Two US ambassadors have displayed Van Goghs in their London residence—but Donald Trump's pick for the job seems unlikely to follow suit

Two former U.S. ambassadors to the UK, John Hay Whitney (1957-61) and Walter Annenberg (1969-74), displayed Van Gogh masterpieces from their personal collections in Winfield House, the official residence in London's Regent's Park. Whitney hung Van Gogh's *Self-portrait* (September 1889) above the mantelpiece in the family dining room, while the Annenbergs placed *La Berceuse* (February 1889) and *Olive Trees* (November 1889) in the green room, alongside works by Gauguin, Degas, Cézanne, Monet, and Renoir. Both ambassadors later donated their Van Goghs to major U.S. museums—Whitney's to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Annenbergs' to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

An exhibition in a most extraordinary building explores Japan’s love for Van Gogh

An exhibition titled 'A Renewal of Passion: The Impact of Van Gogh' opens at the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan, running from May 31 to November 30. It explores Van Gogh's influence on Japanese art, featuring three Van Gogh paintings from the museum's own collection—acquired by founder Suzuki Tsuneshi—alongside loans from other Japanese institutions, including the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art and the Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts. The show highlights works by Japanese artists like Kishida Ryusei, Maeta Kanji, and Nakamura Tsune, who were inspired by Van Gogh, as well as contemporary pieces such as Fiona Tan's photographic series 'Ascent' (2016).

Works by Charley Toorop, one of the first female painters to admire Van Gogh, go on show in the Netherlands

An exhibition titled "Charley Toorop: Love for Van Gogh" opens at the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands (24 May-14 September), showcasing 60 works by Charley Toorop (1891-1955), one of the first female painters deeply influenced by Vincent van Gogh. The show, curated by Renske Tervaert, draws on the museum's extensive Toorop and Van Gogh collections, supplemented with loans, and highlights how Van Gogh's work shaped Toorop's art, particularly in the early 1920s. A key focus is her 1924 portraits of patients at the Willem Arntsz Medical Asylum for the Insane in Utrecht, where she painted three powerful works after a traumatic marriage to Henk Fernhout, who had been institutionalized there. The exhibition also explores personal connections: Van Gogh's brother Theo was treated and died at the same facility, and Toorop's still lifes echo Van Gogh's motifs, such as her use of knives alluding to domestic strife.

Korea’s first privately owned Van Gogh unveiled at newly opened museum

Hong Gyu Shin, a New York-based gallery owner originally from Ulsan, South Korea, became the first named Korean to purchase a Van Gogh when he acquired *Head of a Peasant* (January-March 1885) at Sotheby’s in May 2024 for $787,000—well below its estimate. The painting has now gone on display at the newly opened KAIST Art Museum (KAM) in Daejeon, South Korea, as part of Shin's exhibition *The Vault of Masterpieces* (until 30 August). The show features 49 works from his personal collection, including a recreation of his New York apartment, and marks the first time a Van Gogh has been exhibited on loan from a Korean collector.

When—and why—did Van Gogh paint a pair of crabs?

An article explores the story behind Vincent van Gogh's still life "Two Crabs," revealing that the two crabs are likely the same individual—a female Cancer pagurus missing its first pair of walking legs. Paul Clark, a crustacean specialist at London's Natural History Museum, confirmed the sex based on the broad abdomen visible in the painting. The work is on long-term loan to London's National Gallery, where it was recently redisplayed as part of the gallery's major rehang ahead of the Sainsbury Wing reopening on May 10. The article also traces the painting's provenance: it was the first Van Gogh bought by a British collector, William Cherry Robinson, in 1893 for 200 guilders, later sold at auction in 1906 for half that amount, and eventually resold at Sotheby's in 2004 for £5.2 million to an anonymous collector who lent it to the National Gallery.

Weekly News Roundup: April 16, 2026

The art landscape in Asia is undergoing significant shifts with Art Basel renewing its five-year commitment to Hong Kong and the Centre Pompidou announcing a June opening for its new Seoul branch. Meanwhile, the Ayala Foundation unveiled designs by architect Kulapat Yantrasast for Kontempo, a major new contemporary art center in Manila slated for 2028, and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale appointed Jitish Kallat as president following the resignation of cofounder Bose Krishnamachari.

national constitution center director resigns

Jeffrey Rosen has resigned as director of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia after 12 years, sparking allegations of political interference. While the board cited a leadership crisis following an external review of workplace conditions, board member and former judge J. Michael Luttig claims the ouster was a politically motivated "regime change" orchestrated to align the institution with President Trump’s vision for the upcoming America 250 celebrations.

