Thomas J Price, Artist Behind Viral Times Square Sculpture, Unveils New Bronze in London

Thomas J Price, Artist Behind Viral Times Square Sculpture, Unveils New Bronze in London

Thomas J Price has unveiled a monumental new bronze sculpture, *A Place Beyond*, at the entrance to the V&A East museum in London. The 18-foot-tall figure, his tallest work to date, depicts a young Black woman in contemporary clothing holding a cell phone, created from a composite of many individuals rather than a single model. The sculpture will greet visitors when the new museum branch opens next month.

Where Does "Guernica" Belong?

Wohin gehört "Guernica"?

Basque Prime Minister Imanol Pradales has formally requested the temporary transfer of Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece "Guernica" from Madrid to the Basque Country. The proposal seeks to exhibit the monumental 1937 anti-war painting at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao for nine months starting in late 2026 to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the town's bombing. While the work depicts the destruction of the Basque town of Gernika by Nazi and Italian fascist forces, it has resided at the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid since 1992.

Caravaggio Documentary Will Premiere on Marquee TV Next Week

A feature-length documentary about Baroque painter Caravaggio, directed by Phil Grabsky and David Bickerstaff, will premiere on the streaming platform Marquee TV on April 6. The film, part of the "Exhibition on Screen" series, was previously released in theaters last fall and focuses on the artist's innovative painting style rather than his notorious personal life.

Which City Will Be the Next Asian Art Hub? That’s the Wrong Question

The traditional quest to identify a single dominant Asian art hub is being challenged by the organic growth of decentralized scenes in cities like Bangkok and Hanoi. While Hong Kong and Seoul remain established centers, private initiatives and artist-led projects in Thailand and Vietnam are building resilient, hybrid ecosystems that prioritize long-term structural depth over immediate auction results. From the opening of Dib Bangkok to experimental exhibitions in Hanoi, these cities are transitioning from peripheral status to significant cultural players through a mix of private museums, biennials, and non-profit platforms.

Transformative Director Madeleine Grynsztejn to Leave MCA Chicago

Madeleine Grynsztejn, the director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago since 2008, will step down at the end of 2026. Her departure marks the end of an 18-year tenure during which she significantly expanded the museum's budget and collection, secured major donations, and launched high-profile exhibitions and artist-focused programs.

Guggenheim Museum Gets a New Director

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has appointed Melissa Chiu as its next director, succeeding Richard Armstrong. Chiu joins the New York flagship institution after a twelve-year tenure at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., and is expected to assume her new role this coming September.

The National Gallery expands with Kengo Kuma

La National Gallery s'agrandit avec Kengo Kuma

The National Gallery in London has commissioned renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma to lead a significant expansion and redesign project. The initiative aims to modernize the museum's infrastructure and create more fluid, accessible spaces for its world-class collection of European paintings.

Guggenheim Museum Appoints Melissa Chiu as Next Director

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has appointed Melissa Chiu as its new director, effective September 1. Chiu joins the New York flagship after a 12-year tenure at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, where she was credited with doubling attendance and significantly increasing fundraising. Her appointment is part of a leadership restructuring by Guggenheim Foundation Director and CEO Mariët Westermann, who will shift her focus toward the foundation's international outposts, including the upcoming Abu Dhabi location.

Toleen Touq to curate next MOMENTA Biennale

MOMENTA Biennale d’art contemporain in Montreal has appointed curator and educator Toleen Touq to organize its 20th edition, scheduled for 2027. The biennial will be titled 'The Long Now' and will focus on interrogating concepts of time and duration.

NEXT in the Gallery: April art includes baseballs, ambiguous boundaries and scraposaurs

Pittsburgh’s art scene is preparing for a busy spring season with a diverse array of exhibitions opening across the city’s galleries and public spaces. Highlights include Hugh Watkins’ multi-disciplinary retrospective at Christine Fréchard Gallery, Dale Lewis’s massive "Scraposaurs" sculptures made from recycled metal at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and a unique exhibition of hand-painted baseballs by the late umpire George Sosnak. These shows serve as a creative prelude to major upcoming regional events like the 59th Carnegie International and the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

David Geffen Settles Divorce With David Armstrong After Bitter Legal Fight

Billionaire art collector and entertainment mogul David Geffen has reached a private settlement with his estranged husband, David Armstrong, ending a contentious legal battle. The divorce proceedings gained significant public attention due to the absence of a prenuptial agreement and serious allegations of exploitation and psychological manipulation leveled by Armstrong. While the financial terms remain confidential, the settlement concludes months of litigation over spousal support and asset division following their two-year marriage.

