Morad Montazami Named Artistic Director of 16th Dak’Art Biennial

Morad Montazami has been appointed as the artistic director for the sixteenth edition of the Dak’Art Biennial, scheduled to run from November 19 to December 19. Titled "(Anti)Fragility: Arts of Repair and Counter-Shock Strategies," the upcoming biennial will focus on themes of community, co-creation, and the transformation of vulnerability into artistic strength. Montazami, an esteemed art historian and curator known for his work on global modernism and postcolonial narratives, brings extensive experience from previous roles at Tate Modern and various international exhibitions.

V&A East Museum: Inside London’s New Venue In Stratford

The V&A East Museum is set to open in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a major new cultural hub for East London. Housed in a striking five-story building designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey—inspired by the couture tailoring of Cristóbal Balenciaga—the museum features two permanent galleries titled "Why We Make" and a dedicated space for major temporary exhibitions. The site emphasizes accessibility with a barrier-free entrance and a collection of over 500 objects spanning art, design, and performance, curated to highlight themes like social justice and environmental action.

Theaster Gates: Contending with the Past and Present

Theaster Gates has transformed the Smart Museum of Art into a personal sanctuary for his first major solo institutional exhibition in Chicago, titled "Unto Thee." The immersive installation features vast archives from Gates's personal collections, including African artifacts, funerary objects, and a significant vinyl record collection that provides a continuous sonic backdrop to the space. Key works on display include the monumental "Black Still Life #3" and the ongoing series "Walking Prayer," which consists of black books embossed with golden phrases that explore the complexities of Black identity and collective memory.

Isamu Noguchi designed modern America. Atlanta’s High Museum shows how.

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta has launched a major retrospective titled “Isamu Noguchi: ‘I am not a designer,’” featuring nearly 200 objects that span the artist's prolific career. The exhibition showcases Noguchi’s diverse output, including his iconic Akari paper lanterns, furniture for Herman Miller, the Radio Nurse baby monitor, and his extensive stage set collaborations with choreographers like Martha Graham and Ruth Page.

Irene Monat Stern | Untitled (circa 1970s) | Available for Sale

The estate of Irene Monat Stern has made the painting 'Untitled' (circa 1970s) available for sale, highlighting the artist’s unique contribution to the Color Field movement. A Holocaust survivor who settled in Southern California, Stern developed a signature technique of staining unprimed canvas with acrylics to create organic, blossom-like forms. Her work is characterized by a sense of weightlessness and spatial depth that distinguishes her from contemporaries like Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler.

Exhibition | OSGEMEOS, 'The Open Window' at Lehmann Maupin, 501 West 24th Street, New York, United States

Lehmann Maupin is set to present "The Open Window," an exhibition of new works by the renowned Brazilian twin artist duo OSGEMEOS, running from April 23 to June 6, 2026, in New York. The showcase features five new paintings that continue the artists' exploration of their surreal "Tritrez" universe, characterized by their signature yellow-skinned figures and intricate patterns. These works operate at a more intimate scale than their well-known large-format murals, focusing on material sensitivity and detailed narratives inspired by hip-hop culture and Brazilian folklore.

Sculptor Martin Puryear brings major exhibition to Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art has launched "Martin Puryear: Nexus," the first comprehensive survey of the influential American sculptor’s work in nearly two decades. The exhibition features approximately 50 pieces spanning over 50 years, including sculptures in wood, rawhide, and metal, as well as rarely seen drawings and models. Co-organized with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the show highlights Puryear’s unique blend of traditional craftsmanship, global cultural influences, and abstract forms.

Godfried Donkor: It’s a Numbers Game

Ghanaian-British artist Godfried Donkor is set to debut his first UK institutional solo exhibition, "It’s a Numbers Game," at Firstsite in Colchester. The exhibition features a diverse array of media including collage, painting, embroidery, and installation, highlighted by a gallery transformed into a boxing ring to symbolize migration and endurance. Donkor utilizes materials like Financial Times pages and Adinkra symbols to explore the "triangle of commerce" between Britain, West Africa, and the Caribbean, while specifically linking the local history of Boudicca to the resistance of Ashanti leader Yaa Asantewaa.

