The Great Shitshow

Die große Shitshow

Florentina Holzinger has transformed the Austrian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale into a radical performance installation titled "Seaworld Venice." The piece features naked performers suspended from meat hooks, a performer ringing a bell while dangling upside down from a crane, a woman on a jetski circling inside a flooded pavilion, and a system where visitors are invited to urinate into portable toilets, with the waste processed and recirculated into the water. The work combines extreme physical stunts, nudity, and bodily fluids to create a visceral, immersive experience that has drawn long queues and stunned reactions from the art world.

Regional exhibition of Ohio Collage Society opening May 29 at Coburn Art Gallery

The Coburn Art Gallery at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, will host a regional exhibition featuring 70 works by members of the Ohio Collage Society from May 29 through July 24. The free opening reception takes place on May 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., showcasing two-dimensional and three-dimensional collages that explore diverse materials and techniques. Featured artists include Anita Burgess, Nancy S. Sotka, Mary Ann Sedivy, and others.

Endre Koronczi on Representing Hungary at the 61st Venice Biennale

Endre Koronczi, the artist representing Hungary at the 61st Venice Biennale (2026), discusses his upcoming exhibition in the Giardini pavilion. His project, titled "Pneuma Cosmic," explores the movement of air as both a physical and metaphysical phenomenon, drawing on decades of research into invisible forces like wind and breath. The exhibition also references his long-term experimental zone, Ploubuter Park, inspired by drifting plastic bags. Koronczi notes a strong resonance with the Biennale's curatorial theme, "In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh, describing it as a "cosmic zeitgeist."

What Did the Golden Lion Die Of? On Judgment and Disavowal at the Venice Biennale

The international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale announced it would exclude from prize consideration countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, specifically targeting Russia and Israel. This prompted the Italian culture minister to send inspectors to the Biennale's offices, leading the jury to resign. The Biennale then replaced the Golden Lion with "Visitors' Lions" prizes voted by ticket-holders, immediately making Russia and Israel eligible again. The article traces this crisis to the Biennale's historical structure under Mussolini's 1930 Royal Decree, which established the national pavilion system as a diplomatic concession system designed to serve state power, and notes the recent acceptance of a €50 million donation from Qatar for a new permanent pavilion in the Giardini.

Helen McNicoll: An Impressionist Journey

The article titled "Helen McNicoll: An Impressionist Journey" appears to be about the Canadian Impressionist painter Helen McNicoll, likely focusing on her life, work, and artistic legacy. However, the actual content of the article is inaccessible due to a security verification page from the National Gallery of Canada's website, which blocks access to the full text. The page displays a security challenge requiring JavaScript and cookies to proceed, preventing any substantive information from being extracted.

An Arie de Vois for Washington

Un Arie de Vois pour Washington

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., has acquired a self-portrait by the Dutch Golden Age painter Arie de Vois. The work, painted around 1660, depicts the artist in the guise of a hunter, a role that carried erotic connotations in 17th-century Netherlands—the Dutch words for 'hunting' and 'bird-catching' were slang for courtship and sexuality. This acquisition adds a rare and thematically layered example of De Vois's self-portraiture to the museum's collection.

Catalonia Sues Aragón for €791,000 for Repayment Over Restitution of 56 Artworks

The Catalan government has formally demanded €791,000 (approximately $920,000) from the Aragonese government to recoup costs related to the value and upkeep of 56 artworks from the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Sigena. The works were removed from the monastery in 1936 for safekeeping during the Spanish Civil War, and Spain's Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that they must be returned to Aragón. Of the 56 pieces, 12 were held at the National Art Museum of Catalonia and 44 at the Diocesan Museum of Lleida. The Catalan government has given Aragón 30 days to negotiate a settlement before returning to court.

First Zurbarán exhibition at the National Gallery

The National Gallery in London has opened the first monographic exhibition in the UK dedicated to Francisco de Zurbarán, a leading 17th-century Spanish painter. The show brings together exceptional loans from public and private collections across the UK, Europe, and the United States, including works displayed together for the first time in over a century. Highlights include life-size depictions of saints, soaring altarpieces, and contemplative still lifes, with the exhibition running until 23 August.

