New CAM Exhibition Shows Food’s Role in French Art

The Cincinnati Art Museum has opened a new exhibition titled "Farm to Table: Food and Identity in the Age of Impressionism," organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Chrysler Museum of Art. Featuring works by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and others, the show explores the role of food in French art and society from the 1870s onward, juxtaposing scenes of peasant labor with depictions of upper-class abundance. Curator Andrew Eschelbacher highlights how food was central to French identity during a period marked by war, famine, and social upheaval, with Impressionist brushstrokes often veiling deeper sociopolitical realities.

Brittany Webb is Joining Museum of Fine Arts, Houston as Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art: 'There is A Lot That Attracted Me to the MFAH'

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) has appointed Brittany Webb as curator in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, effective late summer 2025. Webb joins from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), where she served as the Evelyn and Will Kaplan Curator of 20th-Century Art and the John Rhoden Collection since 2018. At PAFA, she organized several exhibitions including a comprehensive retrospective of sculptor John Rhoden, and added over 200 works to the permanent collection. MFAH Director Gary Tinterow praised Webb's passion, community connections, and track record of thoughtful exhibitions of American and African American art.

Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art and Saudi Arabia strike deal to collaborate on exhibitions, conservation and more

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) has signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to collaborate on exhibitions, conservation, research, and staff exchanges. The deal, signed on May 14 by NMAA director Chase Robinson and RCU CEO Abeer AlAkel, focuses on the ancient site of Dadan, a capital of the Lihyanite and Dadanite civilizations. The partnership covers joint conservation and research projects, exhibition loans, and professional development over four years.

Peabody Essex Museum opening new gallery of Korean art and culture May 17, 2025

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, will open the Yu Kil-Chun Gallery of Korean Art and Culture on May 17, 2025. This landmark installation showcases PEM’s historic Korean collection, featuring works from the late Joseon dynasty through the early 20th century and into the present day, including rare objects, textiles, and recent acquisitions by artists like Nam June Paik. The gallery is supported by the Korea Foundation and the National Museum of Korea, and is curated by Dr. Jiyeon Kim.

Ford Foundation Gallery and NXTHVN presents THIS IS NOT A RETREAT! NXTHVN Through the Years

The Ford Foundation Gallery and NXTHVN present "THIS IS NOT A RETREAT! NXTHVN Through the Years," an exhibition opening June 5, 2025, at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice in New York. The show features work by alumni artists from the first five years of NXTHVN's intensive 10-month fellowship program, which has supported 41 artists and 12 curators since 2018. Co-founded by artist Titus Kaphar and impact investor Jason Price, the exhibition is curated by Marissa Del Toro and spans drawing, painting, prints, installation, etchings, and sculpture. A concurrent group show, "The Things Left Unsaid," featuring NXTHVN's Cohort 06 Fellows, runs from May 8 to June 21, 2025, at James Cohan Gallery.

Fragility, resilience and humour: Wolfgang Tillmans and Boris Mikhailov to open photography show in war-torn Kharkiv

A major photography exhibition pairing Wolfgang Tillmans and Boris Mikhailov opens today at the Yermilov Centre in Kharkiv, Ukraine, despite ongoing Russian attacks on the city. Titled "Pairs Skating" (April 25–September 28), the show is organized by the non-profit RIBBON International and curated by Maria Isserlis and Tatiana Kochubinska. It features Mikhailov's never-before-shown Crimean seascapes from the 1990s alongside Tillmans's works including "The State We’re In" (2015), with all prints produced specially for the venue, which is a certified bunker allowing public access during the war.

LATIN AMERICA IN THE SPOTLIGHT THREE EXHIBITIONS AT NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY

Nottingham Contemporary has announced a major 2026 exhibition program dedicated to three influential Latin American artists: Chico da Silva, Julia Isídrez, and Francisco Tún. This ambitious schedule includes the first European institutional solo show for the late Brazilian Indigenous artist Chico da Silva, a co-production with MALBA for Paraguayan ceramicist Julia Isídrez, and a retrospective for the enigmatic Guatemalan painter Francisco Tún.

