M+ in multi-year strategic partnership with Centre Pompidou

M+, Hong Kong's premier art museum, has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with Paris's Centre Pompidou. The agreement, signed on May 15, 2026, by Centre Pompidou President Laurent Le Bon and M+ Museum Director Suhanya Raffel, covers joint curatorial research, exhibition development and sharing, co-commissions and artwork displays, and collection exchange. A major co-curated exhibition will be presented at both venues, with a series of jointly developed exhibitions staged at M+ from 2027 onwards, featuring works from both institutions' collections.

Art exhibits to check out in May and June

A roundup of art exhibitions opening in May and June 2026 across Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio, highlights solo shows by Teresa Olavarria, Tony Foster, Nathan Foley, Mina Kim, and Eunshin Khang, along with group exhibitions including SOS ART 2026, 'Voices of Kenya: Social and Cultural Reflections,' and 'Elizabeth Hawes: Radical American Fashion.' Venues include The Contemporary Dayton, The Dayton Art Institute, Rosewood Arts Center, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Kennedy Heights Arts Center.

I cantieri che restaurano i saloni rinascimentali di Palazzo Venezia a Roma si possono visitare (gratis!). Ecco come

Palazzo Venezia in Rome is opening its monumental Renaissance halls to the public for free guided tours on three dates in 2026—May 23, June 6, and June 20—as part of the "VIVE Cantiere Aperto" project. Visitors will be led by restorers and art historians onto scaffolding to observe the restoration of the Loggia Grande, Sala del Mappamondo, and Sala delle Battaglie, including their wooden ceilings, sculptural decorations, and wall paintings. The halls have served as Venetian embassy, Austro-Hungarian imperial seat, and Mussolini's government headquarters before becoming a museum space.

Julie Hamisky's garden, the artist who fixes the ephemeral in time, is on show in a Milan auction house

Il giardino di Julie Hamisky, l’artista che fissa l’effimero nel tempo è in mostra in una casa d’aste di Milano

French artist and designer Julie Hamisky presents 'Giardino Alchemico' (Alchemical Garden) at Pandolfini Auction House in Milan during Fuorisalone 2025. The exhibition, organized in collaboration with Galerie Mitterrand of Paris, features around twenty works including monumental sculptures like 'La Géante' (a giant poppy), jewelry, and a chandelier titled 'Aqua'. Hamisky uses electroplating—a 19th-century technique she learned from her father-in-law—to preserve fresh flowers and botanical forms by coating them in metal, freezing them at the peak of their beauty before decay begins.

Meet the New Boss of the Steven Spielberg-Endorsed Sag Harbor Cinema

Mark Lubell has been appointed as the new executive director of the Sag Harbor Cinema, a historic theater in the Hamptons endorsed by Steven Spielberg. Lubell previously served as executive director of the International Center of Photography (ICP), where he oversaw the opening of its new campus on Ludlow Street in 2020. He brings experience from Magnum Photos and a background in fine art photography, and he aims to foster community connection through the cinema experience.

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.

High school students to showcase 'Revolutionary Art' at Attleboro Arts Museum

Thirteen high schools from Massachusetts and Rhode Island are preparing installation artworks for the Attleboro Arts Museum's annual High Art exhibition, which runs May 12–18, 2026, under the theme 'Revolutionary Art.' Students from schools including Dedham High School, Hope High School in Providence, and Seekonk High School are creating pieces such as 'Americana' and 'Re-revolution,' with guidance from art instructors like Bridget O'Leary, Delsin Jean-Louis, and Elizabeth Machado-Cook.

Seba Calfuqueo and the Colonized Body

Andrew Durbin reviews national pavilions at the 2026 Venice Biennale, critiquing the US presentation as vacuous while praising incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The review highlights Seba Calfuqueo's work in the context of colonized bodies, though the article's main focus is on the comparative quality of the pavilions.

