Echoes of Memory and Quiet Revolutions

The Henrike Grohs Art Award concludes its final edition, naming Tanzanian artist Rehema Chachage as the 2026 laureate. Chachage, who works across performance, video, text, scent, and installation, creates a "performative archive" in collaboration with her mother and grandmother, transforming personal and ancestral memory into shared sensory experiences. The two finalists are Younès Ben Slimane, a Tunisian filmmaker and visual artist whose silent, disorienting works challenge cinematic narrative structures, and Egyptian artist Rania Atef, whose participatory practice turns domestic spaces into stages for revealing power dynamics. The award received over 600 applications from more than 30 African countries.

Oklahoma Arts Council receives largest gift to state art collection

The Oklahoma Arts Council has received the largest gift in the history of the Oklahoma State Art Collection: ten works by influential Native artists from The Howard L. and Mary Ellen Meredith Collection, donated by America Meredith and Samonia Byford in honor of their parents. The donated works include pieces by Benjamin Harjo Jr., Norma Howard, Vanessa Paukeigope Jennings, Ruthe Blalock Jones, Shan Goshorn, Doc Tate Nevaquaya, Jane Osti, Juanita Pahdopony, Jeri Redcorn, and Dick West. The artworks are now on display in the Betty Price Gallery at the Oklahoma State Capitol, alongside two other recent acquisitions.

‘Currents’ multimedia installations portray Schuylkill River in new art exhibit at Fairmount Water Works

Martha McDonald will perform original songs on a glass armonica at the Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia as part of 'Currents,' a new multimedia art exhibit. The show features installations by 10 local artists that animate the historic water system's underground corridors, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Works include a 3D animation timeline of the Schuylkill River by Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib, photographic pieces by Julianna Foster, and an installation by Taji Ra’oof Nahl addressing water and honey bees. The exhibit runs through Aug. 8.

Artists strike to protest Israeli participation ahead of Venice Biennale

A group of artists has announced a strike to protest Israel's participation in the upcoming Venice Biennale. The action is intended to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to pressure the Biennale organizers to exclude Israel from the event, reflecting growing tensions around cultural boycotts in the art world.

Venice Biennale previews in chaos, overshadowed by Israeli and Russian participation

The Venice Biennale previews have descended into chaos, with the event overshadowed by controversies surrounding Israeli and Russian participation. Protests and disruptions have marked the lead-up to the prestigious international art exhibition, as demonstrators voice opposition to the inclusion of Israel amid the Gaza conflict and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The situation has created a tense atmosphere, drawing significant media attention and complicating the Biennale's usual celebratory preview period.

How the Venice Biennale imploded over Israel

The 61st Venice Biennale, scheduled to open on May 9, has been thrown into turmoil after its International Jury announced that national pavilions and artists representing countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court will not be eligible for prizes. This excludes Israel, represented by sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, and Russia from competing for the Golden Lion. The decision follows an open letter signed by hundreds of artists and curators demanding Israel's exclusion over the war in Gaza, and comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, including Russia's absence from previous editions after its invasion of Ukraine. The Biennale's theme, 'In Minor Keys,' curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, aimed to focus on dignity and listening to marginalized voices, but the prize ban has sparked accusations that identity politics are overshadowing artistic merit.

City Galleries Burst with Spring Art (sponsored)

The City of Gaithersburg is presenting spring art exhibitions across four of its galleries, along with the Arts Barn Spring Artisan Market. Shows include "Beyond The Canvas," a three-dimensional exhibition of relief and sculptural works by 27 artisans at the Arts Barn; the Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association’s 40th Annual Membership Juried Exhibition at Kentlands Mansion, juried by artist J. Jordan Bruns; "Big, Bold & Bright" at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, featuring large-scale abstract works; and an Asian-influenced exhibition by the Harmonious Art Group at the Benjamin Gaither Center celebrating Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Spring Artisan Market on April 25 will offer handcrafted gifts from local makers.

A festival bringing local and international productions and concerts to Liverpool is coming in April

The Angel Field Festival, an annual multi-arts event hosted by Liverpool Hope University, will take place from April 17th to 25th, 2026, at the university's Creative Campus in Liverpool. The festival's program includes theatre, music spanning classical to electronic, free art exhibitions, and storytelling, featuring both local Liverpool talents and international influences.

‘Heart of WeHo’ Art Exhibition Celebrates the City of West Hollywood at 40

The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division will host an artist reception on October 24 for 'Heart of WeHo,' a new group exhibition celebrating the city’s 40th anniversary. Featuring 27 local artists, the show presents paintings, photography, sculpture, and mixed media that depict West Hollywood’s landmarks, history, and everyday spaces—from iconic nightlife and architecture to quieter corners and imagined futures. The exhibition is on view at the West Hollywood Library through May 2026.

