Cubitt Artists, ‘important’ London gallery and studio space, set to lose home of more than 25 years

Cubitt Artists, a non-profit gallery and studio space in central London that has operated for over 25 years, announced it will leave its current home in Islington this spring after its lease was not renewed. The artist-run cooperative, which houses 32 studios, is launching a fundraising campaign to find a new location and continue providing affordable studios, contemporary art programming, and opportunities for early-career artists and curators.

Artist with links to Banksy now working from new studio in north Norfolk

Arthur Buxton, a master printer who previously worked with Banksy's former manager Steve Lazarides and has produced prints for artists including Sir Peter Blake, has relocated from Bristol to the village of Corpusty in north Norfolk. There, he has established his own printmaking workshop and studio, describing the move as a dream come true. An exhibition of his recent prints, titled "Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails," is currently on view at the Allen Hall Gallery in Glandford until January 18, exploring themes of dreams, nightmares, and fantasies.

Scrappy: By Any Means Necessary

MotherShip Studios in San Marcos, Texas, announces its upcoming group exhibition "Scrappy: By Any Means Necessary," running from December 13, 2025, to February 7, 2026. Curated by Jennifer Moore, the show features works by eleven artists—Hollie Brown, Ellen Crofts, Lisa Guevara, Julia Hungerford, John Le, Elisa Lendvay, Niloofar Mofrad, Hilary Nelson, Gyan Shrosbree, Jim Shrosbree, and Narong Tintamusik—who explore the concept of "scrappiness" in artistic practice, embracing improvisation, process, and resourcefulness over polished finish.

Strauss & Co offers accessible works in year-end auctions

Strauss & Co has launched its year-end auctions, featuring five concurrent timed online sessions from 20 November to 8 December 2025, plus a separate contemporary sale titled 'In the Now' running until 9 December. The auctions offer a wide range of modern and contemporary works at accessible price points, including pieces by major South African artists such as Irma Stern, William Kentridge, Sam Nhlengethwa, Norman Catherine, and Alexis Preller. Sessions include 'Re/View' with works from previous auctions, focused sessions on paintings, sculpture, and works on paper, and an 'Art Club' session curated by Strauss & Co specialists.

Medieval triptych ventures out of Dorset to sell for £5.7m in London Old Master auctions

A late 15th-century Netherlandish triptych, *The Five Miracles of Christ*, sold for £5.7 million at Sotheby’s London Old Master auction. The work, kept for centuries at St. John’s Almshouse in Sherborne, Dorset, had never before appeared on the market. The charity sold it to fund affordable housing, and the buyer—an unnamed Christian charitable foundation—plans to keep the painting publicly viewable in the town. Other highlights included a Rembrandt reattribution, *Saint John on Patmos*, which sold for £6.8 million, and a record £3.2 million for a Hans Eworth portrait of the 4th Duke of Norfolk.

Boston’s streets transform into open-air galleries

Boston has launched its first-ever citywide public art exhibition, the Boston Public Art Triennial, titled "The Exchange." The exhibition features 21 large-scale installations by local and international artists placed across neighborhoods including Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Downtown Crossing, and the Charlestown Navy Yard. Works address themes such as indigeneity, sustainability, shared humanity, affordable housing, and Black motherhood. The triennial also includes an accelerator program that funds and supports local artists with professional development. The exhibition runs through October 31, 2025, with over 100 associated events citywide.

The rise of contemporary African art in a global market

The article reports on the rapid growth of the contemporary African art market, which has more than doubled in value since 2016 to an estimated annual combined value of $72 million. Sales of ultra-contemporary works by African-born artists under 45 surged from $16.2 million in 2020 to $40.6 million in 2021, and the market could reach $1.5 billion this year. Aspire Art, a South African auction house, has set records for artists like Joseph Ntensibe, whose painting *Forest Scene* sold for R924,200, and Nicholas Hlobo, whose work *Intlambo yochulumanco* fetched R1,479,400.

‘The arts are vanishing from education’: new report urges UK government to invest in arts sector

A coalition of UK arts organizations, including Contemporary Visual Arts England (CVAN) and the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS), has presented a new report titled 'Framing the Future: The Political Case for Strengthening the Visual Arts Ecosystem' to parliament. Written by Eliza Easton of the Erskine Analysis think tank, the report calls for a £5m grassroots visual arts fund to address the shortage of affordable studio spaces, a UK Cultural Investment Partnership Fund to encourage philanthropic donations, expanded funding for the Art & Design National Saturday Club, and reinstatement of high-cost funding for creative subjects in higher education. Artists including Tracey Emin and Larry Achiampong have voiced support, warning that arts are disappearing from state education.

