Lee Ufan: ‘I try to bring together those things which are made and unmade’

Lee Ufan, the South Korean artist and founding member of the Mono-ha movement, is being honored with a major solo exhibition at SMAC San Marco Art Centre as an official Collateral Event of the Venice Biennale, marking his 90th year. Simultaneously, a new display of his painting and sculpture opens at Dia Beacon in New York State, and his first show in Portugal opens at Casa e Parque de Serralves in July. In an interview with The Art Newspaper, Ufan discusses his artistic journey, his rejection of the artist's hand, and the influence of seeing a Barnett Newman exhibition at MoMA in 1971, which led him to develop his signature From Point and From Line paintings that use repeated marks to express the passage of time.

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.

Notes from New York: The World in a Convex Mirror

The article reviews the sixth edition of MoMA PS1's quinquennial survey 'Greater New York 2026,' which coincides with the institution's 50th anniversary. It highlights works by artists such as Covey Gong, Win McCarthy, Mekko Harjo, and Sophie Friedman-Pappas, noting how the exhibition's themeless structure and use of reflective surfaces create a hall of distorted reflections. The show includes 53 emerging and midcareer artists, mostly millennials, and is accompanied by a block party and gala rather than a dedicated commemorative exhibition like FORTY (2016).

Sur Arte Radio et dans une expo, l’enquête d’Adrianna Wallis sur les traces de sa grand-mère peintre spoliée par les nazis

Artist Adrianna Wallis (born 1981) discovers that her paternal grandmother, painter Diane Esmond (1910–1981), was a victim of Nazi looting during World War II. After being contacted by historians Patricia Helletzgruber and Sophie Juliard, Wallis learns that much of Esmond's work was systematically destroyed by the ERR, the Nazi organization responsible for art theft in occupied countries. This revelation sparks a personal investigation that becomes a podcast for Arte Radio titled "Il restera la gravité," blending documentary, autobiographical inquiry, and sound installation. Wallis delves into archives, examining microfilms and lists that detail 46 of Esmond's paintings—each methodically described and declared destroyed, such as "Woman in blue evening dress: annihilated."

'You Must Change Your Life' at GRIMM, New York, United States on 26 Jun–7 Aug 2026

GRIMM gallery in New York presents "You Must Change Your Life," a group exhibition curated by Tom Morton, running from June 26 to August 7, 2026. The show features an international roster of painters and sculptors including Alexander Tovborg, Elinor Stanley, Sophie Ruigrok, Sara Rossberg, Jhonatan Pulido, Ken Kiff, Matthew Day Jackson, Ted Gahl, Gabriella Boyd, Anderson Borba, Kinga Bartis, Mahesh Baliga, and Charles Avery. The exhibition takes its title from the final line of Rainer Maria Rilke's poem "Archaic Torso of Apollo" (1918), exploring themes of how the past speaks to the present, the animation of materials, the fragment as synecdoche, and the transformative power of visual contemplation.

What Makes a Photograph a Photograph? The Photography Show 2026 Offers New Perspectives

The Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) has announced the 45th edition of The Photography Show, scheduled to take place at New York’s Park Avenue Armory from April 22–26, 2026. The fair will feature 77 galleries, ranging from long-standing participants like Edwynn Houk Gallery to first-time exhibitors such as Galerie Sophie Scheidecker and Central Server Works. A significant addition to this year's programming is the debut of "Focal Point," a new sector dedicated exclusively to solo presentations that explore the experimental and evolving nature of lens-based media.

TikTok Shop adds ‘fine art’ category—will it disrupt the art market?

TikTok Shop has launched a new "fine art" category within its collectibles section, allowing artists to sell original artworks directly through shoppable videos, photographs, and livestreams. The category debuted with a three-hour live sale by artist Sophie Tea, who created a series of 20 oil paintings titled *Bric-a-Brac* and sold them for £2,800 each. The sale faced technical glitches—items added to baskets were prematurely marked as sold, causing confusion—and required workarounds for TikTok's pricing caps, automatic discounts, and shipping policies.

