Art in Our Region: What’s On This Month

The Grey Bruce region is experiencing a seasonal surge in artistic activity with several key exhibitions opening across local institutions and independent spaces. The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is currently headlining with 'Forecast', a dialogue between Tom Thomson’s landscapes and contemporary environmental art, alongside a retrospective of Harold Klunder’s abstract paintings. Other notable highlights include Marc Matei’s solo show at Grey Gallery and the annual juried exhibition 'Naked' at Deep Water Gallery in Wiarton.

Hundreds attend gallery opening at historic homestead

The historic Rototāwai homestead in South Wairarapa, New Zealand, has officially opened a new public art gallery and cultural space. Facilitated by the Anna Bidwill Foundation, the site features Bidwill’s extensive private art collection housed within her restored childhood home. The opening ceremony, which included a traditional pōwhiri and an address by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith, marks the culmination of a four-year restoration project since Bidwill repurchased the estate in 2020.

Sefton Open 2026 art exhibition to wow visitors to The Atkinson with nearly 700 stunning works by local artists

The Atkinson in Southport, England, is hosting the Sefton Open 2026 exhibition, featuring nearly 700 artworks by local artists from the Sefton borough. The exhibition is a major showcase of painting, sculpture, photography, and ceramics, selected from over 1,000 submissions by a panel of judges.

In its 20th year, sculpture exhibition expands public art offerings in the county

The DownEast National Juried Sculpture Exhibition is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a significant expansion of its public art footprint across Pitt County, North Carolina. Artist Jessica Bradsher took first place for her steel sculpture "Capriole," which will be displayed outside Wahl-Coates Elementary School of the Arts. The exhibition features both an indoor showcase at the Emerge Gallery and Arts Center and an outdoor component that has grown to 20 locations, including new sites in Ayden, Farmville, Winterville, and north of the Tar River.

Nashwood Gallery to open in Bend during First Friday

Fine wood artist and luthier Will Nash is launching Nashwood Gallery in the Makers District of Bend, Oregon. The new space, located adjacent to Nash’s existing workshop, debuts during the city's First Friday event with a group exhibition featuring painters, jewelers, and potters. Many of the participating artists were previously associated with the Red Chair Gallery, which recently closed its doors.

National parks art show opens at the Darwin R. Barker Library

The Darwin R. Barker Library in Fredonia has launched "Visions of the National Parks and Beyond 2," a regional art exhibition featuring over twenty works by six local artists. An encore of a previous show at the Crary Art Gallery, the collection includes photography, oil paintings, gouache, and cut paper pieces depicting iconic American landscapes from Yellowstone to Gettysburg.

Art exhibition showcases connection between Hope Art Machine and gallery

The Hope Art Machine is set to launch its annual exhibition, "Retrospective 17," running from March 1 to March 27 across two venues: the Hope Art Gallery and the Blue Moose Coffee House. The showcase features diverse works from over 20 artists, including teachers and students, spanning mediums such as ceramics, watercolors, acrylics, and paper art. An opening reception is scheduled for March 7, providing a platform for the community to engage with local creators and learn about the studio's educational offerings.

Artists secure solo shows after Bootcamp success

Three emerging artists—Anisa Mosaiebiniya, Maya Davis-Stokes, and Crow Dillon-Parkin—have secured solo exhibitions at the artist-led space Stryx JQ following their completion of the 'Get Gallery Ready' Bootcamp. The program, delivered by Solihull College & University Centre and funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), was designed by art historian Ruth Millington to provide creatives with professional portfolio-building skills and storytelling techniques necessary for career advancement.

St. John’s Hosts Opening of “Debugging the Earth” Art Exhibition

St. John's University opened the group exhibition "Debugging the Earth" at its Yeh Art Gallery on February 5. The show, organized by Queens-based artist Michael Assiff, features works by seven artists including André Magaña, Carly Mandel, Catherine Telford Keogh, Jan Mun, Kahlil Robert Irving, and Serena Chang, who explore themes of environment and production through repurposed everyday objects.

