How This Palestinian-Canadian Artist is Bringing Her Voice to the Met Museum

Dubai-based Palestinian-Canadian artist Samar Hejazi has been commissioned to create mirrored sculptural mannequin heads for the Costume Institute's Spring 2026 exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, opening alongside the Met Gala. Hejazi's reflective works, designed for the exhibition "Costume Art," aim to collapse the distance between viewer and object, creating moments of surprise and questioning about identity, perception, and belonging.

Through the Artist’s Eye: Art exhibition at Bikaner House | Latest News Delhi

Artist Stuart Robertson presents "Through the Artist's Eye" at Bikaner House's Centre for Contemporary Arts in New Delhi, an exhibition born from a 15-month residency at Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital. The show features cyanotypes, digital photos, bronze and iron sculptures, and multimedia collages that recreate how patients with cataracts, glaucoma, and other visual impairments perceive the world. Robertson worked with children experiencing sight for the first time, and all proceeds from sales benefit the hospital.

Review | An abruptly postponed Smithsonian show of African LGBTQ+ art is now open

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," its first major exhibition dedicated to African LGBTQ+ artists. The show, which was abruptly postponed earlier, features works that celebrate queer life through themes of joy, family, and belonging, while also addressing the darkness and loss faced by LGBTQ+ communities globally.

Two artists, two different generations, two views of everyday Anchorage

The Anchorage Museum is hosting "Everyday Anchorage: Duke Russell & Ward Wells," an exhibition pairing two artists from different generations who capture ordinary life in Anchorage, Alaska. Ward Wells, a commercial photographer, documented the city after World War II, while Duke Russell uses paint to record post-pipeline scenes. The show runs through August 2027.

Exhibition | Carlo D'Anselmi, 'Secrets and Mountains' at Fabienne Levy, Lausanne, Switzerland

Carlo D'Anselmi's solo exhibition 'Secrets and Mountains' opens at Fabienne Levy in Lausanne, Switzerland. The show presents a new body of work created during the artist's first stay in Switzerland, overlooking the French Alps, where he observed the transition from winter into spring. His dreamlike paintings blend figures, animals, and landscapes, exploring memory, light, nature, and the shifting boundary between reality and fiction. D'Anselmi holds an MFA from the New York Studio School and is represented by Thierry Goldberg Gallery in New York.

Jury for Venice Biennale's art prize resigns after refusing to recognise Israeli, Russian artists

The international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale art exhibition resigned just over a week before the May 9 prize ceremony, after announcing they would not consider artists from countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court charges—an apparent reference to Russia and Israel. The jury included president Solange Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi. In response, the Biennale established two Visitors’ Lions to be awarded by ticket-holder vote, postponed the awards to November 22, and reaffirmed that all national participations remain eligible, effectively reinstating Russian and Israeli artists.

A semester of SLAM

The St. Louis Art Museum (SLAM) hosted two special exhibitions during the past semester: the annual "Art in Bloom" floral exhibition from February 27 to March 1, 2026, and the solo show "Currents 125: Blas Isasi" opening February 6, 2026. "Art in Bloom" pairs 30 permanent collection pieces with ephemeral floral arrangements created by local designers, featuring a centerpiece by New York-based floral designer Rachel Cho. The exhibition has grown from an invitational event with 7,000 attendees to an open call drawing over 30,000 visitors. Isasi's exhibition, titled "The weight of a gaze (is to listen to the sound of a kilogram)," is part of SLAM's "Currents" series and the WashU Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Teaching Fellowship, incorporating a Chincha Inka balance from the museum's collection alongside sandstone sculptures and aluminum foil pieces.

Miller Art Museum Announces Student Award-Winners

The Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, announced the award winners of the 52nd-annual Salon of Door County High School Art at a free public reception on April 6. The exhibition features original artwork by 105 students from five local high schools—Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island. Awards of Excellence were given to Abigail DeMeuse, Lilian Saltou, Audrie Schley, Rowan Ploor, and Thomas Pratt, while honorable mentions went to Molly Virlee, Lola Georgenson, Angelina LeCloux Herrera, Ryan Felhofer, and Teagan McGrane. Gianna Roman of Sevastopol won the fourth-annual Jim Rericha Legacy Award, named after a longtime art teacher, which included a $100 cash prize. The museum also announced a Potter’s Panel on May 9 featuring master potters discussing the legacy of Abraham Cohn, and the return of its Art and Treasures fundraiser starting May 30.

When Art Meets Nature: Children’s Art Exhibition At National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore presents 'When Art Meets Nature', a children's art exhibition running from 30 April to 1 November 2026. The show features two installations: 'Peace Forest' by Singaporean artist Soh Ee Shaun, located in the Keppel Centre for Art Education, and 'Where the River Runs' by Yenting Hsu, displayed in the City Hall Alcove. The exhibition is co-curated by the Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts and National Gallery Singapore, offering interactive experiences such as a scavenger hunt and a woodblock art station, alongside a video and audio installation exploring the Dahan River in Taiwan.

