Agosto Machado, Artist and Activist Whose Shrine Sculptures Kept Queer History Alive, Has Died

Agosto Machado, an artist and activist central to New York's Downtown scene and a participant in the 1969 Stonewall uprising, has died following a brief illness. His gallery, Gordon Robichaux, announced his passing but, respecting his wishes, did not disclose his age. Machado was known for creating intricate shrine sculptures from collected ephemera to honor figures from his community, and one of these altars is currently featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial.

Why Filmmaker Ming Wong Is the Ultimate Shape-Shifter

Berlin-based Singaporean artist Ming Wong premiered a new film, *Dance of the Sun on the Water | Saltatio Solis in Aqua*, at London's National Gallery. The work, created during a residency, reimagines Saint Sebastian as a queer, shape-shifting figure, with Asian performers of multiple genders enacting the martyrdom amidst the museum's collection of historical paintings of the saint.

Never-Before-Seen Paintings Reveal Anthony Van Dyck’s Formative Italian Period

A major new exhibition at Genoa's Palazzo Ducale, "Van Dyck: The European. The Journey of a Genius from Antwerp to Genoa and London," presents a comprehensive survey of Anthony van Dyck's formative years in Italy. Featuring around 60 works, including loans from the Louvre, Prado, and National Gallery, the show reveals how his six-year Italian sojourn was a period of intense experimentation and emancipation from his master Rubens, leading to his signature theatrical portrait style.

Monumental Bellini Altarpiece Undergoes Major Restoration in Public View

Giovanni Bellini's monumental 15th-century altarpiece, the San Giobbe altarpiece, is undergoing its most extensive restoration in over 500 years at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice. Deemed too fragile to move, the two-year, €500,000 project will stabilize the cracked wood panel and analyze pigments using advanced imaging, all performed behind glass in full public view.

Contemporary US Art is Sick with Problems

"Die zeitgenössische US-Kunst ist von Problemen krank"

Artist Josh Kline has sparked a heated debate with a scathing critique of the American art scene, particularly targeting New York City as an unsustainable hub driven by market logic and inequality. Kline argues that contemporary art is "sick with problems" and urges young artists to abandon the city, calling for a shift from institutional critique to a broader industry-wide analysis of class and power. Meanwhile, the German art world sees significant movement with the upcoming auction of Georg Kolbe’s "Tänzerinnen-Brunnen" following a Nazi-looted art settlement, and the Berlin State Museums announcing a phased reopening of the Pergamon Altar starting in 2027.

Prehistoric Stone Altar with Human Remains Discovered in Central Mexico

Archaeologists conducting salvage work for a new passenger train line between Querétaro and Mexico City have unearthed a 1,000-year-old Toltec stone altar. Located within the Tula Archaeological Monument Zone in Hidalgo, the three-level structure was found alongside four human skulls, long bones, a black ceramic bowl, and obsidian blades. Preliminary assessments by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) suggest the remains belong to individuals offered as ritual sacrifices.

1,000-year-old Toltec altar with four human skulls found in Mexico

Archaeologists from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have discovered a 1,000-year-old Toltec altar during salvage work for a new high-speed rail line between Mexico City and Querétaro. The stone structure, known as a momoztli, dates back to AD 900-1150 and was found with four human skulls and leg bones arranged at its base, suggesting ritual or sacrificial use. Located near the ancient site of Tula Chico, the find also included ceramic objects and obsidian artifacts within a compound likely belonging to the local elite.

Martin Schongauer, at the Louvre the exhibition on the master of the late Middle Ages

The Louvre Museum is hosting a major retrospective dedicated to Martin Schongauer, a pivotal German artist of the late 15th century, running from April 8 to July 20, 2026. Titled "Martin Schongauer: Le bel immortel," the exhibition features approximately one hundred works, including his world-renowned engravings, rare paintings like the "Virgin in the Rose Garden," and intricate drawings. Curated by Pantxika Béguerie de Paepe and Hélène Grollemund, the show traces Schongauer’s evolution from a goldsmith’s son in Colmar to a master who bridged the gap between Gothic tradition and Renaissance innovation.

Artist Offers Haunting Meditation on the 2025 L.A. Fires for the Whitney Biennial

Artist Kelly Akashi has created a major installation for the 2026 Whitney Biennial titled 'Monument (Altadena)', a 13-foot-tall chimney and walkway made of clear glass bricks. The work is a direct response to the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, which destroyed her home and studio, leaving only the original brick chimney standing. She collaborated with mason Christian Inga to meticulously reconstruct this remnant in a new, spectral form.

The Sistine Chapel Is Coming to a Mall in Suburban New Jersey

A traveling exhibition featuring high-definition, full-scale replicas of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes is opening for an indefinite run at the Westfield Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus, New Jersey. The show, "Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition," presents all 34 ceiling and altar masterpieces using advanced printing techniques, allowing visitors to view the works up close without the crowds and time constraints of the Vatican.

