Surprised by Jack: A Review of “Jack Whitten: The Messenger” at MoMA in New York

The Museum of Modern Art in New York is hosting "Jack Whitten: The Messenger," the largest survey ever mounted of the late abstract artist Jack Whitten, who died in 2018. The exhibition features 175 works spanning his sixty-year career, from early quasi-representational pieces to his innovative "slab" paintings made with a custom squeegee device and his later "tesserae" works that mimic glass tiles using acrylic paint. The show includes archival audio of Whitten discussing his creative process, which blended philosophy, craft, and science, and is curated by MoMA's Michelle Kuo, who knew Whitten personally.

Untitled: Artist Takeover April 2025

The Denver Art Museum hosted 'Untitled: Artist Takeover' in April 2025, an evening event featuring performances, artmaking, and installations by Indigenous artists. Highlights included a fashion show by SunRose IronShell, drag tours of the Kent Monkman exhibition, poetry readings, dance performances, and a finale titled 'Planting Seeds' with Sarah Ortegon Highwalking. Drop-in experiences offered ledger art, yarn art, temporary tattoos, and frybread-making, alongside one-night-only installations by Sarah Ortegon Highwalking.

HommeGirls’s First Store Brings a Streetwear-Chic Slant to Chinatown

HommeGirls has opened its first brick-and-mortar store in New York's Chinatown, a 250-square-foot space designed by Rafael de Cárdenas. The shop features an operational dry cleaner's rack rotating above a Portaluppi-style marble floor, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and a vintage Italian valet stand, reflecting the label's blend of discipline and disorder. The article also covers Miya Ando's solo show at Saint Laurent Rive Droite Los Angeles, Flamingo Estate's new candle inspired by a New York holiday, and the Met's upcoming "Sargent and Paris" exhibition.

Gotta Have Art: Scottsdale galleries have evolved over decades

The article explores the evolution of art galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona, over the past several decades. It traces how the local gallery scene has transformed from a small, desert-focused art community into a diverse and sophisticated hub for contemporary, Native American, and Western art, attracting both local collectors and international visitors.

Art initiative brings 10 new contemporary works by local artists to Johns Hopkins

Johns Hopkins University has acquired 10 new contemporary artworks by local Baltimore artists as part of an initiative launched in 2023 to collect and display art by regional talents. The second round of acquisitions includes works by Brandon Donahue-Shipp, Bria Sterling-Wilson, and Jerrell Gibbs, among others. The pieces will be displayed at the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery in Washington, D.C., as part of the exhibition "Strong, Bright, Useful, and True: Recent Acquisitions and Contemporary Art from Baltimore" before being installed across Johns Hopkins campuses.

60% of Sudan’s National Museum Looted, Report Says

60% of Sudan’s National Museum Looted, Report Says

Over 60% of the holdings of the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum have been looted during the country's ongoing civil war. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which controlled the capital for two years, deliberately targeted high-value portable objects like gold and jewelry, stripping storage areas while leaving less portable artifacts behind. Although the museum building remains standing, tens of thousands of antiquities from its collection of 150,000 objects were plundered, with some appearing for sale online.

art positions galleries art basel miami beach

CULTURED magazine profiles emerging galleries participating in the Positions sector of Art Basel Miami Beach 2025, highlighting their experiences and aspirations. The article features interviews with Allann Seabra and Ian Duarte of Verve gallery in São Paulo, who discuss their gallery's growth, representation of Afro-Brazilian artists at the 36th Bienal de São Paulo, and their mission to broaden global understanding of Brazilian contemporary art. Also featured is Mauricio Aguirre of N.A.S.A.L., a gallery based in Mexico City and Guayaquil, Ecuador, who describes his year as challenging, hectic, and promising.

Maine art galleries showcase dozens of artists in summer shows

A roundup of summer art exhibitions across Maine highlights dozens of artists showing at galleries and pop-up spaces from Rockport to Portland. Notable shows include Alexandre Gallery's pop-up featuring charcoal works by the late Cooper Union-trained artist Emily Nelligan, who spent decades depicting Cranberry Island; Karma's annual summer pop-up at artist Ann Craven's deconsecrated church in Thomaston; and solo exhibitions at Caldbeck Gallery, Courthouse Gallery, and Cove Street Arts. Other venues such as Carver Hill Gallery, Corey Daniels Gallery, Dowling Walsh, and Moss Galleries present group and solo shows spanning landscape painting, mythical imagery, and works addressing social resistance.

