Museum of Islamic Art Hosts Empire of Light Exhibit Through May 2026

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, is hosting the 'Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan' exhibition, running through May 30, 2026. The show features rare Afghan artifacts, illuminated manuscripts, and contemporary works, curated by Nicoletta Fazio, and is partnered with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The museum, designed by I.M. Pei and opened in 2008, also offers weekend bazaars at MIA Park, enhancing the visitor experience with local crafts and jewelry.

Islamic Art Exhibition Showcases Persian Manuscript Masterpiece

The National Museum of Korea is hosting “Islamic Art, A Journey of Radiant Light” until October 11th, featuring artifacts from the Islamic Art Museum in Doha, Qatar. The exhibition showcases calligraphy, paintings, and crafts from the 7th to 19th centuries, with highlights including two illustrations from the *Tahmasp Shahnameh*, a Persian miniature manuscript from the Safavid era that took over a decade to complete.

A Milano c’è una mostra di bambole giapponesi. Un tempo prodotti industriali oggi pezzi da collezione

A new exhibition in Milan at the gallery N.51 presents the work of Japanese artist Shigeru Arai, known as NAGNAGNAG, who is celebrated for transforming industrial soft vinyl dolls (Sofubi) into unique art objects. The show, titled "Shigeru Arai Tribute Exhibition," marks the first time his work is displayed in Italy, tracing the history of Sofubi from its post-WWII origins in Japan—where it replaced dangerously flammable cellulose toys—to its elevation as a collectible art form through Arai's distinctive techniques, including biting the soft vinyl and applying multiple layers of paint.

Sacramento art exhibit puts a SMASH!-ing spotlight on piñata culture

A new art exhibition titled 'SMASH! A Piñata Exhibition' has opened at Prism Art Gallery in Midtown, Sacramento, curated by Bridgett Rex and Vianne De Santiago. Running through May 30, the show features piñatas created by amateurs, professional makers, and multidisciplinary artists, exploring the cultural and emotional significance of piñatas beyond their role as party decorations. The exhibition will conclude with a public smashing of selected piñatas. Artists such as Andres Alvarez and Gilbert Rangel contributed works that incorporate personal and cultural narratives, using materials like corn husks and tissue paper to reflect on heritage, memory, and community.

A season of colour: Coimbatore gallery showcases works by Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu

An exhibition at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery in Coimbatore showcases around 70 works by five artists of the Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu: V. Rajendhran, Kumanan, Murugesan, Ramamoorthy, and Govindarajulu. The show features a wide range of styles—from realistic animal portraits and textured floral canvases to charcoal sketches of crows and Rajasthani-themed paintings—employing techniques such as knife work, spray painting, and texture painting with clay. Rajendhran’s works focus on textile design, Kumanan presents acrylics and seed-covered sculptures, and Ramamoorthy offers a series of crow sketches. The exhibition is part of the AURORA Series 2026 and runs through May 17.

Wood takes on all forms in Space 900 Gallery exhibition

The 'Evanston Woods II' exhibition at Space 900 Gallery in Evanston, Illinois, showcased wood in various forms through works by six local designers and makers over three days. Organized by Chicago woodworker Paul Segedin, the show featured visual wood sculptures, practical furniture, and mixed-media pieces, including Madeline Usher's sculpture 'I Wish You Could Join Me Up Here' and a coffee table by architect Len Koroski made from a downed tree. The event aimed to connect the public with handmade furniture and woodcraft, highlighting the challenges of finding such work in Chicago.

Artist Brad Chapman Bleau seeks community connections

Artist and educator Brad Chapman Bleau, a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Goddard College, discusses his multifaceted career in a recent interview. Bleau works as an adjunct professor at Worcester State University and assistant director of the Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Art Gallery, while also curating the Worcester Center for Crafts Hot Night in the City exhibition. He creates mixed-media "junk paintings" using vintage objects and ephemera, sells art at Almanac Market in Paxton, and teaches a nature-based art class at Turn Back Time farm and forest education center.

