‘Money! Glamour! Yachts! But not for me!’ Adrian Searle relives 30 glorious years as our chief art critic

Adrian Searle, the outgoing chief art critic for The Guardian, reflects on his 30-year career by recounting a vivid, personal montage of the art he has witnessed. He describes unforgettable encounters with works ranging from Vermeer's intimate paintings to Fiona Banner's suspended jet fighter, Roger Hiorns's crystal-filled flat, and Emily Jacir's poignant project on Palestinian displacement, highlighting how these experiences blend memory, story, and direct observation into a critic's life.

Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ Could Leave Madrid for the First Time in Over 30 Years

The Basque regional government has formally requested a temporary loan of Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica' from Madrid's Museo Reina Sofía to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao for a period from October 2026 to June 2027. This would mark the painting's first movement since 1992 and is timed to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the bombing of Guernica. The request faces strong opposition from the Reina Sofía, which has released a conservation report stating the monumental canvas is too fragile to travel.

Christie’s to sell an almost unknown Van Gogh double-sided drawing

A previously obscure double-sided drawing by Vincent van Gogh, created in the final weeks of his life, will be auctioned by Christie's in Paris. The sheet features a study of female pea pickers on one side and a landscape on the other, complete with color notations indicating Van Gogh's intention to develop them into paintings. The work has been authenticated by the Van Gogh Museum and carries an estimate of €100,000-€150,000.

What We Miss When We Talk About Giacometti

This article explores a critical reevaluation of Alberto Giacometti’s career, specifically focusing on the decade between 1935 and 1945. While Giacometti is globally recognized for his spindly, post-war 'Existentialist' figures, art historian Joanna Fiduccia’s new book, *Figures of Crisis*, argues that his mid-career departure from Surrealism to study human likeness was not a mere transition but a profound response to the political crises and nationalism of interwar France.

Sea change: inside LACMA’s new curatorial strategy

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is debuting a radical curatorial overhaul within its new David Geffen Galleries, moving away from traditional 19th-century departmental silos. Led by Director Michael Govan and a team of 45 curators, the museum is implementing a cross-disciplinary approach that organizes the collection around "oceanic nodes"—the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. This strategy allows for the juxtaposition of disparate media and cultures, such as contemporary photography alongside ancient textiles, to highlight the historical circulation of ideas and people across bodies of water.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries reframe 6,000 years of history

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is preparing to open its new $720m David Geffen Galleries, a massive undulating concrete structure designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor. Spanning Wilshire Boulevard, the new building adds 110,000 square feet of gallery space and 3.5 acres of public parkland, marking the completion of a two-decade capital project led by Director Michael Govan. The facility will house the museum’s permanent collection, which has been largely out of public view for seven years, and features innovative exhibition strategies such as hanging artworks directly onto concrete walls.

Hampshire College, Whose Alumni List Includes Many Well-Known Artists, to Close After 51 Years

Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, has announced it will officially close following the fall 2026 semester, ending 51 years of operation. The decision follows a period of significant financial instability, including a reported $20 million debt and a failure to meet enrollment targets. The college has established agreements with regional institutions, such as Smith College and Bennington College, to allow current students to complete their degrees elsewhere.

Hirshhorn Museum Director Melissa Chiu Leaves for Guggenheim, Another Smithsonian Departure

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, departing her long-standing role at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Starting September 1, Chiu will report to Mariët Westermann, CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, effectively splitting the leadership responsibilities previously held by Richard Armstrong. During her decade-long tenure at the Hirshhorn, Chiu was known for staging massive blockbuster exhibitions, including the record-breaking Yayoi Kusama "Infinity Mirror Rooms" show, though she also faced criticism for commercial ventures like a reality TV competition.

Lalanne mirrors owned by Yves Saint Laurent and a classic Diane Arbus photo: our pick of the April auctions

Major auction houses are preparing for a series of high-profile sales in April, headlined by a suite of fifteen gilt-bronze mirrors by Claude Lalanne. Originally commissioned for the Paris apartment of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, the mirrors are expected to fetch between $10m and $15m at Sotheby’s. Other notable lots include a rare Diane Arbus photograph from the collection of Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, a pastoral landscape by Russian artist Konstantin Somov, and a centuries-old drawing based on Albrecht Dürer’s famous rhinoceros woodcut.

Closure of DePaul Art Museum leaves collection in limbo

DePaul University has announced the permanent closure of the DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) effective June 30, citing a projected $27.4m budget deficit for 2026. Despite an open letter signed by over 3,000 students and faculty, the administration is moving forward with the shutdown of the $7.8m facility that has served as a cultural anchor since 2011. Director Laura-Caroline de Lara had successfully raised funds to keep the museum operational through the current season, but the university's leadership remains committed to the closure as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative.