Of the Love that Moves the Sun and the Other Stars: An Interview with Amalia Cross

DEL AMOR QUE MUEVE EL SOL Y LAS OTRAS ESTRELLAS. ENTREVISTA A AMALIA CROSS

The Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende (MSSA) in Santiago has inaugurated a major collection-based exhibition titled "Del amor que mueve el sol y las otras estrellas," curated by art historian Amalia Cross. The show revisits the museum's unique history—from its origins during Salvador Allende’s presidency and the international "Operation Truth" to its period of exile following the 1973 coup and its eventual return to Chile. Featuring works by global icons such as Alexander Calder, Lygia Clark, and Yoko Ono, the exhibition emphasizes movement and collective action across various mediums including sculpture, video, and installation.

Matisse: The Pursuit of Harmony

Acquavella Galleries in New York presents "Matisse: The Pursuit of Harmony," an exhibition running from April 9 to May 22, 2026, featuring fifty works by Henri Matisse including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper. The show is organized across two floors, with early pieces on the ground floor north gallery, sculptures and early works on the second floor north, later works on the second floor south, and a concluding display of the four bronze castings of Matisse's "Back" series on the ground floor south. Key highlights include the painting *Male Model* (ca. 1900) paired with the bronze *The Serf* (1900–04), and the portrait *Mademoiselle Yvonne Landsberg* (1914), which demonstrate Matisse's transformative approach to traditional genres.

Alex Katz | Three Trees - 알렉스카츠 - Alex Katz Dancing with reality… (2018) | For Sale

This article is a sales listing for Alex Katz's 2018 silkscreen print "Three Trees - 알렉스카츠 - Alex Katz Dancing with reality… (2018)", offered by Frank Fluegel Gallery in Nuremberg, Germany. The work is a 20-color silkscreen print measuring 37 × 59 inches, part of a limited edition of 60, hand-signed by the artist and priced at $16,500. The listing includes details about the artist's background, his signature style of flat color planes influenced by advertising aesthetics and Pop art, and his exhibition history at major institutions worldwide.

17 must-see works of art at LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has unveiled a selection of must-see works within its new David Geffen Galleries, marking a radical departure from traditional museum curation. Moving away from rigid chronological and geographic silos, the museum has organized its encyclopedic collection around four major bodies of water—the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea—to highlight the historical movement of resources, ideas, and cultures. The single-level, fluid architectural space encourages visitors to meander through evolving installations that include high-profile acquisitions like Francis Bacon’s "Three Studies of Lucian Freud" alongside intricate Kuba ceremonial textiles.

The Year AI Captured Art

The article surveys the visual art landscape of 2025, arguing that the year's defining throughline is the increasing centrality of artificial intelligence—a technological revolution most people didn't ask for but cannot escape. It highlights several exhibitions and works that engage with AI in different ways: Seth Price's show at Isabella Bortolozzi in Berlin, which uses generative images from the pandemic era overlaid with gestural paint strokes; Charmaine Poh's video "GOOD MORNING YOUNG BODY" (2023) at Palais Populaire, where she deploys deepfake technology to have her twelve-year-old self speak back to internet trolls; and Philippe Parreno's show at Haus der Kunst, which poeticizes how generative technologies interact with humans and nature. The article also notes the rise of AI-generated "slop" online and its incursion into the physical art world, as well as market shifts where larger galleries are increasingly acquiring Instagram-friendly emerging artists directly.

Rarely seen Matthew Wong works to go on show in Venice

A major exhibition of rarely seen works by the late Chinese-Canadian artist Matthew Wong will open at the Palazzo Tiepolo Passi in Venice from 9 May to 1 November 2025, coinciding with the 61st Venice Biennale. The show features 35 works dating from 2015 to 2019, curated by John Cheim of Cheim & Read gallery, and is organized by the Matthew Wong Foundation, founded by the artist's parents Monita Wong and Raymond KP Wong after his death by suicide in 2019. The exhibition catalogue includes a text by Nancy Spector, former chief curator of the Guggenheim Museum.

Alexander Morrison

Alexander Morrison, a prominent figure in the art world, has passed away. The article, published by The Art Newspaper, reports on his death and likely includes tributes to his contributions, though the provided text is limited to subscription prompts and footer information, lacking full details on his life and career.