Frieze’s Christine Messineo Takes a Tour of Chelsea

Andrew Durbin reviews national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The review highlights the disparity in thematic depth and emotional resonance among the three pavilions.

Ayotunde Ojo Maps Interiority Under the Public Gaze

The article, a critic's guide review by Andrew Durbin, contrasts the US national pavilion presentation at an unspecified biennial with those of Britain and Germany. The US presentation is described as vacuous and lacking in meaning, while the British and German installations are praised for being incisive and moving. The review critically examines the thematic and conceptual approaches of each national pavilion, highlighting a disparity in artistic depth and engagement.

Frieze New York ‘Focus’ Stand Prize Winner Announced

The article announces the winner of the Frieze New York 'Focus' stand prize, a dedicated award for emerging galleries at the fair. The prize recognizes outstanding presentation and curatorial vision among the Focus section participants.

‘YBA & BEYOND’ Exports British Cool

Frieze critic Andrew Durbin reviews the national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The British pavilion, titled 'YBA & BEYOND,' exports British cool by showcasing works from Young British Artists and their successors, while the German pavilion offers a deeply resonant experience. The US pavilion is criticized for lacking meaningful content, raising questions about curatorial direction and national representation.

Venice Biennale Diary: An Editor on the Ground

Andrew Durbin reviews national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The article is part of Frieze's Critic's Guides series, published on May 6, 2026.

Arsenale Review: Where Voices Resist Erasure

At the 2026 Venice Biennale's Arsenale, critic Andrew Durbin reviews national pavilions, finding the US presentation vacuous and lacking meaning, while praising the British and German pavilions for their incisive and moving installations that resist erasure. The review highlights a stark contrast in curatorial ambition and political engagement among the participating nations.

Jerald Cooper’s Top Picks from Frieze New York 2026

Andrew Durbin reviews the national pavilions at the 2026 Venice Biennale, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The article critiques the lack of meaning in the American pavilion while praising the depth and emotional resonance of the British and German contributions.

What’s Showing in Chelsea During Frieze Week New York

This article is a critic's guide reviewing national pavilions during Frieze Week New York. Andrew Durbin contrasts a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany, questioning the meaning and depth of the American contribution.

Ariel West Probes Our Desire for Oil

Andrew Durbin reviews the national pavilions at the 2026 Venice Biennale, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The review critiques the US pavilion for lacking meaningful content, while praising the British and German contributions for their depth and emotional resonance.

‘In Minor Keys’ Review: Its Best Moments Live in the Institutions Koyo Kouoh Built

Andrew Durbin reviews the national pavilions at the 2026 Venice Biennale, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The review highlights how the best moments of the exhibition live in the institutions built by curator Koyo Kouoh, who organized the Biennale's main exhibition.

Risk and Reward: Jason Price Gets Artists Business-Savvy

Jason Price, an artist and entrepreneur, is launching a new initiative called 'Risk and Reward' aimed at helping artists develop business acumen. The program offers workshops and resources on financial literacy, contract negotiation, and marketing strategies tailored specifically for visual artists. Price draws on his own experience navigating the art market to provide practical guidance, with the first sessions scheduled to take place in New York and Los Angeles.

Behind the 2026 Venice Issue Cover

Frieze magazine has published a critic's guide to the 2026 Venice Biennale, highlighting key installations and pavilions to see in the Arsenale and Giardini. Notable entries include fierce pussy’s posters welcoming LGBTQ+ visitors to Venice and Florentina Holzinger’s water-themed Austrian Pavilion. The article is part of Frieze's coverage of the 2026 Venice Biennale, offering curated recommendations for attendees.

Abbas Akhavan Refuses to Perform an Identity

The article is a critic's guide to the 2026 Venice Biennale, highlighting key installations and pavilions in the Arsenale and Giardini. It features works such as fierce pussy's posters welcoming LGBTQ+ visitors and Florentina Holzinger's water-themed Austrian Pavilion, among other notable presentations.