Met Museum to Stage Giacometti Show in Temple of Dendur This Summer

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced a rare exhibition of Alberto Giacometti’s sculptures to be staged within the iconic Temple of Dendur this summer. Titled “Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur,” the show will feature 17 works, including "Walking Woman (I)" and "Women of Venice," marking a significant departure for the ancient Egyptian site which seldom hosts temporary exhibitions.

Guillaume Cerutti Departs Pinault Collection, Rediscovered Napoleon Hat on View, and More: Morning Links for March 27, 2026

Guillaume Cerutti has been dismissed from his role as president of the Pinault Collection, the vast private art collection of French billionaire François Pinault, after only 13 months in the position. The departure is sudden and unexplained, with the 89-year-old Pinault reportedly set to assume the duties himself. Separately, a long-forgotten bicorn hat belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte has been rediscovered in storage and will be displayed at the Musée Condé in France.

Giacometti Meets the Gods in the Met’s Temple of Dendur Show

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced a landmark exhibition titled "Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur," which will place the Swiss sculptor’s slender, modernist figures within the museum’s iconic 1st-century B.C.E. Egyptian temple. Opening in June, the show features fourteen loans from the Fondation Giacometti alongside works from the Met’s permanent collection, including the placement of "Walking Woman (I)" inside the temple’s offering hall to mimic ancient cult statuary.

Dartmouth Students Renew Calls to Remove Leon Black’s Name From Arts Center

Students at Dartmouth College have intensified their campaign to remove billionaire collector Leon Black’s name from the school’s visual arts center. The renewed push follows the release of Department of Justice files detailing Black’s extensive financial ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including $170 million in payments for tax and estate advice. While Black has denied all allegations of misconduct and his legal team maintains he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities, student leaders are citing the college's recent decision to strip César Chávez’s name from a fellowship as a precedent for moral accountability.

A Brush With... Hurvin Anderson—podcast

British painter Hurvin Anderson discusses his artistic journey and the cultural influences that shape his work in a new interview. Born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents, Anderson creates atmospheric paintings that explore the textures of memory and the diasporic experience, often blending imagery of Britain and the Caribbean to reflect the feeling of being in one place while thinking of another.

Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu Departs to Lead Guggenheim Museum

Melissa Chiu is stepping down as director of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden after a decade-long tenure to lead the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Appointed by Guggenheim Foundation CEO Mariët Westermann, Chiu will officially assume her new role on September 1, while deputy director Aaron Seeto takes the interim helm at the Hirshhorn.

The Artist Whose Shimmering Obelisks Are Cropping Up All Over the World

Artist Gisela Colón is currently the subject of a major retrospective at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC), showcasing her signature "monoliths" and iridescent obelisks. These monumental sculptures, which have appeared in global locations ranging from the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Saudi Arabian desert, utilize advanced aerospace carbon fiber and site-specific minerals to create shifting, phenomenological experiences. The exhibition tracks her evolution from 1996 to the present, highlighting her unique ability to blend high-tech materials with ancient totemic forms.

Why Was Sarah Miriam Peale, Pioneering Member of America’s First Art Dynasty, Left Behind?

Sarah Miriam Peale, a member of the prominent Peale art dynasty and arguably the first professional woman artist in the United States, is finally receiving long-overdue institutional recognition. Despite a prolific sixty-year career painting portraits of political figures and still lifes in Baltimore and St. Louis, her legacy was largely overshadowed by her uncle Charles Willson Peale and her male cousins. Her independence as an unmarried woman who supported herself entirely through her craft marked a radical departure from the gender norms of the 19th century.

Kamrooz Aram Is Everywhere

Iranian artist Kamrooz Aram is currently experiencing a significant institutional and commercial moment, with his work appearing in three major exhibitions across two continents simultaneously. Critic Aruna D’Souza highlights Aram’s ability to synthesize Islamic visual idioms with Western abstraction, creating a painterly language that transcends cultural hierarchies and treats historical narratives with a unique lightness.

‘He sent someone to intimidate me’: Christopher Anderson, the photographer who shot Jeffrey Epstein

Photographer Christopher Anderson has revealed the details behind his 2015 encounter with Jeffrey Epstein, whom he photographed for a cancelled New York magazine profile. Anderson describes a series of unsettling interactions, including Epstein's attempts to buy the image rights for $20,000 and the eventual dispatch of a "mafia-esque" intimidator to Anderson's studio to seize a hard drive. The photographer's email exchanges with Epstein’s staff were recently made public as part of the Department of Justice's release of the Epstein files.

The Centre Pompidou will inaugurate its South Korean branch in a former Seoul aquarium in early June

Le Centre Pompidou inaugurera début juin son antenne sud-coréenne dans un ancien aquarium de Séoul

The Centre Pompidou has announced the official opening date for its new South Korean satellite, the Centre Pompidou Hanwha, scheduled for June 4, 2026. Located in a former aquarium within Seoul’s financial district, the 11,000-square-meter space was redesigned by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and will launch with a major cubism exhibition featuring 90 works by masters such as Picasso and Braque. The inauguration was recently marked by a site visit from French President Emmanuel Macron and key cultural officials.

