The Forgotten of Art: The Story of Architect and Sculptor Pietro De Laurentiis

I dimenticati dell’arte. La storia dell’architetto e scultore Pietro De Laurentiis

The life and legacy of Pietro De Laurentiis, a multifaceted Italian architect, sculptor, and cultural activist, are being rediscovered through a retrospective look at his prolific career. Born into a peasant family in Abruzzo, De Laurentiis rose to prominence in Rome's mid-century art scene, balancing a forty-year teaching career at the Faculty of Architecture with significant public commissions, including bronze panels for the ACEA headquarters and marble works for INPS. His artistic style evolved from rural-inspired figuration to a unique geometric abstraction that blended Cubism with folk traditions.

Peep the Wildest Costumes of This Year’s Easter Bonnet Parade

New York City’s Fifth Avenue was transformed into a vibrant public gallery on April 5, 2026, for the annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival. Participants gathered outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral to showcase elaborate, hand-crafted headpieces ranging from Eduardo Escobar’s rotating 'Trip to the Moon' hat to Shayna Strype’s hot-air balloon ensemble. The event featured a diverse array of creators, including climate-conscious artist Cristian Pietrapiana and mixed-media sculptor Gail Trunick, who utilized the street as a stage for avant-garde millinery and performance art.

We had to make difficult decisions

"Wir mussten schwierige Entscheidungen treffen"

Investor Andrew E. Wolff has stepped down as CEO of Artnet after orchestrating a merger of the company's US operations with Artsy, another major art market platform he recently acquired. Jeffrey Yin, previously the interim head of Artsy, has been appointed as the permanent CEO of the combined entity. The restructuring involves significant layoffs, the closure of Artnet's Berlin office, and a consolidation of management teams, though both brands will continue to operate with distinct editorial voices.

Les États-Unis restituent près de 300 biens culturels à l’Italie

Italy presented 337 cultural artifacts repatriated from the United States at the Caserma "La Marmora" in Rome, following operations between December 2025 and April 2026. The objects span from the 5th century BCE to the 3rd century CE, including Roman sculptures, bronze works, pottery, jewelry, coins, and architectural fragments. Among the notable pieces is a marble head attributed to Alexander the Great, stolen from a Roman museum in 1960, and a bronze sculpture looted from Herculaneum. The recovery involved the Manhattan District Attorney's office, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and Christie's New York, with 221 items seized through the DA's collaboration and 116 returned in April.

The Journal of Antiquarians and Galleries No. 10 Has Just Been Published

Le Journal des Antiquaires et Galeries n°10 vient de paraître

The tenth issue of Le Journal des Antiquaires et Galeries has been released, focusing on the resilience of the art market amidst geopolitical and economic headwinds. The publication highlights major spring events including Art Paris, Art Brussels, and the Paris Gallery Weekend, while introducing the newly formed Federation of Art Market Actors (FAM’Art).

337 œuvres et objets volés récupérés : la vaste opération italienne de lutte contre le trafic de biens culturels aux États-Unis

On April 29, Italy's carabinieri dedicated to cultural heritage protection announced the recovery of 337 looted or stolen artworks and objects repatriated from the United States between December 2025 and April 2026. The haul includes archaeological artifacts, archival documents, and other artworks, such as a marble head of Alexander the Great from the 1st century AD, a bronze sculpture stolen from Herculaneum, and two Egyptian basalt sculptures. The objects were dispersed through international markets using forged provenance documents, and their return involved U.S. agencies including the FBI.

A Document in Motion: ArtWorld Passports head to the Venice Biennale.

Zimbabwean artist Richard Mudariki has created 'ArtWorld Passport,' a participatory artwork debuting at the Venice Biennale 2026. The piece functions as a social sculpture and performance, where passport holders collect stamps, signatures, and drawings from artists, exhibitions, and pavilions across the Biennale, transforming the bureaucratic tool of travel into a speculative exploration of access and authorship.