A Blueprint of Resonance: Building Detroit’s Artistic Future

A Blueprint of Resonance: Building Detroit’s Artistic Future is a multimedia exhibition presented by DETROIT SALON, running from October 18 to November 9, 2025. Curated by Juana Williams, the show highlights 18 Detroit-based artists who build on the city's legacy of collaboration and community care, drawing from historic institutions like Pewabic Pottery and the Scarab Club as well as artist-led movements such as the Cass Corridor and Gallery 7. The exhibition marks DETROIT SALON's official launch in Paris and the start of its global roadshows, ahead of its flagship event in Detroit in 2028.

UNH Gallery of Art Displays "Current: Fall 2025 Faculty Exhibition"

The University of New Hampshire Gallery of Art opened its triennial faculty exhibition, "Current: Fall 2025 Faculty Exhibition," on September 2, 2025. The show features work from 18 faculty members of the art and art history department, spanning mediums such as sculpture, fashion design, painting, and photography. A reception on September 5 drew students, faculty, and community members, with department chair Ben Cariens—also a featured artist and gallery director—joking that students could now grade their professors' work. The exhibition runs through October 17, with free admission.

Venice Biennale jury resigns after demanding, in vain, that Israel and Russia be excluded

The jury of the Venice Biennale has resigned after their demand to exclude Israel and Russia from the event was rejected. The jurors had called for the removal of both countries' national pavilions due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts, but the Biennale organizers declined to comply, leading to the mass resignation.

From studio to gallery, here are three women redefining the art world

Melanie Mullan interviews three women redefining the art world: contemporary artist Petria Lenehan, who transitioned from fashion design to painting and now works from her studio in Wicklow, Ireland, promoting her work via Instagram; and Trish Lambe, CEO and Artistic Director of Photo Museum Ireland, who began her career at the museum in the 1990s and now leads its curatorial team. The article highlights Lenehan's intuitive painting process and Lambe's hands-on approach to exhibition production.

Venice Biennale jury to avoid artists from nations with ICC-charged leaders

The jury for the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition announced on April 24, 2026, that they will not consider artists from countries whose leaders face charges at the International Criminal Court, an apparent reference to Israel and Russia. The five jury members, tasked with selecting Golden and Silver Lion winners among 110 participants, stated they felt compelled to commit to the defense of human rights. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. The decision follows criticism of the Biennale for allowing Russia to reopen its pavilion after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Rare documents from National Archives’ Freedom Plane tour draw history buffs and more to USC Fisher Museum

The USC Fisher Museum of Art is hosting the "Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation," a traveling exhibition of rare founding-era documents from the U.S. National Archives. The show, which runs through May 3, includes items such as a rare engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris (1783), and a Senate markup of the Bill of Rights (1789). USC is the only university stop on the eight-city national tour, and the documents arrived in Los Angeles on a special Boeing 737. The exhibition has drawn history students, faculty, and the public, with USC Distinguished Professor Peter C. Mancall bringing his class to study the documents up close.

Original Art Gallery showcases ARTSiE teaching artists

The Original Art Gallery in Evanston, Illinois, opened a new exhibition featuring seven teaching artists from ARTSiE, a local nonprofit that provides arts education to children and families. The show includes works in painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and drawing, and a portion of sales will be donated to ARTSiE. Gallery owner Russell Muits, who took over the space in August 2025, curated the exhibit as a celebration of artists who give back to their community.

Palmer Museum of Art hosts exhibit exploring intersection of art and engineering

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is hosting a new exhibition titled “Structures, Systems and Society: Work at the Interface of Art and Engineering,” on view through December 21 in the Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery. Developed in collaboration with the College of Engineering and the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education, the show features works from the museum’s collection alongside pieces by Penn State faculty, including curators Sarah Zappe, Joseph Cusumano, and Benjamin Fehl. The exhibition is organized around three themes—Structures, Systems, and Society—and aims to highlight the creative and cultural intersections between art and engineering.

Humanitas Braided art, a new interdisciplinary certificate, and a space for local artists

Yale University's latest Humanitas column highlights several arts and humanities developments: an exhibition by artist Nontsikelelo Mutiti at Schwarzman Center titled "Rusununguko," inspired by Black hair-braiding traditions and community; a new interdisciplinary certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies approved by Yale College Faculty; and a Yale-run art space opening to local New Haven artists. Mutiti's installation uses black vinyl braids to transform the domed gallery, reflecting her experiences as a Zimbabwean graduate student finding community in Harlem's hair-braiding salons.