Young artist honours Pekan Nenas’ pineapple farmers

Young Malaysian artist Lee Wei Heng, 22, has opened his first solo exhibition titled "Ananas" at Artas Gallery in Petaling Jaya. The show features 17 oil paintings that document the grueling lives of pineapple farmers in Pekan Nenas, Johor, where his grandparents worked as laborers. Lee, who studied fine arts and worked part-time in the plantations during school holidays, captures the farmers' daily struggles—from cutting thorny fruit under the sun to praying for protection against wild animals. His works, such as the monochromatic "Old Farmer," use motifs like the parang (machete) to symbolize both the farmers' hidden identities and their pain.

Local Ballaghaderreen artist’s stunning visual art exhibition

Maria May, an established artist from Ballaghaderreen, has opened her debut solo exhibition, 'Sruthanna Comhcheangailte – The Fluidity of Interconnection,' at the Ballinglen Art Gallery in Ireland. The exhibition, which runs until 15 March 2026, features abstract interpretations of the Major Arcana Tarot cards through mixed media, stitching, poetry, and collage, exploring themes of belonging, reconnection, and healing.

The Polygon Gallery maps out its 2026 programming

The Polygon Gallery in Vancouver has announced its 2026 exhibition schedule, featuring a diverse lineup of solo and group shows. The year's programming is anchored by photography but includes sculpture, installation, and beadwork, with a strong focus on local and Indigenous artists. Highlights include a major solo show by Tania Willard, a career retrospective for photographer Greg Girard, a two-person exhibition with Jeneen Frei Njootli and Catherine Blackburn, and the return of the Lind Biennial.

‘This is Home’ art exhibit at Gallery Main Street features East Texas artists

A new exhibition titled 'This is Home' has opened at Gallery Main Street in downtown Tyler, Texas. The show, sponsored by the Rose City Art Gallery, features works by East Texas artists exploring themes of home, memory, and belonging through various media including painting and sculpture. It opened on January 9 with a reception and includes a juried award and a People's Choice Award, with voting ongoing until the show closes on March 2.

Claude Zervas opens exhibit, ‘Pond Water,’ At Western Art Gallery

Claude Zervas has opened a new exhibition titled 'Pond Water' at Western Washington University's Art Gallery in Bellingham, featuring works in oil paint, wood, concrete, video, fiberglass, stone, and electronics created over multiple years, some dating back to 2005. The show opened on January 15, with a reception on January 22 drawing students and community members, and marks Zervas' second appearance at the gallery following his 2015 exhibit 'Middle Fork'. New gallery director Kelly Lindner, who started on the same day, praised Zervas as a Bellingham native who has achieved regional and national recognition.

Free art party to launch winter exhibits at Surrey Art Gallery

Surrey Art Gallery in British Columbia will host a free art party on January 17, 2026, to launch its winter exhibition season. The event features the group exhibition "remember the earth, remember the sky," inspired by a Joy Harjo poem and focused on ancestral connections through land, air, and memory, with works by early-career artists and pieces from the gallery's permanent collection by Salish artists. Also opening are solo shows by Zachery Cameron Longboy ("HOST") and Atheana Picha, along with the exhibition "What Bodies Know" reflecting on lived experiences in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The evening includes artist talks, a piñata breaking, and hands-on artmaking workshops.

New art gallery opens on Yarm High Street with 'incredible response'

A new art gallery called Yarm Contemporary has opened on Yarm High Street, founded by artist Lucy Storrs. The gallery offers original artwork, prints, and a range of styles and mediums from local and national artists, with plans to host regular community events and art lates. Storrs, who moved to the North East to be near family, said the response has been incredible and that the gallery aims to bring fresh, exciting art to the area.

Phillip Island exhibitions start small but it's a big summer

The Phillip Island Contemporary Exhibition Space Inc (PICES) has launched its 2025-26 Summer Art Exhibitions at the Berninneit Art Gallery in Cowes, Australia. The first of three exhibitions, 'Small Works,' features 50 affordable and unique pieces by artists from Bass Coast and beyond, including local painters Joe La Pira and Peter Walker. The program continues with 'Contempora 1' and 'Contempora 2,' showcasing 64 emerging and established artists across various media through February 1, 2026.

