'Black Gold: Stories Untold' art exhibit reclaims forgotten histories of Black Californians at Fort Point

A new immersive art exhibition titled 'Black Gold: Stories Untold' opens at Fort Point in San Francisco, featuring 25 commissioned works by 17 artists that uncover the overlooked histories of Black Californians from the Gold Rush through Reconstruction. Curated by FOR-SITE, a nonprofit focused on art and place, the exhibition transforms the Civil War-era military fort into a multi-sensory space with beaded portraits, video installations, sculptures, and a tent installation by artist Umar Rashid. Works include Cheryl Derricotte's tribute to Mary Ellen Pleasant, a formerly enslaved woman who became a wealthy abolitionist.

Tokyo’s latest Godzilla art exhibition is a roaring tribute to the 70-year-old icon

The Mori Arts Center Gallery in Tokyo is hosting 'Godzilla The Art Exhibition', running until June 29, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the iconic monster. Featuring over 25 artists from Japan and abroad, including Tadanori Yokoo, Sachiko Kazama, Kikuji Kawada, and actor-artist Tadanobu Asano, the exhibition presents original works in sculpture, painting, photography, diorama, and performance. Designed by the creative team Cekai, the immersive environment simulates Godzilla's destruction with cracked walls and shattered floors, while thematic chapters explore the monster as a symbol of modern anxieties, historical trauma, and cultural evolution.

How Javier Milei’s war on history is threatening art spaces in Argentina

Argentina's President Javier Milei has escalated his campaign to rewrite the history of the country's 1976-1983 dictatorship by closing art and human-rights spaces on the grounds of the ESMA Museum and Site of Memory in Buenos Aires, a former clandestine prison turned memorial and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In January, the Haroldo Conti Cultural Centre was shuttered for 'internal restructuring,' with 50 of its 87 employees fired; in early April, the government halted operations at Espacio Memoria, suspending salary payments and funding pending an audit. Both centres are public institutions managed by the Human Rights Secretariat, which has undergone mass layoffs and changes under Milei's administration.

See Jonathan Lyndon Chase’s Acne Studios takeover in New York

Acne Studios has collaborated with Philadelphia-based artist Jonathan Lyndon Chase for a second time, following their initial partnership for the brand's S/S 2025 runway presentation in Paris. For Frieze Week in New York, Chase has taken over Acne Studios' SoHo flagship with an immersive installation featuring approximately 60 sculptures, furnishings, and paintings. The works, created in Chase's Kensington studio, draw on personal memories, queer identity, and the artist's Philadelphia roots, including soft figurative cloth sculptures, a stuffed cat, bedazzled busts, and vintage furniture covered in doodles. A capsule collection of trousers, T-shirts, a pillow, and a blanket is also available exclusively at the store.

‘All the electrifying paintings I wish I’d bought’: New York restauranteur Keith McNally recalls his art wins and regrets as memoir debuts

New York restaurateur Keith McNally, known for founding Balthazar and the Odeon, discusses his art-buying habits and regrets in a new memoir titled *I Regret Almost Everything*. In an interview with The Art Newspaper, McNally recounts his first serious purchase—a $500 painting by Albert Montmerot in 1989—and his most recent acquisitions, including works by Élisabeth Ronget and Walter Steggles. He describes his instant attraction to paintings, his tendency to agonize over purchases just beyond his budget, and the persistent regret of not buying certain works he now covets.

Winterthur’s ‘Almost Unknown’ offers immersive look at Black history and art

Winterthur Museum in Delaware has opened a new exhibition titled "Almost Unknown: The Afric-American Picture Gallery," which brings to life a fictional gallery imagined in 1859 by Black writer and schoolteacher William J. Wilson, writing under the pseudonym Ethiop. In a series of columns for the magazine "The Anglo-American," Wilson described an imaginary museum of Black history and art, featuring works like a depiction of a slave ship, a bust of poet Phillis Wheatley, and images of Crispus Attucks and Haitian Revolution heroes. Curator Jonathan Square has transformed Wilson's fantasy into an immersive, haunted-attraction-style exhibition using objects from Winterthur's collection, with dark lighting, sound effects, and false walls that evoke a carnival ride inspired by Jordan Peele films and "The Shining."