The largest U.S. showcase of ancient Italy's fascinating Etruscan culture debuts at Legion of Honor.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have opened "The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy" at the Legion of Honor, the largest U.S. exhibition dedicated to the ancient Etruscan civilization. Curated by Renée Dreyfus, the show brings together approximately 150 objects borrowed from 28 institutions, including the Vatican, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It explores Etruscan engineering, architecture, art, and social customs, including the elevated status of women, and features highlights such as a granulated gold drinking bowl and the bronze Liver of Piacenza.

National Geographic photographer captures beauty of wolves in new James Museum exhibit

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, Florida, has opened a new traveling exhibition titled "Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan." Curated by the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the National Geographic Society, the show features stunning photographs and videos by National Geographic photographer Ronan Donovan, documenting wild wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. The exhibition aims to challenge fear-based stereotypes about wolves, highlighting their intelligence, social structures, and family bonds. Accompanying programs include a Family Day on May 16 with puppet shows and scavenger hunts, and the fourth annual Menagerie at the Museum on August 15, featuring live animal encounters with local rescue organizations.

Internationally renowned artist to headline new exhibition

Internationally renowned ceramic artist Jin Eui Kim will present his exhibition "Simplicity and Complexity" at The Base, Greenham, from June 26 to August 30. The show features sculptural works exploring illusion and reality, alongside a program of workshops and an evening talk with the artist. Kim, originally from South Korea and now based in Cardiff, holds an MA and PhD in ceramics from Cardiff School of Art & Design, and his work is held in major public collections including Manchester Art Gallery and the National Museum Wales.

National Museum Showcases Danwon Kim Hong-do's Multifaceted Genius

The National Museum of Korea has opened a new exhibition titled *Danwon Kim Hong-do, Painting the Era* in its renovated painting and calligraphy gallery, showcasing 96 works from 50 collections. The exhibition highlights Kim Hong-do's versatility beyond his famous genre paintings, featuring landscapes, documentary paintings, and floral art, including the first public display of *Chongseokjeongdo* (1795) from a private collection. Director You Hong-june emphasizes Kim's unmatched lyrical depth and technical skill across all genres.

National Cowboy Museum's Route 66 exhibit is closing soon

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is closing its Route 66 exhibit soon. Chief Curatorial Officer David Davis explains that the museum's location on Route 66 was the original reason for its founding, and the exhibit explores the historic highway's deep connection to the institution.

Au Royaume-Uni les contraintes budgétaires des musées pèsent sur les effectifs

A survey of 329 museum directors in the UK, published in the Art Fund's Museum Directors Research 2026 report, reveals that staff shortages have overtaken building maintenance as the top concern for cultural institutions. Conducted by Wafer Hadley between January and March 2026, the study shows that 85% of directors cite team size and capacity as the main barrier to programming, ahead of budget constraints (67%) and lack of specialized expertise (23%). The National Gallery in London launched a voluntary redundancy plan in February 2026 to address a projected deficit of £8.2 million, while the Museum of Cambridge cut a third of its staff and reduced opening hours. Local authority grants have decreased or ceased for 45% of institutions between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, and over a third of museums have reduced or plan to reduce opening hours and annual exhibitions.

Art fair showcases Beijing’s evolution as cultural destination - China Daily

The Beijing Dangdai Art Fair opened on Thursday at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center, running through Sunday. It features a wide range of works from late artist Zao Wou-ki’s tiny sketch drafts to large-scale installation art and robot pieces co-developed by artists and tech companies. Galleries from Beijing’s 798 art zone, other Chinese cities, and international institutions are participating. The fair also marks the launch of the 2026 Beijing Art Season, which includes Beijing Design Week and Gallery Weekend Beijing, and offers an off-site exhibition at WONDER · China World Mall through May 31.

From Brâncuși to Neo-Constructivism: National Museum of Contemporary Art opens new exhibition season

The National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Romania will launch its new exhibition season on May 23, featuring seven exhibitions that highlight key figures in Romanian contemporary art. Central projects include "Campo Santo" by Călin Dan, a retrospective of Victoria and Marian Zidaru, and a show dedicated to neo-constructivist Roman Cotoșman. The season also includes an anniversary project marking 150 years since Constantin Brâncuși's birth, titled "BOÎTE. BOX. BRÂNCUȘI." The exhibitions span multiple floors and explore themes of memory, spirituality, abstraction, and contemporary reinterpretations of artistic heritage.