First Mvskoke-owned and operated art gallery opens in Jenks

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has opened the first Mvskoke-owned and operated art gallery in the Greater Tulsa area, Mvskoke Waters Gallery, in Jenks, Oklahoma, on December 13. The inaugural exhibition, “Mvskokvlke: Road of Strength,” features nearly two dozen Mvskoke artists from across the country, including George Alexander, Joy Harjo, and Sterlin Harjo, and includes a tribute to the late artist Mary Edward Smith. Co-curated by Bobby C. Martin and Carly Treece, the show celebrates Mvskoke resilience, strength, and cultural continuity.

Padraig McCaul brings his Christmas art exhibition to Mullingar

Artist Padraig McCaul will hold a 'Christmas Studio Exhibition' at the Mullingar Park Hotel in Mullingar, Ireland, on December 6 and 7. The show features new original oil paintings, limited edition prints, art cards, and wax print hurricane lanterns, offering Christmas gift ideas. This is McCaul's final exhibition of 2025, following a successful show at Art Source in the RDS, Dublin, and solo exhibitions at The Doorway Gallery, Dublin, and Lahinch Art Gallery. McCaul, an award-winning artist based in Mullingar with studios there and in Achill, has exhibited internationally in London, New York, and Australia.

Wiltshire artist to open new gallery in city centre

Artist Emily Toomer is opening a new gallery, Emily Toomer Fine Art, on Crane Street in Salisbury on November 22. The debut exhibition will run through Christmas, featuring original works and limited edition prints, including two large paintings titled “Autumn Finale” and “Wisteria Cascade.” The gallery follows Toomer’s successful exhibitions at Arundells and Fisherton Mill in Salisbury, and she plans to rotate her own collections every six weeks while also showcasing other artists in 2026.

Redland Art Gallery celebrates the sea, light and local creativity

Redland Art Gallery in Cleveland, Australia, is launching three new exhibitions in late November 2025, each exploring themes of sea, light, and local creativity. The season features "Water Works" by acclaimed Queensland artist Joe Furlonger, whose expressive paintings and ceramics capture the beauty and danger of the sea; "Some Things Too Bright to See" by emerging Brisbane artist Holly Anderson, focusing on light across water; and "In Focus 2025 – Flourish," an annual community exhibition showcasing local artists. The exhibitions run through January 2026 and include artist talks, workshops, and a People's Choice Award.

Downtown Fayetteville has a new art gallery in a restored warehouse

A historic warehouse in downtown Fayetteville, known as the Porter Produce Warehouse, has been restored and opened as the Alexander Gallery, operated by the Walton Arts Center. The gallery's inaugural exhibition, "Our Art, Our Region, Our Time," features 106 works from 75 local artists and debuted at a grand opening on Wednesday evening. The building, built in 1906 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020, had been closed to the public for 35 years. Walton Arts Center spent $950,000 on interior renovations, while the city contributed about $1 million for exterior restoration.

Open Eye Gallery: Upcoming Events in November

Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool announces a series of November 2025 events, including the exhibition 'I'll Tell You Later' at Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, featuring work by the Deaf and British Sign Language photography group Happy Snappers. Other events include 'Residents', a socially engaged portrait project by photographer Ming De Nasty with Liverpool's LGBTQIA+ community, displayed across MerseyRail stations and the gallery's atrium; 'Northern Perspective Artist Talks' at Open Eye Hub Wigan & Leigh, celebrating Northern visual artists; and an artist talk by Yan Wang Preston in conversation with Caroline Edge at the University of Salford, exploring themes of plants, migration, and cultivation.

Emerging Sabah artist debuts solo show at Wei-Ling Gallery

Wei-Ling Gallery in Kuala Lumpur presents 'Trilogy: The Lightseeker', the debut solo exhibition of 25-year-old Sabah-born multidisciplinary artist Iwadh Mahadi. The show, running from Tuesday to November 1 at Wei-Ling Contemporary, is the latest output of the gallery's WLG Incubator programme, launched in 2020 to support emerging Malaysian artists through mentorship and dialogue. Iwadh, who works in bamboo mosaics, frottage, and printmaking under a self-described 'conceptual naturalism', developed the exhibition over seven months under the guidance of established artist Choy Chun Wei, with additional mentorship from British artist Adam Chodzko and gallery director Lim Wei-Ling.