New Midland exhibit explores landscapes, memory and reflection

A new exhibition titled 'Seen/Unseen' has opened at the Midland Cultural Centre in Ontario, curated by Gayle Fortin. It features immersive fibre installations, atmospheric landscapes, and abstract works by four artists from The October Collective: Charlotte Williams, Amy Bagshaw, Pauline Bradshaw, and Lindsay Smail. Highlights include Bagshaw's site-specific fibre installation using industrial materials, an interactive 'Grounded Echoes Cairn' where visitors add inscribed stones, and QR codes linking to artists' stories. The exhibition runs alongside a Members' Exhibition and a community mural celebrating Quest Art School + Gallery's 30th anniversary.

Emerging and Mid-Career Craft and Design Artists Gather at KCDF Open Call Exhibition

The Korea Craft and Design Foundation (KCDF) announced the launch of its "2026 KCDF Craft and Design Open Call Exhibition" on April 27, selecting 10 emerging artists, 6 mid-career artists, and 3 groups through a professional review. The program opens with a solo exhibition by mid-career artist Seo Junghwa, titled "Ambiguity," featuring metal furniture that blurs boundaries between natural and artificial objects, running from April 29 to May 10 at KCDF Gallery. Additional window gallery shows include Jeon Young Eun's "Showcase of Extinction" (April 15–May 10) and Lee Hyungchan's "Supporting [ ]s" (May 13–June 7). Since 2018, the Foundation has supported 154 exhibitions through this initiative.

When the Art World Dismantles Itself

Wenn die Kunstwelt sich selbst zerlegt

James Cahill's novel "The Violet Hour" offers a satirical and precise portrait of the contemporary art world, featuring characters such as curators with revolutionary fervor, collectors with superyachts, and artists oscillating between genius and pose. Cahill, a former gallery employee, curator, and critic, draws on his insider experience to craft a milieu study that is both humorous and incisive.

St. Pete multimedia artist Cato Galen is one of the region’s rising talents

St. Petersburg multimedia artist Cato Galen is profiled for their wide-ranging creative practice, which includes curating immersive installations, writing music, leading workshops, and creating spaces for reflection at festivals. Galen's recent projects include a virtual gallery for How Bazar's “Memories and Fortunes” exhibition in Tampa and the Decompression Space at the Big Culture and Arts Festival in Gainesville, where QR codes merged physical and digital experiences to improve accessibility. Galen also performs music under the name Creating Cato, produces a zine series called “Guide for Blocked Artists,” and hosts a gathering called “Artist Block.”

‘Light from the Inner Soul’ exhibition celebrates women’s unheard artistic voices in Cumilla

A three-day art exhibition titled “Light from the Inner Soul” is being held at Cumilla Shilpakala Auditorium in Bangladesh, showcasing paintings and handcrafted works by eight women with no formal art training. Organized by Jannatul Ferdous Twonni, the exhibition features a range of media including calligraphy, metal art, wax art, glass painting, canvas works, and AI-inspired pieces, with participants ranging from a 16-year-old to a 90-year-old woman.

Adirondack Paddlefest, art exhibits and other regional events

The article announces a series of regional events in the Adirondacks, including the Adirondack Paddlefest, the Gloversville Downtown Art Walk, a writing workshop with bestselling author Kate Fagan, an artist reception for Robert Coppen's exhibit "Upstate New York in Paintings" at the Old Forge Library, a touring production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's "Happy End" presented by Seagle Festival and partners, and the Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge fishing tournament. These events span mid-May 2025 and are open to the public.

Three exhibitions set to open at Hunterdon Art Museum

The Hunterdon Art Museum in New Jersey will open three new exhibitions on May 17, 2025. The shows include a solo exhibition of figurative painter Emily Strong, featuring large-scale realist oil paintings that explore identity and relationships; “Claybash,” the museum’s second triennial juried ceramics exhibition curated by Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy; and “Mindscapes,” a retrospective of 60 years of work by 93-year-old New Jersey artist Bascha Mon, whose recent pieces are inspired by the music of composer Olivier Messiaen.

