‘An immense void in the world of contemporary art’: Koyo Kouoh, curator of the 2026 Venice Biennale, has died, aged 57

Koyo Kouoh, the acclaimed Cameroonian-born curator who was appointed to organize the 2026 Venice Biennale, died on Saturday at a hospital in Basel, Switzerland, at age 57. Her husband confirmed she died of cancer following a recent diagnosis. Kouoh had been selected in December to become the first woman from Africa to curate the prestigious international exhibition, and the Biennale's statement mourned her loss as leaving "an immense void in the world of contemporary art."

A Roma il popolare quartiere Quadraro ospita un festival d’arte diffuso. Il programma

The IPER Festival delle periferie returns to Rome's Quadraro neighborhood for its fifth edition, titled "Super Lieux (Super luoghi) Periferie. Storie e geografie." Running until May 31, the festival features conferences, roundtables, study days, talks, exhibitions, and performances. A highlight is "Überlagerungen," a diffuse art review curated by Spazio Y that animates the Quadraro Vecchio district on May 16 with actions, installations, and shows from 4 PM to 11 PM. Participating venues include Spazio Kina, vineria Moggio, and osteria Grandma, with works by artists such as Lucia Bricco, Giulio Cassanelli, Felice Levini, and many others.

Colombia of the 1970s arrives in Milan with an exhibition that feels like a film

La Colombia degli Anni ’70 arriva a Milano con una mostra che pare un film

Ever Astudillo (Cali, 1948–2015) is the subject of a new exhibition at Velo Project in Milan, titled "Latin Fire." The show brings together photographs and drawings from the 1970s and 1980s, capturing the Colombian city of Cali as a silent theater of anonymous, often isolated figures. The installation also features kinetic sculptures by filmmaker Virgilio Villoresi (Fiesole, 1979), creating a dialogue between Astudillo's still images and Villoresi's fragile, hypnotic movement. The exhibition runs until May 16, 2026.

The National Choreographic Center is doing everything to involve young people in ballet

Il Centro Coreografico Nazionale sta facendo di tutto per coinvolgere i giovani nel balletto

The Centro Coreografico Nazionale Aterballetto in Reggio Emilia has launched "Alla ricerca della meraviglia" (In Search of Wonder), a year-long research and production project aimed at engaging younger audiences through contemporary dance. The initiative involves three choreographers—Fernando Melo, Jacopo Jenna, and Francesco Marilungo—who are developing works that adopt a child’s perspective rather than simply creating content for children. These studies will be presented at the Internazionale Kids Festival in May 2026, with one selected for full production later that summer.

61st Venice Biennale: Cultural workers and artists strike and protest against the Israeli genocide in Gaza

Thousands of artists, cultural workers, and protesters marched through Venice on May 8, 2026, one day before the opening of the 61st Venice Biennale, to protest the Israeli genocide in Gaza and Lebanon. The strike, organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), led to the closure of approximately 27 of the Biennale's 100 national pavilions, with signs reading "We Stand with Palestine." The Israeli pavilion remained closed and guarded by armed police, who clashed with protesters. Meanwhile, the European Commission threatened to suspend €2 million in EU grants to the Biennale Foundation over its decision to allow Russia to participate, citing incompatibility with EU sanctions and the invasion of Ukraine.

‘Melodies of the Diaspora’ art exhibition celebrates Black History Month | City of Bellevue

The City of Bellevue, in partnership with MG2, Onyx Fine Arts Collective, and Elevate, presents 'Melodies of the Diaspora: Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Month,' an exhibition featuring works by Pacific Northwest Black artists. The show runs throughout February at Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue City Hall, with an opening reception on Feb. 1. Curated by Jay Taylor, Fancy Vargas, and Jerry Lee, the exhibit includes paintings, photography, sculptures, textiles, and fashion, offering a chronological journey of Black art.

dwr helle mardahl glass

Copenhagen-based designer Helle Mardahl has launched a new hand-blown glass collection for Design Within Reach (DWR). The collection includes barware, serving dishes, vases, and lamps in a palette of rhubarb, plum, coconut, and creamy melon, inspired by Scandinavian and American design traditions and Mardahl's heritage as the daughter of an architect.

𓇽𓇽𓇽 CATALINA BAUER: EL VOLCÁN, LA BALLENA Y OTROS MUNDOS 𓇽𓇽𓇽

Chilean artist Catalina Bauer presents her exhibition "El volcán, la ballena y otros mundos" at the Sala Capilla of Centro Cultural Montecarmelo in Santiago de Chile, 2026. The show features an immersive installation centered on a whale-like sculptural form that has beached inside the chapel, surrounded by cosmic and natural elements such as stars, ferns, and maranta plants, creating a dreamlike ecosystem that invites tactile and contemplative engagement.

Booming exhibition is becoming ‘prominent’ event for town

Spalding artist Joey Lowe organized the fourth edition of a local art exhibition at The Sessions House, attracting over 1,000 visitors and gallery owners from Norfolk and Gainsborough. The event featured 50 artists, including local MP Sir John Hayes, and introduced a new 'mini youth exhibition' with artwork from five area schools.

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.

