Remembering Pat Steir, one of the 20th century’s late-blooming great artists

Pat Steir, the acclaimed American painter known for her Waterfall series, died in Manhattan on 25 March at age 87. The article traces her career from early struggles as a freelance illustrator and art director, through her transformative encounter with Sol LeWitt in the early 1970s, to her eventual emergence as a major figure in contemporary painting. It highlights her teaching at CalArts and Parsons, her involvement with feminist and artist-run institutions like Heresies and Printed Matter, and the pivotal moment in the early 1980s when she cut up a reproduction of a Jan Brueghel the Elder flower painting into 64 panels, repainting each in a different historical style.

Why Contemporary Artists Are Raiding the Renaissance Toolkit

Three contemporary artists—Alison Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Bühler-Rose, and Nick Doyle—are reviving the Renaissance woodworking techniques of intarsia and marquetry in their current exhibitions. Taylor is showing marquetry hybrid paintings at Jessica Silverman Gallery in San Francisco, Bühler-Rose is presenting a solo booth with Stems Gallery at Independent, and Doyle is also participating in the trend. Their work draws inspiration from the Gubbio Studiolo at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a 15th-century trompe-l'œil room that exemplifies the decorative inlay tradition.

Our Guide to New York Art Week 2026

New York Art Week 2026 brings a major convergence of art events across the city, including several prominent art fairs such as Frieze New York, Independent New York, TEFAF New York, and NADA New York. The week also features gallery openings spanning from Tribeca to the Upper East Side, as well as auction previews ahead of key sales at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips.

Here’s How Stars at the 2026 Met Gala Nodded to Art History

The 2026 Met Gala, themed "Fashion Is Art," saw celebrities and fashion figures wearing outfits directly inspired by or referencing iconic artworks and art historical movements. Notable nods included Chloe Malle in a gown referencing Frederic Leighton's *Flaming June*, Lauren Sánchez Bezos in a Schiaparelli dress echoing John Singer Sargent's *Madame X*, and Hunter Schafer channeling Gustav Klimt's portrait *Mäda Primavesi*. Other attendees like Anne Hathaway, Hailey Bieber, and Karan Johar also drew from specific paintings, sculptures, and poems, while stylist Law Roach wore a hand-painted piece by Gabonese artist Naïla Opiangah.

Who is Yto Barrada, France's representative at the Venice Biennale with a world-spanning work?

Qui est Yto Barrada, représentante de la France à la Biennale de Venise avec une œuvre-monde ?

Yto Barrada, the artist representing France at the 2026 Venice Biennale, has created a multidisciplinary installation titled "Saturne" for the French Pavilion. The work centers on textiles and natural dyeing, weaving together themes of postcolonial history, migration, craft transmission, and the symbolism of Saturn—from its astronomical mystery to its mythological role as the devourer of children. The installation features wool curtains, Aubusson tapestry, goat skins, wasp-nest sculptures, masks, muzzles, a color chart, and video, all housed in a renovated pavilion designed with the help of numerous artisans. Barrada, born in Paris in 1971 and raised in Tangier, founded the Cinémathèque de Tanger and later The Mothership, a research center focused on textiles and natural dyes. The exhibition is curated by Myriam Ben Salah.

Artists made their mark at 2026 Met Gala

The 2026 Met Gala, held on May 4 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, raised a record $42 million for the Costume Institute, surpassing last year's $31 million. Honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos contributed at least $10 million, but their involvement sparked protests outside the event, with demonstrators holding signs like "Tax the Rich" and a group called Everyone Hates Elon leaving fake urine bottles labeled with Bezos's face. Inside, artists made a strong impression: Amy Sherald wore a Thom Browne look based on her painting; Jordan Roth donned a Robert Wun outfit inspired by a Met collection work; and Tschabalala Self collaborated with Brandon Blackwood on a gown evoking Degas's ballerina sculpture. The gala's dress code was "fashion is art," and the accompanying exhibition, "Costume Art" (May 10–January 10, 2027), debuts the Met's new 12,000-square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries.

Next stop – infinity! My transcendental experience on Japan’s ‘art island’ guided by its master Lee Ufan

The article profiles Korean-born artist Lee Ufan, who turns 90 next month, and his transcendental art on Japan's Naoshima island. It describes his upcoming major shows: a retrospective in Venice coinciding with the Biennale, and an exhibition at Dia Beacon in New York. Lee, a key figure in the Mono-ha movement, creates works like the steel arch "Porte Vers l'Infini" on Naoshima that engage with nature and perception. The piece traces his career from early violent, resistant sculptures involving cracked glass and boulders to later meditative paintings and installations.