Johns Creek art exhibit finds inspiration in trash

The Arts Center at Johns Creek, Georgia, is hosting 'Upcycled: Reclaimed and Reimagined,' an exhibition running through May 16 that features artworks made from discarded objects. Curator Althea Foster organized the show to coincide with Earth Day, highlighting pieces such as Tracy Douchy's bulldog sculpture 'Watchdog' (made from old wrist watches) and Mary Jablonski's 'Grizzly Watching' (constructed from repurposed paper). The exhibit has drawn double the usual foot traffic from local residents.

Booming exhibition is becoming ‘prominent’ event for town

Spalding artist Joey Lowe organized the fourth edition of a local art exhibition at The Sessions House, attracting over 1,000 visitors and gallery owners from Norfolk and Gainsborough. The event featured 50 artists, including local MP Sir John Hayes, and introduced a new 'mini youth exhibition' with artwork from five area schools.

Get out: Here's what's happening in Madison County

Mooneyham Art Gallery in Alton, Illinois, will host a dual-artist exhibition titled "Nature Framed and Authenticity Is the New Gimmick" on May 9, featuring new works by professional wrestler and painter Devin "Itchy" Gable alongside wildlife photographer Carol Bock. The event includes dessert from Dolci's Cafe and Bakery and music by Psychedelic Symphony, and is free and open to the public.

Beyond the body: Jess Self’s emotive power at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art

Jess Self, a Decatur-based sculptor and educator, presents *Celestial Perspectives* at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, an immersive textile environment that explores autobiography through figurative form. The exhibition features works in resin, plaster, felted wool, fiber, and rope, including the large-scale installation *The Veil* and the compelling *She Who Ties Magic Knots*, a resin and plaster cast of the artist's pregnant torso. Self's practice draws on Jungian archetypes and spiritual traditions, and the show communicates themes of connectivity, motherhood, bodily experience, and transcendence without relying on wall text.

Sruli Recht's "LAIR" Hacks the Laws of Nature in Shenzhen

Sruli Recht's exhibition "LAIR" has opened at the SWCAC museum in Shenzhen, featuring 68 sculptures across 11 installations that took 15 years to create. The works employ unconventional materials such as lava casting, lightning-formed glass, and bee-skin fur, presented as ceremonial artifacts. The immersive experience includes custom musical architecture by Valgeir Sigurðsson, whose score changes with each room, and 14 fragrances developed by perfumer Alex Lee and IFF, made from strange ingredients to set the mood. Visitors receive a small scent object upon leaving.

Opening Reception for the Art of Torn Paper — Saturday

The Southborough History and Arts Center (SHAC) is hosting an opening reception and gallery talk on May 9th from 4:00–7:00 PM in its Long Gallery at Fayville Hall, featuring artist Beverly Ramsay. Ramsay, who creates intricate works by transforming handmade paper into pictures celebrating global cultural heritage, will discuss her artistic journey and techniques. The free event requires pre-registration and includes refreshments.

Edmond Arts Festival offers family fun with art, crafts and food

The Edmond Arts Festival is currently underway in Edmond, Oklahoma, featuring over 160 exhibits and booths that include paintings, handmade crafts, and food. The festival runs through Sunday evening, offering family-friendly entertainment in the heart of the city, with local artist Kris Fairchild highlighting the supportive atmosphere and unique, humorous artwork on display.

TIA KI hosts Flower Moon art exhibition in Dimapur

TIA KI – Nagaland Art Space in Dimapur is hosting 'Flower Moon: May Special', a week-long art exhibition running from May 2 to 9, 2026. The exhibition features 12 participating artists and brands from Nagaland, including KINTEM, Hues of Hills, and Smallshop by Jason Anshu, with works spanning poetry, spoken word, textiles, drapery, dance, and performance. The opening on May 1 featured a performance art piece written by Anungla Zoe Longkumer, performed by Virieno Christina Zakiesato and Carol Humstoe, with styling by Imchatsung Imchen.

Iowa Art Quilters Association and Fiber Artists exhibit opens May 1

The Fairfield Art Association is opening a new exhibition titled "Iowa Art Quilters and Fiber Artists" on May 1st at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. The show features eight recognized Iowa artists—Karen Anne Babcock Grimes, Sue Kluber, Judy Ludwick, Wendy Read, Barbara Riggs, Kathryn Roe, Jean Taft, and Patricia Weber—displaying up to 50 original art quilt works in various sizes and styles, many of which are available for purchase. A reception for the artists and guests will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.