Landscape and Imagery Help MOWA Celebrate the Country’s 250th Birthday

The Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) in West Bend has opened a new exhibition titled "The American Landscape: Beyond the Horizon," celebrating the role of Wisconsin artists in capturing the state's contributions to the United States ahead of the country's 250th birthday. The show features over 60 works, 60% from the museum's permanent collection and 40% borrowed from artists and collectors, including pieces by John Stuart Curry, Lois Ireland, Georgia O'Keeffe, Native American artists like Helen Lonetree and Lila Greengrass Blackdeer, and contemporary works by incarcerated artist M. Winston. Guest curator Rafael Salas, a professor at Ripon College, also includes three of his own works.

Hanwha Culture Foundation hosts Lim Young-Joo solo show in New York

The Hanwha Culture Foundation is hosting a solo exhibition by artist Lim Young-Joo, titled 'The Late故', from May 15 to July 25 at Space Zero One in New York. The show features video and installation works that reinterpret themes of faith, anxiety, life, and death, including a centerpiece piece that reconfigures her previous major works and research from her residency. Lim Young-Joo won the 2025 Frieze Artist Award and was selected for the Korea Artist Prize by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

Haiti goes to Venice: Artist Duval-Carrié selected to represent nation at Biennale expo | PHOTOS

Internationally acclaimed Miami-based artist Edouard Duval-Carrié has been selected to represent Haiti at the 2026 Venice Biennale, the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. Ahead of the May 9 opening, Duval-Carrié hosted a behind-the-scenes preview event at his Little Haiti studio in Miami on April 24, 2026, where he discussed his conceptual approach. His installation draws on themes of history, politics, and spirituality in Haiti and the Caribbean, reflecting evolving perspectives on the nation's past and present. Duval-Carrié collaborated with Vanessa Selk, founding artistic director of the Tout-Monde Art Foundation, to frame Haiti's presence as both a national showcase and a reflection of diasporic influence and Caribbean identity. The exhibition runs through November 22, 2026.

‘Close, yet distant': MMCA exhibition revisits Korea-Japan artistic ties since 1945

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Gwacheon, South Korea, has opened a major exhibition titled “Art between Korea and Japan since 1945,” co-organized with the Yokohama Museum of Art. Running from May 14 to September 27, 2026, the show marks the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties between the two countries. Featuring some 200 works by 43 artists, including Zainichi artists and video art pioneer Nam June Paik, the exhibition traces eight decades of artistic exchange shaped by colonialism, war, division, and ongoing tensions. It previously opened in Yokohama, drawing over 37,000 visitors—significantly surpassing typical attendance—with strong interest from younger audiences.

First-Ever Atrium Gallery Exhibition honors Texas Trailblazing Women at McKinney Cotton Mill

MillHouse Foundation, in partnership with Cotton Mill Partners, has launched the inaugural America 250: Texas Trailblazing Wonder Women Exhibition at the newly opened Atrium Gallery inside the McKinney Cotton Mill Arts and Design District in McKinney, Texas. Running from June 12 through August 26, the exhibition features 24 large-scale original works by Texas artists honoring influential Texas women such as Barbara Jordan, Lady Bird Johnson, Ann Richards, Simone Biles, Beyoncé, and Selena Quintanilla. All artworks are available for purchase, and a Meet the Artists Reception on June 27 will announce award recipients including the $5,000 Texas Trailblazer Award.

Venice Biennale previews in chaos as war follows art into world's oldest exhibition

The Venice Biennale previewed its 61st edition in chaos on Tuesday, marked by the unprecedented resignation of its jury over the participation of Israel and Russia. Ukrainian artists displayed a statue of an origami deer from the war-torn eastern front, while Russian pavilion participants danced to house music and Palestinians marched wearing the names of artists killed in Gaza. The jury had stated it would not award prizes to countries under International Criminal Court investigation, singling out Russia and Israel, and its resignation has thrown the exhibition's structure into question.