Emmanuel Perrotin, the Parisian gallery owner who conquered the world

Emmanuel Perrotin, the founder of the global Perrotin gallery network, reflects on a career defined by disruption and the democratization of contemporary art. From his early days as an outsider without industry connections to managing 160 employees across four continents, Perrotin has utilized high-profile stunts—such as Maurizio Cattelan’s $120,000 taped banana—and celebrity collaborations with figures like Pharrell Williams to build a powerhouse brand. His current focus involves institutionalizing his internal operations through digital tools and employee tutorials to maintain the gallery's momentum.

architecture frida escobedo serpentine pompidou

Frida Escobedo, a Mexican architect who founded her Mexico City studio at age 23, is profiled as part of Cultured's 2026 CULT100 honorees. She became the youngest architect to win the Serpentine Pavilion commission and is set to debut her biggest project yet in 2030: the Metropolitan Museum of Art's new modern and contemporary wing. The article presents a Q&A format covering her influences, including architect Lebbeus Woods, her views on patience and imagination, and her reflections on career challenges such as protecting her time.

Marcello Dantas Named Curator of 2027–29 Vancouver Biennale

The Vancouver Biennale has appointed Brazilian artist and documentary filmmaker Marcello Dantas as senior curator for its 2027–29 edition. Dantas, currently art director at the immersive museum Ster Ik in Tulum, Mexico, recently cocurated the 2024 iteration of Saudi Arabia's Desert X AlUla with Maya El Khalil. He has previously organized exhibitions for artists including Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor, Shirin Neshat, and Bill Viola, and curated a project by Vik Muniz for the 2013–15 Vancouver Biennale. Dantas plans to shape the event by addressing the city's corporate real estate development alongside its First Nations and colonial history, exploring themes of displacement and belonging.

What makes love political, Wynnie Mynerva?

Was macht Liebe politisch, Wynnie Mynerva?

Peruvian artist Wynnie Mynerva discusses her exhibition "Volveré y seré millones" at the Société gallery in Berlin, timed to coincide with Gallery Weekend. The artist explores Andean cosmologies, specifically the concept of 'Ayni' or collective reciprocity, as a counter-narrative to Western, capitalist structures of romantic love and individualism. Her work draws from her personal experience as a migrant in Europe and her observations of Berlin’s queer scene, questioning how care and survival function within modern political frameworks.

The Art Galleries of New York

A visitor recounts a personal gallery crawl through New York City neighborhoods like Tribeca, Chelsea, and the Lower East Side, highlighting specific exhibitions at Andrew Kreps Gallery, James Cohen Gallery, Chapter NY, and Bortolami Gallery. The article details works by artists including Thérèse Oulton, Elias Sime, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Rosha Yaghmai, Vian Sora, and Sophie Reinhold, emphasizing the diversity of styles and materials on view.

Artist displays big ideas with Alpharetta exhibit

The Alpharetta Arts Center is hosting a solo exhibition of works by Cuban-born, Atlanta-based artist Alexi Torres through April 18. The showcase features a diverse range of media, including intricate oil paintings that mimic woven textures, bronze sculptures, and embroideries that explore themes of spiritual connection and human consciousness. Torres, who follows lunar cycles for his creative process, utilizes symbolic imagery such as a scarlet wicker Buddha and a Statue of Liberty rendered in baseball stitching to convey complex narratives.

Special Edition : The Photography Show presented by AIPAD

The Photography Show presented by AIPAD, the world's longest-running photography fair, takes place April 22-26, 2025 at the Park Avenue Armory in New York. The 2026 iteration features exhibitors from around the world, including new participants like Galerie Sophie Scheidecker, Ruiz-Healy Art, and Leica Gallery New York, alongside returning galleries such as Augusta Edwards Fine Art and IBASHO. The fair introduces a new solo presentation sector called Focal Point, designed by architecture firm Oficina.la, and will host the Aperture Portfolio Prize for the first time. Over a third of exhibitors are women-led or founded, and Latin American photography is prominently featured. Events include AIPAD Talks, the AIPAD Award, and the AIPAD Lifetime Achievement Award, with MUUS returning as Lead Cultural Partner.

Anna-Sophie Berger, Benjamin Hirte at Shore Gallery

Shore Gallery in Vienna presents "Baader Streisand Komplex," a two-person exhibition featuring artists Anna-Sophie Berger and Benjamin Hirte, curated by Nik Geene. Running from April 1 to May 16, 2026, the show brings together their respective practices in a dialogue framed by the exhibition's title.