Kemper Art Museum wins best monograph award

The Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis has won the 2024 best monograph award from the Midwest Art History Society (MAHS) for its exhibition catalog "Adam Pendleton: To Divide By." The catalog, published by the museum and distributed by the University of Chicago Press, was honored during the society's Outstanding Catalog Awards ceremony in Denver on April 4. Edited by Kemper curator Meredith Malone, the volume features essays by Malone, Joshua Chambers-Letson, Hal Foster, and a conversation between Pendleton and critic Isabelle Graw, along with transcripts of two film portraits by the artist.

Joanna Allen at Bowman Sculpture

Bowman Sculpture Gallery in London announces "Subconscious Playground," the first solo exhibition by emerging British contemporary artist Joanna Allen, running from May 1 to May 30, 2025. The show features Allen's sculptural works that explore human psychology, moving between figuration and abstraction, with pieces like "Shadow" and "Monument" examining themes of identity, memory, and the subconscious. The exhibition includes a catalogue with a forward by art historian Dr. Jon Wood.

Godzilla the Art 70th Anniversary Exhibition

The article announces the 'Godzilla the Art 70th Anniversary Exhibition,' a special exhibition celebrating seven decades of the iconic monster franchise. The show brings together contemporary artists and original film production materials to explore Godzilla's visual legacy across art and pop culture.

Exploring Memory, Material, and Movement: Highlights From Third Week of Senior Art Studio Thesis Exhibition

The third week of the University's 2025 art studio senior thesis exhibitions opened on April 9, 2025, at the Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, featuring works by eight seniors: Kerri Bel, Beatrice Campomori Garuti, Olivia Gomez, Vicky Gong, Will Hardison, Aleah Hurwitz, Ava Liberace, and Alp Yücel. The exhibition spans diverse mediums and themes, including Vicky Gong's "Ether," which explores technology, intimacy, and alienation through material and affect; Will Hardison's "The Sand Remembers the Waves," a monotype series about memory and landscape; and Alp Yücel's "Obstructed View," a sculptural installation that challenges visual perception and physical movement through the gallery space.

Art on Location

The article introduces 'Art on Location,' a curated focus on outdoor art experiences, covering public art, sculpture parks, urban and rural artist trails, and location-specific technology. It highlights examples such as Caravaggio's Rome, John Constable's Dedham Vale, and public sculptures from the Colossus of Rhodes to Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate. The piece also features a guide to all existing paintings by Leonardo da Vinci by expert Martin Kemp, a Vincent van Gogh artist trail by Martin Bailey, and discussions of exo-architecture, memorial art, land art, and virtual repatriation through location-specific technology.

Lebanese Artist Ali Sbeity Reportedly Killed in Israeli Strike

Lebanese artist Ali Sbeity was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern town of Kafra. The death was confirmed by the Artists at Risk Connection and reported by local media. Sbeity was known for his vibrant portraits and landscapes of his rural hometown, which he frequently shared on social media.

JUNKANOO IN VENICE ART MEMORY AND POSTHUMOUS COLLABORATION AT THE BAHAMAS PAVILION

The Bahamas Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale presents "In Another Man's Yard," an intergenerational exhibition curated by Dr. Krista Thompson featuring works by the late John Beadle (1964–2024) and Lavar Munroe. The show explores Junkanoo, the biannual Bahamian festival, through collaborative artmaking, discarded materials, and posthumous collaboration—including Munroe's monumental 11-panel painting based on photographs by Jackson Petit and works incorporating materials from Beadle's studio.

JUNKANOO EN VENECIA ARTE MEMORIA Y COLABORACION POSTUMA EN EL PABELLON DE BAHAMAS

The Bahamas presents its second pavilion at the Venice Biennale after a 13-year hiatus, featuring the exhibition "In Another Man's Yard" curated by Dr. Krista Thompson. The show brings together the late John Beadle (1964–2024) and Lavar Munroe in an intergenerational dialogue rooted in the Junkanoo festival tradition, exploring themes of collaboration, commemoration, and material transformation through discarded materials like cardboard and salvaged objects.