At the Grand Palais, the Art Paris Fair Focuses on Language, with a BNP Paribas Private Bank Prize at Stake

Au Grand Palais, la foire Art Paris s’intéresse à la question du langage, avec un Prix BNP Paribas Banque Privée à la clé

The 28th edition of the Art Paris fair is set to return to the Grand Palais in 2026, featuring a mix of 60% French and 40% international galleries. This year’s edition emphasizes emerging talent through its 'Promesses' sector and introduces a strong curatorial focus with two thematic paths: 'Reparation,' curated by Alexia Fabre, and 'Babel,' curated by Loïc Le Gall. The latter explores the intersection of language, signs, and translation through the work of 20 artists from the French scene.

Melissa Chiu Appointed Head of Guggenheim New York

Melissa Chiu nommée à la tête du Guggenheim New York

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, effective September 1. Currently the head of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., Chiu succeeds Mariët Westermann, who will transition to a strategic role overseeing the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s international network. Chiu brings a proven track record of fundraising, having secured nearly $250 million during her tenure at the Hirshhorn, and is credited with significantly increasing attendance and diversifying the museum's collections.

The Triumphant New LACMA Has the Potential to Rewrite Art History

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is set to open its new $724 million David Geffen Galleries, designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The building features a radical, non-linear layout that eschews traditional chronological and geographical hierarchies, allowing artworks from 15 different curatorial departments to be displayed in conversation with one of another. Despite years of controversy regarding its concrete design and a 10 percent reduction in exhibition space, the museum is positioning the new structure as a flexible "laboratory" for global art history.

Stolen Van Gogh Back on View at Dutch Museum After Dramatic Restoration

A Vincent van Gogh painting, 'The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring,' stolen from the Singer Laren museum in 2020, has been restored and returned to public display at the Groninger Museum. The painting was recovered in 2023 by Dutch police and art sleuth Arthur Brand, and underwent a meticulous, months-long restoration by conservator Marjan de Visser to repair damage and remove historical overpainting.

Getty Center to Close in Los Angeles as Major Renovation Looms

The Getty Center in Los Angeles will close for a full year starting March 15, 2027, to undergo its first major renovation since opening in 1997. The "modernization initiatives" include updates to the galleries, a redesign of the Welcome Hall with a new café, and the replacement of the iconic tram system to increase passenger capacity. During the closure, the Getty Villa in Malibu will remain open and display highlights from the Center’s permanent collection, while additional programming will be held at a temporary space on Sepulveda Boulevard.

What If Every City Provided Artists With Free Supplies?

Materials for the Arts (MFTA), a program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, provides free art supplies and tools to over 4,500 organizations, including public schools, nonprofits, and social justice groups. By diverting millions of pounds of materials from landfills—ranging from film production sets to high-end fabrics—the organization has reallocated over $40 million worth of goods to the creative community. The program's leadership is now advocating for an expansion of this model, envisioning dedicated reuse centers in every borough to meet the growing demand for accessible creative resources.

Rare Leonora Carrington Sketches of Her Inner Turmoil Resurface in London Show

Rare sketches by Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington, created during her 1940 confinement in a Spanish psychiatric hospital, have been reunited and are on display at London's Freud Museum. The exhibition, "Leonora Carrington: The Symptomatic Surreal," features sketchbooks that reimagined the hospital as a mythological underworld and served as preparatory studies for her seminal painting Down Below.

Art Paris 2026: 10 Booths for Great Discoveries

Art Paris 2026 : 10 stands pour faire de belles découvertes

The 28th edition of Art Paris has opened at the Grand Palais, marked by a vibrant and optimistic atmosphere. The fair features a diverse array of works ranging from Fabrice Hyber’s monumental inflatable bears at the entrance to a curated selection of contemporary ceramics, textiles, and innovative paintings. A central highlight is the "Reparation" thematic itinerary curated by Alexia Fabre, which connects various artists through the concept of healing and transformation.

At the Grand Palais, the Art Paris 2026 Fair is Rich with Great Promise

Au Grand Palais, la foire Art Paris 2026 riche de belles promesses

The Art Paris 2026 fair is set to return to the Grand Palais, solidifying its reputation as a vibrant, French-focused alternative to the more elite Art Basel Paris. Under the long-term leadership of artistic director Guillaume Piens, the edition will feature 165 exhibitors, with a deliberate 60% representation of French galleries. The fair's structure includes the "Promesses" sector for emerging galleries curated by Marc Donnadieu, alongside two major thematic paths: "Babel – Art and Language in France" curated by Loïc Le Gall, and "Reparation" curated by Alexia Fabre.