London’s Timothy Taylor to Close New York Outpost After a Decade

London gallery Timothy Taylor will close its New York outpost next month after nearly a decade of operation. The gallery cited current market conditions and the high costs of maintaining a second permanent space as reasons for the consolidation, though it will maintain an office and viewing room in the city.

It’s LACMA’s World, and Hollywood Wants to Play in It

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) celebrated the opening of its new David Geffen Galleries with a star-studded gala that raised nearly $11.5 million. The event brought together architect Peter Zumthor, museum director Michael Govan, and a high-profile mix of Hollywood celebrities, artists, and major donors. The $720 million building, Zumthor's first major project in the United States, marks the culmination of a decades-long development process and is set to open to the public next week.

Expo 2026 Recap | Silver Room Block Party Returns | Pita Inn Opening in the City

Expo Chicago 2026 concluded with a strategic downsizing of its floor plan at Navy Pier, a move that drew praise from dealers for increasing the quality and manageability of the fair. Significant market activity was reported, including six-figure sales of works by Robert Nava and Luftwerk, alongside the distribution of the Northern Trust Purchase Prize which gifted several artworks to institutions like the Denver Art Museum and The Phillips Collection. Beyond the fair, the Illinois Arts Council announced over $325,000 in grants for public art projects commemorating the U.S. semiquincentennial.

Woman With Her Back to the Viewer in Gallery Photos Speaks Out

A satirical article features an exclusive interview with the fictional archetype "Woman With Her Back to the Viewer in All Those Gallery Photos." She describes her daily routine of posing ambiguously next to artworks, her artistic influences like Caspar David Friedrich, and the challenges of her unseen labor, including a lack of sales commission and the need for side hustles like making herself blurry in photos.

Behind All Beautiful Things Lies Suffering

"Hinter allen schönen Dingen liegt ein Leiden"

The art market is undergoing a profound structural transformation as a new generation of collectors shifts focus away from traditional blue-chip masters like Cy Twombly and Mark Rothko. These 'NextGen' buyers, socialized through the internet and Instagram, prioritize identity-building over status, favoring streetwear, digital art by figures like Refik Anadol, and music memorabilia over classical painting. Meanwhile, institutional shifts are occurring globally: Greece has introduced specific legislation to criminalize the production of art forgeries, and LACMA director Michael Govan is defending the $724 million Peter Zumthor-designed expansion as a necessary 'magnet' for attracting major donations.

The Art of Appearing

De l’art de paraître

The Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris is hosting an exhibition titled "Révéler le féminin," which explores the intersection of 18th-century fashion and portraiture. Curated in collaboration with the Palais Galliera and the Musée d’arts de Nantes, the show features works by prominent portraitists like Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun and Maurice Quentin de La Tour alongside rare period textiles. The exhibition examines how the rising bourgeoisie used clothing as a visual language of prestige and social standing during the Enlightenment.

Portland Museum of Art Buys New Building For $14 M., Freeing Up Space For Exhibitions

The Portland Museum of Art (PMA) has finalized a $14 million acquisition of a downtown building and two adjacent parking lots from MaineHealth. Located on Free Street next to the museum's current campus, the facility will house administrative offices, allowing the museum to convert existing office space into new public galleries.

Gods, emperors and eagles restored in Blenheim Palace roof-rescue mission

Blenheim Palace is nearing the completion of a £12m conservation project, the most extensive in the 300-year history of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Led by Donald Insall Associates, the initiative involved a massive logistical effort, including the construction of 31 miles of scaffolding and a one-acre protective tent to repair rotting timbers, crumbling stonework, and leaking roofs. The restoration also addressed the palace's iconic Baroque skyline, featuring statues of gods, emperors, and a 30-tonne marble bust of Louis XIV.

What the Art Market Still Gets Wrong About Next-Gen Collectors

Art market expert Georgina Adam's new book, 'NextGen Collectors and the Art Market,' analyzes the industry's struggle to attract and retain younger buyers like millennials and Gen Z. She examines the difficulty in defining this demographic, their shifting tastes away from traditional blue-chip artists, and their volatile, less loyal market behavior.