Two Exhibitions in Paris Galleries

Deux expositions dans les galeries parisiennes

Two notable drawing exhibitions are currently on view in Paris galleries. The first, organized by dealer Nicolas Schwed on Rue Saint-Honoré, features a strong selection of old and modern master drawings, with a surprising emphasis on 18th-century French works alongside Italian pieces. Highlights include a preparatory study by Federico Zuccaro for a Roman fresco and a rare drawing of the Trinity by Cornelis Schut, which is linked to a lost altarpiece from Cologne.

When the Pergamon Altar can be seen again

Wann man den Pergamonaltar wieder sehen kann

The Pergamon Museum in Berlin is set to partially reopen in the spring of 2027 following extensive renovations, allowing public access to the hall containing the world-famous Pergamon Altar. However, the reopening will be staggered and subject to further interruptions; the altar hall is scheduled to close again for five months in 2034 to facilitate connections to the museum island's archaeological promenade. Full completion of the museum's renovation, including the South Wing housing the Ishtar Gate, is not expected until 2037.

Façade collapse and vandalism at the Saint-Roch church in Paris

Effondrement de façade et vandalisme à l'église Saint-Roch de Paris

A significant portion of the cornice on the right side of the façade of the historic Saint-Roch church in Paris collapsed on March 9, 2026. Fortunately, no one was injured. The incident follows a pattern of similar structural failures at Parisian churches like Saint-Paul, Saint-Merry, and Saint-Augustin. Almost simultaneously, the church was targeted by vandals who severely damaged a gilded wooden altar in the shape of the Ark of the Covenant, a work from 1840 designed by architect Charles Lelong, just before its planned restoration was set to begin.

Experience Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel art at new NJ exhibit

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition has officially opened at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. This immersive showcase features life-size, high-definition replicas of all 34 frescoes from the Vatican’s famous ceiling and altar, including the iconic "The Creation of Adam" and "The Last Judgment."

Ofelia Esparza: Mexican Traditions in California Since 1945

OFELIA ESPARZA SINCE 1945 MEXICAN TRADITIONS IN CALIFORNIA

The Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College is presenting 'Ofelia Esparza: A Retrospective' until May 2026. This first major museum survey for the Chicana artist and altarista features 85 works, including recreations of her iconic altars and examples of her drawing, painting, and printmaking, tracing her artistic evolution from 1945 to the present.

Nordic Art Week: Stockholm is the European art capital for a week. The interview

Art Week nordiche: Stoccolma è capitale dell’arte europea per una settimana. L’intervista

Stockholm is hosting the Stockholm Art Week from April 21-26, transforming the city into a hub for contemporary art. The event features a citywide program of exhibitions across museums, galleries, and independent spaces, including a retrospective of textile artist Anna Casparsson at Moderna Museet, a photography show by Lotta Antonsson at Fotografiska, and an outdoor bronze sculpture installation by Italian artist Davide Rivalta. The week also coincides with the 20th anniversaries of two major Nordic art fairs, Market Art Fair and Supermarket Art Fair, which are moving to new venues.

Has A.I. Solved the Mystery of This El Greco Painting?

New research using artificial intelligence has challenged the long-held belief that El Greco's altarpiece *The Baptism of Christ* was largely painted by his son and workshop assistants. A machine-learning model called Patch, developed by researchers at Western Reserve University, analyzed the painting's microscopic surface texture and found underlying connections suggesting El Greco himself painted the majority of the work, with only a small region at the bottom attributed to other hands.

High-quality youth artwork shines at Sovereign Young Artist Competition exhibition

The Sovereign Art Foundation and Gibraltar Cultural Services announced the winners of the 2026 Sovereign Young Artist Competition at an awards ceremony on April 16. The exhibition showcases finalists in two age categories, with winners including Aimee Linares (SAF Judges’ Prize), Amelie Romero (SAF Public Vote Prize), Sebastian Andlaw (Alwani Foundation Award), Shelli Abudarham (Ministry of Culture Award), and Tyrone Vera (AquaGib Second Prize). The top student winner received £800, with £2,000 awarded to their school's art department.

Elevating High Fashion. Issey Miyake and Ensamble Studio Together at Fuorisalone 2026

Valorizzare l’alta sartoria. Issey Miyake e Ensamble Studio insieme al Fuorisalone 2026

Satoshi Kondo, a director at the Miyake Design Studio, has partnered with the Madrid-based architecture firm Ensamble Studio to explore the creative potential of the Paper Log, a byproduct of Issey Miyake's signature pleating process. The collaboration will culminate in an exhibition titled 'The Paper Log: Shell and Core' during the 2026 Fuorisalone in Milan, featuring prototype furniture and sculptural forms made from the compressed paper rolls and unfolded pleated paper.