2025 graduating BFA and BA students exhibit their work at the UNH Gallery of Art

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) Gallery of Art is hosting an exhibition titled “What’s Unseen; Left Unsaid” from April 18 to May 18, 2025, featuring works by 13 graduating BFA and BA students. The students handled the setup, installation, and creative vision of the show, which explores how art reveals unspoken emotions and experiences. An opening reception was held April 18, and the students also presented their work during a three-part event at the Undergraduate Research Conference. Since the closure of the UNH Museum of Art over a year ago, students have taken on the coordination and execution of exhibitions, with guidance from faculty.

Meloni on Venice Biennale: 'I've somewhat lost track'

Meloni über Venedig-Biennale: "Habe den Überblick etwas verloren"

Days before the opening of the Venice Biennale, the entire international jury resigned in protest over Russia's participation despite its war against Ukraine. The jury had previously excluded Russia and Israel from prize consideration due to International Criminal Court warrants against their leaders. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni admitted she had "lost track" of the situation, while the government sent inspectors to Venice. Biennale organizers responded by postponing the Golden Lion awards until November and introducing two audience-choice awards that will include Russian and Israeli entries.

NRW will Verbot für Handel mit Holocaust-Dokumenten

The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is introducing a legislative bill to ban the commercial trade of personal Holocaust documents and artifacts, such as letters from concentration camps, Gestapo cards, and yellow stars. The initiative follows international outrage over a planned auction in Neuss in November 2025, which was halted at the last moment; around 460 objects from that auction were transferred to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation. The bill, to be presented at the Bundesrat session on May 8, aims to prohibit the sale of items directly linked to Nazi victims, while exempting museums, archives, and research institutions.

Biennale Jury Will Not Consider Countries with ICC Allegations

Biennale-Jury will Länder mit IStGH-Vorwürfen nicht berücksichtigen

The jury of the Venice Art Biennale has announced that it will not consider countries whose heads of state or government face allegations of crimes against humanity from the International Criminal Court (ICC) when awarding prizes this year. The jury, led by Brazilian art historian Solange Farkas, cited its commitment to defending human rights. While no specific countries were named, the ICC currently has arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The Biennale leadership stated the jury acted in full autonomy and independence.

Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca “The Tunnels We Dig” at Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt

The artist duo Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca have opened a new exhibition titled "The Tunnels We Dig" at the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt. The show combines three of their collaborative film and installation works, which are the result of their decade-long practice of working in dialogue with other artists and collectives.

Monroe student artists bring annual exhibit to IHM campus

The Monroe County Community College Student Art Club is presenting its annual art show from May 22 through July 15 at St. Therese at IHM Senior Living in Monroe, Michigan. The exhibition features student artwork in various media including pencil, watercolor, acrylic, pottery, and sculpture, with a public reception on May 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Select pieces are available for purchase during gallery hours, and the club is seeking exhibitors for 2027.

3 Batavia High seniors selected for prestigious statewide art exhibition in Chicago

Three seniors from Batavia High School—Amelia “Mimi” Patterson, Jane Lishamer, and Benjamin Wash—have been selected to feature their work in the 13th Annual High School Art Exhibition in Chicago. Hosted at the Bridgeport Art Center from March 14 through April 18, the event showcases approximately 1,000 student artists from over 125 Illinois high schools. In addition to the main exhibition, six other Batavia students were chosen for the Northern Regional Exhibition.

“Testing the Waters” – New art exhibition at Chichele College opens as part of the Northants & Rutland Open Studios Art Festival

Four local artists—Ashley Medlock, Emma Saul, Annabelle Benjamin, and Ellen Bletsoe—are presenting a group exhibition titled “Testing the Waters” at Chichele College, an English Heritage site in Higham Ferrers. The show runs from 20-21 September and 24-28 September 2025, as part of the Northants & Rutland Open Studios Art Festival, the largest visual arts event in the county. Each artist contributes contemporary works in painting, ceramics, and abstract forms, set against the medieval backdrop of the historic building.

New art exhibition to open at National Trust Hughenden Manor

A major new exhibition celebrating local art and craft opens at the National Trust’s historic Hughenden Manor from September 12 to 21, 2025, coinciding with Heritage Open Days. Organized by the Visual Images Group, the show features over 30 artists and makers from Buckinghamshire, displaying painting, photography, printing, textiles, ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, and sculpture. All works are for sale, and entry is free from September 12–19.

‘The Founding Gifts’ exhibit celebrates art museum’s beginnings

The South Dakota Art Museum has opened 'The Founding Gifts,' a summerlong exhibition running from March 29 to September 21, celebrating the people and collections that established the museum. The exhibit highlights three key contributors: artist Harvey Dunn, whose 1950 donation of homesteading-era paintings formed the museum's foundational collection; the South Dakota General Federation of Women’s Clubs, which advocated for a permanent art museum and donated its art collection in 1970; and Congressman Benjamin Reifel, the first Lakota person elected to U.S. Congress, who loaned his Plains art collection in 1977, founding the museum's Native American collection. A free public reception is planned for August 8.