“Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art” at the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth presents "Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art," co-organized with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, marking the first major Maya exhibition in the U.S. in a decade. Featuring 95 works, the show includes 50 objects never before seen in the U.S. and 17 recent archaeological discoveries, with contributions from 23 lenders including the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología in Guatemala and the INAH – Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City. The exhibition is organized thematically around Creations, Day, Night, Rain, Maize, Knowledge, and Patron Gods, and highlights recent scholarship in Maya glyph decipherment, archaeology, and art interpretation.

Behind the Scenes of ‘The Sopranos’: A New Exhibition Revisits TV’s Favorite Mob Drama

The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in New York has opened a new exhibition titled 'Stories and Set Designs for The Sopranos.' The show delves into the creation of the landmark HBO series, featuring original research materials, concept art, ground plans, and scripts that reveal the intense preparatory work by creator David Chase and his team. It reconstructs key locations like the Soprano home, the Bada Bing strip club, and Dr. Melfi's office to illustrate the show's transition from pilot to full series production.

Amina Agueznay on Representing Morocco at the 61st Venice Biennale

Artist Amina Agueznay will represent Morocco at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with a monumental installation titled 'Asǝṭṭa' in the Arsenale. The work focuses on collaborative practices and ancestral narratives, drawing from her fieldwork with weavers and metalsmiths, and incorporates traditional silver sequins to create a dialogue between the Middle Atlas Mountains and Venice's canals.

[Gallery Walk] The Vanished Rooms of Women Reopened

Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul is presenting "Into Other Spaces: Synesthetic Environments by Women Artists 1956-1976," a major exhibition opening May 5 that reconstructs immersive environmental artworks by 11 women artists from Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The show features full-scale recreations of works that were often dismantled or lost, including Jeong Gangja's "Muchejeon" (1970), which was shut down by authorities after just days. Curators Andrea Lissoni and Marina Pugliese used archival materials, photographs, and direct consultations with artists or their estates to piece together these ephemeral pieces.

'To Paint Is To Love Again' at Crèvecoeur, Paris–Cascades, France on 9 Apr–27 May 2026

The group exhibition 'To Paint Is To Love Again' at Crèvecoeur gallery in Paris explores the theme of artistic freedom, play, and a childlike approach to creation. The article examines this through the lens of Henry Miller's writings on painting, the influence of Jean Dubuffet's Art Brut, and the practices of contemporary artists Whitney Clafin, Sadie Benning, and Françoise Lapeyre, who incorporate found objects, toys, and a 'Sunday painter' ethos into their work.

Picasso’s most radical work returns through Bedri Baykam’s Istanbul exhibition

Turkish artist Bedri Baykam has launched a major solo exhibition titled “Baykam on Picasso: Les Demoiselles Revisited” at Piramid Sanat in Istanbul. Following its debut at Galerie S/Beaubourg in Paris, the show centers on a multi-layered reinterpretation of Pablo Picasso’s 1907 masterpiece, "Les Demoiselles d’Avignon." The exhibition features a mix of paintings and immersive installations, including a conceptual Turkish bath and historical recreations of brothels in Paris and Istanbul, all designed to bridge the gap between Western modernism and Eastern influences.

Andrée Putman Studio to Reveal Unseen Iconic Furniture Creations at Art Paris

Andrée Putman Studio is set to unveil a series of unseen furniture creations and collectible interior pieces at the Art Paris fair this April. Curated by the late designer’s daughter, Olivia Putman, and CEO Aurélie Laure, the showcase features archival designs reinterpreted in new materials, such as a mirrored version of the 'Mille et Un Carreaux' table and stainless steel 'Trois Carats et Demi' side tables. The presentation coincides with the opening of La Galerie Andrée Putman in Paris, a new space dedicated to the designer's enduring legacy.

‘Painting continues to be viable’: Enrique Martínez Celaya on his sugar-coated show at the Wende Museum

Enrique Martínez Celaya has unveiled "The Sextant" at the Wende Museum in Culver City, marking the final installment of a decade-long trilogy exploring his Cuban childhood. The immersive installation features a full-scale recreation of his family’s Modernist home, entirely coated in 6,500 pounds of sugar to symbolize the industrial history of his hometown. Accompanied by paintings and sculptures, the exhibition uses personal artifacts, such as letters to his exiled father, to navigate themes of memory and displacement.