Artist Mustapha Boucenna Exhibits His Works in Algiers

Visual artist Mustapha Boucenna opened a solo exhibition and sale titled 'The Memory of Dreams' in Algiers. The show features approximately fifty contemporary paintings that blend abstraction, cubist ornamentation, and symbolic motifs drawn from history, mythology, and global literature.

Paint meets protest at this dalit art exhibition in Chennai

The fifth edition of the Dalit Aesthetics Art Show, titled ‘The Whole Story’, has opened at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai. Organized by the Neelam Art Collective as part of the annual Vaanam Festival, the exhibition features works by 36 artists that explore themes of social justice, identity, and resistance. The show highlights both the struggles of the Dalit community and their cultural contributions, featuring a dedicated gallery for B.R. Ambedkar and honoring veteran artist Savindra Sawarkar, a pioneer of the Dalit art movement.

Innocent mistake? Italy's prime minister appears as a cherub in Rome church

A fresco restoration in Rome's Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina sparked a political controversy after a cherub was found to bear a striking resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The artist, Bruno Valentinetti, initially denied the intentional likeness before admitting he had painted the figure based on the Prime Minister's features. Following an intervention by the Vatican's administrative body, the Curia, the face was subsequently painted over and removed from the chapel.

NW Minnesota Arts Council announced its NW Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council announced the winners of its 2025 Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit, awarding $2,300 in cash prizes to student and adult artists from a seven-county region. The winners were recognized at a reception in Crookston on April 27, with juror Glen Henry, an Indigenous artist and Director of Exhibitions at Minnesota State University Moorhead, selecting the awardees. Categories included adult and student divisions, with top prizes going to Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad for mixed media and Alyssa Foster for drawing, among others. Selected works will travel to area libraries and five student pieces will be displayed in Senator Mark Johnson's office.

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.

Taiyo to Ame no Melody (Melody of Sun and Rain) at PALAS

Taiyo to Ame no Melody (Melody of Sun and Rain) at PALAS

The group exhibition *Taiyo to Ame no Melody (Melody of Sun and Rain)* opened at PALAS in Sydney, featuring new and recent works by artists Maureen Gallace, Trevor Shimizu, and Kazuyuki Takezaki. Curated by the Tokyo-based gallery Misako & Rosen, the show presents a contemplative dialogue between the three artists' distinct approaches to landscape and domestic scenes, running from February 7 through March 28, 2026.

Venice Biennale jury excludes Russia and Israel from artist awards as EU threatens funding cut

The Venice Biennale jury has excluded Russia and Israel from eligibility for artist awards, following the EU's threat to cut funding over geopolitical concerns. The decision bars artists from these countries from being considered for official prizes at the prestigious international art exhibition.

The Story of Alexey Shor: From Mathematician to Contemporary Classical Composer. The Interview

La storia di Alexey Shor: da matematico a compositore classico contemporaneo. L’intervista

Alexey Shor, a 1970-born Ukrainian-American composer who originally earned a PhD in mathematics and worked in finance, has transitioned to a full-time career in contemporary classical music. From April 28 to 30, 2026, his neo-romantic compositions were performed at the Auditorium RAI "Arturo Toscanini" in Turin, Italy, by the RAI National Symphony Orchestra under Estonian conductor Anu Tali, alongside works by Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and Grieg. The concerts featured renowned musicians including Russian conductor Mikhail Pletnev, violinist Giuseppe Gibboni, violinist Daniel Lozakovich, and pianist Arsenii Moon. In an interview with Artribune, Shor discussed his dual career, his emotional connection to audiences, and his openness to having his music used in films.

Merritt Wins Best Of Show At Spring Juried Art Show

Wesley Dallas Merritt won Best of Show at the Lakeland Art Association's 22nd annual Spring Juried Art Show, held at the Lakeland Art Gallery in Warsaw, Indiana. The show featured 53 works by 19 artists from Fort Wayne, North Manchester, and surrounding counties, including paintings, photographs, metal sculptures, and ceramic works. Judge Andrew Tomasik, a Warsaw Community High School visual arts teacher, also awarded first place to Brenda Stichter, second place to Merritt, and third place to Sherri Johnson, along with six honorable mentions.

New Austin museum exhibit tells stories of 27 festivals across Texas

The Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin has opened a new exhibition called "Texas Festivals," running through September 27. The show features artifacts from 27 festivals across the state, including a gown from Fiesta San Antonio, a sand sculpture from Sandfest in Port Aransas, an art car honoring Stevie Ray Vaughan from Houston's Art Car Parade, and mascots from the Texas Onion Fest, Hogeye Festival, and Texas State Forest Festival. The exhibition is divided into three sections exploring how festivals create community, and includes a short documentary, interactive activities, and a talk with historian Dr. Michaele Thurgood Haynes on May 3.

Detroit's Cass Cafe to reopen this month for art exhibition

Detroit's Cass Cafe, a longtime community hub and restaurant that closed three years ago, will reopen this month to host a retrospective art exhibition. The show, titled "Retrospective: A Life in Art," features works by Detroit artists Jim and Lucille Nawara and is organized in partnership with the neighboring Detroit Contemporary. Organizers describe the event as both a gallery opening and a community reunion.