Salomé: Henner and Moreau Confront the Myth

Salomé. Henner et Moreau face au mythe

The Musée National Jean-Jacques Henner in Paris is hosting a focused exhibition exploring the iconographic myth of Salomé through the lenses of Jean-Jacques Henner and Gustave Moreau. The show examines how these two 19th-century masters interpreted the biblical figure who demanded the head of John the Baptist, contrasting their stylistic approaches to her seductive and fatal power. While the Gospels provide no physical description of Salomé, the exhibition highlights how these artists moved away from traditional fleshy depictions to create more ethereal, haunting versions of the femme fatale.

A powerful photo project became a love letter to the workers who built L.A. Metro's D Line

Photographer Ken Karagozian, who began documenting L.A. Metro construction workers in 1995, has collaborated with historian India Mandelkern on a photo book titled "Wilshire Subway: The Making of the D Line Subway Extension." The book chronicles the history, conflicts, and the workers behind the D Line extension along Wilshire Boulevard, ahead of its May 8 opening. A related exhibition, "Wilshire Subway: Photographed by Ken Karagozian," is on view at the 1301PE art gallery through May 14.

Art exhibitions in Chiang Mai this May

This May, Chiang Mai's art scene offers a diverse lineup of exhibitions across galleries, museums, and independent spaces. Highlights include a group show on regional identity at Chiang Mai Art Museum, a calligraphy-focused solo exhibition by Jin Li at Makok Art Space, and 'Class 2 Canvas' at Fãr Studios featuring artist-educators. Mid-month brings two openings: Chitti Kasemkitvatana's 'Epilogue: A Diffraction Grating' at Gallery Seescape, exploring time and light, and Kailash Mani's solo show of outsider art at Head High Second Floor.

Southern Utah Art Guild Showcases Spring Lineup with Gallery Openings and Community Events

The Southern Utah Art Guild is hosting a series of free public events in St. George this May, including gallery openings at Arrowhead Gallery and Red Cliff Gallery. Arrowhead Gallery will hold an open house on May 6 featuring a live demonstration by landscape painter Marilyn Rose, a 10% discount on artwork, and opportunity drawings. Red Cliff Gallery launches its “Explosion of Color” exhibit on May 8, showcasing vibrant works from contemporary Guild artists through June 18. Additional community events include CONNECT, a critique session sponsored by the Utah Arts Alliance on May 28, and MEET + MINGLE, a networking gathering on May 12.

Young artists showcased at Head Start Art Show in Leominster

The Leominster Public Library recently hosted the annual Head Start Art Show, an event showcasing creative works by preschool-aged children from the local MOC Child Care and Head Start Center. The exhibition featured a variety of media, including three-dimensional canvas pieces made with twigs and glitter, and brought together students, families, and community leaders to celebrate early childhood creativity.

88-Year-Old “Father of a Lost Technique” Exhibits Over 60 Years’ Worth of Amazing Glass Art

88-year-old Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien, known as the "father of a lost technique" for perfecting glass sand-casting, presents his first solo exhibition in Brooklyn at the Robert Lehman Gallery. Titled "Starman: Sixty Years of Exploring Glass Art," the show features 35 works spanning his 64-year career, including his signature glass heads, transparent boats, surreal sculptures, and colorful vases. Vallien has worked with the Swedish heritage brand Kosta Boda since 1963 and is credited with popularizing black glass and pushing the boundaries of the medium.

Haiti’s Visionary: Edouard Duval-Carrié previews Venice-Bound work in Little Haiti

Haitian-American artist and curator Edouard Duval-Carrié has been selected to represent Haiti at the 61st Venice Biennale, titled "Smaller Keys." Ahead of the exhibition, he is opening his Little Haiti studio for a rare one-night preview on Friday, April 24, organized alongside the Tout-Monde Art Foundation. The preview includes a conversation with art historian Erica Moiah James and features works that were not sent to Venice but share the same themes of Haitian history, African connections, and diaspora. Duval-Carrié's Biennale theme centers on the question, "What did Africa bring to the world?" His selection was posthumously confirmed from the notes of chief curator Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman appointed to the role, who passed away last year.

