The 23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest has announced its 60 finalists, selected from over 17,000 submissions. The images span six categories: American Experience, Artistic, Drone/Aerial, People, Travel, and Wildlife. The magazine is now inviting the public to vote for a Readers' Choice award winner, with polls open through March 30.
Gallery Time & Space has unveiled 'Continuum: Artists Across Time and Space' at Venkatappa Art Gallery in Bengaluru, a large-scale exhibition featuring over 50 artists in a group show alongside solo presentations by SG Vasudev and Asit Poddar. The group exhibition explores metaphysical themes of consciousness, light, and love, bridging past and present through diverse mediums including cyanotypes, stoneware ceramics, and oil on canvas. Curator Renu George selected artists from the gallery's roster, highlighting both established and emerging talents.
The article examines the ongoing challenge of preventing the illicit trade in cultural property looted from conflict zones. It discusses the Hague Convention of 1954 and its protocol, which require signatory countries to prevent theft and pillage during armed conflict and to seize and repatriate unlawful exports. However, the protocol only applies to situations of 'occupation,' leaving a gap for looting that occurs in the chaos of war beyond formal occupation. The article also notes UN Security Council Resolutions that restrict unlawfully removed cultural property from Iraq and Syria, but no similar consensus exists for countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Ukraine, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and Iran. EU Regulation 2019/880 is highlighted as a measure that prohibits introducing goods removed unlawfully from their place of origin into the EU, though its scope has expanded beyond its original anti-terrorist financing purpose.
South African artist Gabrielle Goliath inaugurated an off-site Venice exhibition with a public poetry reading after her official presentation at the South African Pavilion was canceled. The performance, part of her ongoing series *Elegy* (2015), features seven singers sustaining a single tone for an hour as a mourning ritual. The work addresses femicide, rape culture, and the killing of Palestinian civilians, and includes new video and sound installations lamenting specific victims: South African teenager Ipeleng Christine Moholane, Nama women killed during Germany’s colonization of Namibia, and Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada. The South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture rescinded Goliath’s invitation in January, deeming the work “related to an ongoing international conflict that is widely polarising.” Goliath unsuccessfully challenged the decision in South Africa’s high court, and the exhibition now runs throughout the Venice Biennale outside the official program before traveling to London in October.
A group exhibition titled 'Wild, Ordinary, Enchanting, Excruciating Beauty' is on view at Thapar Contemporary in New Delhi until June 21. Curated by Vaibhav Raj Shah in collaboration with Jasone Miranda-Bilbao, the show brings together eleven contemporary artists—including Amitabh Kumar, Bhrigudev Ranade, Chandrashekhar Koteshwar, Harmeet Singh Rattan, Harsha Durugadda, Jagadeesh Tammineni, Madhurjya Dey, Raj Jariwala, Vanshika Babbar, Vasudha Kapadia, and Yogesh Ramkrishna—whose works in sculpture, installation, drawing, and moving image explore the blurred boundaries between personal anxiety and collective crisis.
The organizers of the 47th La Cloche Art Show have named Robert Potvin as the Artist of Distinction for the 2026 exhibition. Potvin, a self-taught acrylic painter and elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists, is recognized for his depictions of Northern Ontario landscapes and vanishing ways of life. The announcement comes as the community prepares for the 2025 edition of the juried show, which remains a staple of the regional art scene in Whitefish Falls.
Christie's Asian Art Week live sales in New York totaled $46,685,403, achieving 259% hammer and premium above low estimate with a 91% sell-through rate. The three sales—Japanese and Korean Art ($2.46 million), South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art ($12.38 million, 100% sold), and Important Chinese Furniture and Works of Art ($31.84 million)—saw strong bidding across categories. A Yongzheng-period falangcai wine cup led the week at $1.59 million, while a Hokusai painting of a Standing Beauty fetched $444,500 and a Vasudeo S. Gaitonde Untitled (1984) realized $2.39 million. Christie's set four artist records in the South Asian sale, including for Sheikh Mohammed Sultan and Ivan Peries.
The Woodmere, a museum in Philadelphia, sued the Trump administration after an executive order revoked a $750,000 federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The museum had already received roughly $195,000 of the funds, but the order targeting "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy cut the remainder. On September 4, the IMLS reinstated the full grant, leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit, which had been scheduled for a first hearing on September 12. The grant, part of the Save America's Treasures program, was intended for conservation, catalog updates, and digitization projects.
Taiwanese-American visual artist James Jean visited Jakarta for the first time in July 2025, laying groundwork for a solo exhibition at BAIK Gallery in spring 2026. During his trip, he met with Indonesian fashion designer Biyan to discuss a potential collaboration, and also visited the atelier of Beyond. In an exclusive interview with Prestige Indonesia, Jean discussed his creative process, his approach to collaborations (including past work with Prada), and his interest in blurring boundaries between fine art, fashion, and pop culture.