7 artists to have on your radar at Gallery Weekend Berlin 2026

Gallery Weekend Berlin returns for its 22nd edition from May 1 to 3, 2026, featuring 50 galleries across 66 locations throughout the city. The event showcases both established and emerging artists from over 30 countries, with highlights including Martine Syms's pop-up boutique at Sprüth Magers, Göksu Kunak's performance-based exhibition at Ebensperger, and a new sector called Perspectives featuring James Turrell. Other notable presentations include Wynnie Mynerva's exploration of love and colonialism at Société, Monty Richthofen's city-wide performance at Dittrich & Schlechtriem, and Hanna Stiegeler's intimate screenprinted canvases at Sweetwater.

Where to see artworks in Marin

A comprehensive listing of art exhibitions and gallery shows across Marin County, California, for spring 2025. The article highlights dozens of venues including Robert Green Fine Arts in Mill Valley, which will display John Grillo's works from the 1940s beginning in May, alongside shows at Anthony Meier, Art Works Downtown, Bolinas Museum, and many local libraries and cultural centers. Exhibits range from abstract works and pop art to photography, ceramics, and sculptures by artists such as Saif Azzuz, Drew Frazier, Lenore Golub, and Sonny Smith.

At the Galleries for April 9, 2026

The Hamptons art scene is entering the spring season with a diverse array of gallery openings across Montauk, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Bridgehampton. Key highlights include Timothy Tibus’s abstract retrospective at The Lucore Art, a Matisse-centered group show at The Drawing Room featuring rare etchings, and Kristy Gordon’s myth-inspired "Primavera" at Grenning Gallery. Other notable exhibitions include a showcase of artists from the Cold Castle collective at Keyes Art and a curated group show titled "Connections" at Dan Welden Studio/Gallery.

LATIN AMERICAN ARTISTS AT THE BIENNALE DI VENEZIA 2026

The 61st Venice Biennale, titled 'In Minor Keys' and curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, will run from May to November 2026. The exhibition will feature 15 artists from Latin America, including Alvaro Barrington, Carolina Caycedo, Alfredo Jaar, and Guadalupe Maravilla, among others, who will present works across the Giardini, Arsenale, and other Venetian venues.

The Most Unique and Research-Focused Exhibitions to See in Brussels in Spring 2026

Le mostre più particolari e ricercate da vedere a Bruxelles nella primavera 2026

Brussels is hosting a series of niche and research-focused contemporary art exhibitions in spring 2026, coinciding with the 42nd edition of Art Brussels. Highlights include Jean-Michel Othoniel's "Diary of Happiness" at the Boghossian Foundation, Caroline Achaintre's "Extrazimmer" at La Verrière, a six-decade survey of the Art & Language collective at Fondation CAB, and a dialogue between Nassos Daphnis and Rita McBride titled "Abstract Constructions."

hugo galerie reco sturgis lawsuits debts

A number of artists have accused art dealer Reco Sturgis, founder of the now-closed Hugo Galerie in New York, of withholding artworks, failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in owed funds, and making violent threats. Sturgis has been named in legal proceedings by artists seeking unpaid sales proceeds, and has been sued by his landlord and multiple companies for outstanding debts exceeding $1 million. Artists including British sculptor Beth Carter, Joseph Paxton, and French artist Patrick Pietropoli report that Sturgis owes them significant sums, sold works without payment, and refused to return pieces.

Dozens of Venice Biennale Artists Withdraw From Awards En Masse

Almost half of the artists in the 61st Venice Biennale's international exhibition, along with 16 national pavilion teams, have withdrawn from awards consideration in solidarity with the jury's resignation. The jury resigned on April 30 after stating it would not consider countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC, effectively disqualifying Israel and Russia. The Biennale Foundation then replaced the traditional Golden Lions with new "Visitor Lions" decided by public vote, reinstating all pavilions including Israel and Russia. The withdrawal follows protests at the Russian and Israeli pavilions and a historic labor strike that shuttered multiple pavilions.

