Pavlina Vagioni Oikeiōsis: A Greek Artist Asks Venice to Remember How to Belong

Pavlina Vagioni's exhibition *Oikeiōsis*, presented by the Hellenic Diaspora Foundation at the Venice Biennale, takes its name from a Stoic concept about recognizing belonging and expanding care outward. The show is structured in two rooms: the first, named Neikos (strife), features a fragmented plexiglass cube that reflects visitors in multiplied form, evoking separation. The second, Philotes (harmony), contains warm rock-salt seats and a layered vocal soundscape that activates the Tartini effect—a psychoacoustic phenomenon where two frequencies produce a phantom third tone, symbolizing collective kinship. The salt seats will physically change over the Biennale's six-month run, accumulating the memory of each visitor.

Street art festival sees Lagos turned into 'open-air gallery'

Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, has been transformed into an "open-air gallery" for its first-ever street art festival, which opened on Wednesday and runs through December 15. The festival features murals by Nigerian and international artists, including Ashaolu Oluwafemi, Babalola Oluwafemi, and Ottograph, displayed on Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue in Victoria Island. Artists aim to bring art directly to the community, telling stories of Lagos's vibrancy, resilience, and culture, with themes of joy, partying, and pride symbolized by motifs like the peacock.

Yellow Dog Art Bar and Gallery hosts artists, events in Denton

John Bramblitt, a Dallas native and Denton-based artist who lost his eyesight about 20 years ago while studying at the University of North Texas, opened Yellow Dog Art Bar and Gallery in mid-2023. The venue combines a bar with a gallery space, exhibiting and selling work from local artists, hosting open mic nights for live music and poetry, painting workshops, bad movie screenings, trivia, and karaoke. Bramblitt, who continued painting after losing his sight from complications with epilepsy and Lyme disease, also travels for speaking engagements, teaches painting to the visually impaired, and consults museums on accessibility. The gallery's name is partly inspired by the Blue Dog gallery in New Orleans and by Bramblitt's service dog, a yellow Labrador named Zuke.

David Krut Projects showcases artist’s latest exhibition | Rosebank Killarney Gazette

Artist Pebofatso Mokoena opened his latest exhibition, "Diamond Dust Apostrophes," at The Blue House in Parkwood on July 19, hosted by David Krut Projects. The show draws on his recent residency in Oranjemund, Namibia, where the landscape, history, and soundscapes influenced his creative direction. During the residency, Mokoena began creating ink drawings on A4 paper while waiting for oil paints, a limitation that shaped the exhibition's meditative tone. He also collaborated with fellow resident Ericke Tjiueza, using music—particularly the album "Floating Points" by Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra—as a tool to understand the town. The exhibition marks a shift from his 2020 solo show "Internal Probes," which focused on Johannesburg's urban chaos, toward stillness and reflection.

In Bordeaux, the MADD unveils its sublime metamorphosis and pays tribute to a shooting star of design

À Bordeaux, le MADD dévoile sa sublime métamorphose et rend hommage à une étoile filante du design

The Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design (MADD) in Bordeaux has unveiled a significant architectural renovation and expansion of its public spaces. The project, led by the architecture firm Antoine Dufour, transformed the 18th-century Hôtel de Lalande, creating a new open-air passage, a café-restaurant, a ticket office-shop, and improving accessibility and circulation between the historic mansion and the adjacent former prison used for temporary exhibitions. The redesign emphasizes natural light, reveals original stone walls, and incorporates contemporary, clearly distinguishable interventions.

The 2026 Edition of the Salon du Dessin

L'édition 2026 du Salon du Dessin

The 2026 edition of the Salon du Dessin, a specialized drawing fair, is underway at the Palais Brongniart in Paris. The fair features a new 'young collectors' pathway designed to appeal to those not spending hundreds of thousands, alongside the traditional stand for anonymous works. Major pieces, like two allegorical drawings by Grégoire Huret, sold immediately at the opening, and the event maintains its characteristic scholarly yet warm atmosphere with notable new exhibitors.

