A groundbreaking study from Colorado State University reveals that Native Americans in the western Great Plains were using dice for gaming over 12,000 years ago. Researcher Robert J. Madden identified two-sided dice made of bone or wood from archaeological sites in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, pushing the known history of games of chance back significantly further than previously recorded.
The Medina Triennial has announced the artist lineup for its inaugural edition, set to open on June 6 in the Western New York village of Medina. Curated by co-artistic directors Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo, the exhibition features 39 international and local artists, including Venice Biennale winner Lina Lapelytė, Taysir Batniji, and Tania Candiani. The event is centered around the Erie Canal and explores the theme "All That Sustains Us," focusing on ecology, sustainability, and community exchange.
The Govan Heritage Trust is moving forward with a $6 million redevelopment of Govan Old, a historic 5th-century church site in Glasgow, following a decade of financial and pandemic-related delays. The project, designed by jm architects, will transform the late 19th-century building into a self-sustaining cultural complex featuring a museum, tourist attraction, and commercial business spaces.
Archaeologists at the Shenduntou site near the Yangtze River have unearthed a significant Bronze Age metal-working center dating back to the Zhou dynasty. The excavation, led by Nanjing Normal University, revealed approximately 1,000 artifacts including clay molds, arrowheads, and knives, alongside evidence of furnaces and protective earthen walls. These findings confirm the existence of a high-level workshop dedicated to large-scale bronze production within the ancient Wu kingdom.
Archaeologists in Spain have published new research on a remarkably preserved 3,450-year-old wooden loom, discovered in 2008 at the Cabezo Redondo site. The loom survived because a fire destroyed the surrounding Bronze Age village and a roof collapsed on it, charring and protecting the wood from decay. This rare find includes over 200 lightweight loom weights, suggesting the community was engaged in intensive production of delicate wool textiles.
Archaeologists at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate have unearthed a 250-year-old kiln used to fire bricks for the plantation’s original construction. Located on the East Lawn just feet from the main house, the site was identified through the discovery of specialized curved bricks, including cyma-shaped and ovolo-molded specimens. These architectural details confirm the kiln dates back to the "Monticello I" period (1768–1782), as these specific water table features were omitted during Jefferson’s later 18th-century renovations.
Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the hit television series Yellowstone, has been tapped to direct a 4D film for the upcoming Alamo Visitor Center and Museum in San Antonio. The film will serve as the centerpiece of a $185 million museum revamp, which includes a state-of-the-art theater designed to be the most technologically advanced of its kind. Sheridan, a Texas native, will chronicle the 1836 siege and battle that remains a foundational event in Texan history.
Archaeological research from Colorado State University has identified the world's oldest known dice, created by Native American hunter-gatherers on the western Great Plains over 12,000 years ago. These two-sided "binary lots," found at Folsom-period sites in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, predate the earliest known Old World dice by more than 6,000 years. The study reclassifies artifacts previously overlooked or misidentified, highlighting that these objects were the only decorated, non-utilitarian items found at these late-Pleistocene sites.
Archaeologist Robert J. Madden of Colorado State University has identified the world's oldest known dice, created by Native American hunter-gatherers on the western Great Plains over 12,000 years ago. By re-examining artifacts from Late Pleistocene Folsom-period sites in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, Madden discovered that these "binary lots" predate the earliest known Old World dice by more than 6,000 years. These objects are often the only decorated, non-utilitarian items found at these ancient sites, featuring artistic markings that distinguish them from everyday tools.
The 16th edition of Chile Arte Contemporáneo (Chaco), Chile's only international contemporary art fair, is underway in Santiago, featuring over 50 galleries. The fair emphasizes representation of the entire country, from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, and includes galleries from 11 countries, with a focus on Chilean contemporary artists. Notable presentations include immersive installations by artists like Fernando Andreo Castro and politically engaged displays, such as a composite flag by Brazilian gallery Hermès and a stand by Mnwal, a space for artists from the Palestinian diaspora.
