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.

Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Estate Sold to Florida Resort

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation has sold the late artist’s twenty-two-acre estate on Captiva Island, Florida, to the neighboring South Seas resort for $45 million. The sale includes ten buildings, most notably Rauschenberg’s custom-built 8,000-square-foot studio and his historic "Beach House." While the resort plans to integrate the property into its operations and host art-related programming, the foundation cited escalating maintenance costs and environmental risks from climate change as the primary reasons for the divestment.

Brooklyn’s Barclays Center Arena Launches Art Program, with Paul Pfeiffer As First Artist-in-Residence

The Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn has launched a multi-year public art initiative called 'Brooklyn Art Encounters.' The program includes a new artist-in-residence component, with Paul Pfeiffer as the inaugural resident, and will feature digital art broadcasts, major new commissions by artists like Sarah Sze, Rashid Johnson, Mark Bradford, and Kambui Olujimi, and a series of public installations on the arena's plaza and in its entrances.

Made in Fire Island: how artists were at the heart of the LGBTQ+ mecca

A new book titled 'Fire Island Art: 100 Years' chronicles the century-long, integral relationship between artists and the LGBTQ+ community on Fire Island. The book, edited by John Dempsey, traces the creative legacy from pre-war artists like Paul Cadmus to modern figures, highlighting how the island's unique environment fostered both sexual and artistic freedom.

Inside the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Juicy New Show

The Vancouver Art Gallery has unveiled 'Highlights from the Collection,' a major long-term exhibition featuring 200 works selected from its permanent holdings of over 13,000 items. Curated by a team led by Eva Respini, the show marks a strategic shift for the institution by committing to a semi-permanent display that will remain on view until 2030. The exhibition includes iconic pieces ranging from Gathie Falk’s ceramics to Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe prints and Claes Oldenburg’s sculptures.

How Expo Chicago’s One-of-a-Kind Curatorial Forum Came to Be

Expo Chicago has distinguished itself within the global art fair circuit through its unique Curatorial Forum, a partnership with Independent Curators International (ICI) that began in 2014. Originally conceived by Tony Karman and Renaud Proch, the program has evolved from a small gathering into a major national convening that provides curators with professional development, networking opportunities, and a platform for thought leadership. The initiative has been so successful that ICI established its only year-round satellite office in Chicago to support the local curatorial community.

New Bienal de Yucatán to spotlight Mexican region’s growing art scene

The city of Mérida is set to host the inaugural Bienal de Yucatán from November 2026 to February 2027, marking a significant milestone for the region's burgeoning contemporary art scene. Spearheaded by patron and curator Catherine Petitgas with artist Abraham Cruzvillegas serving as artistic director, the biennial aims to provide a formal platform for the city's dense ecosystem of over 40 galleries, international artist studios, and the Universidad de las Artes de Yucatán (UNAY). The announcement follows the successful debut of the Week of Art Yucatán (WAY), a multi-venue festival that showcased the city's unique blend of repurposed industrial spaces and traditional haciendas.

Kimbell Art Museum’s free community programs this spring

The Kimbell Art Museum has announced an extensive lineup of free community programming for the Spring 2026 season. The schedule features a diverse array of events including gallery discussions, hands-on art-making workshops for children, live music performances, and scholarly lectures. A significant portion of the programming is designed to complement the special exhibition, "The Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem," through documentary screenings and expert-led talks.

Plymouth museum and art gallery The Box in 'record-breaking year'

The Box, Plymouth’s flagship museum and art gallery, has announced a record-breaking performance for 2025, surpassing its annual visitor target by 18%. Since opening in 2020, the institution reached a milestone of 1.1 million total visitors, driven largely by the massive success of the 'Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy' exhibition. The show attracted 52,000 visitors in just its first nine weeks, with nearly half of those attendees traveling from outside the local region.

In Milan, you can play for free with your band in a recording studio open to the public at HangarBicocca

A Milano puoi suonare gratis con la tua band in uno studio di registrazione aperto al pubblico all’HangarBicocca

Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan has transformed its exhibition space into a functional recording studio as part of a major retrospective for artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. Titled "A Retrospective: The House That Jack Built," the show invites local musical acts to book time slots to perform and record their music live within the gallery. This interactive installation allows the creative process to unfold in front of museum visitors, blurring the lines between a static art display and a community hub.

