Britain and Ireland’s wildflowers – in pictures

The Eden Project's National Wildflower Centre is opening entries for its Wildflower Photographer of the Year 2026 competition on 29 May. A selection of photos from last year's competition will be on display at Eden Dock, Canary Wharf, London, during CWG's Nature Week from 13 July. The article showcases a gallery of winning and commended images from the 2025 competition, featuring wildflowers such as foxgloves, sea thrift, heath spotted-orchids, and common poppies, captured by photographers including Juliet Klottrup, Reece Gibbins, and Emma Eccles.

Free Summer Exhibitions in 2026 Across Paris and Île-de-France: This Season’s Must-See Events

A curated guide lists free summer exhibitions across Paris and Île-de-France for 2026, including shows at Fluctuart, Perrotin Gallery, Petit Palais, Bourse de Commerce, Rachel Hardouin Gallery, and Domaine de Chamarande. Highlights include "Everybody's Searching for Their Cat" at Fluctuart (May 7–August 23), JR's "Les Esquisses de la Caverne" at Perrotin (June 5–July 25), the return of "We are (still) here" street-art exhibition at Petit Palais (June 20–September 20), and free late hours at Bourse de Commerce on the first Saturday of each month.

Martha Invitational 2026

The Martha Invitational returns for its second edition on May 29–30, 2026, at RULE Gallery in Marfa, Texas. Originally conceived in 2023 by Marfa-based artists Martha Hughes, Diana Simard, and Leslie Wilkes as a small, self-organized, low-budget exhibition in Hughes' studio, the event expands this year to include a fourth artist, Bettina Landgrebe. The show features works by all four artists, with Hughes presenting selections from her Garden series, Landgrebe showing her Strange Bloom assemblages, Simard offering landscape-inspired paintings and prints, and Wilkes exhibiting geometric paintings. The opening reception takes place Friday evening from 5–7 PM, with artists present both days.

In the Curator’s Words: New Balboa Park exhibit showcases the work of LGBTQ artists

Artist RD Riccoboni curated a new exhibition titled "ArtSpectrum 2026" at Gallery 21 in Balboa Park, showcasing the work of 12 LGBTQ artists from San Diego. The show runs from May 5 through June 1, 2026, and was produced in collaboration with the Village Arts and Education Foundation and Patric Stillman of The Studio Door. Featured artists include Miguel Camacho-Padilla, Trevor Copenhaver, Tommy Diethert, Don Grant, Brian Hicks, Carole Kuck, Martin Luera, Danne Sadler, Stefan Talian, and Tim Weedlun, with works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, and stained glass.

Cultural Compass: Cello takes centre stage, Antwerp galleries open their doors and wartime art

This week's cultural agenda in Belgium highlights three major events: the 75th anniversary of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, which focuses on cello for only the third time since 2017, featuring 64 young cellists from over 20 countries; the 12th edition of Antwerp Art Weekend, spanning 88 venues with a strong emphasis on emerging talent and politically engaged works; and a new exhibition at the Permekemuseum exploring Constant Permeke's formative years in wartime England. The competition includes a world premiere of 'Caffeine' by Belgian composer Harold Noben, and the winner will receive the use of Pablo Casals' historic 1733 Goffriller cello.

Venice Biennale’s jury resigns

The entire jury of the 61st Venice Biennale, presided by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas and comprising four other curators, resigned just nine days before the exhibition's scheduled opening on 9 May 2026. The jury had announced it would not award prizes to countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, a move widely understood to target Israel and Russia. In response, the Biennale's organisers cancelled the prize-giving ceremony and will instead award Golden Lions via a popular vote among ticketholders. The row escalated further when the Israeli representative, sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, accused the jury of discrimination and threatened legal action, prompting intervention from Italy's culture ministry.

Art for hot days: Top 10 exhibitions to see this summer in Chicago

This article presents a curated list of ten must-see art exhibitions in Chicago for summer 2025, highlighting a diverse range of artists and venues. Featured shows include a rare solo exhibition of miniature figurines by 85-year-old Argentinian artist Liliana Porter at Secrist|Beach, a group show inspired by cosmology at the Renaissance Society, and a posthumous survey of Martin Wong's brick-focused paintings at Wrightwood 659. Other notable exhibitions include sculptural works by Oren Pinhassi and Leticia Pardo at the Arts Club of Chicago, Nathaniel Mary Quinn's emotionally charged portraits at the National Public Housing Museum, and Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford's monumental sculptures at the Elmhurst Art Museum.