The Venice Biennale, often described as the Olympics of the art world, is set to begin previews on Tuesday amid several controversies. Key flashpoints include the sudden death of a curator, Russia's surprise participation despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, and an unconventional entry from the United States. These developments have intensified scrutiny and debate around the prestigious international exhibition.
Milano si depavimenta: sta per arrivare un nuovo giardino per tenere insieme sostenibilità e cultura
Construction will begin in the coming weeks on Giardino Manifesto, an urban regeneration project at the historic Milanese cultural space Santeria Toscana 31. Presented on May 19, 2026, with Mayor Giuseppe Sala, Gruppo CAP President Yuri Santagostino, and architect Cristiana Cutrona of ReValue, the initiative transforms a fully paved external area into a green infrastructure applying sponge city (SUDS) principles. The design includes rain gardens, drainage surfaces, a rain-collecting amphitheater, and a sensory garden, aiming to reduce flood risk and lower perceived temperatures by up to 4-5°C through de-paving and resilient vegetation.
Trasformarsi (e trasformare) per sopravvivere. Intervista allo scultore e designer Tadeáš Podracký
Czech sculptor and designer Tadeáš Podracký (b. 1989) presents new works during Milan Design Week 2026, including three carved wooden lamps and sculptures exploring hybridity. The pieces are inspired by the rare Sorbus sudetica tree, a hybrid species that has survived for nearly 20,000 years through asexual reproduction. The exhibition, titled "Before the Shape Appears," is produced by 5 Vie and hosted at Cavallerizze in Via Olona. Podracký's practice bridges fine art and collectible design, using techniques such as carving, waxing, patination, and pigment infusion to create objects that appear to have grown organically.
McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) has announced the opening of its 2026 Spring Solo Exhibitions, featuring three distinct solo presentations by Sabine Carlson, Zsudayka Nzinga, and Darlene R. Taylor. The exhibitions include Nzinga’s exploration of American labor and diaspora through mixed media, Taylor’s textile-based portraits honoring Black motherhood, and Carlson’s paintings depicting environmental rescue efforts between humans and water birds. The shows will run from April 30 through June 13, 2026, at the McLean Community Center.
An exhibition of over 120 North Korean artworks has opened at the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Art in Moscow, featuring paintings that glorify North Korea's troop deployment to the Ukraine war. The show, which runs until October 10, includes works likely created by the sanctioned Mansudae Art Studio and was inaugurated by the culture ministers of North Korea and Russia, with Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu also in attendance.
The official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), originally scheduled for July 3, has been postponed again due to the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the delay on Saturday, with the tourism and antiquities ministry citing "current regional developments" and stating the full launch will now occur in the last quarter of this year. The museum is already partially open, including its conservation studios (operating since 2010), contemporary program (since 2023), and most Egyptian galleries with the grand staircase, but the Tutankhamen galleries are being held back for the formal opening.
Sardar Mahal, a historic palace near Charminar in Hyderabad, has undergone restoration and will soon open to the public with a café, art gallery, cultural centre, and heritage accommodation. The ₹30-crore project, overseen by the Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA), is nearing completion and expected to be operational within two months. Built in 1900 by Nizam VI Mir Mahboob Ali Khan for his consort Sardar Begum, the building was declared a heritage structure by INTACH and later taken over by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in 1965.
A new commercial art gallery, Nissarana Galleries Bangalow, has opened in the former newsagency building on the main street of Bangalow, a town in New South Wales, Australia. The gallery is the third location for the Nissarana Galleries network, joining existing spaces in Noosa and Richmond, Melbourne, and showcases contemporary and Indigenous art from established and emerging artists.
The Kalachaya Darpan Art Gallery in Pune is hosting a three-day exhibition titled "Strokes of Devotion," featuring handmade traditional Indian folk art created by 18 women from Studio Art for All. Founded by Shraddha Trivedi, the studio has trained over 10,000 students globally in indigenous art forms, ranging from Mata ni Pachedi to Varakari traditions. The showcase highlights freehand interpretations of spiritual themes, including the Dashavatara and Hanuman Chalisa, created by women balancing careers in medicine, law, and technology.
On May 13, 2026, D'ART Gallery in Baku opened the solo photography exhibition 'The Eternity of a Moment' by fine art photographer Anna Ibrahimbayova. The show is the first installment of the gallery's new project 'Homes Warmed by Love and Art,' which explores how creative partnerships shape shared lives and artistic growth. The opening featured remarks by gallery founder Dilara Muzaffarli, an interview with the artist conducted by art producer Sofiko Dvalishvili, and tributes to Ibrahimbayova's late husband, Azerbaijani playwright Maksud Ibrahimbayov, from People's Artist Omar Eldarov and MP Ulviyya Hamzayeva. The exhibition runs through May 15.