2025 Fall Arts Guide: The Season’s Best Visual Art Exhibits From Big Museums to Small Galleries

The 2025 Fall Arts Guide highlights three visual art exhibits in Washington, D.C. 'Arab Pop Art: Between East and West' at the Middle East Institute features 35 works by 14 Arab and diaspora artists, blending Western pop art with SWANA cultural motifs. 'Vincent Ricardel: Chasing Light' at gallery neptune & brown presents 15 photographs spanning diverse styles and locations. 'Rik Freeman: Wade in the Waters' opens Sept. 24, showcasing oil paintings.

Van Gogh’s two pictures of the hospital in Arles—painted while he was recovering after cutting his ear—head to the Courtauld

Van Gogh's two paintings of the hospital in Arles, created after he mutilated his ear, are being lent from the Oskar Reinhart Collection in Winterthur, Switzerland, to the Courtauld Gallery in London for the exhibition "Goya to Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection" (14 February–26 May). The works—"The Courtyard of the Hospital at Arles" and "The Ward in the Hospital at Arles"—were both acquired in the 1920s by Swiss collector Oskar Reinhart and have rarely been lent due to restrictions that have now been modified. The museum in Winterthur is temporarily closed for renovations, enabling this loan.

Shara Hughes - Weather Report - Exhibitions

David Kordansky Gallery presents "Weather Report," an exhibition of new paintings by Shara Hughes, opening September 4 through October 18, 2025, at its 520 W. 20th St. location in New York. This marks the artist's first solo show in New York in six years, featuring works such as "Rift" (2025), "Bigger Person" (2024), "Find My Way" (2025), "Niagara" (2024), "Only Slightly Rare" (2025), "The Good Light" (2025), "Pearly Gates" (2025), "Gossip" (2025), and "MaMa" (2025), all created in oil, acrylic, and dye on canvas or linen.

From Monet’s gardens to Kahlo’s bedroom — the best artists’ studios to visit

The article surveys several preserved or reconstructed artists' studios that are open to the public, including Francis Bacon's chaotic London workspace relocated to Dublin's Hugh Lane Gallery, Barbara Hepworth's serene Trewyn Studio in St Ives, Claude Monet's house and gardens at Giverny, and Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul. It also previews the National Gallery of Ireland's upcoming exhibition "Picasso: From the Studio" (October 2025–February 2026), which examines the key locations that shaped Picasso's life and art.

Shows to See in Japan, July 2025

This article highlights five art exhibitions opening across Japan in July 2025. Featured shows include Izumi Kato's largest solo exhibition in Japan, "Road to Somebody," at Iwami Art Museum; Christine Sun Kim's eponymous project at Mori Art Museum in Tokyo; Maya Erin Masuda's solo show "Ecologies of Closeness" at Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media; and "Van Gogh's Home" at Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, which centers on the Van Gogh family collection. Each exhibition spans diverse media and themes, from Kato's animistic sculptures to Kim's exploration of sound and deaf experience, Masuda's ecological trauma investigations, and Van Gogh's legacy through his family's archive.

July Book Bag: from a monograph of Vincent Namatjira’s headline-grabbing portraits to a book of Chinese art heists

This article presents a roundup of five new art books released in July, covering a diverse range of topics. The featured titles include a monograph on Vincent Namatjira, whose unflattering portrait of mining billionaire Gina Rinehart sparked controversy at the National Gallery of Australia; a study of Palestinian embroidery in contemporary art by Joanna Barakat; a guide to New York City monuments of Black Americans by David Felsen; and a true-crime investigation into Chinese art heists by Ralph Pezzullo.

Here are the top art exhibitions to see in Seattle for July

The article highlights top art exhibitions in Seattle for July, including the return of the Seattle Art Fair (July 17-20) and several gallery shows. Featured exhibitions include Cable Griffith's 'Return to Sender' at J. Rinehart Gallery, Jite Agbro's 'Penumbras' at Patricia Rovzar Gallery, a duo show 'Color and Line' with Kevin Cosley and Soo Hong at Chatwin Arts, Althea Rao's 'Commit to Memory, Know it Will Perish' at Gallery 4Culture, and Humaira Abid's 'The Shape of Life' at Greg Kucera Gallery.

Don’t miss these 7 fantastic new London art exhibitions arriving in May 2025

Seven new art exhibitions opening in London in May 2025 are highlighted, including Do Ho Suh's 'Walk the House' at Tate Modern, the reopening of the National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing, and the V&A East Storehouse opening. Other shows include 'Fake Barn Country' at Raven Row, 'Encounters: Giacometti' at Barbican, and 'Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road' at the British Museum, alongside a photography takeover at Somerset House.