MoMA PS1 chief curator has a vision for Art Basel’s outsized sector, Unlimited

Ruba Katrib, Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs at MoMA PS1, has been appointed curator of Art Basel's Unlimited sector for 2026. Unlimited is a dedicated platform for large-scale installations, sculptures, wall paintings, and video works. Katrib, a Syrian American curator known for bold exhibitions and amplifying emerging voices, will select around 69 projects from over 100 gallery proposals to create a coherent curatorial narrative within a 16,000 m² space. She succeeds Giovanni Carmine, director of the Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen.

The ultimate scavenger hunt for art: Check out this KDKA video of Carnegie International highlights that your family can visit

KDKA has released a video showcasing highlights of the Carnegie International exhibition, presented as an art scavenger hunt designed for families. The video encourages viewers to explore the exhibition together, turning the museum visit into an interactive experience for all ages.

Cardiff museum exhibit puts Valleys fashion project in spotlight

A 10th anniversary retrospective exhibition titled 'It's Called Ffashiwn!' has opened at National Museum Cardiff, celebrating a decade-long fashion photography project in the South Wales Valleys. The project was founded by French documentary photographer Clémentine Schneidermann and Welsh fashion editor Charlotte James, who began working with local youth groups in Blaina and Merthyr Tydfil in 2015. What started as a three-month residency evolved into an ongoing initiative that has involved young people in designing clothes, sewing, and participating in fashion photoshoots, including a notable collaboration with Alexander McQueen. The exhibition highlights the achievements of the participants, such as Nia Day, who discovered the fashion industry's realities during a cold mountain shoot with the legendary brand.

Biennale Arte 2026: which national pavilions strike us and why

The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, titled "In Minor Keys" and curated by Koyo Kouoh (who passed away in May 2025), opened amid intense controversy over its artist list and geopolitical tensions. Protests erupted against the participation of Israel and Russia, with a petition signed by 22 countries to exclude Russia, threats from the European Commission to suspend funding, and the resignation of the international jury. Around 18 national pavilions staged strikes and partial closures to denounce the normalization of Israel's presence and precarious labor in the art world. The Austria Pavilion's performance by Florentina Holzinger, featuring a girl hanging upside down inside a tilting bell, became a viral symbol refocusing attention on art itself.

Isamu Noguchi was never a designer, affirms High Museum of Art, Atlanta

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta presents "Isamu Noguchi: 'I am not a designer'," the first design retrospective of the Japanese-American sculptor in 25 years. Co-curated by Monica Obniski and Marin R. Sullivan, the exhibition features nearly 200 objects, including sculptural models, furniture for Herman Miller and Knoll, Akari light fixtures, and large-scale installations like Martha Graham's stage set for "Seraphic Dialogue" (1955). The show challenges Noguchi's own resistance to categorization by framing his multidisciplinary practice—spanning sculpture, design, architecture, and public art—through a design lens.

From Obama Presidential Center opening to Anne Frank to Pokemon: Chicago museums unveil ambitious summer exhibitions

Chicago museums have announced a slate of ambitious summer exhibitions, including the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, an Anne Frank exhibition, and a Pokemon-themed show. These exhibits span a range of cultural and historical topics, aiming to attract diverse audiences to the city's major cultural institutions.

BmoreArt’s Picks: May 12-18

BmoreArt's Picks for May 12-18 highlights a range of visual art events in Baltimore, including an exhibition of video works by Martha Rosler and Pipilotti Rist at the Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Museum, the Sondheim Art Prize 2026 Semifinalist Exhibition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, a conversation with artist Louis Fratino at the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the Scout Art Fair. Other events include a monologue workshop inspired by the 'Shoes at the Door' exhibit at SNF Parkway Theatre, a talk with artists Christine Stiver and Dominic Terlizzi at SBM Gallery, and the CPM 5th anniversary show. The article also notes open submissions for BAD's Creative Placemaking RFQ and other opportunities.

Helen Frankenthaler at Kunstmuseum Basel

Kunstmuseum Basel has opened a major exhibition of Helen Frankenthaler's work, running from April 18 to August 23, 2026, featuring over 50 large-format pieces spanning six decades. The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation loaned 37 works for the show. The article also notes recent auction results, including Christie's offering of 'The Last Minute in April' (1974) for an estimated $2–3 million, and Sotheby's sales of 'St. John' (1971) for $2.1085 million and 'Perseus' (1983) for $2.804 million. Previous European exhibitions of Frankenthaler's work are listed, including shows at Museo di Palazzo Grimani, Museum Folkwang, Palazzo Strozzi, and Museum Reinhard Ernst.