'Joan Semmel' at Xavier Hufkens, Rivoli, Brussels, Belgium on 22 Apr–27 Jun 2026

American painter Joan Semmel is debuting a dual-continent exhibition titled "Continuities," presented simultaneously at Xavier Hufkens in Brussels and Alexander Gray Associates in New York. The show features recent large-scale paintings, including works like "Here I Am" (2025) and "Red Breast" (2025), which utilize saturated hues and layered compositions to explore the artist's own aging body from her own perspective. By presenting related works across two cities, the exhibition mirrors the internal logic of Semmel’s paintings, which often employ doubling and shifting imagery to represent the body as a site of active presence.

Kate Tova’s New Exhibition at Oceanside Museum of Art Asks What it Really Means to Rest

San Francisco-based artist Kate Tova has launched a solo exhibition titled "The Art of Rest" at the Oceanside Museum of Art. The show features a series of vibrant, large-scale multimedia works that blend traditional oil painting with unconventional materials like sequins and reflective surfaces. Tova’s latest body of work explores the psychological and physical necessity of stillness, challenging the modern culture of constant productivity through her signature "glitch" aesthetic and tactile textures.

EXPO CHICAGO 2026 Opens With Local Enthusiasm and Strong Institutional Sales

EXPO CHICAGO 2026 has launched at Navy Pier with a streamlined, highly curated format that emphasizes quality over quantity. The fair’s opening days have been defined by robust institutional engagement, with several major museums acquiring works for their permanent collections. This year’s edition features a diverse array of artists and galleries, reinforcing its position as the premier contemporary art platform in the American Midwest.

72 Hours of Art in Salt Lake City: Museum Hopping, Spiral Jetty and Sculpture on the Slopes

Billionaire Reed Hastings, the former CEO of Netflix, has transformed Utah’s Powder Mountain ski resort into a unique 'skiable outdoor art museum.' Collaborating with landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand, the resort now features major installations by artists such as Nancy Holt, James Turrell, and EJ Hill. This development positions the resort as a contemporary companion to the region's historic land art landmarks, including Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty and Holt’s Sun Tunnels.

Cleveland Museum of Art opening ‘Martin Puryear: Nexus,’ a career survey

The Cleveland Museum of Art has launched "Martin Puryear: Nexus," the most comprehensive survey of the 84-year-old American sculptor’s work in nearly two decades. Co-organized with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the exhibition features approximately 50 pieces, including large-scale sculptures, drawings, and maquettes spanning 50 years of Puryear’s career. A unique feature of the show is the inclusion of diverse interpretations from various artists and architects, though many works are left intentionally open-ended to encourage personal viewer connection.

The Story Behind Martin Puryear’s “Alien Huddle,” a Highlight of the Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art has launched "Martin Puryear: Nexus," a major career-spanning exhibition featuring 50 works by the acclaimed American sculptor. A centerpiece of the show is the museum's own "Alien Huddle," a wooden sculpture that the artist recently revealed was inspired by the birth of his daughter and the transformation of a couple into a family of three. The exhibition, which runs from April 12 to August 9, 2026, showcases Puryear's mastery of wood and his ability to blend organic forms with deep cultural and personal narratives.

REVIEW: The Open: Odyssey at Hastings Contemporary

Hastings Contemporary has launched its inaugural biennial, titled "The Open: Odyssey," featuring over 150 artists with connections to Sussex. Selected from a pool of 2,600 applicants by a panel led by Kathleen Soriano, the exhibition explores themes of marine ecology, migration, mythology, and coastal life. Notable works include Alan Patch’s large-scale hanging of plastic detritus, Kate Howe’s monumental waxed paper installation "The Moving Edge," and Kevin J J Warren’s sculptures made from salvaged fishing nets.