Ljubljana Art Week, what to see and where to go during the city’s week of art

The article is a preview guide for Ljubljana Art Week, a city-wide art event in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It provides recommendations on what to see and where to go during the week, highlighting key exhibitions, galleries, and cultural venues participating in the event.

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Ultimate 2026 Guide for Travelers

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is drawing record crowds in spring 2026 with its latest exhibitions, including newly restored ancient artifacts. The article, written by travel editor Elena Müller, positions The Met as a top cultural destination for American travelers, highlighting its location on Manhattan's Upper East Side, its Beaux-Arts architecture, and its proximity to Central Park. It also covers the museum's founding in 1870, its expansion into a neoclassical landmark on Museum Mile, and its role as a cornerstone of New York's cultural landscape.

Iberdrola Celebrates 125th Anniversary With Major Art Exhibition At The Reopened Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

Iberdrola has opened the exhibition "Parallels and Meridians" at the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum to celebrate its 125th anniversary. The show features over one hundred works from the company's corporate art collection and coincides with the museum's reopening after a major expansion and refurbishment. The opening ceremony was led by Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galán and Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, with attendance from regional officials including Ibone Bengoetxea, Amaia Arregi, Elixabete Etxanobe, Ana Otadui, and museum director Miguel Zugaza. The exhibition runs until 30 August.

You Need To See This Queensland Artist’s New Solo Exhibition

Mitchell Fine Art in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley is hosting a free solo exhibition titled 'Unbound' by Sunshine Coast-based artist Odessa Mahony-de Vries, running from May 5 to May 16, 2026. The show features large-scale abstract expressionist oil paintings, with a launch event on May 8 offering the public a chance to meet the artist. Mahony-de Vries, a finalist in the 2025 Redland Art and 2024 Stanthorpe Art Prize, creates works that balance control and unpredictability, leaving earlier brushstrokes visible to embed the history of each piece.

“Huang, Jackson, & Terry,” May 8 through June 19

A trio of Midwest photographers—Qingjun Huang, Natalie Jackson, and Matthew Terry—will showcase their latest works at the Quad City Arts Center in Rock Island, Illinois, from May 8 through June 19. The exhibition, titled "Huang, Jackson, & Terry," features Huang, a Peoria-based freelancer born in China with international exhibition credits including Christie’s London and the Benaki Museum; Jackson, a portrait and fine arts photographer from Peoria who serves on the board of the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria; and Terry, a Davenport-based contemporary photographer and Academy of Art University graduate whose work has been shown in galleries across the U.S. and Europe.

Jule Korneffel Captures the Weight of the Pre-Dawn Sky at Spencer Brownstone Gallery, NYC

Jule Korneffel's third solo exhibition at Spencer Brownstone Gallery in New York, titled 'In Search of Lost Light,' presents a series of paintings that capture the quiet, liminal moments just before dawn. Using artist-mixed natural pigments, Korneffel shifts from her previous twilight-focused work to explore the anticipation of daylight, with pieces like the titular painting (2025) standing out for its playful, musical composition. The show also includes a mural in the gallery's back patio that blends colors into a grey neutral tone reminiscent of early-morning skies.

THE ART OF SCALE: LARGE WORKS | An Online Exclusive Exhibition

JoAnne Artman Gallery presents 'The Art of Scale: Large Works,' an online exclusive exhibition running from April 27 to June 1, 2026. The show features 11 large-scale artworks by artists including America Martin, Mandy Racine, Martin Adalian, Mary Finlayson, Greg Miller, Anja Van Herle, CRASH (John "Crash" Matos), and Chris Watts, with prices ranging from $9,500 to $72,000.

Byblos dans le fracas du monde

The article reviews an immersive exhibition at the Institut du monde arabe in Paris titled "Byblos, cité millénaire du Liban," which presents over 470 archaeological artifacts from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos in present-day Lebanon. The show features national treasures rarely or never before exhibited outside Lebanon, including stone anchors, statuettes, engraved stelae, gold and silver vessels, and a Roman mosaic depicting the abduction of Europa. The scenography plunges visitors into underwater and subterranean environments, evoking the city's 9,000-year history as a Mediterranean trade and diplomatic hub, its ties with Egyptian pharaohs through cedar wood, and its role in spreading the Phoenician alphabet.

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.

In Rome, the extension of the Galleria Borghese provokes a revolt

À Rome, l’extension de la Galerie Borghèse provoque une fronde

The Galleria Borghese in Rome has sparked controversy by initiating a feasibility study for a new building attached to its 17th-century villa. Museum director Francesca Cappelletti, in office since 2020, cites the need to increase visitor capacity, improve security, and create spaces for mediation, conferences, and temporary exhibitions. The museum, which saw nearly 630,000 visitors in 2025, operates with strict two-hour time slots capped at 180 people, often sold out in high season. Engineering firm Proger has offered to fund the study for €875,750 in exchange for institutional visibility, and Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri has declared the project of public interest.