Seoul Museum of Craft Art opens two exhibitions centered on brief but ambitious Korean Empire

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art opens two special exhibitions on Tuesday, both centered on the Korean Empire (1897-1910), a brief period when Korea sought to modernize through craft and industrial innovation. The larger exhibition, “The Hybrid,” marks 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, gathering 24 objects from European collections—23 from France and one from Germany—some not displayed in Korea in over 120 years. The second, “Folded Time, Unfolded Memory: Andong Palace,” focuses on the royal women who lived on the museum’s grounds, particularly Empress Sunjeonghyo and Princess Kim Deok-su. Museum director Kim Soo-jung described the two shows as “almost like an omnibus,” connected through the Korean Empire period.

Mirei Monticelli’s Hand-Woven Banana Leaf Lamps Swell Between Material and Movement

Milan-based Filipina designer Mirei Monticelli creates biomorphic lighting fixtures from hand-woven Banaca fabric, made from Abacá fiber sourced from the Philippines. Her studio collaborates with a community of weavers in the Bicol province, developing the material through a long-term relationship. The lamps, which blend sculpture and utility, were recently featured in an installation titled 'Pleasure Garden' at Milan Design Week. Monticelli’s process incorporates techniques from garment construction, learned from her mother, a fashion designer.

Jodi Stuart Opening Reception

The Art Base in Basalt, Colorado, opens its fall season with 'Toxic Positivity,' an installation of plastic-formed sculptures by Denver-based artist Jodi Stuart. The exhibition runs from October 2 to November 8, 2024, with an opening reception on October 4 featuring an artist talk. Stuart specializes in a process that combines weaving techniques with plastics, creating objects that are both light and saturated.

MARGARET WHYTE TURNS FRAGILITY INTO LANGUAGE AT THE 2026 VENICE BIENNALE

The Uruguay Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale presents "ANTIFRAGIL," a new installation by artist Margaret Whyte, curated by Patricia Bentancur. The work combines textiles with obsolete technological objects such as old machines, motorcycle helmets, and waste fragments, embodying the concept of antifragility developed by Nassim Taleb—systems that grow stronger through disorder and instability. Whyte's practice transforms fragility and vulnerability into poetic resistance, challenging traditional hierarchies between craft and contemporary art.

Tripura artist's solo exhibition in Mumbai inaugurated by Guv Jishnu Dev Varma

The solo art exhibition of Tapati Bhowmik Majumder, Tripura's first National Award-winning woman artist, opened on May 12 at Mumbai's Jahangir Art Gallery. The show was inaugurated by Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, marking the first time a Governor of Maharashtra has attended an inauguration at the gallery. Special guests included professor and artist Maruti Selke and actress Jayati Bhatia. The exhibition runs through May 18.

Gallery 50 welcomes spring with “Here Comes the Sun”

Gallery 50 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, is hosting an opening reception for its new spring exhibition, “Here Comes the Sun,” on May 8 from 5:30–8 p.m. The show features 11 local artists—Jonathan Frazier, Robyn Jacobs, Sarah Maclay, Pat McCleary, Mary Moores, Judy Pyle, Jayne Shord, Anne St. John, Lindsay Tozier-School, Anita Williams, and curator Marti Yeager—presenting works in oil, acrylic, pastel, photography, watercolor, and enamel on copper. The evening also includes the unveiling of a mural by California-based artist Nigel Sussman, live music from Sons of Pitches, and new fine art and crafts for sale. The exhibition runs through August 1, 2026.

Old Town Arts & Crafts Guild Presents Art at Dart’s

The Old Town Arts & Crafts Guild, a nonprofit organization, is hosting an Artist's Showcase at Dart's Barn in Southold, New York, on May 2nd and 3rd from 9 AM to 4 PM. The event will feature fine art, photography, handcrafted items, and works by Carolyn M. Bell and the Peconic Impressionists, with free admission and light refreshments.