A new Horizon beckons: Stunning Emma Davis art exhibition opens at Studio Two Six One

Scottish landscape artist Emma S. Davis opens a new solo exhibition titled "Horizon: The Journey from Land to Light" at Studio Two Six One in Newton Mearns. The private view takes place on Friday, September 19, 2025, with the public opening on September 20, running through October 11. The show features Davis's expressive, textured paintings that explore the liminal space between earth and sky, dusk and dawn, inviting viewers into quiet, atmospheric moments of transition in the Scottish landscape.

A Glimpse of Summer Exhibitions in the Panhandle

Three exhibitions in the Texas Panhandle and Concho Valley showcased the work of artists Cody Arnall, Daryl Meador, and Ezra Tucker. At the Charles Adams Studio Project (CASP) Satellite Gallery in Lubbock, Arnall's show "Boredom and Failure (v.II)" featured sculptures and videos exploring imperfection, including an awning projecting a mirrored sky. In the same city, Daryl Meador's "Big Empty Blues" at Co-Opt Research + Projects presented textile art and quilts addressing labor, incorporating text from musicians and materials like waffle knit. The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts hosted "The Art of Ezra Tucker," a survey of the artist's transition from illustration to fine art, focusing on wildlife paintings with masterful light and color.

Linden Gardens gets a curated seasonal art gallery

Prominent local artist Renee Matheson, owner and curator of Aurora Matheson Fine Art Gallery in downtown Penticton, has opened a seasonal satellite gallery at Frog City Café inside Linden Gardens in Kaleden, British Columbia. The Aurora Matheson Satellite Gallery at Frog City Café launched on July 30 with over 200 artworks from 35 artists, including Ron Gladdish, Siya Ghaffari, and Kindrie Grove. Matheson spent six weeks curating the space, which features moveable walls built by café co-owner David, and offers a range of styles from Impressionism to Indigenous work, with prices from under $100 to thousands of dollars. The gallery will remain on site through October.

Grove Gallery exhibition raises money for Great Lakes conservation

The Grove Gallery in downtown Evanston opened its latest exhibition, 'Flow: The Water Show,' over the weekend, featuring works by local artists that explore humanity's fragile relationship with water, particularly the Great Lakes. Gallery director Sarah Kaiser-Amaral curated the invitation-only show, which includes paintings by Anna Marie Crovetti, Nicole Gordon, Louise LeBourgeois, Lynne Miller-Jones, Carol Neiger, Jennifer Presant, and Nina Weiss, with themes ranging from refreshing summer scenes to dystopian reflections on climate change and flooding.

Torbay’s art scene swipes right on creativity in bold new exhibition

A new exhibition titled SwipeRight4Art has opened at Artizan Gallery in Torquay, running until 4 May. Inspired by dating apps, the show invites visitors to engage with artworks as if swiping through profiles, using “matchmaker cards” to indicate which pieces they would “pass” or “match” with. The exhibition is the first project from Sienna Editions, a publishing and art venture co-founded by charcoal artist Hannah Leadbetter and landscape photographer Kevin Cowell, with backing from local studio Print2Wall and funding from Innovate UK. It features works by local artists including Szabotage, David Norman, Francesca Lawrence, Rosie Rowell, Peter Blakesley, and Sally Loxton, alongside pieces by the founders.

Why Italy's cultural wealth never really enters public accounts and budgets?

Perché la ricchezza culturale italiana non entra mai davvero nei conti e nei bilanci pubblici?

Italy has exceeded the European Commission's structural adjustment path by 0.1 percentage points of GDP, reopening fiscal scrutiny. Amid this debate, the article highlights a deeper issue: Italy's immense cultural heritage is drastically undervalued in public accounts. For example, the Pompeii Archaeological Park is recorded at just €48.9 million, the Colosseum at under €15 million, and the Uffizi at about €2 billion—figures based on outdated 2002 ministerial criteria that bear no relation to actual economic or cultural worth. The State General Accounting Office, with the University of Roma Tre and EU technical assistance, has proposed a new methodology to value cultural assets by discounting their future net financial flows, including direct revenues and indirect tourism-related returns.