Noguchi's New York Sculptures Celebrated

The Museum of Modern Art has launched 'Noguchi's New York,' a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The exhibition utilizes photographs, architectural models, and archival materials to document his extensive footprint across the city, from the Ford Foundation’s Sunken Garden to the Challenger memorial. By focusing on his public installations, the show highlights Noguchi’s unique ability to blend natural materials with abstract forms within the urban grid.

Compton’s New Canvas: Mr. Wash and the Art of the Possible, Los Angeles

Fulton Leroy Washington, the Compton-based artist known as Mr. Wash, is spearheading a $15 million campaign to build a 14,000-square-foot community arts center and studio in his hometown. The project is being supported by his latest exhibition, "The City of Compton: Then & Now," and a showcase at Jeffrey Deitch’s Compton space titled "Don’t Turn Your Back On Us." Washington, who served 21 years of a life sentence before receiving clemency from President Barack Obama in 2016, gained international acclaim for his photorealistic "teardrop" portraits created while incarcerated.

Get Ready for the David Geffen Galleries This Third Weekend at LACMA

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is launching a four-day celebration from April 16–19 to mark the opening of the David Geffen Galleries, the museum’s new home for its permanent collection. The "Third Weekend" festivities include behind-the-scenes talks on the installation process, film screenings, poetry workshops, and movement sessions. The weekend culminates in the official unveiling of the Peter Zumthor-designed building, followed by two weeks of exclusive member previews before the general public opening.

Art Gallery / Museum Information – Recommended Exhibitions in April 2026

Major Japanese institutions have announced a diverse lineup of exhibitions for April 2026, ranging from historical retrospectives to contemporary explorations of technology. Highlights include a significant showcase of Lithuanian symbolist M. K. Čiurlionis alongside Hokusai at the National Museum of Western Art, and a ten-year commemorative retrospective of Natsuyuki Nakanishi at the National Museum of Art, Osaka. Other scheduled shows focus on urban sociology, the sensory impact of photography in the age of AI, and the folkloric legacy of Lafcadio Hearn.

Art Gallery / Museum Information – Recommended Exhibitions in April 2026

Major Japanese institutions have announced their flagship exhibition schedules for April 2026, featuring a mix of international retrospectives and deep dives into domestic art history. Highlights include the National Museum of Western Art’s presentation of Lithuanian visionary M. K. Čiurlionis alongside Hokusai, and a significant ten-year memorial retrospective for Nakanishi Natsuyuki at the National Museum of Art, Osaka. Other notable shows include a sensory-focused photography exhibition at TOP Museum and a folklore-centric study of Lafcadio Hearn in Osaka.

A New Fine Art Photography Gallery Is Opening Inside A Historic Olde Towne East Mansion

The historic mansion at 1040 East Broad Street in Columbus’s Olde Towne East neighborhood is being transformed into a new fine art photography gallery. Spearheaded by local photographer and developer Matthew Barnes, the space aims to provide a dedicated venue for high-end photographic works within a restored architectural landmark.

Sundaram Tagore Gallery Expands to London with New St James’s Space

Sundaram Tagore Gallery is expanding its international footprint with the opening of a new 310-square-meter flagship space in London’s St James’s district this May. Located in a renovated Edwardian building on Pall Mall, the multi-level gallery will feature exhibition areas, a private viewing room, and dedicated spaces for live performances and screenings. The inaugural exhibition, titled "Hybridity and Belonging in Contemporary Art," will showcase a diverse roster of artists including Hiroshi Senju, Tayeba Lipi, and Sohan Qadri, focusing on themes of displacement and cross-cultural identity.

Ellsworth Kelly: Eight Decades at Parrish Art Museum

The Parrish Art Museum is hosting "Ellsworth Kelly: Eight Decades," a comprehensive retrospective celebrating the centennial of the legendary American abstractionist. The exhibition spans Kelly’s prolific career, featuring a diverse array of works including his signature shaped canvases, wood sculptures, and precise drawings. By bringing together pieces from various stages of his life, the show highlights Kelly's unwavering commitment to exploring the relationships between color, form, and space.