Art Fund Launches ‘Empowering Curators’ Program for Global Majority Professionals

Art Fund, a British charity, launched the Empowering Curators program, a five-year initiative creating twenty multi-year curatorial roles for senior to mid-career professionals from global majority backgrounds. Ten initial fellows have been announced, with placements at major institutions including Tate Liverpool, the Whitworth Art Gallery, and Royal Museums Greenwich, where they will develop exhibitions, installations, and academic programs.

Dozens of Venice Biennale Artists Demand Israel’s Exclusion

A coalition of 182 artists, curators, and art workers participating in the 2026 Venice Biennale, organized under the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), formally delivered a letter demanding the exclusion of Israel from the exhibition. The signatories, including prominent artists like Yto Barrada, Alfredo Jaar, and Miet Warlop, argue that the Biennale must not normalize Israeli policies towards Palestinians.

Urgent Request from Participating Artists and Curators of the 61st Venice Biennale

第61回ヴェネツィア・ビエンナーレ参加アーティストおよびキュレーターによる緊急要請

A group of 73 artists and curators participating in the 61st Venice Biennale, including Yoshiko Shimada and Bubu de la Madeleine, have issued an urgent demand to the Biennale's board to revoke Israel's participation. The collective specifically objects to the decision to relocate the Israeli pavilion to the Arsenale, arguing that its presence contradicts the curatorial vision of Artistic Director Koyo Kouoh, which emphasizes the dignity of all life. They contend that the military and police presence required for the pavilion introduces an atmosphere of violence and fear that undermines the exhibition's integrity.

10 Must-See Museum Exhibitions This Spring

Major museums worldwide are launching a series of high-profile exhibitions this spring that challenge traditional art historical narratives. Highlights include a Marcel Duchamp retrospective at MoMA, a deep dive into Pop art's legacy at the Guggenheim, and significant surveys of icons like Frida Kahlo and Agnes Martin. Meanwhile, UCCA Beijing is presenting a major exhibition of Duan Jianyu, highlighting the evolution of Chinese painting in relation to Western influence.

Miami Art Week 2025: Your Essential Guide to the Fairs, Exhibits, and Chaos

Miami Art Week 2025 takes place December 2-7, transforming Miami Beach and Wynwood into a sprawling art hub anchored by Art Basel Miami Beach, which features 281 galleries from 43 countries. The week includes over a dozen major fairs such as SCOPE, NADA, UNTITLED, and Pinta, alongside off-program events like street art battles at the Museum of Graffiti, a collaborative mural by RETNA and El Mac at Wynwood Walls, and David LaChapelle's world premieres at VISU Contemporary. The event follows record-breaking New York auctions totaling over $1.5 billion, including a $236 million Gustav Klimt and a $55 million Frida Kahlo.

Best art exhibits to see in the Bay Area this fall

The article highlights several notable art exhibitions opening in the Bay Area this fall, including 'Rave into the Future: Art in Motion' at the Asian Art Museum, featuring immersive dance culture works and ceramics by Sahar Khoury and Maryam Youssif; Selva Aparicio's solo show at Gallery Wendi Norris, where she carves rug designs into the floor and uses cicada wings and hair in her installations; Andrew Owen's photography exhibition 'In Light Years' at Small Works, capturing California's landscapes and environmental scars; Caterina Fake's installation 'Bed for Dreaming' at the Jones Institute, an experimental home gallery where guests can sleep in an ancient bed; and the farewell celebration at Altman Siegel Gallery after 16 years of operation.

Continue the Frieze London buzz: these are the best new gallery openings in the UK to visit now

The article highlights five new or relocated gallery openings across the UK, from London to rural Wiltshire, that are generating buzz alongside the Frieze London art fair. These include Brink in Notting Hill, which pairs architecture with art in a former temperance hall; Huxley-Parlour's new rural outpost in the North Wessex Downs; Monument, an archival objects gallery expanding in Leyton; 3812 Gallery relocating to The Whiteley in Queensway with a focus on Chinese contemporary art; and Cobogó Gallery's first physical London space in Chelsea Harbour, specializing in Brazilian design.

Frieze New Writers Select the Best Art Shows in the UK and Ireland

Frieze has announced the winners of its New Writers program, who have selected the best art shows currently on view across the UK and Ireland. The initiative highlights emerging critical voices by commissioning them to review standout exhibitions, including Richard Tuttle's assemblages at Galerie Greta Meert and an expansive presentation of Lutz Bacher's work at WIELS in Brussels.