A Pioneering Exhibition at the MAC in Barranco

A PIONEERING EXHIBITION AT THE MAC IN BARRANCO

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC Lima) and the Lima Art Museum (MALI) have launched "Thought is a Hybrid Garden," a comprehensive exhibition spanning six decades of work by Francesco Mariotti and María Luy. The show draws from the Mariotti-Luy Archive and features light installations, acoustic works, and silkscreens that blend technology with Amazonian myths and environmental activism. Curated by Miguel A. López and José-Carlos Mariátegui, the exhibition includes never-before-seen works in Peru, such as the "Hybrid Gardens" series which uses bioluminescence as a metaphor for ecological health.

TROPICAL HYPERSTITION A SPACE OF MEMORY AND RESISTANCE AT THE BIENNALE DI VENEZIA 2026

Panama will present its second National Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, featuring a large-scale installation and performance titled 'Tropical Hyperstition' by the artistic duo Antonio José Guzmán and Iva Jankovic (Mensajeros del Sol). The project, curated by Ana Elizabeth González and Mónica Kupfer, is organized by Panama's Ministry of Culture and several cultural foundations.

Territories in Connection: Latin American Art in Ciudad de las Artes Panama

TERRITORIES IN CONNECTION LATIN AMERICAN ART IN CIUDAD DE LAS ARTES PANAMA

The exhibition "Territorios en conexión" (Territories in Connection) opened at Ciudad de las Artes in Panama City, featuring Latin American artists working with video, textiles, and performance. Curated by Irene Gelfman, the show includes works by artists like Sandra Monterroso, Ana Barboza, and Ana Elena Tejera, and is part of the Pinta Panamá Art Week.

At Galerie Martel, Ugo Bienvenu unveils his dreamlike drawings in a free exhibition

À la galerie Martel, Ugo Bienvenu dévoile ses dessins oniriques dans une expo gratuite

French artist Ugo Bienvenu presents his new exhibition "Futur antérieur" at Galerie Martel in Paris, featuring around twenty ink-on-paper drawings created during the marathon promotion of his debut animated feature film "Arco." The show offers an intimate glimpse into Bienvenu's creative process, where drawing serves as a necessary respite from the demands of filmmaking, blending childhood memories, mythology, and science fiction into dreamlike compositions.

Acacia Marable at Night Gallery

Acacia Marable presents a solo exhibition at Night Gallery in Los Angeles, featuring a series of new works that explore themes of memory, domesticity, and the passage of time through layered, abstract compositions. The show includes 76 images documenting the installation, with no accompanying text descriptions, emphasizing a purely visual experience.

ECUADOR UNVEILS KANUA IN THE CANALS OF VENICE

Ecuador has unveiled "Kanua: listening practices," a public program for its pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, launching on May 8 with solar-powered boat tours through Venice's canals. Developed by the anticolonial film collective Tawna in collaboration with the Kara Solar Foundation and curated by Manuela Moscoso, the project features six intimate boat journeys with discussions on extractivism, aqua-feminism, and territorial resistance, involving artists such as Carolina Caycedo, Mariana Castillo Deball, and Tabita Rezaire. The initiative reactivates Tawna's floating Amazonian film festival, which originally brought cinema to remote communities in Ecuador via a solar-powered boat.

‘We Are Here’: Queer Presence and Memory in African Art

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has opened 'Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,' an exhibition curated by Kevin D. Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses. Developed through years of direct dialogue with LGBTQ+ artists across Africa and its diaspora, the show foregrounds self-representation and community, ensuring artists defined the terms of their inclusion. It features contemporary works alongside historical precedents, creating a continuum of queer presence in African art history.

Special Exhibition "The Tree of the Collection, the 36th Spring: Focusing on New Acquisitions" @ Ashiya City Museum of Art & History

企画展「コレクションの樹、36年目の春 ―新収蔵品を中心に」@ 芦屋市立美術博物館

The Ashiya City Museum of Art & History is launching a special exhibition titled "The Tree of the Collection, the 36th Spring: Focusing on New Acquisitions" to celebrate its 36th anniversary. The exhibition showcases approximately 100 works, including paintings, prints, sculptures, and video art, highlighting pieces acquired since the beginning of the Reiwa era (2019) alongside the museum's founding collection. Featured artists include modern Western-style painter Narashige Koide, members of the Gutai Art Association such as Atsuko Tanaka and Jiro Yoshihara, and contemporary figures like Keiji Uematsu and Yukinori Yamamura.