Artist Soumyadeep Roy's latest exhibition spotlights migration and identities

Artist Soumyadeep Roy's latest exhibition, "Shahrashob," explores migration and identity through the lens of historical and personal narratives. The show traces movements from Delhi to Lucknow in the 18th century, Lucknow to Calcutta in the 19th century, and post-partition shifts to Bombay and Karachi, centering on Wajid Ali Shah's journey to Kolkata and the creation of a mini-Lucknow in Metiabruz. The exhibition features video films of paan-sellers in Lucknow and Calcutta, archival references, and creative re-imaginings, drawing on Roy's personal bonds with descendants of historical figures.

Chihuly glass art exhibition fuels SA economy with record visitor turnout

The "Chihuly in the Botanic Garden" exhibition at Adelaide Botanic Garden concluded after seven months, drawing 1.4 million visitors and generating $55.7 million in economic benefits for South Australia. The show featured Seattle-based artist Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures, including ticketed experiences like "In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly" and "Chihuly Nights," which attracted over 200,000 attendees. Key artworks, including the Glacier Ice and Lapis Chandelier and the Jet and Crimson Fiori, will remain as permanent fixtures thanks to donations from local philanthropists.

Home Away from Home — Finding Connection Through Utah Lake | UVU

Shirin Abedinirad, an Iranian land artist and faculty member at Utah Valley University School of the Arts, has created works for the exhibition "Healing Waters: Restoring Our Relationship with Utah Lake" at the UVU Museum of Art. After immigrating to the United States four years ago and studying at Michigan State University, she felt disconnected from Michigan's humid landscape. A trip to Utah, where the desert environment reminded her of Iran's Urmia Lake and the Great Salt Lake, inspired her to create land art again. Her pieces in the show include videos of performance art filmed on Utah Lake's shores and a striking installation of red felt roots symbolizing the connection between all living things.

Chantana Tiprachart Wins Han Nefkens Foundation’s Southeast Asian Video Art Grant

Thai artist and filmmaker Chantana Tiprachart has been awarded the 2026 Southeast Asian Video Art Production Grant by the Han Nefkens Foundation. The prize provides $15,000 for the production of a new moving-image work over a nine-month period, which will subsequently tour several international institutions including the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai and Nottingham Contemporary. The jury selected Tiprachart for her ability to locate social and political narratives within quiet, everyday spaces, praising her commitment to reflection in an era of information overload.

mrbeasts ancient mexico temple stunt followed the rules but 1234742255

YouTube megastar MrBeast (James Donaldson) released a video titled "I Survived 100 Hours in an Ancient Temple" on May 10, amassing over 55 million views in four days. Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) confirmed that the production had full permission from federal and state authorities to film at Mayan archaeological sites including Chichén Itzá, Calakmul, and Balamcanché, and that all shoots occurred in public areas without disrupting other visitors. However, INAH also pointed out several inaccuracies in the final cut: no drones were flown inside El Castillo, no helicopter descents occurred, no one spent the night at a site, and a funerary mask shown in the video was a contemporary reproduction, not an authentic artifact.

Meaningful projects

Detroit-based artist Elonte Davis and Hungarian curator Kriszti Sarusi are among several creatives reflecting on the personal and social impact of their recent projects. Davis highlighted his 2026 community-centered initiatives, including his solo exhibition 'Homeroom: Detroit Taught Me First' and workshops at the Detroit Institute of Arts, while Sarusi discussed 'Floating Reality,' an exhibition series designed to provide space for underrepresented artists through a collaborative collective.

SA ‘white hands on black art’ controversy in court – and on national gallery walls

The National Gallery of Australia has officially opened the 'Ngura Pulka – Epic Country' exhibition, a major showcase of works by 52 artists from the APY Art Centre Collective. The show was originally postponed in 2023 following allegations published in The Australian that white staff members had improperly interfered with the creation of the paintings. After multiple investigations by government bodies and a review by the NGA cleared the artworks of creative interference, the collective is moving forward with the exhibition while pursuing a $4.4 million defamation lawsuit against the newspaper.

Two Museum Exhibitions Reframe Amazon Civilizations

Two museum exhibitions, one at Americas Society in New York and another at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris, are reframing perceptions of Amazon civilizations by centering the artistic and cultural traditions of the region's Indigenous peoples. The New York show, "Amazonia Açu" (on view through April 18, 2026), features works by artists including Sara Flores, Sheroanawe Hakihiiwe, PV Dias, and the film collective Colectivo Tawna, blending mediums and challenging Western distinctions between art and craft. The Paris exhibition, "Amazônia – Indigenous Creations and Futures" (through January 18), presents the Amazon as a culturally rich, inhabited ecosystem rather than a pristine wilderness.