Ed Ruscha | Billy (1968) | Art & Prints

Ed Ruscha's 1968 exhibition catalogue 'Billy', designed for a show of works by his friend Billy Al Bengston, is being offered for sale. The catalogue features a flocked sandpaper cover, satin ribbon bookmark, and machine screw and hex nut binding, and was published by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for an exhibition that traveled to the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Vancouver Art Gallery. The work is listed on an art marketplace platform with a price of €62,600, and the listing includes details about its condition, provenance, and the artist's broader career.

Amy Sherald Dresses As Her Own Award-Winning Painting for Met Gala

Amy Sherald attended the 2025 Met Gala dressed as the subject of her own award-winning painting, *Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance)* (2014). The work, which won the Outwin Boochever Prize at the National Portrait Gallery and appeared on a *New Yorker* cover, depicts a young girl holding an oversized teacup. Sherald collaborated with designer Thom Browne to recreate the painting's look, including a red fascinator, as part of the gala's theme “Fashion Is Art,” which also aligns with the Costume Institute's exhibition “Costume Art.” Sherald served on the gala's committee alongside artists Anna Weyant and Tschabalala Self.

8 Must-See Art Exhibitions in Tokyo This May

This article, published by Tokyo Weekender, lists eight art exhibitions opening in Tokyo during May. The featured shows span a range of venues and styles, including a solo presentation by Yayoi Kusama at the National Art Center, a group show of contemporary Japanese photography at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, and an installation by teamLab at their borderless digital art museum. Other highlights include a retrospective of the Gutai movement at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and a showcase of emerging artists at the Mori Art Museum.

How Well Do the Met Gala’s Attendees Know Their Art History? We Critique Looks by Madonna, Hunter Schafer, and More

The article critiques nine outfits from the 2026 Met Gala, which was held under the theme 'Fashion Is Art' in conjunction with the Costume Institute's new exhibition 'Costume Art' at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It analyzes how attendees like Hunter Schafer, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and Kylie Jenner referenced specific artworks—such as Gustav Klimt's *Mäda Primavesi* and John Singer Sargent's *Madame X*—in their fashion choices, evaluating the success of these art-historical allusions.

Ken Griffin Acquires Another Copy of the US Constitution, Union Files Charges Against Kennedy Center for Layoffs, and More: Morning Links for May 5, 2026

Billionaire Ken Griffin has acquired a second original copy of the US Constitution via a private sale for an undisclosed amount, making him the owner of the only two known surviving copies in private hands. The first copy, purchased for $43.2 million in 2021, is on view at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, while the second will be exhibited at the South Street Seaport Museum in Manhattan starting May 27 as part of a show on American history for the country's 250th anniversary. Separately, a union for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has filed unfair-labor-practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the center of unlawfully firing dozens of employees under the guise of a planned two-year closure for renovations.

See Some of the Most Outrageous, Stylish Looks at the 2026 Met Gala

The 2026 Met Gala raised $42 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, surpassing last year's $31 million. The event, themed "Costume Art" with a dress code of "Fashion is Art," featured honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, whose involvement sparked protests. Co-chairs included Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with artists Anna Weyant, Tschabalala Self, and Amy Sherald on the host committee. The gala precedes the Costume Institute's spring exhibition, also titled "Costume Art," opening May 10.

The Met’s Costume Institute Needs an Art History Lesson

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute spring exhibition, "Costume Art," pairs fashion with artworks from the Met's collection, including ancient Greek statues and Andy Warhol screenprints, alongside garments by designers from Charles James to CFGNY. Curator Andrew Bolton aims to suggest that fashion can expand understanding of art, but the show's juxtapositions often feel vague and sloppy, with only occasional resonant pairings like a Jean Paul Gaultier shirt and Joe Brainard drawing linked by queer artist lineage.