Kanal-Centre Pompidou sans tête

Yves Goldstein, the general director of the Brussels branch of the Centre Pompidou, has announced his departure just before the scheduled opening of Kanal-Centre Pompidou on November 28. Goldstein stated that his mission is nearly complete and that the museum's daily management phase requires a different leader. A call for applications will be launched by the board of directors, with the selection made by the board of the Fondation Kanal based on profiles proposed by a jury led by president Michèle Sioen. The new director will face immediate challenges, including negotiating a new management contract with the Brussels Region for 2029-2033 and securing an increased annual subsidy, currently set at €10 million, which is deemed insufficient.

Maximilien Durand reconduit au Louvre

Maximilien Durand, aged 50, has been reappointed for a three-year term as head of the Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Arts at the Louvre Museum in Paris. He has been preparing the department's opening since 2022. Durand previously served as director of the Musée des Tissus in Lyon and deputy director of collections at Paris Musées. His role includes overseeing collections, acquisitions, loans, and exhibitions, as well as a national expertise mission. Separately, Sophie Jugie moved to the Musées de France service after her non-renewal as head of the Sculptures department.

Un agent du Louvre devant le juge

A Louvre agent appeared before a judge. The article, published in Le Journal des Arts on May 2, 2026, covers multiple art world stories including the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, a resized project for Bourges 2028 by Yann Galut, a new contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier's emergency sales.

Sécurité dans les musées

This issue of Le Journal des Arts (No. 676, May 2, 2026) covers a range of visual art news: the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, an interview with Bourges mayor Yann Galut about scaling back the Bourges 2028 project, the opening of a contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and a profile of auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier.

L’architecte du Musée Gandur

The article covers several art news items from the May 2, 2026 issue of Le Journal des Arts, including the Whitney Biennial's perceived neutrality, the increasing complexity of art taxation in 2025, an interview with Bourges mayor Yann Galut about the resized Bourges 2028 project, the unveiling of a contemporary gallery at Angers Cathedral, the abandonment of the Frigos artist site in Paris, and a profile of auctioneer Hubert L'Huillier.

Une vétérane pour diriger un des musées du Smithsonian

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, 75, will become the director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington, D.C., on September 8, ending a 17-month vacancy. Hartigan, currently the director of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, began her career at SAAM as chief curator, where she developed collections of modern, contemporary, African American, and self-taught art.

Hervé Barbaret s’éloigne de France-Muséums

Hervé Barbaret, aged 60, will step down as director general of France-Muséums on April 30, returning to the Cour des comptes (Court of Auditors). He had led the organization since 2019. Barbaret, a former student of the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) and a senior counselor, previously served as general administrator of the Louvre, overseeing the Louvre-Lens project, the Department of Islamic Arts, and Louvre Abu Dhabi. He also directed the Mobilier national and was secretary general of the Ministry of Culture. France-Muséums coordinates French museum expertise internationally, from Louvre Abu Dhabi to a project in New Delhi. His successor has not yet been announced.

Olivia Bourrat revient au Quai Branly

Olivia Bourrat, a 45-year-old chief heritage curator trained at the École du Louvre, the INP, and the Sorbonne, has been appointed director of the heritage and collections department at the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris. She succeeds Anne-Solène Rolland, and returns to the museum after previous stints there, as well as at France-Muséums, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the French Ministry of Culture, and Paris Musées.

Interview with Pietro Vallone, new president of the Association of Modern and Contemporary Art Galleries in Italy

Intervista a Pietro Vallone nuovo presidente dell’Associazione delle gallerie d’arte moderna e contemporanea in Italia

Pietro Vallone, partner and financial director of Massimo De Carlo, has been elected the new president of ANGAMC (Associazione Nazionale Gallerie d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea) for the 2026-2030 term. The election took place during the association's ordinary assembly at Triennale di Milano on May 25, 2026, where a new board of directors, including vice presidents Giovanni Bonelli and Claudia Ciaccio, was also appointed. In an interview following his election, Vallone addressed the challenges facing Italian galleries, including a structural slowdown in the global art market due to geopolitical instability, economic shifts, and changing patterns of cultural consumption and collecting.

RTRU* (*Raudive Technoculture Research Unit) at KAJE

The exhibition "RTRU* (*Raudive Technoculture Research Unit)" is on view at KAJE in Brooklyn from April 4 to May 17, 2026. Curated by the Riga Technoculture Research Unit (Zane Onckule and Elizaveta Shneyderman), the show features works by Ka Baird, Scott Benzel, Valdis Celms, Cal Fish, Jason Isolini, Voldemārs Matvejs, Karlīna Mežecka, Adriana Ramić, Konstantīns Raudive, and Ieva Rubeze. The press release and checklist are available, and images of the exhibition are provided courtesy of the artists and the gallery.

Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles

Eight London Underground stations in the City of Westminster are receiving restroom upgrades designed by Hugh Broughton Architects, featuring illustrated tiles by artist James Lambert. The refurbishments, which began in February 2025, cover locations including Victoria Embankment, Parliament Street, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Carnaby Street, Westminster Pier, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square. The tiles incorporate historical motifs and iconography unique to each site, such as the King's Guards and George John Vulliamy's sphinxes guarding Cleopatra's Needle.