At the 2026 Biennale, the Bulgarian Pavilion Transforms into a Political Laboratory to Explore the Present

Alla Biennale 2026 il Padiglione della Bulgaria si trasforma in laboratorio politico per esplorare il presente

The Bulgarian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, housed in the Sala Tiziano of the Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli, has been transformed into a speculative political laboratory by The Federation of Minor Practices. Curated by Martina Yordanova, the project features an all-female group of artists—Veneta Androva, Gery Georgieva, Maria Nalbantova, and Rayna Teneva—whose four films serve as "signals" exploring tensions around ecology, media systems, disinformation, and collective responsibility. The pavilion is conceived as a research headquarters from the near future, open until November 22, 2026.

The Syrian Pavilion returns to Venice after the fall of the regime. The interview

A Venezia torna il Padiglione della Siria dopo il crollo del regime. L’intervista

The Syrian Pavilion returns to the Venice Biennale after the fall of the regime, marking the country's first participation since 2024. The pavilion, curated by artist Sara Shamma, is housed in the former refrigerated warehouses of Santa Marta at the Iuav University of Venice and runs until November 22. It features an installation inspired by the ancient funerary towers of Palmyra, combining painting, architecture, light, sound, and scent to explore cultural heritage and the restitution of looted antiquities.

Nasce a Londra il Quentin Blake Centre: spazio creativo dedicato al disegno e all’illustrazione

The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will open in May 2026 in London's Clerkenwell district, housed in the historic New River Head waterworks complex after a £12.5 million restoration led by Tim Ronalds Architects. The centre will preserve Sir Quentin Blake's archive of over 40,000 works and feature a library, public gardens, creative labs, and three inaugural exhibitions: "Quentin Blake: Performance," "Queer as Comics" celebrating LGBTQIA+ comics, and "MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like…" by British-Sri Lankan illustrator Murugiah.

NXT Gallery Presents new work by Joey Morgan

NXT Gallery at Next Stage Arts in Putney, Vermont, presents “Forgotten Not Gone,” a new exhibition by Brattleboro-based artist Joey Morgan. The show features 12 mixed-media collage works salvaged from a previous project, “Have You Ever Loved Me?,” which was largely destroyed in a flood. An opening reception will be held on May 24, and the exhibition runs from May 8 to August 9.

Australian Indigenous Art Speaks to Contemporary Concerns

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, in collaboration with the National Gallery (NGA) in Washington, D.C., has organized 'The Stars We Do Not See,' the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Australian Indigenous art ever shown outside Australia. Opening in Washington on October 25 and running through March 1, 2026, the show features over 200 works from the 19th century to the present, including 130 of the NGV's most prized pieces by revered artists from across Australia. The title is inspired by late Yolŋu artist Gulumbu Yunupiŋu, known for her celestial mappings, and the exhibition will travel to several U.S. cities and Toronto over two and a half years.

Around the World

Einmal um die Welt

The article previews the national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, where 99 countries present exhibitions across the Giardini, Arsenale, and venues throughout the city. It highlights Iceland's pavilion, featuring Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir's project "Pocket Universe" at the Docks Cantieri Cucchini, a multimedia work combining performance, sound, moving image, and installation centered on a film about a creature.

La loi sur les restitutions des biens culturels pillés pendant la colonisation définitivement adoptée

The French Parliament has definitively adopted a permanent law on the restitution of cultural property looted during colonization, replacing the previous case-by-case legislative approach. The Senate unanimously approved the final text on May 7, 2026, following agreement in a joint committee on April 30, and the National Assembly had approved it the day before. The law creates a general derogation from the principle of inalienability of public collections, establishing a bilateral scientific committee to examine provenance, with final decisions made by decree of the Council of State. Key amendments from the National Assembly—including binding parliamentary votes on restitution and conditions on conservation and public access—were removed by the joint committee to avoid perceptions of neocolonial tutelage.

La loi-cadre sur les restitutions définitivement adoptée par le Parlement

The French Parliament has definitively adopted a framework law on the restitution of cultural property that was illicitly acquired. The Senate unanimously approved the conclusions of the joint committee on May 7, following the National Assembly's approval on May 6, after an agreement was reached on April 30. The law establishes a general mechanism for returning objects from French public collections without requiring a specific law for each case, covering items acquired through looting, theft, forced sale, or other illicit means before the 1970 UNESCO Convention. It creates a permanent national commission and a bilateral scientific committee to assess claims, with restitution ultimately decided by government decree subject to legal review by the Council of State.