Gallery 1882 bringing work of contemporary artists from around the country to Chesterton

Gallery 1882, located in Chesterton, Indiana, is hosting a new exhibition featuring contemporary artists from across the United States. The show brings together a diverse range of works, highlighting emerging and established talents in a local gallery setting.

SMC Emeritus Annual Student Art Exhibition 2026 – Part 1, Opening Celebration in Emeritus Gallery May 14

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Emeritus Art Gallery will present the SMC Emeritus Annual Student Art Exhibition 2026 – Part 1, running from May 14 to June 19. The exhibition features works by 47 student artists from SMC's noncredit Emeritus program for older adults, with a free opening reception on May 14 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Due to high participation, the show is split into two parts, with Part 2 opening online on June 11.

Irina Werning Chronicles 18 Years of Photographing ‘Las Pelilargas’ in a New Book

Photographer Irina Werning has spent 18 years traveling across Latin America to document Indigenous women with exceptionally long hair for her series "Las Pelilargas." Her new book, published by GOST Books, features nearly 90 portraits taken between 2006 and 2024, starting with the Kolla community in Argentina. Werning sought subjects by posting signs in remote mountain towns and organizing hair competitions, capturing a tradition rooted in ancestral beliefs that hair connects to life, thoughts, and the land.

fashion nike shoe designer wilson w smith

Wilson W. Smith III, Nike's first Black designer and a 41-year veteran of the company, retired this winter and gave one of his first interviews to CULTURED. Smith, who designed shoes for Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams, began his career as an architect at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill before moving into shoe design under Tinker Hatfield in 1985. He reflects on his journey from architecture to footwear, his early projects like the Nike factory store in North Portland, and his role in shaping iconic sneakers such as the Air More Uptempo and the Air Alarm for Agassi.

Looking for art, culture? See the latest Central Illinois exhibits

Central Illinois is hosting a diverse array of art and cultural exhibitions across several key institutions and galleries this spring. Highlights include the "Art on the Offense" group show at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, the "Lights, Camera, Fashion!" exhibition featuring the Lois Jett Historical Fashion Collection, and multiple annual student showcases at University Galleries and Merwin & Wakeley Galleries. Local spaces like the McLean County Arts Center and Eaton Studio Gallery are also actively engaging the community through regional artist spotlights and educational outreach for local students.

The papal residence of Castel Gandolfo had been opened to museum visits by Pope Francis, now Pope Leo closes it again

La residenza papale di Castel Gandolfo era stata aperta a visite museali da Papa Francesco, ora Papa Leone la chiude di nuovo

Pope Leo XIV is closing the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo to the public as of July 2026, ending nearly a decade of museum access initiated by Pope Francis. Online ticket sales stop on June 30, and the palace will revert to its original function as the pope's summer residence. The decision follows preparatory works begun in May 2025 and is partly motivated by security concerns, as the current temporary lodging at Villa Barberini has logistical and access-control issues.

How Do You Curate an Exhibition on Genocide? Faisal Saleh and the Palestinian Question That Crosses the Venice Biennale

“Come si cura una mostra sul genocidio?”: Faisal Saleh e la domanda palestinese che attraversa la Biennale di Venezia

At the 2026 Venice Biennale, a collateral exhibition titled “Gaza – No Words – See the Exhibit” presents 100 embroidered works using the traditional Palestinian technique of Tatreez. Curated by artist Faisal Saleh, founder of the Palestine Museum US, the show transforms embroidery from decoration into political testimony, reconstructing scenes from Gaza over the past two and a half years: shrouded bodies, killed children, mothers bidding farewell, bombed hospitals. The exhibition is housed at Palazzo Mora and has been called by many visitors “the real Palestinian Pavilion” of the Biennale, though it is not an official national pavilion.

Sands China Celebrates Grand Opening at Hong Kong's Art Central

Sands China has officially debuted its Sands Gallery booth at Art Central 2026, Hong Kong's prominent international art fair. The exhibition features contemporary works by three emerging Macao artists—Lei Ieng Wai, Leong Chi Mou, and Dor Lio Hak Man—paired with historical artifacts from the Iec Long Firecracker Factory. This marks the first time a Macao integrated resort operator has participated as an Associate Partner at the fair, signaling a significant push to elevate Macao's local art scene on a global stage.