Heron Marsh Gallery at Paul Smith's VIC calling for art

The Heron Marsh Gallery, located at the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), has issued an open call for artists to participate in an upcoming exhibition. The gallery is seeking submissions that align with the natural themes of the Adirondack region, specifically highlighting the "Fiddleheads and Ferns" feature scheduled for May at the Adirondack Artists Guild.

BLEACHxLAM "SOUL ART SHOWCASE" Exhibition Reveals New Artwork Ahead of Nationwide Tour

The hit anime series BLEACH and renowned illustrator LAM have announced a collaborative nationwide exhibition tour titled “BLEACH×LAM -SOUL ART SHOWCASE-.” Launching in late April 2026, the showcase features new, highly stylized artworks by LAM that reinterpret iconic characters from Tite Kubo’s manga, including Ichigo Kurosaki and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. The exhibition will travel to galleries in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, offering free admission and exclusive merchandise to the public.

Cultural Council Opens Sports-Themed Art Exhibit Ahead of World Cup

The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has launched "Kinetic Energy: A Celebration of Sport in Palm Beach County," a multi-media exhibition timed to coincide with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Featuring 14 local artists, the show explores the intersection of athletics and artistry through diverse mediums including upcycled sculpture by Mike Silverman, realistic portraiture by Anna Villa, and a painting of soccer star Lionel Messi by Kyle Lucks.

‘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.

How Two Men with Hard Heads Broke Through Murano’s Glass Ceiling

Edoardo Pandolfo and Francesco Palù, the founders of the glass brand 6:AM, are revitalizing the traditional glassmaking industry of Murano with a contemporary, "punk" sensibility. By collaborating with master artisans and pushing the technical boundaries of the medium, the duo creates avant-garde pieces that challenge the island's historical aesthetic while maintaining its rigorous craftsmanship standards.

The Forgotten Eligibles. Protest over the Ministry of Culture's ranking of 200 art historians

Gli idonei dimenticati. Protesta per la graduatoria dei 200 storici dell’arte del Ministero della Cultura

The CISDA (Committee of Qualified Art Historians) has issued a strong protest against the Italian Ministry of Culture's intention to let the ranking list from a 2018 public competition for Art Historian Officials expire on May 30, 2026, without extension. This would invalidate the eligibility of 204 qualified candidates who passed rigorous selections. The protest has escalated into a parliamentary inquiry directed at Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, and a public demonstration is scheduled for April 28 in front of the Ministry's headquarters in Rome.

A collective lunch is organized in Milan to discuss the problems of the cultural sector. Here is how to participate

A Milano si organizza un pranzo collettivo per discutere dei problemi del settore culturale. Ecco come partecipare

The nomadic assembly "OMTU – Organized Meals for Times of Uprising" is heading to Milan on April 19, 2026, coinciding with the miart art fair. Organized by a coalition of independent spaces including terzospazio, Osservatorio Futura, Parsec, and Arts of the Working Class, the event features a collective lunch followed by a public discussion at the Baséll space. The gathering aims to address the systemic precariousness of the cultural sector, focusing specifically on the scarcity of affordable social and cultural spaces in Milan.

Toulouse is the European capital of space travel (and knows how to celebrate it)

Tolosa è la capitale europea dei viaggi nello spazio (e sa come celebrarli)

Toulouse has solidified its status as Europe’s aerospace capital, blending industrial prowess with cultural engagement. The city, home to the Airbus headquarters and the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), celebrates the legacy of flight from Clément Ader’s 1890 steam-powered takeoff to modern satellite technology. Key institutions like the Cité de l’espace and the Envol des Pionniers museum offer immersive experiences, including flight simulators, real-scale rocket replicas, and exhibitions on the history of Air France.