After 550 years, a fabric found in a Norwich bishop’s tomb is recreated

Fragments of silk from a ceremonial robe buried with Norwich Bishop Walter Lyhert in 1472 have been recreated after 550 years. The tiny pieces were discovered in 1899 during building works at Norwich Cathedral and have been on long-term loan to Norwich Castle. A project led by assistant curator Agata Gomolka used high-resolution photography, chemical fiber analysis, and dye testing by scientists at the British Museum and KIK-IRPA in Brussels to reconstruct the red and purple fabric. The recreated silk is now on display at Norwich Castle, and Norwich Cathedral plans to make ceremonial copes from it for use in services.

Intuit Art Museum has its big reopening: ‘I don’t want this to be a traditional art museum’

The Intuit Art Museum in Chicago has reopened after a landmark $10 million renovation, marking a significant rebranding from its former name, "Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art," to simply "Intuit Art Museum" (IAM). The museum, which collects work by self-taught artists, replaced a traditional ribbon-cutting with a collaborative ribbon-tying ceremony, creating an interconnected artwork that will remain in its collection. The renovation tripled its gallery space and introduced new exhibitions, including a refurbished Henry Darger installation with LED screens and an immersive recreation of the artist's apartment, as well as a rotating permanent collection display featuring artists like Mr. Imagination, Lee Godie, and Wesley Willis. The second floor is dedicated to the special exhibition "Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-taught Art in Chicago," featuring works by artists such as Drossos Skyllas, Thomas Kong, Pooja Pittie, and Carlos Barberena.

Lloyd Le Blanc obituary

Sculptor Lloyd Le Blanc has died at the age of 85. He was known for creating large-scale bronze works of flora and fauna and, with his wife Judith Holmes Drewry, established the Le Blanc Fine Art foundry and studios in Saxby, Leicestershire. Le Blanc was involved in every stage of his sculptures' creation and also cast works for other artists from his foundry.

David Hockney’s Vibrant Creations Anchor Artnet’s Contemporary Editions Auction

Artnet Auctions is staging its Contemporary Editions sale, now live for bidding through November 19, 2025, featuring three works by David Hockney: an iPad drawing titled *16th February, 2021, More Flowers in a Glass Vase* (est. $40,000–$60,000), a digitally stitched photograph *In the Studio, December 2017* (est. $50,000–$70,000), and a lithograph *Pretty Tulips* (1969) (est. $35,000–$55,000). The sale highlights Hockney’s ongoing experimentation with digital tools and printmaking, offering collectors accessible entry points into his six-decade career.

In ‘Life Forms,’ Janny Baek Imagines a Speculative Landscape

In ‘Life Forms,’ Janny Baek Imagines a Speculative Landscape

Sculptor Janny Baek is presenting her solo exhibition *Life Forms* at Chicago's Joy Machine gallery from March 20 to May 9, 2026. The exhibition features her speculative ceramic sculptures, which blend recognizable natural forms like blossoms and creatures with unexpected, abstract elements to create imagined landscapes and primordial organisms. Using techniques like hand-building and the Japanese *nerikomi* method of patterning colored clay, Baek's work captures beings in a state of playful mutation and transformation.

Dismantling Orbán's 16-Year Grip on Hungary's Art World

Following the recent electoral defeat of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition by the opposition party Tisza, the Hungarian art world faces a monumental task of institutional restoration. For 16 years, the regime’s 'System of National Cooperation' (NER) systematically co-opted cultural institutions, installing loyalists in leadership roles at major venues like the Kunsthalle and Ludwig Museum to promote an ethno-nationalist agenda. This period was marked by the exodus of independent curators, the occupation of museums by activists, and a fractured ecosystem where state funding was tied to political compliance.

How Tate's Emily Kam Kngwarray show is revealing the fraught market dynamics of Aboriginal art

Tate Modern in London is hosting a major solo exhibition of Emily Kam Kngwarray, the celebrated Aboriginal artist who rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The show, first presented at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, features works from the height of her career, deliberately omitting some of her final paintings due to concerns about the circumstances under which they were created. Curators Kelli Cole and Hetti Perkins highlight how Kngwarray's rapid success attracted dealers and entrepreneurs who exploited the artist and her community, revealing an opaque market system that took advantage of artists' inexperience and poor socio-economic conditions.