Dustin Hodges presents a new body of work across two exhibitions, "Barley Patch" at 15 Orient in New York and "Barley Patch 2" at Sebastian Gladstone in Los Angeles. The artist utilizes thin layers of pigment, color glazing, and distemper on linen to create compositions that superimpose cartoon motifs, such as black crows and characters from the "Arthur" series, over complex grids. His process involves a cyclical layering that drives a wedge between the logic of the image and the materiality of painting, resulting in works that feel both choreographed and visceral.
The Uffizi Galleries in Florence suffered a significant cyberattack in February, with hackers reportedly stealing access codes, internal maps, CCTV camera information, and the institution's entire photographic archive. The attackers issued a ransom demand to director Simone Verde. In response, the museum moved valuable jewels to the Bank of Italy, sealed emergency exits at the Palazzo Pitti with bricks, and closed a section of the palace, though it attributes some actions to planned renovations and fire-safety compliance.
Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest has unveiled the reconstructed El Portal visitor’s center, a $18 million project designed by Marvel Architects to withstand future climate disasters. Following the devastation of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, the new facility features elevated structures, advanced stormwater management, and solar capabilities, serving as both a sustainable tourism hub and an emergency command post.
The Guardian's obituary of architect Desmond Williams has highlighted a notable connection within the British architectural world. Williams, known for his ecclesiastical designs, studied at the University of Manchester School of Architecture alongside Donald Buttress, who eventually served as the surveyor of the fabric of Westminster Abbey.
The Louvre Museum has announced a four-year restoration project for Peter Paul Rubens's monumental 'Marie de' Medici Cycle,' comprising 24 large-scale paintings. The works will be removed from public view starting this fall as the museum transforms their dedicated gallery into an on-site restoration studio to address yellowed varnishes and discordant past retouching.
In questo liceo dell’Aquila c’è una collezione d’arte contemporanea realizzata dagli studenti con gli artisti
The Liceo Bafile in L’Aquila has established a permanent collection of contemporary art featuring over 60 site-specific works created through collaborations between professional artists and students. Initiated by artist and professor Licia Galizia following the devastating 2009 earthquake, the project integrates art into the educational environment as a tool for cultural rebirth. In 2026, the collection will expand further with seven new installations created by artists including Elena Bellantoni and Marco Nereo Rotelli in partnership with the Academy of Fine Arts of L’Aquila.
Fare arte tra luce e buio. Succede in una mostra in Veneto ad Arzignano
The group exhibition "L’ombra delle lucciole" (The Shadow of the Fireflies) is on view at the Atipografia gallery in Arzignano, Veneto. Curated by Alfonso Cariolato and Luigi de Marzi, it features works by Mats Bergquist, Marco Tirelli, Silvia Inselvini, and Loes van Roozendaal, all exploring the tension and coexistence between light and darkness through diverse painting techniques.
Colombo’s skyline has undergone a radical transformation into a forest of glass and steel towers, epitomized by projects like the Lotus Tower and Port City. This rapid urbanization, driven by a state ambition to create a 'world-class city' following decades of civil war, has resulted in the displacement of local neighborhoods and the burial of historical layers under new infrastructure.
Russia has announced its intention to return to the Venice Biennale in 2026, marking its first participation since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The proposed pavilion, titled "The Tree is Rooted in the Sky," plans to feature 38 participants from Russia and several Global South nations. The announcement has sparked intense backlash from the European Commission and culture ministers across 22 countries, who argue that Russia’s presence undermines democratic values and serves as a tool for "dark cultural diplomacy."
The fourth Thailand Biennale, titled 'Eternal [Kalpa]', has launched across 19 venues in Phuket, aiming to challenge the island's reputation as a mere tropical leisure destination. Curated by a team including Hera Chan, the exhibition utilizes diverse locations—from municipal gymnasiums to mangrove forests—to explore themes of subjective time and local history. Despite logistical delays that saw some artists still installing works during the press preview, the biennial presents a series of site-specific commissions that engage with Phuket’s ecological and social complexities.