Barbara Chase-Riboud Speaks Out on Declining US Biennale Pavilion

Sculptor and author Barbara Chase-Riboud has publicly declined an invitation to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, stating it was "not the moment" for her to do so. She was among the artists initially considered by the newly formed American Arts Conservancy (AAC), which is organizing the US pavilion after both she and photographer William Eggleston turned down the opportunity.

Total Warfare. A Conversation with Luigi Alberto Cippini  by ANY

Architect Luigi Alberto Cippini, founder of Armature Globale, engages in a provocative dialogue with Michael Abel and Nile Greenberg regarding the stagnation of contemporary architecture. Cippini calls for a radical departure from traditional disciplinary boundaries, advocating for a "punk" approach that embraces low-resolution aesthetics, hyper-specialized research, and a rejection of the pedantic communication standards that currently dominate the field.

Chicago: Model City by Mark Acciari

Native Chicagoan architect and artist Mark Acciari reflects on the architectural identity of Chicago from the distance of Mexico City. Using the iconic imagery of a Chicago-style hot dog as a metaphor for the city's construction, he explores how the city's legacy is often reduced to the 'skeleton frame' of early modernism by critics, while ignoring its more playful, symbolic, and postmodernist undercurrents.

DISPOSITIONS IN THE AMERICAS CONTEMPORARY ART AND THE COLONIAL LEGACY

A major exhibition titled 'Dispossessions in the Americas: The Extraction of Bodies, Land, and Heritage from La Conquista to the Present' opens at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago. It features over 40 works by 36 contemporary artists from Latin America, curated by Jonathan D. Katz and Eduardo Carrera, examining the ongoing legacies of colonialism through themes of territory, body, and cultural heritage.

Leaner, nimbler and more discreet: why some art advisory firms are growing in a downturn

A growing number of "super advisory" firms are being founded by former top-level auction house executives, offering leaner, more discreet art advisory services without the high overheads of major auction houses and galleries. Notable examples include Art Intelligence Global (AIG), launched by Amy Cappellazzo and Yuki Terase after leaving Sotheby's, and Patti Wong & Associates, founded by former Sotheby's Asia chair Patti Wong. These firms leverage decades of experience and personal client relationships to compete in a cautious market where major auction houses have cut staff and digitized operations.

The Walters Art Museum Shines a Light On the Toxic History of Medieval Manuscripts

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore has opened "If Books Could Kill," an exhibition exploring the toxic history of medieval manuscripts. The show reveals how pigments like white lead, red mercury, and arsenic were commonly used by scribes, artists, and bookbinders, exposing them to serious health risks. Co-curated by Dr. Lynley Anne Herbert and Dr. Annette S. Ortiz Miranda, the exhibition features 24 rarely displayed manuscripts from the museum's collection, including a Thai treatise on elephants with arsenic-based yellows and a 15th-century Armenian Gospel with vermillion pigments. It also includes a conservator-led video demonstrating how portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) is used to identify toxic materials.

Artist Kasper Eistrup Maps the Human Condition on Canvas

Danish artist Kasper Eistrup (b. 1973) presents his first solo exhibition in Germany, titled "Bridges Over Magma," at Galerie Schimming in Hamburg. The show features a new body of work created during a recent artist-in-residence program in Hamburg, where Eistrup drew inspiration from the city's famous bridges and his ongoing exploration of painting and drawing. The compositions blend meticulously rendered figures with architecture, flora, fauna, handwritten text, and abstract textures, exploring themes of human connection and resilience.

70 of Stephen Curry’s Game-Worn NBA Sneakers to Be Sold at Sotheby’s, Including a Pair of Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita’

Sotheby’s has announced an online auction of over 70 pairs of sneakers worn by NBA star Stephen Curry during his 2025-26 "sneaker free agency" season. The collection features a diverse range of brands, including Nike, Jordan, Adidas, and Li-Ning, marking the first time Curry was not tied to a single footwear contract. High-profile lots include the Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita’ and the Nike Air Jordan 12 ‘Flu Game,’ with individual estimates reaching up to $50,000.