Museum acquisitions round-up: a rediscovered work by Rosso Fiorentino, a circular painting by Salman Toor and 16th-century gold goblet

The Art Newspaper reports on three notable museum acquisitions: a rediscovered Renaissance painting by Rosso Fiorentino acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a 16th-century silver gilt goblet by Hans Rappolt I acquired by the Siegerland Museum, and a circular painting by Salman Toor donated to the National Gallery of Art. The Rosso Fiorentino work, 'Madonna and Child with Saint John the Evangelist' (1512/13), was thought lost for centuries and was identified after cleaning revealed a hidden figure. The goblet, made around 1581, is a rare example of Nuremberg goldsmithing and was supported by a €75,000 donation from the German Federal Cultural Foundation. The Toor painting, 'Wandering Beggars' (2022), is the first by the artist to enter the NGA's collection, donated by the Bronzini-Vender family.

art venice faustin linyekula the galeazze project dance

Congolese choreographer Faustin Linyekula is staging "The Galeazze Project," a performance commissioned by the Venice-based nonprofit Scuola Piccola Zattere (SPZ) in the 16th-century Galeazze shipyard complex, which has been inaccessible since World War II and never open to the public. The performance, a collateral event of the 2026 Venice Biennale, brings up to 500 people into the 32,291-square-foot open-air ruin for two nights, featuring local students, musicians from the Venetian label Cosmogram, and trumpeter Heru Shabaka-Ra, with a soundtrack composed collaboratively.

Ed Ruscha | A Particular Kind Of Heaven (1983) | Art & Prints

Ed Ruscha's 1983 work "A Particular Kind Of Heaven" is being offered at auction through Tate Ward, with current bidding at £100. The piece is an exhibition poster from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, measuring 61 x 92 cm, and is part of Tate Ward's Urban and Contemporary Art London sale. The listing also shows multiple other Ruscha works available from various sellers, including posters and prints from EHC Fine Art Auction, Blond Contemporary, and Baldwin.

Ascendant Philanthropists Make $23 Million Donation to Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has received a $23 million donation from newly elected trustee Jennifer Rubio and her husband Stewart Butterfield, made through the Rubio Butterfield Foundation. The principal gift will endow the museum's undergraduate and graduate internship program in perpetuity, which will be renamed after the couple starting September 2026. An additional donation supports the Met's new Tang Wing for modern and contemporary art, set to open in 2030.

Jon Batiste, Troye Sivan, and Amy Sherald lead a Met Gala 2026 rooted in art-historical homage.

The 2026 Met Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, centered on the theme "Fashion Is Art," marking the opening of the Costume Institute's spring exhibition "Costume Art." Attendees including Jon Batiste, Troye Sivan, and artist Amy Sherald interpreted the dress code through art-historical references, with Sivan wearing Prada to channel Robert Mapplethorpe. The event brought together fashion, art, entertainment, and high society to make a deliberate case for fashion as a legitimate art form.

Ed Ruscha | Clock (1994) | Art & Prints

This article presents Ed Ruscha's 1994 print "Clock," a Mixografia print on handmade paper measuring 40 1/2 × 34 inches, part of a limited edition of 75 plus 7 artist's proofs. The work is being offered by Upsilon Gallery, which has locations in New York, London, Miami, and Milan. The article includes a biography of Ruscha, noting his career since the 1960s, his use of unusual materials like gunpowder and Pepto Bismol, his representation of the United States at the 2005 Venice Biennale, and his auction record of $68.3 million at Christie's in 2024.

Ed Ruscha | Vintage Ed Ruscha exhibition poster - Mountain serie… (2010) | For Sale

This is a listing for a vintage Ed Ruscha exhibition poster from his "Mountain series" (2010), offered for sale by Baldwin Gallery (London/Dubai) on Artsy. The offset lithograph on paper measures 39.4 × 27.2 inches, is from an unknown edition, unsigned, and includes a certificate of authenticity. The price is £3,250, with shipping available from London.

The Artist Who Turned Kim Kardashian Into a Living Sculpture Has an Exhibition in Paris

The Sceners Gallery in Paris is hosting “Forms and Temptations,” an exhibition of works by British Pop Art pioneer Allen Jones, coinciding with Kim Kardashian wearing a Jones-inspired fiberglass breastplate at the 2026 Met Gala. The show features Jones’s eroticized female mannequins and sculptures, including “Red Refrigerator” and “Cover Story 4/4,” displayed alongside high-end decorative furniture from designers like Carlo Bugatti and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Jones, now 88, collaborated with Kardashian on her Met Gala look, which re-edited a cast from 1967/68.

