorned with Sèvres porcelain plaques by the renowned cabinetmaker Bernard II van Risen Burgh (BVRB). Formerly part of the prestigious Rothschild family collections, the piece was classified as a "national treasure" by the French government in 2023. Although the museum originally planned a public fundraising campaign to finance the acquisition, the initiative was canceled following a high-profile burglary at the museum in October 2025.

An Important Urbino Maiolica Basin for the Clark

Un important bassin en majolique d'Urbino pour le Clark

The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown has acquired a significant 16th-century Urbino maiolica basin from the gallery Camille Leprince following its display at TEFAF. Attributed to the workshop of Orazio or Flaminio Fontana, the trilobed basin features intricate historiated scenes from the life of Joseph and elaborate grotesque decorations. The piece was a highlight of the fair and is accompanied by extensive research regarding its complex provenance.

Are All Crises Equal? A Conversation with MOS’s Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample by ANY

Architects Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample of the firm MOS discuss the concept of "polycrisis"—the intersection of economic, political, and ecological failures—and its impact on architectural form. The conversation highlights a growing void between the formal aesthetic project of architecture and the urgent political realities of the modern world. Sample specifically addresses how the dominance of political and regulatory restrictions in collective housing has stifled formal innovation, often reducing architecture to a mere byproduct of governance rather than a tool for social or cultural expression.

parties raouls jennifer lawrence chloe sevigny 50th anniversary

A dinner and party at Raoul's, the iconic SoHo French bistro, celebrated its 50th anniversary in partnership with Moda Operandi. The event drew a crowd of regulars and celebrities including Chloë Sevigny, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Sedaris, and Dave Gahan, who reflected on the restaurant's history as a haven for artists and its role in the neighborhood's transformation from a gritty gallery hub to a tourist destination. Karim Raoul, the founder's son, spoke about the restaurant's enduring family-run ethos.

art knight foundation kristina newman scott miami

Cultured magazine profiles Kristina Newman-Scott, the newly appointed Vice President for Arts at the Knight Foundation, ahead of Miami Art Week. Newman-Scott, a former practicing artist who led Connecticut's Office of the Arts and State Historic Preservation Office, discusses her career journey and her vision for integrating culture into community development. The article also highlights Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, Knight's President and CEO since 2023, and the foundation's $485 million investment in arts and culture over the past two decades.

literature book cover design

CULTURED magazine gathered three leading book cover designers—Sandra Chiu, Chip Kidd, and Rodrigo Corral—for a roundtable discussion on the challenges and thrills of their profession. The conversation covers the shift to online retail, budget cuts, and a growing homogeneity in cover design, exemplified by the so-called "book blob" trend. Chiu, known for bestselling romance covers, Kidd, a legendary figure at Knopf Doubleday, and Corral, now VP of Creative at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, share insights on their creative processes and the evolution of the industry since Kidd's early days.

tribeca film festival mierle laderman ukeles

Filmmaker Toby Perl Freilich has created a documentary titled "Maintenance Artist" about the pioneering artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, known for her 1969 "Manifesto for Maintenance Art" and her decades-long role as the unsalaried artist-in-resident at the New York City Department of Sanitation. The film, which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival, features archival footage, interviews with art historians and family, and documents Ukeles's process of curating her archives for the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, highlighting her iconic projects like "Touch Sanitation" (1979-80) and her ongoing work on Freshkills Park.

Tuan Vu | Nhat Binh (2026) | Art & Prints

This article presents the artwork "Nhat Binh" (2026) by Vietnamese Canadian artist Tuan Vu, offered through Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery. The painting, executed in oil and oil stick on linen, measures 35 2/5 × 29 1/2 inches and is a unique, hand-signed work accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. The listing includes details about the artist's background, his immigration to Canada as a refugee, his shift from engineering to full-time art practice in 2021, and his exhibition history including a solo show at Simard Bilodeau Contemporary in 2023 and subsequent shows in Berlin, London, New York, and across Canada.

Exhibition | Erwin Olaf, 'Against Time' at Baró Galeria, Palma, Spain

Baró Galeria presents 'Against Time', an exhibition of Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf's still life photographs at its Next Door space in Palma, Mallorca, Spain. Opening on May 25, 2026, the show is part of the inaugural Mallorca PhotoFest, an international photography festival. The exhibition focuses on Olaf's small-format flower photographs made between 2006 and 2021, exploring themes of time, finitude, and photography as a trace of disappearance. An essay by Esmeralda Gómez Galera accompanies the show.

2026 Future Fair: Everything You Need To Know About the Art Fair Before It Opens Next Month

Future Fair, a contemporary art fair focused on community and emerging talent, will hold its sixth edition at Chelsea Industrial in New York from May 14 to 16, 2026. The fair brings together nearly 70 exhibitors, including brick-and-mortar galleries, artist-run initiatives, and collaborative platforms from nine countries, with nearly half hailing from the New York tri-state area. Highlights include the return of the Pay-It-Forward Fund, which allocates 15% of annual profits as grants to participating galleries and dealers, and a VIP preview day on May 13.

Jorge Nava | Untitled (2022) | Art & Prints

This article presents Jorge Nava's 2022 painting "Untitled," an oil-on-linen work measuring 180 × 180 cm, offered by Arma Gallery in Madrid. Nava, a Spanish artist born in Gijón in 1980, studied at the University of the Basque Country and Kunsthochschule Berlin Weissensee under Professor Katherina Grosse. His career includes participation in international fairs such as ARCO, CIRCA in Puerto Rico, Scope Art Fair in New York, and Photo Miami Art Basel, as well as exhibitions at Alzueta Gallery and the Barjola Museum. His work belongs to collections including the María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation and private collections across Europe and North America.