Godfried Donkor: It’s a Numbers Game

Ghanaian-British artist Godfried Donkor is set to debut his first UK institutional solo exhibition, "It’s a Numbers Game," at Firstsite in Colchester. The exhibition features a diverse array of media including collage, painting, embroidery, and installation, highlighted by a gallery transformed into a boxing ring to symbolize migration and endurance. Donkor utilizes materials like Financial Times pages and Adinkra symbols to explore the "triangle of commerce" between Britain, West Africa, and the Caribbean, while specifically linking the local history of Boudicca to the resistance of Ashanti leader Yaa Asantewaa.

Contemporary art exhibition to showcase work from Wales and beyond

The Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (AMOCA) is launching its second pop-up exhibition, "Dialogues Wales: New Voices from the Museum Collection," at Cardiff’s Temple of Peace. Running from April 15 to 18, the show highlights women and nonbinary artists from the private collection of co-founder Anders Hedlund, featuring over forty international and local figures including Shani Rhys James, Ewa Juszkiewicz, and Lynda Benglis.

The Box celebrates 'record-breaking' year

The Box in Plymouth has reported a record-breaking 2025/2026 season, attracting 356,000 visitors and surpassing its annual target by 18%. This surge represents a 44% increase from the previous year, contributing to a total of 1.1 million visitors since the institution opened in late 2020. The success is largely attributed to high-profile exhibitions, including a major retrospective of local artist Beryl Cook and a showcase featuring Sir Joshua Reynolds’ portrait of Mai.

Pictures: Art in Bloom at Orlando Museum of Art

The Orlando Museum of Art has launched its annual "Art in Bloom" festival, a multi-day event where floral designers create living arrangements inspired by specific works in the museum’s permanent collection and current exhibitions. Organized by the Council of 101, the showcase features floral interpretations of pieces by artists such as James Rosenquist, Beatriz Milhazes, and Howard William Mehring, alongside fashion displays, pop-up shops, and silent auctions.

Work by Group of Seven's to be featured at Contemporary Calgary's LOOK2026

Contemporary Calgary has announced the details for its upcoming LOOK2026 auction fundraiser, featuring a prestigious selection of works by Canadian masters and contemporary stars. The auction will include pieces by Group of Seven member L.L. FitzGerald, Maxwell Bates, and Chris Cran, alongside contemporary works by artists such as Kablusiak. The event was bolstered by a significant contribution from Calgary-based philanthropist and collector John Lacey, who reached out to CEO David Leinster to support the institution's mission.

AOY Art Center’s 14th Juried Show set to open

The AOY Art Center in Yardley, Pennsylvania, is launching its 14th annual Juried Show, featuring 137 selected works from over 425 regional submissions. Curated by Amanda C. Burdan of the Brandywine Museum of Art, the exhibition spans various mediums including painting, sculpture, and photography. The show opens April 10 with a public reception and includes specialized honors such as the Frumi Cohen memorial award for wildlife art.

Is the Mallorca Edition of Art Cologne Any Good?

Was taugt die Mallorca-Ausgabe der Art Cologne?

The Art Cologne has launched a new satellite edition in Palma de Mallorca, returning to the island 19 years after a previous attempt failed. Held at the modern Palau de Congressos, the fair adopts a 'boutique' format designed to tap into the local market of wealthy European expatriates and second-home owners. Unlike the high-stakes environment of major fairs like Art Basel, this iteration features an innovative pricing model that allows smaller, younger galleries to showcase curated, riskier presentations at more affordable entry points.

1,000-year-old Toltec altar with four human skulls found in Mexico

Archaeologists from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have discovered a 1,000-year-old Toltec altar during salvage work for a new high-speed rail line between Mexico City and Querétaro. The stone structure, known as a momoztli, dates back to AD 900-1150 and was found with four human skulls and leg bones arranged at its base, suggesting ritual or sacrificial use. Located near the ancient site of Tula Chico, the find also included ceramic objects and obsidian artifacts within a compound likely belonging to the local elite.

Meet Me in New York: Alix Vernet

The Chicago art scene takes center stage with a curated guide to six essential exhibitions coinciding with the EXPO Chicago 2026 art fair. Highlights include Josh Brainin’s immersive two-channel video installation at Tala and a thematic exploration of Chicago’s urban infrastructure hosted at the Chicago Cultural Center, showcasing a diverse range of media from digital video to architectural critique.

Santa Monica City Gallery Opens At Bergamot Station

The City of Santa Monica has officially opened the Santa Monica City Gallery, its first municipal art space, located within the Bergamot Station Arts Center. The gallery launched with the inaugural exhibition "Case Study: Adapt," which showcases architectural models designed by students and professional firms to address housing needs for families displaced by the 2025 California wildfires. The venue is designed to host a rotating schedule of exhibitions, artist residencies, and selections from the city’s permanent Art Bank collection.