Andy Warhol | Ace Gallery Exhibition Poster "The American Indian S… (1976) | For Sale

An Andy Warhol offset lithograph poster from his 1976-1977 "American Indian Series" is being offered for sale by Revolver Gallery in West Hollywood. The poster, designed to advertise Warhol's exhibition at Ace Gallery Los Angeles in February 1977, depicts Native American civil rights activist Russel Means, a member of the American Indian Movement. Warhol created three different posters for consecutive exhibitions at Flow Ace Gallery Paris (October 1976), Ace Gallery Vancouver (November 1976), and Ace Gallery Los Angeles (February 1977), with this blue version corresponding to the Los Angeles show. The work is signed by Warhol, includes a certificate of authenticity, and is priced at $2,860.

Dallas Museum of Art acquires six works at 2026 Dallas Art Fair

The Dallas Museum of Art acquired six works from the 2026 Dallas Art Fair, held April 16–19 at the Fashion Industry Gallery in the Dallas Arts District. The acquisitions, made possible by the Dallas Art Fair Foundation + Dallas Museum of Art Acquisition Fund, include pieces by Nicole Eisenman, Gloria Klein, Caroline Monnet, Hasani Sahlehe, and Raymond Saunders. Selections were made by DMA curators including Dr. Vivian Li, Ade Omotosho, Dr. Emily Friedman, Dr. Nicole R. Myers, and director Brian Ferriso. This marks the tenth year of the fund, which has added 78 works to the museum's permanent collection since 2016 through over $1 million in donations.

Pablo Picasso | AR310 Mask (1956) | For Sale

This article presents a Pablo Picasso ceramic mask, AR310 Mask (1956), available for sale through Leona Craig Art in Hong Kong for US$21,000. The work is an edition of 300, made from A.R. white clay with engobes and oxidized paraffin decoration. The provenance describes how Picasso first visited Vallauris in 1946 after a Paris exhibition, was inspired by ceramicist Suzanne Hammier, and later returned with Matisse and Chagall to see his fired pieces, eventually staying for nearly thirty years.

Serpentine to stage major solo exhibition by Amar Kanwar

Serpentine has announced a major solo exhibition by Amar Kanwar, opening at Serpentine North on 23 September 2026 and running until 31 January 2027. The show will feature landmark works from Kanwar's career, including the feature-length film *Such a Morning* (2017), the seven-screen installation *The Peacock's Graveyard* (2023), and the world premiere of a new multi-screen work, *The Charcoal Man* (2026), commissioned by Serpentine. Kanwar, based in New Delhi, is known for poetic, politically charged moving-image works that explore decolonisation, the Partition of India and Pakistan, displacement, violence, justice, ecology, and memory.

Joan Miró | Exhibition at Pasadena Art Museum (1969) | For Sale

A limited-edition lithograph by Joan Miró, created for his 1969 exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum, is being offered for sale through Heritage Auctions. The print, edition 82/100, is in colors on Arches paper and measures 29.5 by 22.13 inches. Currently carrying a bid of $1,500, it is estimated at $3,000–$5,000 and is part of the auction house's Prints & Multiples Showcase, with bidding closing on May 20.

Joan Miró | Miró Sculptor (1974) | For Sale

A lithograph by Joan Miró titled "Miró Sculptor" (1974) is being offered for sale by Bernardini Art Gallery & Auction House in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico. The work, sized 20 × 40 cm, is priced at $2,200 and comes framed with a certificate of authenticity. The listing includes a brief biography of Miró, noting his association with Surrealism, his pioneering role in automatism, and his major career milestones including the Grand Prize for Graphic Work at the 1954 Venice Biennale and exhibitions at the first Documenta in 1955.

Joan Miró | Osaka 1970 (1970) | For Sale

A lithograph by Joan Miró titled "Osaka 1970" (1970) is being offered for sale by Bernardini Art Gallery & Auction House, priced between $7,800 and $8,400. The work is a signed-in-plate print from an unknown edition, measuring 29.9 × 22.4 inches, and comes framed with a certificate of authenticity. The listing appears on Artsy, with shipping available from Querétaro, Mexico.

Met Gala Memes That Ate the Rich and Left No Crumbs

The article covers the 2026 Met Gala, sponsored by Jeff and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and the intense online backlash it generated. Despite a dress code of "Fashion is Art," celebrities faced merciless mockery on social media for their looks, with particular scorn directed at Lauren Sánchez Bezos's Schiaparelli gown inspired by John Singer Sargent's "Madame X." The criticism was amplified by weeks-long protests against Amazon's labor practices and Bezos's involvement, as well as the museum's own unionized employees speaking out. The piece compiles the most inventive and cutting memes from X (formerly Twitter), targeting everything from fashion fails to political hypocrisy.