The inaugural Medina Triennial has announced its artist lineup for its debut edition running from June to September in Western New York. Featuring 39 participants, the walkable exhibition will showcase site-specific works by international and local figures including Tania Candiani, Lina Lapelytė, and Asad Raza. Installations and performances will be integrated into the town's civic fabric, utilizing non-traditional venues such as a railroad museum, local churches, hospital corridors, and a century-old high school.
Multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iran, including the 17th-century Chehel Sotoun palace in Isfahan, have sustained significant damage from recent US-Israeli airstrikes. The attacks shattered historic windows, doors, and decorative tiles at several monuments in Isfahan's historic center, and also damaged the third-century Falak-ol-Aflak Citadel, despite the display of protective Blue Shield emblems.
Tutta la poesia del cielo in mostra nel grand hotel di Roma per ricordarci la nostra stessa complessità
Artist Giovanni Ozzola has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Il Cielo Dentro' (The Sky Within) at the Galleria Continua's space within The St. Regis hotel in Rome. The show features works centered on the sky as a metaphor for the vastness both outside and within the human experience, exploring the tension between internal and external horizons through light and abandoned architectural spaces like bunkers.
Longtemps menacé, le Palais de la découverte va finalement rouvrir en 2027 après sept ans de fermeture
The Palais de la découverte in Paris will officially reopen in March 2027 following a seven-year closure for extensive renovations. Located in the Palais d’Antin wing of the Grand Palais, the institution faced the threat of permanent closure or relocation to the Cité des sciences due to economic constraints. However, a joint decision by the French Ministries of Research and Culture has secured its future at its historic site, where it will feature a shared entrance with the Grand Palais to foster a unique dialogue between art and science.
Artist Otobong Nkanga has unveiled a major new installation titled 'I Dreamt of You in Colours' at the Kunsthalle Basel. The immersive, site-specific work explores themes of memory, landscape, and the extraction of natural resources through a complex tapestry of textiles, drawings, and sculptural elements.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is launching a new exhibition centered on the cultural legacy of the 'Rocky' film franchise and its iconic statue, which stands at the foot of the museum's famous steps. The show explores the intersection of cinema, public art, and Philadelphia's local identity, featuring a public event to celebrate the opening.
The Taft Museum of Art has named Cincinnati-based painter Ayana Ross as the 2026 Robert S. Duncanson Artist-in-Residence, marking the 40th anniversary of the prestigious program. Ross, known for her figurative realism and traditional oil painting techniques, will be featured in a solo exhibition titled "Beyond the Picturesque: The American Landscape as a Site of Memory, Identity and Continuity." The showcase includes seven paintings integrated into the Taft’s historic house and Sinton Gallery, with a specific installation placed alongside the museum's famous 19th-century murals by Robert S. Duncanson.
The New Britain Museum of American Art (NBMAA) recently hosted a community reception for Pablo Delano’s exhibition, "The Museum of the Old Colony." This conceptual, site-specific installation utilizes archival imagery and objects to examine the enduring impact of U.S. colonial rule in Puerto Rico since 1898. The event was attended by local dignitaries, including Mayor Bobby Sanchez, marking a significant moment for the museum's engagement with the local Puerto Rican community.
The Albuquerque Museum is hosting a retrospective of Chicana artist Delilah Montoya, titled "Delilah Montoya: Activating Chicana Resistance." The exhibition's centerpiece is "Detention Nation," an immersive installation created in collaboration with the Sin Huellas Artist Collective that simulates the conditions of ICE detention centers. The work features cyanotype images of detainees on prison cots, chain-link fencing, and displays of meager government-issued personal items alongside the official National Detainee Handbook.
The Oceanside Museum of Art has opened "Brothers in Arts: James Hubbell and Bert Hubbell," a poignant exhibition curated by Brennan Hubbell, the son of James and nephew of Bert. The show explores the parallel creative lives of the two brothers, who lived on opposite sides of the Pacific for sixty years—James in San Diego and Bert in Japan—yet maintained a deep spiritual and artistic connection through letters and shared philosophies. Both artists passed away within weeks of each other in 2024, shortly after a final video call that reconnected them after a period of silence.