Greece Introduces New Law to Combat Art Forgery and Vandalism

Greece has enacted a landmark legislative framework specifically designed to combat art forgery, vandalism, and the trade of counterfeit cultural property. The new law introduces stringent criminal penalties, including prison sentences of up to ten years and fines reaching €300,000, while mandating the destruction of works confirmed as fakes. Key provisions include the creation of an independent registry of forgery experts under the culture ministry and the expansion of legal protections to include historically significant cinemas.

France reopens its historic pavilion at the 2026 Venice Art Biennale after restorations with artist Yto Barrada

La Francia riapre il suo storico padiglione alla Biennale Arte 2026 dopo i restauri con l’artista Yto Barrada

France will reopen its historic pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale (May 9–November 22, 2026) after restoration, with Franco-Moroccan artist Yto Barrada (b. 1971) presenting the immersive textile-based project "Comme Saturne," curated by Myriam Ben Salah. The exhibition uses the "dévoré" technique—acid selectively corrodes fabric—as a metaphor for destruction and creation, featuring a goat-skin kite, a Room of Folds with wool drapery that fades in natural light, a Laboratory inspired by Saturnalia, and a Study Room linked to Barrada's garden of dye plants in Tangier, culminating in the Room of the Devoured where chemically attacked material fragments into an aesthetic of wear and formlessness.

Il Padiglione della Gran Bretagna alla Biennale d’Arte di Venezia 2026 spiega cos’è l’appartenenza

The British Council has selected artist Lubaina Himid to represent Great Britain at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Her exhibition, titled "Predicting History: Testing Translation," will transform the British Pavilion into a large-scale installation exploring belonging, displacement, and the recreation of home in new contexts. Created in collaboration with artist Magda Stawarska, the show features multi-panel paintings and a surreal soundscape that engages with the neoclassical architecture of the pavilion. Himid, a Turner Prize winner and pioneer of the Black British Art Movement, focuses on cultural memory and identity, challenging Eurocentric narratives and highlighting overlooked Black figures in Western history.

Urban Reflections, Daniel Melim on the City as Studio, Archive and Collective Space

Brazilian artist Daniel Melim discusses his exhibition "Urban Reflections" at São Bernardo do Campo in an interview with Brendon Bell-Roberts. Melim, who emerged from the graffiti and stencil cultures of ABC Paulista, describes how the city functions as an active collaborator in his practice, transforming the gallery into an expanded studio where boundaries between street, studio, and institution dissolve. The exhibition juxtaposes pivotal and previously unseen works, tracing his artistic evolution and layered urban memory.

‘House of Galleries (Volume 11)’: Niquu Eyeta and Ghizlane Sahli in a Shared Field of Care, Memory, and Material Becoming.

Artists Niquu Eyeta and Ghizlane Sahli are featured in a dual presentation titled ‘House of Galleries (Volume 11),’ showcased by the gallery Sakhile&Me. The exhibition creates a dialogue between Eyeta’s organic compositions, which utilize plant pigments and clay, and Sahli’s intricate 'alveoli' structures made from silk and repurposed plastic. Both artists emphasize the concept of material as a living archive, focusing on themes of ecological consciousness, ritualistic repetition, and the reanimation of discarded matter.

'Intellectual Structures: Trigger, Judgment, and Decision' at Each Modern, Taipei, Taiwan on 25 Apr–6 Jun 2026

The group exhibition 'Intellectual Structures: Trigger, Judgment, and Decision' at Each Modern in Taipei explores the cognitive processes behind artistic creation. Featuring works by DAZHI, Ding Hongdan, Jing Ao, Liang Yuanwei, Wenjue, and Xu Qu, the show examines how human thought remains distinct from artificial intelligence by focusing on the 'neural algorithms' of the brain. The curatorial framework breaks down the creative act into three stages: the initial sensory trigger, the critical judgment between experience and transcendence, and the final decision that collapses multiple possibilities into a singular work.

Titanic, a deep emotion

Artist Claudia Bitrán is debuting her long-awaited solo exhibition, "Titanic, a deep emotion," at Cristin Tierney Gallery in New York City. The show features a scene-by-scene remake of James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster, meticulously reconstructed over a decade using lo-fi materials, DIY production methods, and a cast of over 1,400 volunteers. The exhibition is presented as a three-channel film installation complemented by paintings, sculptural props, and storyboards that highlight the labor-intensive, communal process of its creation.