work of the week madge gill christies

British self-taught artist Madge Gill has achieved a new auction record at Christie’s New York, where a rare 1930s embroidered textile work sold for $120,650. The sale price significantly exceeded the initial estimate of $60,000 to $80,000, marking the first time one of Gill’s rare textile pieces has ever appeared at auction. Previously, the artist was primarily known for her visionary ink drawings on calico and postcards, often created under the guidance of a spiritual entity she called “Myrninerest.”

paris art dealer found guilty harassing brigitte macron

A Paris art dealer, Bertrand Scholler, cofounder of gallery 55 Bellechasse, was among 10 people found guilty of online harassment for falsely claiming that French First Lady Brigitte Macron was born male. The court issued suspended sentences, fines, and a six-month ban from X, with the defendants also ordered to pay compensation. Scholler, who has over 108,000 followers on X, announced he would close his account for six months in compliance with the court order.

Contemporary art returns to center stage in Ascoli Piceno for the fifth edition of the Premio Sparti

L’arte contemporanea torna protagonista ad Ascoli Piceno per la quinta edizione del Premio Sparti

The fifth edition of the Premio Sparti, titled "Dove finisce la città" (Where the City Ends), will open on May 23 at the Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, running through June 28. Curated by Alex Urso, the exhibition features over twenty international artists exploring artistic practice outside major urban centers, with works also installed at the Frida Museum. The show is divided into three sections—"Essere oltre," "Essere qui," and "Essere altro"—highlighting artists who have chosen peripheral, rural, or marginalized locations as bases for their research, including Francesco Arena, Davide Maria Coltro, Andrea Mastrovito, and emerging talents under 35.

Notte Europea dei Musei 2026: tornano le aperture serali con biglietto a 1 euro. Il programma

The European Night of Museums returns on Saturday, May 23, 2026, with participating museums across Europe opening their doors for special evening hours. In Italy, the Ministry of Culture organizes extraordinary openings from 8 PM to midnight at the symbolic price of 1 euro, alongside events in theater, music, dance, literature, and cinema. Highlights include Rome's Notte dei Musei (16th edition) with civic museums open until 2 AM, Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este in Tivoli offering evening access and contemporary performances, and the Royal Savoy Residences in Piedmont featuring guided tours, exhibitions, and family activities.

Mimmo Jodice in mostra al nuovo Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro a Napoli. Rare foto ‘barocche’ a colori

Mimmo Jodice, the renowned Italian photographer who died in October 2025 at age 91, is being honored with a new exhibition at the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro in Naples. The show, curated by former Capodimonte director Sylvain Bellenger, presents Jodice's rare color photographs from the 1980s—his only color project—which focus on 17th-century Neapolitan Baroque paintings by artists such as Caravaggio, Jusepe de Ribera, and Artemisia Gentileschi. The exhibition runs until January 10, 2027, and also marks the inauguration of newly renovated welcome spaces at the museum, designed by Vanni del Gaudio.

Al Padiglione del Giappone della Biennale di Venezia vi affidano una bambola da accudire

The Japan Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale 2026 features an immersive, interactive exhibition titled "Grass Babies, Moon Babies" by Japanese-American artist Ei Arakawa-Nash. Visitors are invited to care for one of 200 dolls, each with a QR code that provides a "diaper poem" linked to the doll's symbolic birth date—reflecting the artist's personal experience of becoming a father in 2024 and broader social dynamics in Japan. The pavilion, curated by Lisa Horikawa and Mizuki Takahashi, evolves over the seven months of the Biennale as a platform for shared care and participation.

Nel Padiglione Germania alla Biennale di Venezia un gruppo di donne riflette sulle rovine del passato per capire il mondo

The German Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale will present the work of two women artists, Henrike Naumann and Sung Tieu, following the death of Naumann at age 41 in February 2026. Curated by Kathleen Reinhardt, director of the Georg Kolbe Museum in Berlin, the pavilion's project, titled "Ruin," explores the dual meanings of the word in English and German—architectural decay versus economic, social, or moral collapse. The exhibition draws on research into East Germany (DDR) and the post-reunification period, using the pavilion's fascist architecture as a lens to examine historical ruptures and their impact on the present. For the first time in its history, the German Pavilion is represented solely by women, mirroring the Italian Pavilion.