Frieze Breakout Stars in the 2026 Whitney Biennial

The 2026 Whitney Biennial features a notable contingent of artists who first gained significant attention through their presentations at Frieze art fairs. Artists like Precious Okoyomon and Jordan Strafer, whose work was showcased at Frieze events, are now included in this prestigious survey of contemporary American art.

L.A.’s New D Line Stations Have Transformed Into Enormous Underground Art Galleries Ahead Of Next Month's Opening — Here's A Look At The Mesmerizing Large-Scale Murals

Los Angeles Metro is set to unveil three new stations on the D Line Extension on May 8, 2026, featuring massive site-specific art installations. The Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega stations have been transformed into underground galleries showcasing large-scale murals, mosaics, and photographic works by prominent Los Angeles-based artists including Karl Haendel, Eamon Ore-Giron, and Ken Gonzales Day.

LACMA's David Geffen Galleries set to open next month

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that the David Geffen Galleries will officially open to the public on May 4, 2026. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the $724 million horizontal concrete and glass structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and replaces four aging buildings. The new facility features a single-story main exhibition level dedicated to the museum’s permanent collection, supported by seven ground-level pavilions housing educational spaces, a theater, and retail outlets.

Jitish Kallat appointed Kochi-Muziris Biennale president

The Kochi Biennale Foundation has appointed contemporary artist and curator Jitish Kallat as the new president of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. He will chair the selection committee for the next edition's curator, succeeding co-founder Bose Krishnamachari, who resigned earlier this year.

From ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Downton Abbey’—Iconic Costumes Go on View in Scotland

An exhibition titled "Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop" is opening at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, featuring over 80 iconic costumes from major film and television productions such as 'Game of Thrones,' 'Downton Abbey,' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' The show, which premiered last year in London, celebrates the six-decade legacy of the renowned costume house Cosprop, founded by Oscar-winning designer John Bright.

‘The art gallery became a form of protest’: Students in Curatorial Practices prepare for the art world beyond Emerson

Students at Emerson College recently completed a comprehensive curatorial project titled "Gather," an exhibition that served as the capstone for their Curatorial Practices course. Tasked with managing every facet of the show—from registrarial duties and marketing to the physical installation of artworks—the students juried a regional open call that resulted in a final selection of 14 artists. The project was designed to provide a holistic understanding of the industry, moving beyond the siloed experience of traditional museum internships to prepare students for a volatile professional landscape.

Jamie Robertson’s soft heat at Houston Center for Photography, Houston

Jamie Robertson’s solo exhibition, "soft heat," at the Houston Center for Photography presents a series of infrared photographs documenting Southern wetlands, including Caddo Lake and the Great Dismal Swamp. Using archival pigment prints and a zine titled "Alligatorwatergreen," Robertson utilizes thermosensational imagery to transform dense marshlands into ethereal, snow-like landscapes. The work incorporates archival figures, such as a liberated formerly enslaved man named Osman, to highlight the historical role of swamps as sites of maroonage and Black resistance.

IRL/url Celebration

Art21, in partnership with the CHANEL Culture Fund, launched its new "IRL/url" documentary series with a celebratory event at New York's Roxy Cinema. The series profiles eight contemporary artists—including Neïl Beloufa, Jacky Connolly, and Sara Cwynar—who navigate the blended realms of physical and digital creation. Art21's executive director emphasized the urgency of capturing this moment, as artists grapple with rapid technological advances, particularly in AI.

Smithsonian’s governing body quietly losing members

The Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents is shrinking, with two members' terms expiring in March and no replacements announced. A third regent's term expires next week, with three more set to end in the autumn, and there are no concrete plans to fill these vacancies. The delay stems from a requirement for both Congress and the President to approve new members.

In a Rome Exhibition, Nature Participates in the Creation of Artworks

In una mostra a Roma la natura partecipa alla creazione delle opere

Artist Pietro Pasolini presents his latest body of work, "Ossigrafie," in the solo exhibition "Il tempo inciso" at Galleria Valentina Bonomo in Rome. Moving away from his origins as a travel photojournalist, Pasolini has developed a sustainable, experimental technique that utilizes metal plates—specifically brass and copper—interacted with by natural elements like palm leaves, vines, water, and fire. These works require months to complete, as the artist allows the natural world to act as a co-creator, moving away from the environmentally harmful chemicals associated with traditional darkroom photography.