Ionit Behar, the MCA’s Newest Curator, on Opening Windows Into Other Worlds

Dr. Ionit Behar has been appointed as the Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago, effective February 9, 2026. Born in Israel and raised in Uruguay, Behar brings a global perspective shaped by her upbringing in an academic environment and her experience as an immigrant in the United States. Her curatorial philosophy emphasizes the museum as a space for intellectual discovery and emotional resonance rather than a mere repository of information.

A 30-year media artist transforms: “I wanted to awaken tradition through painting”

A 30-year media artist transforms: “I wanted to awaken tradition through painting”

Renowned South Korean media artist Park Chan-kyong has returned to his roots with a solo exhibition of paintings titled "Zen Master Eyeball" at Kukje Gallery. The show features over 20 satirical works that reinterpret Buddhist myths, shamanic traditions, and folk beliefs through a lens of "Zen Buddhist Grotesque Science Fiction." By utilizing traditional temple wall painting techniques and architectural layouts, Park explores themes of enlightenment, self-punishment, and the futility of contemporary visual consumption.

Diva Corp Is Disrupting The LA Art Scene

The Los Angeles-based collective Diva Corp is challenging traditional art world hierarchies through a series of provocative interventions and exhibitions. Their recent solo show at Pio Pico, titled 'The Meeting,' gained notoriety for requiring visitors to surrender their phones before viewing a single painting, 'Untitled (Young adults are having less sex than ever), 2026.' This practice, alongside performances designed to circulate through digital retelling and social rumor, highlights the group's focus on the 'afterlife' of an artwork and the social friction it generates.

Olivia Rodrigo’s New Music Video Is a Dizzying Romp Through Versailles

Pop star Olivia Rodrigo has released the music video for her new single "Drop Dead," filmed on location at the Palace of Versailles. Directed by Petra Collins, the production marks the first time a music video has been granted permission to film inside the palace's royal apartments, including the Queen's Bedroom and the Grand Couvert Antechamber. The video features Rodrigo performing alongside historic masterpieces, such as Pierre Mignard’s 17th-century tapestry "Apollo and the Muses on Mount Parnassus."

MoMA PS1’s “Greater New York” Is Gritty, Stunning, and Gutting

MoMA PS1 has launched the sixth edition of "Greater New York," a quinquennial survey featuring over 50 artists living and working in the city. Coinciding with the museum’s 50th anniversary, the 2026 iteration focuses on artists in the formative stages of their careers, emphasizing a gritty, raw aesthetic over the polished, market-driven surfaces often found in major biennials. The exhibition highlights photography and installation work that reflects the city's complex immigrant narratives and evolving urban identity.

Theresa Hak Kyung Cha Made Human Again

The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is hosting "Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: Multiple Offerings," a comprehensive exhibition that draws from the artist’s complete archives. The show highlights Cha’s multidisciplinary practice, spanning film experiments, performance documentation, and her signature linguistic explorations. By pairing finished artworks with archival materials and personal ephemera, the exhibition reveals a playful, puckish side of the artist that is often obscured by the tragic circumstances of her death and the heavy themes of exile and dislocation in her work.

Arts of the Earth

ARTES DE LA TIERRA

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has inaugurated "Artes de la Tierra" (Arts of the Earth), a multidisciplinary exhibition curated by Manuel Cirauqui that examines the relationship between contemporary art and the soil. Spanning from the mid-20th century to the present, the show integrates visual arts, architecture, and ancestral Basque knowledge to explore themes of composting, terraforming, and ecological repair. Featured artists include pioneers of Land Art and Arte Povera such as Ana Mendieta, Fina Miralles, and Meg Webster, whose works are presented alongside archival materials and architectural models.