New film about forgers is ‘Miami Vice’ for the art-world crowd

The article reviews 'Forge', a new crime thriller directed by Jing Ai Ng, which follows Chinese American siblings Coco and Raymond Zhang who forge early 20th-century landscape paintings and sell them as authentic works in South Florida. The film features FBI agent Emily (Kelly Marie Tran) investigating the scheme, while the forgers navigate a world of wealthy collectors, a hurricane-destroyed art collection, and a family legacy of deception. The movie is described as 'Miami Vice' for the art-world crowd, with a dusky palette and pulsing soundtrack set against the backdrop of Art Basel Miami Beach's booming art market.

‘Was she going to an appointment, maybe even a romantic one?’: ASA’s best phone picture

ASA, an anonymous photographer, captured a candid iPhone X image in Bastia, Corsica, during the summer of 2018. The photograph shows a woman walking through strong sunlight, reduced to a silhouette against burned facades. ASA waited patiently for the right passerby, later imagining the woman might be heading to a romantic appointment, though they emphasize the work is about shape, movement, and contrast rather than identity.

‘I was relieved I got the shot without my phone ending up in the sea!’: Easelyn Pineda’s best phone picture

Photographer Easelyn Pineda captured an image of two local men spearfishing in rough weather off Laiya beach in the Philippines. The photo, taken on her phone while wading into the water, was later shortlisted in the motion category of the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards.

artists trump epstein statue washington d c titanic

An anonymous artist collective known as The Secret Handshake has installed a provocative 12-foot-tall guerrilla statue in Washington, D.C., titled 'KING OF THE WORLD.' Located near the U.S. Capitol, the monument depicts Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein recreating the iconic 'Titanic' film pose, accompanied by ten banners and a plaque satirizing their historical friendship.

veterans sue over trump arch

A group of military veterans and a historical preservationist have filed a lawsuit to block the construction of the proposed 'Independence Arch' in Washington, D.C. The legal challenge, filed by Public Citizen, argues that the 250-foot structure would obstruct the symbolic views from Arlington National Cemetery toward the capital's historic monuments. The plaintiffs contend the Trump administration is attempting to bypass necessary congressional approvals and federal review processes for the project.

masterworks employment dispute

Masterworks, an art investment platform, has filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court against its former chief product officer, Hai Min Tran. The company alleges Tran threatened to sue for wrongful termination after his paternity leave, while Masterworks contends he voluntarily resigned before taking leave and that no part-time contract work was available for him upon his return.

grolier club

The Grolier Club, a private members-only society for bibliophiles on New York's Upper East Side, has opened a free public exhibition titled "Paper Jane: 250 Years of Austen," tracing Jane Austen's legacy through rare books, letters, and archival material. Organized over three years by three club members—Mary Crawford, Janine Barchas, and Sandra Clark—the show draws entirely from their personal collections, charting Austen's rise from relative anonymity to literary canonization.

worlds oldest known rock art in indonesia 67800 years old

Researchers have discovered a hand stencil in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi that dates to 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest known rock art in the world. The faded 14 × 10 cm patch of pigment, found on the southeastern peninsula of Sulawesi, was dated using Uranium-series analysis of mineral crusts that formed on top of the painting. The discovery was made by a team from Griffith University in Australia, Indonesian archaeological organizations, and the National Research and Innovation Agency, who have been documenting cave art sites in the region since 2019.

audit irregularities baltimore lewis museum

An August 15 audit by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services uncovered serious financial irregularities at Baltimore’s Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. The audit found corporate credit card charges without a clear business purpose, payments made to an employee’s PayPal account, a former employee pocketing parking fees, and a practice of pre-signing blank checks stored in an unsecured office. Though only $10,115 was unaccounted for between April 2021 and January 2025, the museum’s annual budget is $6.3 million, and it receives up to half its funding from taxpayers. The museum’s president Terri L. Freeman and board chairman Drew Hawkins have since destroyed all pre-signed checks and implemented 12 of 18 audit recommendations, with four more in progress. The employees involved are no longer at the museum, and findings were referred to the Maryland Attorney General.