Participatory Design or Processual Formalism? Frei Otto, the Ökohaus, and the Ökohäusler by Matthew Kennedy

The Ökohaus (Eco-House) project in Berlin stands as a radical experiment in participatory architecture, born from the 1987 Internationale Bauausstellung (IBA) urban renewal program. Designed by Frei Otto, the complex features three residential buildings characterized by a 'double informality' where dense foliage and a patchwork of diverse cladding materials—ranging from timber and metallic shingles to exposed concrete—create a ruin-like yet meticulously resolved aesthetic. The project challenged traditional housing models by allowing residents, or 'Ökohäusler,' to engage in a collective and individualized construction process.

Milan Design Week 2026: A Guide to What to See in the Isola District (Celebrating its 10th Anniversary)

Milano Design Week 2026: guida sulle cose da vedere al distretto di Isola (che compie 10 anni)

The Isola Design Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary during Milan Design Week 2026 with the theme "TEN: The Evolving Now." Originally founded to provide an affordable platform for independent and young designers, the festival has expanded from a local neighborhood initiative into a global organization with a permanent presence in Dubai. The 2026 edition centers on the historic Fabbrica Sassetti, a 1930s wool mill, alongside various venues across the Isola district including Fondazione Catella and Stecca3.

What Can $500 Buy at the Affordable Art Fair?

A reporter set a $500 budget to explore the Affordable Art Fair in Chelsea, discovering that at that price point, collectors must focus on very small-scale works. The search yielded options like miniature pet portraits, tiny tulle and resin wall hangings, food-themed art, and small abstract paintings, though these pieces were often overshadowed by more prevalent, flashy pop art clichés that dominate the fair's visual landscape.

Artist Isaac Spellman on creating spaces for the misunderstood through art

Artist Isaac Spellman discusses his creative practice and upcoming presentation at the Affordable Art Fair 2026 in an interview. Spellman, whose style blends Art Deco graphic posters with elements of Chinese gongbi silk painting, has attracted commercial clients including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Bang & Olufsen. For the fair, he will debut two original series: "Red, White, Bright and Young," inspired by London's Bright Young Things of the 1920s and their queer-inclusive social scene, and "Pretty Monster," which portrays whimsical monsters embracing their differences.

Maine Gallery Adds New Artists For 2026 Season

Maine Art Collective's (MAC) Gallery in Portland, Maine, has added five new artists to its roster for the 2026 season: Ann Tracy, Bill Elinoff, Sheri Oliva, donnersmith, and Tracy Hehmeyer. The gallery, which transitioned from a pop-up to a full-time space about a year ago, now features 17 artists total. Founder Susan Vittner, an artist herself, emphasizes the gallery's mission to support emerging artists through a cooperative model where artists retain most of their profits.

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.

Downtown Canton art expansion. Patina Arts Centre being reborn as Second April Studios

Tim Carmany, owner of The Hub Art Factory, is transforming the former Patina Arts Centre in downtown Canton into a new creative hub called Second April Studios. The space, which had recently closed, is already being populated by resident artists and vendors such as Uncle Archie's Oddity Emporium, signaling a swift revival of the venue.

At Brooklyn Creative Reuse, Art Supplies Get a Second Life

Brooklyn Creative Reuse (BCR), a nonprofit founded by jeweler Stephanie O'Brien, has opened a permanent brick-and-mortar store in Industry City, Brooklyn, after launching as a pop-up in February 2025. The store sells donated, pre-loved and unused art supplies at a price-per-pound rate, making materials affordable for low-income artists, educators, and hobbyists. Its opening party on April 18 drew large crowds, and BCR has already diverted over 1,000 pounds of art supplies from landfills in its first year.

14th Kibria Printmaking Fair: Celebrating a distinct artistic tradition

The 14th Kibria Printmaking Fair concluded on May 9 at Kala Kendra in Lalmatia, Bangladesh, as part of a month-long printmaking festival running from May 1 to May 23. The fair brought together printmaking studios and institutions from across the country, alongside works by pioneering late artists Safiuddin Ahmed and Mohammad Kibria. It was inaugurated by artists Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam, with a special exhibition titled "Pioneers of Printmaking" showcasing early works by key figures who established printmaking as a distinct artistic language in Bangladesh. The festival also includes workshops, artist talks, and a forthcoming "Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition" from May 12 to May 23.

Spruill Center for the Arts to add 15 artist studios in Chamblee

The Spruill Center for the Arts is expanding its footprint by converting the former Chamblee City Hall into a new creative hub called Spruill Studios. Scheduled to open in June 2026, the 6,796-square-foot facility will house 15 affordable artist studios and a dedicated exhibition space. The project is the result of a strategic partnership with the City of Chamblee, which is leasing the 2002 building to the nonprofit for just $1 per year.