In the Curator’s Words: James Hubbell and his brother Bert still united through art

The Oceanside Museum of Art has opened "Brothers in Arts: James Hubbell and Bert Hubbell," a poignant exhibition curated by Brennan Hubbell, the son of James and nephew of Bert. The show explores the parallel creative lives of the two brothers, who lived on opposite sides of the Pacific for sixty years—James in San Diego and Bert in Japan—yet maintained a deep spiritual and artistic connection through letters and shared philosophies. Both artists passed away within weeks of each other in 2024, shortly after a final video call that reconnected them after a period of silence.

In Monica Rohan’s Paintings, Tablecloths and Chairs Uncannily Perch in Remote Landscapes

Monica Rohan, a Brisbane-based artist, creates vibrant oil paintings in which domestic objects like patterned tablecloths and bentwood dining chairs appear in remote, natural landscapes. Her recent works, including those from her upcoming solo exhibition "Invitations" at Sophie Gannon Gallery in Melbourne this June, increasingly omit human figures, allowing the objects themselves to become stand-ins for people. The scenes are inspired by her hiking trip through Tasmania, featuring alpine summits, streams, and meadows.

Go figure – when Barnaby Barford took over the Wallpaper* fashion pages

Barnaby Barford is marking 20 years of collaboration with David Gill gallery through the exhibition 'We Are Where We Are', featuring 35 ceramic sculptures and large-scale drawings. The show includes a new work titled 'Ascension'. To celebrate, Wallpaper* magazine revisits its November 2007 issue, in which Barford took over the fashion pages, dressing his found porcelain figurines in designer labels such as Missoni, Versace, Gucci, Christian Dior, and Prada, photographed by Theo Cook with fashion styling by Sophie Dean and Sébastien Clivaz.

Oviedo to host the world's first philosophy museum

Oviedo accueillera le premier musée de philosophie au monde

The Gustavo Bueno Foundation has announced plans to open the world's first museum of philosophy in Oviedo, Spain, scheduled for January 2027. Housed in the historic Miñor sanatorium, the institution will serve as a physical extension of the Oviedo School of Philosophy, focusing on the "philosophical materialism" developed by the late thinker Gustavo Bueno. The museum aims to move beyond academic circles to engage the general public in critical thinking and the rigorous analysis of social structures.

The Practice of Liberation and Sanctuaries of Becoming.

Michaela Yearwood-Dan has unveiled her first major UK institutional exhibition, 'The Practice of Liberation,' at the Whitworth. The immersive installation integrates fourteen new paintings with ceramic vessels and soundscapes, reimagining traditional religious motifs through a contemporary, secular lens. By deconstructing elements like stained glass and the Stations of the Cross into abstract forms, the artist creates a sanctuary that explores themes of ritual, memory, and personal identity.

The Welcoming Spaces of Italian Artist Donatella Spaziani at Her First Major Exhibition in China

Gli spazi accoglienti dell’artista italiana Donatella Spaziani alla sua prima grande mostra in Cina

Italian artist Donatella Spaziani has opened her first major solo exhibition in China, titled "Incolume tra le cose" (Unharmed Among Things), at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Art Museum in Chongqing. The retrospective features over 100 works, including drawings, collages, site-specific installations, and sound art, spanning her career and highlighting her recent residency in the city. The exhibition eschews chronological order, instead creating an immersive environment where the artist’s signature silhouettes and explorations of the human body interact with the architectural space of the museum.

Helena College exhibits capstone 'The Cost of Living' project at Holter Museum of Art

Helena College is showcasing its annual capstone exhibition, titled 'The Cost of Living,' at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Montana. The show features final projects from six second-year art students—Vinessa Sanford, Kraig Mougeot, William Krings, Linus Leeper, Sophie Uda, and Red Romano—and opened on April 3, running through May 3, 2026. Assistant professor Seth Roby organized the exhibition, which includes works ranging from a turbulent abstract painting to a whimsical nook with lavender wisteria and fairy dwellings, all exploring existential themes tied to life and living.

Final Touches: BA Art Exhibition

Southwestern University’s Sarofim Fine Arts Gallery recently debuted the Spring 2026 B.A. Senior Art Exhibition, showcasing the final projects of seven graduating Fine Arts majors. The exhibition features a diverse range of media and themes, including Christopher Bowers’ historical-fantastical landscapes, Sophie Kinkade’s Y2K-inspired "spill art," and Trinidad Laurenzi’s exploration of Catholic iconography and body horror. Other featured artists include Maeve Lloyd, Aris Morgan, Grace Sapienza, and Isa Wilson, whose works span sculpture, anime-influenced illustration, and charcoal drawings addressing mental health.