Young artists show their talent

The Young Artists’ Project (YAP) exhibition returns to the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, South Africa, from August 22 to September 21. Initiated in 2002 by then-curator Storm Janse van Rensburg, the annual project mentors emerging artists in producing their first solo exhibitions. This year features two artists: N’lamwai Luntha Chithambo, a Malawian-born painter who earned degrees from Rhodes University and has shown at the National Arts Festival and Sasol New Signatures; and Zama Mwandla, a South African surrealist painter whose work confronts sexual violence and healing, with exhibitions at the African Feminisms show and the 54th Art & Antique Fair in Salzburg.

Los Angeles dealer Ariel Pittman launching new gallery in MacArthur Park

Ariel Pittman, a Los Angeles art historian and former director at Vielmetter and Various Small Fires, is opening a new gallery called Official Welcome in the MacArthur Park neighborhood on May 30. The gallery, located in the historic Granada Building, will launch with an inaugural exhibition titled "California Split" featuring works by June Edmonds, Jay Lynn Gomez, Henry Taylor, and others, with prices starting at $800. Pittman plans to diversify revenue by offering consulting services, project management, and space rentals, and aims to keep operations lean before eventually hiring staff and establishing equitable profit-sharing structures.

Christie’s Third Arab Art Summer Exhibition Marwan: A Soul in Exile 16 July – 22 August - Christie's

Christie’s will host its third annual Arab Art Exhibition, titled "Marwan: A Soul in Exile," at its London headquarters from 16 July to 22 August 2025. The non-selling retrospective features over 150 works on loan from museums, institutions, and private collections across Europe and the Middle East, spanning paintings, drawings, works on paper, and editions. Curated by Dr. Ridha Moumni, Chairman of Christie’s Middle East & Africa, the exhibition traces the six-decade career of Syrian-born artist Marwan Kassab Bachi (1934–2016), known for his facial landscapes that blend German expressionism with Syrian identity and Arab political themes.

Pinakothek in Munich Returns Nazi-Looted Painting by Lesser Ury to Jewish Heirs

The Pinakothek museums in Munich have restituted a painting by German-Jewish Impressionist Lesser Ury to the heirs of its original owner, Berlin banker Curt Goldschmidt. The work, 'Interior with Children (The Siblings),' was sold at a forced auction in the 1930s after the Goldschmidt family bank collapsed under Nazi economic policies.

art paul chan ai breathers digital

Paul Chan, the artist known for his early digital video works, is preparing for a new exhibition at Greene Naftali titled "Automa Mon Amour," opening March 12, featuring his latest "breathers"—kinetic windsock-like sculptures powered by fans. Chan, who quit making art in 2009 to found the indie publishing house Badlands Unlimited, has since returned to art-making with analog-focused works, yet simultaneously developed Paul’ (Paul Prime), a sophisticated AI project that creates a digital version of himself using his personal data, writings, and interviews. The article explores the contradiction between Chan's rejection of screens and his engagement with highly technical, code-intensive digital art.

Minor Keys and Major Silences: Yoshiko Shimada and the Art of Outrage

Yoshiko Shimada, a Japanese feminist and antiwar artist, is featured in a conversation with ArtAsiaPacific ahead of her inclusion in the 2026 Venice Biennale, curated by Koyo Kouoh under the theme "In Minor Keys." The article explores Shimada's decades-long practice of excavating the gendered scars of Japanese imperialism, focusing on her collaborative work with BuBu de la Madeleine, which uses drag and irony to critique imperial frameworks and the erasure of wartime atrocities. It also highlights her revival of the Chū-pi-ren movement, a 1970s feminist group that fought for abortion rights and access to birth control, arguing that their legacy remains urgent in 2026 given Japan's slow progress on women's bodily autonomy.

Choreography Instead of Cartography

Choreografie statt Kartografie

The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, titled "In Interludes and Transitions," has opened in the JAX District of Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Featuring works by approximately 70 artists across five converted warehouses, the exhibition is curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed with a scenography designed by Formafantasma. Despite regional geopolitical tensions, the event showcases major installations by international artists such as Petrit Halilaj and Thao Nguyen Phan, emphasizing a "choreographic" rather than cartographic approach to global art.