When Creating and Collecting Art Go Hand in Hand

Award-winning local artist Brent Erickson, based in Alexandria, VA, has spent over 30 years building a personal collection of representational art, sparked by a single landscape purchase from emerging painter T. Allen Lawson. Erickson, an oil painter himself, curates his collection—now over 100 paintings and bronzes—around realism and personal passion, displaying works in his Mount Vernon home alongside his own new paintings. He recently hosted a celebration of autumn to unveil both his collection and his latest creations.

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.

A Free Home for San Francisco Artists, From Dave Eggers and Friends

Writer Dave Eggers and artist JD Beltran have launched a new initiative called Art + Water in San Francisco. The project provides free studio space for 30 artists, hosts exhibitions, and offers community events, creating a dedicated hub for local artistic production and engagement.

The Biennale Must Remain Open – Also for Russia

Die Biennale muss offen bleiben – auch für Russland

The article argues against calls to exclude Russia from the Venice Biennale, focusing on the controversy surrounding the Russian pavilion's planned exhibition titled "Der Baum ist im Himmel verwurzelt" (The Tree Is Rooted in Heaven). The pavilion is set to feature musicians from Russia, Argentina, Mali, and Mexico, and its theme revolves around the idea that politics is time-bound. The author contends that while the demand to exclude Russia is understandable given the geopolitical context, it is dangerous because once a biennial begins disinviting states, it undermines the very concept of the international exhibition.

Pond Gallery in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Pond Gallery, a new artist-run exhibition space, has opened in the basement of a former flower shop on the downtown square in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Founded in May 2024 by artist-friends Taylor Loftin, Ty Barnes, and Christian Schultz, the gallery operates on a DIY model, with the founders handling construction, curation, and rent. Its programming, including recent shows by Akeylah Imani Wellington and Natalie Conway, focuses on creating a communal hub for local artists.

New fair for women-led galleries to launch during London's Frieze Week

India Rose James, founder of Soho Revue, is launching Echo Soho, a boutique art fair exclusively for female-led galleries, during Frieze Week in London. The fair will run from 16 to 19 October at Artist’s House on Manette Street, featuring 12 exhibitors, a bar, a concept store, and events including workshops, performances, and a prize from Soho House. Confirmed participants include Pipeline, Gillian Jason Gallery, and Awita, with affordable booth prices starting at £850.

Glasgow arts hub tenants condemn ‘unsustainable’ rent rises by landlord

Tenants at Glasgow's Trongate 103 cultural hub are protesting what they call "unsustainable" rent and service charge increases imposed by City Property, an arm's-length organization managing buildings for Glasgow City Council. Organizations like Transmission Gallery, Street Level Photography, and Glasgow Print Studio face potential displacement after receiving notices to quit or demands for significant cost hikes, with one group citing a £700,000 annual increase.

‘We are trying to preserve the memory of our people’: archaeologists create map tracking damage to Iran heritage sites

Iranian archaeologists Sepideh Maziar and Mehrnoush Soroush have launched an interactive online map to document and geolocate cultural heritage sites in Iran damaged by military strikes. The map, hosted by the University of Chicago's CAMEL Lab, currently lists 69 verified sites, including the historic Sa'dabad Palace complex in Tehran, and is updated as new information becomes available.

Meet the Seattle families living communally to bring down costs – in pictures

A new housing development in Seattle called Corvidae Co-op offers an affordable, communal living model. The 10-unit complex in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, designed by Allied8 and funded via a Frolic Community model, sells homes for less than half the city's median price, with units starting at $180,000. Residents, ranging from children to retirees, share kitchens, decks, laundry, and a guest unit.

AI Art Copyright Supreme Court Ruling

ai art copyright supreme court ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from computer scientist Stephen Thaler, effectively upholding lower court rulings that AI-generated artwork cannot be copyrighted. The case centered on a 2012 digital work titled "A Recent Entrance to Paradise," which Thaler claimed was created autonomously by his AI system, DABUS. By refusing the case, the court leaves in place the U.S. Copyright Office's stance that copyright protection requires "traditional human authorship."

supreme court declines reconsider copyright case ai art

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a case brought by computer scientist Stephen Thaler, who sought federal copyright protection for artwork created by his AI system, DABUS. This decision upholds lower court rulings that maintain human authorship as a "bedrock requirement" for copyright, effectively ending Thaler's multi-year legal battle to have his AI recognized as an independent creator of the work "A Recent Entrance to Paradise."

berlin artists studio protest

During Berlin Art Week, a group of artists from the Alliance of Endangered Studio Spaces (AbBA) staged a protest at Alexanderplatz on September 16, calling on the Berlin Senate to repurpose abandoned properties for artistic and cultural use. The demonstration highlighted that five studio cooperatives housing about 150 artists were shut down by private owners in 2014 and 2015, with many more studios threatened by foreclosure due to rising rents and gentrification.