Artist and curator Mary Walker presents "10 + 4 + 1: A Collaborative Art Project" at the Cannon Street Arts Center during Piccolo Spoleto from May 22 to May 29. The exhibition pairs ten visual artists—including Linda Fantuzzo, Joe Walters, Lese Corrigan, Hirona Matsuda, Kristi Ryba, Jeff Kopish, Herb Parker, Yvette Dede, and David Higginbotham—into five duos, each combining a 2D and a 3D artist to work outside their usual practice. The project also features four dance companies (Annex Dance Company, Unbound Ballet Project, Collective SC, and Georgia Schrubbe) performing over the weekend, with a family-friendly kickoff and artist reception on May 22.
The art exhibition ‘Like a Rising River: Stories of Women and Change’ recently opened in Nepal, showcasing the results of a collaborative project between Srijanalaya, UN Women Nepal, and the Government of Finland. The initiative sent 15 Nepali artists to four provinces—Sudurpaschim, Bagmati, Sarlahi, and Madhesh—to document the lived experiences, social struggles, and resilience of local women through various artistic mediums, including textiles, mixed-media animation, and storytelling.
The University of North Texas (UNT) abruptly shuttered a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Victor Quiñonez just nine days after its opening at the College of Visual Art & Design Gallery. The show, titled "Ni de Acquí," featured sculptures from the artist’s "I.C.E. Scream" series, which utilizes Mexican popsicle motifs to critique the enforcement tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Following the closure, university staff covered the gallery windows with brown paper and terminated the loan agreement with Boston University without providing a detailed public explanation.
Street artist Victor Quiñonez (Marka27) spoke at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas, addressing the sudden closure of his exhibition at the University of North Texas (UNT). The university covered the gallery windows with paper and terminated its loan agreement with Boston University without explanation, removing art that confronted U.S. immigration policy and criticized ICE. Quiñonez credited UNT students for alerting him to the removal, stating he was "ghosted" by the institution and received only a vague justification after their intervention.
Faculty at the University of North Texas College of Visual Art & Design have issued an open letter to university leadership, protesting the sudden and unexplained closure of artist Victor "MARKA27" Quiñonez's solo exhibition, 'Ni de Aqui, Ni de Allá,' just nine days after it opened. The letter demands an explanation for the cancellation, which occurred before a scheduled public reception, and cites university policies protecting artistic expression and academic freedom.
The University of Wisconsin's Art Lofts Main Gallery opened the MFA qualifier exhibition "Ghost Writer: Someone Who Writes Something for Someone Else" by artist Daniella Thach on February 4, 2026. The exhibition explores Thach's Cambodian American identity and the merging of timelines across familial memory, aiming to shed light on the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian genocide.
The article reports on 'Edam', a collateral exhibition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale curated by Aishwarya Suresh and KM Madhusudhanan. Featuring 36 Malayali artists, the show consciously avoids stereotypical depictions of women as confined to home and family. Instead, it highlights deeply personal works by women artists such as Priti Vadakkath, Indu Antony, Nithya AS, and Devika Sundar, whose art reflects their individual struggles and lived experiences. The curators also faced challenges including financial constraints, spousal opposition, and helping recent art graduates gain confidence to articulate their work.
Shunya Misawa, a young artist who won the New Artist Award at the 98th Doten (Hokkaido Art Association Exhibition), is holding his first solo exhibition at TO OV cafe / gallery in Sapporo. The show features 24 reptile paintings, including detailed pen drawings and copperplate prints of iguanas, skinks, and other reptiles, many inspired by his own pets. Misawa also displays his self-published "IGUANA REFERENCE BOOK," which explains iguana ecology and behavior.
Three pioneering Pakistani artists—Jimmy Engineer, Rahat Naveed Masud, and Amna Pataudi—have come together for a group exhibition titled "A Moment in Time" at the National Art Gallery in Islamabad. Organized by For Art Sake and the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), the show runs until May 12 and features a blend of historical, spiritual, and self-reflective works. Engineer presents emotionally charged historical and religious canvases, Masud displays a series of self-portraits exploring personal and societal identity, and Pataudi contributes still-life and thematic paintings rooted in meticulous technique.
Bonhams is launching the first-ever major auction dedicated exclusively to Georgian contemporary art, titled "Georgian Art Now." The online sale runs from May 19 to 29 and features works by leading Georgian artists including Rusudan Petviashvili, Lia Bagrationi, Niniko Morbedadze, and Merab Gagiladze. The auction was curated by Daria Khristova, Head of Sales at Bonhams, who traveled to Tbilisi to select the lineup of paintings, sculptures, photography, and works on paper.
Che Onejoon, a South Korean artist, has shifted his focus from documenting North Korea's Cold War-era monument-building in Africa to working directly with West African migrant communities in South Korea. His earlier projects, including the Mansudae Masterclass series and films like *Black Monument* (2017) and *My Utopia* (2018), explored the little-known history of North Korean-built statues and buildings across at least 20 African nations. More recently, he co-founded Space AfroAsia, the Afroasia Eco Museum, and the AfroAsia Artist Collective, and now lives and works in the Bosan-dong "Africa Town" near the Demilitarized Zone, creating multilingual music videos and even a K-pop girl group with a mixed Korean-African lineup.