CUBA PRESENTS FREE MEN AT THE VENICE BIENNALE

Cuba presents Roberto Diago's installation "Hombres Libres (Free Men)" at the 61st Venice Biennale, curated by Nelson Ramirez de Arellano Conde and commissioned by Daneisy García Roque. The work, on view from May 9 to November 22, 2025, features a group of sculpted heads made from oxidized metals, wood, plastics, and reclaimed materials that advance toward viewers, bearing scars that evoke a history of pain and resistance.

SMFA at Tufts Presents Passages, the 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University (SMFA at Tufts) presents "Passages," the 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition, on view from May 5 to 17 at Tufts University Art Galleries in Medford, Massachusetts. The show features thesis work by nineteen MFA candidates, exploring themes of journey, transition, and exploration across media including painting, sculpture, assemblage, and artists' books. Works incorporate found visa documents, portraiture, clay cities, and symbolic animals such as goldfish, black birds, and a dog-headed cynocephalus.

In the Studio with Jevon Brown

Artist Jevon Brown, a Miamian of Bahamian, Jamaican, and Black Southern descent, discusses his multidisciplinary practice in an interview conducted in his Miami Beach apartment and studio. Brown works across textiles, silkscreen printing, fashion, and photography to explore cultural identity, belonging, queerness, and history. He describes how memories of Miami sunsets, family members like his uncle (a sneakerhead and hat collector), and ancestral references inform his creative process. Key works discussed include the "HAIREtage" series (2025), which uses materials like burlap and raffia to connect contemporary streetwear culture with African and Caribbean spirituality, and his inclusion in the exhibition "Material, Material World" at David Castillo Gallery.

Art of Manga Exhibition Heads to Brooklyn Museum in October

The "Art of Manga" exhibition, organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, will make its East Coast debut at the Brooklyn Museum in New York from October 3, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Featuring over 600 pieces of art, the show highlights works from renowned manga artists including Hirohiko Araki, Rumiko Takahashi, Gengoroh Tagame, Jiro Taniguchi, Kazumi Yamashita, and Fumi Yoshinaga. The exhibition previously ran at the de Young Museum in San Francisco from September 2025 to January 2026.

Artist’s fiery outburst at National Gallery opening

The article appears to be inaccessible due to a security verification wall and technical errors on the CityNews website. The headline indicates a significant disruption occurred during an opening event at the National Gallery of Australia, involving an artist's 'fiery outburst' that likely targeted institutional policies or specific exhibition themes.

Robbie Williams' songwriter to play at flower fair

Songwriter Guy Chambers, best known for his long creative partnership with Robbie Williams, will perform a piano recital at the Review of Sussex Arts (ROSA) Botanical Art Fair in Chichester, UK, from 1-4 May. The fair, held at West Dean Gardens, brings together over 100 artists and performers from across Europe, featuring a sculpture garden, contemporary floristry, and a botanical art exhibition curated by 18 members of The Society of Botanical Artists. Environmental organization Forests Without Frontiers will host an immersive "Listening to Nature" performance using headphones to amplify natural sounds.

This art exhibition wants to leave you ‘a bit happier’

Architect and artist François Valentiny, together with his wife Edith Burggraff, has opened a joint exhibition titled "L'art en partage" at the Valentiny Foundation in Remerschen, Luxembourg. Running until 10 May, the show features paintings and sculptures by the couple and is accompanied by concerts, workshops, and community events. Valentiny, known for designing landmarks like KPMG Luxembourg's headquarters and the Bijou building, studied architecture in Vienna and splits his time between Luxembourg and Austria.

L.A.'s $1 Billion Lucas Museum Has Revealed Inaugural Exhibitions For This Year's Opening — Curated By George Lucas Himself

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles has announced its 18 inaugural exhibitions ahead of its September 22, 2026 opening. The $1 billion, 100,000-square-foot museum in Exposition Park will feature 32 galleries curated personally by George Lucas, including a dedicated Cinema space showcasing the Lucas Archives with original concept art, costumes, and props from Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Unlike traditional museums, the exhibitions are organized by emotion and storytelling themes such as Adventure, Childhood, Fantasy, and Romance, rather than by time period or artist.