Art Exhibits: What's on display in the Fort Wayne area

The article provides a roundup of current art exhibitions on display in the Fort Wayne area, as published by The Journal Gazette. It lists various shows at local venues, highlighting the artists and types of work featured, such as paintings, sculptures, and mixed media installations.

New exhibits start at Public Works Art Center

The Public Works Art Center in Summerville, South Carolina, opens five new exhibitions on May 21 with a reception from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The shows include "GODBODY: THE FEMME," a group exhibition celebrating Black women artists; Amy Stewart's "Intersections" exploring interconnectedness; Nick Cerrato's "Our Society Needs To…" featuring abstract works created with his feet; Sarah Mitchell's "Wildlife in Wool" with needle-felted animals; and the Summerville Artist Guild's annual "All Members Show." During the reception, guild members will create collaborative paintings for sale to benefit the Summerville Rocks Scholarship Fund.

Opening Reception | 21st Annual SDSU Art Council Scholarship Exhibition | Athenaeum Art Center

The Athenaeum Art Center in San Diego is hosting the 21st Annual SDSU Art Council Scholarship Exhibition from May 16 to July 3, 2026, with an opening reception on May 16. The exhibition features new work by five graduate and undergraduate students from San Diego State University's School of Art and Design: Andrea Mendoza, Tina Mardan, Todd Bradley, Ana Saad, and Isa Ybarra. Their works explore themes of the body as a site of history, resistance, and reinvention, addressing chronic pain, immigrant memory, queerness, and colonial boundaries through diverse media including painting, metalsmithing, photography, installation, clay, fiber, and printmaking.

The Forward Frame: East End Arts Holds Last Hurrah Before Gallery Relocation

East End Arts hosted a final exhibition titled "The Forward Frame" at its historic East Main Street gallery in Riverhead before the building undergoes a massive structural renovation. As part of the Riverhead Town Square redevelopment project, the 1840s-era building will be raised seven feet to escape the Peconic River floodplain and reconfigured alongside a new five-story Hilton hotel. During the farewell event, community members were invited to create ephemeral art directly on the gallery walls, marking a transition period where the organization will operate out of temporary spaces at 11 and 48 West Main Street.

Korea's longest-running art fair to open with largest exhibition to date in April

The Galleries Association of Korea has announced that the 2025 Galleries Art Fair will be its largest edition since its inception in 1979. Opening on April 8 at the Coex convention center in Seoul, the fair will feature 169 member galleries, including major names like Kukje Gallery and Gana Art. The event will include a "Zoom In" section highlighting 10 emerging artists and a special archival exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Galleries Association of Korea.

First solo U.S. exhibition for Columbia-based artist to open at Gallery Blue Door

Temi Wynston Edun, a Columbia-based artist originally from Ibadan, Nigeria, will open his first solo U.S. exhibition, “Within Reach of Silence,” at Gallery Blue Door in Baltimore on January 17, 2026. The show features 18 oil-stick-on-canvas works that explore themes of stillness, restraint, and layered meaning through figurative painting, with the exhibition running through April 18, 2026.

Painting through trauma

Israeli artist Ilan Adar, whose Jaffa studio was a cultural hub before October 7, found himself unable to paint after the attacks as tourism and daily visitors vanished. Encouraged by collector Josh Liberman, Adar created 'Echoes of the Tribe,' an exhibition now showing in Melbourne, Australia. The works, built from red pigment and layered with emotion, explore themes of shared human connection, memory, and resilience. The exhibition was organized with the help of Alexandra Pyke to support Israeli artists facing discrimination and economic hardship post-October 7.

For Ceija Stojka, Memory Is Survival

The article reviews the exhibition "Ceija Stojka: Making Visible" at the Drawing Center in New York, showcasing over 50 paintings and drawings by the late Romani-Austrian artist. Stojka, a child survivor of the Holocaust, documented both the atrocities she endured and the tender, everyday beauty of Romani life, using acrylic, sand, and paper to convey memories of her family's traveling wagon and natural landscapes. The show highlights her self-taught practice and outsider perspective, featuring works from the 1990s alongside her memoirs, which were posthumously translated in 2022.