Protests in Mexico Against the Transfer of a Rare Collection to Spain

Protestations au Mexique contre le transfert en Espagne d’une rare collection

A coalition of nearly 400 art professionals in Mexico is protesting the planned transfer of the prestigious Gelman Collection to Spain. The collection, which includes iconic works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, is slated to move to the Faro Santander museum in northern Spain under a five-year management agreement with Banco Santander. Critics describe the move as a "public disaster," citing the opaque 2023 sale of the collection to the Zambrano family and the potential violation of Natasha Gelman’s original will, which stipulated the works remain in Mexico.

what would happen to auction houses if luxury art sales 1234773779

Major auction houses including Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips are experiencing a significant shift as luxury goods—such as cars, watches, handbags, and jewelry—see explosive growth while fine art sales decline. In 2025, fine art sales at the 'Big Three' fell by 35% to $7.04 billion, whereas luxury auction sales rose 18% to $1.84 billion. This trend is most visible at Sotheby’s, where luxury now accounts for a third of total revenue, driven by massive private sales and strategic expansions into sectors like collector cars.

south african court rejects gabrielle goliaths bid to reinstate venice biennale pavilion 1234773798

A South African high court has dismissed artist Gabrielle Goliath’s urgent application to reinstate her selection for the 61st Venice Biennale. Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie canceled Goliath’s pavilion, titled "Elegy," labeling the work "highly divisive" just days before the official submission deadline. The artist and curator Ingrid Masondo argued the cancellation was an act of censorship and a violation of constitutional freedom of expression, but the court rejected the bid without providing immediate reasons.

saudi arabia commission mural domingo zapata 1234773760

Saudi Arabia has commissioned New York-based artist Domingo Zapata to create what is being billed as the world's largest mural, spanning 540,000 square feet. The project, part of the $63 billion Diriyah cultural zone development in Riyadh, is backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and will involve a team of about 100 artists working over four to six years, with Zapata describing it as having "a blank check" for creative freedom.

battle over 1800 paintings attributed to russian modernist masters intensifies after litigation funder raises authenticity concerns 1234772905

A legal battle over a collection of 1,800 paintings attributed to Russian modernist masters has escalated after the litigation funder backing the claimants, LitFin, raised concerns it may have been misled about the works' authenticity. The funder is now in a dispute with the claimants, the family of the late Palestinian collector Uthman Khatib, over halted payments and control of the lawsuits, which seek the return of the paintings or $323 million from Israeli-Russian businessman Mozes Frisch, who is accused of stealing them.

beauty kustaa saksi tapestry oribe

Artist Kustaa Saksi, known for tapestries inspired by the visual auras of his migraines, has created a new work titled "Golden Threads" in collaboration with luxury hair-care brand Oribe. The tapestry, woven at the TextielMuseum’s TextielLab in Tilburg, took six months and over 180 pounds of thread, and is an abstract homage to the Norse goddess Sif. It is part of Oribe’s annual artist program, now in its eighth year, which invites creatives to reinterpret the brand’s visual language for limited-edition holiday packaging. Past participants include photographer Thandiwe Muriu, digital painter Kohei Kyomori, and clay artist Rowan Harrison.

venice biennale russia pavilion eu funding 2752812

The European Union has threatened to withdraw a €2 million grant from the Venice Biennale following Russia's decision to return to the international exhibition for its 61st edition. The EU Commission warned that providing a platform for a Russian national pavilion risks legitimizing figures connected to the Kremlin and violating sanctions, while Biennale organizers have defended the move as a commitment to artistic freedom and a rejection of censorship.

sleep artist lee hadwin 1623505

Artist Lee Hadwin creates elaborate drawings and paintings while sleepwalking, with no memory of making them. His nocturnal creativity began at age four and intensified at 15 when he produced three pencil drawings of Marilyn Monroe overnight. Now based in London, Hadwin has made hundreds of works while asleep, selling them for $1,500 to $10,000 each. His art is currently featured in a sleep-themed exhibition in Albury, Australia, and he is working on a book titled *The Awakening*.