Bahar Behbahani Brings the Persian Garden to NYC

Bahar Behbahani's project "Damask Rose: A Gathering" transformed three fountains on Governors Island into a Persian garden using handwoven carpets and crocheted canopies. The event, part of Governors Island Arts's annual Interventions series, brought together over two dozen community practitioners and cultural groups for a four-hour gathering focused on storytelling, music, and art-making. The article also covers Mana Contemporary's Spring Open Studios in Jersey City, a new Gaza monument in Paterson, Sarah Lucas's public sculpture at the New Museum, and other New York-area art news.

Watching You, Watching Me: On Panteha Abareshi and the Spectacle of Illness

Inside TEFAF New York’s Annual Wealth Pageant

The 12th annual TEFAF New York fair took place at the Park Avenue Armory from May 15 to 19, attracting wealthy collectors with a mix of blue-chip art, design objects, and jewelry. Highlights included Kathleen Ryan's bejeweled 'Bad Fruit' sculptures at Gagosian, Cai Guo-Qiang's gunpowder paintings at White Cube (which sold 11 of 12 works), Sheila Hicks's textiles at Demisch Danant, and a new David Hockney painting at Annely Juda Fine Art. The fair featured 88 galleries from 14 countries, with VIP previews drawing art advisors and high-net-worth clients.

TEFAF New York Opened to Crowded Aisles, Bullish Collectors, and Strong Booths

TEFAF New York opened at the Park Avenue Armory with unexpectedly strong crowds and a buoyant mood, defying the typical afternoon lull. Dealers reported heavy foot traffic and sustained conversations, with gallerist Sean Kelly calling it the best edition in years. The fair, running through May 19, features a mix of antiquities, design, modern, and contemporary art, with standout booths including Alison Jacques’s pairing of Dorothea Tanning, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Gordon Parks, and Sean Kelly Gallery’s display of works by Shahzia Sikander and Sam Moyer. The newly launched Pace Di Donna Schrader Galleries made its TEFAF debut with works by Eugène Delacroix, Willem de Kooning, and Alexander Calder.

Gabrielle Goliath’s "Elegy" Comes to Venice

South African artist Gabrielle Goliath’s installation "Elegy" was initially censored by South Africa’s Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, who blocked it from the country’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale over its focus on Palestinian grief. After public outcry and support from several organizations, the work was instead installed in a Venice church, where critic Aruna D’Souza describes it as "hauntingly beautiful and achingly tender." The article also covers related news: a smear campaign against British-Nigerian photographer Misan Harriman for his Palestinian solidarity, and a list of summer art books.

Artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, admired by the Rolling Stones and Leonardo DiCaprio, returns with hometown show

Artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, known for his distinctive collage-like composite portraits, is opening his first solo exhibition in his hometown of Chicago at the National Public Housing Museum. Titled "A Love Letter to My Mother," the show honors his late mother and includes a replica of his family's living room in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project. Quinn, who is represented by Gagosian, has seen his work acquired by major institutions including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. His art will also appear on the cover of the Rolling Stones' forthcoming album "Foreign Tongues."

A True-to-Life Biennale

Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief of Hyperallergic, reflects on the 61st Venice Biennale after returning to New York, describing it as historical, political, and thrilling. He counters critics who claimed the Biennale imploded due to boycotts and resignations, arguing it was more alive than ever. The late Koyo Kouoh's main exhibition "In Minor Keys" is praised for reflecting global woes and joys. The article also highlights a major strike by artists and cultural workers that disrupted the pre-opening, the first cultural strike in the Biennale's 131-year history, with 54 artists in the international exhibition and 22 national pavilion teams withdrawing from awards consideration in solidarity with the jury's resignation.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts receives major gift of photography

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced a major gift of 1,986 photographs from Joy of Giving Something, Inc. (JGS), a nonprofit founded by financier Howard Stein. The donation includes works by over 450 artists, spanning the 19th century to the present, with highlights such as rare daguerreotypes by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, prints by Gustave Le Gray and Eugène Atget, and significant holdings in American documentary photography from figures like Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. The gift follows an earlier 2023 donation of portfolios and series, and positions VMFA to open five new photography galleries in 2027 as part of its expansion.

“Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone” Reconstructs a Life Across Fragments

Boston Art Review (BAR) has published an article titled “Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone” that reconstructs the life of the 19th-century sculptor Edmonia Lewis across fragmented historical records. The piece examines Lewis’s career, her neoclassical marble works, and the challenges of piecing together her biography due to limited archival materials.

Would you sit on this? Australian designers take on the humble chair – in pictures

For the 10th edition of Melbourne Design Week, over 100 chairs by Australian designers are on display in an exhibition titled '100 Chairs', curated by Friends & Associates. Selected from an open call, each chair had to be made in Australia and functional for sitting. The designs range from traditional timber dining chairs to experimental pieces, including a chair that transforms into a table, a horse-shaped chair, and one with a satanic theme. The exhibition is held at South Magdalen Laundry, Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne until 24 May 2026.

Otis College’s Annual O-Launch Exhibition Weekend Showcased Work by Graduating Artists and Designers

Otis College of Art and Design held its annual O-Launch Exhibition Weekend on May 15 and 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. The event featured a campus-wide exhibition of graduating student work across all majors, including Animation, Environmental Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Game and Entertainment Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, and Toy Design. Highlights included an industry preview for employers, an alumni reception, and the Fashion Design program's runway show, which showcased collections from junior and senior students along with mentor projects from brands such as St. John, Vince, Activision, Nike, Vuori, and Wilson Sporting Goods.

Art gallery owner pursues expansion of historic Museum Mile building

Salon 94 founder Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn is pursuing an expansion of a historic building on Museum Mile at 3 East 89th Street in Manhattan. The project aims to enlarge the gallery's footprint on the Upper East Side, a move reported by Crain's New York Business.

Exhibition Recognises Local Artists 19/05/2026

The City of Whittlesea's Belong: 2026 Art Exhibition has opened at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre (PRACC) in South Morang, Australia. Now in its 17th year, the exhibition has reached a record size with 176 artists submitting 245 artworks across diverse media including painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, mosaics, and glasswork. Award winners were announced on May 6, with Rosemary Lugg winning the Mayor's Award for her work 'Fragments,' and other prizes recognizing use of materials, originality, and youth participation. The exhibition runs until May 27 and includes artist talks, workshops, and a People's Choice Award.

Today: Brooklyn Gallery Presents Sefirot Art Exhibition

On May 17, 2026, Hadas Gallery at Chabad of Clinton Hill & Pratt Institute in Brooklyn opens a new exhibition of paintings by local artist Samuel Abelow. The show explores the Kabbalistic concept of the Sefirot and the Omer period leading to Shavuot, featuring seven contemporary paintings alongside a live collaboration and lecture with Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin, author of a book on the subject. The event combines art, spirituality, music, and live teaching in an interactive community setting.