Strong sales and cross-market demand define Art Basel Hong Kong opening

Art Basel Hong Kong opened with robust sales and high energy, signaling a strong recovery for the Asia-Pacific art market. Blue-chip galleries reported several seven-figure transactions early on, including a $4 million Picasso at Bastian and a $3.8 million Liu Ye painting at David Zwirner. The fair's debut of the digital-focused 'Zero 10' initiative and a significant presence of regional collectors underscored a diverse appetite for both postwar masters and contemporary digital works.

Boman Irani: Art can calm you, excite you, and make you do better things in life

Actor Boman Irani inaugurated the group exhibition 'To Be Continued…' at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. Featuring nearly 70 works ranging from scrap metal sculptures to 3D canvases, the show brings together a diverse group of emerging and established artists. During the event, Irani engaged personally with the participants, emphasizing the role of galleries as essential spaces for creative inspiration and human development.

Odyssey A First Open Exhibition For Hastings Contemporary – Jude Montague

Hastings Contemporary has launched its inaugural biennial open exhibition, titled "Odyssey," featuring 151 works selected from over 2,500 submissions by artists across Sussex. The exhibition explores themes of journeying and the local coastal landscape, showcasing a diverse range of media including enamel on aluminium, woodcuts, and ceramics. While the show has been a financial success for the gallery, it has sparked local debate regarding the high volume of rejected entries and the ethics of submission fees.

NGA Nights & Alexandria Art Scene: Celebrating Spring and an Artist’s Legacy

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. hosted its popular 'NGA Nights' series, featuring a 'Garden Party' theme that blended paper flower crafting with after-hours gallery access. The upcoming April event, 'United We Create,' shifts focus to the West Building to highlight five centuries of American creativity as part of the 'Celebrating American Art' exhibition and the broader America250 celebrations.

Alexandria Art Galleries in April: Floral Exhibits, Events & Spring Shows

The Alexandria art scene is hosting a diverse array of exhibitions and events throughout April 2026, centered around the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Del Ray Artisans, and Nepenthe Gallery. Key highlights include Marcus Beauregard’s solo printmaking show "Paint to Print," a car-themed exhibition titled "Fast and Fabulous" curated by Kelly and Scott MacConomy, and a series of weekly receptions at Nepenthe Gallery featuring artists like Sweta Shah and the NOVA Plein Air Artists. Many of these events serve charitable purposes, with proceeds from specific sales at Del Ray Artisans being donated in memory of late local artists Donna Gallo and Rusty Lynn.

Ruins of ‘unique’, circular water temple discovered in Egypt

Archaeologists in northern Sinai have unearthed the ruins of a unique circular water temple at the site of ancient Pelusium, dating back to the second century. Initially mistaken for a political senate building, the structure features a 35-meter wide basin and brick walls characteristic of Roman construction, suggesting it was used for religious rituals linked to the local fertility god Pelusius.

Week in art: 0417

The Boulder area is hosting a diverse array of art exhibitions and events across various local institutions and galleries. Highlights include Rodney Carswell’s lithographs at 15th Street Gallery, Jorge Vinent’s eco-conscious works at Ana’s Art Gallery, and the group exhibition "Yes &…" at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Other notable shows include a historical examination of racism at the Lafayette Swimming Pool and a student showcase from the Boulder Valley School District at the Canyon Gallery.

Frame of Reference

Memphis is undergoing a significant transformation of its cultural landscape as the city's major art institutions evolve to meet modern community needs. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is preparing for a landmark move to a new riverfront location where it will be renamed the Memphis Art Museum, offering 50 percent more gallery space. This expansion follows decades of growth for the city's "big three" institutions—the Brooks, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, and the Metal Museum—which have anchored the local scene since the mid-1970s.

A Conversation with Milwaukee Art Museum’s New Director

Kim Sajet has been appointed as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, bringing an international perspective shaped by her Nigerian birth, Australian upbringing, and Dutch citizenship. In an introductory interview, Sajet discusses her extensive background in museum leadership—having previously directed institutions in Melbourne—and how her personal history, including her relationship with her disabled brother, has influenced her path toward art and history.

A Conversation with Milwaukee Art Museum’s New Director

Kim Sajet has been appointed as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, bringing an international perspective shaped by her birth in Nigeria, upbringing in Australia, and Dutch citizenship. In an introductory interview, Sajet discusses her extensive leadership background—having previously run two museums in Australia—and how her personal history, including her relationship with her disabled brother, influenced her path toward art history and museum studies.