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.

National Pavilions Review: Who’s Afraid of Meaning?

Andrew Durbin reviews national pavilions at a major biennial, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The review critiques the lack of meaningful content in the US pavilion while praising the depth and emotional resonance of the British and German contributions.

Sung Tieu and the Art of Difficulty

Sung Tieu, a Vietnamese-born German artist, is the subject of a critical feature in Frieze that examines her work's engagement with difficulty—both in terms of the complex political and historical themes she tackles and the challenging formal qualities of her installations. The article highlights her recent projects, including works shown at the Venice Biennale, which address issues of surveillance, migration, and Cold War legacies through meticulous research and unconventional materials.

The 10th Max Mara Art Prize for Women

第10回マックスマーラ・アート・プライズ・フォー・ウィメン

The 10th Max Mara Art Prize for Women has been awarded to Indonesian artist Dian Suci, marking the first time the prize has been held in Asia. Suci was selected from five finalists for her project "Crafting Spirit: Cultural Dialogues in Heritage and Practice," which examines the intersection of religious craftsmanship traditions and capitalist systems. The prize is organized in partnership with the Museum MACAN in Jakarta. Suci will undertake a six-month residency in Italy, followed by solo exhibitions in 2027 at both Museum MACAN and Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia.

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.

Lakefront Festival of Art Returns June 12–14 with 145 Artists, Live Music, Local Food, and New Extended Evening Hours

The Lakefront Festival of Art returns to the Milwaukee Art Museum campus from June 12–14, 2026, featuring 145 juried artists from Milwaukee and across the country. Presented by Bank of America, the three-day event includes live music from acts like The Belle Weather, Field Report, and Brett Newski, local food vendors, hands-on artmaking at Kohl's Art Studio, and a Silent Auction Tent with works by participating artists. New this year, extended evening hours until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday allow visitors to enjoy after-work outings and sunset views. The festival is organized by Friends of Art, the museum's longest-running volunteer support group, and serves as an annual fundraiser for acquisitions and programs.

The BFA exhibit at Krannert Art Museum begs you to touch stuff

The 2026 BFA Exhibition at the Krannert Art Museum, featuring work from University of Illinois School of Art & Design students, emphasizes interactivity, inviting visitors to physically engage with the displays. Highlights include Dhanvi Puttur's "The Third Showing," which explores film communities through an interactive prompt, and Venya Naidu's "The Last Maharaja of Mysore," a vibrant piece blending history and vintage advertising aesthetics. The exhibition runs through May 16, 2026, and is free to the public.

Open Call for Artists: Gallery A3’s 11th Annual Juried Show

Gallery A3 in Amherst, Massachusetts, has announced an open call for its 11th Annual Juried Show, scheduled for August 6–29, 2026. Submissions will be accepted online from May 10 to June 7, 2026, with an entry fee of $38 for three entries. The theme for this year's show is 'Everyday Sublime,' inviting artists to explore how awe and wonder manifest in daily life. The juror is Andrew S. Yang, a professor at the School of the Art Institute Chicago whose work has been exhibited internationally, including at the 14th Istanbul Biennial and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

AT THE ART GALLERIES

The article announces a series of May art exhibitions across multiple galleries in Key West, Florida. The Studios of Key West opens four solo shows: Tim Marshall Curtis's "Giants Among Us" featuring towering sculptures, Carole Faye's "Reverence/Irrelevance" with works made from scavenged materials, Andree B. Carter's "Roots of a City" textile paintings, and Wayne Garcia's "Once There Was a Railroad" hand-carved reliefs. Other venues include the Key West Collective featuring Steve Bikis and Brad Gruss, Harrison Gallery showcasing Santa Fe artist Melinda K. Hall, Gallery on Greene honoring Peter Vey, and Shade and Shutter Gallery highlighting Mark Klammer's pottery.