Eternal Tintoretto: the Italian master at the heart of a new exhibition at the Jacquemart-André Museum

The Jacquemart-André Museum in Paris is hosting a major retrospective dedicated to the Venetian painter Jacopo Robusti, known as Tintoretto, running from September 11, 2026 to January 24, 2027. The exhibition features around forty paintings and graphic works, organized thematically to cover the artist's entire career, including religious scenes, portraits, and mythological depictions, highlighting his bold compositions, vivid colors, and dramatic lighting.

(BPRW) Getty Awards $1.8M to Increase Access to Black Visual Arts Archives

The Getty Foundation has awarded $1.8 million in grants to eight institutions through its Black Visual Arts Archives initiative, a multi-year program aimed at increasing access to archival collections related to Black artists and arts organizations. The grants will support processing, digitization, and public programming at venues including Afro Charities, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Charles H. Wright Museum, Morgan State University, South Side Community Art Center, the University of Chicago's South Side Home Movie Project, and the David C. Driskell Center. This brings Getty's total funding for the initiative to $4.5 million since 2022, supporting 20 grants nationwide.

Cleveland Museum of Art hosting ‘France in the Time of Manet and Morisot’

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) has opened a free companion exhibition titled "France in the Time of Manet and Morisot," running through August 23 in the Mark Schwartz and Bettina Katz Photography Galleries. The show features 50 photographs from the museum's holdings of mid-1800s France, including works by Charles Marville and Édouard Baldus, who were commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III and the Louvre to document historic monuments and new architectural projects. Curated by Barbara Tannenbaum, CMA chair of prints, drawings, and photographs, the exhibition complements the museum's ticketed show "Manet & Morisot," which explores the artistic exchange between Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot. Highlights include André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri's 1861 portrait "Monsieur Merlen," which is noted as an early precursor to the selfie, and a photograph of the Arc de Triomphe under construction.

Akron Art Museum transforms church’s stained glass windows into exhibit

The Akron Art Museum is presenting "Transfiguration: Rachel Libeskind and the Tiffany Window," an exhibition centered on a 137-square-foot stained glass window crafted by Frederick Wilson of Tiffany Studios in 1917. The window, originally installed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, was rescued after a 2018 fire destroyed the church. Developer Tony Troppe purchased the property in 2022, and Whitney Stained Glass Studio restored the panels. New York-based artist Rachel Libeskind created accompanying works that reframe the window as art rather than a devotional object, with the show running through July 5.

Cleveland Museum of Art presents 19th-century photo exhibit 'France in the Time of Manet and Morisot'

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) has opened a new photography exhibition, "France in the Time of Manet and Morisot," running through August 23 in the Mark Schwartz and Bettina Katz Photography Galleries. The free show features 50 photographs from CMA's holdings of mid-1800s France, complementing the museum's ticketed Impressionist display "Manet & Morisot." Curator Barbara Tannenbaum selected works by photographers such as Charles Marville, Édouard Baldus, and André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, including Disdéri's 1861 portrait "Monsieur Merlen," which is noted as an early precursor to the modern selfie. The photographs document historic monuments, new architecture, and figures like Sarah Bernhardt, offering a visual context for the era of painters Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot.

An exhibition of an artist who brought post-impressionism to England

The Museum of Somerset is hosting "A Life in Art: Roger Fry," an exhibition dedicated to the painter, critic, and curator Roger Fry, who introduced post-impressionism to England. The show features nearly 40 of Fry's paintings from a recent Charleston exhibition, alongside works by his wife, Arts & Crafts artist Helen Coombe, whose career and life have been largely overlooked. Through artwork, archival photos, and a film, the exhibition explores Fry's complex personal life, including Coombe's institutionalization for mental illness, and his role within the Bloomsbury Group.

Lowe Art Museum to host two major exhibitions on Afro-Cuban art curated by Alejandro de la Fuente

The Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami will present two complementary exhibitions on Afro-Cuban art from May 1 to Sept. 12, 2025, both guest-curated by Alejandro de la Fuente, director of the Afro-Latin American Research Institute at Harvard University. "El Pasado Mío/My Own Past" features 43 Afro-Cuban artists from the 1820s to the present in an amplified version with 83 works, while "Afrocubanismo: Highlights from the Ramón and Nercys Cernuda Collection" focuses on early 20th-century Afrocubanista works, including pieces by Wifredo Lam.