Activity and optimism at Expo Chicago attest to the city's 'fearless' community of collectors and patrons

Expo Chicago's 12th edition opened at Navy Pier on April 24, featuring over 170 galleries from 36 countries, with a strong South Korean contingent supported by the Galleries Association of Korea and notable participation from Canada, Latin America, and smaller US cities. Highlights include a knitted men's locker room installation by Nathan Vincent at Walter Maciel Gallery and a video project by Deborah Oropallo and Andy Rappaport at Catharine Clark Gallery, alongside a tribute to veteran gallerist Rhona Hoffman, who is closing her namesake gallery after nearly 50 years.

art dealers movie villains

Artnet News examines the recurring trope of art dealers as villains in popular cinema, highlighting seven films that feature duplicitous gallerists, auction house specialists, and art advisors. Examples include Rhodora Haze in *Velvet Buzzsaw* (2019), a ruthless gallerist who profits from a dead artist's work against his dying wish, and Virgil Oldman in *The Best Offer* (2013), an auction house director entangled in forgery and deception. The article also references Victor Taft in *Legal Eagles* (1986), where a performance artist's father's suspicious death drives the plot.

Opportunities in May 2026

Hyperallergic's May 2026 Opportunities Listings compile residencies, fellowships, grants, and open calls for artists, writers, and art workers. Featured opportunities include the Center for Craft's Craft Archive Fellowship, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation's Fellowship for Distinction in Fine Crafts and Design, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum's Robert Motherwell & Renate Ponsold Fellowship, the Bennett Prize for women figurative realist painters, the Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture residency, the Wassaic Project's Haunted Barn Open Call, the Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation's Grant for Writing on Sculpture, the Academy of American Poets' James Laughlin Award, and VIA Art Fund's Artistic Production Grants.

Vincenzo Trione's new book aims to redefine the concept of the avant-garde (reviews by his students)

Il nuovo libro di Vincenzo Trione vuole ridefinire il concetto di avanguardia (le recensioni dei suoi allievi)

On March 9, 2026, at IULM University in Milan, Vincenzo Trione presented his new book *Rifare il mondo. Le età dell’avanguardia* (Einaudi, 2025). The event was part of the cultural program *Leonardo alla IULM*, which also featured pages from the Codex Atlanticus on loan from the Biblioteca Ambrosiana. Trione, a professor at IULM, discussed the book with four of his students: Anna Luigia De Simone, Vincenzo Di Rosa, Anna Calise, and Alessia Scaparra Seneca. The talk, titled "Nessuna parola caratterizza l’arte contemporanea più di avanguardia," explored the concept of the avant-garde, its historical legacy, and its contemporary reactivation through movements, manifestos, collectives, and cultural phenomena.

39 Kid-Friendly Exhibitions & Museums In Singapore, Including FREE Museums & Art Installations

Singapore is currently hosting a wide array of kid-friendly art exhibitions and museum installations across major cultural venues. Key highlights include the immersive 'Van Gogh Inside: Love Vincent' at Parkview Square, David Hockney’s 'Bigger & Closer' at the newly opened IMBA Theatre, and various interactive digital experiences at the revamped Keppel Centre for Art Education. These offerings range from high-tech multimedia nature zones like Exploria to traditional art museum settings tailored for younger audiences.

Embrace the Sparkle at 7 Jewelry-Themed Museum Exhibitions Across the Globe

Seven jewelry-themed museum exhibitions are on view globally in 2025, showcasing pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and artist-designed adornments by Man Ray and Pablo Picasso. Highlights include "Cosmic Splendor" at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, featuring astronomically inspired Van Cleef & Arpels creations, and "Cartier" at the V&A in London, displaying over 350 objects including royal commissions and iconic panther jewels. Other shows feature contemporary and vintage designs, emphasizing jewelry as a wearable art form.

National Gallery London's 200th anniversary

The National Gallery in London is celebrating its 200th anniversary, marking two centuries since its founding in 1824. The milestone is being commemorated with a series of special exhibitions, events, and public programs throughout the year, highlighting the museum's collection of over 2,300 paintings and its role as a cornerstone of British cultural heritage.

What will the future Louvre museum look like? The architects of the century's construction site have been chosen

À quoi ressemblera le futur musée du Louvre ? Les architectes du chantier du siècle désignés

On May 18, the French Ministry of Culture announced the winner of the international competition for the 'Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance' plan, championed by President Emmanuel Macron in January 2025. The winning consortium, led by Studios Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects with landscape firm Base, will design a major renovation of the Louvre. The project includes a new entrance on the east side near Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois to relieve congestion at the pyramid, a belvedere overlooking vegetated moats, and a new 3,000-square-meter gallery dedicated to the Mona Lisa. Construction is not expected to begin before 2028.