Thirteen Monumental Sculptures in Stockholm. Italian Artist Davide Rivalta Redesigns Urban Space

Tredici sculture monumentali a Stoccolma. L’artista italiano Davide Rivalta ridisegna lo spazio urbano

Italian artist Davide Rivalta has installed thirteen monumental bronze sculptures of animals—including lions, rhinoceroses, and buffalo—across iconic public spaces in Stockholm. The project, titled 'Blowing Figures into Space,' places the life-sized, pedestal-free figures directly on the ground, allowing them to blend into and subtly disrupt the urban landscape.

AI Model Reveals New Information About Authorship of 17th-Century El Greco Altarpiece

A team of scientists from Case Western Reserve University has developed a new AI model named PATCH that analyzes tiny sections of paintings to identify the number of artists involved in their creation. The model was applied to two works by El Greco, suggesting that 'The Baptism of Christ,' long thought to be a collaborative workshop piece, may have been painted primarily by the master himself.

Art exhibition by elderly group showcasing Valletta city

A group of senior citizens from Valletta, Malta, has launched a collaborative art exhibition titled 'Kollettiv' at the Valletta Local Council. Organized by the community group Għeruq il-Komunità and supported by the Alf Mizzi Foundation, the showcase features paintings created by residents over the age of 60 alongside works by local primary school students. Under the guidance of artist Paul Galea, participants translated their personal interpretations of the capital city onto canvas during a series of workshops.

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Agosto Machado, a seminal figure in the Downtown New York art scene and a veteran of the Stonewall uprising, has died following a brief illness. Known as a 'pre-Stonewall street queen,' Machado transitioned from a community activist and archivist to a recognized artist whose intricate altar sculptures are currently featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial. His work, which utilizes found objects and ephemera to create shrines for queer icons and AIDS victims, serves as a vital act of 'ancestor worship' and historical preservation for a community often marginalized by mainstream institutions.

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Valentina Castellani, a veteran of Sotheby’s and Gagosian, is releasing a new book titled 'Trading Beauty: Art Market Histories from the Altar to the Gallery'. The publication aims to fill a pedagogical gap Castellani discovered while teaching at New York University, providing a comprehensive chronological overview of the art market from the Renaissance to the post-pandemic era. Published by Gagosian and distributed by Rizzoli, the book features a cover by Maurizio Cattelan and an introduction by Massimiliano Gioni.

New Art Exhibition ‘Floating Reality’ Takes Over Strait Street

The fourth edition of the curated exhibition "Floating Reality" has launched on Valletta’s historic Strait Street, showcasing a new wave of emerging Maltese fine artists. Running through March 20th, the event transforms the iconic thoroughfare into a multidisciplinary hub where contemporary visual art intersects with live musical performances, such as the opening set by duo ED & ZEE.

‘Seek Sanctuary’ – Lara Vella’s New Exhibition Explores Calm In A Hyper-Connected World

Emerging Maltese artist Lara Vella is set to debut her solo exhibition, "Seek Sanctuary," on March 20th at the fabric exhibition space. The collection features a series of paintings inspired by the Mediterranean landscape, focusing on the textures, light, and rhythms of the natural world. Vella, a graduate of the University of Malta and a Master’s recipient from Florence, uses her work to encourage viewers to disconnect from a hyper-connected lifestyle and find restoration in reflective moments.

abortion nonprofit claims artwork in malta biennale was censored 1234777129

The second edition of the Malta Biennale is facing accusations of censorship from the abortion rights nonprofit Women on Waves. The organization claims that organizers first demanded the removal of the word "pills" from a banner reading "Need Abortion Pills?" before ultimately attempting to dismantle the installation entirely, citing a failure to meet "aesthetic quality standards." While the Biennale's communications director maintains the work remains in place and frames the dispute as a matter of "curatorial direction," activists provided video evidence of an attempted removal and argue the intervention is a suppression of critical health information.

Nicole Debono exhibition to open at the Malta Society of Arts

The Malta Society of Arts is set to host a new solo exhibition by artist Nicole Debono titled "The Unseen World." The showcase features a collection of contemporary paintings that explore themes of subconscious imagery and the hidden layers of human emotion through abstract and semi-figurative forms.

Michelangelo's Pietà Altarpiece for His Own Tomb Restored and Returned to Public View

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The Opera del Duomo Museum in Florence has unveiled the newly restored Bandini Pietà, a monumental sculpture Michelangelo carved for his own tomb between 1547 and 1555. The two-year conservation project, funded by the Friends of Florence Foundation, removed centuries of accumulated dust, wax, and plaster residue from the 5,900-pound marble block, which the artist famously left unfinished after discovering flaws in the stone.

belarus free theatre venice biennale collateral event 1234775444

The Belarus Free Theatre (BFT), an underground performance group currently in exile, has announced its first major visual art exhibition titled "Official. Unofficial. Belarus." as a collateral event for the 61st Venice Biennale. Staged at the historic La Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista, the show features site-specific works by exiled artists including Sergey Grinevich, Vladimir Tsesler, and Nicolai Khalezin. The installations range from paintings functioning as altar panels to a massive sphere of banned books and a crucifix made of CCTV cameras, all designed to critique the surveillance and censorship of the Lukashenko regime.