De Pont Director Maria Schnyder On Why Financial Independence Is a Museum’s Greatest Asset

Maria Schnyder, who has served as deputy director of the De Pont Museum of Contemporary Art in Tilburg, Netherlands, since 2021, has been appointed as its new director, succeeding Martijn van Nieuwenhuyzen. In an interview, Schnyder discusses the advantages of rising from within, emphasizing continuity and deep knowledge of the institution's artist-first ethos. The museum, housed in a former woolen mill with 7,000 square meters of exhibition space, operates with only 18 full-time employees and is financially independent, allowing it to prioritize artistic vision over audience-driven agendas.

The Clark presents exhibition of Giorgio Griffa

The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, presents "Giorgio Griffa: Paths in the Forest," the first solo museum exhibition in the United States dedicated to the Italian artist Giorgio Griffa (born 1936). On view from June 13 to October 12 at the Lunder Center at Stone Hill, the exhibition features works spanning nearly six decades, including highlights such as "Sessanta frammenti" (1980), "Rosa" (1968), and "Narciso" (1986). Griffa is known for his use of diluted acrylics on unstretched, unprimed canvases, and his practice emphasizes the intelligence of materials and an ecological ethic. The exhibition is curated by Robert Wiesenberger, John and Barbara Vogelstein Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the Brooklyn Museum and former curator of contemporary projects at the Clark.

At the 2026 Met Gala, Black stars and socialites turned the human form into art

The 2026 Met Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art under the theme 'Costume Art,' featured Black celebrities and socialites interpreting the human form as art on the red carpet. Notable attendees included Beyoncé in a skeletal silver gown by Olivier Rousteing, Colman Domingo inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Rihanna in a custom Maison Margiela 'living sculpture' by Glenn Martens, and Venus Williams co-chairing the event while wearing a look referencing her own portrait by Robert Pruitt. Others like SZA, Tschabalala Self, and Cardi B offered surreal or literal nods to art history and body imagery.

All the Looks That Made It From the Runway Into the Met’s “Costume Art” Exhibition

The Met Costume Institute Unveils Its New Condé M. Nast Galleries

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has unveiled its new 12,000-square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries, named for the founder of Architectural Digest's parent company. Designed by the architecture firm Peterson Rich Office (PRO), the five-room exhibition space was carved from a former interior courtyard and gift shop, revealing historic brick and masonry facades that highlight the museum's architectural evolution. The galleries debuted alongside the exhibition "Costume Art," which explores the significance of dressed human form in fashion and fine art, curated by Andrew Bolton and celebrated at the Met Gala on May 4, 2026.

Montclair Art Museum Announces Retirement of Longtime Chief Curator Dr. Gail Stavitsky

The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) has announced that Dr. Gail Stavitsky, its Chief Curator, will retire on July 1, 2026, after a tenure of more than 30 years. Stavitsky joined MAM in 1994 as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, was promoted to Chief Curator in 1998, and curated over 200 exhibitions, including landmark shows such as "Cézanne and American Modernism" (2009) and "Matisse and American Art" (2017). Her recent exhibitions include solo shows for vanessa german and Tom Nussbaum, and she co-curated "Shifting Terrain: Perspectives on Land in North America." She also oversaw major acquisitions and the care of the museum's collections of George Inness and Morgan Russell.

Lillian Bassman—the Avant-Garde Photographer Who Transformed Harper’s Bazaar—Finally Gets Her Due

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened "Lillian Bassman: Bazaar and Beyond," an exhibition on view through July 26 that examines the career of photographer Lillian Bassman. Curated by Virginia McBride, the show highlights Bassman's work at Harper's Bazaar and Junior Bazaar, as well as her independent photography known for radical darkroom manipulations. The exhibition was made possible by a gift of 70 works from Bassman's estate, produced in collaboration with her children Lizzie and Eric Himmel, and marks a homecoming for the artist who drew inspiration from the Met's galleries.

Musée d’Orsay displays Renoir and Degas works looted by Nazis

The Musée d’Orsay in Paris has opened a new gallery dedicated exclusively to artworks suspected of being looted or forcibly sold during the Nazi occupation of France. Among the 13 works on display is Edgar Degas's *Dinner at the Ball* (1919), originally owned by Jewish collector Fernand Ochsé, who was deported to Auschwitz with his wife in 1941. The painting passed through multiple hands before being identified as one of over 100,000 artworks plundered by the Nazis. The museum has assembled a team of six provenance researchers to spend three years tracing the original owners of these works, which are part of the "MNR" (Musées nationaux récupération) collection—some 2,200 pieces deemed too important to sell but whose owners remain unknown.