material art fair mexico city venue change stranger things

Feria Material, a satellite art fair to Mexico City's Zona Maco, is moving its venue just six weeks before its February 5–8 edition. The fair will relocate from Expo Reforma to Maravilla Studios, a renovated historic factory in Colonia Atlampa, because Expo Reforma is hosting "Stranger Things: The Experience," a Netflix immersive activation, through the end of February. Material cofounder Brett W. Schultz told ARTnews that the fair exhausted all options to stay at Expo Reforma but faced limited venue options and skyrocketing rental prices in Mexico City. Maravilla Studios offered a similar price and features a single-level layout with high ceilings, polished concrete floors, and outdoor spaces, which the fair's production team sees as an improvement over the previous two-floor, carpeted venue.

pantone color institute executive cloud dancer controversy

Pantone has selected “Cloud Dancer,” a shade of white, as its 2026 Color of the Year, sparking backlash on social media and in some media outlets. Critics have accused the company of “whitewashing” and being out of touch, particularly given the current political discourse and rollback of DEI programs. Some have also suggested the color signals wealth and elitism. Pantone’s executive director, Leatrice Eiseman, defended the choice in a statement, saying it was based on emotional and creative resonance, not politics or ideology, and that the color represents relaxation, reflection, and creativity.

birkin bag jane birkin sold sothebys 2 8 million

A black leather Hermès Birkin bag previously owned by actress and style icon Jane Birkin sold at Sotheby’s for $2.9 million on December 5 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi. The bag, known as Le Birkin Voyageur, features an inscription written by Birkin in 2007 for a charity auction supporting the International Federation for Human Rights, along with a sketch of a reclining female nude. It had been in private hands since that auction and was sold as part of a 4-day luxury goods sale. The bag exceeded its estimate of $240,000-$400,000 but fell short of the record $10 million paid for the original Birkin prototype earlier this year.

nazi bullet holes marseille madonna

A restoration of the Madonna and Child statue atop Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille has revealed seven bullet holes from Nazi gunfire during World War II. The 37-foot-tall copper and iron statue, known as the Bonne Mère, was shot after the city's liberation in 1944, when German artillery units fired on the church, piercing the bell tower, breaking stained-glass windows, and destroying the ceiling mosaic. The bullet holes were discovered near the end of a five-year restoration that included re-gilding and the installation of a new crown via helicopter.

after museum heist syrian cultural authorities face scrutiny over lack of transparency

Syria's Ministry of Culture briefly published details of artifacts stolen from the Damascus National Museum, including six Roman-era marble statues of Venus and gold ingots, only to delete the post hours later. The theft occurred on Sunday night and was discovered Monday morning when a broken door was found. International media reported the theft citing anonymous sources, and the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) confirmed an investigation but provided no further details. The museum, which houses thousands of antiquities, had reopened in January after closing during the civil war and the fall of the Assad regime.

oakland museum of california talks stolen artifacts

A thief or group of thieves broke into the Oakland Museum of California's off-site storage facility on October 15, stealing more than 1,000 objects including six Native American baskets, 19th-century scrimshaw, daguerreotypes, modernist metalwork jewelry, and historic memorabilia. The museum initially withheld details to aid the Oakland Police Department and FBI Art Crime Team investigation, but later released a statement calling it a crime of opportunity rather than a targeted theft.

south dakota art professor reinstated charlie kirk comments

Tenured University of South Dakota art professor Michael Hook, who faced termination for social media comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been reinstated after dropping his lawsuit. Hook posted remarks on September 10 calling Kirk a "hate-spreading Nazi" after the activist was shot dead, then apologized and deleted the post. South Dakota political leaders including Governor Larry Rhoden called for his firing, and USD placed Hook on administrative leave on September 12. Hook sued the university and the South Dakota Board of Regents on September 23, arguing his comments were protected by the First Amendment. Students organized a petition with nearly 22,000 signatures supporting his reinstatement. On October 3, USD president Sheila Gestring withdrew the termination notice, citing Hook's apology and employment record. Hook then dismissed the lawsuit as moot.